Rare mid week day off on my own (how rare are they?)
Saw Mrs ND off to work, then faffed about a bit having breakfast and getting ready, finally set off at about 8:10am.
Slight local variation on the way out to Thorner to avoid the first part of the usual weekend run that is ratrun during the week. Thorner, then Milner Lane, Collingham, Linton - first bridge over the River Wharf that was in full flood. Round into Wetherby where the river had turned the sports fields into a temporary lake. Out towards Walton, passing a guy on a Colnago then down to Thorp Arch, back over the wharf which was in such spate that the weir just upstream of the bridge was only identifiable by the swirling, churning water marking where the drop can normally be seen. Should have stopped to get a photo, but it's a single lane bridge so I didn't.
The run down to Thorp Arch was a bit grim with an incessant and swirling headwind all the way, which made me decide that I wasn't going to extend the ride via Ulleskelf, Church Fenton and Barkston Ash as the road there is very open and I'd have had the headwind to content with all the way round.
Through Boston Spa and then the long way to Clifford via Bar Lane, where the chain came off...
Put it back on and heard a noise behind me - all the cows in the field on the other side of the road were staring at me. Maybe they've never seen anyone putting a chain back on? Anyway, they're vicious sods are cows, so I got on my way before they figured a way out of the field.
Down to Bramham - when the chain came off again!!!! Put the blooming thing back on again and climbed Town Hill, then out via Toulson lane before turning right and dropping down to Stutton after crossing the A64 bridge. Entered the village via Fanny Lane and as i took Mill Lane to get onto the A162 noticed the fields there were flooded and the beck was within inches of topping the bridge.
Onto the A162 and the drag up to Towton, where I passed a cheery lady on a Cube and once through the village took the fork to Saxton.
The run from Saxton to Lotherton Hall was a struggle as I was back into the headwind and progress slowed significantly.
Down to Aberford, dodging the wind behind hedgerows and on towards Barwick - where the bloody chain came off again.
Back on, I pressed on through Barwick and then a relentless slog to Scholes and down Leeds Road into the wind again.
Coming down Leeds Road I decided to do a test to see just how bad the wind was - doing 26mph I stopped pedaling, letting the bike freewheel. Despite going downhill, within 100 yards my speed had slowed to just 11mph.
I pedaled the rest of the way down the hill, then round and up to home.
34.78 miles in 2hrs 25m at an average of 14.4 mph with 1576ft climbed. Good use of the time and it sure beats working on a Wednesday.
I've tweaked the front mech and it seems to be changing OK, so we'll see on the next ride out.
