Best weather of the year so far, so it seemed only appropriate to get out there and get some miles in.
I'd been thinking about riding a metric half, but once I was out in the sunshine I though an imperial half might be on the cards. And, in honour of the Lighthouse / Windmill thread, this ride became an homage to the windmill - but more of that later
Out early-ish and it was still a bit chilly, but there was already a hint of the warmth to come from the sun, even if the car roofs were frozen. Bib shorts making their first appearance of the year, although with knee-warmers, and the whitest legs in town.
Past the first Windmill within minutes, as I passed the Windmill Hotel (the hotel built around a disused windmill, really), before heading up Coal Road, Red Hall Lane and onto the A58 for a high speed wiggle down to Whin Moor Lane and the twisty stuff into Shadwell. Left at the end and up the hill, then down the other side and the climb up to Slaid Hill lights, where it was right and onto Wike Ridge Lane for the enjoyable swooping ups and downs, before turning right onto Coal Road and through the dip where the dappled sunlight through the trees made it difficult to tell if the road was wet or frozen, so steady away (it was just wet) and the climb up to Tarn lane and the twisty descent down Syke Lane through Scarcroft and back to the A58. I don't know about windmills - I'd already passed 3 golf courses in the last few miles! What a ridiculous way golf is to spend your free time, spending a small fortune on expensive kit and stupid looking often garish clothes
Anyway, across the A58 and the gentle descent before the climb up across the former railway line and up to Five Lane Ends at the top of Thorner and onto the ridge along Milner Lane, making my way eventually to East Rigton and onto Bramham Lane, which is still as muddy as ever, but at least all the mud is dry now.
Across Jewitt Lane and up onto Thorner Lane for the quickish run down to Bramham, just over the A1(M).
Up the hill to the start of Paradise Way, where I stopped for a stretch and a photos:
Back on the bike and looped back round onto Aberford Lane, spotting a club run slogging up the hill, then onto Toulston Lane, with the second windmill of the day off in the fields to my left.
Along here, through the dip and powered up the other side, with the club run catching me as the road levelled out. A couple of quick hellos from the riders at the f and as we approached Garnett Lane (where I was turning) the shout went out "right turn" to which someone replied "no straight on", and in the chaos half the group turned and half didn't, so there were bikes everywhere and much muttering about which way to go
I picked my way through the melee and headed down Garnett Lane, across the A659 and then the bridge over the A64, full of traffic heading for the coast and with windmill number three visible off to the left.
Down the hill and then right for the the childish but amusing diversion to ride Fanny Lane through the village.
Over Cock Beck and along the single track road, tickled by how some wag had amended the 'Passing Place' signs to read something else - honestly this entire village is like a Carry On film.
Arrived at the A162 just as the same club run from earlier passed, so followed them up the hill and along to Raw Lane. They also turned there, but were clearly missing one or two of their number as they ground to a halt just round the corner, so once again I made my way through the throng, and carried on to Ulleskelf, looping through the village before pausing for a drink, a stretch and some more photos:
Just as I was about to set off again, the very same club run appeared majestically on the road to Church Fenton - and as they reached the junction a cry of 'hang on, right turn' went up with half the group already past the junction. More cries of 'sorry', 'watch out' and 'I say old chap, that call was rather late' went up as some bikes made the turn but most ground to a halt past the junction and had to turn around
- I'm guessing from the shouts going out that this wasn't the "chilled" ride
Anyway, time for a loop of the former airfield beckoned, so it was on to Church Fenton on Busk Lane, past windmill number 4, then the end of the runway just as a plane was taking off, before turning right at the start of the village onto Brackenhall Lane through the fields and onto Moor Lane and over the railway line for the run into Ryther, where I turned left through Ozendyke to return to Ulleskelf and then back to Church Fenton (passing windmill number 4 again)
Through the village and the long straight down to Barkston Ash was next, before a short stretch of the A162 and left again towards Saxton, taking Cold Hill Lane back out into the countryside before stopping for the last photo of the ride:
From there it's a steady climb and then a short plunge down onto Copley Lane for the run up to Lotherton Gates, then down to the A1(M), passing Hook Moor Wind Farm (I'm not counting the wind turbines), with windmill number 5 just visible in Aberford as I carried on down to cross the M1 and drop down into Garforth.
Garforth was busy and not much fun to ride through to be honest, so I took a right and headed up Barwick Road and then Long Lane to re-cross the M1 and climb the hill up to Barwick-in-Elmet past yet another golf course. If I'd gone straight on through Garforth I could have passed windmill number 6 at Colton, but I'd forgotten about it - one for another ride I think.
Anyway, left in Barwick for the steady climb and then descent into Scholes, with a left at the Coronation Tree down Leeds Road.
With still a few miles needed for an imperial half, I looped round the Manstons, then headed out into the countryside on Manston Lane until the tarmac ended, where I turned round and retraced my route, before adding another loop around Pendas Fields, before heading for home and a final loop round the block to push the mileage through the barrier.
50.25 miles (80.87km) in a decent
3h 27m at a speedy average of
14.5mph, with
2,129ft climbed and an average temperature of just
7.7°C according to Mr Garmin, although it felt
a lot warmer. Great to get an imperial half century in alongside the 5 windmills too.
Loads of cyclists out (in addition to that club run) and just a lovely day to be out there. Even the high pollen levels couldn't take the shine off today.
Now it's barbecue time - after the bike, it's beer and burgers
And finally - a map
. Did my favorite 50km ride up to Mount St Bernards Abbey and back down the Beacon to Quorn and home on my commuting route . A route with everything climbs ,fasts descents ,flats ,scenic roads lovely . In all 32.4 miles at 17.1 mph I swear I'm quicker in shorts . Loads of riders out enjoying the 
. I mean really
.
