I did really well with not eating rubbish for the first three weeks but then fell off the wagon in a big way. Combination of things but mostly my own weak will power, lol.
Anyway I have now been doing a bit of training for the bike ride this year. It is nothing like as intense as the usual Hamm ride training and it does seem a bit hit and miss. This is an account of the ride that we did on 10th April. I posted it to our cycling website.
What an absolutely beautiful day! There were nine of us who rolled up to Guiseley Station this morning. Rich T was doing his Del Boy bit, selling cycling glasses whilst checking over his shoulder that there was no law about. Dean was trying to work out where the wheels went on his bike and the rest of us were faffing around with sun cream and helmets. Meanwhile Neil disguised himself as a ninja which made it hard for us to tell whether he was grinning or grimacing behind the mask. Mike had his bright grey jacket on with his oven gloves and gave us a little pep talk before we set off.
Then it was time for off. We headed down through Menston, through Burley in Wharfedale and out onto the main road which was pretty busy seeing the weather was so good. We crossed the bridge over the river and passed lots of walkers, runners and other cyclists. We did have to restrain Mr Herbert as the fields were full of sheep and lambs! After we had passed Nell Bank, the lido and the golf course the lanes became a bit narrower and more undulating.
There were lots of shouts regarding pot holes (I presume that was meant by 'pot' anyway) and other road users. Some of the uphill undulations had me asking if anyone was carrying oxygen but I managed to get up them without getting off so that's a bonus.
My friend Amanda came for the ride. She hasn't done a great deal of cycling so this type of riding was new to her although she is a bit of an exercise fiend. She kept Dean company up the hills encouraged by Rich. Meanwhile Neil and David were being mentored by Tracey and Dobbo who all did a fantastic job.
Coming out on to a main road at the end of Nesfield we would normally have headed up the road to the roundabout but Mr Dobson knew a cunning short cut so we all disappeared through a gap in the wall, crossed the river and passed a lovely little farm shop to come back out at a cafe that was obviously popular with cyclists judging by the amount of bikes propped up outside (either that or it was a bike shop!). We were headed for a better place (I think). A bit more road that passed Bolton Abbey and a short sharp hill and we were heading down hill to Cavendish Pavilion. After parking our trusty steeds we all dived in for refreshments of some kind or other and other comforts!
Sitting outside in the beautiful sun hardly anyone wanted to set off again but we had to. So we left the throngs (that's throngs not thongs) at the cafe and pedalled back up to the road. Everyone was in good spirits and Neil and David were flying along quite happily.
We returned by the same route without mishap although Richard did have to tinker with Amanda's bike at one point. Dean jumped off at Ilkley and got the train home mumbling something about his mum's birthday, the wimp!
After Burley there came the long drag back up to Menston which we all did at our own pace but we all managed it fine. A bit more of a climb up to Harry Ramsdens and then the euphoria kicked in as we were on the final leg back to the station. What a fabulous day and a great ride.
Thanks to Mike for his leadership and to everyone else for making such a nice group.
