Polka Dot - Peak District 1st June

The next hilliest sportive I could find to ride as Maratona training was the Polka Dot in the Peak District. The conditions - bitterly cold 10C early in the morning, with constant rain - made the first part tougher than it might have been, and I did have the odd moment when soaked through thinking what on earth am I doing. The hills were really challenging, not many places like it in England (Lake District being one of them). The scenery would have been really impressive with a bit of sunshine. Oh and some of the roads up there are in such a poor state I thought I was in Surrey.