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Coast to Coast Weekend Sat/Sun 15/16 September 2007
Riders: Alex, Claire, Neal, Phil, Steve, Michael (until lunchtime Saturday) Support crew: Phil and Doreen Saturday morning dawned bright and fairly sunny as we all amassed at Glasson Dock for an 8.30am start. The author waited patiently from 8.15am for the rest to turn up. Had he listened to instructions handed out in the pub at the pre-brief on Thursday, he would have been ½ mile due east by the lock gates at Glasson, where the support crew, Phil our ever willing chairman , wife Doreen and Alex and mum Suzanne were themselves waiting for me…. Eventually, the rest of our troop appeared at blinding speed having started from the Royal Oak in Garstang, egged on by our rather too athletic for comfort triathlon riding member Michael Gates, who made some sort of excuse that meant he left us just after Tosside on the way into Long Preston, more of which anon. Of immediate note:
We soon started to clock up the miles, passing through Abbeystead and over the Trough of Bowland towards the first stop if the day after 20 miles or so at Slaidburn. Those of you familiar with the café will know it immediately precedes a tough climb out of the village: over the bridge, up a slight incline, then wham! hairpin left and a long steady climb that gives you the opportunity to savour again what you have eaten only 5 minutes ago. Alex was notably controlled here, and declined the temptation of a “Full English”. Having a support car took some getting used to as Phil would often coast along behind us. More often than not we would forget this and the rear rider would give the usual cry of “car up”, only for the thing not to overtake us! Eventually we, and Phil found our pace, and the rest of our two day ride was punctuated by the appearance of the Volvo at or near important junctions. To add interest, Doreen would often jump out from nowhere and point whoever in the appropriate direction. The shock of this meant it took some effort not to fall off in places.! After Michael took his leave, we carried on, arriving at Long Preston, when we realised we also should have turned right at Wiggleworth. However, we shot down the A65 for a couple of miles to rejoin the route, calling Phil who was waiting just down the road we should have been on. We rolled into our next café stop at Cracoe just around midday I think, after some 50 miles. Unfortunately we arrived at the precisely same time as a host of other riders on an assortment of transport: motorbikes, road and mountain bikes. The resultant log jam in the kitchen meant an untimely wait, but good humour reigned as we sat in the (near) sunshine outside. Thus far our pace was usual A ride stuff, except for Neal and Steve sprinting at every town sign (evens!), with Claire, Alex and myself taking it steady, considerably helped by a following wind. After our extremely long lunch, we set off again, after a short delay whilst Steve retrieved his gloves. The route now started to climb with venom, and it was with a certain trepidation we approached the climb up to Stump Cross Caverns, having been regaled with stories by the group who did the Coast to Coast earlier this year, including Steve, out for the second attempt. Whereas the earlier group seemed to be afflicted by head winds and poor weather for the entire route, we by comparison were in cycling heaven: gentle to medium strong following wind, cool dry weather and some sunshine. The result? We flew along, and I think I remember saying “is that it?” when we finally reached the sign for the caverns (see photos in the link section as proof!) A severe very long and winding downhill section into Pateley Bridge saw Neal peak 52 mph, which was fast as my 47mph felt suicidal! For intending visitors I can confirm this to be a charming little town, except everywhere is either uphill or downhill, and there is an all pervading smell of burning brakes (see earlier comments re hill). Still fresh, we decided not to take the planned café stop and pressed on towards our overnight stop in Raskelf, some 20 odd miles further on. After a final quick stop to buy milk in Boroughbridge, (and Alex to purchase some disgusting looking nougat), we continued, at increasing speed into Raskelf, the overnight halt. The milk of course, like everything else was dumped in the cavernous boot of Phils’ Volvo. Steve had taken care of the accommodation, and we set up camp in two, the only two, bed and breakfasts in the village.. Average speed for the day was just under 16mph, a steady pace and not bad considering the hills. Mileage 103. We spent about 6 hours in the saddle, arriving around 4pm. Saturday evening passed extremely pleasantly, with lots of good food and plentiful amounts of alcohol to imbibe in the local pub. Of note was Alex’s main course meal: purportedly spare ribs, but of what it was difficult to decide: Alsatian or Labrador I would say by the amount on his plate! (Note to Alex’s mum: we tried to discourage him from downing copious quantities of alcohol and telling dubious jokes, but boys will be boys!) (That’s you in for it now, Alex). It was noted that Phil drank a complete bottle of wine (with a little but not much help from Doreen). We all carbo loaded heavily with huge amounts of food ( and some drink) consumed, our support team included, who were meticulous in their preparation for another long day sat in the car . Sunday dawned, and another bright day beckoned, again with a following tail wind as bonus. Today’s mileage would take us up to 160 by the time we rolled into Flamborough Head at 2.30pm. With the exception of a short climb out of Settrington, average speed shot up as we rolled along pretty flat roads. At one point I found myself averaging 27-30mph for long periods of time, and still I was being left by our two fliers, Neal and Steve! Our progress away from Raskelf that morning was slow at the start. Steve punctured, we think because his front brake pads were catching the tyre causing it to overheat. After a new tube, he punctured again within ½ a mile: so another tube, and again a puncture before the tyre was even put on the bike. The culprit was a cut tyre, the solution a new one. All in all the rest of us spent a pleasant half an hour gaining intimate knowledge of a large roadside field just outside Raskelf. With Steve back in the fray, the pace really picked up, and this time it was Alex who disappeared into the distance, all of us finally joining together again at our one stop of the day at Morrisons in Malton. Future ride organisers (and certain café owners in Sedbergh) please note: toasted teacakes are only 65p in Morrisons cafés ( and yes Alex had the Full English this time). The fast pace continued right into the outskirts of Flamborough where we re-grouped and rode as one onto the Head: mission accomplished: 160 miles in a total of 9 ½ hours, an overall average just short of 17mph. All that remained was a wait for Neal’s Dad to arrive, giving us another chance to stuff our faces again. Thus ended an enjoyable weekend all round: good company, excellent riding, and unbeatable weather. Thanks must go to Steve for preparing route maps for us all and arranging accommodation, and thanks to Phil and Doreen for putting up with us and our strange riding styles: all together one minute, strung out over a distance the next.. Next challenge: Coast to Coast in a day? End to End? Phil Morgan
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