21st ANNUAL GREAT YORKSHIRE BIKE RIDE- 18th JUNE 2004

Following the beautiful weather of 2003, it was back to normal for 2004. The day loomed bright, cool and with a forecast of heavy rain later in the day. Pretty much the story of the summer of 2004.

A record number of starters of 1,514 graced the start and the day began. A couple of nasty accidents between cyclists in the early miles marred an otherwise trouble-free morning. Our sponsors Farnell & Sodexho excelled themselves again this year with a fantastic lunch at Terrington with a hot pasta tent being the new feature. Our service crews were kept busy with the usual crop of breakdowns and punctures.

After the lunch stop the weather deteriorated quickly with temperatures more suited to February than June and the rain and headwind just made it worse. This did not deter the gritty entry and no more riders than average dropped out. They just got their heads down and got on with it. One rider got his head down too much and went through the rear window of a parked car in one of the villages. Luckily without serious injuries.

The tea tent at the finish at Filey was closer packed than a sardine tin with the horizontal rain at the coast spoiling the usual lounge on the grass at the finish.

All in all though, a very good event with a record sponsorship total. Please follow the links to:-

2004 Major Event Sponsors

PREMIER FARNELL - MOORES FURNITURE GROUP - SODEXHO CATERING -

CHEVIN CYCLES - GOOSEMOOR ORGANICS - NODE SEVEN

Many thanks to them and to all our other sponsor companies.