After weeks of wet and/or icy weather, today on the “Feast of the Immaculate Conception” we saw a brief lull in the inclement weather allowing this Friday’s ride to Hutton Cranswick Farm Shop to go ahead. Eight Knights turned out at Etton for a 10am start including Michael who, after three punctures in four rides, was rather eager to show off his brand new tubeless tyres. “They told me in the shop that I’d never suffer another puncture” he proudly declared. Well that would be an immaculate concept.
We set off in good spirits, pleased to be out on the road once more and a chance to catch up on all the “goings on”. Our first “objective” was the climb up to Holme-on-the-Wolds. From there we made our way along to Lockington dodging the odd pool of water here and there along the way. As we approached the junction to Kilnwick Lane we found the road strewn with gravel and other detritus washed down the hill from the recent rainfall. After gingerly picking our way through, conditions did improve slightly until we reached Crabtree lane.
Making our way around Cawkeld, the road surface was more akin to a ploughed field with potholes and damaged tarmac everywhere and much of it covered with pools of water or mud from the surrounding fields. Just before we reached Watton a shout went out “Stopping!” As we gathered round to investigate the reason….. “No! It can’t be! Michael’s got another puncture”. Seems his concept of punctureless tyres was not so immaculate after all.
Despite several attempts to “self-seal” it appeared that the hole may be too big and the only answer was to fit a spare inner tube. Meanwhile, Neil was conscious of time ticking on and having booked a table, suggested he’d stay to assist Michael while the rest of us continued onwards. However, instead of heading to Watton and round by Tophill Low to Hutton Cranswick we tracked back to the junction to Bracken lane arriving at the Farm Shop with time to spare where we were met by Heather who’d cycled up to join us.
For the journey home it seems that we all had differing ideas with some wanting to add extra miles while others wanted to get home before any rain. At the junction of Burnbutts and Bracken lane, Michael, Colin and Graham headed to Bainton while the rest took the more direct route home via South Dalton and Etton.