A month of mixed weather, not exactly four seasons in one day but pretty much all four in one month. Our first ride went from bright sunshine to black clouds and downpours and back to sunshine. Bogs are appearing on formerly dry tracks, our old enemy mud, has returned, lack of traction impairing our already inadequate technical skills.

No trips away this month: local rides for local people. The Captain made a less than triumphant return from whatever has been occupying his days off since the beginning of June. Judging from his performance it obviously involved no exercise whatsoever, even his bike-pushing skills have suffered. Managing to turn out for two out of seven rides has got to be a step in the right direction. Step being the best description of his riding skill. His attendances give us plenty of time to catch our breaths, admire the view, grow beards, watch ice ages come and go before he ambles into view.

Most of this month’s rides were around Guisborough Woods exploring some new tracks and revisiting old favourites. A couple of rides from Square Corner, one of which involved an ascent and descent of the Mad Mile solely so Andy could sample the pork and apple burgers at Hawnby. The considered opinion was that it was worth the ride, even the post-lunch ascent of Murton Bank. Although whether the pinch flat I suffered half-way down the Mad Mile was worth it is debateable.

A fine but disappointingly windy and cold day saw us at Rosedale for the classic round from Blakey Ridge, to Ana Cross, Lastingham, High Askew, Rosedale Abbey, then returning to the old railway line to pedal round the head of the valley back to Blakey Ridge.

Another North York Moors classic proved more eventful, as we took advantage of the mini-Indian summer which made the closing days of September such a pleasure. We were doing the Hograh Moor round from Kildale, Little Kildale, Warren Farm, over Kildale Moor to Baysdale, Hob Hole, Hograh Moors, Armoth Wath, Burton Howe, picking up The Cleveland Way for the return to Kildale. The Pensioner bit the dust on a stony corner sustaining injuries to various parts of his anatomy, two particularly gruesome puncture wounds caused some worry especially for the A&E nurse who had to fiddle about in his groin department to dress them.