Hartside 200 and Northern Dales 100 (26/06/21)

[Deano]

Pleased to see that Dave is organising the Hartside again. It's the classic local 200, plenty of hills but no more than it needs, as Graham would probably have said.

https://audax.uk/event-details?eventId=9001

Sketch of the route from memory, but it'll be pretty close (Graham always went back via Staindrop as it originally started in Darlo, and that's probably the best option if Whorlton Bridge is still closed): https://ridewithgps.com/routes/35368892 I keep suggesting to Dave that he should skip that flat bit at the start and make up the distance with a control at Great Dun Fell, but he hasn't listened to me yet. There's a GPS file attached to the calendar page if you want the definitive route.

And the accompanying 100 is in the calendar too, always looks a lovely route, but I'll be riding the Hartside: https://audax.uk/event-details?eventId=9002

[itinerant]

One of the first 200s I ever did. Made the schoolboy error of doing it on my sparkly brand new bike - the crank dropped off within a mile, and spent the next 198k trying to catch up. Half way round it merged with a sportive (Etape du Dales??). After 150k my back was killing me and had to lie down on the verge for relief. I eventually teamed up with another newbie who had DRUGS (nurofen), and we strolled in to the finish just in time for the allotted time. I did the last 30k standing up as it was too painful sitting down. I subsequently realised that adjusting the saddle by a cm made all the difference! Lesson learned. Despite that it was a lovely ride

[zacklaws]

Hi Deano,

Just emailed Dave that their seems to be an error with the route card and GPX track for the Hartside 200. They both link to a ride from 2015 called the "Yellow belly tour".

I am thinking about doing it, but my fitness level has really plummeted since last September when I stopped riding till January this year and I'm struggling to do 70 mile rides, but, I am doing very hilly rides and pushing hard to get fit so that could be the problem, riding sensibly I may probably be ok to ride all day.. Hopefully, I can manage your ride on 3rd May whatever its called, then I may decide on the Hartside 200 if it is not fully booked.

Nigel

[toontra]

Off topic:  Glad I read this.  Had planned to take my usual route to Scotland (based largely on past LEL's) in June and wouldn't have been pleased to find Whorlton Bridge closed as it's part of a long and hilly day's riding.  Looks like I'll head northwards to Forcett - Winston and rejoin the Alston road at Barnard Castle.

[yorkie]

According to the county council web page, it's looking like early 2023 for Whorlton Bridge re-opening - at the earliest...

[Deano]

Hi Deano,

Just emailed Dave that their seems to be an error with the route card and GPX track for the Hartside 200. They both link to a ride from 2015 called the "Yellow belly tour".

I am thinking about doing it, but my fitness level has really plummeted since last September when I stopped riding till January this year and I'm struggling to do 70 mile rides, but, I am doing very hilly rides and pushing hard to get fit so that could be the problem, riding sensibly I may probably be ok to ride all day.. Hopefully, I can manage your ride on 3rd May whatever its called, then I may decide on the Hartside 200 if it is not fully booked.

Nigel

You'll be fine, Nigel. I spotted Dave yesterday as it happens, he's already up to 30-odd entries for the Hartside.

That gpx/routesheet thing has happened to me - seems that if the organiser doesn't add a routesheet and gpx, it adds those automagically. I'm sure he'll sort it out.

[Deano]

Off topic:  Glad I read this.  Had planned to take my usual route to Scotland (based largely on past LEL's) in June and wouldn't have been pleased to find Whorlton Bridge closed as it's part of a long and hilly day's riding.  Looks like I'll head northwards to Forcett - Winston and rejoin the Alston road at Barnard Castle.

Yeah, Winston Bridge (look out for the Spitfire) and round is the obvious route. The A67 isn't too bad all the way to Barnie, but you can drop back into Whorlton to come that way into Barnie, then you're only on the A67 for a couple of miles.

There is an alternative, but it's probably a bit exotic for a long day out (carry on past the Whorlton turn at the south of the Tees, out to Thorp, underpass under the A66, track alongside it to Greta Bridge, up an estate track, down some steps, footpath next to the A66, then cross the Tees at Abbey Bridge).

[toontra]

Thanks Deano.  Will plan accordingly  (apologies for derailing the thread!)

[marlan]

Looking forward to this now, got my start time of 8.20, a lie in!

Riding up the day before and stopping at Scotch Corner Travelodge.

Last did this ride in 2017, as I wanted to check out Yad Moss before LEL. It was a very hot day but a grand day out! Great apres Audax at the Village Hall.

See you there Deano!




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[madcow]

Last Saturday, riding in warm sunshine, I prophesised that it would be blowing a gale and throwing it down in 7 days time.
I'm only one day out and hope it clears up overnight. Ready for a full value ride.

[Deano]

Looks alright tomorrow, though I'm not sure I like the look of that headwind all the way back from Kirkby. I had enough of that last weekend up Hartside.

See you there too, Marcus

[Graeme]

Happy Hartside fun... ice-cream van is a bit of a letdown though.

[Deano]

Lovely day, with a good bit of grim at Hartside summit. Had a pleasant social day out, chatting to Marcus for a bit as well as madcow and all the regulars.

Come up and ride it next year if you can.

[madcow]

First audax since PBP. I do pick the easy ones.
Bit grim at the top of Hartside but a pint of Black Sheep in Middleton made the day much better.
Yad Moss was bittersweet, remembering Damon.
Surprised at number of DNS . It's a hard ride but not silly hard and the scenery makes it worth it.
As Deano said , good to see some familiar faces after so long.

[aidan.f]

I too took a stop on Yad Moss to remember Damon.