Just bike

It was a glorious day. Winter was still refusing to die and there were frost pockets and stubborn scoops of snow in the shady hollows yet spring was in the air. The sun was hot on black lycra, extra layers were soon stashed in the backpack, and the sky was an endless vista of blue who wouldn't want to bike on such a day.

We were three at the start and I took the opportunity to ride ahead and try to capture the feel of the ride on camera. We were following familiar routes and enjoying the anticipation of favourite speedy descents and tricky crossings but the going was definitely soggy. We took the high track through Park Wood which was a mud bath but it was one of those days when it was just great to be biking anywhere, anyhow.

Later after a very tired boy was escorted home by his Dad I got to carry on alone ... I just didn't want to stop as the route unwound by Clitherbecks, Oakley Side, Danby Castle and then along Little Fryup Dale before going vertical up Danby Rigg. The descent was tricky, it's always a challenge to see if you can do a clear run with no dabs but this winter has wreaked havoc on the terrain and good lines just disappear into yawning chasms with zero notice. My riding might not have been perfect but it was a perfect ride.

That was two weeks ago now and since then there have been yet more great rides in all shapes and sizes - both road rides and XC rides with a variety of family and friends. Rides that were planned and others that were unexpected extras. Next week the clocks change and six months of longer days and better weather beckon, what a feeling to anticipate all those bike rides to come.