Event Details
Club: | NYMBO |
Event Name: | Grewelthorpe BikeO (Lanequest) |
Date: | 26/05/10 |
Format: | MBO Score |
Mapping: | Ordnance Survey |
Time Limit: | 2 hours |
National League: | - |
League: | - |
Electronic Punch: | No |
Event Report
Colin Prestwich made an excellent job of updating the course we used in December 2007 but we still had the choice of heading up to the moors or down towards Ripon. I headed for the moors but as the rain swept in from the west and the temperature dropped I wished I was back by the log fire in the Crown. However, everyone enjoyed riding along plenty of lovely lanes through picturesque villages and countryside for 2 hours even though we couldn’t get anywhere near Andy’s Conn’s score of 350 points.
It was great to see John Dixon back in the saddle for the first time since his accident so I will leave the rest of the comments to him.
Six weeks off the bike, a gentle bit of road riding would be a good way to ease back into competition. A dry day turned wet and a brief sunny spell was followed by a cloudburst 20 minutes from the pub and the open fire. HeyHo!
I set off like a scalded cat, or perhaps more like a cat sprayed with tepid water, not sure which way I was going. Typical! I soon realised I was heading for Ripon so that was one question resolved. On the first incline I dropped from outer to middle chain ring but the rear derailleur stayed where it was causing the chain to jam. Pulling the cage back to take up the slack took a minute or two. Off again (me, not the chain), no1 for 5 points followed by 7 and 12 - so far so good. Got confused by all the double bends and over shot the b/w to 16 and still not sure it was right when I was on it. Heading NE from 16 for N Stanley I followed the b/w round a few bends that I shouldn't have so that when I got to the end I turned right thinking I was going S towards Ripon but had actually come out on the road to the quarry. I rode up and down that wondering how the roller coaster had moved.... Back on course, I got no22 and carried on for no30. Ha! Deliberately ignoring a yellow (footpath?) sign I carried on to a dead end so back again, struggling through wet dandelions. I eventually got close to no30 and Sutton Grange. Foolishly following two riders south into the field (rather than taking tarmac west and south as realised afterwards) I fell off, fortunately on my good/left side. My good fortune continued as the riders in front opened all the gates and the poor lass behind me closed them (I hope). I had a good ride round Ripon, taking in the playing fields and woodland dog walks before reaching the bridge. Mixing the control number with the points value I was looking for chevrons before I realised it was the vetinary practice behind me that was needed. Doh!
After that it was time to sort out a route home so it was 18, 9 (which I didn't see so was not given the points) 20 and a few sheep to delay matters. In the rain. Wet map bag, wet glasses, was it 6 or 8 next? Was it hope house? Then I saw the well so decided it was 8 and 10 points rather than 5, hooray! Back to the fire and 2 minutes late.
If... If I hadn't lost what I calculate to be about 15 minutes cumulative delays I might have at least picked up no14 between 20 and 8 and finish with no6. Either one would have made all the difference as the three top scores in M50 were 240, 239 and 238 (if you allow me to count no9) but at the end of the day it was great to be out.
Thanks to everyone who makes these events possible and to the constant reminder of how lucky we are to have all this on our doorstep