Once again, I'd like to invite you all to either of my brevets unpopulaire - or, of course, the actual populaire. They're all on Saturday 27th April 2019, from Newby Wiske, North Yorkshire. It's easily reached from the A1 or A19 - it's between Thirsk and Northallerton, both of which are well-served by trains. Look for Grand Central trains for very bike-friendly services from London, York and Sunderland.
Overground Underground (http://www.aukweb.net/events/detail/19-450/) is a gentle 50 km around some of the pleasant lanes of North Yorkshire, including a trip to the local arboretum. It also has a couple of surprises in it. https://ridewithgps.com/routes/28437678
Don't Keep to the Road (http://www.aukweb.net/events/detail/19-325/) is 100-anna-bit kms, with the usual mix of bastard hills, offroad climbs and descents, abandoned railways, hidden valleys, forestry trails and pubs. Well, last time I checked, the pub in Hawnby was still shut, but there's still the Lion on Blakey Ridge for the halfway control, and the Dog and Gun in Knayton is a good calling point before the final 10 miles or so. Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/25648476
Moor Gravel Forever (http://www.aukweb.net/events/detail/19-424/) is the same loop, but with an extra loop farther into the Moors making it up to 100 miles. More gravel. More hills. Less hike-a-bike than last year - there's a slight route change, which avoids the lovely cafe in Lealholm, but more importantly avoids the gratuitous hack through the bracken above Fryupdale. Many thanks to all riders for not complaining about this - I loved it, but I've found a proper alternative. I'll get around to updating the routesheet and gpx once I've found a decent control in Glaisdale (the butcher's does good pies, but shuts early on Saturdays). There are a couple of other changes - no more Foxton Lane, though that remains in DKttR. Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/28355218
All three events have very generous minimum speeds, and Monket House Bank remains in both of the offroad rides, you'll not be pleased to hear. Despite some lobbying from a couple of riders, I'll not be renaming either ride Welcome to the Monket House - I don't think the world has enough Dandy Warhols/Kurt Vonnegut fans for it to work, sadly.
There's free camping* and food at the start and finish, and an all-night after-ride party. I think we eventually went to bed at 4 am last year - with the 300 on the same day, riders on the 150 will be finishing around the same time as riders on the 300, and you'll probably still be greeted with cowbells. There doesn't seem to be any way for me to stop that, but it'll be a great atmosphere - it was again last year.
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1967/45817865622_2ded3ad8f6_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2cNLxbo)(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1948/30928109507_7dc8f01335_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/P81Drn)
* It really is free, but I'll almost certainly wave a charity tin in the direction of anyone camping, cos the start/finish is my mate's farm, and all proceeds from the ride will go to the Alzheimer's Society. No obligation though.
More photos on Flickr (for now), and more in last year's thread (https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=105147.msg2282729#msg2282729)
(https://farm1.staticflickr.com/827/41810538931_156d76e37d_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/26GDWyT)
Some of you may notice that the MGF poster is little changed from 2018 - well, I really like that photo. yorkshire_pedaller and Uncle Roy's tandem exploits make them a natural choice for DKttr 2019 cover stars.
(http://www.ductilebiscuit.net/gallery_albums/overground_underground_2019/2019_04_27_12_37_50.sized.jpg)
Obligatory play park break:
(http://www.ductilebiscuit.net/gallery_albums/overground_underground_2019/2019_04_27_12_38_21.sized.jpg)
The Big Fiery Heater™:
(http://www.ductilebiscuit.net/gallery_albums/overground_underground_2019/2019_04_27_15_58_02.sized.jpg)
(Every wet ride should have one of these at the finish. :thumbsup:)
Sadly no pictures of any of the Weather, nor the comedy off-roading. Or the gorilla, which only SmallestCub spotted, before we instigated an "always call out interesting wildlife" rule. We later saw a deer, to which CrinklyUncle remarked "Oh deer!", and answered the age old question of why did the chicken cross the road...
To get in the way of the tandem.