I rode round the Fred with the faster lads from Ians workplace (Team Appleyard Lees) We formed a band of 4, myself, Dave (centre) Rob (right) and another Chris who sadly got dropped before Whinlatter. We rode nicely together, but I was conscious of maintaining my well drilled Condor manners and waited at the top of each climb for them.
A bit too warm to fly around with the mountain rescue straining to cope with collapsing dehydrated riders. I finished with Rob with a leisurely time of 7.16, Dave arriving 10 mins later. a proper good day out in the beautiful lakes with time to appreciate it. Chris.
Thanks to Chris for his Fred Whitton report. For anyone not in the know the time of 7.16 may be leisurely for Chris but faster than over 4/5ths of the finishers.
It was a stunningly beautiful day though, and not just in the Lakes. The Dales were looking at their finest as witnessed by our club run where Damien, Nigel, Pete W, Simon, Sean & Niall and myself made the most of the conditions going to Feizor cafe via Malham Cove (right side) and Knight Stainforth, returning via Wham and The Herders after an hour sat enjoying the sunshine, tea and BE&S butties. A more perfect day out in the Dales would be hard to imagine.
On the racing front Grimpy and Brian continue to dominate their category nationally in vets road racing, both enjoying wins in different races whilst the tourists were enjoying Feizor. Chris has been busy with mid week, enter on the line TT's, with wins at Rossendale and on the Imps Wednesday evening Norland circuits plus a fine 2nd place at the Holme Valley Wheelers 10 on the Birdsedge course with a 23 minute ride; a fast time for such a hard course. Also riding the HVW 10, making his TT debut on his all new Planet X superbike was Simon Fortune. Whilst soundly thrashed by Chris it was a great relief for him to catch his son, Adam (enjoy it whilst you can Simon). I have no doubt there is much more speed to come from Simon once he's got more races under his belt and wears his aero lid.
I'm sure most will know that our New Zealand team are back in the old country for some warm weather training. Paul touched down on home soil last Monday, I'd talked him into entering the Cumbrian 200 Audax last Saturday in the hope that he would still be suffering the effects of jet-lag.
Unfortunately there was no lagging of any description. A superb route from the shores of Windermere, over Kirkstone, Matterdale End, Mungrisdale, Back o' Skiddaw, Newlands, Cold Fell, Wasdale, Eskdale, Birker Fell, Dunnerdale, Kiln Bank, Torver and Hawkshead. Together with perfect weather and the wind in the right direction it was probably the best days cycling ever, anywhere, it will never be beaten.
