Out the door just after 8 for a 'short' ride* as I needed to be back for something mid-morning.
Had a plan to add a twist to the same old circuits, so headed out up Coal Road and then Red Hall Lane out to the A58 for a quick wiggle down to the Wellington pub and onto Whin Moor Lane for the scenic route to Shadwell. Once I reached Main Street, I turned left, down the hill
and right through the village to cross Bay Horse Lane and the short climb back up to the A58 and across on Carr Lane for the lovely lumpy run to Thorner.
Left at the Mexborough Arms and round past the church, then climbed up Church Hill and onto Bramham Road, passing Bramham Park where preparations for the Leeds Festival are well underway.
Through the dip at Wothersome, climbing up onto Thorner Road for the run down to West Woods Rd and on to Wattlesyke Roundabout. I had thought about cutting down to Collingham from here, but i was doing OK for time and enjoying the ride, so carried straight on down the hill towards Wetherby
At the roundabout it was left onto the A58 towards Collingham. I don't often ride this stretch of road and I was reminded why again today - poor road surface and too many half-wit drivers (1st place goes to the Muppet in the black Nissan 370Z). I can only presume that the road is going to be 'surface dressed' soon, as there is the biggest pile of stone chippings that I've ever seen in the layby.
Anyhow, fortunately I was soon at the turning onto Jewitt Lane and the
long climb back up to Compton Lane and the run along the ridge to East Rigton, where I took these photos:
This is normally a very quiet lane but today I passed a lady on an e-bike, a jogger and a very distinguished looking chap on a big black horse (I've seen him around here a few times and call him 'The Major' in my own head - if you ride these lanes regularly I'm sure you'll have crossed his path
) and carried on into East Rigton, then turned left at the Green onto Mill Lane, then Holme Farm Lane and onto Milner Lane for the enjoyable run along that ridge, before the descent back into Thorner.
Through the village and the inevitable climb up Van Zyl Hill and onto Skeltons Lane, then Coal Road and local roads down to home.
22.39 miles (36.03km) in
1h 35m at an average of
14.1mph with
1,164ft climbed. All good and I'm loving the fact that I now think a 22 mile / 95 minutes cycle is a 'short' ride
Pleased at keeping my average speed over 14 mph too as I'd deliberately added quite a bit more climbing to the route.
Lots of cyclists out, nearly all of them friendly and apart from one short stretch of road all the drivers were playing the game today.