Friday Night Ride to Tan Hill - Northallerton, July 5th 2013

[mcshroom]

Just uploaded the ride onto strava (easiest way to get the numbers off my gps) and the last hill gets a Cat. 2 climb (I'm assuming their system is a little more relaxed than Le Tour's), which is the highest of the ascent. I think that sharp hill straight after the little bridge and right-hander was the steepest little section though.

[phantasmagoriana]

That's the one I walked most of. Though to be fair, Deano told me the pub was much further away than it actually was - if I'd known it was just over the hill I might have made an effort!

[Wowbagger]

The route.

http://www.bikehike.co.uk/mapview.php?lnk=http://peter.chesspod.com/routes/tanhilltrack.gpx

By the time I got home, my total was just over 102 miles.

And some photos.



Some YACFers at Scotch Corner



North Yorks at Dawn



OK, how do we string this thing out until 9 am?



Jane, transfixed



Poetry in motion



Loadsabikes & Jane break away from the peloton



Andrewbr



Yet another ascent



The Holy Grail



I saw this and thought of NSTN



Somewhere in County Durham

[Andrew Br]

As everyone else has said, it was a marvellous ride and many thanks to Deano for organising it, the Tiermat household for their hospitality at THoFC (where indeed, a fine coffee was offered and accepted) and to everyone else for their lovely company.
I'll (perhaps) write a little more later in the week and I'll provide a link to Dave L's photos when he puts them on-line.

Strava not here:- http://app.strava.com/activities/65216474

(Yes, I did go to Bar and yes, I did get 9th fastest on a slice where I didn't pedal very much).

ETA:-
I had to modify the Strava 'cos it included my train assisted journey home.
Updated track here:-  http://app.strava.com/activities/65678395

Please note that I'm still 9th fastest on the long downhill where I can't remember pedalling; chin just above the stem and narrow shoulders FTW 

[Deano]

Thanks, everyone.  When I did Tan Hill as a newcomer to the forum in 2011 it was one of the highlights of my cycling (and social) life.  I'm realy glad you all had the hoped-for great time.  I also had a lovely day out riding and helping on an Audax in the Peaks but it was a calendar change that made the dates clash.  I hope it doesn't happen again - the clash, I mean.

It just occurred to me to start an alphabetical list of Great Dales:-

Arkengarth, Barbon, Cover, Dent, E, Farn, Gars....

Suggestions?

Thanks again

Uncle Peter

East Stones.

Can't think of an "I".

[shyumu]

I've had that lantern rouge round for coffee and he's related the FNRtTH experience to me - together with the excellent pictures and stories here it is clear what a brilliant time was had - COR and all.  Glad to hear the Tan Hill Inn has improved in hospitality.

[mrcharly-YHT]

Just remembered something:

Did anyone else get attacked by zombies in Middleton Tyas?

[Andrew Br]

Just remembered something:

Did anyone else get attacked by zombies in Middleton Tyas?

Yes.
I joshed with them "You jolly scamps" "Bastards".

[Deano]

Just remembered something:

Did anyone else get attacked by zombies in Middleton Tyas?

Yes.
I joshed with them "You jolly scamps" "Bastards".

They never said a word to me and phanta - we were the first ones up the hill, and I think the couple in question were a bit too spaced out for it to really register. I expected Slowcoach to use his local knowledge to offer advice about a better location for some late night privacy...

[mcshroom]

The two on the bench? They said/shouted something and were laughing when I passed but were still seated and didn't seem threatening at the time

[Andrew Br]

They popped out from behind a parked car as I rode past and shouted "Boo"*.
I wasn't expecting it so I did my emergency wiggle.
Bastards.


*Or similar. Bastards.

[mrcharly-YHT]

Wow and I got the full treatment - "Braaaiiinsss, we want Braaainnss"

[Deano]

Well, that was a rubbish pub crawl. We only managed three pubs in 17 hours! Not a bad bike, ride, though.

Too many words. Special thanks to Slowcoach and mrcharly for sweeping the back dutifully and efficiently, and to tiermat (and Mrs T, of course) for letting folks use his house. Mrs Miggins' cake was gorgeous, and to all of you who politely marked junctions, many thanks. The staff at the pub were also excellent, though disappointingly cheerful. Apparently Tracy the mad landlady still owns the place, so grumpy service and impromptu demands to make your own tea, stoke the fire etc will still be forthcoming.

So, to the photos.

Gorgeous sunset on the way down:



Puncture repair on Dinsdale Bridge:





Pissing about at the top of Crusty Bank:


Phanta and tom_e by dean.clementson, on Flickr






Slowcoach, mrcharly and Canardly by dean.clementson, on Flickr

Climbing up to the tank ranges:


jane and loadsabikes by dean.clementson, on Flickr


mcshroom and tom_e by dean.clementson, on Flickr

[Canardly]

I had wailing and trying to sell me some of her mum's flowers.

[Deano]

More photos:

Sunrise on the ranges:




lantern rouge and Canardly by dean.clementson, on Flickr


andrewc by dean.clementson, on Flickr


mrcharly and Wowbagger by dean.clementson, on Flickr

AndrewBr admiring Wensleydale:




Reeth:






andrewc in Reeth by dean.clementson, on Flickr


Canardly in Reeth by dean.clementson, on Flickr


bin in Reeth by dean.clementson, on Flickr


CrinklyUncle in Reeth by dean.clementson, on Flickr


Dave L in Reeth by dean.clementson, on Flickr


Slowcoach in Reeth by dean.clementson, on Flickr

Arkengarthdale was lovely, though it is a steep pull away from Reeth:


Crinkly Uncle in Arkengarthdale by dean.clementson, on Flickr


Tom_e, jane, and loadsabikes by dean.clementson, on Flickr




The buttercups have gone a bit mad this year, coating the fields in yellow:



But there's always a bloody cyclist in the way of your shot, isn't there


andrewc by dean.clementson, on Flickr


lantern rouge in Arkengarthdale by dean.clementson, on Flickr

[Deano]

While we were dossing on the grass on the way up, Wowbagger commented that he'd had a pint and a meal at the next pub, which was on the left before Tan Hill.

Now, there's nothing until Tan Hill - no habitation, nothing. There's a bridge, and an abandoned railway carriage, which I can't imagine anyone mistaking for a pub. There's no room for a bar, for one thing, and in bad weather it's filled with sheep, who probably wouldn't react well to a request for a pint of Best and a Sunday lunch.

So here it is, the newly-christened W.B. Inn:

[Deano]

Bike parking outside Tan Hill Inn:





And inside, the sad after-effects of night riding and over-indulgence:


Tan Hill - tom_e by dean.clementson, on Flickr


Dave L by dean.clementson, on Flickr


lantern rouge and Tom_e by dean.clementson, on Flickr

And some group photos:

[Deano]

I've annotated this group photo, which you may have to zoom in to see:



And there was something missing...

(click to show/hide)

[Deano]

And finally, the track across Sleightholme Moor:




AndrewBr


Lantern rouge (do you reckon we could convince people this is the LEL route?)


Phanta, looking utterly composed


"Slow"coach


Crinkly Uncle


bridge over Sleightholme Beck


Wowbagger at Sleightholme Farm


Dave L at Sleightholme Farm


Lantern rouge and Phanta at Sleightholme Farm


jane at Sleightholme Farm

[CrinklyLion]

Phanta isn't walking!

[Deano]

No, that would have taken forever!

Actually, I did briefly consider sending Phanta over the Stang instead, but it was just too complicated with different groups and stuff - and the Stang is much, much harder.

[Kim]

And finally, the track across Sleightholme Moor:

You could totally do that on an ICE Sprint...   *ponders* 

[Deano]

That was the smoothest bit.

[Kim]

Yeah, thought it had improved...

[Deano]

No photos (you'll be glad to hear), but one of my favourite parts was the impromptu teamwork to guide a stray calf in Swaledale back into the field with its family.