A report from our esteemed club secretary Nick Holmes:
Calderdale Poet, Ted Hughes wrote of Crow Hill in Luddenden “Sheer sides under the sodden moors: When its not wind its rain….” We had both, there was very little wind but we had to contend with the rain all day. Bang, the first climb was through Heptonstall on wet cobbles up past the grave of Ted’s Wife, Sylvia Plath. There was no time for depressing poetry as a woman passed me effortlessly on 42mm tyres, a 42 Chainring and a 42 Cassette (note: she explained this when we caught up at the Cafe in Waddington).
Long Causeway was a cool wet descent and made up for the Heptonstall Effort. I hadn’t scrutinised the route well enough, I thought Widdop & Nick O’ Pendle was enough, I didnt realise Waddington Fell was on the agenda, but a tail wind wind eased the pain a little. Pauline and Tony win awards for Tactics, Pauline for minimising rain exposure and riding the short loop with her daughter Jill, and Tony for tucking in, conserving energy and getting back to HQ First. Rain Maker Andy battled on all day, attacking the climbs. Emma and Liam were a modern day Dave and Rick, enjoying the climbs and even talking during the process.Vincci, a lover of slip-streaming on the flat, felt the longer the ride went on the more she enjoyed it. The pinnacle was her getting off and then back on her bike on the Widdop climb and doing it all on a 25 Cassette.
Jo & Neil are all-round nice guys and simply took every adversity and frustartion in their stride. Finally young Isaac should get an award for overcoming the greatest adversity. Isaac was pretty much depleted climbing out of Downham, so I offered support by saying “its down hill from here !” Vincci pointed with her finger, I looked round only to see the road rising up yet another incline…he wasn’t happy. After a steady Widdop we enjoyed a wind-free descent before a final helping of rain. Audax UK offered great compensation in the form a good spread including a Vegan option, Nice!
Nick Holmes
Come and join Centreville, we’d love to have you aboard!
Excellent report….so many awards, one for Author Nick.