On the road...

... and I flew in today!

The A65 was quiet at 6am and I made good time to Leeds.

Had a mile on the canal before Harley Davidson to see what it was like and all of the ice has now gone.

Next week back to the towpath. I ill just have to cycle the detour at Apperley Bridge.

nb. must check online to see how long it's closed for.

Wow.. ice cycling, the new Olympic sport!

After not making it onto the towpath last week (I did run in one day so wasn't completely lazy) I was back on track this morning.

It was a challenging trip though. After a short delay because of some unexplained clanking on my bike, the towpath at Apperley Bridge was closed. This forced me to reroute up the road towards Sainsburys at Greengates and then head left towards the Stanningley Bypass (two pretty big hills!)

Soon enough I was back onto the towpath at Rodley but it was ice, ice, ice from there on in.

The snow had part melted and then frozen leaving smooth, icy, footprints and bumps across the towpath along large stretches. Eh? I thought eveything was meant to have melted yesterday?!?!

I passed another cyclist walking (as was  soon after) but I kept on pushing it. The two bridges by the marina coming into Leeds were awful and I had to pull myself up them using the handrail before slip sliding back down the other side.

I didn't fall off when I was on the bike but had quite a few close shaves. It was just crazy ice. I was running late and very likely to go crashing into the water so I left the towpath and came down past Armley Prison, tired.

600 calories of porridge sorted me out. See you tomorrow.

Puncture

Oh balls....  a puncture!

My first for 2000 miles.

First spare tube...  faulty valve.
Second spare tube... accidentally holed in anger.

Taxi!!


EDIT - fixed. The tyre had ripped at the side exposing the tube.

Breakfast..

-4°C this morning. A hard ride in breaking the icy puddles as I went.
2 bowls of porridge,  2 bananas and some branflakes should see me right.

Snow

Not too bad this morning.

The snow slowed me down a bit though.

The footprints made it interesting to see what else / who else uses the towpath before dawn...  quite a selection!

Happy New Year (belated)

Cycled last Wednesday,  yesterday and today.  Good to be back on the bike although my legs are tired after a run at the weekend too.

I will only be able to manage 2 bike commutes a week for a while due to work and home commitments but at least it'll go someway to sorting the extra Christmas pounds.

In a few months time I should cross the 3000 mile mark which will be good.  That's nearly 2,500 accident free miles (although two idiots did their best to squash me last week!)

Nothing exciting on the canal at the mo.  A closure  at Rodley and works at Esholt along with the first rats of my commuting  life.

Bye.