Forgive me CycleChatters, for it is just over two weeks since my last (outdoor) ride.
After abandoning plans for a ride yesterday due to Storm Erik (and his 50mph winds), today was the first opportunity in what felt like far too long to get out on the bike.
Out on the Giant just after 9 and with the weather looking fairly benign. It was grey, but felt mild enough for the time of year and only a light breeze forecast, so time to bag a qualifying ride for the Half Century Challenge too, as you never can tell when you'll next get a chance at this time of year.
Almost inevitably this lead me to Coal Road, then Skeltons Lane and onto the descent of Sandhills, where we had numpty pass number one of the day, where someone overtook and gave me loads of room, but forced a car coming the other way to stop...
Anyhow, on down the hill and onto Main Street, through the village and out onto Milner Lane to attack the climb onto the ridge. Hard work as always, but rewarded by a bit of flat at the top along between the hedges.
A last minute decision to turn onto Holme Farm Lane and a wend round to Rigton Green, then out of there on a typically filthy Bramham Lane which was enlivened today by passing a jogger about halfway along - quite often you won't see anyone on here. Onto Jewitt Lane and up the rise onto Thorner Lane before powering through (it's all relative...) the lesser Wothersome dip and onto Thorner Road for the slightly downhill run towards Bramham.
Left just before the A1(M) bridge and onto West Woods Road for the ups and downs to Wattlesyke Roundabout, getting passed by a friendly club run from Bingley (? - I think) - not only did most of them say hello as they breezed past but they gave me plenty of room. That sort of behaviour will get club runs a good name!
Across the roundabout and down the hill towards Wetherby, then round the roundabout and into the town itself with a loop around the town centre before dropping into the Wilderness for a quick couple of pics:
Back in the saddle and that sharp, narrow climb out of the car park, encouraged on my way from about half way up by a motorist revving their engine behind me. Unfortunately this additional distraction seemed to slow me down even more, oh dear.
Past the fire station and onto Walton Road, across the A1(M) and out past the racecourse and because I had the breeze behind me, all the way along to Walton where I turned right for the mainly downhill run to Thorp Arch past the Leeds United training ground, as some gaps in the clouds started to appear and blue sky started showing through.
From there it's a rapid drop down onto the bridge over the River Wharf and with the way in front of me cleared by a man in a van it was straight across and up the other side into Boston Spa, where a wiggle on Main Street saw me heading for Clifford.
Into the village and onto Main Street by the Catholic Church for a bit of variety, up the hill and had a motorist pull out in front of me, then couldn't decided if they were going or not shortly further on, then stopped about 3 feet away from the kerb and put their left hand indicator on...
Anyway, up to the top of the village and the quick descent into Bramham, where a loop around saw me climb back out of the village and cross back over the A1(M) and start the long steady incline back up past Bramham Park.
Retraced my outbound route through Wothersome and then took Jewitt Lane for the scenic route to Compton Lane and then looped back round to Rigton Green from there.
Hole Farm Lane and then Milner Lane took me back to Thorner, where an all female club run was paused by the Mexborough Arms, then onto Carr Lane for the climb to the A58, a quick run along there and then the climb onto Coal Road getting the closest pass of the day from an idiot in an estate car with two empty bike carriers on the roof
- whoever they were they really have no excuse.
Across the mini-roundabout and from there it's a simple run down to home on local roads.
31.68 miles (50.99 km) in
2h 32m at an average of
12.5 mph with
1,548 ft climbed and an average temperature of
3.0°C
Slightly surprised by that average temperature as it certainly didn't feel that cold. Don't get me wrong it wasn't warm, but it certainly didn't feel so close to zero. Maybe it's my new
Altura thermal top?
It feel really good to get out there again - I've been hitting the turbo while the weather has kept me off the roads but it's just not the same. That's this month sorted for the Half Century Challenge too.
Loads of cyclists out too, no doubt making the most of the weather.
And to end, the map:
