Two rides in two days? How did that happen?
Out just after 8 this morning on the road bike (the hybrid must be wondering what it's done wrong...) with a mind to go for at least an imperial half, maybe more if the legs were up to it.
With that in mind I decided to head east where at least the outward journey wouldn't be overly tasking and where I'd have the wind at my back for the return leg. So, a rerun of yesterdays ride through Scholes to Barwick, where i headed right down Long Lane to Garforth, then up the A642 and on to Aberford, where I failed to set off the 'slow down' sign today. Back onto yesterdays route to Lotherton Hall, Saxton, Barkston Ash and the long straight road to Church Fenton, where for the first time in an age I actually saw some aircraft using Leeds East Airport. One landed, then 3 took off in the space of about 10 minutes as I cycled along the southern side of the airfield and up to Ryther, including a very nice looking blue biplane.
At Ryther I turned right and headed for Cawood, passing Mrs B's Lakeside Kitchen before stopping at the lights in the village where another cyclists caught me for a chat while we waited. Took a left here and over the swing bridge, before taking another right through Kelfield to Riccall, where I rode onto NCN R65, the Solar Cycle Route for the 7 mile run up to York.
Stopped at Askham Bar P&R to use the facilities, then had an energy bar and took a photo:
Busy again, isn't it? Fortunately I found somewhere to lock the bike up...
Back on the bike for the noisy run alongside the A64 to the Askham Bryan exit, then up and back into the countryside.
WARNING - there are signs around Askham Bryan warning of the dreaded 'surface dressing' taking place from 07/06, weather permitting, including the on road up from the A1237 roundabout past the college and the road to Askham Richard - all good cycling territory that I'll be avoiding for at least a couple of weeks after that...
From there it's a straightforward and pleasant run along quiet roads through Healaugh and Wighill before picking up the turning to Thorp Arch where it gets busy again. Added a loop down through Walton to keep off the racetrack, sorry main road, and stopped for a drink at the delightful All Saints Church at Thorp Arch, taking this photo:
Off again, down through the village, the looped back up to Walton Road for the fun ride down into Wetherby, where I dropped down onto the riverside for an ice cream:
Swiftly demolished, it was the climb back up into the town, then across the bridge and up the hill to Wattlesyke roundabout, where I headed back under the A1(M) and down to Boston Spa.
Through the village, taking a right to head to Clifford, passing the chippy and resisting the temptation to stop again (I will do one day, they alway smell delicious!), before the quick descent to Bramham, climbing back up to paradise Way and over the A1(M) bridge and headed towards Thorner the long way round. As I got to the junction at Milner Lane, I stopped for a final time for another drink and to scoff a bag of Haribo Tangfastic;
From there it was familiar ground again into Thorner, then out to the A58 on the picturesque but lumpy and narrow Carr Lane. A quick scoot down the A58 and up Coal Road and I was really feeling it by now and with the imperial half in the bag started umming and ahhing with myself about was I really bothered about getting a metric century in as I was going to come up short if I went straight home from here...
You'll be pleased to know that I got a grip of myself and turned left up Skeltons Lane to do the right thing.
A right at the end, then a life and death charge along the A64 to the Scholes turning, before the worlds slowest re-enactment of the TdY sprint along Main Street and down to the Coronation Tree, before heading down Leeds Road and local roads up to home.
63.05 miles (101.47km) in
4h 39m at a slower than I'd have liked
13.5mph, with
2,158ft climbed. I'm not sure if it was the remnants of the cold I've had this week, or hayfever but I struggled at points today so I'm pleased to have got another metric century in, although i don't think i could have done much more today!
That said, it was glorious weather once the sun burnt through, there were loads of cyclists out and hardly any numpty drivers, so all is good in the world.
The really good news though is that todays ride took me past 450 miles for the month of May, which is my highest monthly total ever and leaves me in with a shot of getting my first 500-mile month in.
Now I'm off to soothe my aching legs with beer and burgers.
.
and then it was the busy A162, before peeling off through Stutton as the sun finally burned through and up the hill onto Garnet Lane over the A64. I stopped on the bridge to take my jacket off and marvel at the queuing eastbound traffic that was barely moving as far as the eye could see in either direction. Anyone would think it's a bank holiday weekend...
