NorthernDave
Never used Über Member
- Location
- The real Northern Powerhouse
Two days worth of rides to report, as I didn't get time to post yesterday.
Saturday and out early on the road bike with the aim of grabbing a metric half before the weather turned for the worse.
Out on Coal Road and I'd not even made it to Skeltons Lane before it started raining...blooming weather forecasters.
Anyhow, pushed on down the hill to Thorner with the raindrops feeling like a million tiny daggers to my face, then out on Milner Lane and the long way round towards Brahmam, taking West Woods Road just before the village and heading into the wind for the ride to Wattlesyke Roundabout. Across there and down the cycleway to Wetherby, passed by a racing snake all in black who squeezed by with no warning. Into Wetnerby and over the bridge, where I passed a couple on a tandem heading the other way. Down Horsefair past the bike shop and then over the A1(M) and on to Walton, down past the YOI and prison on what must be the most poorly maintained road in West Yorkshire. Huge craters in the concrete, many filled with water making them lethal to cyclists - now reported but take care if you're out that way. At least I now had the wind mainly at my back after grinding out the outward part of the ride.
Looped around into Thorp Arch where a police BMW was sat checking the traffic (first time I've seen one there and it's a bit off the beaten track for random checks), over the River Wharf and up into Boston Spa. Quick scoot through the village and on to Clifford, then down to Bramham, tackling Town Hill before picking up NCN R66 / Paradise way for a fairly quick run down to Bramham Crossroads and then on towards Aberford.
On the approach to Aberford there were 'Police Speed Check' signs out, so I took it steady down the hill with the tailwind
Realising I might come up a bit short on miles if I took the direct route home, I carried on through Aberford and out to Garforth, then back up Long Lane to Barwick, then Scholes before adding a few extra streets and a loop around then block to get the required distance logged.
32.23 miles (51.87 km) in 2 hrs 20 m at an average of 13.8 mph and 1060 ft climbed. Good to get my metric half in for March nice & early and glad I persevered with it. Sorry no photos as it was too cold to stop.
Sunday is funday (have I said this before?)
so it was out on the hybrid for some mainly off road fun.
Forecast for today was chilly but bright with sunny intervals. It was cold, but grey and gloomy to start. Is it a co-incidence that Peter Gibbs has been the weekend forecaster on BBC breakfast this weekend..?
Anyhow, local roads down to Cross Gates with a few wisps of (unforecast) snow in the air, across the railway line and up the hill to Austhorpe where I decided to add a loop down to Temple Newsam on to add a bit of variety and a couple of extra miles.
I appreciate that the cycle routes around here are shared spaces (and modify my riding style and speed appropriately), so it would be nice if the Sunday strollers would also acknowledge this and play the game, rather than walking three abreast across the full path and looking at you daft when they finally realise that one of them will have to step slightly to one side...
Anyhow, down to the house where I stopped for a pic and a drink:
Back on the bike I retraced my steps back to Colton, then followed NCN R66 to get back up to Austhorpe. It's a good job that I know the route as there are no signs at all directing cyclists which way to go from the edge of the Temple Newsam through Colton and all the way up to the A6120. I'm sure that there used to be signs, but there aren't any now...hardly encouraging is it? And neither is the state of School Lane which is in an appalling condition. I reported this to the council last autumn but if anything it's in even worse condition now. I was glad I was on the hybrid, that's for sure!
Through Thorp Park and onto the bridleway up to the M1 overbridge, then the fast run down to Garforth, which was almost deserted today
I decided to stick with R66 and from Garforth headed up Long Lane and then through the woods at Parlington, which were muddy, wet and great fun!
Through the very wet haunted tunnel and out to Aberford, where I rode up to the Almshouses for another drink and a photo:
I was just texting Mrs ND to say I was turning for home when a guy on a road bike(!) slowed down to ask if I was OK, which was decent of him (I must have looked more knackered than I felt!)
Anyhow, back on the bike and down the hill retracing my route down R66 through the mud, having a great time sliding about and dodging the potholes, back through the tunnel and down to Long lane, turning right up Nanny Goat Lane past the stables to get onto the (muddy) bridleway for the quick descent down to Manston Lane.
Along there and around Pendas Fields, before heading up to home, with a final little loop to push the mileage on.
19.32 miles in 1 hr 41 m at an average of 11.4 mph with 932 ft climbed. Great fun and a fine way to spend Sunday morning, even if there was a threat of snow in the air all the way round. The bike was absolutely blathered with mud though, so once home it was out with the bike stand for a good clean down and lube. It almost looks like a new bike again
Saturday and out early on the road bike with the aim of grabbing a metric half before the weather turned for the worse.
Out on Coal Road and I'd not even made it to Skeltons Lane before it started raining...blooming weather forecasters.
Anyhow, pushed on down the hill to Thorner with the raindrops feeling like a million tiny daggers to my face, then out on Milner Lane and the long way round towards Brahmam, taking West Woods Road just before the village and heading into the wind for the ride to Wattlesyke Roundabout. Across there and down the cycleway to Wetherby, passed by a racing snake all in black who squeezed by with no warning. Into Wetnerby and over the bridge, where I passed a couple on a tandem heading the other way. Down Horsefair past the bike shop and then over the A1(M) and on to Walton, down past the YOI and prison on what must be the most poorly maintained road in West Yorkshire. Huge craters in the concrete, many filled with water making them lethal to cyclists - now reported but take care if you're out that way. At least I now had the wind mainly at my back after grinding out the outward part of the ride.
Looped around into Thorp Arch where a police BMW was sat checking the traffic (first time I've seen one there and it's a bit off the beaten track for random checks), over the River Wharf and up into Boston Spa. Quick scoot through the village and on to Clifford, then down to Bramham, tackling Town Hill before picking up NCN R66 / Paradise way for a fairly quick run down to Bramham Crossroads and then on towards Aberford.
On the approach to Aberford there were 'Police Speed Check' signs out, so I took it steady down the hill with the tailwind
Realising I might come up a bit short on miles if I took the direct route home, I carried on through Aberford and out to Garforth, then back up Long Lane to Barwick, then Scholes before adding a few extra streets and a loop around then block to get the required distance logged.
32.23 miles (51.87 km) in 2 hrs 20 m at an average of 13.8 mph and 1060 ft climbed. Good to get my metric half in for March nice & early and glad I persevered with it. Sorry no photos as it was too cold to stop.
Sunday is funday (have I said this before?)
so it was out on the hybrid for some mainly off road fun.Forecast for today was chilly but bright with sunny intervals. It was cold, but grey and gloomy to start. Is it a co-incidence that Peter Gibbs has been the weekend forecaster on BBC breakfast this weekend..?
Anyhow, local roads down to Cross Gates with a few wisps of (unforecast) snow in the air, across the railway line and up the hill to Austhorpe where I decided to add a loop down to Temple Newsam on to add a bit of variety and a couple of extra miles.
I appreciate that the cycle routes around here are shared spaces (and modify my riding style and speed appropriately), so it would be nice if the Sunday strollers would also acknowledge this and play the game, rather than walking three abreast across the full path and looking at you daft when they finally realise that one of them will have to step slightly to one side...
Anyhow, down to the house where I stopped for a pic and a drink:
Back on the bike I retraced my steps back to Colton, then followed NCN R66 to get back up to Austhorpe. It's a good job that I know the route as there are no signs at all directing cyclists which way to go from the edge of the Temple Newsam through Colton and all the way up to the A6120. I'm sure that there used to be signs, but there aren't any now...hardly encouraging is it? And neither is the state of School Lane which is in an appalling condition. I reported this to the council last autumn but if anything it's in even worse condition now. I was glad I was on the hybrid, that's for sure!
Through Thorp Park and onto the bridleway up to the M1 overbridge, then the fast run down to Garforth, which was almost deserted today
I decided to stick with R66 and from Garforth headed up Long Lane and then through the woods at Parlington, which were muddy, wet and great fun!
Through the very wet haunted tunnel and out to Aberford, where I rode up to the Almshouses for another drink and a photo:
I was just texting Mrs ND to say I was turning for home when a guy on a road bike(!) slowed down to ask if I was OK, which was decent of him (I must have looked more knackered than I felt!)
Anyhow, back on the bike and down the hill retracing my route down R66 through the mud, having a great time sliding about and dodging the potholes, back through the tunnel and down to Long lane, turning right up Nanny Goat Lane past the stables to get onto the (muddy) bridleway for the quick descent down to Manston Lane.
Along there and around Pendas Fields, before heading up to home, with a final little loop to push the mileage on.
19.32 miles in 1 hr 41 m at an average of 11.4 mph with 932 ft climbed. Great fun and a fine way to spend Sunday morning, even if there was a threat of snow in the air all the way round. The bike was absolutely blathered with mud though, so once home it was out with the bike stand for a good clean down and lube. It almost looks like a new bike again
