Berni started with a WhatsApp from a would-be cyclist just after 6 am telling me it was windy and wondering if the ride should go ahead.
By the time 7 hardy souls had gathered at the bottom of Hurgill Rd, Richmond at 10.15, however, the wind had dropped a bit.
We collected a cheerful couple on our way up to the Feldom Ranges and met the wise woman of Ravensworth soon after, making us a group of 10.
Richard H had cleverly devised two routes to Thorpe Farm Cafe on the A66. His group of 5 set out from Darlington, whilst I led the bunch from Richmond. The sneaky element of his cunning plan was to give himself a flattish ride, but a bit longer, but send us downhill into Ravensworth, immediately followed by a steep climb back up towards Kirby Hill, a futile and potentially exhausting diversion. My crew spotted this trick and rebelled, (like horses refusing to jump) and cantered directly to Kirby Hill.
We meandered happily to the rendezvous cafe and were impressed to find that Dicky from Darlington and his mates had already arrived.
When I apologised for being a noisy group to the lad clearing the tables after we'd had our lunch, he said it was nowt; they get much noisier.
After lining up for photos, we all set off together in lovely Autumn sunshine and made our way back all socialising to Melsonby. Where the Richmond group went south and the Darlington group went North. Just goes to show the weather always turns out fine on a SOC ride🚴
Berni & Richard