Langbar Photos (and route)

Another fantastic day of weather today. Did the early bird ride with Mark and Harry (who was carrying on to Arncliffe). We turned and did Langbar, and I took some photos (whilst cycling) to try and capture the ride.












Afterwards I carried on into work (another 18 miles) and came back this evening too. So about 55 miles and 3 hours of cycling today.

By the way, here is the Langbar route (without the trip to Leeds) mapped at MapMyRun.com (a very useful online tool):

Sunshine at last

After what it seems like 12 months of bad weather, we have at long last had a good stretch - sunshine and blue skies.

I've been out with the early birds for the last two. Today, just an easy recovery ride, but yesterday was a hrad effort with El Cid involving Langbar and Wheatley Lane.

I feel tired tonight but am going to push on with rides tomorrow and Friday.

Carnival

Rest day today - bank holiday and our local carnival.

A wet and wild Sunday

Nine riders out on the early bird ride this morning. Out to Settle via Airton and then back on the back-roads round Gargrave. (65 miles, about 4 hours)

A little light rain on the way back but nothing too bad. There was a warm south-easterly wind.

We took it fairly easy on the way out but from Burnsall on the way back the pace was pushed and we ended up racing at breakneck speeds along past Cavendish. I put in a few big attacks which I thought I'd timed to perfection but got reeled in by El Cid and Cacophony. But we interestingly left some of the other (good) riders behing so my training must be paying off. It was also fantastic fun and I feel like I am beginning to handle my new bike a little better.

We left Richard a little earlier and found out later he had crashed on the way back on a corner I know at least two other people have come off on (OA and MS). Hope it hasn't dented his enthusiasm.

Early Bird Saturday

Burnsall this morning - followed by the Langbar climb for those I could persuade to do it.

Harry was out on his down-tubed gear-changing Claud Butler due to problems with his other bike (circa 1985), and El Cid out on his brand new superlight top-of-the range Scott!

It was a beautifully balmy afternoon - I spent most of it out on the moor with my eldest and one of her friends.

Rain forecast for tonight - but we have a hard, tough ride planned tomorrow.

Storiths

Back on the bike this morning - just Cacophony and me out at 630am. We did a brisk ride to Cavendish and then the steep climb up to Storiths. It was a beautiful morning of blue sky and Spring sunshine. Slightly colder than expected - no overshoes and my toes quite cold by the end!

Spin Classes

Been in London for the last four days with work. I managed to get into the gym for all three nights I was staying over.

Did a long hard stint on the exercise bike one night and a spin class on each of the other two.

Quite a change from outdoor cycling but I think it is really good training and a lot of fun. It is just I don't have the opportunity to do it regularly otherwise I would.

In just a 60 minute session you can flog yourself (safely) and also ride with a super-high cadence which I think is good practice. It also allows to focus on techniques around riding position and posture, and getting into a steady and consistent rhythm.

Back on the bike tomorrow morning.