Good forecast for today, so I planned to be up and out early.
You'll appreciate my surprise then on peeking through the curtains to find it raining...check the forecast again, rain due to stop any minute, so the ride survives.
And by the time I was ready to leave it had stopped, and brightened considerably, so I stuck with the mudguardless Pro Carbon and crossed my fingers.
Quite cool to start with but I soon warmed up, then had a nice rest on Coal Road where the traffic detecting traffic lights aren't detecting traffic, again.
Skeltons Lane and the A58, then onto Whin Moor Lane for the almost rural ride to Shadwell.
Up the hill to Slaid Hill lights and decision time - I'd half fancied a ride to Otley when setting off (much like
@Old jon above), but decided I really couldn't be a**ed with the traffic on the A660, so took Wyke Ridge Lane and then Tarn Lane to loop back towards Scarcroft.
Down the hill and through the village, then more downhill to Bardsey, where despite it being weeks since the road was stonechipped - sorry,
surface dressed, there are still a lot of loose chippings and it remains to be white lined too.
Onward to Collingham, with not one but two sets of temporary traffic lights to negotiate. left then right in the village and over the bridge into Linton for the usual ups and downs. Heading towards me through the village were lots of people on MTBs - it turns out today was the
Evans Ride It! MTB event from Harewood House. I'd cross paths with them again later on.
Into Wetherby and out again heading north, up the hill through Kirk Deighton and North Deighton with the sun out and the mercury rising now.
Onto Ox Close Lane for a surprisingly quiet run through the countryside heading east. Over a near deserted A168, then a much busier A1(M) and through Cowthorpe.
Beyond the village it was right again at the cross roads to turn due south past Tockwith airfield, over the busy B1224 at Bickerton crossroads and the gentle descent all the way to the Walton turning.
Through the village and heading for Thorp Arch, stopping at All Saints Church on the fringes of the village for a quick snack:
At this point the sun had well and truly gone in, although it was still warm.
Back on the bike, through the village and over the river, the sharp climb into Boston Spa where there was a bit of a traffic jam to get onto Main Street, before heading for Clifford, with the sun now fully back out.
Through there, the descent into Bramham and climb back out, over the A1(M) and the long way round to Thorner via Holme Farm and Milner Lanes - and passing Hetchell Woods lots of MTB-ists were crossing the road from the bridleway up from Wetherby Road to head back out into the greenery.
The drop down into Thorner and back out up Carr Lane, before a scoot along the A58, the climb up Coal Road and then local roads down to home with a short loop round the block to push the mileage on.
36.2 miles (58.25 km) in
2h 55m at an average of
12.4 mph with
1,669 ft climbed and an average temperature of
18.4°C
Enjoyed that and think I've sorted the annoying noise from the bike out too. Good to get the qualifying ride in nice and early for the Half Century Challenge as I have a couple of busy weekends coming up.
Pretty much ideal cycling weather today too - mainly sunny but not too hot and just a light breeze to keep the edge off.
And to end, the map: