V
vernon
Guest
For once I set off in good time to reach Wiggington early enough to allow me
to have a leisurely unpacking of my bike and registration etc but this was
negated by traffic far heavier than expected and Wigginton being nearly
gridlocked through hosting a scarecrow competition, seven a side football
tournament and stamp collectors' fair at the community centre hosting the
Audax start and finish.....
Setting off fifteen minutes late I was resigned to my customary lanterne
rouge position for the entire ride especially as the ride took in Brimham
Rocks and I don't do hills gracefully or willingly. The first part of the
ride went well as I was averaging 25 km/hr as I pointlessly tried to close
the gap and catch some riders before the first control. On leaving the
grounds of Beningborough Hall, the route passed through Newton on Ouse which
was a fantastic sight. The main street was lined with cherry trees which
were awash with blossom and formed a very photogenic view. Pressing on I
reached Ripley Castle Tea Rooms which was the first control and where a good
number of riders were finishing their tea break.
MSeries, formerly of this parish was there, rehabilitating after his serious
mishap last year. One or two of the regular riders commented upon my
absence from earler calendered events - it was nice to know that I'd been
missed.
Beware of the prices at the tea room - £3.50 for a couple of cans of
softdrinks and a Mars bar!
I'd forgotten about the misery (only for the gravitationally challenged ...)
of the longish drag from Ripley through Bedlam and onto Brimham Rocks. The
long undulating descent into Ripon was nice and once again, I caught up with
the riders at the cafe in the park. I wasn't quite the last to leave the
cafe and the ride back to Wigginton via Boroughbridge, Aldborough and
Ouseburn was uneventfull and I managed to complete the ride at an average
speed of 15km/hr depite the lumps, late start and going overdistance through
missing a turning for a minor road to Boroughbridge. I also wasn't the last
rider back. My satisfaction with my own performance was dimisnished a tad
wehn, 15 minutes after my arrival back at base, a bunch of 300km riders
arrived back. They'd done three times my distance in only twice the time.
Envy, envy, envy.
Still, I've got 10 x 100km rides under my belt this season. Only another
2000km worth of rides to go to meet my target for the year.
to have a leisurely unpacking of my bike and registration etc but this was
negated by traffic far heavier than expected and Wigginton being nearly
gridlocked through hosting a scarecrow competition, seven a side football
tournament and stamp collectors' fair at the community centre hosting the
Audax start and finish.....
Setting off fifteen minutes late I was resigned to my customary lanterne
rouge position for the entire ride especially as the ride took in Brimham
Rocks and I don't do hills gracefully or willingly. The first part of the
ride went well as I was averaging 25 km/hr as I pointlessly tried to close
the gap and catch some riders before the first control. On leaving the
grounds of Beningborough Hall, the route passed through Newton on Ouse which
was a fantastic sight. The main street was lined with cherry trees which
were awash with blossom and formed a very photogenic view. Pressing on I
reached Ripley Castle Tea Rooms which was the first control and where a good
number of riders were finishing their tea break.
MSeries, formerly of this parish was there, rehabilitating after his serious
mishap last year. One or two of the regular riders commented upon my
absence from earler calendered events - it was nice to know that I'd been
missed.
Beware of the prices at the tea room - £3.50 for a couple of cans of
softdrinks and a Mars bar!
I'd forgotten about the misery (only for the gravitationally challenged ...)
of the longish drag from Ripley through Bedlam and onto Brimham Rocks. The
long undulating descent into Ripon was nice and once again, I caught up with
the riders at the cafe in the park. I wasn't quite the last to leave the
cafe and the ride back to Wigginton via Boroughbridge, Aldborough and
Ouseburn was uneventfull and I managed to complete the ride at an average
speed of 15km/hr depite the lumps, late start and going overdistance through
missing a turning for a minor road to Boroughbridge. I also wasn't the last
rider back. My satisfaction with my own performance was dimisnished a tad
wehn, 15 minutes after my arrival back at base, a bunch of 300km riders
arrived back. They'd done three times my distance in only twice the time.
Envy, envy, envy.
Still, I've got 10 x 100km rides under my belt this season. Only another
2000km worth of rides to go to meet my target for the year.
