I've got an unexpected entry to the Etape du Dales this weekend

I saw a post from Andrew Whiteside on Ilkley Cycling Club's Facebook page last night. He had hit a cat and broken his collar bone (that's hit a cat whilst riding his bike, not punched one in a bar fight). Poor fella had entered the Etape du Dales Sportive this coming Sunday and could obviously no longer do it so was offering his entry up.

After checking the weather for Sunday and seeing light SE winds and dry I decided to go for it and fortunately the ticket was still available, so in exchange for a donation to the Dave Rayner fund he has given me his entry. Andrew if you are reading this then thank you very much indeed and I hope you are able to get back on the bike soon.

The Etape is 112 miles of hard Dales riding with 9000 ft of climbing over 7 major climbs.

The climbs are:

1. Fleet Moss (from Wharfedale to Hawes)

2. Buttertubs (from Hawes to Swaledale and it's on the TDF route)

3. Turf Moor (from Feetham in Swaledale into Arkengarthdale which is new territory for me)

4. Tan Hill (to the highest pub in Britain)

5. The Coal Road (linking Garsdale station to Dent station)

6. Over Dent Fell to Newby Head (taking the route back into more familiar territory)

7. Stainforth to Halton Gill and home)

I'm looking forward to it for the riding and the scenery, especially up above Swaledale. It's supposed to be a beast and one of the top 10 rides to do in the country. It's certainly great training for LEJOG!

Well that was Scotland, and it was ace!

I achieved my goal - 2 substantial back to back rides and it didn't kill me. Really pleased with myself and proof that after 2 months putting in the miles it's possible to get from feeling totally spent after 25 miles (end of February) to a total of 187 miles over 2 days with more in the tank (end of April). I also beat another target of mine, over 200 miles in one week (I managed 222). Next target will be 300.

Day one from Ilkley to Penrith was a cracker, I was joined by Paul and Clive from ICC. Clive peeled off at Burnsall with a creaking bottom bracket and Paul made it to the top of Fleet Moss where we went our separate ways.

(that's Pen-y-ghent just peeking out behind my left shoulder)

I dropped down the huge descent into Hawes and ate this beautiful thing...

Then I cycled up this valley into Cumbria and to Kirby Stephen. I've decided that due to the scenery, the deserted smooth tarmac and the friendly gradient this is my favourite valley for road biking so far!

Once at the riverside cafe in Appleby, I realised there IS a solution to the age old problems of where to store your bike and how to ensure the toilet roll is accessible without putting your back out to reach round for it.

Finally I ended my day with fish and chips followed by rhubarb crumble and cream and a night in The Ginney B&B at J41 of the M6 which I thoroughly recommend (£57 B&B for the night, breakfast was excellent). 83 miles in the bag.

On Saturday I woke to bright sun, a light tailwind and cows walking past the window at breakfast! Home made muesli, grapefruit and orange segments, 2 poached eggs on toast and some toast with real butter and Marmite set me off in a good mood.

The road to Carlisle was great but that was the best bit, Carlisle was a typical city centre for cycling and the A7 out of it was busy. This then peeled off to the B something all the way up beside the M6 to Gretna then the M74. I got caught by a random who chatted and helped pass some time before he left at Ecclefechan.

The next 5 hrs from Lockerbie weren't great to be honest. The tarmac (yawn...) was broken with loose stones everywhere and the scenery after being spoilt in the Dales and Cumbria was almost non existent until Dumfries and Galloway (these photos kind of sum up the 5 hrs).

This is day 6 on my LEJOG ride and it's a means to an end definitely - get from the nice bits to the nice bits as directly as possible.

Does anyone know what this sculpture represents? I came across it en route somewhere near Moffat on the Sustrans bike path.

Anyway, things started looking up when I ate this (microwaved) scotch pie from a VG

And arrived at Chatelherault overlooking my final destination, Hamilton, at about half 5 with 104 miles on the clock, a sunburnt ear and my lovely mother-in-law wielding a bottle of chilled wine

Today's top quote from a Scottish Neighbour seeing me clad in lycra "I've seen more meat on a butcher's pencil"!

Also big thanks to Stu for giving me the 22 mile Lochs and Windmills Tour of Ayrshire this morning :-)