Week off work usually means the weather takes a turn for the worse but maybe not this time. Was concerned yesterday with the wind locally taking on gale proportions but today was calmer and sunny but cool wind = thinnest bib longs. Road bike north towards Killinghall passing yet another field being used to grow houses
A61 to Ripley and then up Birthwaite Lane, the climb varying in grade but this where it jumps from c 9% to c 13%
Although not my quickest up the climb, the continued Strava segment including the climb then onto Bishop Thornton crossroads was a PR. The bus turning at the crossroads is one of those increasingly rare rural services, the passengers (there were at least two) no doubt relieved at catching it as the next one is on Thursday.
Joined the eastbound route of NCN688 “Way of the Roses” as far as How Hill where I decided to turn into Whitcliffe Lane; why the relatively new dead end sign
Obviously recently properly resurfaced I had visions of bollards as some point precluding it being used as a through road to Ripon . How wrong I was as it having passed a number of properties it turned to a muddy section quickly followed by a loose stone surface on reasonably steep descents and ascents.
Clearly cycle cross territory but not road bike. Anyway it was a nice sunny afternoon so time for a walk. After about a third of a mile it joined a tarmac road with a wooden picnic table and benches next to the junction which use was made of for a snack. Back on a tarmac surface and noting non NCN cycleway signs I assumed a decent surface but sadly not and it was a case of dodging numerous potholes. Reaching suburban Ripon it finally returned into a decent road. Cutting through the southern suburbs I briefly rejoined NCN688 but carried on direct via Knaresborough Road towards Bishop Monkton involving a somewhat awkward right turn onto the Ripon by-pass then left off. Once the NCN rejoined Knaresborough Road after its route through Littlethorpe the abandoned Harrogate-Ripon-Northallerton railway was passed under; further to the south this is used by part of NCN67
Headed east from Bishop Monkton to Roecliffe (another PR)
and then via the fringes of Boroughbridge through Minskip to Staveley and roadside bench acquired, time for another snack. Thence up from Occancy to the crossroads east of Farnham then via the delightfully named Farnham Back Passage, a one way downhill road that avoids Farnham. From Knaresborough followed the A59 jumping onto adjacent cycleway as far as the Golf Club before Forest Lane Head - Occaney to the Golf Club was a continuous procession of PRs
Turned off to pick up the full length of Bilton Lane noting a dead end sign with an explanation of closed by gate – um, maybe Whitcliffe Lane should have an appropriate explanation added to its sign.
Just one near miss and that was of the canine variety, some stupid mutt that decided to run directly towards the approaching bike
35.3 miles 1725ft upwards. Average 12.8mph
who were also cyclists, who mentioned a charity ride they will be doing next month, which sounded interesting if a bit too lobg for my fitness level at the moment.
