Blue sky and clouds, proper March. A bit of breeze also, but not enough to be concerned about, thought I. Off I go.
Various routes had been thought about, but what passes for my mind had not made any decision yet. Not a problem, the first couple of miles takes me to the far side of Holbeck, and by the time I reached that the ride was sorted. Crown Point Bridge to cross the river and then the roads up to the Oakwood Clock. Turn left there, as if going to a club run. Pass that meeting point, and a bit more up to the right turn onto Park Lane. Leeds has a few of these, this one drops to the Ring Road and once across there adds Roundhay to the front of its name and climbs to Slaid Hill. Without adding anything to my name, so did I. Just.
Straight on, Wike Ridge Lane almost inevitably goes to Wike, where the name changes to Backstone Gill Lane, thank you Google Earth. Then Wike Lane to East Keswick. Stop for a munch by the Potts clock and then climb out to eventually reach the A659. Not wanting to go to Harewood, I turned right towards Collingham. On the outskirts of the village there is a left turn to Linton, take that. Over the Wharfe on Linton Bridge and the road bends sharp right for a steep bit into Linton itself. A few walkers about, rather quiet though.
Through Wetherby, similarly quiet, and onto the A58 to travel back to a different bit of Collingham. Continue towards Bardsey and turn left at the traffic lights. This is Rigton Bank, it is steep, then less steep and followed by more steep. First time this year I have ridden up it all, and only just made it. A right turn at Rigton Green takes me in the direction of Thorner, approached by Milner Lane.
Pedal down Main Street, pass the ford which looked well deep this morning, and start up Sandhills. On my OS map, Sandhills is the opposite side of the road to the track from Intake Farm, same font as a small village name. Mind, the road also seems to be called Sandhills. I might check someday. Not far to go now. Skeltons Lane, and Red Hall Lane to the A58 again, down that hill again and turn right. A bit of a climb by the second division park gates, the legs were feeling it, and the clock at Oakwood is in sight again. Nobbut five easy miles to home now, thirty one miles of good riding put a grin on my face. Looked at the elevation my garthing reported, it is not often I do more than 2000 feet of climbing, no wonder I feel tired!
More knotted string,
..and them hail stone dont half sting .... still 11 miles better than nowt...
