Yet Another Cycling Forum
General Category => Rides and Touring => Topic started by: L CC on 18 August, 2016, 09:11:44 pm
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Friday 4th November. York to Whitby.
We'll probably ride home afterwards. It happens to be my birthday on the Saturday.
There's a well established protocol for such things and as I understand it, a regular route.
Anyone want to join me, to show me the way?
Aye!
fboab
Chris S
tiermat
andrewc
Kim
yoav
phantasmagoriana
Phartiphukborlz
Deano
yorkie
arabella
Hopefully
Ruthie
jiberjaber
Socks
Mama & Papa fboab
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Yes, me!!!
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I refuse to commit on the grounds of my body being guaranteed to break if I do.
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Upferit!
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Wave at me as you cycle past Wydale, I'm on a weekend training course or I would have signed up for this. Have fun. :)
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That's the week of my traditional annual nasty chest infection, but I'm going to express interest anyway...
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Me too.
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Me too!
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Me too!
I thought this was a hilly route?
:P
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I assume you will turn off the lights and ride in the dark? ;)
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Me too!
I thought this was a hilly route?
:P
It'll be dark, I won't be able to see the hills!
I've now got a suitably goth-looking bike (https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=17.msg2053781#msg2053781) to ride, too. :thumbsup:
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Me too!
I thought this was a hilly route?
:P
It'll be dark, I won't be able to see the hills!
I've now got a suitably goth-looking bike (https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=17.msg2053781#msg2053781) to ride, too. :thumbsup:
:jurek: :jurek: that's not PURPLE ! :jurek: :jurek:
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/subscribes (but can' quite work out why York?)
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/subscribes (but can' quite work out why York?)
It would be great to see you!
York is a) the traditional depart and b) a mainline station so easy to get to from all over.
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I'll keep an eye on it :)
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I've now got a suitably goth-looking bike (https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=17.msg2053781#msg2053781) to ride, too. :thumbsup:
:jurek: :jurek: that's not PURPLE ! :jurek: :jurek:
None of my bikes are, actually! ;)
Right, I should probably look at train tickets for this before they get extortionately expensive. (I'd forgotten how far away York is. Four hours to get to the start...back in the day it used to take nearer 4 minutes!)
What's the plan for Saturday - are people planning to ride back to York? Trains from Whitby are a pain.
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Sign me up for it.
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What's the plan for Saturday - are people planning to ride back to York? Trains from Whitby are a pain.
We will probably ride home- not much help to you, though. Our current 'plan' is to be on the tandem, as we'll need a pannier for (birthday) cake and tea making facilities.
Ride to Scarborough? 36km with around 300m climbing.
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I haven't done this ride before - is there overnight accommodation at Whitby or do we just sort ourselves out? Might be a good trip with the current Mrs Socks (aka Pam), who could use the camper van to drop me off at York then meet at Whitby.
So I suppose that's a possible yes, depending on weather and whether Pam is interested.
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Historically I sorted accommodation for the weekend but unfortunately that isn't an option any more as my friend's house isn't available to rent.
If you want accommodation in Whitby that weekend you'll need to get it asap as the Goth weekend always means Whitby is jam packed!
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I'm booked on the train that gets in to York at 22.18 on Friday. Still haven't worked out the return trip (everything seems to involve many train changes and take forever), but I will!
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Me too!
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I might well get that one so I can enjoy a libation in the Taps before setting off.
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I notice the Halloween tat is already appearing in the local pound shops. Time to stock up! :thumbsup:
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A start has been made:
(http://i952.photobucket.com/albums/ae7/fboab/20160914_193619.jpg)
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So far, my preparations have amounted to buying Phanta's book - except the title's spelled wrong!
(http://pictures.abebooks.com/isbn/9781411652910-us-300.jpg)
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Checks diary, finds is available, remembers lives 4km from York Station, knows several routes to Whitby, raises hand and commits before self doubt takes over! :-)
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*reads sig*
Can you bring your drums, too, yorkie?
:D
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*reads sig*
Can you bring your drums, too, yorkie?
:D
Hmmm, would need the trailer for that and it is buried in the shed (and I don't know how deep down it is!) :-O
Makes note to have an excavation at some point in the future. Could be a job for Time Team! :-D
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Checks diary, finds is available, remembers lives 4km from York Station, knows several routes to Whitby, raises hand and commits before self doubt takes over! :-)
Oh look, we appear to be wearing the same club jersey in our profile pics. Now I know who you are!
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Checks diary, finds is available, remembers lives 4km from York Station, knows several routes to Whitby, raises hand and commits before self doubt takes over! :-)
Oh look, we appear to be wearing the same club jersey in our profile pics. Now I know who you are!
Feel free to introduce yourself next time you see me! :-D
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I've now booked my return ticket (I'm leaving Whitby at lunchtime) and bought more purple lights. :thumbsup:
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So what's the plan? Meeting at York Station? When? Whereabout?
Anyone has a GPS route for the ride?
Is there a planned stop? Should I bring supplies?
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Meet in the concourse York station before midnight. Several peeps are getting to the station at 2218 and spending the intervening time in the station pub, the York Tap.
You only need two roads to get to Whitby from York: the A64 and the A169! I assume the plan is to use the A169 north of Malton, or at least north of Pickering, but to avoid the A64. This (https://goo.gl/maps/A6ht8G87mEo) is the route I'll be taking if no-one objects.
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I was wondering whether we could deviate from the usual route and do a longer one, just for a change: it's only 50 miles, and I don't think the cafe opens until about 6am?
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Could do. Here's (https://goo.gl/maps/5oEMZEjAzd12) a route that include the bit of dip that everyone on LEL loved so very much last time ;D
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I was wondering whether we could deviate from the usual route and do a longer one, just for a change: it's only 50 miles, and I don't think the cafe opens until about 6am?
If you want to do more miles, be my guest, but I will be following the normal route. As we have found in previous years, by the time you factor in tea and comfort stops etc, you arrive in whitby around sunrise.
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Can I book a place for 2017?
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I was wondering whether we could deviate from the usual route and do a longer one, just for a change: it's only 50 miles, and I don't think the cafe opens until about 6am?
If you want to do more miles, be my guest, but I will be following the normal route. As we have found in previous years, by the time you factor in tea and comfort stops etc, you arrive in whitby around sunrise.
Hmmm, if we did want to vary things a bit, we could always take my route to work (https://goo.gl/maps/uJdmo2p722S2). Changing the route north of Pickering probably isn't advisable unless we want to to Blakey Ridge, but the route linked here is only ~1 mile longer and still avoids the serious hills like Bulmer and Terrington banks. What do you think?
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Nearly November already - how did that happen? Sorry to say I won't be able to make it, best wishes for the ride.
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/subscribes (but can' quite work out why York?)
It would be great to see you!
York is a) the traditional depart and b) a mainline station so easy to get to from all over.
So I should have realised when we were chatting at the end of Rich Ellis that this clashes with our first ACME winter brevet series ride :(
Hope everyone has a fantastic time! :)
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The cafe of tradition had shut last time I was in Whitby - although there's doubtless others. There is now a 'spoons too.
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Oh - and the Den is probably available for pre-ride snoozes and caffeination and warmth, and possibly post ride crash spaces if people need 'em. The firsrt year we got the steam train to Pickering and rode back to York from there :)
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I know this is coming a bit late to the party, but I've just realised that there is no direct train connection from Whitby back to York. And there are only 3 trains on a saturday out of Whitby. So how are people getting back from this ride?
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I'm going back to Darlo!
To get back to York, it's a train via Boro, a ride to Scarborough and a direct train from there, or the steam train to Pickering, then ride to Malton for the train back to York.
Or ride your bike, of course.
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I've ridden over the moor to Malton then caught the train from there. A variation on the route out can make it interesting, if you like hills.
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I usually train it back to NTR, via Boro. The same route can be used to get to York.
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I'll be getting the 12.15 from Whitby to Boro (then another 2 trains back to Glasgow via Darlo...).
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Thanks, that looks like the way back to Carlisle.
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As I'm still lurgified & feel like death warmed up I don't think I'll be joining you for this. Have fun.
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You've still got a week to recover 😷
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As I'm still lurgified & feel like death warmed up I don't think I'll be joining you for this. Have fun.
Surely you'll be better by next week? Wotcha got, bubonic plague? ;)
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I should probably clarify that I'm not coming: The tedious Achilles injury (http://www.cyclechat.net/threads/the-latest-news-on-the-fridays-vi-v-a-colonia-tour.206807/page-6#post-4465088) seems to be on the mend, and I'm now rated for mild walking and driving, but I haven't risked cycling (or descending more than one flight of stairs) on it yet. And obviously after 6 weeks of not leaving the house, I've got some lurgy too, for good measure.
Fortunately, my lack of mobility means you[1] don't have to put up with me ranting about how annoying it is.
[1] Where you != barakta.
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Well boo to the lurgified and injured, and yay to those of us who've been hoarding halloween tqt.
(http://i952.photobucket.com/albums/ae7/fboab/20161028_165336.jpg)
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I expect photos.
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I have some great tat, I've been saving it for years. Not to mention the special Halloween playlist :D One of these days, I will do what I've been threatening, and have the Monster Mash on permanent rotation all night.
Route-wise, I reckon we should do Murton - Warthill - back o'Stamford Bridge - Malton - A169 all the way to the Esk, then the run-in along the Esk and the waterfront.
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I seem to have said I'll be coming, Even though I last paid any attention to Guy Fawkes back in about 1980.
Is if definitely 'November' temperature I need to dress for??? I may just about manage a ninja look.
Am planning to arrive in time for a detour via the crinkly den, on the assumption that crinkles will be at home with (sleeping) cubs.
fwiw trains arrive either before 8 or before 10 (only 2-hourly for Ips-Pbo leg)
I've left it too late to do anything other than a return to Darlo which is probably as easy as buying an add on.
Anyone like to comment on the requirement for a cycle reservation on the sunday?
ta.
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On the first of the whitby rides I ended up in my vest, having taken off my t-shirt because I was too warm... I did put a fleece on for the brew stop at the HofH, where it was a tad breezy :)
Yes, we can provide a lurking spot with (checks mental database of forumite drinks preferences) supplies of hot chocolate, I do believe?
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Crinkly, happy for us to leave The Van in your street? If so, we'll drive down Friday eve, dump The Van and I'll come and collect it sometime later Saturday?
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Yep, no prob. We might be out on the Saturday, depending on timings.... bonfire and fireworks to ooh and aaah at!
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Yep, no prob. We might be out on the Saturday, depending on timings.... bonfire and fireworks to ooh and aaah at!
:thumbsup:
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For those coming from a distance, it has been damn cold the last few nights in York. 2C this morning with ice on cars. Friday is due to be a tad warmer, but maybe with a bit of drizzle, so I'd wrap up really warm.
I can't ride, but will try to meet up beforehand. Are people gathering at the station before the off?
Just read back up thread and seen that some people are gathering in the York tap from about 2218 onwards.
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For those coming from a distance, it has been damn cold the last few nights in York. 2C this morning with ice on cars. Friday is due to be a tad warmer, but maybe with a bit of drizzle, so I'd wrap up really warm.
I can't ride, but will try to meet up beforehand. Are people gathering at the station before the off?
Just read back up thread and seen that some people are gathering in the York tap from about 2218 onwards.
Also looks like, via YR.NO, that Friday will be wet.
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Noooo, it can't be wet! :'(
I've finally decided it's time to dig out my trusty Northwave winter boots (must replace the cleats as they're ridiculously worn) as it's cold up here at the moment too. Saw my first gritter of the winter last night! :-\
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My Great Nephew (FFS, I don't know - he's the son of my niece, work it out for yourself!) is something of a Goth, and in a Facebook exchange earlier, listed a load of Goth bands that he'd like to see, playing at Whitby this weekend. Sadly, he's in Brighton, so won't be able to make it.
ETA - I'm assuming this is the preferred route? https://goo.gl/cs9hpN
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Well there's Heaven 17 who I'm sure you know, then there's The Mission who are basically The Sisters of Mercy, then there's Chasing Dragons who I've heard of but probably that's because they're local ...
Weather-wise, yr.no and metoffice.gov.uk both suggest that the first half of the ride will be dry, with maybe a shower or two later on. We had rain n York this afternoon, so it's hopefully rained itself out for the next couple of days.
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I'll try to fetch a small stove for a brew-up in Pickering - fetch your own water and beverage of choice.
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:thumbsup: I've got marshmallows to burn (though no spare spoke - will need to remember a skewer!).
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There will be lions in the Den from around 4pm, so if anyone needs a lurking space beforehand, feel free to show up. If you aren't sure of the Den's location, just PM me!
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I've just checked the weather forecast again: looks as though there will be a strong headwind and rain from about 4-5am! :o
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I've just checked the weather forecast again: looks as though there will be a strong headwind and rain from about 4-5am! :o
I don't know what you are looking t, but I can see the rain but the wind is forecast to be from the NorthWest, so sort of a headwind (quartering).
By that time, though, we should be not far from the downhill bits into Whitby, going on previous runs (though Blue Bank might be a bit of a challenge in heavy rain...)
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I've just checked the weather forecast again: looks as though there will be a strong headwind and rain from about 4-5am! :o
I don't know what you are looking t, but I can see the rain but the wind is forecast to be from the NorthWest, so sort of a headwind (quartering).
By that time, though, we should be not far from the downhill bits into Whitby, going on previous runs (though Blue Bank might be a bit of a challenge in heavy rain...)
I was looking at the BBC, so hopefully it's wrong!
Ah well, Blue Bank in the rain should be a good test for my disc brakes...
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Bugger, don't think i'm going to make it. Can someone else fetch a stove? Assuming you want hot drinks
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I'll pack one. I guess I need to bring tea and mugs too?
Given that I work in Pick, I could always pack the work keys and invite you all in. I doubt the boss would be too impressed, mind!
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I'm afraid that I won't be able to make it tonight. These sudden changes in the weather are playing absolute havoc with my sciatica. :-(
Enjoy the ride! :-)
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In the absence of Deano, is anyone heading to the York Tap for 10:30ish or so?
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My train gets in at 22.18, so yes!
Leaving shortly...
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I'm out, too, sorry.
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Lordy! They're dropping like flies.
We're putting the final touches to the menu (cheese and marmite flapjacks ready to bake) and the decs.
My Ma & Pa are coming for the LOLz.
Be gentle with them, please. They're much nicer than me.
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Have a safe, fun ride everyone :thumbsup:
My lurgy has taken up residence in my lungs & I'm now wheezing like a bust vacuum cleaner. I've also got a large sore in a very inconvenient place, so riding would be out anyway!
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I'm afraid I can't make it either - sorry. I had to go at the last minute to Chester and I'm not going to be able to get to York in time. I thought I could, had the bike in the back of the car but it doesn't look like I'll
manage. Have a good time. See you next time.
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I'm on the train. I do hope this isn't going to be a solo ride?! :'( I don't actually know the way...
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I'm on the train. I do hope this isn't going to be a solo ride?! :'( I don't actually know the way...
Up. You go up.
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Lordy! They're dropping like flies.
We're putting the final touches to the menu (cheese and marmite flapjacks ready to bake) and the decs.
My Ma & Pa are coming for the LOLz.
Be gentle with them, please. They're much nicer than me.
Have a lovely time!
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Don't worry phanta, we're still coming... Although we don't know the way either...
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Bunbury knows the way!
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Also, I broke my tat. :'( Totally forgot that the battery pack for my fairy lights was in my bar bag when I took it off after parking the bike on the train, so they're going in the bin and I am tatless. However, I am on the gothbike.
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We may have enough tat to compensate...
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There's an arabella in the Den....
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I'm at the Tap. Where are the rest of you?
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You are hiding well, I can't see you.
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Greg is somewhere.... not sure where, but I've PM'd him phanta's no and sent it to what I hope is his mobile. Boab clan and ara are here, and planning to head to the station post caffeine innabit.
I appear to be on comms...
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(https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/14925527_10154508575626839_3586018745958245506_n.jpg?oh=798af83e56296abb3f0825e18fb7db3b&oe=58C9E9A8)
(https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/14955877_10154508575556839_4740199759638013549_n.jpg?oh=eabbb275a98dfbb4227f03055f1a5b36&oe=58C99490)
(https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/14910300_10154508575696839_7113860370051665253_n.jpg?oh=d421345994b25dfc255a519edca448ae&oe=5896B185)
(https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/14708180_10154508575946839_3502361310520647908_n.jpg?oh=565d3ba18eb15187379d51ffdfac7a28&oe=58CC2095)
(https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/14900441_10154508575891839_65178913098162663_n.jpg?oh=9aabfcbb554767bc626c8b4168891d93&oe=58C8A387)
(https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/14980840_10154508576021839_7517989790335458864_n.jpg?oh=e0b920392cf0115366b810941fcafc78&oe=589E5A06)
(https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/14947718_10154508576251839_2018163222817455727_n.jpg?oh=bb6e1da16e8f3f03979c39f3d8b9ee30&oe=589B1760)
And they're off!
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Nice skellington!
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In Singing Kettle - not all the group have arrived so far.
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Stealth bike stealthed ahead then?
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Something like that.
The survivors group consisted of Pharti, Phanta and Pharabella. Bad luck Phboab, I reckon having Chris jinxed you, you'd have finished (phinished?) otherwise.
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Definitely the worst weather I've encountered on a Whitby ride. Especially the wind, which was just scary up on the moors.
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That was horrendous. The wind gusts nearly had us on the deck a couple of times, and I'm pretty sure we were borderline hypothermic by the time we'd taken the (correct) decision to abandon crossing the moor, and descended back down to Pickering.
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:o
Glad you are all safe.
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Sounds like I was lucky to miss the Phun...
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Yes, that's what I was thinking. Hope you are all now snug, warm & full of food.
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I'm sorry I missed it (but maybe a little less so having seen the weather...) - I didn't set off until about quarter to 12 yesterday to ride my 200, then Mike met me at the White Bear in Masham and made me drink OP, and then I got chatting to the landlady and the locals at the Nelson in Appleton Wiske, and I don't think there were any trains by the time I got home.
I did get wet too!
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Looking at the map now (in the warm and dry) confirms that we made the right decision to turn around at Saltergate (just before the descent into Hole of Horcum), as we still had Goathland and Sleights moors to cross. Had fboab and I been on our own, we probably would have pushed on, but we weren't really sure how the fboab seniors would manage. This was fboab's Mam's first night ride, and the conditions were pretty brutal - easily 50kph gusts driving sheets of sleet, rain and hail into our faces.
As it was, we were standing around in all this weather at the top of Lockton Moor whilst the seniors (aided by fboab) sorted out a front light issue (this was not the first mechanical of the evening - we had previously been delayed half an hour whilst we fixed a broken chain on my Orbit (being ridden by fboab's Pop)) and so we were pretty cold when we started the descent back to Pickering; which then served to freeze us for the next thirty minutes! Thankfully (oh my, YES!) the newsagent by the roundabout in Pickering had just opened, and we were able to get hot drinks from their coffee machine and thaw out.
Fboab and I then did a quick TT back down to Malton in time for the 7:23 train to York to collect the van and drive back up to Pickering and fetch The Folks (who were dozing in the Costa by this time).
Utter craziness :D.
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Looking at the map now (in the warm and dry) confirms that we made the right decision to turn around at Saltergate (just before the descent into Hole of Horcum), as we still had Goathland and Sleights moors to cross.
Yes. Yes you did. :facepalm:
Well done to the fboab seniors; that really wasn't the easiest introduction to night riding.
I hope everyone's thawed out now. My boots are still on the radiator!
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Yes. Yes you did. :facepalm:
This.
The survivors party in Whitby basically went like this: "Would you rather have stayed in bed?", "Yep, you?", "Yep", ...
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I would like to point out that I hadn't actually arrived at the point at which this conversation took place. :-P
I was glad to have finished. I'm also glad I did it. Though I may aim for more daylight to admire the scenery in next time.
Taller guy wanted an account so will stick it up here once it's finished. So far it's still in Pickering.
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Cast:
Kat (aka crinkles)
a teenager (aka crinkly cub the elder)
a smaller child (aka crinkly cub the younger)
Nat (aka fanta)
Greg (a youngster (ie under 25) (OK I exaggerate, he just happnes to look young)
Lindsay'n'Chris (aka birthday girl and Chris)
Mum (Lindsay's mum)
Dad (Lindsay's dad)
Mr Charly (denizen of York, just dropt in)
arabella
Act 1, scene 1. York, assorted locations, mainly the station
arabella arrives at York station and notices a map, thus uses it to work out the shortest route to kat's house.
Writes down route on back of ticket and sets off.
One way system sends mum back to the station.
arabella sets off via a different route, goes wrong and asks for directions. Tourists say no idea but have our now-unwanted map. This doesn't help as arabella doesn't know where she is.
arabella ends up back at the station and wokrs out another route using map
arabella finally makes it to kat's house.
Act 1, scene 2. crinkly den (aka kat's living/dining room) and the street outside
smaller child on laptop, teenager on some other gadget. kat's phone rings.
"It's arabella, er, which number do you live at"
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arabella arrives.
teenager is behind fringe
smaller child gets sent to bed
arabella and kat chat
teenager goes to get ready to bed
arabella and kat chat
teenager goes to get ready to bed
arabella and kat chat
(you get the idea)
teenager goes to bed
lindsay, chris, mum and dad arrive and introductions are made
those present start to drink coffee and message mr charly, fanta who are in a pub and we message greg who isn't in a pub
mr charly and fanta arrive and more introductions take place
more coffee is drunk. we realise no-one knows the way except greg, who isn't yet here.
greg arrives
there is a final round of introductions and we (=arabella, lindsay, chris, mum, dad and fanta) get dressed for going outdoors. greg just stays as he is as he never took his jacket off in the 1st place.
5 bikes and 1 tandem are extracted from the crinkly den. assorted faffing takes place as some people put on all hallows eve type decor and vestment.
everyone leaves the street. mr charly to chez charly, kat for bed and the rest for a nice bike ride. It is not that cold, really, and not raining either. About what you'd expect in november.
Act 2, scene 1. on the road
cyclists get to the end of the road and turn right
cyclists get to the end of the road and turn left
cyclists get to [CUT!]
cyclists leave York and the roads are nicely empty. the time of day is passed, junctions are negotiated and miles go by. Every now and then all stop and regroup
nature is inspected from time to time; some people faff more than others.
A tale was told wherein on a previous occasion a certain member of the party instead of going in the direction of whitby went on auto pilot towards the home of an aged parent.
There is a longer stop and cheese and marmite flapjacks consumed (yes, really. they taste chees and marmite-y). people drink out of their water bottles, though it's possible that not all water bottles contained best tapwater.
Malton is reached and left behind
the party arrives at Pickering and leaves the route for a covered passageway.
It has started raining
Act 2, scene 2. a covered passsageway in Pickering
lindsay offers round cake CAKE!!!!
bakewell or cocoanut?
faffing happens
greg mentions that it's going to "rain for a couple of hours and then"
stop thinks arabella, oh, that's ok
"chuck it down" continues greg
"for ever" adds fanta (aside - it was still raining on sunday morning. whereas this scene took place in the small hours of saturday)
nonetheless with a certain amount of shared audax history, and mum and dad's desire to keep going, we continue.
there is another stop. this time we are passed by a random bloke with an umbrella and a clinking bag. we reckon he had gone 'round', fallen asleep and then been turfed 'out' to go 'home'
it can be noted that the weather is deteriorating as time passes
Act 3, scene 1. approaching the moors (trees either side)
(sound effects: clank/crunch sound)
dad starts coasting. jerking motions on the chain are visible. dad halts
(to be continued)
(sound effects: wind ruching through trees)
arabella is holding one bike and the tandem
dad is holding the other bike alternatively on the ground and rear end suspended
lindsay is getting oil on her gloves and
chris is handing various pieces
things are going ping! more often than anyone wants at that time of night and in those conditions
it emerges that not one but 2 links are gone, and a further 5 or so need sacrificing to have a join
everyone continues and finally the two halves of the party rejoin
Act 3, scene 2. on the moors (no shelter)
lindsay gets off the tandem and walks, it's become too hard to stay upright
nat and greg are in frong, down in the approaching dip
mum and dad are behind
arabella keeps going, on and then down, not that fast as there are bends and wet road
'I'll just catch up the others' she says (and didn't look back so missed lindsay rolling around laughing at this thought) (OK, that was a joke, lindsay is far too polite to do this except possibly in front of arabella)
we'll hop and skip through this next bit. suffice it to say there is a combination of : wind (head- and either side), rain and sleet (in face), occasional trees for those mumble seconds of respite from the wind (including one with festive decs on it). there's some airfield, some down bits, some up bits, some bits that are too windy to stay upright in, bits with hands and feet colder than ideal and where the shoes are squelchy inside. Down follows up, but there is more up than down. The wind is still gisting, it's still raining/sleeting and always dark.
There's an occasional pause in the rain, with only the chill wind left, pretending to blow out the damp; and lo! there is light in the east and juliet is the sun (or not). Followed soon after by the sight of the BRIGHT LIGHTS of whitby and what must therefore be the SEASIDE (cheers!). There's still the shoulder of the moor to crawl round though (she'll be comoing round the mountain etc.). The wind hasn't abated, not one whit for the approaching by (that's supposed to be a multilingual eng/scandi joke btw).
Last gasp of the moors: blue bank, 20% down (last few days!!!). with the result that arabella walks up the gentlish, sheltered slope out of sleights to stamp some circulation back into her feet. and on to the excitement of a roundabout 'down that way to whitby'. and down it was, all the way to the windy seaside,
Act 4, scene 1. whitby
arabella realises she doean't know where the others are and inspects that marvellous gadget, her stupidphone. It tells her (i) lindsay, chris, mum and dad steamed back to Pickering in 5 mins flat and got a nice hot coffee, mum and dad looked after the coffee while lindsay and chris flew back to Malton and a train to york and (ii) that greg and nat are in the singing kettle
'where's that'
'up this street'
a passerby is rather more helpful - just round that corner over there by oddbins
arabella trundles off, ties up bike orders breakfast (including TEA) and joins nat and greg to compare notes on wetness, dampness, the wind and other such matters. neither politics nor religion got a mention.
the plan is communicated: catch the 8:45 back to york, giving a mere 57 minutes to stuff in the breakfast, gulp down the tea and purchase a ticket "not vaild for darlington" "change at middlesborough for the manchester airport service".
and so it was. apart from kat, aka comms central, pointing out that maybe lindsay and chris might have some deltas (hurrah for kat)
Act 4, scene 2. not whitby
train is filled with slumbering cyclists attempting to dry their feet
arabella gets out and follows signs to $small_village_centre and thence towards chez lindsay'n'chris, or rather the magic van which, having deposited mum and dad is now looking for arabella (YAY! it has blankets. arabella was getting cold, again) showers were taken, hot chocolate drunk and snoozes had
then mum, lindsay and Arabella talk about knitting. as you do
dad and chris reappear and the conversation turns to faffing. as it might.
no-one mentions the weather (I may have magically forgotten), but it is still raining and windy.
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A gentle but cold ride out to the Bird in Hand at Knolls Green. The fires were welcoming, the kitchen was closed so we pressed on to Wilmslow and the Brewhouse and Kitchen.
I can't say that I was impressed by my choice of food (pulled pork in a brioche bun*) or 3 1/3s of the beers on offer. By contrast, Helen's soup was lovely.
Our return was down Styal Road and then through Northenden and ChorltonCH to home.
After getting changed, we headed to my new local, The Urmston. It's a great building with crap to average beer. It serves JW Lees stuff. Their MPA is tolerable (IMO). If the beer was better, I'd visit much more frequently. As it is, we go there when we can't be arsed to head in to Urmston.
It was a chilly 32 miles.
I think tomorrow's commute will be challenging.
* Brioche bun: WTF. Move on.
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... gentlish, sheltered slope out of sleights ..
I think you are the first person to describe that slope as 'gentlish'
The 169 road across (well, heading from Malton towards Whitby) is never steep, it's just relentlessly exposed. Russian Roulette with the weather.
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She must've had a hellish tailwind!
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greg mentions that it's going to "rain for a couple of hours and then"
stop thinks arabella, oh, that's ok
"chuck it down" continues greg
"for ever" adds fanta
I can confirm that this is much funnier if you weren't there. :D
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Indeed. Sorry to have missed it*
*probably not!
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I'm on the train to Whitby - i'd forgotten it was Goth weekend.