great rides ron Kitching sportive

A century and moor The Ron Kitching Challenge Ride and Sportive has 100 and 150km routes – and an option to ride the steepest road in Britain. John Storms outlines what to expect

ou can see for miles on top To many members, Ron will need of the North Moors. And no introduction. But if you’ve Y if you’ve ridden there during joined CTC more recently, Ron was The Ron Kitching Challenge Ride a star racing man who founded and Sportive on 25 June, you’ll have and ran one of the largest and earned the view. This year’s event is most successful bicycle and parts a fully supported ride with course importers in the UK. He also played signage, nutrition stations provided a major part in the formation of the by High 5 Sports, mechanical back- York Rally – now York Cycle Show – up and chip timing. whose racecourse venue is the start There’s also a special L’Eroica- and finish for this ride. style vintage category for riders with Nearby was where pre-1990 bikes and components. CTC was founded in 1878. It was There will be prizes for the best also once the centre of the Kitching turned out bike and the best tribute business and much of the UK cycle bike. There are no specific rules trade. In the 1930s, Ron joined CTC about clothing, but vintage jerseys, and raced for the Century shoes and caps will add to the spirit Racing Club. A top-level road of the event and will look good in racer himself, Ron Kitching ran his the Classic Bike group photo of all business for over 30 years and was vintage entrants. Each participant the original importer of Milremo, will be expected to ride (and finish!) Zeus, Suntour, TA, Cinelli, Super either the 100 or 150km route. Bikes Champion, Ishiwata, and many will be checked by a CTC expert to more brands. make sure they comply with pre- Ron promoted his own bicycle 1990 standards. frames too, built by some of the Whatever kind of bike you ride, top British craftsmen, including the rewards in terms of scenery and Arthur Metcalf and Wes Mason who achievement are the same. It’s not operated Metcalf & Mason and just about pedal revolutions and ‘MKM’ – Kitching’s initial in the the road ahead. Look up from the middle revealing his role as silent tarmac and there’s plenty to see. partner. Even the great Beryl Burton I pre-rode the course in April and rode a ‘RON KIT’ frame. have picked out my highlights. Castles, halls & history The Ron Kit connection At 19km into the ride, you may still The ride is named for Ron Kitching be getting warmed up. But look and includes some of his favourite out for the remains of the castle at roads over the . the village of Sheriff Hutton. It sits

30 cycle june/july 2011 great rides ron kitching sportive

on a low ridge between the Vale gradient of 12%. But the short sharp of York and the Howardian Hills. 30% bit hits you hard and is followed This motte-and-bailey castle was by 20%-25% parts that come so early completed in 1398 by Bertram that getting to the top can seem de Bulmer, Sheriff of York during impossible. the reign of King Stephen. During About two thirds of the way up the 16th century, Henry VIII’s I felt as though I had conquered it illegitimate son, Henry Fitzroy lived when a motorist rolled down the at Sheriff Hutton under the care of window and shouted, ‘There’s a car Cardinal Wolsey. Today the remains park at the top!’ Was she trying to of the castle can be seen south of tell me I needed a rest? You’ll get the churchyard. that well deserved breather just after Further on, at 33km, you’ll you pass the car park on the right. pass after a Take a quick look at the disused nice descent. It’s a National Trust mines on the right, then enjoy the property with impressive walled gentle descent for at least another gardens and a supposedly haunted two miles through the moors, bedroom. More practically, there’s a with as great a view as you’ll get recently renovated tearoom inside anywhere. the house that’s well worth a visit – particularly if you’re doing the ride Homeward bound at a more leisurely pace. Whichever route you’ve ridden, the Hutton-le-Hole, at 50km, is village of is only a short another good place for a cup of detour. If you need refreshments, tea or picnic stop. It’s one of North the Blacksmith’s Arms is an old- Yorkshire’s most popular villages. fashioned beamed pub opposite a Look out for the folk beautiful Saxon church. The food museum and the Crown Inn pub. and drink is good and owners There are also ice cream and sweet friendly. shops. If you’re doing the longer The other choice is to wait a little route you’ll miss Hutton-le-Hole, longer. In another 10km you’ll hit but it’s not a long detour if you need the tea and cake stop at Marton to refuel or take a breather. Soon village hall. The Women’s Institute you’ll be out on top of the moors, has put this on for this event for with stiff climbs to come. years, so make sure you’ve got some extra change to treat yourself. You know the donations will go to a Up the chimney good cause, and if you’ve got this far The 150km route goes through you deserve some treats. the villages of Castleton, Danby On the way back to York, the and Rosedale Abbey (86km) and return leg across the Howardian then follows the River Seven valley Hills takes you right past Castle (Top to bottom) Hutton-le-Hole is on the 100km route. The Blacksmith’s Arms towards Cropton and Appleton-le- Howard, which was used as the in Lastingham – worth a visit. The descent past Nunnington Hall Moors. But there’s another option: setting for Brideshead Revisited. over the top of Spaunton Moor, up This 18th century country house the steepest road in Britain. is an imposing Baroque building Rosedale Chimney is 1-in-3 at in extensive grounds. There’s also one point. It’s one of handful of a café in the courtyard, if you can’t climbs rated 10/10 in the book ‘100 wait until York. greatest cycling climbs’ by Simon Once you’re out of the hills, it’s an Warren. The National Hill Climb easy run back to York racecourse. Championship was held here back There will still be a day and in 1987 and Chris Boardman could a half left to recover, only manage second place. It’s less refuel, and enjoy the than a mile long, with an average rest of the show.

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51.9 LOW MILL The route 52.9 Jct Right (as you drop to village) DISTANCE: 100 or 150km. 53.2 T Jct Left SP Castleton 55.8 Jct Right (Narrow Road) MAPS: OS Landrangers 105, 56.8 T Jct Right to climb Blakey Bank SP 100, 94. START/FINISH: York Castleton Racecourse. WHEN: Start 58.1 T Jct Left SP Castleton from 08.00 on Saturday 25th 67.4 CASTLETON 70.2 DANBY Staggered X-rd SO (Briar June. PRICE: £17 for CTC Hill) SP Moors Centre members, £27 non- 71.3 CONTROL at DANBY MOORS members. INFORMATION & CENTRE (Right out of control) ENTRY: ctcchallengerides. 72.1 50m after rail bridge Jct Right imm. after packhorse bridge/ford co.uk. GPS FILES: ctc-maps. 72.2 T Jct Left org.uk, codes E95 and E96. 72.9 T Jct Left 74.8 Jct Right on singletrack road to 0km Leave Knavesmire through gates climb Little Fryup SP Rosedale 0.1 T Jct Left (Knavesmire Road) 79.6 T Jct Left SP Rosedale 0.3 Jct Right (Knavesmire Avenue) 85.9 ROSEDALE ABBEY 0.6 X-rd Left (Albemarle Road) You may take the alternative here of 1.4 Traffic Lts with A1036 Right A1036 climbing Rosedale Chimney. Go right (The Mount) just after the Tea Rooms on the left and 1.5 2 Sets Traffic Lts SO A1036 join the 100km route at Hutton le Hole 2.0 Traffic Lts SO (use middle lane – thro’ 93.6 Just before humpback bridge Jct Bar Walls – Micklegate) Right SP Lastingham 2.3 Traffic Lts SO B1227 (Micklegate) 94.7 Jct Left (as main road swings sharp 2.4 Traffic Lts SO B1227 (Bridge Street) right) SP Appleton le Moor 2.7 2nd Jct Left (Coppergate) restricted 96.9 T Jct Left SP Appleton le Moor access, Buses/Cycles APPLETON LE MOOR 2.9 Traffic Lts SO (Pavement) 99.9 T Jct Right SP A170 3.1 Mini Rndbt SO 100.0 Jct Left SP Grt Edstone 3.5 Traffic Lts Left A1036 (Jewbury) SP 101.0 T jct Left SP Edstone Scarborough 103.0 CONTROL at MARTON VILLAGE 3.7 Traffic Lts Right A1036 (use outside HALL. Routes rejoin lane – Monkgate) SP Scarborough 4.1 Rndbt Left (1st Exit cycle lane – Both routes Huntington Road) SP Huntington 103.0/58.5 Leave Left from Control 4.7 Traffic Lts SO 105.5/61.0 NORMANBY 5.0 Mini Rndbt SO (1st Exit) 109.0/64.5 GREAT BARUGH T Jct Right 5.9 HUNTINGTON SP Malton 6.3 Mini Rndbt SO (1st Exit) 110.6/66.1 LITTLE HABTON 6.8 Rndbt SO (2nd Exit – Huntington 114.6/70.1 AMOTHERBY Road) SP Strensall 114.9/70.4 X-rd with B1257 SO 9.1 Rndbt with A1237 SO (2nd Exit - 116.9/72.4 T Jct Right Ordnance Ordnance Survey Mapping © Crown copyright AM035/11. Created using Memory Map digital mapping software, www.memory-map.co.uk Strensall Road) EARSWICK SP Strensall 119.9/75.4 CONEYSTHORPE 9.6 Rndbt SO (2nd Exit) 120.3/75.8 X-rd Left SP Welburn 11.8 STRENSALL 127.5/83.0 FOSTON 11.9 Rndbt Left (1st Exit – York Road) SP 129.1/84.6 THORNTON LE CLAY Sheriff Hutton 131.4/86.9 T Jct Left and over level X SP 12.8 Level X Flaxton 13.4 4th Jct Left SP Sheriff Hutton 132.7/88.2 FLAXTON Jct Right SP 19.4 SHERIFF HUTTON Strensall 23.9 Climb Terrington Bank 137.4/92.9 STRENSALL 24.7 T Jct Left SP Hovingham 138.9/94.4 Rndbt SO (1st Exit – Six Bells 29.6 HOVINGHAM T Jct Left (B1257) SP pub on right) SP York 141.2/96.7 Rndbt SO (1st Exit) EARSWICK 31.9 Jct Right to climb Caulkleys Bank SP 141.3/96.8 Mini Rndbt SO (1st Exit) Nunnington 141.7/97.2 Rndbt with A1237 SO (2nd 33.7 NUNNINGTON Exit) HUNTINGTON SP Huntington 38.4 Jct Right SP Welburn 144.0/99.5 Rndbt SO (1st Exit) 39.0 T Jct Right SP Welburn 144.5/100.0 Mini Rndbt SO (2nd Exit) 39.8 T Jct Left SP Kirbymoorside 145.8/101.3 Mini Rndbt SO (2nd Exit) 40.5 X-rd with A170 SO SP Kirkdale 146.1/101.6 Traffic Lts SO 41.1 T Jct Right SP Kirkdale 146.7/102.2 Rndbt Right A1036 (use 41.4 Ford Crossing (footbridge available) outside lane – 3rd Exit – Monkgate) 41.8 X-rd Left SP 147.1/102.6 Traffic Lts SO (through Bar 45.6 T Jct Left SP Walls – Goodramgate) 45.7 FADMOOR Jct Right SP 147.3/102.8 SO (Deangate) – use cycle 46.6 GILLAMOOR Descend Bank path past Minster 147.7/103.2 Traffic Lts SO A1036 Routes diverge: 100km route (Museum St) 48.0 At Jct SO (150km route goes left 148.1/103.6 Traffic Lts Left and imm. Left here) SP Hutton le Hole on to Tanner Row 48.3 Cattle Grid 148.2/103.7 Follow Wellington Row 49.9 T Jct Right SP Hutton le Hole round to right 50.0 Cattle Grid 148.7/104.2 Traffic Lts SO 50.3 HUTTON LE HOLE 149.0/104.5 Keep Left as road bears right 51.2 Cattle Grid to go under bridge SP T’pennine Trail 55.1 T Jct with A170 Left and immediate 149.5/105.0 Continue alongside river Right SP Marton and at ped. bridge go Right and through 58.5 CONTROL at MARTON VILLAGE bollards onto Butcher Terrace HALL Routes rejoin 149.6/105.1 Left onto Bishopthorpe Road 149.7/105.2 Right onto Campleshon 150km route Road SP Racecourse 48.0 At Jct Left (100km route goes SO 150.2/105.6 Left into York Cycle Show here) SP Farndale 150.8/106.3 FINISH at Information Tent

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