Hey what a fabulous day! Been home a couple of hours. I saw someone who may have been Tubbycyclist next to Chris Crossland at the registrations. Busy doing on the day entries in time for the start so i didn't interrupt.
Set off near the front, there was the usual
Condor Road group charging off in to the fog over the long causeway. Already by Blackshaw head I was at the top of the downhill and they were half way up the far side. Once through the fog the weather gradually warmed up and got sunnier. Picked up the next group from behind, but having led them through the fog and down to Red Lees Road, lost most of them after being held up by cars at a turning. At Waddington they were just leaving as I got there, but I stopped for a 'comfort break' and to peel of some layers. There was another cycle event in the other direction going over Waddington Fell, which led to some nice comradely greetings. Nearly overcooked on the turns at the bottom with the second cattle grid. I suspect I owe a lot to the grip of the newish Michelin Pro4 race tyres on my good wheels!
Lovely ride along back lane (if you look at the ride on a map, e.g.
ColinJ's plot here, you can see the route is essentially a ride out to do this little loop of lovely lane which doesn't really go anywhere else, and then back to Hebden Bridge.) I'd realised I'd forgotten to restart the timer at Waddington, and although I guessed I'd missed about 10kms I missed the info control at Laythams. Annoying as I'd gone to the trouble of switching the units to metric before the start and everything!
I knew what was next though, the deceptively leg sapping sawtooth profile of the section form Slaidburn to Nelson. I managed to avoid just staring at the road and wheel in front all the time and take in the views on some of the climbs.
Once through Coldwell I knew I was on the home straight so could go 'into the red' a it more. Got over Thrsden Hill OK and enjoyed the blast down from there past Widdop, Sunday Drivers and Hairy cattle not withstanding. Got some motivation and secret pleasure from picking off Mellow Fruitfulness riders, had a look at the final state of the repaired Lee Wood Road (bodged) and back to Salem. Chris kindly looked at the GPS track on my Garmin in lieu of the info control I'd missed, although I heard him say he'd had at least 3 different answers from people. Quick plate of sandwiches and cake before going home to see the missus before she's off to work.
Afraid I didn't knowingly see any other Cyclechatters, so if I seemed to blank you it's my memory not my rudeness to blame. FYI I did have the full cyclechat kit on, which also performed well.
favorite bottle as well 
