biglad
New Member
- Location
- Liverpool, UK.
I should preface this by saying that my interpretation of a 'Long Ride' and that of most people here probably differ greatly, I did the most miles I have ever done yesterday since I first got my bike last week, I thought I would share the tale with you, because it was a really fun day for me 
I think it was the combination of beautiful weather and a day off work that made me wanted to go out and push it a little further than I have since I picked up my bike. So I rode to the train station (1.4 miles) and hopped on the train to Liverpool city centre, where I got off at Moorfields and decided to take my first ride along a very busy road. It wasn't anywhere near as terrifying as I thought it would be and I managed to pedal all the way to the Albert Dock with relative ease.
From here I got to the path that runs alongside the river. Along the Albert Dock there were a lot of tourists; as well as this, there were a lot of cyclists moving fast, and a lot of pedestrians on the flatter part of the path that the cyclists use. So I walked with my bike until I got to the quieter part, then started my ride. It was great. I took it easy and had plenty of stops and rests. I got talking to a fair few people, and was really pleasantly surprised that it seems (and correct me if I'm wrong here) that its almost standard etiquette for cyclists to say hello or give a friendly nod when passing or overtaking. That was really nice I thought. Especially when a group of lycra'd up road bike riding super slim fast guys went past me and all said hi and thanked me for moving aside for them.
I should also note that I don't think I have conversed with as many strangers in the last 5 years as I did on yesterdays ride. While sat on a bench recovering a bit of strength, two cyclists stopped briefly and had a little chat before continuing on their way, and two Scandinavian tourists walking along the riverside spoke to me, but I think I scared them off when they asked about Cammell Laird and I started giving them a history lesson on Liverpool's involvement in the American Civil War.
When I initially stopped for a breather, it was with the intention of heading back when I was ready, instead I started to suffer from "I'll just head up this path here and see whats there" syndrome, and ended up riding all the way to Otterspool Park, on the way to which I'm almost certain I saw a couple getting up to mischief in a BMW. I heard a noise from an open window, saw a guy sit up, then a girls leg, then looked away fast before anyone could call me some sort of two wheeled pervert.
I have been using this application called iMapMyRide which tells me how many miles I ride on a particular journey, and it was only on arriving at Otterspool I realised it wasn't running properly, I was a bit gutted but according to my little cycling computer I had ridden about 6 or 7 miles. So I stopped for another brief rest, this time in a much more secluded bit, had a 15 minute break, read my book for a bit, and started the ride back, where I only stopped once to lift my bike up some steps. I was really happy about the fact that I didn't need to stop on the way back to where I had all my stuff stored. I was really annoyed that my journey map thing didn't work. I tried to do it on the website, and on Google Maps but it didn't seem to be able to find that path that runs right along side the river. But nervermind.
I also stopped at one point and got talking to an old man walking his dog, I asked him if he wouldn't mind snapping a photo of me. The first photo he took was of the floor, he asked if it was ok, I asked him if he'd take a second for me as a backup, he took a photo of me with no head, which I've pasted at the bottom. He asked if that one was ok, I didn't have the heart... so I told him it was great and thanked him! haha.
All in all a very tiring but fun day for me. I cant wait for my next day off! I plan on going a little further this time. Even though I almost fell asleep in Waterstones yesterday after looking for a copy of Cyclecraft!
I think it was the combination of beautiful weather and a day off work that made me wanted to go out and push it a little further than I have since I picked up my bike. So I rode to the train station (1.4 miles) and hopped on the train to Liverpool city centre, where I got off at Moorfields and decided to take my first ride along a very busy road. It wasn't anywhere near as terrifying as I thought it would be and I managed to pedal all the way to the Albert Dock with relative ease.
From here I got to the path that runs alongside the river. Along the Albert Dock there were a lot of tourists; as well as this, there were a lot of cyclists moving fast, and a lot of pedestrians on the flatter part of the path that the cyclists use. So I walked with my bike until I got to the quieter part, then started my ride. It was great. I took it easy and had plenty of stops and rests. I got talking to a fair few people, and was really pleasantly surprised that it seems (and correct me if I'm wrong here) that its almost standard etiquette for cyclists to say hello or give a friendly nod when passing or overtaking. That was really nice I thought. Especially when a group of lycra'd up road bike riding super slim fast guys went past me and all said hi and thanked me for moving aside for them.
I should also note that I don't think I have conversed with as many strangers in the last 5 years as I did on yesterdays ride. While sat on a bench recovering a bit of strength, two cyclists stopped briefly and had a little chat before continuing on their way, and two Scandinavian tourists walking along the riverside spoke to me, but I think I scared them off when they asked about Cammell Laird and I started giving them a history lesson on Liverpool's involvement in the American Civil War.
When I initially stopped for a breather, it was with the intention of heading back when I was ready, instead I started to suffer from "I'll just head up this path here and see whats there" syndrome, and ended up riding all the way to Otterspool Park, on the way to which I'm almost certain I saw a couple getting up to mischief in a BMW. I heard a noise from an open window, saw a guy sit up, then a girls leg, then looked away fast before anyone could call me some sort of two wheeled pervert.
I have been using this application called iMapMyRide which tells me how many miles I ride on a particular journey, and it was only on arriving at Otterspool I realised it wasn't running properly, I was a bit gutted but according to my little cycling computer I had ridden about 6 or 7 miles. So I stopped for another brief rest, this time in a much more secluded bit, had a 15 minute break, read my book for a bit, and started the ride back, where I only stopped once to lift my bike up some steps. I was really happy about the fact that I didn't need to stop on the way back to where I had all my stuff stored. I was really annoyed that my journey map thing didn't work. I tried to do it on the website, and on Google Maps but it didn't seem to be able to find that path that runs right along side the river. But nervermind.
I also stopped at one point and got talking to an old man walking his dog, I asked him if he wouldn't mind snapping a photo of me. The first photo he took was of the floor, he asked if it was ok, I asked him if he'd take a second for me as a backup, he took a photo of me with no head, which I've pasted at the bottom. He asked if that one was ok, I didn't have the heart... so I told him it was great and thanked him! haha.
All in all a very tiring but fun day for me. I cant wait for my next day off! I plan on going a little further this time. Even though I almost fell asleep in Waterstones yesterday after looking for a copy of Cyclecraft!
These smileys says it all really! 
