Monday! An excellent day to go for a ride on a bike, and the sun was shining too! Off I went, the part of my mind that thinks of routes was still asleep, and I trusted it to wake up soon enough . . .
After a visit to Holbeck, someone has to look at the water level, a ride through Hunslet and a haul up to John o’ Gaunts it seemed right to ride through Woodlesford and turn left at the bottom of the hill to go under the railway lines. On the way to Swillington from here the road crosses both the Aire and Calder canal and as a bonus ( ? ) the river Aire as well. Then climbs out of that valley and all the way through and beyond Swillington. This is fine though. The height loss to the roundabout at Garforth makes the legs twiddle quickly, did I say I was on the fixed? I was. So why did I turn right at the roundabout? To climb Garforth Cliff it seems. Hard work with only one gear but the legs managed.
From the top the road is vaguely level, but a brisk tailwind brought the speed up rather well through Peckfield Bar and all the way to the next roundabout which offers a left turn towards Micklefield. This bit lets the wind take revenge a little, which I reckon is fair enough. Through the village and on to the crossroads with the B 1217. Which Google Earth has just informed me is called Bunkers Hill. ‘Twas the A 1 when I was a lad. But, turn right there ‘cos I like the road to Lotherton Gates, especially with a tailwind again.
On the descent into Aberford I saw, and after the right turn passed, another cyclist. Said ‘Hi’, and after I turned left onto Cattle Lane he repassed me and we had a short chat, but he was now travelling faster than before, and the up and down road to Barwick is not one I can keep the pace on. By the time I crossed Cock Beck he had vanished into the distance. Still the climb up to Barwick to do, with some surprising gusts of wind here and there. More gustiness on the way to Scholes, after the crossing of the old railway line the wind began to freshen further. The A 64, Thorner Lane and Skeltons Lane were slow, though by Red Hall Lane I seem to have found a second wind, the personal type that is. So the ride home, down the hill and up again to the clock at Oakwood followed by more descent and the crossing of a corner of Leeds town centre all passed quickly. After thirty one point six miles the sight of my front door in the rain was welcome. A very enjoyable ride with a couple more degrees on the thermometer today. Did make me smile.
Maps are fun, if you do not have to draw them . . .
After a visit to Holbeck, someone has to look at the water level, a ride through Hunslet and a haul up to John o’ Gaunts it seemed right to ride through Woodlesford and turn left at the bottom of the hill to go under the railway lines. On the way to Swillington from here the road crosses both the Aire and Calder canal and as a bonus ( ? ) the river Aire as well. Then climbs out of that valley and all the way through and beyond Swillington. This is fine though. The height loss to the roundabout at Garforth makes the legs twiddle quickly, did I say I was on the fixed? I was. So why did I turn right at the roundabout? To climb Garforth Cliff it seems. Hard work with only one gear but the legs managed.
From the top the road is vaguely level, but a brisk tailwind brought the speed up rather well through Peckfield Bar and all the way to the next roundabout which offers a left turn towards Micklefield. This bit lets the wind take revenge a little, which I reckon is fair enough. Through the village and on to the crossroads with the B 1217. Which Google Earth has just informed me is called Bunkers Hill. ‘Twas the A 1 when I was a lad. But, turn right there ‘cos I like the road to Lotherton Gates, especially with a tailwind again.
On the descent into Aberford I saw, and after the right turn passed, another cyclist. Said ‘Hi’, and after I turned left onto Cattle Lane he repassed me and we had a short chat, but he was now travelling faster than before, and the up and down road to Barwick is not one I can keep the pace on. By the time I crossed Cock Beck he had vanished into the distance. Still the climb up to Barwick to do, with some surprising gusts of wind here and there. More gustiness on the way to Scholes, after the crossing of the old railway line the wind began to freshen further. The A 64, Thorner Lane and Skeltons Lane were slow, though by Red Hall Lane I seem to have found a second wind, the personal type that is. So the ride home, down the hill and up again to the clock at Oakwood followed by more descent and the crossing of a corner of Leeds town centre all passed quickly. After thirty one point six miles the sight of my front door in the rain was welcome. A very enjoyable ride with a couple more degrees on the thermometer today. Did make me smile.
Maps are fun, if you do not have to draw them . . .
