Well today was the first time for the others to sample some Yorkshire dales MTB. Not the route we had planned as things did not go as planned, 1st Richard called in sick (poor bugger had a Migraine), 2nd Phil was not sure about doing 25 miles in the pissing rain as he was worried about fitness (that coming from the human mountain goat.)
Sooo! I had to rethink what we were to do as a way of an intro???? Clapham Tunnels and Bridges was the first thought so I stuck with it.
Raining when we set off but not to harse so off we went up what has to be the bloody hardest start to any mountain bike ride, then along the farm double track which has cut up after the snow and matey on his quad bike (feeding sheep so cant complain) so it was very, very mucky, thankfully I had attached my cruds so was cleaner than the other 3.
Got to Feizor for a fuel stop (only a third in but hey what the hek) and had a superb Bacon and Egg Barm (bap, roll) you choose.
Then onwards, oh at this point I will mention the river crossings, they were a touch deep due to lots of rain, I have video of Phil riding a bridge over one and you can see how deep and fast they were running.
Every body had a good day and absolutely loved the final down hill section, buzzing and laughing at the end.
Rob had a run in with a boulder about the size of a football, it had decided that it liked his back wheel and wanted to go with it, he was unaware of this at the time (having too much of a good time) and then Dave thought seeing as it was Easter bank holiday and the 1st anniversary of his Peak pile up he would race past me and lose the arse end big style, luckily he held it and carried on in a semi straight line, I on the other hand had had to dive off into a deep rut to the right of him and stuck for 100 ft or so until I could get out.
A damn good day had by all, its such a shame that Richard was not well as I know he would have loved to have done this one again, still all summer to do it, which Rob assured me would be a good one!
Looking forward to our next adventure as 5 and hoping for better weather.
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