Feeling quite happy this morning.

[CLAIRE74]

I planned to go out Saturday for my first bike ride in months which didn't happen due to having visitors turn up so yesterday morning I was determined to go out on my bike.
I started up my runtastic pro app and after looking at my history and routes the last time I went out on my bike was on the 16th May (oops I didn't realise it was that long ago I thought it was only a few months ago) so I told my fiance that I would only be out for half an hour as it had been a while since I last went out on my bike so I wanted to take it easy, well he decided as I wouldn't be out long that he would come out too so he got my old mountain bike out of the shed (he hadn't been on a bike for 20 years or so)
To cut a long story short we both really enjoyed our ride out and our 30 minutes planned ride turned out to be 1 hour 30 minutes ride, we both actually wanted to stay out longer but had to get back home to get ready as we were off to Derby that afternoon.
A couple of photos that I took as we were going along.

 

[ColinJ]

Sounds good!

If you can go out having done no cycling for months, do a 90 minute ride and still want to do more then you both must have been keeping fit doing something else in the mean time?

 

[annedonnelly]

Well done. Weather is great at the minute so make the most of it if you can!

 

[hedder2212]

Used to cycle that stretch of canal everyday for about two years. Really nice when its sunny but as soon as its cold it takes balls of steel to cycle some of it

Nice one If you have enough time and want to do a longer ride, cycle route 5 up to birmingham is a good one and alot of it is canal towpath, You can do the whole thing on the canal from walsall just go towards darlaston, straight through tipton and youll see the signs

 

[CLAIRE74]

Hello Colin and thank you. I was really surprised that I lasted that long out on my bike and still had the energy to want to to carry on after not going on my bike since May.
My fiance luckily has a very active job which keeps him fit but before yesterday to honest I never did much exercise at all .

Hello Anne it was lovely yesterday morning when we went out but today it's horrible but whatever the weather I'm determined to get out for a bike ride every day. My fiance has booked all next week off work so we're going to fit a bike ride in together every morning.

Hello Hedder2212 it's a lovely stretch of canal path isn't it, it's so much nicer looking at all the wildlife instead of cars even though spotting herons and geese on the edge of the canal path as I'm approaching scares the life out of me but I just ride far away as possible from them as I'm going past them.
We're aiming to ride further each time we go out so hopefully we will cycle up to Birmingham one day

 

[hedder2212]

Hello Hedder2212 it's a lovely stretch of canal path isn't it, it's so much nicer looking at all the wildlife instead of cars even though spotting herons and geese on the edge of the canal path as I'm approaching scares the life out of me but I just ride far away as possible from them as I'm going past them.
We're aiming to ride further each time we go out so hopefully we will cycle up to Birmingham one day

Its one of many nice stretches around here. The stretch between Brownhills and Coalpool can be a tad sketchy at times and is a little bit of a eyesore but other than that most of the towpaths are generally really nice. Surprising how quick you can be in the middle of nowhere by following the towpath too.
The geese are the ones to watch out for, especially the bleeders near walsall town centre, theyre vicious little sods. But generally theres no need to be scared of them, ride past slowly and they usually just fly off or jump into the water
Edit - heres a pic of a commute.... why i love our canals so much.

Ride safe

 

[annedonnelly]

Hello Anne it was lovely yesterday morning when we went out but today it's horrible but whatever the weather I'm determined to get out for a bike ride every day. My fiance has booked all next week off work so we're going to fit a bike ride in together every morning.

Claire, when I was forcing myself to ride - I could manage about 3 miles without stopping for a rest - I used my bike to go to the shops, to the library, etc. They were all short trips but it made me ride the bike and go out in weather that I wouldn't have gone for a "proper ride" in. I didn't need to change into special cycling clothes so there was no excuse not to ride. It was a great way to build up the miles and to get me used to being on the bike. In those days I never imagined that I could go out and easily do 30+ miles in an afternoon. I'm sure you'll be the same.

Sorry your weather changed. We've had another lovely day today.

 

[Katherine]

That's great to read. Keep it up.

 

[Mrs M]

Well done.
Looks lovely, no wonder you kept going .

 

[CLAIRE74]

Its one of many nice stretches around here. The stretch between Brownhills and Coalpool can be a tad sketchy at times and is a little bit of a eyesore but other than that most of the towpaths are generally really nice. Surprising how quick you can be in the middle of nowhere by following the towpath too.
The geese are the ones to watch out for, especially the bleeders near walsall town centre, theyre vicious little sods. But generally theres no need to be scared of them, ride past slowly and they usually just fly off or jump into the water
Edit - heres a pic of a commute.... why i love our canals so much.
View attachment 108868

Ride safe

Thank you Hedder2212. I'm hoping to see alot more of the tow paths around this area as it was lovely on Sunday going places where I've never been before.
Thank you for the photo, where was it taken.

 

[hedder2212]

Thank you Hedder2212. I'm hoping to see alot more of the tow paths around this area as it was lovely on Sunday going places where I've never been before.
Thank you for the photo, where was it taken.

Was taken on the stretch between Aldridge and Brownhills, just after the green lane bridge (the blackcock pub bridge) but just before brownhills high street.

 

[CLAIRE74]

Good evening Anne I'm going to go out for a bike ride as much as I can but I can't imagine doing 30 miles in an afternoon (hopefully one day in the future I will look back at this comment and say wow I did it).

Hello there Katherine and thank you.

Hello there Mrs M thank you too. It was lovely on Sunday

 

[CLAIRE74]

Was taken on the stretch between Aldridge and Brownhills, just after the green lane bridge (the blackcock pub bridge) but just before brownhills high street.

Oh I see I know where about you're on about. All tow paths look the same to me at the moment lol.
I thought tow paths would be so quiet and empty but on Sunday there were quite a few people about, guys fishing, people walking their dogs, people jogging, it was lovely to see to be honest.

 

[hedder2212]

Oh I see I know where about you're on about. All tow paths look the same to me at the moment lol.
I thought tow paths would be so quiet and empty but on Sunday there were quite a few people about, guys fishing, people walking their dogs, people jogging, it was lovely to see to be honest.

There usually is on a sunday, early morning on a weekday is the quietest time to go down them. When the picture was taken, i sat there for a good 45 mins drinking a can of energy drink and staring at my bike, not one person went past The towpaths are usually busy around here which is a good thing, just a shame that some people near bloxwich think that its a brilliant scrambler race track

 

[CLAIRE74]

There usually is on a sunday, early morning on a weekday is the quietest time to go down them. When the picture was taken, i sat there for a good 45 mins drinking a can of energy drink and staring at my bike, not one person went past The towpaths are usually busy around here which is a good thing, just a shame that some people near bloxwich think that its a brilliant scrambler race track

It was quite busy on Sunday so we had to stop a few times to let others by especially at the narrows parts on the tow path. We even had an old couple say that it was the first time that cyclists have pulled over and let them by.
It is a shame about others who think it's a race track, luckily I haven't come across one yet but I bet I will.