The Pendle Witches' Ride - Sat 11th October

[Wowbagger]

The postman has just delivered a great wodge of giant-sized tickets for this jaunt!

[Andrew Br]

If it goes well (and it is a lovely ride) then I see no reason why not! 

 

[peliroja]

I am excited about this ride. I may tweak the route a little (to add more hills as the first part is quite a busy road. Having said that, it's a good quick section to get us out into true countryside quickly, so I might not.

I'll investigate good food stops. There are a few, but the section from Malham to Settle is rather (extremely)  wild and bereft of eateries.

[woollypigs]

I'll investigate good food stops. There are a few, but the section from Malham to Settle is rather (extremely)  wild and bereft of eateries.

Well a pub will do just fine

[Wowbagger]

A pub? Singular?

Looking at my dog-eared, beer-stained copies of OS maps 98 and 103, I reckon that Gargrave would be as good a place as any for early morning coffee & cake, lunch in Settle, which must have some very good pubs. I do remember an excellent fish & chip shop when I was there in 1968 but I was only 14 and it didn't sell beer. Wigglesworth has an Inn (according to my 1973 copy, now downgraded to a PH). Sadly we are not going as far north as Helwith Bridge, which boasts the CAMRA Pub of the Season (which season of which year I wonder?) but there are three others, I reckon, on the way to Clitheroe and after that we are almost home, one small gradient excepted.

I reckon we should survive...

[Sergeant Pluck]

Any word on the B&B details?

[woollypigs]

A pub? Singular?

Sorry Wow but it was 4.17am when I posted that It should have been pubs. Had to get up at 2am to say goodbye to Peli as she is away in foreign bits again and I could not got back to sleep again.

[Wowbagger]

It must be very tough having to say goodbye to that lovely lady of yours. I hope you give her a good welcome home when she returns again?

[clarion]

There's a great cafe in Gargrave, but I'm not sure if it'd accommodate you all.  In Malham, there's a good place on the left of the main road in the village - I think it's called The Barn.  proper cyclists' food - chip butties, beans on toast, that sort of thing.  Otherwise, there's a pub that does food a bit further up, and I can't remember it's name.

[Wowbagger]

There's a great cafe in Gargrave, but I'm not sure if it'd accommodate you all.

There's only likely to be 8 of us!

[MSeries]

The Dalesman in Gargrave, opens at 10:00
Naked Man Cafe in Settle
Post Office Cafe in Downham, sells Golliwogs

[clarion]

The Naked Man sells great cake - as approved by BikePornStar

[clarion]

There's a great cafe in Gargrave, but I'm not sure if it'd accommodate you all.

There's only likely to be 8 of us!

it really is quite a snug little corner place, you know

[MSeries]

It's big enough for 8 in the Dalesman

[clarion]

Get there before the OAPs on a drive out, and you should be OK.  Tea was fabulous last time I was there, though that may have had summat to do with the respite from the stinging rain I'd endured from Burnley

[tonycollinet]

Put me down as a maybe maybe.

Not sure I am totally up to it without slowing the group (Longest ride so far was the tunnel ride at 45 miles, plus I'll be on an MTB, not a road bike). Plus with the Blackpool ride - it would be two weekends away cycling. Might be pushing it a bit.

Will let you know closer to the date.

[Wowbagger]

Nothing slows a group like a tandem laden with Mrs. Wow and me.

A mountain bike might well be more suitable anyway.

[peliroja]

Hello from sunny Greece!

Don't fret.I'd planned the cyclists' caff in Gargrave, and then Settle. We're skirting around Malham, not going into the village itself.

Toodlepip, I've got an air conditioned conference centre to find... :-/

[alan]

Put me down as a maybe maybe.

Not sure I am totally up to it without slowing the group
 Plus with the Blackpool ride - it would be two weekends away cycling. Might be pushing it a bit.

Will let you know closer to the date.

This sums up my current attitude.

[Deano]

Hurrah!  It looks as though I'll be able to join you lot for the day!

Currently I can get a train for £13.00.  This arrives at Skipton at 8:55, or Keighley at 8:42.  So I can meet you in Gargrave, or in Keighley.

However, I'm having trouble booking my bike on the Leeds-Skipton leg.  It's ten years since I last caught this train - can you reserve a bike, or not?

And any advice on which train to get back?

I'll look forward to meeting you all.

[peliroja]

You don't need to book bikes on that train.

[bikenerd]

You don't need to book bikes on that train.

Do they have modern trains on that line yet?  The last time I caught it it still had the many doored old fashioned type.  This may have been more than ten years ago, though 

[toekneep]

Put me down as a maybe maybe.

Not sure I am totally up to it without slowing the group (Longest ride so far was the tunnel ride at 45 miles, plus I'll be on an MTB, not a road bike). Plus with the Blackpool ride - it would be two weekends away cycling. Might be pushing it a bit.

Will let you know closer to the date.

Have you seen the route! I doubt you will be the only one pushing it a bit.

[peliroja]

Bikenerd - yes, there are nice new trains on the Leeds - Skipton route now.

[MSeries]

There is usually no problem with bikes on the Leeds-Skipton line at weekends.