IMPROMPTU RIDE - WHALLEY ABBEY

SUNDAY 1 MAY 2011

Being a bank holiday weekend the Sunday runs list was earmarked, 'Impromptu' but the tom toms had been on the go prior to the weekend and I received an invitation to join a few members for a 'short' social ride to Whalley, sounded inviting so I said yes. Arriving on the town hall square on a beautiful sun drenched morning the only thing that could spoil the day was the very strong wind, in BBC speak, breezy. Eventually there were six of us for the ride but as I looked at the steeds of choice of the others I realised it was 'get Bowlesy day', not a saddlebag in sight other than my Carradice camper longflap stuffed as usual to the top. Carbon fibre and lightweight aluminium, saddle stuff bags, they knew something I didn't.

A few ideas for the ride were tossed about eventually Bernard won the day with his choice of Whalley, with a difference, we would negotiate a route only Bernard knew. Starting out in the opposite direction to what we would normally go to Whalley I knew we were in for a 'tough' short ride, Bernard doesn't do easy.

Out through Chorley, not bad this bit as we had the billowing wind behind us but then a turn off tthe A6 took us into the vertical, well I hit the wall anyway but Ian Tipping went into turbo sprint mode and flew up the hill making me feel ill.

Now we were heading eastwards in the general direction of Whalley but between here and there were several deviations, all of them designed to test me to the limit. Salmesbury Bottoms, where the road rears up on a sharp bend and carries on steeply, the road here was designed for coming down actually, we just happened to be going the wrong way.

Over the top we eventually see the next act of cruelty to me, Mellor on the hill, at least I know from there a fantastic swoop down brings us to a fairly straight bit of road, but Bernard spoils it again by deviating from the main road turning left down the long hill where the river Ribble is normally crossed on the way to Ribchester. At the bridge is a right turn for Dinkley, ok the lanes are nice by the Ribble but I know what is ahead, another enemy of fat overweight aged cyclists, a steep hill. I remember all thes hills from coming down them, Bernard is on a mission to ride 'up' the lot. Will we ever get to Whalley?

The lane does eventually bring us to Lower Langho, at last Whalley is in sight, the extended short ride will soon be over, objective reached. Good fortune has played a part in the ride, the head winds turned out to be not bad due to a combination of high hedgrows, twisting sheltered lanes and side winds making the ride much easier than it might have been.

Before we had even got there Pete was asking 'which way are we coming back', I was only too glad to get there first then bale out if Bernard got too carried away.

The cafe in the Abbey grounds was not too busy, a few cyclists already there agreeing with me that it was a bit 'drafty' out, so service was quick and soon I was enjoying home made soup and hot roll soaked in butter along with a pot of tea and two painkillers. Bernard had the cheek to ask me if I could spare him a couple as he had a bad back, after what he had put me through I could have happily refused him, but I didn't.

After dining I decided to take a photo showing some of the grand old abbey buildings as a backdrop for our star riders, all too often we call here without recording just what a nice place this is. In the mid day sun it looks especially nice.

Right let's go, and so we set off back and York has been the chosen route, normally I might have jibbed at this but the strong winds seem set fair for assisting us up the long climb and with the fantastic cloudless blue skies the views out to our right would be terrific, and they were.

Once over the top it is a downhill plunge to Blackburn, strong sidewinds adding to the excitement, before the bind of the urban roads through the town.

Bernard excelled again in choosing the road over Tockholes, only because the cafe there serves very good coffee and makes a very welcome stop anyway for me. Bernard compensates me for nearly killing me with the 'easy' ride to Whalley by treating me to a coffee, a fair enough return for the painkillers I thought.

Up to this point the strong wind had been very kind to us, side winds at worst, tail winds at best, but going in to Belmont it was full on head, fortunately not for long. As we reached Scout road it was once again fully behind, I was more than grateful for this as when the top was reached it would be plain sailing all the way home for me, relief for my aching legs. Along the top road I was able to utilise my big ring little sprocket, not for long but it was so nice being blown along at great speed for very little effort. Next bit of heaven was Bob's Smithy, all downhill to my front door, magic. I arrived home at about 3.15. so the ride must have been short after all, even the cat was still in bed. Despite the windy conditions, good fortune had been with us and the ride turned out to have been much better than I expected, n ow where are those ibuprofen tablets.  Report by Tony Bowles