The Lab Rats have taken to their bikes, but in lower numbers than the 10 that eagerly signed up. On the day just 6 riders set off from the office after 2 dropped out with sports injuries and 2 others changed their mind, obviously scared by the cycling prowess of the rest of the group!
So we started off well, if depleted, heading out of Leeds towards the open countryside a couple of miles up the road, but quite soon things didn’t go to plan… We lost Paul C (who we thought had second thoughts and turned round, but we later found out he managed to cycle past the group waiting at a junction), and then Ryan, just as we were heading off-road and a Yorkshire downpour gave us a soaking…
So we were now 4, and heading towards Eccup. We managed a glimpse of a wet Emmerdale and headed for the bridleways of the Harewood House estate. We were doing well and decided to have a refreshment stop, which turned out longer than planned due to 2 punctures and tube changes – on the same wheel.
By this time it was raining, cold and with the dark grey sky it could have been November, not the middle of July – what happened to summer?
After a muddy detour through Adel Woods, a fight with a branch (which won and knocked Mark off) and one final uphill push, the drowned Lab Rats were back – 3 ½ hours after setting off. Bike ride anyone?
Insights
