We had a decent turnout on Saturday for Jimmy’s sausage roll ride. Seven riders met up at Rawdon and headed off towards the Riverside Cafe in Burnsall.

The weather was overcast, but the temperature was mild and spirits were high, as we made good progress towards the Dales.

Alan decided to avoid the inevitable race over Embsay moor and rode ahead with a plan meet us at the cafe. We parted company as we turned off to climb up the gated road at Bolton Abbey.

As we started the climb out of Embsay, the ride suddenly got tough, my heart rate maxed out as I tried to keep up with Nathan, Jimmy and Dan. The unofficial race up the climb was clearly on.

The reward for the climb was a fast descent and a steady ride into Burnsall, where we stopped for refreshments. Alan was waiting for us, looking very pleased that he had avoided the climb and gone straight to the cafe.

After a long wait in a queue to get served, I decided to change from my usual bacon sandwich and went for the titular sausage roll with a Guinness and Ginger cake on the side.

Feeling slightly full and with cafe legs to shake off, we set off back to Rawdon. The ride back was reasonably steady, Alan and Tom had set off before us, so this left five riders in the peloton.

Things were uneventful until we hit the A660 out of Otley, when Dan and Nathan demonstrated how much energy they had left by racing up the gradual climb.

As they disappeared in the distance, my legs thanked me and we continued our agreement that I wouldn’t ask too much of them and they would continue to turn the pedals.

I arrived safely back to Rawdon after 55 enjoyable miles with 4000 feet of climbing and my average speed was 15mph.

It was another enjoyable AOCC Saturday ride, hopefully see you all next week for more of the same.