I've not been out on either bike for a couple of nights, due to work getting in the way of my life...however, I got finished somewhere near my "normal" time and was pondering about a ride out on the journey home. Then I saw something I've never seen before - a recumbent tandem - well the front rider was 'recumbent', the one at the back was in a more traditional stance heading in the opposite direction. Was that you heading into Leeds on the A64?
Anyway, suitably inspired I decided to take the road bike out for a pre-tea spin. I decided on the road bike as 1) I haven't been out on it since last Friday and 2) I still haven't cleaned the hybrid after Mondays mudfest.
A spin up on local roads then down to Cross Gates and up Austhorpe Road onto Manston Lane where there is that route I'm still trying to set a good time on. Head down, all lycra'd up and as aerodynamic as I'm going to get, pedaling like a dervish and feeling really positive - then blooming roadworks and temporary traffic light stopped me in my tracks. Lights changed and got going again, pushing as hard as I could but the damage was done. The really annoying bit is that those roadworks have been there for a week now - how long does it take Yorkshire Water to put the road surface back after they've fixed a minor leak???
Anyhow, turned round at the end of Manston Lane and motored back in a stiff headwind and up onto Pendas Fields and decided to loop round via Pendas Way and try again - after all I couldn't possibly be unlucky enough to hit the lights at red again on such a quiet road, could I?
Yes I could...
A truck pulled up behind me at the lights and I decided I'd let him go when the lights changed, but he insisted that I go first (thank you Mr Longs of Leeds
). I got going again but baled out at the next turning - the damage to a quick time had been done already so I turned up onto Pendas Fields and blasted down to Barwick Road and then up to home.
8.53 miles in 34m 8s at an average of 15.0mph - all good after a few nights off and I've improved my average speed again (slightly).
Beats watching Hollyoaks, doesn't it?
I think I might need to try a different route at the time of day though. With tea waiting for me at home it probably isn't the best idea to cycle past a chip shop, an Indian restaurant, an Indian Takeaway and then a Chinese takeaway - all of which smelled blooming lovely!