Five riders met up at Rawdon this morning for a planned ride to Malham. A Hamish designed route had been proposed which incorporated as many hills as possible including Langbar and Old Pool Bank.

Two groups very quickly formed (by Menston), Hamish and Dan pushed on while Nick, Dave and I followed behind.

Dave turned back at Bolton Abbey, leaving me and Nick to battle a strong headwind all the way to Airton.

We knocked climbing up Malham Tarn on the head and settled down in the farm shop for a bacon sandwich. Hamish and Dan joined us a bit later after their extra Malham loop and we had a collective moan about the headwind.

Nick and I set off before Hamish and Dan for the ride back to Leeds and what a difference a change of direction made. We both felt great as we were blown home by the strong tailwind. The lumpy terrain from Airton to Burnall was not the usual leg sapping challenge.

To celebrate our new wind assisted Strava PBs we decided to go for a drink in the Hoptimist in Guiseley.

Total ride distance for me was 67 miles with 5000 feet of climbing.

Cheers Steve

P.s. we chickened out of Langbar and Old Pool Bank