Unless you’re the sensible type and have a protein filled alternative. The recipe for today’s bake included a handful of hills, a sprinkling of flats interspersed with a soupçon of villages and quiet roads. Eight contestants gathered at Market Cross for the Big Beverley Bike Off to show off their cycling skills. “Right everyone, you all have the ingredients” announced Pugwash “It’s 0930 get your oven on and ready… BIKE!”
The contestants set off on step one, following the Molescroft road outwards to Cherry Burton. Next up was the familiar Etton Mess. It seems not everyone had fully read the recipe instructions as Barry’s hand reached out to turn towards South Dalton before shouts from behind set him on the correct path. By the time we reached lower Gardham, the heat in the kitchen was beginning to rise steadily along with the gradient.
When we reached the highest point of Stoneknowle hill we were joined by Zog just in time for him to about turn and return downhill. Swooping downwards towards North Newbald the pedals started spinning like a mixer on high speed. Continuing with the next step of recipe we covered a few more ‘peaks and troughs’ until arriving at Hotham. “You know I’ve read the recipe but I still don’t know where we’re going” said Matty as we turned towards North Cave. ‘Dough’, who said anyone can follow a recipe?
A final frantic dash along the busy main road towards Gilberdyke and then it was ‘relax’ as we turned towards the much quieter road to Broomfleet. This ‘proved’ to be as flat as a pancake and with the wind behind us and the sun on our backs, progress was quite swift, reaching Ellerker in good time.
“A table for nine please” enquired the contestants at the Olive Tree cafe in Ellerker Garden centre. Luckily they were able to accommodate us on a table with a reserved sign. After a brief review of the menu, almost everyone gathered around the cake counter like excited kids in a sweet shop to survey the ‘scrumptious’ offerings to be found there.
It was then time for the contestants to show off the results of their choices. First up was Barry with a Cherry scone which was equivalent in size to a house brick. “Wow, that’ll weigh you down on the way home!” Next up was the Date Slice and fruit scone but the showstopper was surely the chocolate orange cheesecake which had everyone drooling in their coffee.
A little later, gathering outside in the lovely warm sunshine, it was time reveal who will be leaving the contest. “The person leaving the contest today is 🎶🥁🥁🎶….. Zog”. Well he does live nearby and had already cycled 10-15 miles to meet us.
The remainder of the contestants then set off to Elloughton led by Barry who’d found a new lease of life powered by that Cherry scone. On reaching ‘base camp’ at Brantingham, he decided to ‘peel’ off and make his own way home. The magnificent seven carried on while singing 🎶The only way is up 🎶. From the top of Elloughton Dale we eventually reached Riplingham.
It was at this point the “recipe book” was thrown to one side as first Matt decided to add a few more miles then Colin ‘chipped’ in with “We could do the sprint”. While Sharrin and Steve G took to the Westoby lane, the rest of us headed downhill to Raywell and on to Skidby before going our separate ways home. A warmly fought contest in which all were “star bikers” and not a ‘soggy bottom’ in sight.