Today was the local Falling Leaves Reliability Ride.
Choice of 100 miles, or 100k.
I set off in the 100 mile group of 6 at 0900, the 100k group set of at 1000.
We set off West into a fearsome block headwind, but we worked well in a rotating paceline into the wind. Short turns on the front, no heroics.
But the rain started the moment we left and it got heavier and heavier, turning to hail as we gained height.
We were all ill-equipped for such a torrential downpour, and got thoroughly soaked.
After the long fast descent from the Queen's View into Tarland, we were all frozen.
One of our number bailed at Tarland, and I realised that I was becoming border-line hypothermic, and unable to operate the brakes or gears. There was no way I was going to go up onto the proper high ground over the Lecht in this condition. So I turned South at the next junction, and made for safe refuge in a cafe in the sanctuary of Aboyne.
30 mins later the remaining 4 bedraggled and frozen riders appeared too, having bailed at the next junction.
Still, I live to ride another day!
https://www.strava.com/activities/2821281145/overviewTurns out the 100k riders got a slightly easier time of it, since they missed the torrential downpour, and only had the wind to deal with!