Dave and Mark U were representing RCC at the Darlington Castles 85. Daves ride report is below

With Paul a painful 'DNS' for the Darlo Castles ride, and J-P doing muddy stuff, it was left to me and Mark U to fly the RCC flag. We set off just after 9 at a leisurely pace and hooked up with a couple of guys who were lost around Walworth. They seemed happy to be led all the way to Staindrop, but they then ambitiously upped the pace whereas Mark and I were trying to maintain the 'leisure' pace. It was a bit of a case of 'tortoise and the hare' as they dropped off on Gilling bank. (I eventually saw them struggling up from Skeeby to Scotch corner as I was driving back from Darlo - the experience of years of pacing yourself paying off!)

Leaving the Garrison, Mark knew he was on a bad day and turned back for home - still riding 76m in total though. I ploughed on alone now and tried to up the pace for the second half of the ride. It was a slog to Redmire into the wind, on my own now and over the climb to Grinton, but the prospect of a big tailwind back to Darlo kept me going.

So a hard ride for me on a windy day, with no wheels to follow for a change (my speciality!).

Got back to Darlo in a little under 5hrs, with only 5mins water stop in Leyburn. Shattered, I fell asleep on the sofa after lunch.