Alarm set for an early start, but it just wasn't happening today.
Took me an age to get ready and out the door, deciding to head for Otley.
Up Coal Road into a breeze, then Red Hall Lane, a wiggle on the a58 and left at the Welly, along to Shadwell and then Slaid Hill lights.
Wigton Lane, across the A61 and then Alwoodley Lane and King Lane to Golden Acre Park, up the hill and then down to Otley Road in Bramhope and follow that to the Dynely Arms, before the long descent into Otley - unfortunately into the breeze, but still quick enough.
Stopped in Otley to visit Weegmans for a couple of pies for later, where a very nice lady let me go in front of her in the queue - must have been my new Team GB top
:
Back on the bike and down to the bridge over the River Wharfe, then right and past the park and the long climb up to Farnley which seemed harder work than usual. Left and up to Cinder lane, where I stopped for some sustenance and a photo:
Along Cinder Lane which is a great little lane to ride, if only the road surface were a bit better, eventually popping out onto the descent down to Leathley on the B6161.
Through there and all the way along to the A658 just over the river from Pool, the straight over and along Castley Lane, alongside the river - another nice spot let down slightly by rubbish tarmac. Through the village and then the climb up to Weeton
followed by the long downhill, pretty much all the way to Dunkeswick
A short run up the A61, the right and off to my nemesis, Kearby Cliff. I was half tempted to take the road to Kirby Overblow and avoid the cliff altogether, but that would never do, would it?
Anyhow, before I got there I went to change gear and the chain came off - after the shop were asked to sort the gear change problems I've been having since the service while it was in this week.
Fortunately I had some latex gloves with me and it was easily popped back on.
There was a red kite wafting around while I was stopped, but only having my phone meant I didn't get any decent photos.
I failed miserably to conquer the cliff - I don't know whats wrong with me at the moment, but I just don't have the energy I seemed to have even a couple of months ago. Anyway, a walk to the top and another photo:
Off along the road to Sickinghall, which was busy busy busy and just before the final descent into Wetherby the chain came off again. Fixed and down the hill, somewhat hacked off, and into Wetherby.
Through the town, suffering from a MGIF from a cockwomble in his mums Peugeot 206CC and out over the bridge and onto the cycle path for the climb to Wattle Syke Roundabout, getting back on the road at the top of the hill.
Almost became a bonnet ornament for a nobber in a Discovery on the roundabout who looked at me, but didn't see me / didn't care and down West Woods Road.
Down the second descent just before the climb up to Thorner Road and as I changed gear the chain flopped off again. Each time it's come off the big cog at the front, while changing to a lower gear at the back.
Stopped again in the emergency access road to the adjacent A1(M) to pop it back on, grateful I'd put the latex gloves in my bag to bin at home rather than finding a bin en-route.
Decided to stay in the small cog at the front for the rest of the ride home.
From there it was the long way round to Thorner via Milner Lane, then the climb up Sandhills (it seemed steep going up it today, despite what
@Old jon might have written above!
), then Skeltons Lane, Coal Road and on to home.
Decided against taking the bike back to the shop today as they're likely to be rammed on a Saturday afternoon - will take it first thing tomorrow and politely suggest that they sort it once and for all while I wait. Then I need to get on a bike maintenance course so I can do it myself in future - if anyone can recommend something in or around Leeds I'm all ears.
So,
43.64 miles (70.23km) in
3h 19m moving time, at an average of
13.2mph with
2,611ft climbed. Not too bad, I suppose but with the mechanicals, my lack of energy and large number of nobber drivers about (way more than I've mentioned above), I didn't really enjoy the second half of the ride. Still, looking at the positives I got out there and got a 70km ride in, so it's not too bad, is it? Now for beer and burgers to revitalise my old bones.
PS - loads of cyclists out today for some reason...
.
.
.
.
)
but hey what goes up and all that. The drop down into Arundel was something special a peach of a decent that one. Rolled in to The gorgeous setting of The Lobster Pot...
