A Dale with a Sting in its Tale

GOOGLE STILL UNABLE TO RESOLVE ISSUE OF LACK OF PHOTOS. SORRY.

Chocolate Box England

Brantingham is a small hamlet on the south western corner of the East Yorkshire wolds. It is one of those villages where time seems to stand still, and if not for the low rumble of the adjacent M62, could easily be used in a period drama. Its church, lying slightly out of the village on the dale road and at the edge of woodland feels almost alpine in its proud isolation while places such as Keeper Cottage, Dale Farm, Brantingham Hall all hint at a history of rich rural traditions.  

 

The EPO Gene: Enhancing, Altering, Re-Balancing, Cheating.....?

There was some interesting news recently reported by the BBC about the potential of athletes, and in particular cyclists, to implant a gene which helps the body manufacture additional amounts of the hormone erythpoietin. It is more widely known as EPO.

 

How to Avoid the Puncture Curse

We've all been there. The sun's out, you're full of energy and enthusiasm, go to get your bike only to find that one of the tyres is completely flat. Changing it doesn't just take time from your ride but also dents your initial enthusiasm. Unfortunately, punctures are an aspect of cycling, like going up hills, riding into a head wind or having a chain come off, which every rider has to deal with at some point. In this article, we consider some of the ways in which you can avoid getting those punctures in the first place.

A New Approach To Finding Cycling Partners?

Out on the bike in the gentle Dales of East Yorkshire over the weekend, one is struck by two things. Firstly, the sheer numbers of cyclists willing to take to two wheels on a darkening January afternoon with a cold rain gently falling. Secondly, that many of these cyclists are braving the elements alone rather than with a partner or in a group. Have all these solo cyclists chosen to head out without company or is it simply the default option, being unaware or oblivious to the opportunities for a more sociable ride? 

Glad You're Not Riding 200 years Ago!

The modern bicycle: Minimal effort, maximum movement

One of the things which draws people to cycling is the sheer bang for buck that it delivers, the effort versus outcome which revolving your legs affords. On a modern lightweight bicycle, it's not difficult to achieve speeds far in excess of walking, or running, with minimal effort. In short, cycling is highly energy efficient.

Winter Cycling Tips

The day light hours are short, the wind and rain are cold, your bike is nice and clean, there's a good film on TV... It's not difficult to find excuses to not get out on your bike in the early days of the year (even with a purposeful resolution still ringing in your ears!). In short, getting out on your bike in winter can be a bit of a chore. Here's a few ideas that we put together for riders of our Heart of the Wolds Sportive (www.woldssportive.co.uk) that might just go a little way to putting the zest back into the experience!

An Introduction

It's New Year's Day so what else would you expect than an enthusiastic burst for a new project, the idea of this one being to write about aspects of cycling both within God's Own County and beyond. As with most subjects, while the surface may appear relatively benign, straightforward and relatively unremarkable, dive below the surface, swim around and, to continue the metaphor, unsettle the murkier regions far below, and with a bit of good fortune and due diligence we may discover something both worth writing about, and instructional to read.

The open road and clear skies