On Sunday we went out mountain biking in the Yorkshire Dales with Jane and Mike. Rachel was meant to be joining us too, but unfortunately was too busy dating.....
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| The 3 musketeers on nice tracks gaining height on the outward section |
We headed out of a cold Settle on the long grind up towards Malham Tarn, soon getting hot with the uphill and the improving sunshine. I surprised myself by managing to ride a couple of the more technical bits that normally result in pushing.
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| At the high point looking to Malham Tarn and hoping the ice cream van is there! |
The drop down towards Malham Tarn was initially great until a run in with an obnoxious walker who refused to let us pass on the bridleway (grr ). We didn't let this bad apple spoil things for too long and we enjoyed a 99 ice cream before a loop of the Tarn - which was busy (justifiably always is).
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| Malham Tarn |
Heading back was initially slow going as we tried an alternative bridleway that was very boggy and being a ride/push/ride type track. It was bliss to get to the end of the boggy section and hit the fast flowing trail back towards Settle with great views of Pen y Ghent, Ingleborough and Whernside stretched out ahead of us.
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| Looking back to the Tarn from the boggy track... |
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| Pen y Ghent poking out (above Mikes head) |
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| Jane and Mike on the fast return track |
All was going well until a slight error on my part (I was messing around pulling wheelies!) ended up in a dramatic 'dive', bruises and tail between legs for the last downhill of the day back into Settle.
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| Biker dude! |
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| Jane trying to get a lift home.... |
We enjoyed the atmosphere of the busy market town from Ye Olde Naked Man Cafe. An unusual trike/motorbike caught our eye, which looked like it was from the film Mad Max. I asked the owner, who was liberally covered in tattoo's and sporting a purple beard if I could take a picture of it. His reply of, 'as long as you aren't with the police' summed up the experience quite well.
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