Big ride today - a reprise of the 75 mile amended White Rose medium route I missed out on a week last Saturday. 5 set off - the usual 4 joined by none other than top cyclosport blogger Earthdreamer! The wind was always going to be a factor though, as it was blowing a gale - literally and from the NE too.
The early section taking in Askwith, West End and Greenhow was taken fairly steadily by all, then we were blown at high speed into Grassington. I clocked 52mph on one of the descents. That's the fastest that the current bike computer has ever seen. We then turned up Wharfedale and then off up the northern side of Littondale. The wind was gusting and swirling all around in Littondale. Whilst we headed in a constant north westerly direction the wind was behind us, a headwind and cross wind at various points on the road. Gizzajob turned at Arncliffe to head back down as he was feeling rough from a boozy weekend, so that left 4. The wind assisted climb out of Halton Gill seemed very easy, and was followed by a glorious section beneath the ever dark and gloomy Pen-y-ghent. My spirits were lifted as last time on this road I was suffering greatly.
Unfortunately this was the last of the tailwind. Once we had turned off to head back towards Malham and home we would be heading east pretty much the whole time. There was a brief stop in Malham to fill water bottles then off again.
I usually dislike the section between Malham and Wharfedale, but it didn't seem so bad today, even into that wind. The others were clearly starting to leave me behind at this point, certainly on the climbs, but I still had enough to get back with them after the summits.
Once back into Wharfedale I was starting to ache, but still going. A time check at Appletreewick revealed that it was just after 11am, so I was going to be back home by noon, and that was very pleasing. We skipped Langbar at the end, but I think we had made up for this by battling the wind for the last 30 miles.
When I got home I was greeted by a surprised "I wasn't expecting you back so soon" to which I replied "I wasn't expecting to be back so soon!".
Overall a very pleasing 75 miles in 5 hours. According to the computer, ride time was 4:52, and moving average 15.5 - excellent work.
Monday, 26 May 2008
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