Tour of the Small Wheelers

[Mseries]

Just got back from a 3 day tour where I passed through
Moulton, Brompton and Bickerton and two National Parks.

Day1: From home in Morley I went over to Wharfedale then up
the Dale to Kettlewell, over to Coverdale via a 25% climb
:-( and down to Leyburn then over to Grinton YH. 67miles.

Day 2. Due East to the Esk Valley, then South to Lockton
YH, 80 miles. Last forty miles were up and down including
many 20% ers

Day3: Lockton to home via Malton & York. 68 miles
undulating and flat

Weather was kind to me, despite the fierce hills I
thoroughly enjoyed myself.

[Vernon Levy]

> Day1: From home in Morley I went over to Wharfedale then
> up the Dale to Kettlewell, over to Coverdale via a 25%
> climb :-( and down to Leyburn then over to Grinton YH.
> 67miles.
>
The climb is a killer at least it was when I did it
last year. I'll have to have another try. It's a lovely
route though.

> Day 2. Due East to the Esk Valley, then South to Lockton
> YH, 80 miles.
Last
> forty miles were up and down including many 20% ers

> Day3: Lockton to home via Malton & York. 68 miles
> undulating and flat
>
> Weather was kind to me, despite the fierce hills I
> thoroughly enjoyed myself.

You've been really lucky with the weather. I am hoping for
similar conditions at half term when I have my next mini
tour probably in the same area as yours but in the reverse
direction.

[Mseries]

"vernon levy" <not@home.net> wrote in message
news:c85pt4$vvk$1@newsg4.svr.pol.co.uk...
>
> > Day1: From home in Morley I went over to Wharfedale then
> > up the Dale to Kettlewell, over to Coverdale via a 25%
> > climb :-( and down to Leyburn
then
> > over to Grinton YH. 67miles.
> >
> The climb is a killer at least it was when I did it last
> year. I'll have
to
> have another try. It's a lovely route though.
>
> > Day 2. Due East to the Esk Valley, then South to Lockton
> > YH, 80 miles.
> Last
> > forty miles were up and down including many 20% ers
>
> > Day3: Lockton to home via Malton & York. 68 miles
> > undulating and flat
> >
> > Weather was kind to me, despite the fierce hills I
> > thoroughly enjoyed myself.
>
> You've been really lucky with the weather. I am hoping for
> similar conditions at half term when I have my next mini
> tour probably in the same area as yours but in the reverse
> direction.

I had a good tailwind on Day 2 so I was reasonably fresh
for the Moors. Those hills are complete bitches, can't even
use the downhills to get momentum for the uphill usually
due to a sharp bend at the bottom. Super scenery though,
very quiet roads. Headwind all the way home today so I just
took it easy.

I'm going to give your Reeth - Tan Hill circuit a try soon.

[Vernon Levy]

> I'm going to give your Reeth - Tan Hill circuit a
> try soon.

I've done it twice - once on my mountain bike and rode some
of the route off-road between Tan Hill and Kisden Force near
Keld and once entirely on the road. I'm tempted to go out
again and try it with my newly acquired road bike with
triple chain ring and see how I fare with a lighter bike but
higher gears.

It is a nice circuit and I've been surprised on both rides
that I manage to cope with the long drag from Reeth to Tan
Hill. Should be a tad easier third time round as I am losing
weight though I'm still a portly 20+ stones. I managed to
average 18 mph over ten and a bit miles last weekend - how
much the improvement was due to the lighter bike and how
much was due to a fitter me is a moot point.

[Vernon Levy]

> I'm going to give your Reeth - Tan Hill circuit a
> try soon.

I've done it twice - once on my mountain bike and rode some
of the route off-road between Tan Hill and Kisden Force near
Keld and once entirely on the road. I'm tempted to go out
again and try it with my newly acquired road bike with
triple chain ring and see how I fare with a lighter bike but
higher gears.

It is a nice circuit and I've been surprised on both rides
that I manage to cope with the long drag from Reeth to Tan
Hill. Should be a tad easier third time round as I am losing
weight though I'm still a portly 20+ stones. I managed to
average 18 mph over ten and a bit miles last weekend - how
much the improvement was due to the lighter bike and how
much was due to a fitter me is a moot point.