Right on to todays ride:
Absolutely glorious weather this morning, so nice to get out in a few fewer layers than usual. Out on the hybrid again, making this the first weekend that the road bike hasn't had an airing since I bought it...
I'd also like to officially announce the first public outing of my legs this morning as the shorts made their first appearance of the year
After last weeks ride on the Wyke Beck Way (WBW) I decided to do a similar route, but missing out the less salubrious bit.
Over the Ring Road and down through the top part of Seacroft to Wetherby Road, then onto the WBW just below Roundhay Park. Through the woods and out to Easterly Road, then the easy run down to Fearnville Fields. Lots and lots of dog walkers out - some better aware of their surroundings than others. Bloody dog walkers not paying any cycleway tax...
Up and across Killingbeck, where I passed another cyclist (a first on the WBW!) and across York Road and through the Sutton Estate and over the railway line into Primrose Valley. A warning here as there was a
lot of broken glass on the shared path at various points - virtually all of it on the side marked as cycle path, so someone clearly has an axe to grind. Tosspots. Fortunately I got through unscathed.
Onto Selby Road and instead of following the signs onto Halton Moor, turned left up the hill using the cycle lane on the dual carriageway. Right at the top of the hill by Lidl using what appears to be an unnecessarily complicated and dangerous series of cycle lanes onto Temple Newsam Road, intending to pick up the trail through the woods. I went slightly wrong following cycleway signs for the city centre, but was soon back on track.
The trail found, it was down the hill (lots of lovely loose gravelly stuff
), across the golf course and down through the woods, having even more fun than I did on this section last time.
At the end of the trail, back onto the tarmac access round and up the hill, down the other side and then the slog up the big hill back into Temple Newsam Park. Blooming front mech wouldn't change down onto the small cog, so I had to do it all on the middle one
although of course it's since been changing like a dream after getting to the top
Pause for a photo and a drink by the house:
It was really warm stopped in the sunshine and I was almost tempted to shed a layer, but once back on the bike I was glad I hadn't as the breeze still had a chill to it.
Round the house and down the carriage drive, then onto the shared path (NCN R66) and various tuts / deliberate blocks from pedestrians who clearly don't understand the frequent blue signs with pictures of a bike on them. Still, it gave me a rounded set of opinions with motorists wanting me off the road and pedestrians wanting me off the (cycle) path...
Through Colton, then up School Lane, across Selby Road at the crossing (cyclists allowed!) and up to Thorp Park, onto the bridleway and the climb up to the bridge over the M1 then the quick descent to Garforth on the other side.
Back on Nanny Goat Lane then the bridleway, the tunnel under the M1 and down onto Manston Lane, where some sort of cross country running race seemed to be going on, then up to Pendas Fields and round to home.
16.8 miles (27.03 km) in a smidge under
1 hr 33 m at an average of
10.9 mph, with 984 ft climbed. Not bad for primarily off road riding, plus the need to modify speed on the shared sections, so I'll take that for a sunny Sunday morning. Plus I set a PB on one section. And when I got in Mrs ND had been baking chocolate cake, so is good in the world
). A shape under 33 miles in just over 1 hour 53 mins. Getting fitter 
meant the old legs were feeling it once I got to piercebridge..I think I was peddling squares 
knackered but pleased I went out
