Red Ride – Citrus Café.
Riders: Karen Cleminson, David Rhodes, Andy Singleton, Jon Brough, John Clarke, Stephen Greig, Dave Lee, Martin Bagshaw.
Citrus had been the planned destination last week until the weather got in the way, so we thought we’d try again. No rain this week but there was a stiff breeze that promised to make the return leg of the route a challenge. So much of a challenge an impromptu planning meeting saw a change of route to miss the leg down the side of the Trent as the view was it would be mega windy.
It looked like both Red & Blue rides had a decent set of riders until Karen & David decided to join the Red ride for the first time meaning we out numbered the Blue team. With 8 riders the decision was taken to stick together rather than split into fast & comfort bubbles, the thought process being anyone with “fast legs” could sit on the front for the windy return leg.
Mr Singleton took the lead out of Tickhill and as he was fresh from a training camp in Majorca several Strava PB’s were bagged as we hung on to his pain train! Bawtry came a little bit quicker than usual, partly due to Andy’s pace, partly due to the tail wind which was our friend at the moment but couldn’t last for ever.
Everyone was still “on” so through Bawtry and onto Misson we went, and it was as we approached Bank End road the first gaps started to appear as the early pace started to take it’s toll 10 miles out from Tickhill. Singling out on Bank End Road with the wind on our backs we pointed out the memorial on the left-hand side to an accident that took place on 11 Feb 1860. Apparently, a local famer, Thomas Binks, lost control of the cart he was driving and his wife Sarah Binks together with Thomas Webster Wagstaff and John Whitehead died as the cart together with its horses overturned into the ditch at the side of the road. The party had been returning from Doncaster market and just before the accident had called at Bank End Inn for a brew. Looks like drink driving isn’t just a modern-day problem!
History lesson over we turned right onto Idle bank and Tindale Bank lanes which are long and straight giving Andy, Dave & Jon the chance to stretch their legs and go chasing Strava medals while at the back of the group the more leisurely pace allowed me plenty of time to tell David, a Red Ride visitor, my Owston Ferry story as he is probably the only person in the club I haven’t told. If you’ve not heard it let me know on the next ride or buy me a pint at the Cricket club to get me talking!
Turning right at the end of Tindale bank the tail wind became a side wind hinting of the problems to come as we headed through Misterton & Walkeringham and into Citrus Café, our chosen stop for the day. The decision to chop off a 10-mile chunk of the planned route meant we arrived at the café a little earlier than planned but they were open, and no one seemed to be complaining. The place was quiet even though there was a large contingent of Cycle Supreme riders in so service was pretty quick, and we were eating before we could discuss what was happening on Emmerdale.
Getting started after a café stop is never easy but when it’s the start of a return leg into a stiff head wind it was harder than usual and despite delaying for as long as possible to take some photos, we had to set off. Jon & Andy took the font, Steve came forward for a turn as well, I shameless called Charman’s prerogative and sat in the middle drafting. This must have helped but it didn’t feel like it as we turned right to begin climbing Strawberry hill. We had debated at the café why Haughgate Hill is known as Strawberry hill and concluded it was possibly due to local strawberry fields. Now the internet is a wonderful source of information, and I can confirm that there is only one street named Haughgate Hill making it unique in Great Britain, it is 1,478m long and the nearest ferry terminal to it is Hull Ferry Terminal which is 35.82 miles away. All good information but nothing to confirm why it’s called Strawberry Hill so if you know …..
I’m sure if a dug deep enough I could find out all kinds of data from Strava on records, but I don’t think any were broken today as we battled wind & lactic acid to get to the top. The reward for our efforts, a sweeping descent into Clayworth and onto Drakehole and Mattersey. We were protected from the head wind by our wall of faster riders and the trees on the ride into Ranskill where we ignored the usual right turn on to Folly Nook Lane to head for Serlby top opting for a route taking us to Blyth where David & Karen went their own separate ways home.
Our party of eight became six for the climb out of Blyth to Harworth and reduced again to five when I left them to it opting for a shortcut home through Styrrup. I assume all made it home in one piece as rides were posted on Strava and photos posted on Facebook.
Hopefully Karen & David had a good experience on their inaugural Red ride and will join us again.
Well done to all for braving the windy conditions.
