Way of the Roses cycle ride, 17th/19th May 2013
Distance: 274 km / 170 miles Passing through: E Yorks, Lancs, N Yorks, York
This ride is intended as a personal challenge. It’s a chance to push your fitness boundaries and take advantage of safety in numbers, due to the fact we are travelling as two groups ending on the same evening you’ll have the advantage of booking return transport for you and your bike if you need it. The two rides being organised by the group are as follows:
Ride 1: The three-day will set off from Morecambe on Friday the 17th May 2013 and arrive at Bridlington on the Sunday evening. (please follow the link for ride information. The password is the same as for this post.)
Ride 2: The one day will set off from Morecambe on the Sunday the 19th May 2013 and arrive at Bridlington on the Sunday evening. (all information for this ride will be kept on this page)
You can ride for charity, you can ride for yourself. Ride for a holiday or ride for fitness. Book alongside us now to avoid sleeping on the beach and having to ride back again!
Plan your Travel, the beginning and the end.
Throughout I will make only suggestions for accommodation. In the interests of keeping the group together so that transferring to the guest houses and meeting for a meal will be as fuss free as possible. Please feel free to ignore me. This is your journey, stay where you’d like and make this adventure your own, all I ask is that you are fit enough and willing to ride as part of the group and ride with a team attitude to help and support the others.
Morecambe. The Start.
For those looking to stop a night at Morecambe, The Berkeley Guest house is ideally situated for the start point. They make a point of advertising the fact, selling water bottles, maps and providing bike storage for guests. The parking in this area is free on-street. The guest houses in this area are also ideal as a short wheel spin from the train station.
Getting back to the start.
I’ve had to remove the return travel. The company I’d arranged has taken on other bookings now, this meant that although they could still do the trip for us, they’ve pushed back any departure time to 1pm. It’s also doubtful tge correct size vehicle would be available.
So, myself and Glen are going to cycle back the next day. Anyone fancy this? You’re welcome to join us! Alternatively I’m told the train links are quite good from Bridlington. I’m returning to Morecambe because I’ll need to pick up my van!
Bridlington. The Finish.
I know very little about Bridlington but I’ve gone for a Guest House on the more quiet south shore. It’s just over a mile from the finish but knowing me I’ll probably want to cycle along the sea front when I get there no matter what the time or weather. The guest house is the South Lodge and its 300 yards from the sea front. Secure storage for the bikes and they have doubles and twins available. the cost is £62.50 for a room (quote the Cyclists Emporium) The South Lodge have rated highly on tripadvisor.
If you need to “BUDDY UP” for any accommodation but are currently riding alone, email me on tonyhemans@gmail.com. I will add your details to this post and shout about it until you get a suitable offer!
The evening meal, Sunday. On arrival in Bridlington.
Will we be there in time to get booked in and out for a meal? I’m not sure but it’s a goal to aim for! Either way I’m looking for restaurants able to take a group. How about Yip’s Chinese Restaurant Near the Spa Theatre? they have an upstairs room suitable for a group.
Training.
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For an event like The Way of the Roses, you’ll have at least some experience of road cycling and be of general good fitness.
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This is a tough, road cycling challenge and it’s recommended that you only undertake the event on a well-maintained and serviced cycle with slick tyres. Learn to maintain and repair!
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Use the Facebook group to ask for help and post your training statuses. You’ll find a lot of support if you only ask!
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Train with the kit you will be using on the challenge – now is the time to find equipment that works or discover if it will fail.
Fundraising.
If you’re intending on raising some money for your chosen charity, then a lot of time will be spent on the lead up to the ride raising awareness and leaning on your nearest and dearest for donations. If you need help with this try the how2fundraise website also obtain the details of your local charity fundraising manager and arrange to meet. Some are definitely better than others. my advice is to get as much organising done now as closer to the ride you’ll be spending more time training! Setting up a training blog is a great way for people to follow your progress and reward your determination. It’s always a good way to look back and see the differences as you get fitter and faster!
Your charity will provide fundraising packs and T-shirts. If you want something “Emporium” specific then how about these? Email me your charity’s logo and I’ll incorporate it into a design.
The Route.
For route information also see this site. There is also some good information about rail links.
The way of the Roses is a new cycle route going coast to coast from Morecambe to Bridlington which is also available for walkers. It is split into three major sections.
1. Morecambe – Cracoe 47 Miles (76 km)
This western section which is largely level and traffic-free, runs from Morecambe’s promenade (and the Irish Sea) to Lancaster’s riverside before heading up the Lune Valley to the Crook O’Lune viewpoint. Country lanes then traverse the hilly Forest of Bowland and southern Dales terrain to Cracoe. The climb out of Settle is the toughest of the whole route.
2. Cracoe – York 62 miles (99 km)
From Cracoe, the route is undulating before reaching the River Wharfe at Burnsall, where the road climbs onto Nidderdale moorland and the highest point of the route (402m/1312’) at Greenhow. Heed the warning signs for the descent into Pateley Bridge. After a final steep climb to Brimham Rocks, gradients start to ease to Ripon. The Vale of York and the riverside path into the city are generally flat.
3. York – Bridlington 61 miles (98 km)
Leaving York, cycle lanes and traffic-free paths lead to Pocklington at the Wolds edge. The road then winds up a dry valley, before sloping gently down to Driffield and onto Burton Agnes. The route then rises up onto Woldgate Roman Road with the views of the North Sea, before descending through Bridlington’s Old Town for a spin along the promenade where you can see the white cliffs of Flamborough Head.
Training blogs.
Alison is riding on the three-day Way of the Roses event. Her blog is brilliant and so far you can clearly see how much effort she’s putting in. overcoming everything winter can throw at her!
http://alisonbaileycycling.blogspot.co.uk/
Please send me your training blog links and I’ll add them to here!
Announcements.
Item 1, We need volunteers for support vehicles! If you know anyone who would like to get involved, if your partners would like to be there but aren’t up to pedalling the distance then let me know. Some riders may wish to have equipment taken along for them, change of clothes for the end of the day etc.
Item 2, For the self-sufficient amongst us we are looking into the postage of a change of clothing to the final stop over to allow fresh non cycling clothing to travel home in. More about this shortly.
Please use the form below to register that you are going on this ride, ask any questions, request\answer an item in the announcements, etc.