Onward Through Winter

With December and January viruses still lingering February has been a quiet month for me with regards to cycling.

I’ve only had to cancel one HSBC UK Breeze ride this month, so pretty good going to say how cold it’s been.

First day of February got off to a great start with our usual Thursday morning outing along the tracks and trails of Wakefield, West Yorkshire. A beautiful BUT chilly morning greeted us as we met at Pugneys Water and Country Park for a loop ride to Walton Nature Reserve.

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BUT will be worth it
Working on group hand signals
BUT will be worth it
Still working on group hand signals
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Not sure they are taking learning hand signals seriously!!
BUT will be worth it
Last hand signal of the day … YOU can do this too! … come and join us!

5th February saw our first BKCAT Breeze Cycle Circuit session. A bitterly cold night that didn’t stop these brave souls getting in a lap or 20, assisted by the great coaching talents of British Cycling coach Kim Meadows.

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BUT will be worth it
Chilly night at BKCAT Cycle Circuit Breeze session with brilliant coaching of British Cycling Kim Meadows

7th February, I love The Wednesdays! I don’t plan any routes, decide where we go or how many miles we do. I get an email every Monday from our gallant leader Gerard, giving all the information I need . I just rock up when I’m told to and ride and hope I can cling on to their back wheel, at least until snack stop!

I love cycling on my own, BUT I really love The Wednesdays.

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Found it hard today as I was still getting over all the viruses and crashes from December, that will teach me to read Gerard’s very thorough notes about the ride … and gradient!!! Wakefield, Woolley, Cannon Hall, Yorkshire Sculpture Park, Wakey … pooped!

BUT will be worth it
A breather after climbing the hill up through Hall Green to Woolley
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…BUT it was worth it .. Look at that view
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Another beautiful winter morning to go cycling
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Made it to Cannon Hall with ‘me Julie’!
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A hill too far … Thank you to the wonderful people of Cawthorne

8th February, with my very determined Thursday Breeze ladies. I cannot express the joy these ladies bring to my cycling life. Seeing them achieve new goals week after week, brilliant!

Each one of us has our own, very different challenges BUT we all have one common mentality….

If you don’t try you’ll never know,
If you don’t try you’ll never grow.

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BUT ill be worth it
Cycle, Chat, Brew … Happy
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You’re never far from a beautiful peaceful cycle ride Trans Pennine Trail

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BUT will be worth it
Band of cycling sisters .. always ready to help one another
BUT will be worth it
… that feel good factor…..
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Strangers until they met cycling … How friendships a born
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Happy, go lucky, happy, go cycling … come and join us!?

11th February, and the Brownlee Centre once again opened its Cycle Circuit to British Cycling’s Let’s Ride Pop Up event. 2 hours of free cycling for ALL. From balance bikes to Club cyclist. From babies in bike seats, newly purchased bikes and new… lets see if we can get to grips with cleats, riders.

If you would like to come and see what all the excitement is all about you can book on the session at Let’s Ride under ‘Location’ Leeds and Let’s Ride Pop Up Leeds

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BUT will be worth it
From club cyclists to the novice social rider … cycling is for ALL

The ever hopeful Spring is on it’s way!

From … I’m not Sure …. to … Think i’m Sure …. to … I’M SURE & I’M OFF!!!!

Family Let’s Ride

Volunteers are the stalwarts of British Cycling Let’s Ride Pop Up events

12th February, Monday night Breeze in Thornes Park was bitterly cold BUT that didn’t stop the determined Tori who …. talk about a challenge……. She signed up to take part in a triathlon without being able to ride a bike!!
This self motivated young woman is here every week come hell or water or cold, wind, rain, snow!

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BUT will be worth it
Tori, the determined triathlete who until resently couldn’t ride a bike … determination ..

13th February, Tuesday, not usually a cycling day for me BUT I told a cycling friend I would take her out on a ride one day when she had time off from work. I haven’t ridden with Colette before and she wasn’t a regular cyclist so I thought a nice potter along the canal from Leeds (where she lives) to RSPB St. Aiden’s Nature Reserve would be a lovely flat ride with a café stop at the reserve….. BUT … yeeha! … slip sliding away!

I rode to Leeds taking in some of the route we were due to ride and blinking heck, it was a great cyclo-cross section! With my bike hoisted upon my shoulder and wading through the quagmire I thought it best we take a different route.

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Canal at Rothwell before quogmire on way to start of Breeze ride at Leeds Station

Still wanting to keep it a flat ride and on speaking to Colette, we set of long the canal in the opposite direction, Bingley, where the towpath for the most part is in very good rideable condition.

I thoroughly enjoyed cycling with Colette. We chatted all the way about anything and everything. Cycling is a great way to get to know people.

We cycled to Bingley Five Rise Locks for lunch stop. Came out, repaired Colettes puncture, cycled to Saltaire, train back to Leeds and me to Wakefield. Brilliant day out with a new bike buddy.

BUT will be worth it
Not sure of the advantages of cycling with a flower pot on your back!
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Colette tackling the Three Rise Lock Bingley
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Even the guard thought it was funny we’d had a puncture!!

14th February, The Wednesday were taking on a shortened version of Wheel of Wakefield with a new route sorted out by David to avoid a rather muddy section close to Nostell Priory BUT the shortened version became even more shortened.

About 13 miles in and the sleet forecast for 1pm caught us early. We diverted down Doncaster Road and it’s a given when near Red Beck Cafe you HAVE to call in, even if it is only for a warm brew. Always great fun with the Wednesdays whatever the weather, where ever we go. Cheers guys.

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BUT will be worth it
Ice forming on parts of Pugneys Lake
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It might be smiles BUT disappointed to be beaten by the weather today
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Consolation meal at Red Beck
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What ever the weather … beautiful Yorkshire

15th February, room for all on our Thursday Breeze rides. Due to reasons I don’t need to go into, one of our ladies realised she wouldn’t be able to complete the planned ride of 14 miles and said she would go home so as not to spoil the ride for the rest of us . …..We’re having none of this!!!….

After a quick think, the ladies willingly agreed to my adapting the ride to enable ALL of us to still enjoy a lovely morning of cycling. Cycling buddies …. What more can I say!

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We laughed our way through a ride of two halves. Newmillerdam to Pugneys return, to play on the monkey bars, then Newmillerdam to Anglers Park for a brew.

BUT will be worth it
Haws Woods TPT
BUT will be worth it
Just chillin’ riding our bikes

19th February, Breeze Cycle Circuit in the dark! For 45 minutes of a 60 minute session we had no circuit lights, again! Very disappointed for the ladies attending this session. It’s only on twice a month and for one of those sessions to be wasted is shameful. All abilities are welcome at this HSBC UK Breeze (ladies only) session. It’s the perfect setting to get in some training miles for club cyclist BUT a safe and confidence building environment for ladies a little unsure of their cycling abilities. I’ll say no more other than very disappointed.

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BUT will be worth it
The lights are back on for the last 15 mins of session

22nd February, Yes, it’s Thursday again! When you cycle with a group of mates or you take and support ladies on cycle rides, then you will know the true joys of cycling. Everyone has a happy place…. Try cycling … it’s not a bad place to be happy!

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BUT will be worth it
Breeze Bandits ride again

Peaceful, quiet and traffic free

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Giving it our .. ‘who are you’ to the little kicker done in reverse in images below
BUT will be worth it
Approaching one of our nemesis … and beating it!

All three of us triumph in negotiating the ‘little kicker’ up and over the bridge with a sharp tight right hand turn on way there and tight drop down on way back. No wobbling off, no foot down, no missing the turn…

…no hiding the delight when another achievement is made!..

Thank you to all those who have ridden with me this month. It’s been a challanging month weather wise BUT spirits and enthusiasum for cycling never waned.

Hope to see you all in March!
Better stilll I hope you will all join us in our Sport Relief 850 mile BKCAT Cycle Circuit Challenge on 19th March! Click HERE for more info. Please join us and show your support to Sport Relief , Greg James #peadltothepeaks and Zoe Ball #hardestridehome challenges.

…. can we cycle 850 miles in 2 hours!?!?!?! … we can with your help, please!!

Thank you for reading my blurb. Keep warm, keep safe ……

….. ride a bike and keep happy!!
Jo

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Why not get rewarded for doing something you love at Love to Ride

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