45-miler today. Set off at 7am. Dark and cold. Up through Queensbury, down to Oxenhope and then through to Colne. Some interesting descents in the cold but that was just a sign of what was to come.
Trawden and then onto Back Lane. If you know the road it's a single track road. Steep. And that was when we hit the first ice. Over the cattle grid and the climb started. Weird feeling when your rear wheel won't grip and you're pedalling but not moving. Not so good though when it's 15% at least in places. And then the front wheel started going. We got off and walked.
Past Widdop and then the S-bends heading back towards Hebden Bridge. I thought I'd ride it. Silly c***. Steep and covered in ice. Trying to feather the brakes but kept feeling both wheels going. Good job I bailed when I did as the little bridge at the bottom and the climb out were sheet ice.
We finally cleared it and the ride home was okay. Lost a lot of time so we had to scrap Stocks Lane. Nice to get some miles and hills in though.
That's sheet ice......And it's f***ing steep
