Saturday 72 miler

Met up with a fellow cyclist called Arti for a just fabulous day.

The wind was from the SE, so any ride out to the north of York would have been a killer.

So we set off from Copmanthorpe, out through Askham Richard and Healaugh and past Thorp Arch to Wetherby.

At Wetherby, we followed the A168 down to Aberford, (nice new bike path) and then up past Lotherton Hall. ‘Fancy a cup of tea?’ ‘No – Let’s carry on’ ‘sounds good to me’ . So we went down past the crooked billet and then a new part of the route begins.

Turned left up through Saxton, Barkston Ash, Church Fenton (beautiful route) and cut up to Ryther. I wanted to stop at the Rythre Arms but it looked shut at 12:45 lunchtime on a Saturday (no cars / locked doors. how strange) so we carried on through Cawood and stopped at a lovely pub called the Castle Inn and had a fantastic lunch.

Left there and carried on through Selby and then up and across through North Duffield, Bubwith and Highfield. Very hot now – we’re drinking the water bottles quickly.

Left at Highfield and up towards Sutton on Derwent and our first snag. Damn. 53-odd miles in isn’t bad though. So we have to detour up to the A1079, and with the wind behind us get a decent pace up along the A1079 into York. Stopped to admire the bikes in the window of York Cycleworks (a rather nice Cervelo and a great full-sus mountain bike) and then into the centre of York for a pint at the Kings Arms.

Once that was consumed, we were off along the river down past Rowntree Park, up over the racecourse and then cycled the solar system up to the Fisher of Dreams. Had a bit of a chill out at the bridge, then rode back through Bishopthorpe, Acaster Malbis and then back home. Just over 72 miles and a joyous ride with great company!