GAP Ride 28 March 2018
Nine riders were out for a pleasant ramble along the tracks on the banks of the River Wharfe and through the posh villages north of Leeds. After the recent visitation from the Beast from the East the weather was actually quite reasonable, it was dry for all but half an hour after lunch, and no wind to speak of. Not bad really for the end of March.Nine riders were out for a pleasant ramble along the tracks on the banks of the River Wharfe and through the posh villages north of Leeds. After the recent visitation from the Beast from the East the weather was actually quite reasonable, it was dry for all but half an hour after lunch, and no wind to speak of. Not bad really for the end of March.
We started from Golden Acre Park (SE 267 417) which has free parking and an excellent cafe where we waited until we had got a full complement of riders – commuter traffic in the Leeds / Bradford area is notoriously bad so we had a 10.30 start to ensure folk had the chance to get over in time.We started from Golden Acre Park (SE 267 417) which has free parking and an excellent cafe where we waited until we had got a full complement of riders – commuter traffic in the Leeds / Bradford area is notoriously bad so we had a 10.30 start to ensure folk had the chance to get over in time.
For the morning we headed off past Eccup past the Emmerdale set into the Harewood estate and on to our first crossing of the Wharfe at Pool. By then we had had two punctures but we were not delayed too long before climbing out of the valley towards Kirkby Overblow. On the recce John Hitchen and I had encountered a bit of a muddy bridlepath between Kirkby Overblow and Sickinghall so today we gave it a miss – people were still talking about the previous week’s mud fest from Sandal – and stuck to tarmac. We picked up the bridlepaths again at Sicklinghall, riding over to Spofforth with views of the old railway line; this is now the Harland trail, and we used this to get into Wetherby for lunch
Bikes parked up in sight, we ate in Morrisons which always provides a decent variety of hot and cold food. When we left en route back on road to Sicklinghall it started to rain a bit, but it did not last long and we were soon back on the bridlepaths again. From Sicklinghall we descended to recross the river at Wood Hall, then through East Keswick to pick up the Leeds Country Way before re-entering the Harewood Estate. Passing through the magnificent entrance gate we were able to enjoy the fabulous view of the house as painted by Turner at the end of the eighteenth century when he was only 22 years old. Only 3 more punctures on this section before we had a tarmac finish past Eccup reservoir and back to the start.
Thanks to all who came out; I reckon 60% off road and pretty well 100% rideable. A bit of mud, but there is a clue in the name of the Group. Thanks to all who came out; I reckon 60% off road and pretty well 100% rideable. A bit of mud, but there is a clue in the name of the Group.
Reid Anderson