Tour de JoLiz

Sunday 25th August 2013

 

Inspired by the upcoming Grand Depart of next year's Tour de France, we decided to try out a section of Day 1's 200km race from Leeds to Harrogate. Choosing a loop containing spectacular Yorkshire Dales scenery, we stayed true to the race route from Buckden via Hawes and round Askrigg Common, but deviated at Reeth to complete our circular ride, with its own very challenging features.

 
Taking in 63 miles and 6152 feet of climbing, our efforts were similar to a professional athlete's -  the differences that belied the fact that we were on holiday rather than competing were: time in the saddle (6 hours 30 minutes) and average speed (9.7 mph) - notwithstanding Liz’s top speed of 38.6 mph; even Jo hit a scarifying 37.9, never before achieved and possibly not to be repeated.

 

Being Lancashire lasses, we followed the exhortation to Allez Yorkshire, and weren't disappointed by the succession of Dales - Wharfedale, Bishopdale, Wensleydale, Coverdale - and the increasingly clear views as the cloud cover dispersed and we were rewarded with blue-sky clarity of Pen-y-Ghent and further afield flat-topped Ingleborough and the peaks of the Howgills.

 

 

Heading north from Hawes with Great Shunner Fell on our left, we bisected the Pennine Way before passing through the villages of Muker and Gunnerside (and deciding Crackpot could stay signposted 1 mile away - we didn't need to visit it).

Following the course of the rivers Ure, Swale and Cover wasn't the gentle riverside amble that you get in other counties. Instead the road repeatedly swooped down alongside and then crossed over bridges then rose high up above the river, looking over to fabulously named hilltops: Rogan's Seat, Great Pinseat, Middle Tongue, Buckden Pike, Wether Fell, Walden Head, Great Haw.

The hardest pull, because we'd already climbed multiple hills, was over Redmire Common.  It had us out of the saddle in a different way. Yes we walked it.  But where there are ups, there are many downs. When can a downside also be the upside? I wondered.  Answer: when you're descending. We plummeted past Castle Bolton, almost missing the old railway track that's now a gated cycle path complete with warning: COWS WITH CALVES CAN BE AGGRESSIVE. We didn't slow down to find out.

 What is the law of nature decreeing that dinky tearooms can only be found in the first half of any bike ride, and when you're thirsting and starving all that's on offer are dry villages and arid farms? It wasn’t until 5pm that the mirage of the Foresters Arms in Carlton became reality. The ethos of the community-owned pub came through as "We don't do sandwiches on Sundays" was translated into 2 massive wholemeal bread sandwiches stuffed with pork from the Sunday roast, washed down with pints of coke and lime and soda.

Just enough to get us along the final 15 miles up, up, up in the shadow of Great Whernside, then down down down (nearly hitting the deck a few times) as we wheeled and swerved and careered and banked the perilous descent to Kettlewell -  25%  gradient, then calming down for the rolling return along Wharfedale to Buckden.

Watch out, Liz! Jo's skidmark - stayed upright though!

Coming back? Yes, we'll bring a group of Glow women to join us in tackling the 17% climbs and zooming descents. And what's more, we scoped out our campsite and ideal viewing point for July 5th 2014. Where? Not telling, we don't want to be swamped out.