Well, I did the Mellow Fruitfulness. For a short ish ride, it packs in a lot of climbing! I was right to opt for the shorter ride - I think I’d have managed SOM, but I’d have been grovelling the last 20km and I wouldn’t have enjoyed it.
Yes it was wet - at least during the first half. I think when it’s like that, you can forget about staying dry; you just have to stay warm. I trusted in my Buffalo top and it did the doing - my skin was mostly dry throughout. I didn’t stop at the first cafe control, in the interests of keeping warm, as I was wet. By the time I reached the second, the rain had petered out, and by the time I got back to base I had dried out. The sun came out and the autumn colour down the Hebden Water Valley was impressive.
The Moulton performed well, although there was a dodgy moment when, on a steep descent, my front tyre instantaneously deflated. The tyre was coming away from its bead and the tube was bulging through the growing split. The bulge got scalped by the brake pads as I braked down the hill. I fixed it with a spare tube and a bit of old tyre I’ve been carrying as a boot since my South Africa tour in 2013.
And between the two rides, there was a surprisingly good turnout.
I’m determined to be up to Spring into the Dales when it comes round!
