Blizzard

Well, we made it.

5 riders set off at 7am. There had been some snow overnight and it was bitterly cold (the view from our house is to the right showing the conditions). I know it doesn't look too bad, but we are at 100m asl and that is the lowest we'd be all day, climbing eventually to the highest road in Yorkshire at the top of Fleet Moss (565m).

I was joined by our spiritual leaders El Cid and Cacophony, and Harry and Stefan.

El Cid's suggested that as we would be heading into a 20mph headwind all the way to Hawes, that we should proceed single file with a 1 mile turn on the front each.

As soon we headed past Cavendish and headed due north the snow started. We then had about 10-15 miles or pure tortuous riding into a blizzard.

When on the front the snow blinded us so we could hardly see where we were going. Our speed was dropping to single figures, even on the flat, and the uphills into the wind almost brought us to a standstill.

Still, we kept our shape well apart from a few times when I broke rank to take an early turn on the front. Shouts of derision from the pack and a stern talking to by El Cid soon showed me the error of my ways - I was only trying to help though!

I was on my new bike and after a few posts ago saying we needed to have some adventures together, then we certainly had one today. It performed really well in the conditions and I felt comfortable on it, apart from the saddle which I need to adjust.

By the upper reaches of the river Wharfe the snow had ceased and then we just had the climb to the top of Fleet Moss to contend with. I pushed hard and tried staying with Stefan, managing to stay within spitting distance to the top.

There were some fantastic views - it was like being in the Alps in Winter (well almost).

At the top we said our goodbyes to Stefan who was heading back home.

We then just had the long steep descent to Hawes which was keeping us from our breakfast.

However, the snow and ice were lying on the road and we had to gingerly descend giving way to snow ploughs. The conditions were treacherous but we all made it down in one piece - just one fall as Cacophony decided to go through a 2 foot snow drift (soft landing though).

After a greasy breakfast and lots of tea to fortify us, Harry and I set off east along Wensleydale, while El Cid and Cacophony headed west towards their destination in the Lakes.

We then had a lovely stretch on the back road through Askrigg to Aysgarth, and then swung south and along and up Bishopdale. The snow descended on us again, but the wind was not in our faces and not quite as bad.

We made it back to Wharfedale and our home territory and arrived home at about 2pm, about 82 miles since we set off.

At the end, both Harry and I felt good, knowing we had conquered what are probably the worst conditions either of us have cycled in for a while, put in over 80 miles and 6 hours of cycling, but still felt pretty strong at the end.

(A photo from the top of Fleet Moss and of Aysgarth Falls follow - courtesy of Harry)