Fail to plan, plan to fail.

Taking cues from the successes of team Sky over the years and Lizzie Armistead last night i decided a plan for today was needed and i am pleased to say the plan worked and all of my companions fell in to my trap. Not one of them suspected that, as it was such a perfect, bright, clear day, the ideal place on all of the hills was well, well off the back in order to enjoy the views without any other riders getting in the way.

The first success of the day was the trawl up the back of the brickworks climb where i skilfully let everyone drift away from me. The trend continued up Pott Shrigley with another success and then again at Kettlehulme where i managed to be so far behind the others that i was actually in a different time zone. Down in to the Goyt Valley and up again where Ewart gamely tried to ride as slow as me for a while but i could tell he was really struggling and not enjoying the pace, repeatedly muttering to himself, 'should be in big ring.' Finally we got up to the top of the Cat and Fiddle and i quietly rejoiced to myself knowing my 'off the back' plan had succeeded totally. The fools, victory was mine!!

A nice chase down to Blaze Farm where the obligatory beans on toast waited and we were later joined by Jules, the Campbells and a friend of Jacks.

A swift run home via Sutton, Gawsworth and Twemlow saw me peeling off to home. I reached home with about 76 miles completed after a fantastic day out. Thank you to everyone out today including Woody who is obviously doing some specialist interval training having turned off for home shortly before setting off.