Monthly Update

October 2009

5^th. Remarkably the good weather is continuing, it’s barely rained for weeks. Way out of our comfort zone today as we found ourselves in the Weardale town of Stanhope, a whole four of us too, gearing up in the Dales Centre car park, preparing to do battle with the aptly named Crawleyside Bank. Not as bad as it sounds didn’t even require deployment of the grannies ring (for some of us). At the summit we made our way onto the Waskerley Way, a remnant of the railway which criss-crossed these moors carrying iron stone to the steel works, and followed the track easily eastward for a few miles before doing a U turn and heading on the road almost to our start point, calling into the old station café, bar, B&B at Parkhead for lunch. From there we were back on track for route number 9 in the Beyond Hamsterley book, a gentle uphill on a permissive track, part of the C2C which took utilises more rail bed before flinging us down a rocky incline to Rookhope. Where I collected another pinch flat, the pause giving us the chance to read the notice on the gate which informed us belatedly we shouldn’t have been riding there, a notice at the Parkhead End might have helped. A minor road led us back to Stanhope via a couple of sharp uphills and a long downhill cruise right at the end.

12^th. Another pleasant day just the two of us but a respectable mileage for a change, we went from Square Corner to Swainby Shooting House and across Whorlton Moor where we were held up for a few minutes by a grouse shooting drive taking place. Some steady pedalling took us to the Bilsdale mast, where we followed the newly resurfaced track to Low Thwaites and on to the road at Moor Gate. Still a lovely downhill blast despite the gravel. Around the hump to Hill End House and down through Low Wood to cross the River Rye, evidence of the flood of 2005 still piled up on the bank sides. A speedy bit of tarmac led us inevitably to Hawnby, the tea room and the daily special, pork and apple burger with chips for a bargain price, probably not the ideal food for the next section of the ride – Murton Bank but somehow we hauled ourselves up the beast. More tarmac to Sneck Yate then we took the Drove Road back to Square Corner and the (non-gastronomic) highlight of the ride, the Mad Mile, fun as always.

19^th. Almost a full crew this week, well, three of us anyway, meeting at Pinchinthorpe for a rampage about Guisborough Woods and thereabouts. Can’t recall the exact route but it involved Captain Cooks Monument and Glebe Cottage and back to Pinchinthorpe via some nice sections of singletrack. Things are getting a touch muddy out there but not too bad. A delay caused by Oz’s brake pad delaminating gave Simon the opportunity to demonstrate his tree climbing prowess, obviously the weight differential between his nine year old arboreal ascents and his current thirty year old status wasn’t considered and several trees were left denuded in the lower limb department.

23^rd. A hardcore duo met at a grey and misty Clay Bank steeling ourselves for the drag up the steps of Carr Ridge, which came and went as usual, i.e. plod, plod, plod. Thickening mist at the top meant we didn’t hang around to admire the view from the highest point of the North York Moors, instead we made our way along to Bloworth Crossing and followed the Cleveland Way toward Kildale. The sun began to push back the clouds, giving us a feeling of smug satisfaction as we plunged downhill to Glebe Cottage and essential refreshment. After the café we took the road to Ingleby Greenhow for the now mandatory pie buying stop at the butchers and then continued to Bank Foot Farm and back to Clay Bank through the woods.

27^th Billy No Mates for the first time this month but only owing to a communication failure. I parked up at Gribdale for a change, getting an instant warm up by following the steep track onto Newton Moor before a failed attempt to ride up Finger-Bender Bank. The track around the Lonsdale Bowl was easier to follow; especially now it has been resurfaced to the usual standard of uniform mediocrity. Percy Cross Rigg was next before making my way across to Codhill Heights and its fun descent to Sleddale. Regaining the tarmac section of Percy Cross Rigg, I followed the road to Kildale and Glebe Cottage – what other reason is there to visit Kildale? Refreshments ingested, it was back uphill to Mill Bank Woods and some mud-plugging later I was rather cautiously descending the slippery, leaf-covered, rooty drop-offs on the bridleway approaching Dikes Lane crossroads. Continuing upward again I passed through the farmyard at Aireyholme Farm and ever-upward to Roseberry Common and into Guisborough Woods. Some fireroad bashing brought me via The Unsuitables to Percy Cross Rigg, from where I reversed my start back to the car at Gribdale.

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