CTC Ride Report 14th Jan. 2024

Just five riders from Lancaster Cyclists Touring Club were prepared to tolerate the freezing conditions of a Sunday in Mid January for a short winter excursion to Beetham Garden Centre. The pre-ride chat dwelt naturally on the merits of various glove designs, with mitts scoring highly for their mutual finger-warming properties !

The roads had been gritted well, and we quickly warmed up on the long climb up Kellet Lane, the summit affording the usual panoramic views over the Bay and southern Lakeland peaks., all bathed for the moment in brilliant sunlight.

The sunshine was short-lived, however, and we were glad of further hills to quicken the pulse and get the blood circulating to extremities. Heated socks were a boon for some of the older riders ( ie most of us).

The Kellets, Capernwray and Borwick/ Priest Hutton came and went, as did faster and younger “roadmen” overtaking us in what we considered to be flimsy attire for the conditions. But then again they were putting in more blood-pumping power as opposed to our more sedate pace . We passed through Burton and took the lane leading to the cave-like aqueduct tunnel. Then via Holme to our coffee destination at the Garden Centre café.

After an hour we decided that it wasn’t very warm in the café, and everyone wanted to get home for lunch. We split into two groups in the village, Tony and Adam opting for the more direct‘three hills’ route to Warton, whilst the others descended through Dallam Park, along the estuary by Sandside , and then turned inland via Carr Bank to Leighton Moss and Carnforth.

For most of us it was a short ride of just over 30 miles, but enough to keep the legs in trim in expectation of warmer spring conditions.

CTC welcomes new riders . Check out or programme of rides on www.ctclancaster.org.uk Electric- assist bikes  are welcome. We don’t go very fast !

Len Howard