Well, the end of March didn't go out with a whimper. We were treated to a varied mix of weather for our run out to Cobble Hey.

Setting off from Springwood Car Park in the bright spring sunshine, we knew we were in for a mixed day, but were hoping for the best. Six of us rode out through Whalley and Mitton before heading over Hodder Bridge, up through Chaigley, around Longridge Fell, and up to Chipping.

Carrying on through Bleasdale, the weather took a change, waterproofs were donned, but we carried on regardless, battling rain and hail.  By the time we got to Cobble Hey, however, it had cleared up and we had started to dry out..

We were joined at Cobble Hey by Ray, Jim and Jackie, who had started out late, but had battled the elements to catch up.

It rained again over lunch, but seemed fine when we left on our route to Longridge. We were mistaken, we now had to endure rain and thunder almost until Longridge, when the sun again made an appearance.

Heading down to Ribchester, turning left once over the Ribble, and up our favourite hill, we were met by a glorious view of Pendle Hill in the distance. Bathed in sunshine and covered in hail, under low fluffy white clouds and an ontherwise clear blue sky.

It all goes to show, we can still have a great ride, whatever the weather.

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Published: 27 March 2016

Waking up to a cold clear February morning, three riders started out from Higherford, picking up an additional seven at Gisburn for a leisurely ride through Wigglesworth and Rathmell to an early lunch in Settle.

Initially disappointed to find our usual cafe stop in Settle was closed, we had to find an alternative establishment. Just across the road, the Singing Kettle did us proud.

After lunch, the group split in two, with one half returning, whilst the others, wanting to make the most of the sunshine, headed further north through Giggleswick and Little Stainforth towards Helwith Bridge before starting the return journey via Austwick, Rome and Wham.

It would have been a shame to spoil the day by not having a second cafe stop, so we made the Old Vicarage Tea Rooms at Tosside our next port of call. Home made scones and banana splits being the favourites of the day, and well deserved they were too!.

Finally we made our way back to Gisburn via Bolton-by-Bowland, just as the light was beginning to fade. What an excellent days riding.

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Published: 16 February 2016

It was a surprisingly warm day for January, averaging around 10 degrees. Seven riders started out from Lanshawbridge, and we were soon stopping to discard the winter layers usually required for this time of year..

Collecting Ray at Kildwick, we then headed down through Draughton, where rider leader Ian pointed out the village "trust" library, hosted in a former phone box.

We stopped at the Abbey Tea rooms for lunch, where we met up briefly with the riders on the long ride, including two new riders - welcome!.

It was too good a day to go straight back, so we then headed up the gated road from Bolton Abbey towards Embsay, catching a brief glimpse of a passing Steam Train.

The Dalesman at Gargrave then proved too tempting, so we stopped for a second time,with some riders enjoying coffee and scones, before heading home through Bank Newton and Thornton.

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Published: 24 January 2016

Although there was snow on the ground at daybreak four plucky riders braved the conditions and set out from Cliviger in wet conditions.  Some squally showers through Todmorden and Littleborough justified an early brew at Hollingworth Lake.  The rain and sleet relented after this stop and the long climb of Blackstone Edge was tackled with help from a nice tailwind.  Descending towards Ripponden we forked left before Baitings Dam into the Blue Ball lanes - so called because of the Blue Ball pub on that road.  The pub has now closed and been converted into private houses but they still have kept the Blue Ball over the door.

The secret to these lanes is to keep turning left to keep your height on the ridge and we were rewarded with some fine views of Halifax, Huddersfield and even caught sight of Ferrybridge Power Station in the far distance.  Eventually it is necessary to make the steep descent of the valley side into Mytholmroyd and the aftermath of the recent floods was much in evidence here as also in Hebden Bridge - some cafes were closed - that's how bad it was! But we found somewhere eventually.

What goes around comes around as they say and the morning tailwind had to be paid for.  Leaving Hebden Bridge centre we walked up the steep cobbled lane that comes out on the Blackshawhead road. In plummeting temperatures and stiff headwind the climb to Slack Bottom and Top, Colden and Blackshawhead was tough enough and felt more than the 11 miles it was.  The sunset casting a warm glow on Pendle Hill and a fast descent to Cliviger and anticipation of warm soaks in the bath completed this 38 mile ride.

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Published: 11 January 2016

After days of heavy rain, and many areas suffering from local flooding, our last ride of the year couldn't pass without comment.

Fortunately, the rains had stopped, the sky had cleared, and we had a glorious sunny day to work off our over indulgence over the Christmas festivites. We did approach this ride with caution though, as we didn't know what the road conditions would be like. However, the waters in Foulridge, Earby, and Gargrave had subsided, and we had a very pleasant run from Langroyd up to Thornton where we collected the girls.

Fantastic reflections across a flooded field in Eshton.

There were signs of flooding on many of the roads, as we worked our way up through Gargrave, through Hetton to Cracoe for our lunch stop.  Unfortunately TJ's was closed, so we had to goto the alternate cafe across the road. Eleven cyclists turning up unexpected, isn't what they're used to, but they found us "room at the inn" and we settled down to a very pleasant lunch.

Still sunny on the way back, "somebody" suggested taking the road through Winterburn, where the puddles started getting bigger, and bigger, and BIGGER!  If we'd known in advance that the last 50 yard stretch got upto around 12 inches deep, I'm sure we would have found another way, but ignorance is a fine thing, and onwards we went, creating quite a wake, loads of spray, and barrels of laughter.

Lets hope that everybody's shoes have dried out for 2016 and it's every bit as good as 2015 has been.

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Published: 28 December 2015

After the first snows of winter on Friday, we were prepared for a cold day. The last two weeks had been a bit of a washout with heavy rain, so with an otherwise good forecast for today, we were expecting a good turnout.  Eleven of us set off from Springwood heading down through Whalley, and out along the familiar route to Mitton where after turning right by the church we were pleasantly surprised to find the rough section of road had finally been resurfaced.

Leaving Mitton we headed through Chaigley along the side of Longridge Fell, where a solitary hang-glider was taking advantage of the thermals.

There was just one slight interruption to todays ride, repairing Dorothy's puncture.

After a leisurely lunch in Chipping we headed up past the Bowland Wild Boar park,a dn round to Whitewell before returning to Whally via Cow Ark and Bashall Eaves.

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Published: 22 November 2015