Poor turn out of Thorpers on chilly but sunny morning. Alex Millman, Doug Tomlingson, Craig Newton, Danny Webb and Birdy from Dave Sowerby club ! Set off from Mirfield to Keighley via Brighouse, Bradford at a very fast pace (at least it was for me having not done enough training). Me and Doug stopped at Keighley for a brew where the rest turned back. Met Derrick at the cafe who was heading for Otley. Then headed up to Skipton, then Cracoe where shortly after Doug suffered a major blow out on his back tyre, which had severely damaged it and a make shift road side repair was done and it luckily survived the rest of the ride but will definately not ride again (the tyre that is not Doug !) We made the decision to lunch at Burnsall due to Grassington probably being busy due to the etape where we met up with Brian and friends on the Rayner ride and Sarah, little Al and mother in law ! Had lunch where I was already suffering and then headed back through Appletreewick and Bolton Abbey where Doug said it would be fun to ride through Storiths. Having never ridden it before I foolishly agreed. Already struggling through lack of training and sleep I believed Doug’s comment of “its just a little lumpy”  and had to drag my poor weary body up the BIG lump which was made worse by the fact that the heavens opened - cheers MATE. A very slow pace home through Burley in Wharfedale, Shipley and Bradford. Ride statistics were 75 miles, average speed 15.4 mph.