I'm starting to see a pattern here, but I set the alarm early with the intention of getting out and back before it got too warm but for reasons that still aren't entirely clear it was almost 8am before I finally set off...curse that snooze button!
Anyhow, blue skies, barely a cloud and glorious sunshine again and off up Coal Road, torn between a loop out to Otley and heading north for a run beyond Wetherby. The breeze was definitely a bit swirlier than I was expecting and it seemed right in my face up Red Hall Lane and again as I turned onto Whin Moor Lane off the A58.
By the time I'd climbed up through Shadwell to Slaid Hill lights (green again, what's going on?), I'd decided I wasn't going to Otley as the idea of riding 15 miles into that didn't appeal.
So, onto Wike Ridge Lane and then Tarn Lane for a wind assisted shove along to Ling Lane at the top of Scarcroft, then back onto the A58 for the mainly downhill run to Collingham.
I'm pretty sure that I was on for a best ever time here,
but was thwarted by a set of temporary traffic lights as I entered Bardsey, just as the only uphill section of the whole 3.6 miles starts. They eventually changed and I was off again from a dead stop, but then hit the proper traffic lights in the village at red and then decided that was enough charging about and to enjoy the rest of the ride. (When I checked Garmin later I'd actually set my slowest ever time, so that's a result of a different type
)
Into Collingham, then the dog leg and over the river into Linton for the usual lumpiness, eventually arriving on the edge of Wetherby and up the hill towards Spofforth. The long descent down the other side was into the breeze again but I soon reached Spofforth and along the causeway, taking the undulating road towards Little Ribston. The first climb was hard work today and I was starting to feel a bit rough if I'm honest, so after a while I stopped to give myself 5 minutes.
As I looked around and got my breath I thought how glorious the countryside looked, so took a couple of pics:
A couple of joggers passed and said hello, and feeling a bit more like it I soon set off again and was whizzing along in the high 20's (mph) thanks to a bit of wind assistance and the gradual slope down into the village.
Through there and along the road to the Ox Close Lane turning and more glorious countryside riding although there were plenty of flies out today...
Over the two bridges and into Cowthorpe, I was aware of another cyclist 10 or so yards behind me, although they never made any attempt to close the gap or say hello, seemingly happy to sit behind. I must check my shorts haven't gone see-through...
At the crossroads I turned south while my silent companion continued straight on, heading along the side of the airfield and heading down Rudgate. Still not feeling 100% I decided at this point to make the ride a metric half rather than anything longer.
I also found myself cycling into the breeze again - so that was west, north and now south into the wind...
Anyhow, a brief pause at Rudgate crossroads and across and down the road past fields of golden crops, avoiding the photographer stood in the middle of the road taking pictures of the fields...
(he saw me, acknowledged me, but elected to stay there).
The back road into Walton, through the village passing a couple of horse riders (properly, I'm no triathlete
) and then decided to try the 'hidden' cycle path along side the Wetherby Road. It's very nice, lovely smooth tarmac and out of the way of the traffic on the race track road so I may well ride that way again. Unlike the NCN R665 it connects to which has some of the lumpiest tarmac known to man or beast.
Luckily I wasn't going that way, but headed south again to Thorp Arch and across the river to Boston Spa, getting in the way of a Mercedes driver who wanted to use both lanes to turn left into the car park...
.
The usual route then to Clifford, up and down the hill to Bramham, more up again out of there and across the A1(M) and the long way round to Thorner, stopping at the junction of Holme farm Lane and Milner Lane for a Snickers bar and a final couple of pics:
I was starting to feel OK now, and the chocolatey and nutty goodness seemed to help, so along Milner Lane and down the hill into Thorner, then out via Carr Lane to the A58, along there and up onto Coal Road, where the 'Your Speed Is...' sign might have frowned at me
Then it's local roads down to home, with a long loop added at the end to round the mileage up.
40.01 miles (64.38 miles) in
2h 52m at an average of
14.0 mph with
2,030ft climbed and an average temperature of
19.7°C although once again it felt a lot warmer.
So, another point in the Half Century Challenge and once I'd got into the groove another enjoyable ride. I felt fine when I got home, so not sure what was up with me mid ride? I might give smoked salmon and scrambled eggs for breakfast a miss for a while though.
Lots of cyclists out again, most of the motorists were playing nicely (and the one who honked his horn at me seemed friendly enough as he passed
) so it's all good.
To end, the map:
. The climbing eased after Porthtowan around Chasewater and Mount hawke past the cider farm which gives the route it's name . Some lovely quiet lanes to St Columb Major back to the coast road and then the climbs out of Watergate bay and Porth before Newquay ,Crantock and back to Holywell bay just as it getting 
.53.6 miles in the bag and just 5400ft of upness at a steady 14.1 mph . Perfect timing as cooked breakfast was just done 
. The legs are begining to feel the relentless climbing I'm averaging over 100ft a mile at home it's around 30ft . The beach awaiting hope the seawater will act like an icebath 
a totally novice cyclist then led us down to Ashbourne, and braved the climb back up. It was a delight to see her enjoy it.
A very enjoyable hour and a half involving 5.7 miles on the tandem (our longest yet), with some time at the park and kicking a football about at the Runneymede. Great way to spend a bit of the evening
