And it was cold. Just as expected, really. A big but, I had replaced the gear cables on the Jacko a few days back and wanted to check how well or badly they were working. Deep breath, an extra layer, and off I went.
North and west of here was the intention, which would normally mean the towpath. Not this morning, ride through the city centre and out along Kirkstall Road as far as the right turn for Cardigan Road. And go to Headingley. And Lawnswood, and the uphill finishes. I was not riding briskly, trying to but not succeeding. Anyway, turn right to pedal through Adel, a close to home ride is feeling like a good idea now. Carry on and turn right onto King Lane, at Five Lane Ends, and ride to and take the left turn onto Alwoodley Lane.
Some of the houses along here have gardens large enough to have their own scenery, and for the houses that have not, there is the golf course I suppose. Anyway, straight across the A61, Wigton Lane leads to Slaid Hill. For once miss Wike Ridge, a right and a left is Shadwell Lane, and that is where I went.
The thought was to turn right onto Gateland Lane to reach the A58, but somehow or other my mojo took charge. I suddenly wanted to ride further. Of course, silly December ideas like that seldom last long. In this case, long enough for me to ride down Main Street, up the rise and across the A58 onto Carr Lane. Which meant I was going to Thorner, and out of there up Sandhills. It has just occurred to me that maybe I subconsciously wanted the whizzzz! down that hill.
After the whizz, the Oakwood Clock and crossing Harehills Lane, back over the river at Crown Point and that last bit of rising road home. When I reached my front door the garthing informed me I had ridden seventeen point six yards less than twenty five miles. Gave me a grin, that did.
As well as telling me how far I rode, it produced these,