NorthernDave
Never used Über Member
- Location
- The real Northern Powerhouse
The forecast was for a sunny morning, with rain arriving betwixt noon and 2 pm, depending which forecaster you believed, so I set off to get my metric half in the bag for September - my first on the new bike. 
It was a bit cooler than I'd anticipated, so I'd stopped within a mile to put my arm warmers on
Up the hill to Scholes, then on to Barwick, taking the right onto Long Lane (it's a lane and it's long) and all the way to Garforth. I don't know what's up with my legs at the minute but I was really struggling to get into a rhythm this morning and I was well up the A642 before I settled into the ride.
Across the M1 on the roundabout then on towards Aberford, with the legs feeling better by the mile now.
Left towards the village and the straight slightly downhill run on the old Great North Road.
Now, I know it's childish, but I'm on my new carbon bike, I've got a tailwind and there is an electronic "Slow Down" sign at the entrance to the village. I shall say no more...
Anyhow, the disc brakes slowed me nicely for the right turn onto Lotherton Lane and the climb up to Lotherton Gates, then onto Copley lane for the always enjoyable smooth tarmac up to the turning for Saxton where that sharp little climb awaits.
Between the freshly harvested fields heading for the village I spotted a photo opportunity:
Back in the saddle and through the village, turning right again for the climb up the hill and on to Barkston Ash.
A quick wiggle through the village and onto the long straight to Church Fenton, making what I thought was good progress until another cyclist on a Planet X bike wafted past...
(although I did set a 2nd PB on there) 
Over the bridge past the station and on through the village, eventually taking a right onto the back route to Ryther past the airfield. The fields here had all been harvested too and it looked quite bare with the crops gone. Over the railway bridge and down the other side, before entering Ryther and decision time.
Left for home and get 50km in (but definitely be home before the rain), or right for Cawood and beyond, giving me an imperial half but running the risk of getting caught in the rain for the last half hour or so of the ride?
Well, I was enjoying myself so much I turned right - well it would be rude not to, wouldn't it?
Through the village and out into the countryside, passing Mrs B's Lakeside Kitchen (heads up for anyone doing the Scarborough Ride @nickyboy is organising), then into Cawood itself.
Left at the lights and over the swing bridge (not swinging today) and the long 'flood straight', before taking the right to Kelfield, then on to Riccall.
Through the village and after a brief ponder, joined the Solar Cycleway rather than risking the A19.
Now I've been critical of the surface on here before and while it's still lumpy and ridged in places, the carbon bike seemed to soak it up better than the old Road Comp ever did.
I was about ready for a stretch, so when a chance to photograph the bike circling Uranus presented itself, I couldn't resist:
Uranus circled, it was back in the saddle and on towards York.
Shortly after crossing the Ouse another cyclist was being harangued by two peds (joggers, presumably), although he seemed well on top of it and rather than escalate the situation I left them to it.
Slightly further on, just as you ride through the housing estate that's been dropped onto the cycle route I caught up with a big family ride at just about the narrowest section of the route, so ended up patiently waiting behind then for a while until there was room to safely pass all 10 of them.
Then on the final almost overgrown section up to the P&R at Askham Bar, where I stopped to use the facilities.
This highlighted the only downside of the new bike though. With my old bike I only had to "secure" it to satisfy the terms of the insurance, so for brief "safe" stops like this I had a decent cable lock. Now, due to the increased value of the new bike I have to use a Sold Secure rated lock, so I'm currently lugging around my Magnum shackle lock - all 2kg of it...
See those dots on the floor beyond the bike? That's the rain starting and it wasn't yet 11 o'clock. Blooming weather forecasters, again!
The good news was only improved by a text from Mrs ND advising that it had been persistently pouring down at home for the last hour. Clearly I was going to get wet...
Glad i'd left the Ass Saver on, for all the good it did...
I momentarily considered cycling into York and getting the train home, but ruled it out just as quickly. Firstly, York station was around 2 miles away, so I'd be wet by the time I got there, stopping trains were probably going to be hourly on a Saturday (so I'd probably have 55 mins to wait...), it would cost me the thick end of a tenner AND I'd have another mile and a half to ride home in the rain after getting off the train at the other end. Plus, what sort of cyclist would that make me?
Jacket on it was out on the A64 cycle path, before heading up to Askham Bryan and the country lanes through Healaugh and Wighill, before heading through Walton and down to Thorp Arch, with it raining all the way. Over the river and up into Boston Spa, before the run to Clifford, passing the chippy but not stopping and the short climb before the big descent (taken a bit more slowly given the weather) into Bramham.
From there it was over the A1(M) bridge and the direct route to Thorner via Wothersome Dip past Bramham Park. @Old jon mentioned this road was a bit muddy the other day and he wasn't wrong. No offence, but the festival was over 5 days ago and for there still to be this much mud on the roads is ridiculous, so I've reported it. Eventually descended Church Hill into Thorner, before riding through the village and tackling Van Zyl Hill all the way up to Skeltons Lane, then Coal Road before local roads down to home.
52.52 miles (84.52km) in 3h 32m at an average of 14.9mph, with 1,716ft climbed. Quite happy with that, given the weather in the second half of the ride (the average speed over the first half was quite a bit quicker) . Happy to report that disc brakes are much better in the wet and, despite the rumours, the carbon didn't melt in the rain.
One final thought, if you're planning on cycling any of this route over the next week, there were a few signs out warning of planned roadworks.
From memory (please check if you need to), the A642 from Newhold in Garforth up to the M1 roundabout is closed tomorrow for resurfacing (it needs it!), Brackenhill Lane from Church Fenton - Ryther is shut for works on Monday, and the B1222 after the Kelfield turning up towards Stillingfleet is also closed next week.
It was a bit cooler than I'd anticipated, so I'd stopped within a mile to put my arm warmers on
Up the hill to Scholes, then on to Barwick, taking the right onto Long Lane (it's a lane and it's long) and all the way to Garforth. I don't know what's up with my legs at the minute but I was really struggling to get into a rhythm this morning and I was well up the A642 before I settled into the ride.
Across the M1 on the roundabout then on towards Aberford, with the legs feeling better by the mile now.
Left towards the village and the straight slightly downhill run on the old Great North Road.
Now, I know it's childish, but I'm on my new carbon bike, I've got a tailwind and there is an electronic "Slow Down" sign at the entrance to the village. I shall say no more...
Anyhow, the disc brakes slowed me nicely for the right turn onto Lotherton Lane and the climb up to Lotherton Gates, then onto Copley lane for the always enjoyable smooth tarmac up to the turning for Saxton where that sharp little climb awaits.
Between the freshly harvested fields heading for the village I spotted a photo opportunity:
Back in the saddle and through the village, turning right again for the climb up the hill and on to Barkston Ash.
A quick wiggle through the village and onto the long straight to Church Fenton, making what I thought was good progress until another cyclist on a Planet X bike wafted past...
(although I did set a 2nd PB on there) Over the bridge past the station and on through the village, eventually taking a right onto the back route to Ryther past the airfield. The fields here had all been harvested too and it looked quite bare with the crops gone. Over the railway bridge and down the other side, before entering Ryther and decision time.
Left for home and get 50km in (but definitely be home before the rain), or right for Cawood and beyond, giving me an imperial half but running the risk of getting caught in the rain for the last half hour or so of the ride?
Well, I was enjoying myself so much I turned right - well it would be rude not to, wouldn't it?
Through the village and out into the countryside, passing Mrs B's Lakeside Kitchen (heads up for anyone doing the Scarborough Ride @nickyboy is organising), then into Cawood itself.
Left at the lights and over the swing bridge (not swinging today) and the long 'flood straight', before taking the right to Kelfield, then on to Riccall.
Through the village and after a brief ponder, joined the Solar Cycleway rather than risking the A19.
Now I've been critical of the surface on here before and while it's still lumpy and ridged in places, the carbon bike seemed to soak it up better than the old Road Comp ever did.
I was about ready for a stretch, so when a chance to photograph the bike circling Uranus presented itself, I couldn't resist:
Uranus circled, it was back in the saddle and on towards York.
Shortly after crossing the Ouse another cyclist was being harangued by two peds (joggers, presumably), although he seemed well on top of it and rather than escalate the situation I left them to it.
Slightly further on, just as you ride through the housing estate that's been dropped onto the cycle route I caught up with a big family ride at just about the narrowest section of the route, so ended up patiently waiting behind then for a while until there was room to safely pass all 10 of them.
Then on the final almost overgrown section up to the P&R at Askham Bar, where I stopped to use the facilities.
This highlighted the only downside of the new bike though. With my old bike I only had to "secure" it to satisfy the terms of the insurance, so for brief "safe" stops like this I had a decent cable lock. Now, due to the increased value of the new bike I have to use a Sold Secure rated lock, so I'm currently lugging around my Magnum shackle lock - all 2kg of it...
See those dots on the floor beyond the bike? That's the rain starting and it wasn't yet 11 o'clock. Blooming weather forecasters, again!
The good news was only improved by a text from Mrs ND advising that it had been persistently pouring down at home for the last hour. Clearly I was going to get wet...
Glad i'd left the Ass Saver on, for all the good it did...I momentarily considered cycling into York and getting the train home, but ruled it out just as quickly. Firstly, York station was around 2 miles away, so I'd be wet by the time I got there, stopping trains were probably going to be hourly on a Saturday (so I'd probably have 55 mins to wait...), it would cost me the thick end of a tenner AND I'd have another mile and a half to ride home in the rain after getting off the train at the other end. Plus, what sort of cyclist would that make me?
Jacket on it was out on the A64 cycle path, before heading up to Askham Bryan and the country lanes through Healaugh and Wighill, before heading through Walton and down to Thorp Arch, with it raining all the way. Over the river and up into Boston Spa, before the run to Clifford, passing the chippy but not stopping and the short climb before the big descent (taken a bit more slowly given the weather) into Bramham.
From there it was over the A1(M) bridge and the direct route to Thorner via Wothersome Dip past Bramham Park. @Old jon mentioned this road was a bit muddy the other day and he wasn't wrong. No offence, but the festival was over 5 days ago and for there still to be this much mud on the roads is ridiculous, so I've reported it. Eventually descended Church Hill into Thorner, before riding through the village and tackling Van Zyl Hill all the way up to Skeltons Lane, then Coal Road before local roads down to home.
52.52 miles (84.52km) in 3h 32m at an average of 14.9mph, with 1,716ft climbed. Quite happy with that, given the weather in the second half of the ride (the average speed over the first half was quite a bit quicker) . Happy to report that disc brakes are much better in the wet and, despite the rumours, the carbon didn't melt in the rain.
One final thought, if you're planning on cycling any of this route over the next week, there were a few signs out warning of planned roadworks.
From memory (please check if you need to), the A642 from Newhold in Garforth up to the M1 roundabout is closed tomorrow for resurfacing (it needs it!), Brackenhill Lane from Church Fenton - Ryther is shut for works on Monday, and the B1222 after the Kelfield turning up towards Stillingfleet is also closed next week.
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