NORTH RACE
Photo: Szymon Nieborak Text :Greg Falsk, Oweni
25 bikes, 16 tents, 1 field and a lot of beer. This was the set up for the North Race weekend back in June, when an assorted crew of cyclists headed to the Yorkshire hills to shoot the promotional video. Amongst the riders - the Tokyo Fixed Team, the Brother Cycles brethren, Super Ted of Ted James Designs, the Cantgoslo team from Manchester, the Restrap riders, and the girls and boys from Leeds Fixed Gear. This was a lean, mean fighting force of elite riders (kind of), who successfully shattered the peace of the Yorkshire Dales and showed it what they’re made of. The word “summer” can be something of a misnomer in these here parts. Sunshine is a bit of a tease; appearing from behind a cloud before disappearing off and leaving in its wake large swathes of cold rain. These were not ideal conditions for steep descents on a brakeless bike, nor for the zany zigzagging needed to reach the top. And these hills were steep. The road wound crazily out of the village of Keld, up the brutal Buttertubs Pass to Hawes. Starting at a gentle 10%, before rising steeply to 15, then 20 and finally a leg-screaming 25% at the top, the road was relentless but the views at the top were fantastic: panoramic shots of the glorious Yorkshire Dales in all its rain continuation page 44.
SOFB ONLINE MAG 41