That heatwave didn't last long did it? First ride since last weekend and it was out into a grey, drizzly morning.
I knew I wouldn't have time today to spend all day on the bike, but figured I'd have long enough to get a metric half in.
Out towards Coal Road, stopping once I got there to put my waterproof jacket on. In fairness it might not actually have been raining, just there was a LOT of moisture in the air. Out onto the A58 then a quick blatt up to Carr Lane and the scenic but lumpy route into Thorner.
Through the village and out on Milner Lane for the sharp climb onto the ridge and then a pleasant enough cruise through the greyness, taking the fork towards East Rigton when I reached it. If nothing else, the cool temperatures, breeze and dampness were keeping the flying annoyances at bay...
Right at Rigton Green, then the next right onto Bramham Lane for a nice wander along a quiet single track lane that I don't think I've ridden in 30 years. Quite a few rabbits about, most of which ducked into the verges and hedgerows as I got near, but one little chap took off straight up the lane - I must have followed him for half a mile. Who knew rabbits were so fast?
Across Jewitt Lane and a short climb up onto Thorner Lane, through the dip and out towards Bramham on Thorner Road.
Despite cycling past the signs for the last two weeks, I'd completely forgotten that it was Bramham Horse Trials this weekend and the road was the busiest I've ever seen it, with horseboxes, 4x4's, faux-by-fours and all manner of middle class German engineering. I'm not entirely sure what the horses were on trial for, but let's hope that they got a fair hearing...
Took the left onto West Woods Road, with the queue heading the opposite way for the horsing about snaking off into the distance. To be honest I didn't enjoy this part of the ride. WWR is a bit exposed at the best of times, so I had the wind right in my face, but the volume of traffic made it an unpleasant experience. Despite being a generous width for a two-lane road, I suffered several close passes and was glad when I reached Wattlesyke Roundabout and the long descent down into Wetherby.
Across the bridge and left at the roundabout for a quick loop of the town centre, then out on Horsefair and on towards the bridge over the A1(M) and the road to Walton.
Right towards Thorp Arch, adding an unnecessary but enjoyable loop up Dowkell Lane and Church Causeway, the down to the bridge over the River Wharfe, where i stopped to take a pic and remove my jacket:
From there it was up the hill into Boston Spa, then out to Clifford climbing up through the village and then the speedy descent into Bramham.
Up Town Hill as I haven't tackled it for a while, then out to the inappropriately named Paradise Way, where guess what - more horsey queues heading in the opposite direction towards Bramham Park.
With the wind now at my back I powered on down to Bramham Crossroads, where the same queue continued out onto the roundabout and down the A64.
From here I got on the road to Aberford and pushed on down the hill and into the village, eventually turning right into Cattle Lane for the ride to Barwick.
From Cock Beck it's pretty much a continuous climb up through the village and all the way almost to Scholes, where there is the welcome descent down to the Coronation Tree. Left here, onto Leeds Road and down the hill.
Not time to turn for home yet though, as todays ride wasn't just about me having fun - I had to call in at the vets for some stuff for the dog, making this my first utility ride since returning to cycling
There was nowhere sensible to lock the bike outside the vets so I took it in with me - they didn't seem to mind
So down to Cross Gates and that sorted out, then decided to add a blast up Manston Lane and back to stretch the legs and spin out the mileage.
Back from there and up into Pendas Fields, then Leeds Road and local roads up to home.
Despite the weather there were a decent number of cyclists out, including a couple whose paths crossed mine a couple of times. Unfortunately the nobber motorist count was as high as I can remember it ever being on a weekend, but that might be partly due to my choice of route today...
33.64 miles (54.13 km) in
2h 23m at an average of
14.1 mph with
1,532 ft climbed. That will do me for today and it's nice to get the average speed back above 14 mph (just) after struggling for the last few weeks.
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