The Retirement Thread

[Dirk]

25° C outside now!
Had to come inside to cool down.

 

[12boy]

About at the end of container plant buying and most of the garden up except for tomatoes, squash and some cukes. My youngest sent me a bunch of starters and said to wait a week before planting. The watering setup needs a tweak or two and then on to the next thing which will include mowing. As the days exceed 24C biking will be earlier and earlier. I might even adopt the Spanish practice of a siesta during the middle of the day.​

Mrs 12's first chemo went well in terms of side effects and she is enjoying her grub so that is a big plus.​

Tenkay, I was googling the Brompton child seat setup. How does that extra weight affect the handling? Very nice to be able to talk with your passenger. All the seats I've seen here are plastic ones mounted over the rear wheel, although little trailers are by far the most popular option.​

Be well and safe.​

 

[ColinJ]

I've been for a bimble this morning, my Meriden loop, I extended it through Maxstoke and did a slow and steady 30 miles, the ride out of Coventry up Harvest Hill Lane is mostly a slow up hill slog and tends to kill the average speed before I've got started, I got halfway down Kinwalsey Lane and turned right to use a lane I've not used for years to take me onto the road to Maxstoke and then had great fun dropping down the hill into the village, I turned left in the village and then picked up my regular route home. A rare but enjoyable ride out on my bike, a bit grey and cool first thing but warming up nicely as the morning progressed.

I used to keep a singlespeed bike at my sister's house in Radford while our mum was living in sheltered housing near you in Holbrooks. I went down about 6 times a year to visit her. It was a boring short ride from Radford to Holbrooks so I made it more interesting by doing a longer loop out on some of the roads that you mentioned.

I used to go: Radford, Coundon, Brownshill Green, Hawkes End, Harvest Hill Lane (definitely a slow uphill slog on s/s!), Kinwalsey Lane... That right turn must be the one under the M6? Then I went left at Green End, right along Hardingwood Lane, right along Broad Lane, then a quick R/L onto Mill Lane. IIRC that was a nice little descent? Left onto the busy Tamworth Road, and soon right onto Station Road and right again onto Tipper's Lane. That was another tough slog on s/s. Right onto Lamp Lane at the top, crossed the Nuneaton Road at Wood End, then Wood End Lane, Astley Lane, Breach Oak Lane down to Smorral Lane. From there, over the M6 and back into the city to visit ma. I'd spend a nice day with her then take the direct route back to Radford.

I did that ride 3 or 4 times a visit, 6 times a year, for 2.5 years before my mum died. I really liked those lumpy lanes NW of Coventry, made more challenging by doing them in a 39/15 gear.

 

[gavroche]

Salut. Ride planned tomorrow morning and I decided to take the Cube this time. I went into my shed to check it out and noticed the rear tyre was flat. It must have happened last time I used it but didn't go flat till I got home obviously. All fixed with a new tube now and the other one repaired so no nasty surprise in the morning.
Stepson is also coming but on his ebike, cheat ! We will have to go over 15.5 mph on the flat to make him work harder when his motor cuts out. 😄

 

[classic33]

That’s good. My legs are so pathetic it takes me to get much under 11 minute miles these days. 10.43 this morning. 😭
https://www.strava.com/activities/5374954294

Three Minute Miles are what you should be aiming for!

 

[Deleted member 1258]

I used to keep a singlespeed bike at my sister's house in Radford while our mum was living in sheltered housing near you in Holbrooks. I went down about 6 times a year to visit her. It was a boring short ride from Radford to Holbrooks so I made it more interesting by doing a longer loop out on some of the roads that you mentioned.

I used to go: Radford, Coundon, Brownshill Green, Hawkes End, Harvest Hill Lane (definitely a slow uphill slog on s/s!), Kinwalsey Lane... That right turn must be the one under the M6? Then I went left at Green End, right along Hardingwood Lane, right along Broad Lane, then a quick R/L onto Mill Lane. IIRC that was a nice little descent? Left onto the busy Tamworth Road, and soon right onto Station Road and right again onto Tipper's Lane. That was another tough slog on s/s. Right onto Lamp Lane at the top, crossed the Nuneaton Road at Wood End, then Wood End Lane, Astley Lane, Breach Oak Lane down to Smorral Lane. From there, over the M6 and back into the city to visit ma. I'd spend a nice day with her then take the direct route back to Radford.

I did that ride 3 or 4 times a visit, 6 times a year, for 2.5 years before my mum died. I really liked those lumpy lanes NW of Coventry, made more challenging by doing them in a 39/15 gear.

Yes its the lane that goes under the M6, in the past I've not ridden these lanes much, I was usually further afield, but now my cycling is being limited by my Good Lady's health I'm riding them more, also the area round Baginton, Cubbinton and Hatton.

 

[ColinJ]

Yes its the lane that goes under the M6, in the past I've not ridden these lanes much, I was usually further afield, but now my cycling is being limited by my Good Lady's health I'm riding them more, also the area round Baginton, Cubbinton and Hatton.

I was just getting into exploring them as a youngster but then my bike was stolen from school, and that was the end of my cycling for 20 years!

It's a pity that I spent the insurance money on a stereo system rather than a replacement bike...

 

[Deleted member 1258]

I was just getting into exploring them as a youngster but then my bike was stolen from school, and that was the end of my cycling for 20 years!

It's a pity that I spent the insurance money on a stereo system rather than a replacement bike...

I suspect the bike was the better option.

 

[ColinJ]

I suspect the bike was the better option.

Yes, it would have been, but I was getting into rock music then and bikes somehow didn't seem 'cool' at the time. My life would have been a lot better if I had kept on riding. My hearing would probably be a lot better now too!

 

[Deleted member 1258]

Yes, it would have been, but I was getting into rock music then and bikes somehow didn't seem 'cool' at the time. My life would have been a lot better if I had kept on riding. My hearing would probably be a lot better now too!

When I became old enough to get a licence I brought a motorbike and spent the next ten years using petrol power.

 

[classic33]

When I became old enough to get a licence I brought a motorbike and spent the next ten years using petrol power.

That's cheating!!

 

[Flick of the Elbow]

I never stopped riding the bike. Started exploring the Warwickshire lanes as a 16 year old, then 25 years club racing, moving into audaxing and touring, now simply leisure riding.

 

[Deleted member 1258]

From my Facebook page tonight, Lol.

 

[classic33]

The heat too much for everyone?

 

[ColinJ]

The heat too much for everyone?

Yesterday was the first day this year that I didn't switch any heating on at all. Today was the first day that I have left doors open inside the house because I haven't had to worry about cold draughts!

I am rather peeved though... I looked at today's forecast at about 03:00 and it looked good for the whole day. I felt a bit groggy when I woke up (related to lights out at 03:30 and waking up several times during the night) so I thought I'd spend some time playing about on the game-that-never-gets-completed this afternoon and then go out for a couple of hours in the evening sunshine.

By the time I looked up from the computer though, the sunshine had gone and it looked like it was getting dark 3 hours early. I checked the forecast again - RAIN - damn!

In the end my evening ride consisted only of dashing to the shops to pick up a few items for a salad and racing back before the rain arrived. Less than 2 kms ridden on what had been a nice warm and sunny day!