Mid-summer in the Yorkshire Dales – it's that hot summer of 2018 - the Tour de France is in its final week and Geraint Thomas is in yellow; Froome is beaten. The sun is blazing and the roadies are out and about – the wannabes ticking off their Strava segments. The Yorkshire lanes are humming with carbon fibre, chrome and colour. This was the setting for eight, old rough stuffers starting out from Gargrave on their annual road ride exploring the valleys of the Aire, Wharfe and Skirfare.

 The ranks increased to nine when Ian popped up riding towards us near Winterburn; then we collected Reid waiting for us on a bench in Hetton to make it ten. Grassington was our morning coffee stop and it was here we met Anne and Lawrie. It is amazing to gain members on a ride, the norm seems to be to lose them! That was it, twelve now left Grassington bound for lunch at the Falcon Inn at Arncliffe via Conistone and Kilnsey. With nineteen undulating miles completed we were ready for a rest and some food. Sat beneath parasols with the limestone-dotted Skirfare valley as our backdrop we demolished our pie and peas (some chose a more summery meal) contemplating the next stage – the crux. 

It was the two-mile climb up the side of Cowside Beck. Cattle grids, steep bends, chevrons and over 200 metres of ascent had to be negotiated. We all climbed at our own speed. Some were built like climbers; some were not. Some pretended they were Quintana; some didn't. I was climbing like Bahamontes – he's just turned 90 this year you know. When we approached Malham Tarm a couple turned off-road to visit it while the rest dropped into Malham down the Cove road for afternoon tea where we all met up.

All that remained now was the seven-mile run back to Gargrave. A relatively fast return but with some punchy climbs to break up the trending descent serving to remind us where we were. The Yorkshire Dales at their best, bathed in sunshine, great views and good company. A ride to remember. About 36 miles and it was a shame it couldn't have been more.

Mick Ely, Shaw