Cycling on a outer ring road

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Leodis

Veteran
Location
Moortown, Leeds
I am thinking about taking a longer route home tonight, most of it will be on Leeds outer ring road. I cycle a couple of miles a day on it, the route is 12 miles and 3/4 will be off it so just wondering if you guys think its a good or bad idea?
 

DCLane

Found in the Yorkshire hills ...
It depends which bit; I use it from the M62 to the White Rose centre and have done so through to Wortley, although there's also a cycle lane there.

Friday night? Beginning of holidays? I'm not so sure.

There's a lot of decent cycle routes to the north, west and east of Leeds that may be better alternatives. It's just those to the south aren't well covered.
 
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Leodis

Leodis

Veteran
Location
Moortown, Leeds
Well I work near the White rose and so join the ring road there all the way round to Moortown, I miss off stanningley by pass by cutting through minor roads and then rejoin just after Rodley.

I cycle through town and up to moortown just wanted the extra miles and something new
 
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Leodis

Leodis

Veteran
Location
Moortown, Leeds
Yeah thanks DC, just thinking about a previous experience on the ring road with cars going past at 60-70 and how it scared the hell out of me. Think I will take the usual way
 

Tommy2

Über Member
Location
Harrogate
I've come down otley old road to the round about at lawnswood and thought about taking a left on to the ring road to moortown and then on to harrogate road back to harrogate but after years of living round there and seeing the eejits that drive in that but I always swing round and go back via bramhope.


Off topic, I did see a guy in a bike deck it last week whilst he was waiting to join the lawns wood round about though, clip less moment.
 
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Leodis

Leodis

Veteran
Location
Moortown, Leeds
I didnt bother, I went from (nr) White Rose to water lane and down tot he canal then Kirkstall and up through Headers and cut through Adel woods, about 10 miles so not as long as I wanted but avoided traffic. I did jump on the ring road for about 40 yards near David Lloyd, the cars flying past at 50, 60 and more scared the life out of me, so I jumped back on the pavement.
 

thegravestoneman

three wheels on my wagon
I am possibly strange in liking riding on fast roads like the ring road, I was on it the other day. You can put in fast times and collect a bit of speed from passing traffic, it ain't for everyone but it gets the adrenaline going and the roads are usually a bit smoother. If speeding idiots in cars are not your thing it is probably best avoided. Like other posts have said there are plenty of good roads round Leeds.
 
I run 53/39 on my road bike and will happily move to the outer ring on a good, fast flat or a slight descent.

I really want to be doing 21-22mph before I'm happy on the outer ring.

Descending, I use only the outer ring.

I'd say a good example of an outer-ring road is the A438 as it runs north west and drops in to Letton.

The climb up L'Alpe d'Huez is definitely not an outer-ring road. In fact, I'd do it in a car.

I hope I have helped, but as ever there's a nagging fear that I've done nothing of the sort.

Carry on.
 
Rather than round the ring road on the west, go round the east side? Not sure how you'd do it - but there's plenty bits that I can think of. Lots of options.

Something like coming in Dewsbury Road, getting over to Middleton Woods, Hunslet, South Accommodation Bridge, East End Park, Roundhay, and onwards?
 
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