Yes, it was a lovely day out on the hills with
@Dadam.
I found it a pretty tiring ride. I was overdressed and became overheated, which didn't help. The hills did eventually beat me. I only got 1/3 of the way up the last steep one (after Oxenhope) and walked up the rest of it. I might just have been able to make it but it was half killing me so I decided to be sensible. To find these rides easier I need to do a lot more riding, and do something about my neck and back problems
@Sea of vapours - I forgot to take my phone with me so I couldn't take any photos, but here is my report about the rough road and the bridleway... The road has finally had a decent layer of tarmac applied. It isn't perfect - there are little bumps and undulations in the surface, and one or two potholes - but it is now better than many of the other roads in the area. The bridleway is tarmac at both ends, probably for a total of around 1/4 of the length of it. The middle section is soil packed with stone. It was totally dry today and rideable. It is a bit rough and you have to take care but my 25C tyres were okay on it. I would avoid it if there had been heavy rain in the week before though.
I had warned Dadam to expect crowds at Bob's Tearoom. In fact, Bob and his family out-numbered the customers! He reckoned that it was too warm and sunny for people to bother going up there. I think it more likely that many people were away for the bank holiday weekend.
We changed our route back after the cafe stop. I thought Dadam might like to stay up high to enjoy the views rather than dropping down to the valley cycleway in Mytholmroyd.
I escorted Dadam back to his car then set off home. I had intended to ride through the park in Hebden Bridge to get to the Rochdale canal, and then ride home on the towpath. In fact, my back tyre went flat as soon as I entered the park. I found a tiny hole in the tyre but there didn't appear to be anything stuck in there so I just replaced the tube and set off again. I didn't fancy risking another puncture so I went home on the A646 instead.
It was very hilly considering how relatively short the route was. I clocked Hebden Bridge to Hebden Bridge as 58 km with about 1,400 metres of ascent (36 miles/4,600 ft). I did another 15 km to Hebden Bridge and back from Todmorden.