6 riders met at Rawdon on a bright, sunny but cold & breezy morning, Hamish & Nathan planning a shorter alternate route due to time constraints, Nick & Chris doing a shorter test as both not having ridden for a while, really good to see Chris out on a bike again. That left Dom & Alan to attempt to get to Airton, the intended destination, as I did not feel I had the legs for it today.

A poor kit choice threatened to cut my ride short having elected to wear shorts, summer Jersey, arm warmers and a gilet when everyone else was mostly in bibs and long sleeves due to the cold start.

It did finally warm up however and Dom & I pressed on into a head wind for most of the outward leg to arrive at the farm shop by 11.20. 

Bagging the corner window table with the view of Malham cove and then a coffee & sandwich later we set off back into one heck of a headwind, which persisted all the way back home. It was the toughest, longest and most elevated ride I have done in 6 months.

We were both well tired by the time we got back but both agreed it was well worth it for such an unexpectedly sunny day in April.

All in all, 64 miles and 5725 ft for me.

Cheers Alan