I decided to try and make the most of the sudden improvement in the weather so I did a 19-miler on Saturday (1,500 ft climbing), an 18 miler on Sunday (1,500 ft) and a 20-miler today with about 1,750 ft of climbing.
Today's ride started off as a repeat of Saturday's ride but I changed my mind halfway round and did an interesting variation instead. I rode Hebden Bridge to Mytholmroyd on the Calder Valley Cycleway, then did the long climb up through Cragg Vale to Blackstone Edge (which will feature on stage 2 of next year's Tour de France). Next, a left turn at the reservoir, and a rapid descent towards Ripponden on the A58, turning off to the left on Blue Ball Lane (a.k.a. the Old Roman Road) halfway down.
I normally follow a route which involves taking lots of left turns but decided to go via Mill Bank today. There is a steep-sided valley to cross to get to the village and I normally avoid it, but it made a nice change today. So I descended the very steep Foxen Lane (which prompted me to call out "
Oh, for Fox(en Lane)'s sake" when I first encountered it in the opposite direction!
) ...
View looking down Foxen Lane to the valley:
Looking back up:
It's a rapid descent to the valley bottom, then the road curves round to the right and ramps back up through the village of Mill Bank. I made the mistake of stopping halfway up that climb to take a picture to illustrate the steepness of the road. as usual, the photo does not do it justice:
I couldn't get going again straight up the hill, so I attempted to come out from the driveway on the left just ahead. I was in a tiny gear and stomped rather too hard on the pedals which made the front of the bike kick up like a bucking bronco, almost throwing me off!
I somehow wrestled the bike back down onto the road and continued up the hill to the top. From there, I turned back up to the left and ride past Mill Bank school. (This is a lovely route but I suggest that you avoid the village school runs if you give it a go - it is a narrow road and I bet it is chaotic at those times?)
[I tell you what - I am having some problems with the post editor, but the automatic draft saving is great! My browser just seized up after I typed in that little lot, and when I restarted it, the draft was waiting for me - yay!]
I climbed up to the church at Cottonstones, took a right, then turned immediate left up Kennel Lane. This is a lovely singletrack road, but avoid at all costs in the winter - it won't get gritted, will not get the sun and it is steep!
This lane eventually rejoins my normal route which descends through Hubberton Green and Boulderclough.
Obligatory animals in field shot:
Now the usual rapid descent to Scout Road. This is closed because of an asbestos scare, but it is still passable by bike if you clamber over the concrete blocks in the road, remembering not to breathe in the asbestos, naturally!
That comes out back in Mytholmroyd where I retraced my wheeltracks.
Today's route profile:
Today's heart, lungs and leg report:
Doing better than of late! I am getting quicker up the Cragg Vale climb, without having to try too hard. I have gone from 1 hour when I first started riding again post-illness, to 50 minutes, to 40 minutes on Saturday, to 37 minutes today. Still a long way off my target time of 20 minutes, and even my previous best of 23.5 minutes, but in the light of my recent health history, I am not complaining!
but it was warm enough.
If she had gone the correct side of the bollard we wouldn't have come into conflict.
, hence having to redo it.
) the ride went much better this time. The gaps in the traffic were in my favour at the start so Doug didn't overtake me as quickly this time and on this alternative route I was able to scoot past the busiest junction without slowing as there is an underpass.
It took him another 3 minutes to reach me.
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