A day of challenges, from the weather and our route. Weather stuck firmly to forecast (dammit) with dry but cold windy start and rain from noon onwards. Early lunch at Bordar Tearooms Masham followed by truncated route to Ripon via Snape, missing out the Bedale loop. Headwinds for most of return leg until Bishop M when tailwind helped get us out of Markington to Drovers. Prior to that, Hive cafe in Ripon provided a welcome restorative drink and cake stop. Route challenges came from climbs to Masham, all of which were once a staple diet of WE rides from Hornbeam. Like old times but so much slower! Two pelotons buzzed past us just to rub it in. Winter miles mean Summer smiles, they say. They'd better be right!