Forum ride - Hebden Bridge to Waddington, Sun 29th January

[phil_hg_uk]

Now, we'll probably get 6" of snow on the 29th ...!

Becareful what you wish someone was saying earlier that snow maybe a possibility in the next few weeks.

 

[Pennine-Paul]

Snow in February.......Never

Patches of blue sky are starting to appear on the horizon
And the winds not howling like a tormented beast here now
Should be good to go in another hour

 

[totallyfixed]

Well, that was interesting, winds are blowing here about the same as yesterday maybe a bit more gusty. Just back from a training ride, both on fixed as usual, flattish out into the wind with no warm up and second half with the wind but hilly. Average speed 15.64mph as we pushed a bit more but as we know these routes well it was still well down on our normal, so very tough out there. Think you made the right decision Colin.

 

[I like Skol]

Just popped out to the shops with the kids on our bikes and even just doing 3-4 miles across town was quite gusty. We stopped to watch the police helicopter fly over at speed and it looked like a really good rollercoaster ride, copter was fishtailing all over the show. I hope the occupants had strong stomachs!

 

[ColinJ]

Damn - I keep starting posts, then nipping somewhere else without clicking Post Reply! I think it's because the edit box looks a bit like it is the post itself, so a moment's distraction and it is gone!

What I was going to post was that conditions were foul here over night. I could hear rain beating down on my bedroom Velux window, and the wind howling outside. I woke up at the time we would have been setting off for the forum ride, and the trees were still swaying about, black clouds overhead, and there was a lot of water on the roads from a recent downpour.

Eventually, conditions did improve and it is now sunny and relatively calm, at least down here in the valley. Higher up, it might be a different story.

I reckon we would have caught the headwind-from-hell on the road out, and lost the tailwind-from-heaven on the way back!

I've asked the mods to rename the thread to show that the ride is now taking place next Sunday.

We will ride next Sunday unless conditions are exceptionally grim - I want to get my metric century in for January!

So ... let's start a new rider list - who is going to join me?

 

[oldfatfool]

All being well (ie no snow etc etc )

swmbo went to watch the bairn play rugby this morning in an exposed but relatively low spot, she said she nearly got blown over!! Good call Col. Me, spent a good couple of hours on the turbo and then joined her at the rugby club for a lunchtime cafe stop

 

[Edge705]

I wouldn't choose to ride immediately behind a bike without mudguards on wet roads. I once got a bit of grit in my eye from a mate's bike when he rode through a puddle in front of me. I had to ride 20 miles home with one eye shut because the grit had scratched the cornea. The thing is, that tends to make the other eye close up in sympathy so it was a slow, painful ride back! (I had cycling glasses on but the jet of gritty water managed to get up between my cheekbone and the lens.)

Muddy bottoms and backs can be a problem in posh cafes, but I think we'd be okay at Country Kitchen in Waddington because they use wooden chairs which would be easy to wipe down.

I can't remember who has mudguards on their bike and who doesn't, but you wouldn't be the first to come along without them! I have had Crud Roadracers on my bike since I reviewed the Mk 1s (see signature link below) and I later upgraded them to Mk 2s.

IVE FORUM RIDE UPGRADED MY SUNDAY BEST CRUDS MARK 2 (Just 4 U Col )

 

[ColinJ]

IVE FORUM RIDE UPGRADED MY SUNDAY BEST CRUDS MARK 2 (Just 4 U Col )

View attachment 6422

Those look like Mk1s - the Mk2s have coverage for the front part of the rear wheel, and the back part of the rear guard is longer! See below ...

 

[Edge705]

Those look like Mk1s - the Mk2s have coverage for the front part of the rear wheel, and the back part of the rear guard is longer! See below ...

Argh I didnt like the look here is the bike with that option on I reckoned my first option would still keep the spray away from those on my wheel and looked a little better

 

[potsy]

Now you have put thoses on every forum ride will be in the dry

 

[ColinJ]

Argh I didnt like the look here is the bike with that option on I reckoned my first option would still keep the spray away from those on my wheel and looked a little better

If you imagine the trajectory of spray from your rear wheel, I think you'll realise that the shorter rear guard only protects you!

A lot of people have told me that they don't like the way that the extended rear guard flops about. I can see their point. I think the front part is a big improvement though and I think it looks quite neat.

I don't think even the longer guard fully protects following riders. A lot of riders put extension flaps on their rear mudguards to make them even more effective. Here's a picture of my previous bodged-on conventional guards with an extra protective blue strip ...

 

[ColinJ]

Now you have put thoses on every forum ride will be in the dry

Well, it never worked for me!

Pennine-Paul - are you back yet - how did your 50 miler go?

 

[aJohnson]

Ok, put me on the new list

I'll be back home tomorrow, and providing I can start getting back to fitness by Sunday then I'll be there.

 

[potsy]

Put me down as a definite, need to get some miles in as I'm being taunted by the other cj
Can't let anything disrupt this one if we are to get the 'metric century a month' challenge started.

 

[Pennine-Paul]

Didn't get out till after 12,so I did a shorter 40 miler
It was still breezy when I set off but by the time I got on the tops
on the A640 it was howling,thankfully it was a tailwind
There's an arrow straight road on the top that is slightly downhill
for about 3 miles, I was absolutely flying along,was starting to get
a bit scared to be honest must have been doing over 40.
Dropped down to Halifax then went thru Sowerby Bridge
wind was almost non existent in the valley,missed the turning for
Hebden bridge and ended up going up the Rishworth road,Passed some guy
on a road bike here who looked to be suffering,sweat dripping off the end of his nose,
was doing ok till the road got out by the reservoir then the wind hit me with it's full force
was an absolute grind for 3-4 miles till I got past windy hill and I picked up a tailwind,
Only downside was getting a Pun$%^e


However I was only 10 feet from my back door