A Morning in the Moors!

After last weeks successful outing with @jamesg747 and @benauty it was decided that this week we should up things a little further and hit the North York Moors this Saturday. I took charge again and decided to plan a route. I had a look at The Captain Cook Challenge Sportive that is coming up in March and decided that as we are think about taking part in this we should have a look at that route. So it was planned that myself and Ben would drive through to Acklam in Middlesbrough and meet James for 9.00am before heading for Greaton Ayton and picking up the route of the new Sportive. So we were all set and just waiting for saturday to arrive. After checking the weather forecast in the middle of the week it was said that Saturday should be a cracking day! Lovely Sunshine! Great Stuff. 

Unfortunately later in the week James realised he wasn't able to make it so it was to be just myself and Ben.  No problem we will still have a crack at it I though.

Saturday Am:

I wake up to realise that the glorious day that I had been promised hadn't arrived! Instead lots of rain, dark and gloomy is what greeted me. I started to wonder weather I should just cancel and what would be going through @BenAuty 's mind, would he want to still go out in this. Decided to go for it, up, dressed, bike in car, I was ready! Soon had Ben's bike in the car as well and we were off through to Middlesbrough. It was decided that because of the dreadful weather we would start a little closer to the moors, Great Ayton. 

So we parked up, threw the bikes together and we were off. 

Heading out of Great Ayton past Suggits we soon realised that there was going to be no piggy backing on wheels today due to the water laying on the roads, the constant spray made it very difficult to follow a wheel. 

 I had pre warned Ben that although I had planned the route I was a little unsure of exact directions, So we would be following signs for were I knew we had to head, village by village. I thought this shouldn't be a problem and I knew roughly which direction we should be heading for. 

We make quick work of exiting Great Ayton and onto Easby before the road started to kick up gently for the first time towards Kildale. There wasn't much to worry about here and Ben and myself were passing Kildale Rail Railway before we knew it. 

A nice decent was next on the cards heading for the cattle grid before looking up to see the first monster of the day directly in front of us. I flew ahead over the cattle grid deciding that I wanted to carry as much speed into the start of the climb as possible! Bad idea, I approached the first hairpin bend too fast and nearly over cooked it leaving the road at the other side. After pondering what could of happened I got on with job in hand a commenced the 1 in 4 climb up onto Commondale. Ben had opted to slow for the cattle grid and was a little further back at this point. Climbing has never been my strong point but I made light work of it reaching the top through the last hairpin right and onto a relatively flat plateau at the top.

 I took a break at the top to capture a few pictures and wait for Ben to reach the summit. 

It soon became apparent as I looked back that @BenAuty must of had some difficulty he was off the bike pushing. As he reached me he explained that after having to zig zag across the road to get up he got stuck on the camber and came off. This then made it extremely difficult to get momentum back up to finish his ascent. After examining his bike first then himself there was no damage so we could continue on. Conversation turned to how difficult Ben found the climb and it was like nothing he has ever done before. I think he was starting to wonder what he had let himself in for. 

This ascent as usual was followed by quite a quick decent along Brick Row and on towards Raven Gill campsite. Ben's heart then sunk as I pointed out that Sandhill Bank was lurking in the distance. Again I carried as much speed into the climb as I could, working my way through the gears before reaching the final cog and settling into my rhythm for the climb. I managed to stay seated most of the way up before jumping out the seat for the last push over the top. I gave myself a little smile as I realised that I was climbing very well, better than I have done before. (Must be those couple of excess pounds I have been trying to shift, almost at my racing weight! not) 

Once again I took the time at the top to capture a few pictures. 

 It wasn't long before Ben was appearing over the top of the climb although unfortunately it had beaten him again. He was off the bike again having to push over the last few metres. I could seen Ben's spirits were low although he still managed a thumbs up for the pic!

 I explained to Ben that I knew exactly how he was feeling there is nothing more demoralising than having to push you bike up a climb feeling beaten and in pain. I had been there on a couple of occasions last year, my first time in the Dales. I tried to lift Ben's spirits by explaining that he was doing well to be attempting such climbs, after all today was still his second longest ride ever after last week!

We jumped back on our trusty rides and off again a nice little decent over Commondale giving the legs a little deserved rest. We motored on turning right at the 'T' junction and a fast section towards Castleton. As we approached Castleton we were faced with a very steep decent, we took no chances in the wet conditions and stayed on the brakes most of the way down through Castleton. Climbing slightly again and we reached the village centre. For the first time I began to question which way we should be heading next, I couldn't quite remember the route of the Captain Cook 50. I pulled my Iphone out the back pocket and loaded up my maps, unfortunately I was faced with no data signal in the Moors, I would have to use memory and my fantastic sense of direction :-). I soon remembered the name Danby, this is were we must head to next. So we took a left at the top and a little decent down before a sharp last minute right to begin another short climb out the other side of Castleton.
We made light work of reaching Danby, soon through and out the other side, flying past The Moors National Park Centre. At this point I started to think we may be a little lost and I was worrying that I did no longer know where we should be heading. On through Houlskye another name I thought I recognised so I announced that we must be heading the correct way.
We powered on through and saw a sign for Leaholm this must be right. We climbed through the village and up to the cross roads. Again I decided to check my Iphone to confirm that we were on the right track but again no luck! All this did was make me feel more unsure of were to head for next. A local rambler passed and must of seen the look of confusion on my face as he asked were we were heading. I told him we wanted to loop back round towards Kildale. this was met with a little confusion as he announced that we would be better off heading back the way we came! Not what I wanted to here that would mean doing the monster climbs and descents in reverse! No. In my ignorance I told Ben that we would carry on towards a sign I saw for Fryup this seemed right! This seen right until I seen the next sign, stating that we were heading for Rosedale! I did not want to be heading for Rosedale! Although I was feeling good I was not feeling up to conquering the 10/10 1 in 3 Rosedale Chimney just yet. I also thought that the Chimney would definitely break Ben today. This thought made me take a quick right round the back of Leaholm and heading back towards Fryupdale and Danby.

This again was a quick section on not the best of roads. (lots of pot holes) We then faced another decision to make, do we head up what seemed like another beast of a climb towards Fryupdale or head directly back the way we came towards Danby, Castleton etc. The steepness of the climb towards Fryup made our mind up! Lets see how we manage retracing our steps. So we powered on towards Danby and through into Castleton, turning right in the village centre and down the outskirts of Castleton before starting the climb back up to Commondale.

I think we both forgot about the long steep decent we had done into Castleton earlier that now turned into a long long steep climb out towards Commondale.
It didn't appear that long, so now knowing where we were heading I jumped out the saddle and powered up the steep section staying out the saddle all the way. I thought I had reached the top before the road turned right and continued up into the distance on and over Commondale. I got myself in the zone and found my rhythm, sitting back down and spinning up towards the turning left for Kildale. Ben was not far behind, he was now finding his own rhythm on the climbs, ascending at his own pace and proving to himself that he could do it! Well done mate. We reached the turning for Kildale this meant two last climbs of the day the opposite side of the climbs that Ben found difficult earlier in the day. Down we went on the brakes again past Raven Gill campsite before climbing up, another long slog along Brick Row. We lifted the tempo and descended again before the last big climb of the day just before Commondale. After riding on ahead again I stopped to wait for Ben and took this opportunity to capture the last shots of the day, picturing the first great climb up towards Commondale.

With only about 8 mile left we got our heads down and raised the tempo and made light work of it. Typically the sun began to shine as we arrived back in Great Ayton. 

Great morning out. The Moors is definitely one of the best places to get out on the bike. Fantastic descents, leg breaking sharp ascents & long tedious climbs that test everyones mental state. 

I am yet to find out exactly were we went wrong with regards to following the original planned route but I will have a look for next week.

Great training today I now feel like I am ready for anything. Fantastic first effort @BenAuty , look forward to doing it again next week with @jamesg747 in tow. 

Bring on the Captain Cook Challenge and Rosedale Chimney! :-)

Stats:

Route: Great Ayton - Kildale - Commondale - Castleton - Danby - Leaholm & Return.
Activity: Cycle
Google Maps URL: http://maps.google.com/?q=http://share.abvio.com/57ff/6606/4b6c/b05a/Cyclemeter-Cycle-20110212-0907.kml
Shortened Google Maps URL: http://j.mp/ih3YeB
Import URL: http://share.abvio.com/57ff/6606/4b6c/b05a/Cyclemeter-Cycle-20110212-0907.kml
Started: 12 Feb 2011 09:07:42
Ride Time: 2:45:31
Stopped Time: 28:36
Distance: 35.53 miles
Average: 12.88 miles/h
Fastest Speed: 29.95 miles/h
Ascent: 2227 feet
Descent: 2282 feet
Calories: 0
Official: Yes

You may also want to check out @BenAuty 's blog for his account of today's ride. May be from a different perspective. http://benauty-l2p.blogspot.com