Intended an early start again today, but general idleness meant that I didn't get out until just before 9, with the intention to get a metric half in.
After last weeks abandoned ride due to the cold and ice, I was pleased to see that the frost that had been on the cars, etc when I went to bed last night had gone by this morning, although it was still blinking cold.
Local roads to start, where I had a MGIF nincompoop who overtook me at the top of the hill and then went down the whole hill with a foot on the brake rather than just getting out of the way...
Anyhow, I hadn't quite done a mile when I stopped to adjust my front brakes - a few minutes fettling and I was back on my way with a definite improvement in stopping power.
Up the hill to Scholes, passing a group of cyclists gathered at the Coronation Tree and carried on climbing up the hill, before the gentle descent into Barwick. I was regretting washing the bike after the last ride though as there had clearly been a bit of road grime in just the right place on the front mudguard stopping it rattling...
Right onto Long lane by the New Inn and the mainly downhill to Garforth, then up the A642 to the M1 roundabout and across towards Aberford. Down the hill and under the A1(M), past the wind farm at Hook Moor and Lotherton Hall and then the twisty downhill swoop to the Crooked Billet.
Just past there it's the sharp uphill grind into Saxton and on to Barkston Ash, before the long straight to Church Fenton and the obligatory loop around the airfield via Ryther, Ozendyke and Ulleskelf, where despite doing the best part of 17 mph I was passed like I wasn't moving by a mini peleton of serious looking types.
They all said hello though.
Completed the loop around the airfield and retraced my outbound route from Church Fenton all the way to Saxton, where I turned up Coldhill Lane, eventually reaching Lindas Bench where I stopped for Haribo and a stretch:
Back in the saddle and on to Copley Lane and towards Lotherton Hall, before turning off for Aberford down the hill and back under the A1(M).
Through the village and then it's the ups and downs of Cattle Lane, crossing Cock Beck and the long uphill drag into and through Barwick and nearly all the way to Scholes, before the descent on Leeds Road and local roads to home.
33.55 miles (53.99km
) in
2h 22m at an average of
14.2mph with
1,374ft climbed and a chilly average temperature of
1.1°C 
The bike should be able to do this route on it's own, but I'm still struggling for fitness so I'm happy just to get another qualifying ride in for Half Century challenge.
Hope you thaw out soon, feeling 
Springs just round the corner.[/QUOTE]
