Ride to Settle via High Bentham, Thursday 17th May 2018

10 riders set out from Crook o’ Lune on a sunny bright morning with a cold north-easterly breeze, cooling the knees of the brave shorts-wearers.

The group continued through Wray, Wennington, Low Bentham, overtaking Matt’s recumbent trike. Arriving at Cafe Culture in High Bentham in two waves, we settled in for coffee and scones, where Matt joined us and, later, Ian.

With the party now consisting of 9 riders, others returning, the hard work of the day started, with the climb out of High Bentham, across the Lune-Ribble watershed, passing through Clapham to Austwick. Attacking the next climb past Wharf and over the ridge on the right bank of the Ribble we enjoyed an exhilarating descent past Knight Stainforth then through Giggleswick and across the Ribble into Settle for lunch – pub and cafe.

After assembling in front of the town hall we started our ride back, passing the station and crossing the mighty A65 to join the route through Eldroth, joining Mewith Lane for a roller coaster race to Wray, now blown along by our north-easterly wind and interrupted only by Dave’s rear wheel puncture (It’s always the back wheel!).

Tea and cakes in the garden, by the Hindburn at Bridge House Farm finished off the day in nice style and we all arrived back in good time after our 60 mile ride.

Mike Codd, rides co-ordinator and the day’s ride leader.