This week’s Friday ride saw the return of our illustrious route master! It appears that the last few “flat” rides in his absence had not gone unnoticed as he announced in the preamble that “there will be some hills”. Eight Knights reported for duty as Team BK assembled on the start line at Manor House.
The “roll out” was fairly processional as we passed through Cherry Burton and Etton catching up on the trials, tribulations and holiday news of those who’d not been out in a while. For some, it was a case of “Who are you again?”
The peloton remained together as we continued on the Kiplingcotes road towards Goodmanham. At the junction of Red Lane, two of Team BK Matty and Mike, ‘departed the fold’ as they needed to be home earlier, while the remaining six continued to Market Weighton via the Goodmanham Road.
After the gentle slopes so far, the first “categorised” climb was soon looming on the horizon. Not steep in the scheme of things but one that will challenge most of us. At least we get a good downhill run leading into it to pick up speed. While it is tempting to try and maintain that impetus on the lower section where it is “only” 4-5% one needs to keep something “in the tank” for the second half as it ramps slowly up to 6-7%. Then just as you think you’ve reached the top at the junction there is still another quarter mile climbing to reach the next flat section and a chance to recover.
Fortunately the next section was a long sweeping downhill run into Burnby followed by a slightly undulating road to Nunburnholme and on to Kilnwick Percy. A further steady climb followed for around a mile before dropping down into Millington to the “feed station” at Ramblers Rest.
By the time we’d completed our refreshments, the unseasonal cool brought by the northerly wind was starting chill our bones. Winding our way along Millington Dale with the wind funnelling into our faces did not help, but the little ramp at the end soon had our pulses racing as we neared Huggate.
With the peloton all together again, we looked forward to the wind assisted downhill run to North Dalton. Next up was the two hilly lumps on the way to Middleton-on-the-Wolds. At this point Heather decided to attempt a “breakaway” powering her way to the top of the second hill then pushing hard on the descent. Unfortunately for her she hadn’t picked up the instruction to turn through the “estate” and zoomed past the turn.
When the peloton arrived at the junction at Front Street, there was no sign of Heather. “Where can she be?” we all wondered. “Could she be waiting for us at the roundabout?” we thought. Iain then volunteered to drop down into the village to see if she was there but came back with puzzled look, “No she’s not there” he said. Meanwhile Colin rode onwards to the next junction where he found her waiting patiently, probably wondering what was taking the peloton so long to catch up.
The final section of Friday’s stage saw the peloton taking the usual route through Holme-on-the-Wolds and back to Beverley via Cherry Burton to end another superb ride. All we need now is for some summer weather.