The weather was lovely on Saturday and I was on my fortnightly commitment-free Saturday, so I sat down and tried to map a ride I could take instead of my autopilot Hollingworth Lake loop. \u00a0I chose a 27 mile run along the canal to Hebden Bridge then back over Blackstone Edge, a route that would involve a 4 mile steep(ish<\/em>) climb and a big descent designed to lay the ghost of not hitting 30mph yet. \u00a0I opted to leave the slicks on from last week’s Blackpool run, because (a<\/em>) on roads they’d be nice and fast, and (b<\/em>) I couldn’t be bothered fettling in such nice weather.<\/p>\n As it happens, I totally ignored the climb and took the soft option!<\/p>\n I headed northeast along the Rochdale Canal, until a signpost showed a diversion off for\u00a0National\u00a0Cycle Network Route 66, which led me up a steep little hill through the woods just outside Todmorden. As it happens, this landed me by the railway station so I dropped down back into the town centre from there and couldn’t find the canalside without turning back a couple of hundred yards.<\/p>\n So, I took the road from Tod to Hebden Bridge, only a little bit lost \ud83d\ude09 \u00a0The undulations were a nice short workout, and unbeknownst to me, I hit 29.2 mph on the\u00a0second\u00a0descent. \u00a0Bloody 29.2 mph!<\/strong> \ud83d\ude41 If I’d have known, I’d have booted it a little more just to hit the fabled 30 mph. \u00a0Meh. Never mind.<\/p>\n At the park in Hebden Bridge, I looked at my watch and decided it was time for a drink, a rest, an ice cream and a turn back homewards.<\/p>\n\n\t\tCracking Canalside Capers<\/h2>\n