Le Tour visits Oldham (nearly)

Even though the Tour isn't actually coming to Saddleworth, it hasn't stopped The Oldham Chronicle getting into a big fizz about yesterday's route announcement.

Something is happening close by, next summer

With the climb of Holme Moss confirmed and the route taking the peleton back to Sheffield along the Woodhead Pass, the ride will actually pop into Derbyshire very briefly and this is enough for the Chron to seek out the views and opinions of the town's great and good.
For example, Natalie Goas from The Old Bell in Delph is hoping to put up the entire entourage of the tour in the 18 rooms she has available, while Tim Mitchell from Saddleworth Clarion is excited because '...it's like having the World Cup of cycling virtually on our doorstep.' and finally Larry Wells thinks its great as the race will be '...more or less on our doorstep.'
Can't blame them for getting excited, I am too, even if East Yorkshire has been sadly overlooked.  Oh well, there's always next year, oh, wait...

TdF for Holme Moss?

So with all the fuss about what, why and where he should have said to Oprah becoming rather tiresome, I'm now boycotting any mention of him until we found out how he tried to fudge saying 'I did it'. 
Of much more interest is the announcement tomorrow on what the opening stages of Yorkshire t'our in 2014 will be.
There's loads of possibles and no doubt there will be a bit of a bun fight going on between the various towns and cities as to which places get a bit of tour action next year.
We know Leeds are getting a bit and some of the famous 'mountains' should get a look in. Rumours are circulating that Holme Moss might get a look in.

Perhaps not the high point of the entire Tour

Personally, I'm hoping for a bit of East Coast action so as I can pitch up at the in-laws and undertake some splendid Yorkshire hospitality.
We find out tomorrow at 6pm.

Away fixture

Beautiful weekend we've just had and one which was an absolute 'don't miss' for cycling.  As I was away for the month in-law's birthday, it was going to be a bit of a challenge to get out on the road but fortunately for me, my mother in law is not the stereotype of Bernard Manning 'jokes' but an all round good egg so it was no sweat.

Driffield is the capital of the Wolds by all accounts

So off I set into the Yorkshire Wolds and what a superb place for riding it is.  I didn't really have a plan other than to follow my nose and do about three hours.  Quite why there are not a whole host of international class cyclists from East Yorkshire I don't know as there are some tough roads out there.  My route used part of the Route 166 Sustrans national cycle network.
While the climbs lack the length and height you get in North Wales or the Peak District, it is a constant up hill and down dale all day.  Some tough little buggers too - great rolling roads, exposed hill tops and fast descents.
Great place names too: Duggleby, Kirby Grindalythe and Lagtoft. 
A great part of the world for cycling if a little unknown. The only sad thing was the lack of cyclists out on the road.  During my three hour five minute ride, I saw only one other person out on a bike.  OK, so there are fewer people living there and its a big place - but just one person?
Ah well, their loss I suppose...
Ride safe