Beyond the Dales We Know 300km 29/04/2017

[Dave_C]

I initially entered the Small Audax but then decided to go LARGE with this ride.

This also fulfils my need for a 300 this year for my SR, and takes me over some new roads I have not ridden on before! 

Dean, we can camp over afterwards right?

[Deano]

 

Aye, you can camp both nights. It would be a little cruel to kick out riders who may be arriving after midnight.

[Deano]

I'll be doing a helpers' ride/routecheck this Friday, then I'll email all the entrants with the final info. I don't expect anything to change from the published routesheet, but you never know.

[jsabine]

This kinda looks good, but we're definitely away on holiday. Any plans for next year?

[Deano]

I'd love to do it again, but let's see how this one goes.

If you're desperate for a trip up north this year, then - http://www.aukweb.net/events/detail/17-352/

I might even finally return your bar bag, you never know.

[Graeme]

Totally nervous about this ride. Which I take as reassurance that I'm still sane. Riding up to Newby Wiske the day before, and ECEing it home to Hull afterwards. If this goes well I'll consider myself on target for LEL. And by "well" I mean "not dead yet". I'm expecting a hard ride - and only slightly befuddled about whether I'll be competing in the women's Tour de Yorkshire or not.

[Graeme]

I rode the route in July and it's a great route.
Hilly in the middle, but has no really tough Dales climbs like Park Rash or Fleet Moss.
I wrote a ride report in my blog if anyone is interested.
http://faniefiets25.blogspot.fi/2016/07/deans-dales-ride.html

Re-reading this I'm now anticipating a cold and wet ride.





Just a bag of fun me.

[Chris S]

I rode the route in July and it's a great route.
Hilly in the middle, but has no really tough Dales climbs like Park Rash or Fleet Moss.
I wrote a ride report in my blog if anyone is interested.
http://faniefiets25.blogspot.fi/2016/07/deans-dales-ride.html

Re-reading this I'm now anticipating a cold and wet ride.

You'll be fine - I'm riding it on Friday. Saturday will be lovely

[Graeme]

I rode the route in July and it's a great route.
Hilly in the middle, but has no really tough Dales climbs like Park Rash or Fleet Moss.
I wrote a ride report in my blog if anyone is interested.
http://faniefiets25.blogspot.fi/2016/07/deans-dales-ride.html

Re-reading this I'm now anticipating a cold and wet ride.

You'll be fine - I'm riding it on Friday. Saturday will be lovely

Ah. POETS day. There's a lot of climbing... Should burn off a parmo's worth of calories.

[Chris S]

I rode the route in July and it's a great route.
Hilly in the middle, but has no really tough Dales climbs like Park Rash or Fleet Moss.
I wrote a ride report in my blog if anyone is interested.
http://faniefiets25.blogspot.fi/2016/07/deans-dales-ride.html

Re-reading this I'm now anticipating a cold and wet ride.

You'll be fine - I'm riding it on Friday. Saturday will be lovely

Ah. POETS day. There's a lot of climbing... Should burn off a parmo's worth of calories.

S'OK - They work on POETS day 

[Graeme]

 

[Chris S]

I'm much better now 

[Deano]

Well, I'm back from the route check, and I can confirm all the hills are still there - but thankfully so are the descents. No major changes to report, so I'll send the final info after some sleep.

It was a damn fine ride, apart from a perma-headwind all the way from Boroughbridge to Sedbergh, a howling north-westerly, which I was quite looking forward to having over my shoulder from Folly Top to Darlo, but I rode into a weather front near Roger Moore Farm, and the damn thing swung around.

I didn't take any hip young audaxers with me today (though I did meet a lad named Dan from Otley, and I nearly convinced him to ride while he was humouring me up Wharfedale), so all my photos are of hills and empty roads and shit like that.

Shame they don't convey the strength of the wind - try this one:

[Deano]

I'm expecting a hard ride - and only slightly befuddled about whether I'll be competing in the women's Tour de Yorkshire or not.

Unlikely - it's been bloody hard to get definite info about the rolling road closures, but there were some signs out today. I haven't done the calculations, but you'd have to be really pushing the time limit to get held up. I'll work it out and add the info, but it's a flat start, so hopefully everyone will get through before the women's race arrives.

And you'll be fine. You might arrive back after midnight, but I doubt it - I think the last pub on the route is in Ainderby Steeple, just aim for last orders there and it's only 4 miles back to the finish.

[Graeme]

Ossum!

[Deano]

Everyone should have the final email now.

It's going to be a great day, I reckon, and I'm really looking forward to it.

[CrinklyUncle]

This ride had been in the top 3 rides I wanted to do this year since seeing it last year. Unfortunately some other stuff more important has come along and I can't make Saturday. I hope everyone has a great day.

[Deano]

They're off! 40 riders on their way through the Dales. Well, 39 and one faffer.

[Deano]

First rider back - 11hrs 40 mins

[Chris S]

First rider back - 11hrs 40 mins

Waaaaa?? 

[Deano]

Typo - 12 hours 40. As if that isn't bonkers!

[ramcityrocker]

Dean, that was a simply wonderful weekend; great route and a brilliant Arrivee. Many thanks to you, Mike and all involved.   

[Philip Whiteman]

To Dean, our host and all the friendly helpers at the control and on route.

Many thanks for a magnificent day-out. For me, it was well worth the journey up from Worcestershire.  The route was superb and I was amazed how 'main road free' it was. Plenty of spectacular scenery en-route. 

The food at the finish was very welcomed.

PS, where do I send my lactic acid?

[Chris S]

I rode on Friday, as I was stamping cards at The Lion on Saturday, on Dean's equally even more barmy 100.

I made a bit of a meal of it, to be honest. Dave A did a great job of towing me out to Markington, even after I scared the b'Jesus out of him by appearing in his driveway when he least expected it.

I was even slower climbing than usual, which meant Dave soon disappeared into the distance. We rejoined at Ilkley for Gregg's Breakfast, but he soon dropped me on the Bolton Abbey road, and that was the last I saw of him all day.

What an absolute cracker of a route. You've got a knack for this, haven't you Deano? Nearly all new roads for me, and I loved 'em.

Peak moment of the ride? Cresting the climb out of Littondale, and thinking "Holy f*ck - that's Pen-y-ghent, right there in front of me."

The spring went from my bungee after Staindrop, and I limped back to the start at a rather embarrassing 20kph, having to frequently stop for slumped-over-the-bars moments, and even a quick nap in the bus shelter in Scorton, less than 20km from the end.

Run it again next year, Dean - pleeeeeeeeeeze?

[Terry2wheelz]

Superb Ride yesterday !
For sure the traffic free route does take some beating, well sorted by Dean -  plenty of  "Big Sky" & panoramic views - the view back towards the Howgills when almost at Middleton are especially fabulous.
 I enjoyed a proper sit down cafe' dinner break ( for under a fiver ! ) just before Horton-in Ribblesdale, which was topped off nicely with steam train passing meters away & bathed in glorious sunshine.
Many thanks to all the hard working members of the welcoming, organising & catering team -  people have received OBE's for less ! 
I drove home early this morning back to Manchester with a huge grin on my face (& slightly tender knee's.)
I had an unforgettable ride, but can't help wondering who the strange fella with the harmonica was, sat outside Queens pub before opening time