NorthernDave
Never used Über Member
- Location
- The real Northern Powerhouse
Day three of the Bank Holiday weekend, the sun shining in the sky and all morning for a ride - what's not to love?
Avoiding the inevitable traffic chaos that surrounds 70,000 people trying to get out of the Leeds Festival site means keeping well away from any of the roads out that way, so I headed up Leeds Road to Scholes and carried on through Barwick, pleasantly descending all the way until I started climbing up Cattle Lane and the lumpiness towards Aberford, getting my first close pass of the day from a fool in a Focus. Through the village and the climb under the A1(M) bridge and up to Lotherton Gates, for more descending to the Crooked Billet pub, before taking the right turn up that sharp little hill to Saxton, where I stopped by the church for my first photos of the day:
I noticed this in the sky above the village - not sure if @Marmion has been taking flying lessons, or if it was Simon Cowell advertising the return of his karaoke show next week...
Anyway, back on the bike and where to next? I'd set off with only a vague route in mind and decided to see how my legs felt. The good news is that they were feeling OK, so I continued east, first to Barkston Ash and then Church Fenton and on for a circuit of the airfield, out to Ryther on the gloriously quiet Brackenhill Lane and then back via Ozendyke and Ulleskelf, stopping at the airport gates for another photo:
Back into Church Fenton to complete the circuit and then left at the roundabout for another new (to me) road heading for Sherburn-in-Elmet.
I was heading into the wind now, but although it's as flat as it gets here there were some hedges to offer protection and before long the huge British Gypsum plant loomed large at the side of the road. I contemplated a photo but didn't bother it's just essentially a couple of huge boxes at the side of the road with everything going on out of sight inside.
I soon reached the roundabout and took the turning for Sherburn itself and started the steady climb up Kirkgate to the traffic lights and straight across before taking the right onto St John's Lane, which becomes Coldhill Lane as it heads out into the rolling countryside, under the railway line and very gently drops down to Coldhill Pond, where I stopped for a breather and some flapjack - and a couple more pics:
It's a short, sharp climb from here up Coldhill lane, which then quickly drops onto Copley Lane for a steady climb towards Lotherton Gates, and as I was passing the old exit from Lotherton Hall I was very nearly hit by a falling conker!!! Blimey, autumn is here, despite the sunshine!
Anyway, disaster avoided, it was round past the entrance and on towards Garforth under the bridge carrying the M1 where traffic was at a virtual standstill.
The road then climbs steadily, and into the wind as well today, all the way to the M1 at Jct 47 and it was close pass central on there today - I've had problems on this stretch of road in the past but it's been OK when I've used it recently. I can only assume that Bank Holidays bring out the nations worst drivers...
Around the roundabout, with northbound traffic on the M1 below at a total standstill and onto the A642 and up and then down towards Garforth.
The lights at the pelican crossing outside Tesco were at red and as we set off I got the closest pass of the day from a yo-yo in a Volvo with two empty bike carriers on the roof!
Totally unacceptable from fellow cyclist. 
On with the ride and right under the railway and over the M1 (again) to see three lanes of northbound traffic barely moving and the gantry signs flashing away like it was Christmas. Up the hill into Barwick where some kind soul has turned the temporary traffic lights off and where I had to stop to take my arm warmers off as it had got so warm. So a chance for a final photo:
Notice the West Yorkshire Cycle Way signs? Although it's on road here, go a mile or two in either direction and you'll find yourself on unmade and at times very muddy bridleways. A shame as its a pretty good route but can't decide if it's an on or off road ride which means you'll often find yourself on the "wrong" sort of bike for the surface.
Saddled up and the inevitable steady climb up Leeds Road, before the plunge into Scholes and the eventual drop down to Cock Beck (into the wind, again...) before picking up local roads to home.
35.28 miles (56.77km) in a steady 2h 37m at an average of 13.4mph with 1,368ft climbed and an average temperature of 19.0°C
So, another metric half banked on a gloriously sunny day when I set off with no real route in mind and ended up with a really enjoyable ride, despite the efforts of a handful of motoring morons.
And as an added bonus I've totted up an unexpected 100 miles over the last three days, which is something I certainly wasn't expecting. Plus a bit of schadenfreude to see all those motorists stuck in jams while I just kept on rolling.
What's not to love?
And to end, the map:
Avoiding the inevitable traffic chaos that surrounds 70,000 people trying to get out of the Leeds Festival site means keeping well away from any of the roads out that way, so I headed up Leeds Road to Scholes and carried on through Barwick, pleasantly descending all the way until I started climbing up Cattle Lane and the lumpiness towards Aberford, getting my first close pass of the day from a fool in a Focus. Through the village and the climb under the A1(M) bridge and up to Lotherton Gates, for more descending to the Crooked Billet pub, before taking the right turn up that sharp little hill to Saxton, where I stopped by the church for my first photos of the day:
I noticed this in the sky above the village - not sure if @Marmion has been taking flying lessons, or if it was Simon Cowell advertising the return of his karaoke show next week...
Anyway, back on the bike and where to next? I'd set off with only a vague route in mind and decided to see how my legs felt. The good news is that they were feeling OK, so I continued east, first to Barkston Ash and then Church Fenton and on for a circuit of the airfield, out to Ryther on the gloriously quiet Brackenhill Lane and then back via Ozendyke and Ulleskelf, stopping at the airport gates for another photo:
Back into Church Fenton to complete the circuit and then left at the roundabout for another new (to me) road heading for Sherburn-in-Elmet.
I was heading into the wind now, but although it's as flat as it gets here there were some hedges to offer protection and before long the huge British Gypsum plant loomed large at the side of the road. I contemplated a photo but didn't bother it's just essentially a couple of huge boxes at the side of the road with everything going on out of sight inside.
I soon reached the roundabout and took the turning for Sherburn itself and started the steady climb up Kirkgate to the traffic lights and straight across before taking the right onto St John's Lane, which becomes Coldhill Lane as it heads out into the rolling countryside, under the railway line and very gently drops down to Coldhill Pond, where I stopped for a breather and some flapjack - and a couple more pics:
It's a short, sharp climb from here up Coldhill lane, which then quickly drops onto Copley Lane for a steady climb towards Lotherton Gates, and as I was passing the old exit from Lotherton Hall I was very nearly hit by a falling conker!!! Blimey, autumn is here, despite the sunshine!
Anyway, disaster avoided, it was round past the entrance and on towards Garforth under the bridge carrying the M1 where traffic was at a virtual standstill.
The road then climbs steadily, and into the wind as well today, all the way to the M1 at Jct 47 and it was close pass central on there today - I've had problems on this stretch of road in the past but it's been OK when I've used it recently. I can only assume that Bank Holidays bring out the nations worst drivers...
Around the roundabout, with northbound traffic on the M1 below at a total standstill and onto the A642 and up and then down towards Garforth.
The lights at the pelican crossing outside Tesco were at red and as we set off I got the closest pass of the day from a yo-yo in a Volvo with two empty bike carriers on the roof!
Totally unacceptable from fellow cyclist. On with the ride and right under the railway and over the M1 (again) to see three lanes of northbound traffic barely moving and the gantry signs flashing away like it was Christmas. Up the hill into Barwick where some kind soul has turned the temporary traffic lights off and where I had to stop to take my arm warmers off as it had got so warm. So a chance for a final photo:
Notice the West Yorkshire Cycle Way signs? Although it's on road here, go a mile or two in either direction and you'll find yourself on unmade and at times very muddy bridleways. A shame as its a pretty good route but can't decide if it's an on or off road ride which means you'll often find yourself on the "wrong" sort of bike for the surface.
Saddled up and the inevitable steady climb up Leeds Road, before the plunge into Scholes and the eventual drop down to Cock Beck (into the wind, again...) before picking up local roads to home.
35.28 miles (56.77km) in a steady 2h 37m at an average of 13.4mph with 1,368ft climbed and an average temperature of 19.0°C
So, another metric half banked on a gloriously sunny day when I set off with no real route in mind and ended up with a really enjoyable ride, despite the efforts of a handful of motoring morons.
And as an added bonus I've totted up an unexpected 100 miles over the last three days, which is something I certainly wasn't expecting. Plus a bit of schadenfreude to see all those motorists stuck in jams while I just kept on rolling.
What's not to love?
And to end, the map:
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) in the sun, which had finally come out from behind the clouds, but being pestered by Wasps a bit though, as it's getting to that time of the year again.
. Bad enough when drivers are out to get you, never mind one of us!!
. Avg speed was 13.4 mph and 2033 ft of climbing. Also takes me past 200 miles for August, not often I get that mark in a month.
Was a bit of an icky combo, but I didn't fancy pootling around Tesco all afternoon in full get up. 
Loads of cyclists out and about including the local plumber.
Home in half an hour too, so a good little ride. 
And I somehow managed to get oil on my new cycling mitts. 
) before setting off back to base. The climb back up the precipice I had just flown down was despatched with little trouble and I was soon romping along on my trusty hybrid with the sun setting and tractors bobbing back and forth trying to get all the hay in while the sun was shining.
