Damp and lumpy...

Met up with some mates from Harrogate (the Harrogate Ladies' Bicycling Society as they're slightly offensively known, after one of them failed to turn up for a sportive ride because he had "sniffles") in Otley today.  After the ribbing we'd given them about dipping out everyone turned up on time raring to go, despite foul weather and a worse forecast.  We also had a new lad with us in the form of Young Oliver, who we knew little about, other than the fact he'd spanked the HLBS a week or two previously.

We started with Norwood Edge, which has caused me some problems in the past, and Oliver eased ahead of the group, with Team Embsay (me and The Herb) settling in behind.  The steepest bit's at the start and as we hit the long drag towards the hairpins we caught Oliver and chatted amicably in that "I'm not trying really" way that boys do.

A blast along Penny Pot Lane and a wimble through Dacre Banks saw us in Pateley Bridge for an unknown challenge - an alternative to the normal drag up to Greenhow proposed by Wood, called Peat Lane.  A couple of very steep, and very slippy hairpins led to a long straight section, which cheekily added a hidden extra pull at the top.  The Herb and I dropped the lads here, but as usual there were tales of bladder and mechanical problems which had led to their slower than expected progress.  A windy blast to Blubberhouses and a heave back over the moor to Otley saw Oliver firmly established with the Embsay boys at the front of the pack, and the HLBS rather feeling the miles and arriving at Dunnies a while later cold, wet and not a little pooped.  Herb and I both declared ourselves to be untroubled physically, despite being very damp, and all the better for a "Pie Meal" and a mug of tea - nothing better for £2.70.

On looking at the Garmin stats we did 42m and pushed the average speed just over 14mph, which given the conditions is respectable.  The lack of fatigue in my legs is pleasing, although having looked at our total ascent, despite there being three reasonably major climbs, 1500' of climbing isn't really that lumpy for a day in the dales.

Good to feel like I've had a proper week, with 30+ miles of running and 42 miles on the bike - but must get back to my one day a week bike commute, as that 25m+ extra bike seems to do me the world of good.