I've posted this elsewhere but it can fit here, too, I think.
Over to Grains Bar on the wild borders of Oldham and Rochdale to see the first stage of the Tour of Britain. Blue skies, hundreds of spectators at the top of the 9Cat 2) hill and generally a great occasion. No chance of finding two friends who were likely to be there until we were all departing and I spotted one of them.
This necessitated me climbing a local hill (Huddersfield Road) which until the arrival of Atrial fibrillation and attendant beta blockers, I never really thought about. Now, I can still get up it but it takes so long if I'm not to try too hard! Also slightly chastened on the descent home to be passed at the speed of light by dozens of cyclists making their ways home. I suppose I'm doing the right thing, expecting to die if I come off at those speeds, but it's ever-so slightly humiliating. God knows what speed the racers came down it. Come to think of it, they seemed to be climbing the Cat 2 faster than I was going home!
But these musings don't overshadow a fabulous ride out!
