What good weather to have for our 50th Anniversary Ride yesterday.
17 of us set out from Richmond in two groups. We picked up another 3 people on the way. At the Greyhound in Hackforth we were joined by another 15 riders who either started at Hackforth or who had ridden there from elsewhere. We were also joined by Pauline Fox, who acted as the official photographer for the day.
Debbie and Liam, the landlords, were very welcoming and very efficient in supplying us all with sausage and bacon butties and tea and coffee. We took the photo of us all outside the pub to compare with the original photo taken of the 8 riders on exactly this day in 1976 (both photos are attached). Barbara and Peter look no older 😊 although you can hardly see Peter for his balaclava – it was obviously a much colder day in 1976. You might wonder what Barbara is wearing – this was her lab coat with mock blood (well at least I hope it was mock) on it.
Three groups then set off to cycle to Grewelthorpe, roughly following the 1976 route or what we know of it. Two of the Three groups called in at Bedale Harbour as did the original ride. Many of the riders had never been there before. Stephen Clark sent an interesting link out on the WhatsApp group telling us about its history. The original ride had lunch at the Black Horse in Kirklington and although it is still open it was unable to accommodate the number of us in one room and was only offering full meals. So instead I had booked Grewelthorpe Village Hall, as I did 10 years ago when we cycled there to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Club as a whole. Again I attach the two photos. Some people are obscured in the original photo – I am assured that it is Peter’s head next to Richard. Judy Webb didn’t believe she had ever been to the Village Hall before until I showed her the photographic evidence – it could of course been a deep fake.
Refuelled with soup, sandwiches, cake and drinks we started our return leg. It had obviously rained while we had been inside and we did have a few short hail showers on our return but the sun came out again.
A good time was had by all.
You might wish to see the ride report of 1976, written by Barbara, which appeared in the newsletter of the time:
The report by Barbara Mouat on the inaugural Club ride March 14th 1976 – Lanes Ride:
“An intrepid band of 8 cyclists of every shape and size converged on the Greyhound, Hackforth, from all corners of the globe. The variation in dress was only matched by the cavalcade of vehicles – ranging from a tandem, through two and three-speed Sturmey Archer geared relics to a few hot, lightweight machines with campags and other modern devices for those who wanted an easy run.
We set off at a comfortable pace and soon strung ourselves out in pairs of chatting cyclists along a quarter mile length of road. Regrouping occurred in Crakehall and again at Bedale Beck, where an instructional guided tour of the harbour brought our first casualty – not a lifebelt in sight and Maureen suffering from that sinking feeling as her front tyre deflated. However, Ron gave us an expert demonstration on tyre removal and puncture repair, calling upon the use of Peter’s bowler hat as a water receptacle while testing for the leak.
Travelling by bicycle along quiet, flat lanes, one sees completely different aspects of the countryside and the pace of travel makes a pleasant change from walking or canoeing. We stopped for lunch at the Black Horse, Kirklington, where pre-booked cooked meals or packed lunches were washed down with a welcome pint. Off set our noble bunch once more, with some exchange of machines which proved disastrous when the sturdy tandem decided to spontaneously transform into a monocycle and Julie had a free trip until Charles collapsed in exhaustion declaring male liberation with his last gasp. Peter volunteered to cycle the machine into Masham (it was downhill all the way) and he and yours truly were then reduced to starting an impromptu walking section meeting. However, not purely by accident, the Theakston’s Cross Country Horse Trails were being held in Masham that day and after taking suitable refreshment, the pedestrians found a lift home among the crowds. Meanwhile, the others cycled on through drizzle and Newton le Willows to recount their lively adventures over coffee in the Knowles household at Hackforth; 35 miles covered and not an aching limb the next day between the 8 of us but the cycles took their toll and a few much needed repairs will be required before the next meet”.
James