Final Training ride.........

Off to Nepal in 6 days so last opportunity to chew up more miles (and hills). Only just over freezing when we set off but glorious views.
Colin and I headed off to the Trough via Whitewell and Dunsop (the steeper side). Preston Tri club were doing a hill climb time trial training up the last bit of the Trough and we stopped and chatted with them at the top. Great decent to cafe stop at Scorton Priory then meandered back via Barnacre & Inglewhite - lovely.
50 miles.

Charity Raffle result.

Thanks so much everyone for your support - both donors of prizes and buyers of tickets.

Raised well over £400 so got me to and beyone my final fund-raising target which is fantastic.

List of winners attached !

Training ride - Sunday 17th October

Less than 2 weeks to go !
Mark, Greg and myself headed off early (8am) to Waddington, took lanes through Cow Ark and the right onto brilliant "up n down" road (reached nearly 50mph on "down" section) to north side of Waddigton Fell.
Long slog up the fell, then exhilarating descent, through village, right to Bashall Eaves and well deserved coffee and teacake at Bashall Barn.
Weather was great lovely autumnal day - still and sunny - although lots of evidence of early frost once we got higher up.
50 miles

Into the valley....... a weekend of Mountain Biking in Wales

Full-on MTB weekend based around Betws-Y-Coed in north Wales. After much arranging and re-arranging of accomodation we had a hard core of 5 (Ian, Rich, Simon, Bill & myself) staying in the luxury of the Glan Aber bunk house whilst the self-titled "Cheltenham softies" (Jase & Mike) took the easy option of rooms in the hotel itself.

Bills' flight from Spain was delayed so the remainder of the bunk house crew arrived at 4am! I should have got slightly more sleep than them but the absolute lack of any sound insulation combined with a late bar in the hotel put paid to that.

Fully charged on a cooked breakfast we headed off to the first trail - Penmachno - we were joined by Dave & Paul who drove over first thing, so there were 9 in all. Rode to the trail head from town, probably adding 10k (it all counts) then took it on in all it's Welsh rugged glory. Great trail, very demanding - I won the prize for most tumbles - including a spectacular over the handlebars resulting in lacerations and bruising all down my right arm / shoulder (nice!). Mike yet again won mechanical mis-hap prize with a double whammy of chainring bolts falling out and a broken spoke.

Got back to Betws early afternoon and grabbed burgers / chips before the more (fool?) hardy set out again for the Marin trail. Mike had the excuse of getting his bike fixed, Jase wanted to keep him company whilst Paul and Dave were honest enough to admit defeat.

Marin was good but morning trail had the edge - when we rode back into town later afternoon spotted Jase and Mike weaving along the pavement having had 5 pints!

Really tired we all retired around 10pm !

Sunday - fuelled up and drove to Coed-Y-Brenan, around 20 miles away. This trail won hands-down for me, was absolutely stunning plus a great cafe once you had gone through the torture. I did really struggle after the exertions of the previous day so thanks to all for waiting at the top of each ascent - it was appreciated !

Everthing now aches but probably cleared around 75km with 1500m climbing in a day and a half, almost all offroad. The read mad ones (Ian, Bill, Rich) heading down to Cannock for another trail today, now that's commitment!

Epic Yorkshire Dales ride - 93 miles !

So Colin and I set off on the 0824 Preston to Edinburgh train which was surprisingly busy - quite a few Celtic supporters heading north- we got off at Oxenholme and got riding. Back roads to Sedburgh then took the road towards Hawes. Stunning scenery and a truly fantastic day for October. Long, long climb up the Hawes - Ingelton Road and at the top (1500+ ft) I decided we should detour to Dent as that had been on our orignal route, so we dropped down the valley road about 700-800 feet only to realise we had to turn around and climb it again (some of this was 17% gradient). Once back on the Ingleton road were in desparate need of re-fuelling - passed the buttie van at Ribblehead and eventually stopped at a tearoom on the oustkirts of Horton-in-Ribblesdale, 2 Beans on toast (one with scambled egg, one without), pot of tea, black coffee, plus refill of water bottles - a shade over a fiver, can't go wrong !

Through Settle, Gindleton and onto some very small roads north of Grizedale Forest (the sort with gates that you have to open, I kid you not!). Eventually picked up the road from Tosside towards Clitheroe / Sawley and limped back on familiar territory, Last 20-30 miles were really tough when anything other than flat or downhill.

But we made it !

93 miles. 6100 ft of climbing. Ouch.