Another 200k just for Fun !! Delightful Dales 03/04/2022

I decided another 200k would be a good idea to help get my body used to long distances. The Delightful Dales seemed to fit the bill nicely it included a top 100 climb that I had yet to bag. Another challenge I set myself few years back was to ride all the 200 climbs from the first 2 Simon Warren 100 graetest climb books before turning 50. I have done 120 so far including todays 25% Park Rash 6 and a bit years to bag another 80 but I must admit its getting harder due to the distances involved to get to them !! Anyway back to the Audax, Delightful Dales is renowned as one of the hardest 200k calendar events so it seemed ideal prep for longer challenges in the next few months. I arrived at the start early having slept locally the night before in a Airbnb, after a nutritious breakfast... yep McDonald's Muffin Mc sausage 😜 I shivered and drank tea at the Pendle village hall waiting rather impatiently for the 8am start. Then off we went, I planned to sit in the wheels to Park Rash at about 50k but as normal my competitive instincts took over. Will I ever learn ?? Probably not so I ended up chasing down quick riders and was eventually the second rider to hit the savage Park Rash. So how to ride 25% gradients when you have another 150km to go ?? slowly !! The weather was lovely cold but bright and we seemed to be flying along.

 

Having reached the top I was greeted to beautiful views, cows and Snow !! more snow than I had seen all winter in Shropshire. Yorkshire in spring !! Next stop Leyburn at 80k and it had been a breeze so far after a coffee and pasty pavement picnic from the local Coop I was off again, aiming to not spend too much time stationary I turned east for the 50k section to Kirkby Stephen. Ok so remember me saying it had been easy thus far ?? Well it was payback time the next 50k seemed to take forever, the clouds rolled in and the block headwind combined with long long draggy climbs made progress very slow. I was 4th rider on the road at this point. If only I could catch someone we could share the work, I could see 2 riders in the distance as we climbed towards Catterick Garrison firing range. I set about trying to reel them in but also not expend to much energy. I eventually caught the first rider but he was a lot slower than me so I pressed on eventually catching Russell Carson who I had rode with earlier and chatted to in the carpark at the start. We worked well together for a few Ks before he dropped back and once again I was alone. climbing up towards Kirkby Stephen. 

I knew from the Etape Du Dales route in 2018 that a long decent was my reward. Finally I dropped down Lamps Moss and into Kirby Stephen Costa for lunch. 2nd rider again I had lunch with the young chap who had kept ahead of me all day so far, his name eludes me but after a chat and re-fuel we continued towards home and the dreaded Coal Road (Garsdale Head) surely now a tail wind would help us ?? Nope cross head wind and my bike has developed a rattle.😡 I hate a noisy bike especially when riding solo, I was now out front but had to stop and tighten the bottle cage that was causing the noise in this time a few riders passed so now at least I would have a bit of company for the Coal Road. I have rode the coal road before with 100k in my legs today I had130k in my legs and it looked and felt like a wall but we got up it and at the top it felt like a victory. That's all the climbing done I declared !! The rider next to me shook his head and said Cowgill is next !! Well I couldn't hold his wheel on Cowgill I was flagging, wind and cold were getting to me I stopped regrouped had a pee took a gel and decided to harden the F*** up . #rule 5!! Eventually at the Ribblehead viaduct we turned left got a bit of relief from the wind, crosswind home now but I was low on food and water. I remembered Settle was on the route and would surly be a good place for scoff. I got a quick mars bar and Lucozade and headed off again the last few miles on a busy A road really stung my legs were cramping then out of nowhere 3 riders came flying past I got on the back and when flew the last 5k back to base. first group back what a ride.  It turns out I overtook the 3 riders in settle they had fish and chips !!

I know its not a race but it was good to get around quickly, next time I will smell the roses more, and have fish and chips !!

300k ride on the 23rd April #strapin