‘Night riding has a strange fascination of its own,’ opined a recent Cycling Plus article. ‘It’s not about the views, for obvious reasons. The landscapes you explore here are purely psychological. Spookily empty ‘main’ roads. Unpeopled, echoing town centres. Glimpsed nocturnal creatures. Starlit skies (or perhaps inky drizzle). Owls. Somewhere, someone’s on-bike sound system plays. You and companions, in this together.
‘The annual midsummer ‘Dunwich Dynamo’, from London to the coast, is the most famous (and popular). But the South West has its own brilliant alternative: the Exmouth Exodus…’
I agree with every word of this. Especially as I wrote it. And last night I did a tryout for a Yorkshire equivalent, albeit by myself: a full-moon ride from York to Bridlington. Minster to beach, across the Wolds, past manor houses and mysterious monoliths, with sweeping views you can’t see. And all on elevated, open, exhilarating B-roads with more hedgehogs than cars. (See the route map below.)
So, you can finish with a dip in the famously warm North Sea, enjoy a hot drink and ready access to emergency services at Adam’s Harbour Cafe (which opens at 6am), and get a train home from Brid station. It’s 50 miles to Flamborough, 57 miles with the stuff at the end.
Anyway, I very much enjoyed my trial run last night. Could this be a sociable group ride for next year, York’s own Night Ride? Time, and the weather in midsummer 2023, will tell…
MAP