Surprise Diversions

[JamesM]

I was happily plodding along the tow path today when I came across a sign saying path closed. The cyclist in front of me said he thinks it's going to be closed for 20 weeks but he wasn't expecting it to close just yet. I'd not heard anything about the closure. I went off onto the roads which is a much hillier route but I ended up getting home 5 minutes earlier than usual! The route I took is about a mile and a half less than the canal route as it's pretty much straight through rather than following the contours of the valley.

I might have to explore an all road route. I've only been commuting at all since about October and regularly since about May. I'd been thinking about looking at road routes but I thought it might take a fair while longer because of the hills. It seems the down hill stretches and direct nature of the route make up for the up hill sections!

I'll have to try to map my route once I've had my tea and the little 'un's in bed.

 

[hackbike 666]

No they never tell you because they think it's easy to do a ten mile detour.

 

[PBancroft]

I found my route home through a surprise detour. The main road was closed due to an accident, and so I asked the copper if there was another way around. He gave me directions which would take me about five miles out of my way - doable, but didn't really fancy it.

I figured there must be another way past, cut down a few little side streets aiming in roughly the right direction and surprise surprise I was past the accident scene and back on my main route. Knocked off a good few minutes (and less hilly) too!

 

[bonj2]

I was happily plodding along the tow path today when I came across a sign saying path closed. The cyclist in front of me said he thinks it's going to be closed for 20 weeks but he wasn't expecting it to close just yet. I'd not heard anything about the closure. I went off onto the roads which is a much hillier route but I ended up getting home 5 minutes earlier than usual! The route I took is about a mile and a half less than the canal route as it's pretty much straight through rather than following the contours of the valley.

I might have to explore an all road route. I've only been commuting at all since about October and regularly since about May. I'd been thinking about looking at road routes but I thought it might take a fair while longer because of the hills. It seems the down hill stretches and direct nature of the route make up for the up hill sections!

I'll have to try to map my route once I've had my tea and the little 'un's in bed.

'road closed' (or path closed) doesn't always actually mean there's an obstruction that you aren't going to be able to get past. have a look and see what's going on

 

[JamesM]

I've found the notice of the closure now - it says they're doing Towpath Improvements.

There were barriers obstructing the tow path. I enjoyed the diversion anyway - hillier and I got home quicker.

I'm thinking of exploring other possible road routes (I guess I'll have to since the work on the tow path's going on for 20 weeks).

There are two main options - via Horsforth and Guiseley or via Calverley and Shipley - and various ways of getting from the centre of Leeds to the main roads. I might not even go back to the canal when it re-opens. Hmm. That means I could get a road bike! The wife's not going to be impressed...

 

[marooncat]

'road closed' (or path closed) doesn't always actually mean there's an obstruction that you aren't going to be able to get past. have a look and see what's going on

Last time I did that (on a cycle path) I found a burst drain running down the hill and along/over the path so on I cycled... after about 10m of this with the level of the "liquid" being just below the lower point of my pedal the reason for all the flies and smell came to me, this was no burst drain I was in the middle of, it was a burst sewar Given there was no way I was stopping or turning around incase I had to put a foot down I kept going hoping it was not going to get much deeper. Luckily it didn't (freewheeled as much as I could) and the second I got into work shoes were in a sink of water and bike got a quick wash over.

I did obey the sign on the ride home that night

 

[bonj2]

Last time I did that (on a cycle path) I found a burst drain running down the hill and along/over the path so on I cycled... after about 10m of this with the level of the "liquid" being just below the lower point of my pedal the reason for all the flies and smell came to me, this was no burst drain I was in the middle of, it was a burst sewar Given there was no way I was stopping or turning around incase I had to put a foot down I kept going hoping it was not going to get much deeper. Luckily it didn't (freewheeled as much as I could) and the second I got into work shoes were in a sink of water and bike got a quick wash over.

I did obey the sign on the ride home that night

rank! you should have obeyed the sign!

 

[JamesM]

I cycled in along the roads today and I was five minutes faster than my quickest ride to work along the canal!

No bumps, styles or steps, no muddy bits, some nice big hills to fly down and lots of traffic to zoom past - I might not get back on the canal for a while! The only down sides are the air quality and views aren't as good and I don't get to do as many miles.