Today was the first training ride I could get to with the group I will be going to Hamm with. There were nine of us altogether but that included one support rider and a guy from the Sports group who is a speedy rider but came along as support too. Our other support rider, Richard, was recovering from flu so came along in his car to support us.
Mike, our beloved leader, said not to worry about speed but to remember about signalling and pointing out things like potholes for whoever was behind you.
We set off from Guiseley station and before we had got a mile I couldn't see Mike and John, so much for not worrying about speed. The rest of the group were behind me still at this point. We flew down a long hill and into Burley in Wharfedale where there were a few undulations and then out onto the main road into Ilkley. At this point I was till third or fourth in the group. Mike stopped to see how everyone was doing and gave us a little pep talk. Then it was off again. Fairly flat along this road but then a flipping hill stuck it's neck out and caught me. The group sailed past and I assumed I was last apart from Adrian, the borrowed support rider. I laboured up the hill to find them all waiting for me there and I stopped to get a drink but then Adrian and Dean caught up with us. This surprised me as I didn't realise Dean was behind me.
We set off again and hit a couple of more hills along the way which I trawled up sounding like Darth Vader. I'm still coughing like mad too. We eventually arrived at Bolton Abbey and went down to the Cavendish Pavilion where I promptly bought a coffee and some flapjack (as fuel for the return journey you understand).
We sat and chatted a while and got to know a little more about my fellow cyclists. Then all too soon we were setting off back. Today was very cold but absolutely gorgeous. A very bright, sunny Winter's day with blue skies.
Not long after setting off back Dean had to bail out as he had severe cramp in his legs probably due to the fact that he had only had an apple for breakfast, silly boy. Richard put him in the car and he had a nice warm journey back.
Coming back we had the undulations of the outward journey and virtually everyone disappeared over the horizon. One of the group, Peter, took it on himself to stay with me. Not sure if this was for my sake or just so that he wouldn't look so bad going up the long hill. Sorry that sounds ungrateful, it wasn't meant like that. Anyway after we had passed Burley in Wharfedale there is a long unforgiving but not too steep hill, a roundabout, then more hill. I managed it all the way up without having to get off. Peter cycled behind me which I found a bit odd as normally if you are helping someone you cycle in front so that the other person can slipstream you. Anyway after the roundabout the flapjack must have hit my legs as I then managed to start pedalling quite fast up the hill. Caught up with the rest of the group at the top and then I led the way back to the station. I only did that so that I can say I was out in front at least part of the way.
Amazingly I didn't feel too bad at all.
Mike has been saying for a while that he has a Claude Butler road bike that would suit me so I arranged to follow him home to pick it up. Flipping heck that feels light. I haven't ridden it yet but I have put it on the bike bars at the back of the car and I was amazed how little it weighed. If all goes well with it I might buy it off him as he is wanting to sell it.
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