It was great but COLD. all routine and familiar to Burnley, then up and over through thick fog most of the way to Gisburn, although geat scenic fog and snow views when the sun did break through. I put my specs in my back pocket as they were chronically fogged and completely useless, much less blurry without. I tagged onta a group of fast guys from West Pennine from Gisburn to the control at Waddington, which was good as they knew the way through the lanes and were being very carefull about watching out for ice. There were a few places wher snowy ice encroached into the road quite a bit but didn't notice any real black ice and didn't have any problems. They carried on at the control but I stopped and had some much needed lunch, my legs had been burning keeping up with the fast guys sprinting up the little hills and rises. Set off solo from the cafe then caught up with a nice bloke from Preston somewhere around Whalley, and enjopyed the frosty scenery on the climb towards Blackburn. He knew the cut around that big motorway roundabout ColinJ was on about, which I probably would have sailed past while I thought 'Is that the turning Coplin mentioned?'. Bit of a slog then to Haslingden, but once I could see Scout Moor wind farm I knew exactly how far I had to go and got a bit of a second wind, so pulled away on my own up Owd Betts, a healthy 40 mph in 30 mph zone down through Norden then back to Spring Inn on the route I take from work to home. Arrived ther about 2.30 for my pie and peas, lovely. Had a chat with the West Pennine guys who'd not stopped and they were a bit suprised I was back so soon after them even with a lunch stop. Which was good. 74.18 miles, 4475 feet ascent and 5 Hours 2 Minutes ride time (14.7 mph average). Too bloody cold to have done the 130 miler even if I was fit enough.
It seems a shame to not attempt any of it, even if it's only for the pie & peas!
