Overshoes or no overshoes ? Gillet or no gillet ? Rain jacket or no rain jacket ? These seemed like real problems when we were all standing in the car park getting ready to start the Etape Pennines. As it was, these decisions were far from our minds once we got started on this most brutal of the Etape series sportives.
Riding for Team Rubb Musette BC on behalf of Parkinsons UK, Paul, Steve and myself were one of the early groups on the road, departing at 0729 hrs. With 1000 cyclists taking part the start was a busy and lively area with plenty of nerves and early morning chatter. Heading in a westerly direction the first five miles were all uphill and in to a mild head wind. That wind would pick up as the day went on. It was in these first initial handful of miles that Paul slowly slipped ahead of Steve and myself. Feeling good he got on to the back of a steady group as they approached the first fast descent and stayed clear for the rest of the ride.
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Deerness Valley Cycling 