Hill climbs by bike

The last three weeks have seen me hill climbing by bike on three days. The first occasion was crossing the two mountain passes over the centre of Arran; a Scottish island in the Firth of Clyde. The next was going up Long Mynd in Shropshire. Yesterday I went with a friend on an old-fashioned train, with loads of room for bikes, along the Settle-Carlisle line to Kirby Stephen. The train journey was quite good enough, the cycling was stunning. Our circular route was greatly aided by a wind that stayed behind or beside us for much of the day. Climbing up to the Tan Hill Inn, which at 1732 feet is England's highest hostelry, had its rewards! As we arrived at the pub there was squalling drizzle and light showers: on depature, after soup and chips, the sky had cleared and the head-wind only hit us for the downward drop towards Keld, serving as a gentle brake. Then it felt like we were swept up Swaledale by the stiff breeze. The five minute, three mile plummet back to Kirby was too steep and swift for the weather to aid or inhibit.