Despite the forecast the weather was better today than yesterday, but the dreaded "things to do later" meant I'd be limited to a couple of hours or so for a ride this morning.
After being a bit warm on the return leg yesterday I pared the kit down a bit and the three-quarter bibs made their second appearance of the year (its not
quite warm enough to brave bib shorts just yet) and I think I got it about right today.
Started off covering the same route as yesterday, up Coal Rd, Red Hall Lane, Whin Moor Lane through to Shadwell (just missing a sizeable peleton heading down Main Street) and up to Slaid Hill lights. But then I flew down Wike Ridge Lane, before taking the right onto Tarn Lane to try somewhere different. And very acceptable it was. Eventually it becomes Syke Lane and the descent into Scarcroft begins just by a sign saying it's unsuitable for HGVs. Which is fair enough as it's narrow and twisty in places but also very good fun, even if in places the grates are two feet in from the road edge (this seems to be a common thing around these parts, goodness knows why?).
Arrived at the A58, where after a brief pause for a gap in traffic it was straight across onto one of the many Thorner Lanes for the descent and then climb back up over the former railway line to Milner Lane. Back onto a regular route now it was along the ridge all the way to East Rigton and up onto Bramham Lane where I'd decided to risk the mud despite being on the 'best' bike again. Although there was plenty of mud on the road it was all dry so it wasn't a problem today but it will only take a shower to change all that again.
Across Jewitt lane and the climb up onto Thorner Lane (a different one), through the dip and up the other side before the long gentle descent down to Bramham.
Right just over the A1(M) bridge and down the hill and up the other side to Paradise Way where it was time to stop for a stretch and a couple of pics:
Back on the bike and back onto Paradise Way for the run down to Bramham Crossroads, round the roundabout and onto Main Street for the mainly downhill run to Aberford.
Over the bridge and right onto Cattle Lane for the ups and down (but mainly ups) to Barwick, getting the only excessively close pass of the day from a numpty in a Berlingo. Through Barwick and the climb continues almost all the way to Scholes, where there is a quickish descent down to the Coronation Tree.
It was here that a brave man travelling in the
opposite direction chose to wind down his window and unleash a torrent of abuse in my direction, for reasons that will only ever be known to him. Still, I'm sure it hugely impressed the young lady sat alongside him.
Down Leeds Road and over the bridge and you'll be expecting me to turn for home here, but I had a mission to complete so I carried on down to the Ring Road, surprising myself by staying on the road round the roundabout and then hopping onto the Cycle Super Highway down the hill to
Halfords, where I picked these up:
(see the 'what have you bought for the bike today' thread...).
Time was then pushing on, so I headed for home, via a loop up Cross Gates Road, Austhorpe Road and Pendas Way, before hitting the local roads up to home.
26.11 miles (42.02km) in a steady
1h 55m at an average of
13.5mph with
1,387ft climbed - would have been nice to round it up to 50km, but I just didn't have the time today.
A lovely day for a bike ride and plenty of cyclists were out there making the most of it - and apart from the two muppet motorists mentioned above, everyone was playing the game today.
I may have to invest in one of the CGR seatposts so soften the blow...
quick wave as we pass . Up the climbs to Newtown Linford via Warren hill . In Newtown I parted company as I'm only a mile from home thanked the others for the ride . 32.4 miles in the bag in shorts and short sleeved but arm warmers stayed on today the wind was still chill . Nice ride with abit of company if not quite the ride I was expecting may tag along on another Sunday
while I am struck down with a nasty head cold
- whats the world record for the emptying of the tissue box? Got the week off as well so I bet when the cold has itself
