Sunday, November 12, 2006
M5 - North Face of Burton Dassett - 12th November 2006
Did you bring the ropes and crampons?
Dave free climbed the North Face
Pete also managed the ascent without ropes
Spot the skateboard paraglider in the background
Is the alpine chalet open yet?
Abcycling down hill
Pete overtakes Janny on a lower pitch
I am sure we could manage 21 dishes each
Alpine cattle being moved to winter pastures
Last of the summer gluvine
A member of the Swiss Apline Club
The mountain rescue team
Apres Cycle
Off pisteTwenty Third Ride; Sunday 12th November
Routemaster; Doug Freeman
Riders: Doug Freeman, Janny Freeman, Dave Shuttleworth, Ian Hartland, Pete Bones
Total mileage: 24.81 miles
Average Speed: 11.16 mph
Fastest Speed: 33.9 mph (Ian)
A leisurely 10:30am start for the M4 who meet at Harbury Village Hall. Steve had sent his apologies as he was on choir practice cleaning and flapjack making duty; well he had joined Doug and Dave on a tough Saturday morning training run. It was a fine autumn day, with the sun occasionally breaking through cloud, the wind was 8 mph from south west, and the temperature was forecast to reach 10c. The M4 set off to Deppers Bridge to met up with Dave and form the M5.
From Deppers we followed that tried and trusted route past Willowbrook Farm, along Hambridge Road out of Bishop's Itchington onto Knighcote. The routemaster had informed the M5 that there would be a route decision to be made, and stopped the group at the T junction of Northend Road in the valley bellow the menacing peaks of the Burton Dassett Hills. The options were; go via Fenny Compton and over the back of hills to Avon Dassett; take the alpine bull by the horns and attempt to free climb the daunting North Face of the hills; or shorten the ride and head for the safety of Gaydon. I am pleased to report that the decision was unanimous and we went for the North Face.
Ian decided to lead the ascent and was closely followed by Doug. Ian was making great progress but was unaware of the tricky final steep pitch to the mountain rescue hut at the North Face summit (it doubles as car park attendant's hut in the summer). Ian gritted his teeth and was soon smugly resting by the hut. Doug who was hardly out of breath, he had in fact stopped breathing, joined Ian and an army of proper cyclists who had tackled the South Face. Dave was the next to reach the summit, and not only did he manage it with ease but started a discussion about gear selection. Pete soon came into view, and he was very pleased with his gravity defying effort as he had not been out with the M7 recently. Finally, Janny came majestically around the corner very sensibly pushing her 3 speed Dutch bike which only operates on the flat or downhill.
We made a speedy descent to Avon Dassett, over the M40 and across the B4100, and along the pretty alpine lane to Arlescote nestling below Camp Hill. When we reached the B4086, the routemaster offered a 15 mile additional loop up Edge Hill and beyond, but only Pete was interested. The majority favoured the downhill piste to Kineton, and Pete reluctantly followed the pack. At Kineton Doug pointed out the new coffee shop that he, Steve and Dave had stopped at the previous day; very highly recommended. Janny was very tempted by a coffee stop, but instead persuaded her jelly legs to do a couple more miles to the Gaydon Cafe Nero.
The M5 ordered tea, coffee and water, and spent a pleasant half hour sitting on the comfortable settees discussing John Mayall and Reel to Reel. The sun was shining as we left the cafe, and we took the B4451 across the M40, where Dave carried on to Bishops Itchington and back to Deppers. The M4 turned off and cycled through Thwaites estate and back to Harbury.
An excellent Sunday ride, good autumn cycling weather, serious alpine climbing, fine company, and nice to see Pete back on an M7 ride.
Doug.
Routemaster; Doug Freeman
Riders: Doug Freeman, Janny Freeman, Dave Shuttleworth, Ian Hartland, Pete Bones
Total mileage: 24.81 miles
Average Speed: 11.16 mph
Fastest Speed: 33.9 mph (Ian)
A leisurely 10:30am start for the M4 who meet at Harbury Village Hall. Steve had sent his apologies as he was on choir practice cleaning and flapjack making duty; well he had joined Doug and Dave on a tough Saturday morning training run. It was a fine autumn day, with the sun occasionally breaking through cloud, the wind was 8 mph from south west, and the temperature was forecast to reach 10c. The M4 set off to Deppers Bridge to met up with Dave and form the M5.
From Deppers we followed that tried and trusted route past Willowbrook Farm, along Hambridge Road out of Bishop's Itchington onto Knighcote. The routemaster had informed the M5 that there would be a route decision to be made, and stopped the group at the T junction of Northend Road in the valley bellow the menacing peaks of the Burton Dassett Hills. The options were; go via Fenny Compton and over the back of hills to Avon Dassett; take the alpine bull by the horns and attempt to free climb the daunting North Face of the hills; or shorten the ride and head for the safety of Gaydon. I am pleased to report that the decision was unanimous and we went for the North Face.
Ian decided to lead the ascent and was closely followed by Doug. Ian was making great progress but was unaware of the tricky final steep pitch to the mountain rescue hut at the North Face summit (it doubles as car park attendant's hut in the summer). Ian gritted his teeth and was soon smugly resting by the hut. Doug who was hardly out of breath, he had in fact stopped breathing, joined Ian and an army of proper cyclists who had tackled the South Face. Dave was the next to reach the summit, and not only did he manage it with ease but started a discussion about gear selection. Pete soon came into view, and he was very pleased with his gravity defying effort as he had not been out with the M7 recently. Finally, Janny came majestically around the corner very sensibly pushing her 3 speed Dutch bike which only operates on the flat or downhill.
We made a speedy descent to Avon Dassett, over the M40 and across the B4100, and along the pretty alpine lane to Arlescote nestling below Camp Hill. When we reached the B4086, the routemaster offered a 15 mile additional loop up Edge Hill and beyond, but only Pete was interested. The majority favoured the downhill piste to Kineton, and Pete reluctantly followed the pack. At Kineton Doug pointed out the new coffee shop that he, Steve and Dave had stopped at the previous day; very highly recommended. Janny was very tempted by a coffee stop, but instead persuaded her jelly legs to do a couple more miles to the Gaydon Cafe Nero.
The M5 ordered tea, coffee and water, and spent a pleasant half hour sitting on the comfortable settees discussing John Mayall and Reel to Reel. The sun was shining as we left the cafe, and we took the B4451 across the M40, where Dave carried on to Bishops Itchington and back to Deppers. The M4 turned off and cycled through Thwaites estate and back to Harbury.
An excellent Sunday ride, good autumn cycling weather, serious alpine climbing, fine company, and nice to see Pete back on an M7 ride.
Doug.
# posted by M7 Cycling Club @ 5:23 pm 
