Cycling - Coal Road challenge goes the full distance (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Cycling - Coal Road challenge goes the full distance

11:51am Monday 28th February 2011 in Sport

LAST year the Lune Racing Cycling Club’s reliability ride, the Coal Road Challenge had to be modified at the last minute, as the steep climb of the Coal Road was blocked by snow.

This year the full 67-mile route was clear of ice but a downpour at the start suggested that the elements were once again adding to the challenge.

However, a record turnout and improving conditions led to the most successful Challenge so far.

Leaving the Bull Beck car park, near Caton, the 93 riders, in 3 graded groups, set off through Wray to High Bentham.

Here they turned to cross the A65 at Ingleton and started the climb towards White Scar Cave and Ribble Head.

As expected the groups split and in handful numbers the cyclists continued to climb up to Newby Head before swooping down to Hawes.

The next section to Garsdale Head is always testing and when the riders reached the halfway control, by the railway viaduct, they were all ready for a quick break, an energy gel, provided by the sponsor Vanillabikes.com and a chance to refill depleted drinks bottles.

Two of the cyclists suffered broken chains near the feed station and welcomed the chance to be transported back to the finish.

The climb of the Coal Road reaches nearly 500 metres and is the high point of the challenge.

Earlier in the winter this road had been blocked by snow but the recent wetter weather left the road ice free but the surface was covered in gravel on the swoop down to Dentdale.

The valley roads have suffered in recent winters and the riders had to negotiate the many pot holes.

Once beyond Dent village the route led over the short but steep climb to Barbondale and the more familiar roads to Casterton and Kirkby Lonsdale The final miles were via Whittington, Arkholme and down to cross the River Lune at Gressingham. The last section was on the busy main road through Hornby to finish at the Bull Beck car park where between three and a half and five hours earlier the challenge had started.

There was little surprise that the fastest times were posted by riders from the last group. As the riders relaxed they exchanged stories of the more testing moments of the ride and many agreed to ride the 2012 version of this now established event.