My fastest ever time was 25 minutes from the ‘longest hill’ sign in Mytholmroyd to the boundary sign just before the reservoir and the junction. You could add an extra minute or so if you were timing the entire road. My longest ever time was over an hour in the winter into a horrible freezing headwind. The wind conditions make a big difference to how fast you can go up there.

I have a long-standing ambition to try and ride between those two signs in 20 minutes but I’d have to train super hard to get fit enough. I reckon I’d take 30-and-a-bit minutes now, though I haven’t actually timed myself recently. Perhaps I’ll have a go soon to find out.

There is an annual time trial up that road which starts slightly further along, and finishes just short of the reservoir. I think the course record for that is 16 mins 9 secs! There are some super-fit young people about!

I’d say your time was perfectly respectable, especially as an older non-lifelong cyclist. I’d be pleased to still be able to do that when I get to your age, and I’m going to do my best to do just that – only 15-and-a-bit years to go!

I was talking to a 70 year old cyclist on a ride last year and he told me about an 85 year old who still goes out on their club’s Wednesday afternoon cafe rides. 25 miles there, and 25 miles back. Apparently, he calls the 70 year olds ‘youngsters’!