Good turnout for last Sunday's club run with Paul D, Chris, Damien, Richard, Steve T, Steve B and myself joined by Martin from the Imps and the Bingley 2, Phil Rawnsley and Stephen Mattocks.
A clockwise route for the Darnbrook circuit was chosen in the hope of a tail wind over to Arncliffe from Malham and a steady start was made over to Connonley with the pace gradually increasing as first Paul and then Stevie Barker went to the front. Richard, still searching for his late 2014 form and finding the pace uncomfortable, said au revoir at Eshton to ride up to Cracoe and meet up with us again in Littondale.
By Airton Steve B decided that he had inflicted enough pain and turned for home as the rest of us attacked Malham Cove on the eastern road. As planned the wind blew us over to Arncliffe. We swept up Richard on the descent and flew down to Burnsall café via Conistone and Grassington. As usual the café, which was bursting at the seams with fellow cyclists, supplied us with a first class fare and service.
Once on the road again we made our way to Bolton Bridge via Appletreewick and Cav Pav. Addingham Moorside was chosen as our next challenge although the Bingley lads, Richard and a resurgent Damien all chose the less interesting Cringles route home.
Once over Moorside someone who will remain nameless (Paul) came up with the idea of turning left in Silsden and going over Robin Hood, once it was established that Chris had never had that pleasure previously there was no other alternative although I'm not sure Martin and Steve T were as enthusiastic as they could have been.
The climb up to Robin Hood Woods was just as enjoyable as ever and once we regrouped it was down to Bingley then Harden and Bents Lane, thereby making it back to Calderdale without having to plough up the boring Ingrow.
(Peter) Paul & Mary
As you are all aware Paul Daly will soon be leaving our green and pleasant land to start a new life terrorising cyclists in New Zealand. He has been granted one last last wish before he leaves our shores and that is to ride the Mary Townley Loop one more time before he goes. We're going have a nostalgic potter round the Loop this coming Sunday, the 1st of Feb. Meet Callis Bottom road crossing 8am - there's plenty of escape routes should you not want to do the full distance.
