Well that’s October rolling in already bringing along with it some distinctly autumnal weather, which of course has curtailed a number of the recent club rides. However all is not gloom and doom with the sun putting in a welcome appearance for this Fridays ride to Allerthorpe.
Eleven Knights plus one guest rider gathered at Etton under brilliant blue skies with a few scudding “mares tail” clouds. The dress code for the day was more like morse code, a few longs and a few shorts with the temperature just in double digits. The group set off towards Kiplingcotes passing “Grannies Attic” on the approach to our first major climb of the day, Arras Hill. Not too steep but soon had us all spread out with just a steady incline around 2-3% then ramping up briefly to 5% before leveling off near the main road.
After regrouping at the top we set off once more towards Sancton. Unfortunately the road was strewn with shingle and mud from “tractoring” and unlucky for Chad as he picked up a puncture just before the final descent. At this point the “breakaway” were too far ahead to notice. The rest of us waited while Chad set about the repair. Just as we’d set off to continue, Colin, Graham and Chris appeared having just climbed back up the hill to see what had happened. 😁
Leaving Sancton we headed for North Cliffe then along Sand Lane to the Market Weighton road before turning off to Harswell. At this point Ed must have been feeling pangs of hunger as he shot off the front like a donkey chasing the elusive carrot. He was not alone though as Seadog chased him down clinging onto his tail. The final leg of the outward journey took us through Everingham and Bielby then over the Pocklington canal to Allerthorpe Lake park.
For the return journey we retraced our steps back over the canal but then turned towards Hayton. After crossing the busy main road we headed to Burnby followed by the steady ascent to Londesborough before plunging down then up the other side of Intake Hill.
After a final regrouping we continued towards Market Weighton picking up the Spring Road to Kiplingcotes and back to Etton and home to end another enjoyable day in the saddle.