Just after 6am I was up and out. Didn't have any route in mind but found I was headed up towards Wetherby, I thought that was a bit too familiar so hooked a left and found myself riding up through Shadwell. At Slaid Hill I made it onto Wigton Lane and Alwoodley Lane. All well and good in the sunshine but still very, very familiar.
Stair Foot Lane and a right onto King Lane heading for Bramhope. I had seen it all before.............but wait............... an idea popped into my head............what if.................what if.................I went back into leeds via the Leeds Liverpool Canal. Not the canal itself you understand, more exactly the tow path. That would make for a nice change.
So down and up to Cookridge then down to Hosforth Station. Low Lane to Charlie Brown's roundabout and taking a right up Outwood Lane and then down to Newlay Lane, at the bottom of which.........The River Aire.
The Aire was crossed using a bridge built 201 years ago.
Then it was along the path at the bottom of Bramley Fall Woods which led me onto The Leeds Liverpool Canal. Looking very pretty in the morning sun:
A steady unhurried ride along towards Leeds City in the fresh morning air. A few people about but not many.
Forge Lock looking towards Leeds:
And looking the other way towards....well, Liverpool I guess:
The boat moored looks like it's seen better days but maybe it just needs a bit of bailing out.
To the left as you travel to Leeds used to be Kirkstall Forge (hence the name of the locks). Abandoned in 1995 and now home to houses and offices it had been the site of iron production since the 1500's. In fact the site had a mill race on it since 1150 or so when corn was milled for the monks at Kirkstall Abbey.
On then towards the city passing Little Lock and going under the Leeds Bradford Road near Kirkstall Junction and the old Kirkstall Brewery:
The bridge at Amen Corner.
Above here in normal times the roads are busy and it's all bustle and hustle, to-ing and fro-ing while an idylic scene goes un-noticed just feet away.
Another 3.5 miles of peaceful canal side riding gets me into the city centre and the canal basin where @nickyboys ride to scarborough sets off from.
I took a few pics of various landmarks and pics of under the Dark Arches but I'll post them another time because I've run out of room.
From here it was out via Cross Green, East End Park and home.
I different ride for me but one that I enjoyed and maybe the type of ride I'll do more of in future.
27.2 miles and 1600 ft of up.
View: https://ridewithgps.com/trips/48337456
Stair Foot Lane and a right onto King Lane heading for Bramhope. I had seen it all before.............but wait............... an idea popped into my head............what if.................what if.................I went back into leeds via the Leeds Liverpool Canal. Not the canal itself you understand, more exactly the tow path. That would make for a nice change.
So down and up to Cookridge then down to Hosforth Station. Low Lane to Charlie Brown's roundabout and taking a right up Outwood Lane and then down to Newlay Lane, at the bottom of which.........The River Aire.
The Aire was crossed using a bridge built 201 years ago.
Then it was along the path at the bottom of Bramley Fall Woods which led me onto The Leeds Liverpool Canal. Looking very pretty in the morning sun:
A steady unhurried ride along towards Leeds City in the fresh morning air. A few people about but not many.
Forge Lock looking towards Leeds:
And looking the other way towards....well, Liverpool I guess:
The boat moored looks like it's seen better days but maybe it just needs a bit of bailing out.
To the left as you travel to Leeds used to be Kirkstall Forge (hence the name of the locks). Abandoned in 1995 and now home to houses and offices it had been the site of iron production since the 1500's. In fact the site had a mill race on it since 1150 or so when corn was milled for the monks at Kirkstall Abbey.
On then towards the city passing Little Lock and going under the Leeds Bradford Road near Kirkstall Junction and the old Kirkstall Brewery:
The bridge at Amen Corner.
Above here in normal times the roads are busy and it's all bustle and hustle, to-ing and fro-ing while an idylic scene goes un-noticed just feet away.
Another 3.5 miles of peaceful canal side riding gets me into the city centre and the canal basin where @nickyboys ride to scarborough sets off from.
I took a few pics of various landmarks and pics of under the Dark Arches but I'll post them another time because I've run out of room.
From here it was out via Cross Green, East End Park and home.
I different ride for me but one that I enjoyed and maybe the type of ride I'll do more of in future.
27.2 miles and 1600 ft of up.
View: https://ridewithgps.com/trips/48337456
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could of had a better average speed if I never had to stop at about 15 red lights.
The only downside of this was that the few motorists I met seemed emboldened to rush along the lanes.
.
only stoped once half way up though this time so that's an improvement 
