It seemed a shame to waste another sunny Sunday morning, so out again, but heading east instead of North.
This meant I'd have the 'breeze' behind me on the way out, but with a forecast windspeed of just 6mph it shouldn't present a problem on the return leg, should it..?
It felt quite blowy on the way down to Barwick Road, but there didn't seem too much assistance climbing the hill from Cock Beck up to Scholes so I thought no more of it. Past the Coronation Tree and up the hill, then the long descent through Barwick. As I arrived in the village I could hear some expensive sounding freewheeling behind me, so got a bit of a spurt on, passing a couple ambling along and giving it the beans down the hill to cross Cock Beck again, which gave me a good run up the hill on Cattle Lane, but I was still passed just beyond the top by a couple of lads who barely looked to be breaking sweat...
More ups and downs to Aberford, then through the village and under the A1(M) to climb up to Lotherton Gates.
Left there for the long downhill past the Crooked Billet (very busy car park this morning) and the right up that sharp hill into Saxton.
Through there and out to Barkston Ash between the fields on tree-lined roads that always remind me of being in France.
Then it's the long straight to Church Fenton and onto Brackenhill Lane, heading for Ryther around the airfield, but at the last second and for a bit of variety I took the lane towards Biggin.
Pleased to see that the village pub appears to have re-opened - it was all shuttered up last time I passed - so I stopped for a quick photo:
Still too early for a pint, although one would have gone down well in the rising temperatures, so on my way again and out to the B1222 Bishopdyke Road and left towards Cawood over the railway line.
I should have realised just how much the wind was blowing along here as I was bowling along at just under 20mph without really putting too much effort in, but the sun was shining and I was enjoying the ride. Past the Stocksbridge Technology Centre, then past the turning for Wistow where there were signs up advising of a cycle race later in the morning.
I soon reached Cawood and turned left at the lights to start the homeward loop and once clear of the village it did become clear that it had got a bit blowy.
It's very flat and open out here too, so there isn't a lot of shelter from it either. Past the legendary Mrs B's Lakeside kitchen and on towards Ryther, passing a family group and with a lot of motorbikes heading the other way.
There was an irrigation machine watering one of the fields and some of it was being blown on to the road - nice and refreshing in the heat.
Anyway, onward through Ryther and on to Ozendyke, still conscious of the 'breeze' but maintaining a decent pace, before stopping at Ulleskelf for sustenance and a couple more pics:
While I was stopped WVM pulled up alongside and shouted over, asking if I knew the way to Ryther.
That's easy, 2 miles that way, straight along this road, said I, but then he started asking me about parking arrangements and other stuff I had no idea about.
Anyway, after the schadenfreude of watching a club ride take the wrong turn at the junction and then sorting themselves out, I was off myself heading south for Church Fenton again past the airfield entrance.
It looks like they're filming
Queen Victoria in the hangers there again although I didn't see the lovely Jenna Coleman anywhere
Through the village, then on to Barkston Ash and the long way round to Saxton via the London Road and Saxton Lane.
Through there and up Cold Hill Lane intending to stop for a final pic at Linda's Bench, but finding it already full of ramblers eating their sandwiches I carried on , before dropping down onto Copley Lane and heading back to Lotherton Gates, then Aberford and reversing my earlier outbound route homeward.
The climb up through Barwick was a bit slower than usual in that heat and with the breeze, but I carried on, before dropping down into Scholes and for the first time in an age having to pedal downhill on Leeds Road to maintain a decent speed.
From there it's local roads up to home and the end of the ride.
37.09 miles (59.69km) in
2h 32m at an average of
14.6 mph with just
1,420ft climbed and an average temperature of
22.4°C
Despite the unexpected wind resistance (if that 'breeze' was 6mph I'll eat my hat!) another good ride in gloriously sunny conditions that once again felt a lot warmer out there on the bike. Lots of cyclists out, all taking advantage of the weather and nice to add a bit of variety to the ride with a couple of roads I've not cycled for a while.
Edit to add, that puts me past
1,500 miles for the year so far. Not a lot compared to many, but happy with that.
And to end, the map:
