NorthernDave
Never used Über Member
- Location
- The real Northern Powerhouse
First ride of June and with one eye on new roads to ride, I had a cunning plan to link up sections of previous rides...
The forecast pretty much all week has been for "scorchio" today, so you can imagine my eleation at finding it grey, overcast and a bit chilly this morning. So, knee warmers, bibshorts, l/s compression baselayer, s/s cycling top and l/s cycling top over that and I was ready to go. In a deliberate snub to the weather, I wore fingerless mitts. The forecast also said that the wind would be from the NNE today, so i also tried to factor that in...
Out up Coal Road, with the wind slowing progress so much that I had to check the brakes weren't binding on. They weren't...
Across the A58 and left into Shadwell for the long climb up to Slaid Hill lights, then along to Alwoodley Gates, across the A61 and the climb up to King Lane.
Right here and past Golden Acre Park, dropping down onto the A660 at Bramhope. From there it's a steady, slightly uphill run to the traffic lights at Pool Bank, where I went straight on for the long descent down into Otley.
Stopped at the lights in Otley near Weegmans (resisting the temptation to pop in for a pie) when two proper cyclists stopped behind me. I know they were proper cyclists as their eyes were fixed straight ahead and they said nothing.
Down and over the river, taking the right leading to Farnley Lane past Wharfemeadows Park.
I've cycled down Farnley Lane several times, but this was the first time I've climbed the hill. Quite steep isn't it? Still, I set a PB...
From there it was right into Farnley, then straight on where the road curves, taking the fork towards Lindley. This is a great little road, but it's almost single track for a lot of the route, so be careful. Down the 1 in 8 hill, then across the river and back up the other side, eventually reaching a T-junction and heading right for Leathley.
Down the hill and along the valley bottom, eventually popping out onto the A658. a little confusion soon sorted about where I was heading and it was across to Castley (I wonder if the proper cyclists pronounce it "Cast-L-ey"?
). This is another road I've not cycled before and while it's a nice route alongside the river, the road surface was shocking in places - almost making me wish I was on the hybrid. Through the village where I was overtaken by with a cheery hello by a very quick cyclist and then the climb up to Weeton, followed by the quick descent into Dunkewsick, seeing lots of cyclists on the way.
A short stretch of the A61, then right again and along to Netherby, before I attempted Kearby Cliff for the second time this week. And for the second time this week I failed to get to the top in the saddle
although I did get a good bit further up the cliff face, which gives me hope for next time.
At the top I stopped at a very convenient bench to pop my lungs back into my chest and have a drink:
Grey, isn't it. It's a very scenic route, but the weather didn't really lend itself to taking photos. Maybe next time?
Refreshed and back in the saddle, it was the lumpy ride along the tops to Sicklinghall and then the mainly downhill whizz to Wetherby.
Left at the roundabout and up the hill, heading for Spofforth, then along the causeway and right for the road to Little Ribston, before taking Ox Close Lane for the ride east to Cowthorpe. A while after the village I turned right onto the Roman Road, and followed that almost to Thorp Arch Trading Estate, turning right at the Wetherby Rd junction and then left for the run down past the prison towards Thorp Arch.
I stopped at All Saints Church just short of the village for some Haribo and a photo:
From there it was over the river and into Boston Spa, then Clifford past the just open chippy
(was tempted but didn't stop), then Bramham where the sun was finally trying to burn through the murk, so I stopped and took off the l/s top. From there it was the long way round to Thorner, then Carr Lane out to the A58, down to Coal Road and the climb up the hill. Short on miles (the story of my life) for the metric century it was a left onto Skeltons Lane, then a blast along the A64 and right into Scholes. Down Main Street to the Coronation Tree and down Leeds Road, pedaling into the wind....
A quick loop added to push the mileage on, then up to home into the wind again.
It's worth giving the wind a special note today, as despite it being forecast as a 'gentle breeze' from the NNE, it seemed to be against me a lot today, even at times when I was heading in directions when you might have expected a bit of assistance from it. It must have been that special cycling wind that we keep hearing about...
62.25 miles (100.61km) in 4h 38m at an average of 13.5mph, with a whopping 3,467ft climbed. That's over 50% more climbing than my 'usual' metric century route so a good day all round, especially with a few new roads thrown in as well. Plus there were loads of cyclists out, which is always good to see.
One thing I did noticed on the long section between Otley and Sicklinghall is that there seem to be an awful lot of missing road signs (the posts are mainly still in place, just bereft of the actual sign), making snap navigation decisions fun. I don't know if the locals are still expecting a German invasion, or if they've simply been nicked, but it does seem odd.
Of course, now I'm home the sun has come out and it's lovely. Which can only mean it's beer and burgers time again!
The forecast pretty much all week has been for "scorchio" today, so you can imagine my eleation at finding it grey, overcast and a bit chilly this morning. So, knee warmers, bibshorts, l/s compression baselayer, s/s cycling top and l/s cycling top over that and I was ready to go. In a deliberate snub to the weather, I wore fingerless mitts. The forecast also said that the wind would be from the NNE today, so i also tried to factor that in...
Out up Coal Road, with the wind slowing progress so much that I had to check the brakes weren't binding on. They weren't...
Across the A58 and left into Shadwell for the long climb up to Slaid Hill lights, then along to Alwoodley Gates, across the A61 and the climb up to King Lane.
Right here and past Golden Acre Park, dropping down onto the A660 at Bramhope. From there it's a steady, slightly uphill run to the traffic lights at Pool Bank, where I went straight on for the long descent down into Otley.
Stopped at the lights in Otley near Weegmans (resisting the temptation to pop in for a pie) when two proper cyclists stopped behind me. I know they were proper cyclists as their eyes were fixed straight ahead and they said nothing.
Down and over the river, taking the right leading to Farnley Lane past Wharfemeadows Park.
I've cycled down Farnley Lane several times, but this was the first time I've climbed the hill. Quite steep isn't it? Still, I set a PB...
From there it was right into Farnley, then straight on where the road curves, taking the fork towards Lindley. This is a great little road, but it's almost single track for a lot of the route, so be careful. Down the 1 in 8 hill, then across the river and back up the other side, eventually reaching a T-junction and heading right for Leathley.
Down the hill and along the valley bottom, eventually popping out onto the A658. a little confusion soon sorted about where I was heading and it was across to Castley (I wonder if the proper cyclists pronounce it "Cast-L-ey"?
). This is another road I've not cycled before and while it's a nice route alongside the river, the road surface was shocking in places - almost making me wish I was on the hybrid. Through the village where I was overtaken by with a cheery hello by a very quick cyclist and then the climb up to Weeton, followed by the quick descent into Dunkewsick, seeing lots of cyclists on the way.A short stretch of the A61, then right again and along to Netherby, before I attempted Kearby Cliff for the second time this week. And for the second time this week I failed to get to the top in the saddle
although I did get a good bit further up the cliff face, which gives me hope for next time.At the top I stopped at a very convenient bench to pop my lungs back into my chest and have a drink:
Refreshed and back in the saddle, it was the lumpy ride along the tops to Sicklinghall and then the mainly downhill whizz to Wetherby.
Left at the roundabout and up the hill, heading for Spofforth, then along the causeway and right for the road to Little Ribston, before taking Ox Close Lane for the ride east to Cowthorpe. A while after the village I turned right onto the Roman Road, and followed that almost to Thorp Arch Trading Estate, turning right at the Wetherby Rd junction and then left for the run down past the prison towards Thorp Arch.
I stopped at All Saints Church just short of the village for some Haribo and a photo:
From there it was over the river and into Boston Spa, then Clifford past the just open chippy
(was tempted but didn't stop), then Bramham where the sun was finally trying to burn through the murk, so I stopped and took off the l/s top. From there it was the long way round to Thorner, then Carr Lane out to the A58, down to Coal Road and the climb up the hill. Short on miles (the story of my life) for the metric century it was a left onto Skeltons Lane, then a blast along the A64 and right into Scholes. Down Main Street to the Coronation Tree and down Leeds Road, pedaling into the wind....A quick loop added to push the mileage on, then up to home into the wind again.
It's worth giving the wind a special note today, as despite it being forecast as a 'gentle breeze' from the NNE, it seemed to be against me a lot today, even at times when I was heading in directions when you might have expected a bit of assistance from it. It must have been that special cycling wind that we keep hearing about...
62.25 miles (100.61km) in 4h 38m at an average of 13.5mph, with a whopping 3,467ft climbed. That's over 50% more climbing than my 'usual' metric century route so a good day all round, especially with a few new roads thrown in as well. Plus there were loads of cyclists out, which is always good to see.
One thing I did noticed on the long section between Otley and Sicklinghall is that there seem to be an awful lot of missing road signs (the posts are mainly still in place, just bereft of the actual sign), making snap navigation decisions fun. I don't know if the locals are still expecting a German invasion, or if they've simply been nicked, but it does seem odd.
Of course, now I'm home the sun has come out and it's lovely. Which can only mean it's beer and burgers time again!
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23 inch with a 22.5 inch top tube.
That's half the year done
