Beats work...............

[JohnnyBoxer]

Nice work JB
I have been off all week and some great rides around Yorkshire
You are lucky living there, still it's only about 45 miles from Frisky Towers

Pity, I didn't know that.......................we could have met up and I could have cast my eye over the Lava one

 

[fritz]

Nice one JB - few more pics, look at the weather now

 

[fritz]

Cross Country Challenge, Cross Challenge Country, crossed-over challenge, overly cross challenge, call it what you want...

OK then, Johnny you show me yours and I’ll show you mine …that’s catchy eh

So the font of all trail knowledge had a new toy – looked like the old one but with smaller wheels to me? I’d been mentioning a couple of lanes I’d found a while back that John might not have ridden so we ventured out together on a brilliant day – ahead of a foul one to come!

With JB only being 6Ft or so he had swapped the higher X Challenge to the X Country for the lower seat height, or something like that anyway. As on road tyres he didn’t want anything hard, and neither did I – was just a great time of the year to be out on back country lanes and on easy (if dusty) trails.

We headed out over Hustwaite and Oulston way joining some lanes before heading towards Brandsby and one of my favourite lanes past spooky farmhouses but with great distant views across the vale of York (on a less hazy day mind). JB took to protecting his new prides identity, or maybe he was just lightly spanking the rear of his new ride, you decide.

 

[fritz]

On towards the Gilling area which was showing huge amounts of affluence as large houses were being worked on and made even bigger – this area is reet posh compared even to the fairly affluent country areas of North Yorks generally – NO sign of recession here then. A nice easy lane then to JBs favourite cake shop in Hovingham and all without a slide in the ford – always good to gracefully fall off in front of busy café, but not today.

 

[fritz]

The selection of goodies was indeed fine, their Bienenstich Cake is very good indeed so I had a slice of that and got a Fat Rascal to take home.

This was an obese (fat bastard) rascal – huge bugger size of my face and only £1.30, great! Try Hovingham Bakery and Spa Tea Room yourselves (yes, there was a spa – linked by rail in days gone by). I caused consternation when I popped back in and said there was a problem with the cake, the staff all looked shocked…”it’s too nice – I’ll have to have another piece” luckily they took it in good humour. Great, great cakes.

Next over to Castle Howard, always a great ride along the straight through the folly walls, and thence to a new lane for John. A short but lovely lane with impressive gate posts and expansive views of Castle Howard and the temple folly etc The countryside looks just great at this time of year.

 

[fritz]

We swung by a couple of lanes near the village my parents used to live in, one new to JB – much nicer in the dry as there are some good puddles often.

Johnny led on to ‘show me his’ and I enjoyed a new lane to me that was very pleasant and by chance brought us near another one I had lined up for John and so a nice circuit was formed.

 

[fritz]

John insisted we park in the square at Helmsley, something I avoid as I don’t generally like mixing with the usual suspects thereabouts…and you have to pay…in theory. Anyway we would choose Ryeburn over the Brymoor on offer in the square, but hey, JB was paying so I couldn’t argue too strongly – I’ll pay and have the local choice next time

John took us back over the trails past Ampleforth College before we eventually wound up back in Thirsk.

No hard or difficult lanes, but a lovely afternoons ride out enjoying some of the best countryside without being high on the Moors or Dales and meeting very little but good views, beautiful weather and cracking company. This year has been a blinder.

For those of you who can’t figure out where to find lanes, it really is easy – look for BOATS on your 1:50,000 map. You’ll often find a big ‘unsuitable for vehicles’ sign in blue and white at each end, and if there's nothing else you’re sorted. Most are generally easy, so you could venture out and explore – take a mate, in case of problems, they can at least take a photo if you get stuck / fall over, and then assist. Added bonus is they’ll likely get shot if you’re not legal – and I should point out I DO NOT mean that, only ride totally legal lanes on totally legal bikes, if in doubt, miss it out.

Just the remains of the face of t'rascal to finish off, that might be it for a while as hols call, weather turned for now...and I've got a job offer thank **** I said I'd only consider part-time Lets see Back to the vacuum - hardly a distraction today!

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Cheers fritz - great pics & a really good day out

Always a pleasure to have a ride out with your good self

 

[adventuredon]

Envious. Love the north...

 

[fritz]

And for all concerned about the nefarious apperance of the mighty magenta Serow in said pics Bev and I have just been round the first half again two-up on the F650GS....which clearly isn't a GS 'really' but does a great job none the less. I really must get the new clutch in the PD and get the gearbox on in time for winter

 

[(RIP) Kaister]

Aye - can't beat this country for proper seasons

Strangely snow & frost isn't without appeal

oh it is, it is so unappealing i can't describe my dislike for it. really

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

oh it is, it is so unappealing i can't describe my dislike for it. really

Each to their own preferences, but I would hate the Oz climate - too hot, too dusty and too arid in the main for my taste

 

[(RIP) Kaister]

Each to their own preferences, but I would hate the Oz climate - too hot, too dusty and too arid in the main for my taste

only if you go inland a Looong way. Most other people have it wrong too.

East cost is green

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

only if you go inland a Looong way. Most other people have it wrong too.

East cost is green

Looks lovely

Maybe I shall visit one day