Ride your bike for at least 30 minutes at least three times a week, every week, for a year

[bluenotebob]

That is remarkably early, even for your bit of the world. Though I suppose they could have woken from dormancy if the weather has been unseasonably warm

It puzzles me too. We've had overnight frosts recently which I thought might have checked them.

But we have a strong southerly wind today so I wondered if they've been blown up from SW France/Spain .. they can cover remarkable distances - so I guess that's a possible explanation. If they've got this far so quickly - and the wind continues from the S - then I'd expect them to also appear in Devon/Dorset in the next day or two.

 

[FrothNinja]

It puzzles me too. We've had overnight frosts recently which I thought might have checked them.

But we have a strong southerly wind today so I wondered if they've been blown up from SW France/Spain .. they can cover remarkable distances - so I guess that's a possible explanation. If they've got this far so quickly - and the wind continues from the S - then I'd expect them to also appear in Devon/Dorset in the next day or two.

What species where they? The migration theory is a good one, especially they were a species like Painted Lady

 

[bluenotebob]

What species where they?

I don't know, I'm afraid - I've just googled Painted Ladies and I don't think it was them. The ones I saw today had a bit more black and red in their colours.

I had a second ride later in the afternoon - and I saw a few more. Unfortunately I didn't have my camera with me. If I remember, I'll take a camera out tomorrow and see what I can spot.

 

[annedonnelly]

That is remarkably early, even for your bit of the world. Though I suppose they could have woken from dormancy if the weather has been unseasonably warm

You can get them recorded in January if a warm sunny day brings them out of hibernation. Species like red admiral overwinter as adults.

 

[FrothNinja]

W9R1 - got carried away by a tailwind on the Leeds to Liverpool towpath. In all the ten outward miles it never once occurred to me that there may be a price to pay for an average speed, with very little effort, of 2 mph more than normal. The main thing slowing me was not wanting to increase the dislike for speeding cyclists on a shared path and slaloming unleashed laprats. Paid the price on the return - the headwind got a bit tedious but I got more of a workout than I expected.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Week 8 Ride 3 - Sun 27th Feb

Couple of hours in sun

 

[bluenotebob]

No butterflies yesterday or today, and as it’s going to rain for the next 3 days, I doubt there’ll be any later this week – unless they’re carrying umbrellas

Week 9

Ride 1 – Fri 28 Feb – 4 hrs 6 mins/65.21km – getting some km’s in for this week before the rain arrives this evening. Ride details in the 2022 HMCAM Challenge thread and some more photos in the ‘Your Ride Today’ thread

On the Pont des Deux Rivières over the Nantes-to-Brest canal – the purple shale towpath on the left is EuroVelo #1 – heading (ultimately) towards the Spanish border

 

[FrothNinja]

W9R2 - Do two different rides on the same day count?
Nelson - Blacko - Roughlee - Spen Brook - Fence - Burnley - Nelson

 

[Gibbo9]

Belated week 8 update (still in)
R1 Fri 25 Feb, the sun has eventually returned, 2 hours and 9 minutes of unbridled joy.
R2 Sat 26 Feb, an absolutely lovely day but still chilly. 4 hours 22 minutes of a strava recommended route, lovely ride.
R3 Sun 27 Feb, A bit of a leg loosener following the previous days escapades 59 minutes

 

[bluenotebob]

Week 9

Ride 2 – Wed 2 March – 2 hrs 7 mins/33.58km – dry, apart from a little bit of drizzle. I sat outside after the ride – listening to the birds, having a smoke and drinking what was left in the bidon – I think that’s the first time I’ve done it this year – it’s been too cold up until now.

 

[Gibbo9]

Week 9
R1 - Tue 1 March - Getting my 50 in early for the other challenge. Seems the weather has turned the corner and the days are very much getting warmer. 2 hrs 14 mins of blissful chilled riding down by the river.

R2 - Wed 2 March - very busy day with work lined up so could only get out for an hour or so. Been playing about with my heart rate lately and managed to complete this in Z1, 51 mins.

R3 - Thu 3 March - Z2 ride this morning. It was quite chilly when I set off so I had an under shirt on, regretted that after 30 mins as the sun came out. Quite windy out this morning too but still a very enjoyable ride. 2 hrs 3 mins

One of the reasons I try to avoid the main roads in the mornings. Literally thousand of scooters here, whilst they generally are respectful and give you plenty of room the fumes can be quite overcoming.

 

[FrothNinja]

W9R3 - Fairly urban ride on bike tracks, canal towpath, industrial estates etc. Occasional good views and plenty of MBIFO photo ops.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

I’m not likely to manage it this week, due to having been away, a rear derailleur that broke last week, and a few other reasons. I’ll see what I can manage over the weekend.

I will be back on the 3 a week next week all being well.

 

[bluenotebob]

Week 9

Ride 3 – Fri 4 March – 1 hr 52 mins/30.48km – bright and sunny but a cold and snarly N wind.

 

[FrothNinja]

W10R1 - A visit to a local-ish bike shop in Colne to get a non sealing tubeless sorted. Think I set a record (for me) average speed for the CX bike on my return. Light was going & I had only my clothing to make me visible. Quite fun apart from almost being run off the towpath by 2 unregistered midget bike ridden by primary school kids, and narrowly avoiding driver pulling out without checking their mirrors. Like I say - buzzing when I got home, very odd.