GRAC Summer Meet 2021

Having endured eighteen months of pandemic restrictions, this was an opportunity for a wider group of GRAC members to reunite and take on, once again, the multitudinous hills of North Yorkshire.

 

Based from Palace del Pratt in Knaresborough, rehydration in the ever-popular Half Moon started in earnest. The chaps were quickly stuck into Harrogate-brewed Roosters YPA, Rooster Thousand Yard Stare (hazy pale ale) and Turning Point ale from Knaresborough’s local brewhouse. As usual some members seemed to enjoy disco-fizz, although most of us cannot understand why…

Replete with fine food and wine from Anne’s Indian Table, the team retired for a coma before the Palace bells rang loud to get us all going again. Waving us off, the ladies, breathing a huge sigh of relief that we were out of their hair for a few hours, proceeded to walk, eat, and drink champagne for the rest of the day. 

Joined by Carlos from Ripon, the team comprised of The Prez, Heyddie, Jan, Alberto, Stewie and Alansandro. It should be a noted for the club annals that Jan, having trained hard on his Kickr bike through the winter and who is now as thin as a Tour professional, was the man to beat today. Except for Carlos, of course, who has taken to doing solo Ironman adventures, and is, of course, unassailable by the rest of us mere mortals.

 

Our first day took us up to Masham in cool conditions, where a quick coffee was taken before heading west on t’moor and the challenge of Trapping Hill. As always, a hard challenge, especially for the Prez who is now packing 10kg more weight than our new puncheur Jan, for Heyddie nursing an injury, and Alberto, who deserves maximum respect as the most senior member of the club. 

Strava results for Trapping Hill...where's Alberto?

The ‘youngsters’ Alansandro and Stewie did well, considering both of them had almost forgotten how to ride a bike. 

The alarmingly steep descent to Lofthouse was safely navigated by all, white-hot discs warming our legs at the bottom, followed by the usual TT down to Pateley Bridge, great fun on a very quiet road. Huge beef sandwiches at the excellent Wildings Tea Room were quickly dispatched by all, before climbing back to base via the ‘Four Hills’ route, with some sneaky 18% slopes for Jan to showboat on. In all, 87.5km with 1403m of climbing in just over 4 hours.

Massive rehydration and refuelling was required by all, taken intravenously at the Palace and then back to the Half Moon again, this time joined by the ladies, and junior team members Evie and Finley. Another fine dinner, with local lamb, finished off the day nicely.

And, up we get again, a little worse for wear, to do it all again, this time an 83km loop with 892m of ascent, taking in Nidderdale and Wharfedale via Wetherby. Busier roads today with fine weather conditions and local nouveau riche showing off their Porsches, Aston Martins and horse boxes with some insanely fast overtakes…

But beautiful riding and some fine views on many sections of the ride, and another opportunity for Jan to show off his impressive hill-climbing prowess. Chapeau Jan! Tired bodies required a quick refuel on our return and then a long nap, before a final visit to the Half Moon and a BBQ meal at the Bear at Carriages in Knaresborough.

 

All in all, a fine weekend, with great company, splendid and generous hospitality at the Palace, and some proper riding too. It’s so good to be out of lockdown!