Our day in the Dales

Although Sunderland is situated on the north east coast of England, it is nevertheless  only an hour’s drive from parts of the Yorkshire Dales. Taking advantage of this reasonably close proximity to the Dales, it has become a regular feature of the section these past 3 years to go by car, with bikes on board, to Richmond or, as was the case in June, 2005, to Reeth.  This occurs at least once and sometimes twice each year; more often than not with the composition of each small group changing somewhat.  Richmond and Reeth are both ideally suited as bases and starting points for excursions by bike in to the Dales.

From either of these two spots, places such as Kirkby Stephen, Hawes, Ayesgarth Falls and Leyburn can all be briefly visited during an average club run.  Whetting the appetite perhaps for visits of a longer duration on another occasion when it is not the intention to see several places in one ride.

Although these places, and many more too numerous to mention, are popular with Dales’ visitors they have nevertheless lost none of their essential charm and basic Dales’ character.  And all are set within the overall framework and backdrop of serenely beautiful countryside.

Nevertheless some amount of climbing by bike is almost inevitable.   One can’t for example go by bike to enjoy a pint at the highest altitude pub in the land without involving some sort of effort!  Even if in this instance it is more of a long and hard moorland slog rather than a daunting steep climb to Tan Hill from Reeth.  However, there are climbs when for little other reason than that they represent a challenge which can be tackled and conquered; albeit on very low gears and perhaps at little more than walking speeds.  And indeed to be truthful, it is not unknown on occasions for even dedicated club cyclists to partly walk sections of the sign-posted 24% or almost 1 in 4 Buttertubs pass near Muker, for example.

On our excursion in to the Dales in June we incorporated incidentally a fifty miles reliability ride, which began immediately from our base at Reeth.  Heading west and a little north along Swaledale the foot of the Butter Tubs on this occasion was passed by with barely a sideways glance as we sped on to Kirkby Stephen; all the while experiencing beautiful countryside.  At Kirkby Stephen we made halt for a bite to eat at a café for it was our intention to make this our farthest point on a roughly circular loop.  From Kirkby Stephen it was due south to join the A684 for a short period while at the same time altering our direction eastwards along Wensleydale to Askrigg.  Changing from what had been reasonably good and fine weather for most of the ride, fine and cold rain, which at first had only threatened, now became steadily more persistent, and clothing which was deemed perfectly adequate for the day and the time of the year was found to be inadequate.  Taken together with road bikes lacking the necessary clearance to the wheels to fit mud guards, and riding changed from being a pleasure to being thoroughly unpleasant.  “Will you ever learn?”, might well be asked even of experienced riders!  However, we were a pretty hardy group who had experienced a lot worse and we pressed on.  It would also be true to say we had no alternative! 

On reaching a little place called Redmire advantage was taken of refreshments being offered at the community centre.  However, and understandably so for the time of the year, there was no heating and it was a cold and shivering group which, having briefly had tea and cake and left in return quite large pools of water on bare, yet highly polished, floor boards and chairs, stood now outside and faced the daunting prospect of six or so mainly up hill miles over mostly open moorland before cars and dry clothing could be reached.

From left: Harry Lavery, Clive Surman-Wells, Bill Childs, Allan Smith

Although the rain on the quite steep climb had by now mainly petered out it had been replaced by very chilly conditions on the exposed moorland; and the more so the higher we climbed.

In clinging, wet clothing and feeling extremely cold despite the increased heart rate from the effort put in to climbing, it is difficult to imagine how any one of us could have coped with a puncture let alone a snapped chain in those circumstances.  Did someone mutter, “flaming June!”?  However, and thankfully, this was not the case and it was a question of car heaters on followed by dry clothing and hot drinks from flasks on arriving safely back at Reeth.  Whereupon it proceeded to lash down with rain!  That the downpour hadn’t occurred any earlier was yet another reason to be grateful.

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