The Coal Road Challenge 2009 Photographs courtesy of James Murdoch.

Challenging Times

The road between Garsdale Head and Dent was once the main route between these two Dales centres. It was also the road connecting the two high railway stations serving these isolated Dales communities. On Sunday it hosted the turning point of the Lune Cycling Club’s Coal Road Challenge. The primitive mines above Dentdale were abandoned after the railway brought cheap coal from farther afield. But the traditional name remains and road is a testing focal point for Northern cyclists. The 65 riders tackled the steep slopes, still partially covered by snow, as part of the nearly 70 mile circuit. Leaving the Bull Beck car park, near Caton, the riders, in 3 carefully graded groups, with one or two interlopers, 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 was into a strong head wind and when the riders reached the halfway control, by the railway viaduct, they were all ready for a quick break and a chance to refill depleted drinks bottles. The climb of the Coal Road reaches nearly 500 metres and is the high point of the challenge. Earlier in the week this road had been blocked by snow but the sudden milder weather gave the riders room to negotiate the snow drifts. This road, recently re-surfaced, gave a testing but smoother ride before the swoop down to Dentdale. 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 few miles were on the busy road through Hornby to finish at the Bull Beck car park where between four and five hours earlier the adventure had started. As the riders relaxed they exchanged stories of the more testing moments of the ride and agreed to be much fitter for the 2010 version of this now established event.

Paul Andrews signing on.

High Points of the Ride:

The top of the Coal Road

The new surface on the ‘road’

Chris Morley, returning from the lower slopes of the Coal Road, to report a rider stranded with a broken rear mech

Dr Edge apologising for the other members of the Cleveleys not paying

Paolo finishing, alone from the ‘slow’ group, with his hands held high in victory

Will Medd, “my first cycling event I’ve done of any kind” finishing alone, a minute behind the above!

Scott and Andy for a fast ride

All the Lune members mixing and chatting at the end of the ride

The two lads from South Yorks, one getting his Dad’s old bike out of the shed the night before, and riding in combat pants and trainers

Low Points

The head wind from Hawes to Garsdale Head

About half way up the Coal Road

The 8 or 10 riders from the Cleveleys who didn’t sign on or pay but lined up and rode the event

Check In

Thanks

Charlotte, Liz, Denise, Tom and James Murdoch (Team Greenwood) & Gordon Helme and Barry Moore, home from Canada, for help on the day

Brian G