Wolds Way - July 2014

Passing aptly named villages like Burnbutts, Wetwang and Painsthorpe, the Club enjoyed a fine weekend cycling the Wolds Way and exploring the East Riding of Yorkshire.

Pre-briefing hydration session in Sheriff Hutton. Guest appearance by our Director of Meteorology, Johan and his lovely WAG greatly welcomed by the team.

From our base at Whitworth Towers in Sheriff Hutton, near York, we managed a total distance of 263km, with climbs totalling 2,100m over the two days.

Saturday took us south, then east, then north, then east, then south, then west - Alberto was navigating ;-) - on the Wolds Way, passing through Kirkham Priory, Norton and Hunmanby before reaching Bridlington on the east coast.

Day 1 - Sheriff Hutton to Bridlington, finishing at Nafferton 124km, 914m of ascent, 2158kCal

The weather was challenging from the start, with rain dampening us a little just as we set off, and low cloud for the first hour or so. But the sun finally shone, drying us out in readiness for some good hills (Settringdon Hill, Kirby Road south to Sledmere House and Ganton Hill up on to Willerby Wold), with Mario in fine form on his new bike, a rather natty looking Cube carbon number (with matching shoes…).

Rolling hills, empty roads, and it's stopped raining...perfect!

Selfies on the move...a Club first!

Typical Wolds scenery

Fish and chips in Bridlington (a town renowned for its upmarket following), refuelled us for the final leg to Nafferton. But not before we all got a good drenching in a thunderstorm as we passed through Sands Wood. Mario excelled himself again, showing us all how (not) to unclip from his bike just as we reached Nafferton.

The team reach Bridlington

KOM contenders carbo loading

Alanssandro and Carlos chillin' on the transfer back to Sheriff Hutton...not a good look guys ;-)

Rehydration and further refuelling at The Grapes in Slingsby just north of Castle Howard enjoyed by all.

Day 2 - Nafferton back to Sheriff Hutton. 139km, ascent 1186m, 2697kCal

Our second day proved to be long one, with a long coffee and pork pie break in Beverley, an unplanned tour of the same town just afterwards, and another puncture for Carlos. But the day gave us bright weather, dry roads with good surfaces for the most part, and some wonderful scenery through the very distinctive landscapes of Millington Dale and Thixendale, buried deep in the hills north of our lunch stop at Pocklington. And a lot more hills than some had expected – the long drag from Walkington to New Newbold, Sancton Hill, and the 11% ramp out of Millington Dale, but with the reward of great views over the northern section of the Wolds and the North Yorkshire Moors before a superb descent (watch out for that hairpin Carlos!) into Leavening.

Entering Millington Dale

The final 11% section out of Millington Dale, Jan leading the charge!

Miguel and Alberto topping out from Millington Dale

Team GRAC on the Wolds

Thixendale

Big views before an exhilarating descent into Leavening

So, a great weekend. A good test for all. Some superb individual efforts, Mario leading out on the final 10km back into Sheriff Hutton being particularly notable, and Miguel learning how to clean his bike. Happy days J

Cake and cheese at Whitworth Towers :-)

Thanks again to Alberto and Mrs Johntador for their splendid hospitality, to Alberto, Jen and Jan for all the route recces and detailed planning.
Oh, and commiserations to Team Captain Heyddie for missing this little adventure due to business commitments and to Academy member and expert domestique  Stewie who was away on a romantic tryst ;-)