Up at silly o'clock and out on the road bike for February's first outdoor ride, while it was still dark in an attempt to avoid the monsoon that was forecast to arrive mid-morning.
Started off over well worn roads out to Scholes, then Barwick, but instead of heading to Aberford, I took a right down Long Lane to Garforth, then took the A642 back over the motorway and carried on, eventually taking the left to Aberford. Right in the village and under the A1(M), then up the hill to Lotherton Hall and on to Saxton.
You know those winter mornings, when it's grey, with a layer of low lying mist about - and then dawn arrives and the sun burns through and it's one of those glorious winter days?
Well this was nothing like that. It slowly got light, but stayed grey and overcast, with a constant threat of rain to come.
Through saxton and out to Barkston Ash, then on to Church Fenton. Avoided whatever it was that nearly tipped me off the bike last week and through the village. Passed the turning to Ryther but then decided to give that road a try. It would add a bit more mileage on and it was a new road, so I looped back round and headed down there. It's very flat and open, with just a deep dyke at the side of the road to break the flatness. I wouldn't fancy cycling along here on a windy day!
Anyway, I'd soon passed the airfield and the road curved north, for a short time running parallel to the East Coast Mainline. A couple of trains passed, a Virgin East Coast heading for York, and a Grand Central heading south. I've got to say that the 'new' Virgin livery looks rubbish, unlike the GC livery which actually looks like it belongs on a train.
On into Ryther and left towards Ulleskelf, where I was treated to a super wide pass from a tricked out and very meaty sounding Landy, before tackling the run out to the A162. Without last weeks headwind this was a lot nicer to ride and I was over a minute quicker over the first mile...although it had started to rain at this point, slightly earlier than forecast.
Right and down the hill to Grimston, before hanging a left into Stutton. Decided against tackling Fanny Lane from this direction again and went straight through the village and up the surprisingly steep Moor Lane before the bridge over the A64, then up Garnet Lane and over the A659. I often stop here for a drink and a bite to eat, but the weather was getting increasingly grim so I decided to keep going.
Left again and on to Bramham, where I skirted the top of the village, before flying down the hill and back up onto the bridge back over the A1(M) and the climb out to Wothersome. The rain was getting heavier at this point and it was becoming a simple matter of grinding out the miles to home. Down into Wothersome dip and the slog up the other side, before the steady ascent towards Thorner, where I plunged down the hill into the village and along Main Street, before tackling the inevitable climb back out the other side.
Right onto Skeltons Lane, where I suffered the only really close pass of the day - from a bloody driving school car, presumably on a lesson as it was two up with the sign on the roof. If driving instructors aren't teaching learners to give bikes a wide berth, what hope have we got?
Anyway nearly home now, so onto Coal Rd, then local roads to home.
So, that's
36.25 miles (58.33 km) in
2hrs 33m at an average of
14.2 mph, with 1254 ft climbed - most of that in the last third of the ride.
Quite happy with that under the circumstances and glad I made the effort to get out and bank my half century in for February. There were very few other cyclists out today though...
Sorry no photos today - the weather wasn't very photogenic and I didn't stop anywhere. But here's the map:
View attachment 118133
Finally,
things I've learned today:
Even Louise Lear can't be totally trusted with a weather forecast
Altura Nightvision Waterproof gloves can only cope with so much rain
Driving instructors should know better
Lots of 'proper' cyclists must still be hibernating as I'm still setting fastest course times for the year...
I really should consider disc brakes on any future road bike, given the horrible noises coming from the brake blocks / wheels today
But we had a youngster with us who started to struggle towards the end of the ride so we took the flattest route back to the pub. We had arranged a little Birthday gathering there with a few friends, but when i got there i had a lovely suprise.
