Middle Pack

The view from the middle of the pack

What better way to spend a sunny bank holiday than riding the Mary Townley Loop!

I was invited along on the loop as a way for a friend to celebrate his big four o. I am glad I accepted as it was a great day out. He had invited a few others along that seemed to know each other and it was also good to meet come fellow keen cyclists.

We met in Hebden Bridge at 8.30am. I had caught the train there so had warmed up with a 4 miler to the train station and maybe a mile wandering round Hebden Bridge looking for a bacon sandwich (I failed). But the others soon arrived and the thought of bacon sandwich was put away for later.

A great collection of bikes were put together. 3 hardtails and a couple of full susses. Nice to see two of the three hardtails were Rock Lobsters! My Aluminium and another Steel one.  A quick apply of the sun cream as it was already getting hot and off we went.

It was decided on clockwise and the long drag up towards Stoodley Pike. Three of us ahead and two a bit further back. This was to be roughly the order of the day, but as speed wasn’t the name of the game then it just meant the faster ones had more of a rest when holding gates.

I had never ridden around Calderdale, but had gone running many times. I knew that bikes would be fun but I have to say that the riding was first class! Great both up and down. The terrain really had a bit of everything. From good tracks, to boulder strewn singletrack to sharp ascents and swooping descents. A real mixed bag (as you would expect from 47 miles of riding.

We stopped for lunch briefly in a pub but were soon on our way again. The second half was starting to show more. It seemed that we were constantly going uphill, like an Escher Drawing but still the riding was great.

Some cloud cover came over in the afternoon which I was thankful for as we continued on our way. Forever upwards!

Before long we were at Widdop, the towards Blackshaw head and then with a ting of sadness I always feel on finishing an adventure, the long fast descent back into Hebden Bridge.

After managing to catch the train, I had to contend with someone nicking the signal cables in Pudsey so I had to bike across Bradford to swap trains and then bike the final 4 miles from the train station to my house. They must have been the longest 4 miles of my life and also the longest section of road I encountered all day.

All in all a great day out. Thanks Andy for the invite. It has wetted my appetite for all day epic rides so watch this space as I have some other 40+ mile routes already sorted.

The last two nights I have finally managed to get running again. A small step to getting fit again after a few very patchy months. I realise I have a fair bit to get back to where I used to be back in Autum. I also realise I should have got myself sorted a LOT sooner. It is a stupid thing to do to continue running when injured, but when running is such fun and quite important to my wellbeing, it is hard to tell yourself you need to stop.

This gap since pretty much Mid November, with the odd race to “test my foot” (Another stupid thing to do) and no training has meant I have managed to look at my season goals and make a few adjustments.

Main thing is  no Bob Graham round in 2009. Was planning on the 5th June as it is my birthday that day, it falls on a full moon and is in the height of summer. It seemed too good an opportunity to pass up. Now I think I will give it a miss. I don’t want to rush it. I want a long build up and to enjoy the whole experience. Not cram in a load of training and just end up injured again right before summer.  So plans are afoot for a 2010 BG but there may be some other runs in the meantime worth reading about.  Also means I am free for recce’s and support for anyone interested in a bag carrier?

The lack of a Bob Graham free’s up a massive chunk of my year and given me the chance to be a bit more varied in my events.Something missing last year.

Some of my favorite races are now free for me to do! So the first thing I can now do is the Lakeland Classics series again! I have entered Wasdale and Langdale as it is English Champs races and I will do Duddon and Ennerdale to qualify.

I will also spend some of those planned Bob Graham recce weekends doing adventure racing or mountain biking. I have a few pencilled in already as well so should be good. I will also be spending a few weekends either running or biking or both, with wild camps  in our national parks generally having fun and taking in the views with friends.

I will try to do the Runfurther series, albeit without the Fellsman as a friend is coming over from New Zealand that weekend. Mates come before a run! I will also partake in the club championships. First race of 09 ebing Noonstones next week. My first race back (hopefully)

All in all, despite putting my big goal to one side for a full year, I am looking forward to this year! I actually think I am looking forward to it more now than I was before. Without the BG training shadow looming over me, without the recce, recce, recce mentality getting in there, basically without Bob Graham I can relax and enjoy the build up to June 2010.