It is that time of year to traditionally look back of what you have acheived, to reflect on events and to ponder the year ahead. So that’s what we’ll do. 2022 was an odd year (I bet that phrase will be used a few times over the coming mouths), and whilst cycling has not been greatly affected by the dreaded COVID-19 pandemic, cost of living crisis or the war in the Ukraine, plans for longer trips and for going abroad were impacted one way or another and don’t get me started on wearing a mask whilst riding or the increase in the price of a Teacake!! In terms of Yorkshire’s Finest achievements, they could be summed up as “modest” in cycling terms. We rarely had more than 7 fine men out on our regular Saturday rides, although we did pick up a “second Legg” and Barry has now become a bit more than a regular, forming a “two-legged” duo with his twin brother. Our Wednesday numbers have been boosted by Jim and our part-retired skipper, meaning we were a regular 4/5 man group, once or twice boosted to six, (courtesy of JP) in the run up to Majorca 2022. But as a group we did cover some miles, our ball-park estimate (can’t be bothered to scroll through Strava) being around 40,000 miles, with 440,000 metres of climb (the feet conversion went to a number I could not figure out) between us and some 1030 individual rides. We clocked up 23 cafes visited in total, including 6 in Majorca, with over 1100 Americanos, 900 teacakes and 11 pieces of chocolate cake, (the latter courtesy of Mr Wilson), consumed. We managed to visit some cafes that were on the “banned” list (our skipper has short-shrift with places that make you wait too long or have rude staff), but he deemed them worthy of a second chance and most redeemed themselves. We found a couple of new places, one at Thorpe Arch, which was interesting, but which won’t be getting another visit soon, one at Sledmere House, which was ok, but at the limit of our Saturday rides and a Tadcaster cafe visited just the once which was actually pretty good. And of course the regular haunts at Hovingham, Easingwold, Knarborough by the river and Wetherby, formed the core of our Americano and Teacake visits. We had the best Majorca Trip in terms of numbers, 17, including our erstwhile Broom Wagon driver Shaun, who went out early the reccy the Island!! Whilst this is only our third outing abroad, it was a first for a couple of Yorkshire’s Finest and hopefully we did nothing to puncture their enthusiasm for next year, certainly not in the difficulty, length or toughness of any of our rides!! We once again created some great memories, drunk some beer (our regular post-ride beer cafe, was on its last barrel when we left), put some miles in our legs and enjoyed the Majorcan September sunshine. We were ably supported by the poshest Broom-Wagon you are ever likely to see, and whilst wagon and riders struggled to connect on a few occasions we were all grateful, for Shaun lurking in the background ready to mop up any mishaps. (PS - Shaun never lurks anywhere, as we all well know). And so to 2023 and the year ahead. Hopefully we might persuade a few more to join the regular Wednesday and Saturday rides that will start in earnest toward the end of March/beginning of April and we are planning to have a few “one off” social rides, (there all social rides), on a Sunday to encourage a few more back into the fold. As for trips abroad, the general consensus is that whilst Majorca was/is great and cheap, we need to spread our wings just a little and head to mainland Spain and the Alicante region, probably Calpe for the 2023 trip. But that is all for another day. Until then, here’s to more descents that don’t involve too much climbing, flat roads and windless days. Happy New Year from and to all of Yorkshire’s Finest.