Tickhill Velo Cycling Club

17 out for our Sunday Red Ride in glorious weather!

Sunday 28th September, anyone fancy getting behind this worthy cause? Our very own Andy Singleton, Lindsey James & Owen James, are involved in organising a charity ride from Torworth Lakes to Cleethorpes and back. All money raised going to Active Fusion, a local charity helping change the lives of children and young people in South Yorkshire. There's talk of breakfast butties, where do I sign up!!!

Tickhill Velo Time Trial 2025 getting underway!

Mid week ride to Happy Café (Sandtoft)

It was a nice morning! I arrived a tad before 9am to find 4 riders ready to go. Well not Trish, her bike was still on the tow bar, and not Karen she was late. The others were, well, me, Michelle, Robin and Dave. Welcome onboard Dave new members always welcome. But you didn’t need to make your mark at the end of the ride!

So we 6 set off for the dreaded traffic lights, taking to the footpath to get there such was the traffic. We found a gap and crossed over and up the Bawtry Road which seemed traffic free after the free for all at the lights. Bawtry led to Austerfield then Finningley.

Not sure where but somehow Karen got in front. That’s the Karen who only knows how to go a bit faster! So we went a bit faster into Wroot and along that long road (idle bank) that nobody really likes unless the wind is behind them. It might have been but there wasn’t much of it so it felt as though it might have been a head wind.

We arrived at the happy café I pretty good time- Karen hadn’t tired at all! Although it felt warm enough we went inside, found a couple of tables and got on with refuelling. The entertainment was provided by an elderly pop group who all sang a different tune. The gist of it was that the café wasn’t big enough and they couldn’t reorganise the tables to their liking. The ones who didn’t know the words ordered and got on with eating main meals. The others caught on slowly and more food followed.

But you can only stand so much so we set off. Karen knew I was likely to tire so eased off the pace a tad as we took the back road and rejoined the Epworth Road at the far end of Benton for our journey home. We had a spot of bother with our hands- to me left is left but for others it might not be- so it was interesting at the traffic lights and we resorted to exaggerating the arms/indicators to make sure them others knew it was “the other right” ie left!

From there we wandered along to Owston Ferry then on to Graiselound and Westwoodside. It was Westwoodside where my neck ache got to the point where I couldn’t ignore it (it’s an age thing - won’t affect you) so I stopped for some magic pills - legal, honest. Oh and an energy gel.

Michelle had stopped with me but the others were gone! We kept thinking they would notice but it was an age before Robin appeared to see where we were. But we caught up eventually and carried on to Misson and then Bawtry.

The road was clear in Bawtry so we made it as a group the the turning towards Tickhill and around the junction. From there it’s a straight forward trip back to base. Err, no, only if you stick together!

We did notice we were a bit spread out but thought nothing of it - but we should have. We progressed slowly until we found somewhere safe to stop (Plumtree undustrial estate). And we waited and the we waited a bit more before Robin gave in and went back to see what was afoot.

He was forever! We were considering what to do when he reappeared alone to tell us Dave had lost his crank arm! Did he clip in or did he use bog standard pedals? I couldn’t remember but we thought he clipped in; we hoped he clipped in. And we carried on! I had to as I had a place I had to be and the others made sure I made it safely (apart from one legged Dave and shepherdess Michelle who had to do there own thing to get home.

Despite all that I had an enjoyable (long) ride and hopefully Dave on his first ride as a member did too.

Due to the continued sub-zero temperatures, and subsequent risk of icy patches, there will be no planned 09:00 Red Ride tomorrow. Stay safe if you venture out later in the day.

Blue ride to Retford

No wind, no rain and a promising outlook; all looking good. We were four - Michelle Greco, Lynda Bardsley, Mick Devine and me. With no plan in place the other three trusted me to weave a route and still end up in Retford!

Anything to avoid “the” traffic lights we set off the other way. Half way up Malpass Hill we turned left. It’s a rotten road but hopefully Robin won’t read this as we always complain when he chooses it! But ewe went and we complained. On the outskirts of Styrrup we turned towards Oldcotes stopping opposite the Manor Farm café before heading for Blyth.

It was nice easy cycling and not marred by loads of cars. In Blyth we went east towards Ranskill just squeezing through the lights near what used to be the Charnwood Hotel and went on to turn right in the village heading towards Retford. But not for long! the route took us left past Daneshill Nature reserve and along into Lound where, right again. we turned towards Sutton cm Lound and onto the Great North Road. Rather than using the main road we went through the industrial estate before finally meeting shed loads of cars on the big roundabout.

But we made it safely and were in the café and had ordered when Diana arrived to join us for snacks and the return leg. Having finished we went out side to get ready for setting off when Andy Singleton and Mic, Debbie’s Dad, arrived. After a quick chat and photo they went inside and we set off for home.

Not necessarily the fastest or shortest route but there were roads we hadn’t ridden. We went along the cycle track as far as it went then on the road before turning down Green Mile Lane. Very little wind but what there was seems helpful. we were soon in Barnby Moor and with a couple of left turns were heading back to Blyth. It was only After we passed the Charnwood that the first of two incidents occurred. The first was a black transit man who decided to try to push us into the side. He wasn’t successful! We stopped next to the Northern Garden Centre to catch our breath and discuss “things”.

“Things” included the state of the world and whether we needed a second stop at Manor farm. But on our way again we forgot whatever worried us and enjoyed the open road, turning right in Oldcotes to head back towards Malpass Hill. Michelle decided to stretch her legs so naturally we all followed getting well and truly spread out along the road. But we rejoined and went along the way. Mick was going to take Any Hill Lane to go home and the rest of us were going to go via the Mill Pond to the Cricket Club.I paused in the entrance to the football field to say goodbye to Mick the rest indicated right to take the turn. The elderly couple in the blue car ignored the outstretched arm and overtook at a point where they were about to turn. Good luck played a part or they were have been flattened! Unfortunately my rear view camera didn’t capture the incident!

Back at the Cricket Club we chatted a while before making out way home. A good ride in good conditions. Thanks everybody see you next Sunday I hope.