Ride 059.

Date:   20th October 2005            Distance: 23.5 miles

A slightly damp start to the second day of our Yorkshire Dales trip but we were in  no hurry to begin, mainly owing to the substantial breakfasts we'd just consumed. Our bike-friendly accommodation, picked at random from the Yorkshire Dales' excellent new cycle website - MTB the dales was proving a bit of a find., Craiglands Guest House in Threshfield, just outside Grassington. Owned by an  extremely hospitable couple who were not in the least bit fazed by three mud-covered wretches padding about their lovely house in Sealskinz and sweaty Lycra.

Stomachs flopping on the crossbars, we wobbled up the road out of Threshfield village and on to Threshfield Moor, at least it was a steady ascent, gaining height gradually across the moor, first on a gravelly doubletrack, then some of the Dales' new bridleway. Dropping down to a stretch of tarmac, we turned left and made our way up to Mastilles Lane, joining it at it's highest point, which was also the rain decided to join us. Proper rain, none of your namby pamby East Coast drizzle, more a monsoon deluge which had us soaked regardless of water-proof socks and GoreTex. What ought to have been a cracking descent became a test of nerve, rain-blinded on an unfamiliar track composed of wet, slippy limestone with the occasional hole or gully to keep things interesting, we made our way down with rather more caution than would normally be employed. Arriving at the main road, drenched through, we took a slight detour to Kilnsey Crag for a quick trip down memory lane, reminiscing about some of the routes I hauled myself up in my younger days.

Typically, the rain had all but stopped by now, the sun even tried to put in an appearance. Steaming, we rode through Conistone and along a minor road back to Grassington in search of the three C's, cafe, coffee and cake. Despite the immense breakfast's, we felt a carbohydrate refuel was rightly in order and we eventually found an establishment which looked as though it wouldn't mind three rain-soaked, mud-spattered scruffs dripping on their floor.

Refreshed, we continued our ride in a more leisurely fashion, until a sudden busrt of uphill power from Chris snapped his chain. A quick roadside repair later and we were back in the saddle. Keeping to the valleys, one eye on the clouds, hoping to avoid another drenching, we made our way to Appletreewick to check out the Yorkshire Dales mtb Mecca - The New Inn. Closed unfortunately. Or perhaps fortunately, beer on top of the food we'd consumed today might not have been the best idea. Another minor road took us back to Threshfield via Burnsall and the river Wharfe, pleasant enough but I'm sure we'd rather have had a bit more off-road to finish the day. It wasn't to be however, evening was approaching and the siren-song of the Black Sheep Brewery was calling

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