DFR7 (2019)

Oh yes!

I was hoping someone would ask this question - I felt a bit cheeky doing it myself, giving my lack of attendance at recent editions

If anyone is seeking inspiration, try this: ‘The Cyclists’ Special’

Good to see that our visits to Kenilworth Castle have an illustrious precedent.

OK, we have two votes so far - June/July time and similar to DFRs 1&2.

I’m away for the first two weeks of June, but would be happy to plan something for the weekends of Fri 21st - Sun 23rd June or Fri 28th - Sun 30th* June if people are interested.

I could also do any w/end in July at present, but Anjou Velo Vintage is on the w/end of 5th to 7th, which Ray & Leslie were planning to attend.

I think that DFRs 1&2 were in the north-west Midlands, somewhere around Burton and/or Lichfield? I can take a look at locations around the National Forest.

So, what does other folks’ availability look like in June/July? All suggestions welcome.

*Edited to correct date typo - thanks, John!

Am OK for June but may or may not be available for some weekends in July.

Just getting availability from my friend Jon who has been for the last 3 or 4 years- pretty sure those are ok for me though

We haven't revisited this topic for some time. It seemed we have a consensus for one or other of the last two weekends in June. I am suggesting we make an executive decision in favour of the last weekend. I now realise that I will probably be unable to make the other one as Mrs C's birthday is on the 24th and we will want to do something appropriate over the adjacent w/e.

Oh rats, I do not have very good availability in June and July. Roll on DFR8.

I’m cycling the Ireland end to end last week in June, otherwise I would have been there. Have a good time and hopefully see you all next year.

Sprocket suggested a re-run of last year’s arrangements, when we met at Warwick Parkway and followed a route through Warwickshire lanes taking in Kenilworth Castle and the England vs. Sweden world cup match. We ran it as a one-day event (pn 7th July) due to various folks’ availability.

There seemed to be some consensus that the weekend of Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th June suited some people this year.

If so, I’d be happy to plan a route and act as ride captain on either of those days.

Note length of pub stops 😂

Hi. On my MapMyRide App I keep seeing Rob doing lots of cycling - does that mean you are planning DFR7? However it is getting perilously close to the designated weekend - does that mean we should postpone? Would early September be a possibility?

Well, I've still been planning for a DFR on Saturday week. I could do September as well, IF it doesn't clash with a certain international cycling event that's taking place in my backyard! (I'm a race volunteer, which probably means standing at a junction, in the rain, in the middle of nowhere, waving a flag).

I was ok for the DFR (and I think my none Viscount owning friend John was coming too) - I just lost focus over the last few months though, with the weather being awful, getting almost zero time in the saddle and my mum not being too well.

I would always be a "will be there if I can make it.." but as it stands, it "I'll be there if my mum is doing ok that week"...over the last 2 weekends it would not have been possible to make it.

Happy to help sort things out for a Yorkshire DFR. Access is easy from London/SE, since the East Coast line goes from London to York in about 2.5hr. York itself is well-served by cycle tracks and the countryside around is very amenable to "cyclists of a certain age" (i.e. it's flat). This weekend past the York Cycle Rally ran a "Retro Ride" as one of its scheduled events on the Saturday morning. It was a beautiful sunny day, with zero wind and about 30+ participants took part including two Viscounts (my recently refurbished Pro, built up from a frame generously donated by Scott) and another gentleman on a Grand Touring (who has visited this site, but not registered). A wide variety of other bikes also, ranging from an original Moulton to a very-well looked-after Colnago Master (with the star-section tubing). A nice 25-mile circular route from York Racecourse around the villages to the West on minor and largely traffic-free roads (Route map at: gb.mapometer.com/cycling/route_4926491.html)

Harrogate is also accessible (transfer from the East-Coast main line at Leeds or York), and there's a wide variety of camp-sites, holiday cottages, caravan parks etc. in the locality (although pretty much all this accommodation is already booked up for the period covering the UCI WCs: races from 21st to 29th - I'd therefore suggest a date earlier than these weekends (especially since - as noted above - I'll be on volunteer duty during this period). For those looking for slightly more challenging terrain, access to the Yorkshire Dales is easy, using the Nidderdale Greenway from Harrogate to Ripley, with access via Ripon to the National Trust sites at Fountains Abbey and nearby villages and market towns (e.g. Masham) or a haul up to Brimham Rocks (https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/brimham-rocks - a longish but not too steep climb, with some great views and a really rewarding descent on the return: NB - I am 67, and I can get up this without too much distress!). There's quite a good caravan site at the Yorkshire Showground (https://www.harrogatecaravanpark.co.uk/, on the southern side of Harrogate, that is conveniently located for a Sainsbury's supermarket and also for the award-winning local produce shop "Fodder" (https://fodder.co.uk/). (Also a rather good pub - the Travellers' Rest, just nearby). Both Harrogate and York are also easily reached by road (M1/A64 for York; M1/A1 for Harrogate: it took me about 2.5 hours from Warwick to Harrogate after DFR6 and about 3.5 hours from Ledbury after DFR5).

Andy (not John!)