This Sunday saw the first “away day” of 2023. Six Knights met up at the village of Hovingham in the Rydale district of North Yorkshire for a forty mile loop around the Howardian Hills. The participants were greeted with bright sunshine and light winds from the south-south-east.
The first leg of the loop took the squad east to Slingsby before commencing the northwards run. The first 20km covered some undulating terrain passing through East Ness and Muscoates with the first big hill challenge coming on the run in to Great Edstone. The bank was short but steep averaging 5.8% but ramping up to 10-13% in places.
Continuing north through Kirbymoorside the road carried on skywards offering little in the way of relief with short downhills followed by yet more climbing before a lovely longer downhill into Cockayne.
Now having reached the furthest point north on the loop it was time to head back south and into the wind. Shortly after leaving Cockayne the climbing began again in earnest with the next 2.2km averaging 6.2%but reaching 16% in places. The reward for all that effort eventually came in the form of a 6.5km downhill towards Carlton but “what goes down also goes up” and so it came to pass. Another ramp upwards reaching 12% in places before the final drop into Helmsley for a well earned lunch break.
Suitably fortified the riders continued the short return journey southwards to Sproxton and Oswaldkirk before completing the loop back to Hovingham for some well deserved “refreshments” to celebrate a very successful “away trip” well enjoyed by those who attended.
The next scheduled “away day” has been earmarked for May 21st taking us into North Yorkshire. Put the date in your diary to make sure you don’t miss out.