Nick Bleazard

Rosedale Chimney Ride

Sunday the 23rd of August 2015 was a day that was characterised by hot air and strong wind, but that’s enough about Sue Bleazard having to spend the day at home and put up with Ray, it was also the day The Beverley Knights tackled Rosedale Chimney.

The day started with a gentle spin across the flats of southern Ryedale to get the legs warmed up for the hills to come. One hill particular was in the minds of all the Knights, the dreaded Rosedale Chimney and its notorious 33% gradient. For this reason a sensible pace was set so that as much energy could be kept in reserve.

As the group arrived in the village of Wrelton and headed towards Cropton the terrain started to change, heart rates started to rise and legs began to soften. Until now the only difficulty had been the ever present blustery wind which had provided annoyance only for the front riders whilst others sought shelter. But as the ride started to rise and fall there was no hiding place and the group started to splinter as people attempted to ride within themselves. If one dared to glance to the left they could see the near vertical cliff face that soon they would have to slog their way up.

After some lumpy miles the group arrived in the village of Rosedale Abbey and started their individual attempts to conquer the beast that is Rosedale Chimney Bank. One by one the knights tackled the climb with their cranks turning painstakingly slowly, Knights clung to the edge of the road desperately trying to find the gentlest gradient as they negotiated three brutal bends. This is where Nick B came into conflict with a motor cyclist as he crept his way around one of the hairpins on the wrong side of the road. After the hairpins came the brutal 33% section rising like a wall, one by one the Knights zig-zagged their way up to soften the gradient however the gradient proved too much for Heather and Nick who failed to attempt this strategy. The only other casualty of the climb was Andy who with a chest full of phlegm struggled valiantly to get to the top but could not.

The prize for cresting the brow of Rosedale Chimney Bank is a glorious decent across the moors towards Hutton Le Hole. With the sun on their backs and the hardest climb of the day the Knights enjoyed a fast but leisurely blast surrounded by a beautiful carpet of heather set against a back drop of blue sky. Once in Hutton Le Hole and true to form a pub was found! With probably the greatest amount of effort exerted all day the Knights managed to resist a pint.

From Hutton Le Hole the destination was Helmsley via more hills. On roads untouched by traffic the Knights crisscrossed the North Yorkshire Moors, and whilst the gradients were not as severe as Rosedale they were rarely below 11%. With more stunning vistas and views of the moors the Knights battled across the moors to Helmsley and a well-earned lunch. I imagine it’s never easy running a café, I imagine it’s a task made more complicated by 14 cyclists who order individually arrive at separate times and sit around the same table. So hats off to the staff at the café in Helmsley who eventually got everyone their food and drinks and thank you for the extra Americanos which seemed to appear free of charge every 5 minutes. (I am sure there is a family somewhere still moaning that they never got their drinks!)

From Helmsley all that was left was a leg sapping blast into the wind along the “flat last 10 miles” (Gregory 2015) Until finally we were back at Amotherby where the adventure began.

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I felt it in my fingers, I felt in my toes… Nick and Ray get wet, wet, wet.

By Nick Bleazard Leave a Comment Jan 19

The piercing heat of the sun forced all but the most fool hardy to search for shade however a group of fool hardy cyclists battled the punishing heat as temperatures soared above 40 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile away from the Tour Down Under and on the other side of the globe gun metal grey clouds sent a deluge of water plummeting towards East Yorkshire earth. Huddled together at the market cross father and son, master and apprentice, Ray and Nick waited in vain for the fellow Knights to arrive.

By five past ten and Nick and Ray had come to realise that they were the only ones foolish enough to believe the weather forecast (a point made only too clear by the fact the rain should have finished five minutes ago and showed no sign of abating) and that their fellow Knights would not be joining them and instead would be keeping themselves dry at home.

It was soon decided that although it was raining (a lot) and that the raid showed no sign of stopping the day was going to be quite a mild one and the precipitation was no reason to postpone the ride. So of Nick and his Dad went towards Hutton Cranswick dodging puddles all the way. Their rewards was a steaming cup of coffee and bacon buttie.

By the time the damp duo had left the garden centre the rain had stopped. However having stopped for a drink it’s fair to say both Nick and Ray who were wet, wet, wet had cooled down and they could feel the cold in their fingers, they could feel it in their toes.

The closer to home they got the brighter the day became and by one o’clock they had arrived in Tickton having ridden through non-stop rain, spray from the road and clouds the sun finally decided to come out. They say sun shines on the righteous; what does that say about Nick and Ray?

New Year, New Kit, Same Old Floral Hall.

By Nick Bleazard Leave a Comment Jan 12

2014 is upon us the Tour Down Under is on the horizon and Nick Bleazard has even dusted off his bike and been on a bike ride, this can only mean one thing: a new cycling season!

To get everyone in ship shape there are still regular spinning sessions happening on a Tuesday and Friday evenings, if you are interested contact Neil our glorious leader.

Out with the old and in with the blue! Andy “Armani” Smith has been working on designing a new kit. One of the design briefs being remove the unflattering moon to draw the eyes away from Ray’s stomach! A new kit also means all the new members to the club will have the chance to get suited booted for the new season.

This morning Heather, Jim, Steve Powers, Nick and Ray met for an icy blast to the coast.

Deciding to head to Hornsea on the main roads to avoid the thrills and spills of icy corners the intrepid gang rode at a quick pace in glorious sunshine. From the Whitecross roundabout they headed through Leven and Bransburton at a reduced speed to allow everyone to catch their breath. From Bransburton the gang headed towards Atwick via Bewholme along some roads that can only be decided as frosty.

Arriving at Hornsea with some frosty extremities the Knights were all ready for a hot drink and a bite to eat to warm themselves up. Within 5 minutes of being inside the Floral Hall a collective sigh was exhaled by the Knights as Ray had already seen someone he knew and was outside talking to them.

By the time the coffee had been drunk, feet had been warmed and fingers defrosted the roads had (as predicted by young Nick) defrosted and all that remained was for a heads down blast back to Tickton, Beverley and Walkington bathed in glorious January sunshine. By the end of the ride the gang were all in agreement that they had seen the best of the sunshine, had a good blast and piles off fun.

Coast to Coast

By Nick Bleazard Leave a Comment Dec 3

In late September the Beverley Knights embarked on their greatest challenge collective challenge since the club was formed. There would be thrills, spills and an unforgettable night with the irrepressible Irene.

Having travelled on masse (excluding Mike Straw, Nick Bleazard and Steve Powers) to the Lake District on Thursday the Friday started with the customary dipping of the wheel into the Irish see and spirits high. The group enjoyed some good riding on Friday and soon fragmented with the more fool hardy eager to emulate their heroes from the Tour of Britain and ascend Honister pass meanwhile the more sensible chose to follow a less undulating parcours. After a lunch in Keswick and as the day went on the group fragmented again, some of the group sought a more scenic route whilst others carried on enduring the main roads. It is on the main roads outside Kendal where the day took a turn for the worse. As the group rode in a line Ray hit a pot hole and brought down Jim, who unfortunately broke his jaw and was unable to continue after being airlifted to hospital. Ray meanwhile, suffering from cuts and bruises, was able to continue. (This would not be Ray’s only act of sabotage over weekend.)

On the Friday night as Nick, Steve Powers and Mike arrived spirits were understandably low amongst the group with Jim’s wellbeing at the front of everyone’s mind. Like all true Leaders Neil decided something had to be done to raise the moral of his troops. In what must have been an act to make his fellow cyclists laugh he started to harass and be rude to the waiters in what will forever be remembered as “oi-gate.” As Saturday morning arrived Neil again lived up to his billing of team leader and took the decision to visit Jim at hospital in Preston.

On the second day with the three new additions the group set of from Penrith station. Putting the previous day behind them the group soon got to teasing Ray avoiding riding in his wheel at all costs in case they were the victims of his plan to ruin the weekend.

As the wheels turned and legs spun along steadily the group enjoyed some early morning group riding. The countryside could be described as undulating and didn’t provide the Knights with anything to worry about. However in the distance but getting ever closer was a wall of bracken and the Knights could not escape the fact that if they wished to reach the North Sea they would have scale the larger hills that blocked out the horizon in front of them. The first and arguably hardest challenge of the day was Hartside Pass though never olverly steep and peppered with switchbacks that softened the gradient it was long. The café at the top and the venue for lunch perched at the top of the hill, tantalisingly close yet agonisingly far away.

From Hartside the group had a fast and furious descent and plummeted towards Garrigill from where if they flat road appeared to be at a premium and the Knights found themselves going in one of two direction uphill or downhill. The hill out of Garrigill and the terrain between Garrigill and Nenthead were particularly challenging for me and further cafe stop at Allenheads provided welcome relief. (It was even worth the midge bites.) From Allenheads the group climbed to Rookhope and then descened towards Stanhope where Ray unleashed his next wicked plan. Eager to disrupt the group further he tricked Jackie and took her on a ten mile detour whilst the worried group waited. From Stanhope only two more challenges remained, the climb out the town which makes it into the top 100 British Road Climbs and helping Neil survive the night at Bee home without feeling the full wroth of Irene.

After an interesting evening at Bee cottage which raised various questions, for example who would wash up if we used Irene’s shot glasses and what exactly does Ray get up to when he goes to Amsterdam? The group retired to their bed rooms. The final morning brought sunshine, a strong fragrance emerging from the room dubbed “Dads and Lads” which housed Ray and Nick Bleazard and Carl and Rich Johnson and sense of enthusiasm for the days riding as the group new for the majority of the day they would be going downhill and with the wind behind them. This early optimism was proved to be right and the group darted along tracks and trails with the wind in their sails. Working their way through County Durham and Northumbria along gravel and mud trails they group emerged unscathed and miraculously without puncture in Gateshead.

After a short detour that nearly saw the Knights heading north on the Busy A1 the group were soon on the banks of the Tyne and Bathed in sunshine. All that remained was a short stop outside the Baltic art gallery before the group soon got on their way with the taste of fish and chips in on the tip of their tongues. They worked their way through what seemed like never ending housing estates and cycle paths of east Newcastle and North Shields until the end was in sight the light house at the end of the harbour wall signified the Knights had arrived at Tynemouth. With the sun bouncing of the North Sea all that remained was for wheels to be dunked in the North Sea and the Beverley Knights had done it; they had Cycled from Coast to Coast.

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The Derbyshire Dash

By Nick Bleazard Leave a Comment Jun 17

On Sunday the 9^th of June 2013 the Knights embarked on a a hilly 45 miler around Hathersage in Derbyshire in glorious 18 ̊ sunshine, taking in Stanage Edge, Hope, Edale, Mam Tor, Tideswell, Monsal Head, Great Longstone, Grindleford then back to the Fox House Inn. Two mystery guests joined us for lunch and one cycled with us in the afternoon, then sneaked off for a night of passion and celebration in a local Hotel. A grand day out, with a route organised by my great mate Pat (Pantani) Meeds.

We also tried our hill climbing skills, trying to beat times by the great Tom Simpson and Malcolm Elliott up the famous Monsal Hill Climb. Young Charlie Carruthers tried it twice and nearly beat sub 2 minutes, for the other keen Strava boys you’ll have to check their times on-line.

Today’s riders – Me, Heather, Roger, Linda, Jim, Andy, Pat, Simon, Charlie, Steve G, Steve P, Dave, and the mystery guests ——- Jonathan and Sheenagh!

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Majorca Cycling 2013

By Nick Bleazard Leave a Comment Jun 2

Recently five of our brave Beverley Knights set out on a crusade to conquer the cols of Majorca. They think they notched up 471km in 6 days with 22,500 ft of climbing and 36 bottles of Rioja however this last figure could have been more! The gang had a great time however there were thrills and spills (don’t mention bananas around Jonathan!) Below are the pictures of Ray, Mike, Jonathan, Neil and Heather’s adventure.

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Cycling Poser Day 2013

By Nick Bleazard Leave a Comment Jun 2

Today heralded the start of a new Beverley Knights tradition, the first ever annual Beverley Knights Poser Day. The rules as set out by team captain Neil were simple; Dress to Impress and the winner will be judged by a member of the public. So as the sun rose over East Yorkshire draws were being emptied, wardrobes were being rifled through and Raymond was even polishing his steel hobby horse. For pictures including the winner Mike Straw scroll down.

Not only did today see the first ever Poser Day but it saw a first foray into the flat lands around the banks of the Humber and Ouse on what was a flat, fast and furious day. The ride started with a climb over the Westwood to Walkington and then up towards the mast above South Cave. After a fast descent into South Cave the team headed towards Elleker and through the flat lands through Blacktoft, Yokefleet and Gilberdyke before heading to North Cave for another first, a stop at the Wetlands Café for a cheap but extremely cheerful coffee stop. It was at the café Mike “The Hood” Straw was crowned as the Best Dressed in his brand new (shhh don’t tell Jackie!) Jersey fresh from Majorca.

From North Cave the Knights headed to Hotham, Newbald and up Trundlegate where Anthony set a blistering pace that was too hot for Me, Slim Jim and Simon. Despite our efforts he climbed over the brow of the hill and he wasn’t seen again until the crossroads. This was followed by a dash to Walkington from where we dispersed in a variety of ways to our waiting lists of Sunday jobs. I forgot to turn on my Strava today so the facts and figures are Andy Smith’s he covered 42.3 miles at an average of 16.9 mph; Chapeau!

It was great to see the usual gang and Jackie getting better with every ride but it was even better to see the return of some absent friends, a big welcome back to Graham and Anthony. It should also be noted that on a day of firsts normality was resumed when Famous Ray was spotted by people who knew him on two separate occasions.

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