RSF - The Off Road Cycling Club

The Adventure Starts Here

The weather gods really smiled on us for the ride and gifted us a beautiful sunny day. Our numbers were boosted by the welcome presence of four members of the RSF’s youth wing, the Trailblasters, including Amanda, a newcomer to us. It meant that the age range of those taking part spanned some 40 years. 


Sadly my bright idea of having a 10am for 10.30 start to allow those who had travelled a distance to have a quick cuppa at the Dalesman café was dashed as it was closed for maintenance. However the ever-resourceful John Hitchen had found an alternative café in Gargrave that we will use in future as he said they were very helpful. 

 

Fortunately those who had arrived early weren’t too cold when the eleven of us set off up the Malham road. Peter and Jane (not the grown-up versions of the children’s books characters) left us after we turned off on our first bridleway just past Eshton Hall. Neither has been enjoying the best of health lately and they had decided to do a tarmac alternative ride. The bridleway soon brought us back to tarmac at Friar’s Head, a Grade II listed building that dates back to 1590. 


After a brief stretch of tarmac it was up the bridle path that runs across to the road between Winterburn and Hetton. The initial climb of about 300 metres is a challenge in the best of conditions but due to the mud under our wheels it ended up with a push for everyone. When we got to the top we all felt ten feet tall – due to the mud sticking to our shoes. However the rest of the track was in reasonably good nick and provided some pleasant non-technical off-road. 

 

From the end of the track it was tarmac to our lunch stop at Airton, passing the spot where our worthy Web Administrator had tried to take a bite out of a rock on a previous ride. 


We met up with Peter and Jane for lunch before setting off for Bell Busk using a series of pleasant bridle paths. Here we had a brief confab – after Sol had finished another of his chat-ups of lady friends – and decided to continue over the main A65 and take the bridle path that leads past the impressive buildings at Stainton Cotes. 

 

When we reached tarmac again it was decided unanimously to take the road directly back to Gargrave. The heavy going had taken its toll. A finale to the ride was Mike’s ride down from the bridge over Leeds-Liverpool canal near Bank Newton to the towpath. Anyone who knows that awkward descent would acknowledge it was an impressive bit of bike handling. It made me think maybe I should take up knitting. 


Thanks to all for your company
Neville Cohen