After spending most of yesterday carb-loading (beer contains carbs, right?
), I thought I'd best get a ride in today in the glorious sunshine.
Due to an excess of faffing around it was almost 9am before I set off and there was a noticeable breeze, but it was warming up rapidly.
Back to the old routine of Coal Road (traffic lights not detecting bikes, again), Red Hall Lane and the A58, before taking Whin Moor Lane towards Shadwell.
Approaching the village a bit of a rattle was starting to get right on my nerves, so I stopped for a fettle and decided to get a pic too:
Hard to believe this is less than 4 miles as the crow flies from the centre of one of the UK's biggest cities, isn't it?
Back in the saddle and through Shadwell, then the climb up to Slaid Hill lights, right and through the dip on Wike Ridge Lane and up onto Tarn Lane for the run across the top to Scarcroft.
Good news for anyone cycling down Ling Lane - they've resurfaced most of it!
The bad news is that they've inexplicable left a couple of bits and under the trees it's a bit tricky to spot where it's still lumpy...
Anyhow, after that comes the long descent down the A58 through the village and on to Bardsey, where I hit the lights at green for the first time in an age, then on to Colingham where a wiggle left and right saw me on to Linton, over the bridge and the ups and downs to Wetherby.
Have I mentioned it was hot yet?
Into Wetherby and a scoot around the town centre, then north out of town and the left fork to climb up to Kirk Deighton and on to North Deighton, before another right onto Ox Close Lane and almost deserted country lanes. Well, deserted apart from the flies, that is...
It was absolutely glorious out there and the bit of breeze was just about keeping the temperature sensible.
Over the bridge across the A168 which was surprisingly traffic free - probably due to being dressed with what looked like about a foot of stone chippings and having a temporary 20mph speed limit. Glad I wasn't cycling on there this morning.
After that it's the bridge over a busy as usual A1(M) and on to Cowthorpe and out between the fields again, taking the right at the crossroads to start heading south now.
The long run down to Rudgate Crossroads seemed to pass in a flash and then it's more gentle downhill to the turning for Walton.
Through there and across the main road and down to Thorp Arch, stopping for sustenance in the shade and more pics:
Funny, I've stopped by All Saints Church plenty of times, but never noticed that bench before!
Anyhow, no time to sit down, back on the bike and through the village, over the bridge and up into Boston Spa, then on to Clifford where a bit of up leads to the drop into Bramham.
I was running low on water by this point (did I mention it was hot?
) and toyed with stopping at the village shop to buy a bottle, but decided I'd be alright and climbed up out of the village and across the A1(M) bridge again and then the long way round to Thorner via Milner Lane.
Into the village and a decision needed to be made - the usual route home via Carr Lane, or the direct route straight up Van Zyl Hill?
Carr Lane it was and before long I was huffing up to the A58, where a quick scoot saw me onto Coal Road and up the hill.
Across the roundabout and past the 'Your Speed Is..." sign
and exhausted my water supplies as I turned onto local roads, with just a mile of mainly downhill to go to get me home.
35.95 miles (57.85 km) in
2h 31m at an average of
14.3mph with
1,653ft climbed and an average temperature of
22.3°C although it felt a
lot warmer.
Very happy with that - wasn't sure how it was going to go at the start given the heat and yesterdays activities, but it felt good out there and you've got to take advantage of this weather haven't you?
Another point in the half century challenge and this months ride sorted on Day One.
Lots and lots of cyclists out today, club runs, solo riders, family rides, mixed groups, e-bikers, tandemists, you name it and all good to see.
And to end, the map:
. One last hill and I'm home 105miles at 16.6 mph challenge ride in the bag . Did I mention it was hot 
) 127 miles for me
