Author: Yvonne Ramage

Posted on

The Summertime Blues! 400km Audax at this year’s Rally

400km Audax at the York Cycle Rally :  Summertime Blues

400km cycling event starting from York Knavesmire. Controls at Thirn, Hawes, Appleby, Watson Hall, Castle Carrock, Mickleton Village Hall, Barton Truck Stop and York Knavesmire., plus 3 information controls.

A well-supported midsummer 400 with hills, but not a hilly ride. Campervan control at Thirn, and two village halls with food to see you through the darksome overnight section. Starts and finishes at York Cycle Rally.

The route takes in the cycle paths south of York and crosses the Ouse at the Bridge of Dreams, twice across the Wharfe before heading west into the Dales with a campervan stop and food at the eastern end of Wensleydale, then to Hawes and an evening ride over Mallerstang Common, into the Vale of Eden.

Lanes along the edge of the Pennines take you to a village hall at Castle Carrock where a warm welcome and hot food await.

The route then heads east of Eden and hopefully not to the Land of Nod, as it’s across to the Tyne Valley through Alston while the good folk are abed and over Yad Moss to a second village hall at Mickleton, with an optional bag drop and limited sleep space. Plenty of food, though.

Finally, it’s out of the hills to Barton Truck Stop World Heritage Site and across the Vale of Mowbray on your way back to York with a final section along the river path to get you back to the Knavesmire.

This ride will be for you if you like: being fed at the side of the road or at village halls, bridges, rivers, County Durham, Cumbria and Yorkshire. There’s a lot of Yorkshire.

This ride will not be for you if you don’t like: cycle paths, crossing the Pennines at night in midsummer with shooting stars across the sky (possibly), Barton Truck Stop World Heritage Site.

Date: Sat, 22 Jun 2024 

Distance: 400 km in 26 hours and 40 minutes

Time: 11:00 to finish by 13:40 the next day

Starting from: York Knavesmire

Fee: £30.00 

Closing Date: Enter soon as entries may close early if event is full

NON-MEMBERS are welcome but need to register first (audax.uk) This is free – we ask you to do this so we can verify your contact details. You only need to register once and can then enter multiple events or in future convert to paid membership.

Organiser: Dean Clementson

Email: dean.clementson@icloud.com

Posted on

The return of the “Tour de York” Guided Ride

We are delighted that the popular “Tour de York”, led by an expert Club Cyclist, will be featuring on this year’s Rally Guided Rides Programme.

This 68 miles long route will take riders through lovely countryside as well as pretty villages whilst circumnavigating the City of York.

An added bonus is that all who complete this ride are awarded a special commemorative sticker! Don’t forget to sign up, in advance at the Rally’s Information Hub.

Posted on

New for this year: a themed ride: the life and times of George Hudson, “The Railway King”.

If you enjoy an informative ride, then this one could be for you!

One of our excellent guided ride leaders has devised an interesting and entertaining ride exploring the life and times of George Hudson, who was known as “The Railway King”. Never far from controversy, George Hudson was a key figure on the development of the railways in and around York in the early C19th.

Numbers for this guided ride will be limited to 15, and you will need to sign up, in advance, in the Rally Information Hub.

Posted on

The Return of the Retro Ride!

We are delighted to tell you that there will be a Retro Ride at this year’s York Cycle Rally, which will be suitable for all manner of older bikes, whether they are roadsters, road bikes, Moultons or even high wheelers!
So polish up your pride and joy, and join us for a ride into the countryside around York!
Posted on

York Cycle Rally Guided Rides Programme for 2023

FRIDAY EVENING SOCIAL RIDE:

As in previous years, there will be a gathering of riders wishing to ride to Deighton for fish and chips, and maybe a pint or two in the pub!

This ride will leave from Start Point 5 at 18:30.

Sunset will be at 21:40 on that evening, and so LIGHTS ARE MANDATORY.

SATURDAY RIDES:

09:00 Challenge Ride: The Tour de York.

Join Eamon Prendergast of the York Wednesday Wheelers for this 68 mile epic ride encircling the city of York, through lovely countryside. At a medium pace, riders will enjoy riding along mainly quiet roads and surfaced country lanes. There will be a refreshment stop. Route map and GPX file below: (Mapometer app) Saturday Challenge Ride : The Tour de York. Mapometer.com cycling route #5451378

09:10 The Tour of the Ainsty.

Join Gary Knighton (York Rally Committee) for this 31 mile tour of the lowlands to the west which were known, historically, as the Wapentake of Ainsty. There will be a variety of surfaces to ride and, as Gary says “There are some very green, green lanes.” This ride is NOT suitable for road bikes with narrow tyres. There will be a refreshment stop at Doyly’s tearoom at Bolton Percy. The pace will be medium. Route map and GPX file below (Mapometer app): Rally Tour of the Ainsty 2023 V2. Mapometer.com cycling route #5459025

09:20 On road ride to Stamford Bridge.

Andrew Richardson, of York Wednesday Wheelers, will lead this medium to fast paced 37 mile ride to the east of York to the historic town of Stamford Bridge. Here, in 1066, King Harold’s army defeated a Danish invasion, before marching south to meet William of Normandy. The rest is history! There will be a refreshment stop. Route map and GPX file below (Mapometer app): Rally Road Ride to Stamford Bridge 2023. Mapometer.com cycling route #5456858

09:30 The Non- Conventionals!

Ian Prince (York Rally Committee) will lead this ride for those of you who ride tricles, recumbents, hand cycles, Moultons, Bromptons etc. Mainly using a traffic-free cycle path, the destination is the Tearoom at Naburn Lock, where delicious snacks and drinks can be had. Route map and GPX file below: The Non-Conventionals 2023. Mapometer.com cycling route #5459964

09:45 Easy ride to Riccall

Barry Raynor (York Rally Committee) will lead this leisurely 19 mile ride along a traffic-free track and quiet roads to the village of Riccall, where there is a tearoom. Route map and GPX file below: Saturday’s Family Ride to Riccall. Mapometer.com cycling route #5451405

10:00 Westwards with the Rouleurs

Mark Presley from York Rouleurs is leading this medium-paced 35 mile ride through villages to the west of York, calling at Tim’s Bistro at Thorpe Arch for refreshments. All are welcome on this ride along quiet roads. Visit the York Rouleurs at their stall at the Rally to find out more about this friendly and inclusive club. Route map and GPX file below (Mapometer app): Westwards with the Rouleurs 2023 v2. Mapometer.com cycling route #5462546

10:30 The Solar System Greenway

Join Peter Huxford of York Greenways and the York Rally Committee, for this leisurely, traffic-free 17 mile ride along York’s Solar System Greenway, visiting the Planets along the way. This former railway line is now home to a variety of plants as well as wildlife. The Planets sculptures are spectacular, too! Route map and GPX file below (Mapometer app): Rally Solar System Greenway. Mapometer.com cycling route #5458777

12:30 The Way of The Roses.

Bill Ramage is leading this leisurely-paced, mainly traffic-free ride along the York Riverside path and quiet roads to the Home Farm café at Beningbrough. The route follows part of Sustrans’ Route 65. The Riverside Path is shared with people out for a stroll, so be prepared to take it easy. Beginner cyclists are especially welcome on this 23 mile round trip. (This ride will be repeated tomorrow) Route map and GPX file below (Mapometer app): Knavesmire to Beningbrough Farm Shop. Mapometer.com cycling route #5451368

13:00 RSF Ride: Dunnington and Beyond.

Join George Nutt of The RSF Off-Road Cycling And Touring Club for this 26 mile ride to Stamford Bridge. There are lengthy off-road sections on farm tracks and bridleways. Enjoy both quiet roads and interesting traffic-free tracks through lovely countryside. Route map and GPX file below (Mapometer app) The RSF’s Saturday ride to Stamford Bridge.. Mapometer.com cycling route #5451375

SUNDAY RIDES:

08:30 Church Service Ride.

For those wishing to go to the church service at Naburn, Paul Reid (York Rally Committee) will be leading a leisurely paced ride which is 10 miles in total, to St Matthew’s Church, Naburn. Further details are to be found in the Rally Programme.

09:00 Challenge Ride to Fridaythorpe.

Join Roger Bilsby of The York Wednesday Wheelers for this medium-paced 62 mile ride to Seaways Café at Fridaythorpe. The scenery is varied, from the lowlands of the Derwent Valley to the steep climbs of the Wolds. Route map and GPX file below (Mapometer app): Sunday’s Challenge ride to Fridaythorpe.. Mapometer.com cycling route #5451371

10:00 Westwards with The Rouleurs

Erin Bagral of The York Rouleurs, is leading this medium-paced 35 mile ride, which is aimed at encouraging women and non-binary people to ride in a non-competitive situation. There will be a refreshment stop at Tim’s Bistro at Thorpe Arch. Visit the York Rouleurs at their stall at the Rally to find out more about this friendly and inclusive club. Route map and GPX file (Mapometer app) below: Westwards with the Rouleurs 2023 v2. Mapometer.com cycling route #5462546

10:20 RSF Ride to Skipwith and Selby

Join Ian Wood of The RSF Off-Road Cycling And Touring Club , for this 34 mile ride, with off-road sections to Skipwith and Selby. Enjoy the scenery, away from motor vehicles, along country lanes including byways, bridleways and the Solar System Greenway. Route map and GPX file below (Mapometer app): Rough Stuff Fellowship’s ride to Selby on Sunday.. Mapometer.com cycling route #5451373

10:45 RSF Solar System Greenway

Geoff Smith of The RSF Off-Road Cycling And Touring Club is to lead this 17 mile off-road, traffic-free ride to Riccall. The pace will be slow/ medium, as this ride is along a shared use path. Route map and GPX file below (Mapometer app): Sunday’s RSF ride along the Solar System Greenway.. Mapometer.com cycling route #5451374

11:15 The Way of The Roses

Join with Bill Ramage for this relaxed-pace 23 mile round trip to the Home Farm Café at Beningbrough. (The same ride as yesterday’s) Much of this route is traffic-free along York’s Riverside Path, and also some quiet roads. The Riverside path is shared with people out for a stroll, so be prepared to take it easy. Route map and GPX file below (Mapometer app): Knavesmire to Beningbrough Farm Shop. Mapometer.com cycling route #5451368

13:00 The Col de Kimberlow

Peter Huxford (York Greenways and York Rally Committee) is leading this relaxed pace ride along mainly traffic-free paths to York’s highest point (Kimberlow, c. 40 metres above sea level!) and on to the York Velodrome for refreshments. Route map and GPX file below (Mapometer app): The Col de Kimberlow. Mapometer.com cycling route #5452128

The York Cycle Rally CIC Organising Committee hopes that that weather conditions are favourable for its Guide Rides Programme, but reserves the right to change or cancel rides should the need occur.

We ask that prospective riders ensure that their cycles are in a good mechanical condition and roadworthy, as we wish all of our riders an enjoyable ride.