After a day or few resting and no riding, today I got my chance. From my dad’s, meant that Wessenden Head was a little closer to reach. That being one of the goals of one of my Ramadhan rides, but coordination is key as it’s still a long/rough way out.
Trying instead to at least get to the Outlane Golf Course track, but many (well, ok, the main one route) to it are/is 20% tough. So I avoided Dodlee Lane like the plague.
I needed to get onto the blocked off canal tow path so opted for this little canal bridge.
With the canal being blocked, I assume this very low water level is all linked. Hardly any traffic on the towpath thus this heron was hanging around freely. Never seen one around these ends in 40+ years.
Then some of the old trails I’ve not visited in years. Ultimately fasting helping you stay closer to home with similar satisfaction levels. Heart well within limits so far.
Now comes the first proper/scary climb of the day. Way back when this used to send the heart rate through the roof and a struggle staying on the back whilst balancing the centre of gravity on the first 16% section.
Not sure if it was my bike, or my fitness, but for some reason we made light work of it and even managed to do the switchback without much wobble!! Highly unusual, though maybe the fat fighters thread has something to play!
Here’s that 20% cobbled Dodlee Lane but I’m now at the safe/top end of it. Just to give an example of how difficult it is, that car in the distance had its hazards on most of the way down. Not sure if it’s brake fade or just frightened of looking straight down what might be seeming like a cobbled cliff (slight exaggeration but you get my point).
Next stop, Outlane Golf Course. Would I have to dab due to fear of heart rate rising/heart ache (literally). Though I had been topping up the water since the night before and had been for a ‘mahaasive’ wee multiple times overnight and pre-ride.
That’s where we are going, in the distance was an 18%(ish) gradient. But the worrying bit was at the bottom of the climb. Being a switchback with cobbles that seemed to have been laid with massive gaps apart. That is one of the first climbs I ever wondered if I’d ever one day be able to climb it.
Going down I asked the orange jacket workers if they’d come to ‘fix’ the (beautiful, rocky DH) trail. Thanksfully they were just looking down some sort of shaft or hole in the ground.
This trail where I had my first ever proper mountain biking fall/fail. Years later my knee would always flare up when thinking about being here or actually coming. Not being fixed, phew Alhamdulillah.
Then I cleared the aforementioned cobbled switchback (but obviously wasn’t in a state to be taking pics) but only made it this far before the washed out trail halted me. Heart rate well within safety limits (I reckon I hit about 167) so there’s definitely something unusually happening. Let’s just blame the bike!
Anyway, I went back and cleared this little wash-out and headed on up to the horses. Next up, that 18% which me and my mates would always have to psych ourselves up to get up. For some reason, again, the Highball made lightwork of it and the next rocky track switchback.
YBC
as some sort of training for the Dales Divide for which I doubt I’m currently ready.
Alhamdulillah.