Beautiful but brutal! What a day. Sunshine, dry roads, and just enough breeze to keep us fresh — perfect for my first ride through the Yorkshire Dales. @struggleevents got the vibe spot on: coffee before, beer after, and two excellent feed stops in between. Bonus points for the pork pies! The route was beautiful, brutal, and in no hurry to let your legs settle. Every climb had bite, the views were ridiculous, and the cowbells and cheers along the way made a big difference. Great company all day too with @juniorshysheep rolling alongside. The plan was simple: start steady, eat and drink often, and try not to explode. Over 165km and 3,000m of climbing, pacing mattered — especially when the gradients kicked well past 16% and ‘steady’ became more of a suggestion. ‘Undulating’ it was not! The feed stops came at exactly the right time, and with nearly 600 riders on the medium route, the whole day had a brilliant group ride feel. By the time the Rugby Club goal posts appeared, they looked less like sports equipment and more like salvation. Finish line, beer, burger — job done. Best of all, it was great to catch up with my Struggle Family again. From registration at Cold Bath Brewing Co. to the post-ride catch-ups. Brilliant event, brilliantly run — exactly what I’ve come to expect from @mattmannakee, @victoriamannakee, and the @struggleevents team. The climbs: 32km Greenhow 3.9km Max 16.9% avg 7.3% 68km Halton Gill 1.6km 14.1% 7% 85km High Hill 4km 18.6% 5.6% 112km Barden Moor 3.3km 14.4% 4.1% 124km Langbar 1km 18.2% 10.4% 147km Norwood 1.9km 19.2% 9.5%