Author: daveyk74

Hi Wheelers. This Sunday 18th May is the eagerly awaited most gruelling challenge ride of the year, the Paul Christon mountain challenge. With 3 routes to choose from, ranging from difficult to quite ridiculous. Signing on will be from 9am Ayton high green car park, departing 09:30 straight up to Gribdale. Please see the link below for routes and further details. All routes have a 5hrs 30 cut off time.  

So just a few other things I need to let you know about. In line with the other events we have moved the finish to the Dudley arms Ingleby Greenhow. All GPS routes have been amended to turn left from the Kildale road to finish with the Battersby loop and the end of the course at the top of Stone stoop hill. 

Also I have received info that the climb out of Rosedale, passed Bell end farm towards Blakey ridge has been gravelled. This road is on the standard route. Hopefully by next weekend the surface has settled, but standard route riders have the choice of gambling that the surface dressing is rideable, or tackling Rosedale chimney to get on to Blakey ridge. 

If there are any club members not wishing to take part then please organise group rides as normal, although I wouldn’t mind 2 or 3 Gribdale gate opening volunteers if available? and a signing on helper as our regular official John kelly is away for the weekend. 

Finally, enjoy the ride, and remember! It’s not a race !  

Thanks, Dave K 

Mountain Challenge

A successfully opening to the challenge ride season today with a huge turn out for the Northallerton 50 in 4.  With 67 riders signing on at Ayton, although more like 80 taking part. John Kelly ran out of signing on sheets! Anyhow all riders were dispatched safely from Ayton and completed the course without incident, other than the usual punctures and mechanicals. Condition’s definitely felt a bit Tour of Flanders today with muddy roads and some cold rain. 

The ride attracted quite a few up and coming youth talent that wished to test themselves on the reliability ride, we even had guests from Wearside Tri club driving down for the event, and a guest appearance from Cleveland wheelers original and legend Terry Lunn who traveled up from York to take part ( Terry is 84-85 I think ?) 

Only tweak I’m going to make for next year, is I’m going to reroute the ride so heading in to Northallerton, after the railway bridge we will take the left at the mini roundabout, through the industrial estate, out on to the Croft road and right on the new bypass. Things were getting a little tricky today as the groups turned right in Northallerton and the cars were backing up over the rail crossing. 

Thanks to John kelly for his officiating, and for all those who took part. 

Cheerio 👋 Dave K 

Hi wheelers, it’s the start of challenge ride season again. The first up is the Northallerton 50/4, this Sunday 16th March, departing 09.30 from Ayton high green car park. 4 hrs to complete the route, finishing at the Stokesley sign, with John kelly signing you off, either in the town square next to the toilets and the flower pots, or in his car outside the town hall, depending on the weather. Usual challenge ride rules apply, please depart in ability order from Ayton, fastest riders first, and please keep things tidy heading out through Stokesley high street and Hutton rudby bank! remember it’s not a race! 

The challenge events are not lead rides and it is up to the participants to navigate the route arriving back within 4 hrs. Having said that it is the trend these days for groups to form before departure, and likely we will have a Cleveland wheelers steady, medium and speedy group. Further details and route available by following the link below. 

Please arrive at Ayton in good time to sign on, and enjoy the ride. Cheers, Dave K 

Northallerton 50

Hi wheelers. This Sunday 6th October is the last of the challenge rides this year. The rough stuff, time to fetch out them old mountain bikes or fancy new gravel bikes. Sign on and roll out 09:30 from fletchers farm car park. Please follow the link below for further details and route. Cheers, Dave K 

Rough Stuff

Hi all, it’s me, Dave Kirton! So it seems last weekends castleton 50 in 4 was a resounding success. 35 riders completing the challenge ride in fairly testing condition over Blakey ridge with headwind and very poor visibility. All the riders seemed pleased with the new start and finish arrangements after I rotated the course around to now start at Ayton and finish at the Dudley Arms Ingleby greenhow. I’m not sure why I haven’t thought of this before? But traditionally it always started at Marton cross roads, and sometimes it’s difficult to break from tradition.  Thanks to John Kelly for his excellent officiating as usual. Well done to Ross turner for being the first rider back to the cafe, and a particular well done to those steadier riders for tackling the challenging loop and  making it to the finish in good time 👍

So that’s all the challenge ride series now starting in Ayton. Next up is the Rough stuff on Sunday 6th oct. Please see the link below to the info for all the Cleveland wheelers rides.   

Cheerio 👋 Dave K 

https://clevelandwheelers.com/