We assembled at the usual start point for an 8am prompt departure. Temperatures were on the cooler side of 12°C, with some cloud cover and a steady 8(ish) mph headwind that would keep us company all day.

We set off, pockets full of snacks, heading for the first pick-up point where we met Dave’s friends Will and James, along with Jimmy’s pal Andrew.

A further stop was made at Bramham to meet Jay.

The group rode at a keen pace to the first café — The Village Tearoom in Selby — where bacon butties were enjoyed all round, seated inside one of the former plant nursery’s polytunnels. There, we bid farewell to Dave’s friends Will and James, and carried on as the nine musketeers, destination: Scarborough.

A small blip occurred — quite literally — with John’s tyre, somewhere between Selby and the next café stop. A quick search on Google Maps pointed us to a cycle repair shop, Wheelies Cycle Care, reportedly within five miles of our location but due to close in under 20 minutes! Hamish and Dan set off in a race against time, only to arrive at a ghost of a business — possibly claimed by COVID.

By the time this was confirmed the rest of the group had caught up. We opted for a good old-fashioned fix: changing John’s inner tube and adding some state-of-the-art packing — in the form of an empty energy gel packet — to the damaged tyre. As it turned out, this worked a treat and held all the way to the finish. High five indeed! Though not without the cost of a rather knobbly and uncomfortable ride.

Shortly after tackling the recently gravel-coated and much-revered Hanging Grimston climb, our second tea stop came into view: the cash-only Fimber Café, north-west of Driffield and about six inches up the map from Wetwang.

Refuelled with coffee and cake we climbed back into the saddle for the final stint — made tougher by a northerly turn near Bridlington, where the last few miles demanded everything we had left in the tank.

Relief came in the form of chips, following the traditional photo at the North Bay and a cobblestone finish (à la Tour of Flanders) into the bustling metropolis of Scarborough’s South Bay.

Chips and pints were consumed without delay — dodging the shadows — before a trouble-free taxi ride back to Leeds, with bikes skilfully secured using the rear seatbelts of our half-empty minibus.

A thoroughly enjoyable day out and a cracking ride, continuing the club’s fine tradition of heading to the coast for some well-earned fish & chips!

Author: David G