After missing out on a ride last weekend, I was determined to get out this morning so was on the road just after 8 - and I needed lights!
I'd decided to head east for a change as it's been a while since I've been out that way, and it's fairly flat once the first five or six miles are in the bag which would be nice after far too much climbing last time out. Up the hill to Scholes and right at the Coronation Tree for Barwick, cresting the hill and then enjoying the downhill through the village and all the way to the bridge at Cock Beck where the climb up Cattle Lane keeps you honest.
Lumpiness from there to Aberford, where there are temporary traffic lights (this would become a trend) and once negotiated under the A1(M) bridge and the climb up Lotherton Lane where there are more temporary lights for absolutely no reason whatsoever. No roadworks, no signs of anything recent, no damage to the road surface, just 50 yards of one lane coned off...
Obviously the lights were on red...
Anyway, beyond them to Lotherton Gates and left over the county line and into North Yorkshire, for the long descent to the Crooked Billet pub and not long after there the right for the sharp climb up into Saxton.
This is the first ride out on the Boardman since the new Jagwire gear cables were fitted and it was shifting perfectly, but something was rattling and really annoying me. A fleeting fettle suggested nowt serious and almost certainly the cables vibrating on the underside of the Garmin mount, so a temporary solution sorted until I got home.
Through the village and out on the treelined Headwell Lane, (which I always think looks a bit like a rural French road), before a squirt on London Road and into Barkston Ash. Which leads to the long straight of Common Road which becomes Common Lane halfway along and continues all the way to Church Fenton where the nearest thing to a climb is the ramp up the railway bridge. Through the village, noticing the long closed pub (White Horse?) is being converted into residential and onto Brackenhill Lane around the southern side of the airfield. At the last moment I decided to take Oxmoor Lane to extend the ride as I was enjoying it so much, which took me all the way to Biggin.
Left at the junction and heading for Cawood on a slightly rough surface and the cables started vibrating again, so a bit of mobile fettling and seeing the turning for Wistow it was down there for a bit of virgin tarmac.
Not 100% sure where this would go, at the next crossroads was a sign for Cawood so I turned along there and was soon on the fringes of the village, passing a field of ripe looking pumpkins.
Through the village and straight on past the caravan park and into Ryther, taking the left onto the quiet lane that would take me over the East Coast Main Line and round the airfield back into Church Fenton.
Just before the village I stopped for a quick bite to eat and a couple of photos:
The hangar on the left is now used for film and TV work, apparently the next series of Victoria is being filmed in there at the moment
And I hope that sign is a mere hangover from when this used to be an RAF base...
Anyway, back into the village and retraced my route through Barkston Ash, then the long way round into Saxton and out up Coldhill Lane, before dropping onto Copley Lane where there were yet more temporary traffic lights (on red).
Along to Lotherton Gates, back into Aberford and a reverse of my outbound route through Barwick and on to Scholes, then down the hill and up the other side, before local roads up to home
36.87 miles (59.3km) in
2h 43m at an average of
13.5mph with
1,384ft climbed and an average temperature of
9.2°C
Enjoyed that, good to get out again after nearly two weeks and a nice day for it once the sun came up. Today was also the first ride out for a pair of inexpensive FDX winter bibtights I'd taken a chance on from the internet along with some new BBB overshoes and both performed well.
The bibtights especially seemed spot on, have a good fit / cut and feel more expensive than the price tag so look like being a bargain for over the winter - I don't think they'll quite be up to sub-zero temperatures but they coped well today. Fingers crossed.
And to end, the map:
Still in shorts down South, though I did wimp a little and put lightweight full finger gloves on. Not resorted to the woolly hat yet...
