Cycling as food for the soul on solitary rides
by Robert Thorpe
Finding that perfect ride on North Yorkshire’s hidden lanes
Being a writer and editor about cycling, my rides aren’t as frequent as you might imagine. I’m often too busy planning and writing about rides and bikes, meaning that actual rides take second place. Then, if I rode with a club or large group, I wouldn’t be able to frequently stop and take notes, or a picture to remind me about something. For instance, yesterday I took a ride out to research a couple of informal refreshments halts across the edge of the Yorkshire Dales and the Vale of Mowbray. Small village halls and chapels that remain unlocked and have drinks and snakcs avaiable for cyclists to prepare themselves and leave money towards.
Whilst these places fascinate me, a cycling group is usually more interested in Strava points, than constant halts to take these places in. For example, the village of Thornton Steward on the edge of the eastern Dales, is probably one of the most picturesque villages in the country – and yet it’s likely that you haven’t heard of it, nor of the tea stop at the village hall. Why… well, because it’s a cul-de-sac village away from the main cycling routes, and yet on superb winding lanes, and close to sublime landscape views such as nearby Jervaulx Abbey, or the histric bridge that crosses the River Ure, and which has six arches, is thought to date back to the 12th century, and it is thought that it is built on the old Roman ford crossing point of the river.
Too many cyclists miss this and miss the almost car-free riding on the quiet roads, and they miss the village hall at Thornton Steward, where you make your own tea or coffee and choose from the snacks avaialble, before sitting quietly and taking in the Dales views.
Cycling past castles and culture at every turn
On route to this amazing acility at Thornton Steward, I also get the chance to take in the sublime castle at Snape, which now forms a family house, with cottages and holiday lets surrounding its out-buildings. Again it’s a quiet and “off the beaten track” village that allows me time to quietly philosophise, think of cycling themes, test cycling shoes, clothing, or think up themes for my editorial role for legendary bike brand, TIME.
Yes, I know that you frequently see me riding this Bianchi – which is special to me – but I am also blessed with the opportunity to ride the best carbon bikes in the world, as the TIME global brand editor. Their TIME ADHX 45 is a thing of beauty and rides across the winding tracks and trails locally beautifully, connecting these quiet road, and taking me through even more history that the larger cycling groups simply miss due to their addiction to Strava segments.
Cycling, solititude and philosophy
For many people, cycling is a form of escapism from the chaos of the modern world. It allows us time to fresh our batteries and to recharge our souls. For me, that’s always best carried out alone or with select friends – those rare people whose mere presence is relaxing. I like to think and to free my poets soul when I ride. If I see a Hare racing across a recently harvested carn field, I want to stop and take in the beauty of the scene. I want to stop and watch how the sunlight dances off the River Ure and how the dappled light falls through the trees, and I want this magnificent expanse of nature to wrap me up and warm my heart before I have to retreat back into the real world.
We look at the physical benefits of cycling often. However, how frequently do we press pause and take on the mental health aspects. It’s positive endorphins, how it frees up our mind from the everyday complexities and allows us to retreat back to the inner childhood spirit that loves to feel the wind on our face as we swoop into the tight and twisting bends of the Dales roads, surrounded by the sound of silence and punctuated only by nature in its purest form.
Yes, for me cycling is a health treatment that I require fequently, and love having the opportunity to cycle in quiet solitude along these magical lanes, lined by trees as the beautiful sweep of the landscape falls before me and frees my cycling soul. Strava allows me to measure things, yes. However, my focus on how long I cycle for and where I stop for tea and cake – often choosing the “Cafe in the Park” at Ripon as my post-ride haunt, for lemon and ginger tea, accompanied by flapjack. Then, it’s home once more to find the right words to place upon the page for TIME, Lake cycling shoes or Pedalnorth, or some other brand that thankfully believes in my ability to weave the right patterns on the page.
Solitary cycling is food for the soul, and every now and then we can all benefit from it. And we can all benefit from visiting the informal cycling halts in places such as Snape and Thornton Steward, and cycling along country lanes where the wildlife is more frequently seen and heard than the motor car.
