3 Counties…plus a number of hills

Weather Check…Bike Check…Route Check…Go

A different format slightly for today’s UOBCC ride as normally I drive down to the Uni and then ride the route and quite often end up being the only rider left going back to the Uni as everyone else makes their way home at various points leading into Bradford.  So today I rode down to the Uni and glad that I did.

The route was planned as a repeat of the 3 Counties ride done a few weeks back but on the ride down to the Uni I came up Trough Lane to Denholme and found that even though the sun was shining the road was covered in ice all the way across forcing me to get off and push.  Not just in one spot but in a couple so that part of the route was out.

I met the rest of the riders at the Uni (apologies to Callum who needed a bike but we were unable to raise anyone so he missed out).  Owing to this we set off a bout 10minutes late on our way up Thornton Road, Andy was tailing me but a bit down on fitness following 2 weeks in the sun (lucky sod) with Mark, Ben and Finn (new rider) a bit behind but not far as we reached the top and the first stop to re group.

We then made our way through Denholme and out towards the Flappitt where we were detouring due to the ice.  At the Flappitt we turned left towards Haworth and Oxenhope as we were out in the more rural areas now ice was a bit of a problem along the edges of the road, which was really a problem at the bottom of the brow where it looked like water in the sun but was ice we all called to point it out and even Ben called out to warn the others and then found himself on the ice and then the deck as his wheels went from under him (thanks you to the car driver for the symapathy to Ben)  We now made our way towards Oxenhope and the first real hill.  Out through Lower Marssh and up the hill to Penistone, I must admit that I was not looking forward to this as my cleats were damaged and I kept pulling out of the pedals, however we all made it to the top with Mark coming out with a great comment as he reached the summit, aimed at me “You’re a sadist”

Over the top of Penistone and up to Stanbury and in to a slight headwind as we made our way to the biggest climb of the day upto Scar Top.  Both Mark and Finn took the safe option and pushed the steepest part whilst Ben pedaled all the way up and over and we all met up just past the Pine Shop.

From here we undulated towards the top of the Herders and a long descent down to Laneshawbridge, a couple patches of ice on the descent and a cold wind in our faces,but everyone made it safely down.  Once in Laneshawbridge we stopped for a re group as Ben Was starting to suffer a bit.  Now we were heading towards home and once into Cowling we would have a long descent into Crosshills so as Ben had dropped off the pace at this point we waited for him otherwise we would be miles ahead.  Ben caught up and refueled with a Mars Bar which I think was not as solid as the Snickers he had earlier.

Andy and I pushed ahead down to Crosshills helped a bit by a tailwind and then waited at the bottom, good job as the other three almost turned the wrong way and headed out to the by-pass and we just managed to catch them to direct them the right way.  Now it was just a drag up past Airedale Hospital  and upto Keighley.

At this point I left the group to make their own way home as I rode through Keighley centre and up Halifax Road to home.

Another good ride with the guys, there will not be a road ride next Sunday as we are all off to get mucky at Gisburn Forest, so the next ride will actually be on 4th March and will be a Sky Ride Social to Ilkley and up the Cow and Calf

Hope to see you there