I decided to have a go at last year's YD200 route yesterday. Wasn't sure about the weather but it turned out a lot better than forecast with only two spells of rain one of which was right at the end. Set off from the house at 0530 and got back to Skipton at 2330 so a long day Very few people about except at the honey pots of Ribblehead and the Ingleton waterfalls (well the ice cream van), didn't see anyone from leaving Barbon until getting back to Ribblehead, only saw eight other mountain bikers all day and away from the above two spots probably only thirty walkers out and about. My first proper ITT - I've only done group starts before.

Very humid until the first spell of rain just before Ireby (near Kirkby Lonsdale) which made things a bit fresher. The GPS recorded 90 minutes of stops but quite a few of those will have been at gates (I counted at least 124!) as checking the timestamps on the activity there's less than an hour of cafe/pub time. I skipped a couple of the last little loops as electronics were starting to run out of juice and Cath was waiting for me in Skipton. Unusually for me I didn't get cramps which I think was partly due to taking a steady pace rather than thinking I have to keep up with someone else. I felt as strong in my legs at the end as at the start.

I'll do a fuller post/blog in due course.

Here's the Strava activity https://www.strava.com/activities/606557084 - the battery on the Oregon died going in to Eastby after nearly 18hrs on the go.

It's good isn't it bob. Went to a lot of places I'd never visited before.

ianfitz wrote:It's good isn't it bob. Went to a lot of places I'd never visited before.

Since it's our "backyard" we do most of the trails east of Ribblehead on a regular basis, the western loop is a bit less well known though I've done the climb over Whernside several times. Occupation Road/Foul Moss is an acquired taste

Here's a blog of my day - http://bobwightman.blogspot.co.uk/2016/ ... ition.html