22/02/25
“Would you be able to help out on the 22nd?”
“Sure”
“You’d have time to ride the 50 km first.”
“Ok, sign me up!”
And so after lasts year’s epic 100 km a more sedate ride this year, followed by a shift in the kitchen.
As the audaxer comes to expect (perhaps hope), there was a nice variety of cycles on this ride, including a two-wheeled Lightning recumbent, a hand cycle, at least one mountain bike, a couple of Sonders, and even my own current commuter, the Pompino – the first Audax not on my Hewitt. Not the only flat bar in attendance.
We were very lucky with the weather; mild, dry, a bit of sun. As I write this the following day the rain is lashing against my windows. The route is straightforward along quiet roads, fairly flat (surely not, Dean?) to the extent that I was feeling a bit under-geared, until two step climbs crossing the river Leven. I met who I now know to be Nick, when he had stopped to check the info control location.
The halfway-ish control was a cafe at HMP Kirklevington Grange, who very efficiently served us as we descended en masse. Huge pieces of cake, and my choice, big cheese scones. A great opportunity for learning skills and gaining experience to help find employment after imprisonment.
There was a bit of a headwind on the return journey, but no more sudden climbs. On arrival at the Northallerton Scout & Guide Hut there was the usual splendid spread of both mugs and food. After a feed and a shower I joined Kat and Paul in the kitchen to feed the finishers on the 100 and 200 km rides that were also running. Kat had everything well organised, I mostly spent time stirring pans to try and keep things warm and ready but not burnt (and apparently earned the honour of being the first person to prevent the veggie chilli sticking to the bottom of the pan). Paul had left it too late to enter a ride and decided to offer his services instead, which was great. I think they were only waiting for one rider to finish when I left, although unfortunately (well, for them) I left too early to brandish the mop.
55 km, 218 m climbed, average speed 18.5 kph, total time 3 hours 38 mins
