This week’s Saturday ride saw the senior section of Airedale Olympic take to the roads.

I arrived at Rawdon library at 9.03am to find an empty car par. I waited until 9.07am before realising that I needed to get to Pool bridge pretty quickly if I wanted to avoid a solo ride.

I pushed hard and arrived at Pool (wind assisted) at 9.23am to find Chris, Alan and Jonathan handing around Werther‘s Originals and talking about times past.

They seemed pretty pleased to see ‘Young Steve’ and I quickly realised why when Jonathan referred to me as ‘the windbreak’.

Chris was obviously confused as he was telling a wild tale about how his bike had been destroyed by being driven through a Costa Coffee height barrier on top of a car, and that he had only just got it back from being repaired. (No one could do something that daft could they? Ian?)

We set off for another attempt to get to Burton Leonard. However, initial discussions indicated that we were unlikely to make it. The unpredictable weather forecast meant the outdoor only seating was a risky strategy.

We got as far as Clint Bank on the planned route before we changed plans, headed to Ripley and onto Knaresborough for a cafe stop by the river.

On the return leg, the rain held off until Alan and I parted ways with Jonathan and Chris at Shadwell. We had to shelter from a torrential downpour (and a bit of hail) on Alwoodley Lane.

Thoroughly soaked we made our way back via Bramhope, bumping into Dan who had set off at 11am for swift 40 miler and who also looked soaked.

Despite the late rain it was an enjoyable ride out, 58 miles and 4200 feet of climbing for me. Let’s do it all again next week.

Cheers Steve