Sicklinghall results 76 riders enjoyed the winter sunshine around Sicklinghall. Some incredible scores from younger and novice riders. Full report, winners’ routes  to follow on Sunday. Here’s the Sicklinghall map:

The temperature will drop to -3c tonight with some light scattered snow showers. It will be +1c at 9 am tomorrow morning rising to a balmy +3 by midday with sunny spells and a light southwesterly breeze. You are strongly advised to bring winter clothing – eg full leg tights, thermal tops, overshoes, winter gloves and a buff as well as your normal kit. Don’t forget to protect your tyres and bring 2 replacement tubes. 66 pre-entries so there are 14 spare maps for entry on the day. Hope to see you at the Scotts Arms, Sicklinghall.

We have had 38 pre-entries and Jens has already printed 50 maps so please enter online or by email before Thursday to guarantee a pre-marked map. Jens can print more maps if required but he needs a bit of notice. We will accept entries on the day as usual. Tim Patterson has planned an excellent course and there are more controls on bridleways than usual so mountain bikes will be more suitable than road bikes this month. It has been wet recently so the tracks will be muddy and the farmers often trim the hedges so you need to protect your tyres or/and bring spare tubes. Hopefully there won’t be too much snow to contend with as well but I will confirm that the event is on by posting an article on this page on Friday evening.

I attended a meeting of the local bridleway group at Hudswell last night and listened to an interesting presentation from Ben Jackson – our local Countryside Ranger. He reminded us of our rights and responsibilities as well as those of the landowners.

We can cycle on any brideway or byway but never on a footpath. We are not allowed to push or carry our bikes on a footpath. We must close all gates and cycle responsibly through private property. We are allowed to leave the bridleway if necessary to get past an obstruction.

Landowners should maintain the stiles and gates in a safe condition. Landowners should keep all hedges and trees trimmed. Landowners should ensure that all bridleways are free of obstructions. This includes illegal signs, electric fences and locked or fastened gates. Landowners must reinstate bridleways in ploughed fields within 14 days. Landowners should never plough headland bridleways. NYCC should ensure that all rights of way are clearly marked.

There are 10,000km of paths and bridleways in North Yorkshire outside the 2 National Parks and only 9 rangers so it is up to us to report any problems and don’t forget to thank them if new bridleways have been created or old ones have been improved.

You can do it via the web page at www.northyorks.gov.uk and follow the link to Transport & Streets then Walking or email paths@northyorks.gov.uk

Don’t forget to enter our Sicklinghall MBO event on Saturday 10th December online at www.bmbo.org.uk or by email to nymboevents@btinternet.com

As part of improving the website, we’re also trying to improve how you get our updates by email. This should provide anyone who wants to get email updates from with an easy way to subscribe and for existing people to manage their details.

We sent out an email on Sunday 20th November to everyone, so if you didn’t get that email, this post explains what to do. It also says a little more about how we’ll manage the list, if you’re interested.

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A new flyer for the 2012 league can now be found on the events page

NEMBOS League 2012 The NEMBOS League for 2012 has been finalised so here are the 5 fixtures. Thanks again to the planners who have volunteered to sort out the courses.

BMBO have approved the 9 dates for next year and just waiting for FC approval for the forestry events. The online survey suggests that 3 hours is the preferred length but it is too long for some riders and too short for others so we are considering the feasibilty of running 2 leagues next year with time limits of 3-5 hours (Long) and 2 hours (Short) available at all events. There would still be 30 controls available for both courses but 15 of these would be within 5k of the event centre. You could ride in either league with your best 5 scores counting and a minimum of 3 rides to be competitive.
There would also be a 15k non-competitive route for novices
Please comment on this post. Thanks. Steve Willis

12-Nov Update: The Events page is now updated (click here) and the flyer is NYMBO League 2012

32 pre-entries received already (15 online and 17 by email). Please enter online at www.bmbo.org.uk , by email to nymboevents@btinternet.com or by adding posting your comment below asap if you want to reserve a map for Saturday 12th November at The Buck Inn, Thornton Watlass. Start between 9.30 and 10.30, ride for 2 hours in cracking Lower Wensleydale countryside then enjoy a drink and meal in the Buck. Hope to see you on Saturday. Steve Willis