LCAG

Burnsall – 19th February

We had a good turn out including an Easy Rider on her first Sunday ride with LCAG. It was a gloriously sunny day, though a bit chilly. We set off for Otley where we were to meet another rider, unfortunately her chain had snapped in two places so she was heading home via Chevin Cycles! Ignoring the siren call of Dunnies cafe we set off towards Askwith. We stopped for breakfast at Booths in Ilkley who struggled to match orders to customers. Once we were all fed we set off towards Bolton abbey via the back road to Bolton Abbey where a few of our party took the road home crossing the river via the pedestrian bridge. The rest of us took the steep hill towards Appletreewick and were rewarded with yet more glorious views. We arrived in a bustling Burnsall but managed to get seats in the tea rooms for lunch. We then set off home where at Ilkley 2 hardy souls decided to return via Cow and Calf. The rest of us took the flatter back road to Otley stopping for tea and cake at Cockpit Farm tearooms. Refreshed and fed we returned to Otley and thence home. The best ride of the year so far!

Dewsbury – 22nd Januray

An ice cream parlour seemed an unlikely breakfast stop in the middle of Jan when we were only 5 miles as the crow flies from City Square! But we had battled for 11 miles either uphill or against the howling wind and Goodhalls in Tong did do bacon sandwiches and toasted currant teacakes as well so it was very a good idea. After some meandering south west using more A roads than I would like the 9 of us hit the Spen Valley Greenway and were wafted gently downhill towards Dewsbury where one our number, a native of Dewsbury, guided us along canal towpaths and across canal junctions to The Old Stables Coffee House. After some very attentive service from the cafe owner(?) & good food we headed towards Rothwell. There was less than a mile of mud on the Gawthorpe to Kirkhamgate bridleway which was OK as long as you didn’t put your foot down and there were occasions when we had the triple blessing of the wind behind, the sun on our backs and going downhill at the same time. Finished off with a traffic free ride back to Leeds on the Trans Pennine Trail. The wind had slowed and we were back before the sun went down. Barry

Stanley Ferry – 8th Januray

We had a very good turn out for the first Sunday social ride of 2012 including some new riders from the Saturday Easy riders. It was an interesting route passing some sights of interest. Despite a few repeat punctures for one of the riders we all had a very good day. Many thanks to Steve for leading the ride and taking some great photos which you can see here.