Almost half nine by the time I got out this morning, but although it was still a bit breezy the weather was a lot more suited to cycling than yesterday.
The wind was forecast to be from the WSW, so I thought a run to Otley might do the trick - I'd be against the wind in parts on the outbound trip, but would have it roughly behind me on the return. Or that was the idea anyway...
After being under-dressed yesterday, I added arm warmers and knee warmers to the bib shorts and short sleeved jersey and think I got it just about right today.
So, out and onto Coal Road only to find cones and a road closed sign across the road at the junction with Skeltons Lane and Red Hall Lane! So it was left and out onto Wetherby Road, then a quick scoot down to the Wellington pub and left onto Whin Moor Lane for the alternative route to Shadwell -
@Old jon has often mentioned this route but it's the first time I've ridden it. It's much nicer than the way I normally go, so it won't be the last time. Into Shadwell without the faff of climbing all the way up Main Street and on to Slaid Hill lights, where it's a quick right and then left onto Wigton Lane for the run along to Alwoodley Gates, where I hit the traffic lights on green for the first time ever(!) and on up Alwoodley Lane. I could hear cheering ahead, but sadly it wasn't for me but the Eccup 10-mile run which was heading towards me in a coned off section of road before diverting off to run around the reservoir.
On reaching the junction with King Lane, it looked like my plans were about to be well scuppered as the road to the right was closed and coned off.
Figuring you get further with sugar than salt, I had a cheery chat with one of the marshals and he waved me through - "You'll be alright on a bike lad, I think they're all through just take care if you see any runners".
So I set off and thoroughly enjoyed riding on car free roads that can normally be a bit of a rat run, all the way past Five Lane Ends and up past Golden Acre Park to the Kings Road turning, where I was waved through again on Arthington Lane past the feed station and carrying on to Black Hill Lane where I got ready to cycle off the edge of the earth.
According to Mr Garmin, I hit 38.3 mph down there
. A braver soul could probably have added another 10 mph on to that, but it's a bit too narrow and twisty for much faster from me...
Out onto the A659 and left through Arthington village and on towards Pool-in-Wharfdale. Right at the roundabout and over the bridge past the showground where the Arthington Fair was being held, then left onto the B6161 down past the farm, taking the left over the single track bridge and then the long climb up Farnley Lane, getting passed by a couple of other riders on the way
Eventually reached the top and was rewarded by the quick descent into Newall, making sure to obey the 30mph speed limit
then stopping for a bit of banana malt loaf over looking the weir:
Apparently there was a Civil War re-enactment at the park this afternoon but I didn't have time to hang about to see who would win.
Sustenance sorted, back on the bike and over the bridge into Otley and through the town centre before climbing out of town up to Leeds Road and the long climb up to the Dyneley Arms. Kept it spinning and enjoyed the views over Wharfedale in the glorious sunshine as I climbed - sorry no pics as that would have meant stopping.
A bit of a faff at the lights as the car driver at the front decided to wave through virtually every vehicle turning right across us, meaning that he was the only one to get through the lights...
Anyway, once through the lights it's downhill all the way through Bramhope to the Kings Road junction, past the "road ahead closed" signs and up the sharp hill past the quarry. Waved through again by the same cheery marshal and enjoyed car free roads all the way back up to Alwoodley Lane.
From there I retraced my outbound route all the way across the A61, through Slaid Hill and Shadwell and my new favourite lane back out onto Wetherby Road.
I've got to say that the assistance from the breeze on the way back didn't seem anywhere near the hindrance it had been on the way out, but what can you do?
Down Red Hall Lane and seeing I was going to come up short on miles (again!), decided to head out on Skeltons Lane (wind assisted
) and then turn round and ride back down it the other way (into the wind
) to add a couple of miles on.
Back onto Coal Road and local roads down to home, with a final loop of the block to push the mileage on a little more.
32.27 miles (51.93 km) in
2h 20m at an average of
13.8 mph with
1,696ft climbed. A bit slower than usual but I'll put that down to the extra climbing and the head wind on the way out, but all in a good mornings cycling and another entry in the half century challenge.
. I know we went past Gatwick and up Ditchling Beacon...
totally fallen In love with my new bike happy days 
