11^{th. First ride of the year, a little late for a first ride but there were probably good reasons. Me, Tony and Simon T met in Clay Bank car park and a cold and blustery morning. 60 mph wind was whipping snow flurries around. Unusually a bit of thought had gone into the route and we had a tail wind pushing us across the high moors all the way to Kildale, which was just as well because the snow was coming in horizontally. After a brief stop in Glebe Cottage, we rode back to Clay Bank through the sheltering trees of the plantation after Bank Foot Farm. Great start to the year and cracking (wind-assisted) average speed.}

14th. Dull and damp but didn’t actually rain which wasn’t a bad thing. We (the two simons, Oz, Chris and myself) set off from Pinchinthorpe and made our way to the Unsuitables via the end section of the Blue Route, across to Codhill Heights and down to New Row, our bikes’ homing instinct taking us directly to the café. Suitably refreshed, we plodded up the tarmac past Bankside Farm, eschewing the Mill Woods track this time of year (too muddy) and regrouped on top of the hill at the entrance to Coate Moor. A pleasant downhill fireroad blast brought us to Gribdale, followed by a sticky mud-fest onto Newton Moor. We descended Little Roseberry , Roseberry Common and the old Black Route finish through Bousedale Farm.

21st. Against our (Me, Simon R, Oz and Chris) better judgement we actually started this ride, the lashing rain and howling wind did nothing to deter us hardcore mountain men from leaving Clay Bank car park and marching straight up to the highest point of the North York Moors. Feeling the full force of the wind in our faces, water being literally pushed through several layers of clothing, we promptly reconsidered and fled off the hill, via a fun but muddy descent past Medd Crag to Urra. We regrouped in the car park after the briefest ride ever, 6.5 miles.

31^{st. Another exceptionally windy day. Four intrepid process operators (me, Simon R, Chris and Oz) headed from Lordstones, up to Carlton Bank and across to Arnesgill Ridge, battling the cross wind all the way, many times we were blown onto the heather but with the aid of an exceptional amount of profanity we made our way to Head House where we gained a tail wind for a few miles. At Cock Howe, we put our Glentress honed downhill skills to good use and rode down Trennet Bank, showing our mastery of steep ground and slippy surfaces by falling off at the tricky bits. Then just the tedious grind up the Raisdale Road before the welcome warmth of Lordstones café.}