2016 Skipton Reliability Ride Report

What a brilliant day for it! Unlike the grey skies and gale force winds of 2015, we had sunshine. I had no idea how many people to expect so I was all ready with 2 sign-on sheets just in-case. Bumped into Dave at Dave’s getting ready and Sean bringing the SCC flags, soon we were ready for sign-on. A few riders had already gathered behind Chevin Cycles, it was great to see some old faces and new shiny summer bikes. Sign-on went smoothly, route cards handed out, rider briefing done and the 100km were away on time at 9:30 with the 50km following on shortly after.

A coffee, a walk in the woods and a pretzel from Marks & Sparks later and I was waiting in anticipation for the first riders back. 5 minutes after I’d arrived Diane, Neil and John rolled in and seemed to have enjoyed the 50, wasn’t long before all the 50s were back. Expecting to see Stuart rolling in first, I was surprised to see Martin arrive in good time and promptly collapse on the floor, not long followed by Bruce then a steady stream of the rest. Stuart tipped up with a group just missing the cut-off by 6 minutes having taken several wrong turns and back-tracking at least twice! Just as I was packing away Neil and Gareth turned up, bang on 2pm and just within the 4hrs 30. Time for Bean Loved, another coffee and some cake!

I know several people took wrong turns, back-tracked and got it wrong in places. The Skipton Reliability Ride is a much tougher than many others, partly due to the twisty, lumpy terrain and party due to the care required to navigate it. If you got round and got the route mostly right, you did well.

Particular thanks go to Stephen H for helping the SCC youth riders round and Sean M for setting up and hanging about with me much of the day.

50km finishers within 3hrs – not in order

John Tinker
Neil Smith
Diane Craven
Pete Dolan

50km finishers within 3hrs 30mins – not in order

Christine Buckley
Andy Hartley
Claire McKibben
Matilda McKibben
Paul Norman

100km finishers within 3hrs 45mins (2016 cut-off) – not in order

Gareth Frankland
Martin Humphris *
Bruce Dinsmore *

* route cut short due to wrong turn

100km finishers within 4hrs – not in order

Stuart Cowperthwaite
David Ferguson
Chris Gibbons

100km finishers within 4hrs 30mins (2015 cut-off) – not in order

Sam Potter
Stephen Hannigan
John Preston
Christine Preston
Nick Gillies
Lawrence Solloway
Jayne Butterworth
Adam Thompson
Matthew Lister
James Chew
James Sanderson
Gareth Evans
Neil Wilson