After a quick change of clothes in the bike room at work, I set off at 6 for Macclesfield via the High Peak – Oldham to Glossop to Hayfield, etc. It was dark, wet but not too cold and not windy so it was gonna be ace.

Just before Stalybridge I stopped at some lights at the same time as a bloke on a nice Lemond. There’s a big climb that goes on for a fair bit in Staly before you drop down into Mottram. I don’t think I’ve ever climbed it so fast, my new friend appeared to be capitalising on my (rather surprising) climbing prowess by drafting me all the way up, then we were riding fast through the traffic in Glossop. That was brilliant. Not much can beat fast road riding, tight up to someone else’s wheel.

A quick energy bar stop in Hayfield after the horror that is Chunal (the big hill out of Glossop) and then off again through Whaley Bridge and then the second horror climb up to Pott Shrigley. Just over 40 miles – soaked and tired but what a brilliant ride. Long rides are officially BACK.