annedonnelly
Girl from the North Country
- Location
- Blyth, Northumberland
Tiny rides of 2023
- Thread starter Hebe
- Start date
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Cathryn
Legendary Member
- Location
- Marlborough, Wiltshire
I borrowed one last January and haven't stopped thinking about it.
It will be ready when you are. I shall do my Dawes and my Specialized tomorrow.
Justinitus
Warning: May Contain Pie
- Location
- Wiltshire
You can hire them from lockers at Temple Meads station.
Or you can pop around the corner and try out one of mine 👍 I only have a choice of mid bar though. Avon Valley Cyclery in Bath (right next to train station - entrance is currently around the back) have all models to test and will let you take them out for a decent ride. Ask for Luke or Harry, very nice chaps.
a.twiddler
Veteran
Tiny ride 20/2/23
I went for a ride yesterday which I posted in Your Ride Today. Where to draw the line? I decided that if it’s more than 9.99999999999 miles it’ll go in Your Ride Today otherwise, Tiny Rides of 2023. 9.99999999999 miles can be an immense ride if you’re building up your fitness or recovering from an operation or illness, or maybe an accident has knocked your confidence. Certainly has an immense number of 9s in it.
Today, a ride on the Lengthy Linear to the Library. Usual non cycling gear, body warmer, ordinary shoes, shades and my increasingly tatty crochet’d black track mitts. Must try and find another pair of these before mine disintegrate.
Out the back gate through the side roads to Swanlow lane, then to the uphill traffic lights. Into the right hand lane but the lights changed. I waited at the cyclists’ advanced stop line and when the lights changed again only one car came the other way. A swift right turn then downhill and left with the wind behind me towards the town centre. I enjoyed this though couldn’t help wondering if I might suffer for it later, uphill against the wind. The mini roundabout was clear near the bottom so I went straight through. Ahead I could see a gaggle of cars stopped at some traffic lights but they had all cleared by the time I got there.
I took the opportunity to turn right onto a lowered pavement as there was a gap in the traffic. I wanted to nip into Specsavers on the way. I couldn’t see the sign from where I was. Perhaps I really needed to go to Specsavers! As I rolled up outside I realised the shop was temporarily closed. I decided to just carry on to the library. I chained the bike up to the handy stand and went in.
When I came out I bunged two biggish books into the nearest pannier. I soon realised that I should have put one in each for balance as it did affect low speed turning but once going I just persevered with it. Yesterday was my first test run with the front panniers on and empty, they were OK. Need to try them with light shopping next time. Anyway, along a service road, through a corner of the shopping precinct, out on to Dingle Lane, across a roundabout then over several speed humps before nipping right over a pavement en route to the climb up Gladstone St and Townfields Road.
I had to turn right at a T junction at one point, directly opposite a Primary School but despite being school run time there were no cars or kids about. Half term must be stretching for another day or so after last week.
I trundled easily uphill waiting for the wind to arrive but it never did. In the meantime I enjoyed the dramatic cloudscape, interspersed with patches of blue, the contrast enhanced by my shades.
The world briefly resumed its horizontality once more as I went up through the gears before being stopped by the lights. Then downhill to the left I went, getting up a satisfying amount of speed before turning off, getting up most of the following slope before easing off and freewheeling most of the way through local roads to my back gate.
Distance 4.32 miles. Max Speed 22.7 mph. Average Speed 9.2 mph. According to Garmin.
According to Bikehike.
79 ft per mile approx
I went for a ride yesterday which I posted in Your Ride Today. Where to draw the line? I decided that if it’s more than 9.99999999999 miles it’ll go in Your Ride Today otherwise, Tiny Rides of 2023. 9.99999999999 miles can be an immense ride if you’re building up your fitness or recovering from an operation or illness, or maybe an accident has knocked your confidence. Certainly has an immense number of 9s in it.
Today, a ride on the Lengthy Linear to the Library. Usual non cycling gear, body warmer, ordinary shoes, shades and my increasingly tatty crochet’d black track mitts. Must try and find another pair of these before mine disintegrate.
Out the back gate through the side roads to Swanlow lane, then to the uphill traffic lights. Into the right hand lane but the lights changed. I waited at the cyclists’ advanced stop line and when the lights changed again only one car came the other way. A swift right turn then downhill and left with the wind behind me towards the town centre. I enjoyed this though couldn’t help wondering if I might suffer for it later, uphill against the wind. The mini roundabout was clear near the bottom so I went straight through. Ahead I could see a gaggle of cars stopped at some traffic lights but they had all cleared by the time I got there.
I took the opportunity to turn right onto a lowered pavement as there was a gap in the traffic. I wanted to nip into Specsavers on the way. I couldn’t see the sign from where I was. Perhaps I really needed to go to Specsavers! As I rolled up outside I realised the shop was temporarily closed. I decided to just carry on to the library. I chained the bike up to the handy stand and went in.
When I came out I bunged two biggish books into the nearest pannier. I soon realised that I should have put one in each for balance as it did affect low speed turning but once going I just persevered with it. Yesterday was my first test run with the front panniers on and empty, they were OK. Need to try them with light shopping next time. Anyway, along a service road, through a corner of the shopping precinct, out on to Dingle Lane, across a roundabout then over several speed humps before nipping right over a pavement en route to the climb up Gladstone St and Townfields Road.
I had to turn right at a T junction at one point, directly opposite a Primary School but despite being school run time there were no cars or kids about. Half term must be stretching for another day or so after last week.
I trundled easily uphill waiting for the wind to arrive but it never did. In the meantime I enjoyed the dramatic cloudscape, interspersed with patches of blue, the contrast enhanced by my shades.
The world briefly resumed its horizontality once more as I went up through the gears before being stopped by the lights. Then downhill to the left I went, getting up a satisfying amount of speed before turning off, getting up most of the following slope before easing off and freewheeling most of the way through local roads to my back gate.
Distance 4.32 miles. Max Speed 22.7 mph. Average Speed 9.2 mph. According to Garmin.
Total Ascent: | 170 | ft | |
| Total Descent: | 172 | ft | |
| Start Elevation: | 191 | ft | |
| End Elevation: | 189 | ft | |
| Min Elevation: | 126 | ft | |
| Max Elevation: | 215 | ft |
79 ft per mile approx
Last edited:
cyberknight
As long as I breathe, I attack.
- Location
- Land of confusion
About 5 miles yesterday
only zwift , i joined one group ride and it was slow so i left and restarted the ride on another course and zwift kept putting me back in the event i left so i just gave up
only zwift , i joined one group ride and it was slow so i left and restarted the ride on another course and zwift kept putting me back in the event i left so i just gave up
I might take you up on that! Any purchase is definitely going to have to wait a while though. Thank you for the info too, I like Avon Valley Cyclery.
I am behind on my tiny rides. Never mind. I will get one in this week and update the thread. Not beating myself up because it’s not a competition or challenge. I am however quite amused that I’ve managed to swim further than I’ve cycled in the last week 
sevenfourate
Devotee of OCD
- Location
- Lowestoft, Suffolk
6-month long road closures, starting in Lowestoft yesterday; and because of a new £130million 3rd River Crossing:
https://www.lowestoftjournal.co.uk/...tage-shows-126-75m-third-crossing-take-shape/
https://gullwingbridge.co.uk/
........meant my wife travelling by car to work will now be time-consuming for a short'ish journey to say the least. So the normal 'Summer' cycling in has been brought forward. And also meant her first real chance to try out the new Custom-built Hybrid; we bought back in November
Late finish for her. So at 7.30pm (**Not at all on my normal cycling Radar !), i layered up in some warm gear and set off to go and meet up half-way. Cold but dry; and i couldn't believe the amount of Traffic on route [Again - all because some of the other major entries / exits around the Town are now shut].
3 or 4 unusual, but enjoyable miles
https://www.lowestoftjournal.co.uk/...tage-shows-126-75m-third-crossing-take-shape/
https://gullwingbridge.co.uk/
........meant my wife travelling by car to work will now be time-consuming for a short'ish journey to say the least. So the normal 'Summer' cycling in has been brought forward. And also meant her first real chance to try out the new Custom-built Hybrid; we bought back in November
Late finish for her. So at 7.30pm (**Not at all on my normal cycling Radar !), i layered up in some warm gear and set off to go and meet up half-way. Cold but dry; and i couldn't believe the amount of Traffic on route [Again - all because some of the other major entries / exits around the Town are now shut].
3 or 4 unusual, but enjoyable miles
Last edited:
annedonnelly
Girl from the North Country
- Location
- Blyth, Northumberland
Well I set out for a tiny ride this afternoon since we have a rare wind-free day. But my tiny ride got a bit diverted into a longer ride.
I headed down the coast to the next village. I think it's about 3 miles. Almost there a lady had fallen and a passing motorist had stopped to help. He'd had to block the cycle path with his car. I had no problem with that and just got off to walk past checking that they didn't need any help from me.
Shortly afterward I turned around and as I came back discovered that they were still there. To avoid them I diverted onto a different path and as I'd done that thought I may as well head up towards a very good, long standing ice cream shop. I haven't been that way on the bike for ages.
I made it as far as the shop but it really wasn't warm enough to eat ice cream so I went into the café instead. While I was sitting a group of ambulance staff came in for ice cream. One guy was obviously a regular and was introducing his colleagues to it. That's a regular thing - those of us who know it always recommend it to visitors. Shortly after they left with their 99s an ambulance passed with blue lights flashing and sirens going. I do hope they'd managed to finish the ice cream before they had to rush off.
I headed home and managed to get back just in time to catch the last of the World Book Day characters heading home from school, including a five foot inflatable dinosaur! I do wonder how easy that would be to wear in the classroom all day
I headed down the coast to the next village. I think it's about 3 miles. Almost there a lady had fallen and a passing motorist had stopped to help. He'd had to block the cycle path with his car. I had no problem with that and just got off to walk past checking that they didn't need any help from me.
Shortly afterward I turned around and as I came back discovered that they were still there. To avoid them I diverted onto a different path and as I'd done that thought I may as well head up towards a very good, long standing ice cream shop. I haven't been that way on the bike for ages.
I made it as far as the shop but it really wasn't warm enough to eat ice cream so I went into the café instead. While I was sitting a group of ambulance staff came in for ice cream. One guy was obviously a regular and was introducing his colleagues to it. That's a regular thing - those of us who know it always recommend it to visitors. Shortly after they left with their 99s an ambulance passed with blue lights flashing and sirens going. I do hope they'd managed to finish the ice cream before they had to rush off.
I headed home and managed to get back just in time to catch the last of the World Book Day characters heading home from school, including a five foot inflatable dinosaur! I do wonder how easy that would be to wear in the classroom all day
Well I set out for a tiny ride this afternoon since we have a rare wind-free day. But my tiny ride got a bit diverted into a longer ride.
I headed down the coast to the next village. I think it's about 3 miles. Almost there a lady had fallen and a passing motorist had stopped to help. He'd had to block the cycle path with his car. I had no problem with that and just got off to walk past checking that they didn't need any help from me.
Shortly afterward I turned around and as I came back discovered that they were still there. To avoid them I diverted onto a different path and as I'd done that thought I may as well head up towards a very good, long standing ice cream shop. I haven't been that way on the bike for ages.
I made it as far as the shop but it really wasn't warm enough to eat ice cream so I went into the café instead. While I was sitting a group of ambulance staff came in for ice cream. One guy was obviously a regular and was introducing his colleagues to it. That's a regular thing - those of us who know it always recommend it to visitors. Shortly after they left with their 99s an ambulance passed with blue lights flashing and sirens going. I do hope they'd managed to finish the ice cream before they had to rush off.
I headed home and managed to get back just in time to catch the last of the World Book Day characters heading home from school, including a five foot inflatable dinosaur! I do wonder how easy that would be to wear in the classroom all day
I am amused by the idea of 99s for 999 responders. I hope the fallen lady was ok. Any ride with a cafe is a win 🏆
I hope Mrs @sevenfourate enjoyed her new hybrid!
My tiny ride will have to be at the weekend, the week has filled up.
annedonnelly
Girl from the North Country
- Location
- Blyth, Northumberland
Me too! She seemed elderly and there was a bit of blood on the pavement. I think perhaps she'd hit her face
I didn't look closely as I know I'd hate people peering at me in those circumstances.
a.twiddler
Veteran
Tiny ride today 2/3/23
Overcoming the barrier
My objective today was a tiny trike ride to measure up our local “A” frame barrier to see if the tweaks I’d made to the handlebars on the trike would let me ride straight through, with a view to doing longer trips using routes where these things are common.
Dry, cloudy, occasionally sunny. Light wind. Set off through the back gate in the high gear range. Found my way to Swanlow lane and the uphill traffic lights, intending to turn right. More traffic than I’d expected, so went straight on. When it eased, I did a U turn and approached the lights from the other direction, then turned left. Up a hump, then downhill to turn left downhill again to the town centre. Not much wind, but it was in my face. Still, promising for the return journey. All clear at a mini roundabout so straight through then a red light ahead so I hopped on to the painted cycle path on the pavement and bypassed the lights and a pedestrian crossing before hopping back on the road 50 yards further on.
A slight uphill to the traffic lights at the A54 dual carriageway, with a smattering of traffic and a red light in the middle lane. A longish delay before being able to cross the steeply cambered road on to Grange Lane. Then over various speed bumps and the least worst of the array of potholes until the surface smoothed out. A long slight downhill followed by a long slight uphill then level and left into the sports complex car park. I followed the path then stopped briefly to change the chain to the lower gear ratio. I rolled steadily downhill past the sports fields then started the climb to the exit barrier. Gently at first, then steepening, it was no real effort. I took a photo before going through the barrier,
and tucking myself in, rolled straight through. I stopped on the other side and took a photo of the trike in the barrier. There is daylight between it and the barrier, but not much. It emphasises how small the trike actually is.
Flushed with success, I pulled it forward, hopped on and headed up the steep lane. I undramatically climbed to the top, turned right uphill on to an estate road then worked my way through the gears as the slope eased. Shortly before a T junction with Delamere St I stopped to put the chain onto the higher gear range then turned left. A good stretch of road, not much traffic, with gentle undulations allowing easy progress. Plenty of potholes to avoid or endure, and speed humps galore. After surviving the trial by road irregularities I reached the A54 roundabout. Despite the traffic queueing to get into the road I was exiting the roundabout was clear. I went while the going was good, speed diminishing as I reached my exit and climbed the invisible hill. Over a hump, some easy rolling before a long gradual uphill. The traffic was sparse, no pressure from following vehicles. Speed wasn’t spectacular but I kept pushing those pedals. Soon travelling downhill again to some traffic lights, through on green, down a dip with no traffic to impose speed or direction changes, up the other side, speed dropping. Ahead, a parked car. Imminently approaching, a large oncoming lorry with a following gaggle of cars. I turned right on to a lowered pavement and after 25 yards turned right again on an estate path.
Where it met a cul de sac I greeted a familiar object in the middle of the path. Hello, fat bollard.
Last time I passed through coming the other way I passed it on what would be the right side from this direction. The gaps looked the same width, so I tried the left side today after taking a photo. I came to an abrupt halt. Not properly lined up? I pulled back and tried again. Not quite. Another try, and I was through. I took a photo from the other side. Goodbye, fat bollard. Goodbye, crazy tricyclist.
Leaving the trail of the lonesome bollard behind I exited the close and turned right at a T junction. Soon I was in my own close, on to my drive and parking the trike in the garage.
Conclusion
Handlebar mods are successful as far as that particular barrier is concerned. No issues riding straight through. Hopefully, other barriers of that type don’t vary in size too much.
Distance 4.59 miles Max 21.1 mph Average 7mph according to Garmin.
According to Bike Hike
61 ft per mile approx
Overcoming the barrier
My objective today was a tiny trike ride to measure up our local “A” frame barrier to see if the tweaks I’d made to the handlebars on the trike would let me ride straight through, with a view to doing longer trips using routes where these things are common.
Dry, cloudy, occasionally sunny. Light wind. Set off through the back gate in the high gear range. Found my way to Swanlow lane and the uphill traffic lights, intending to turn right. More traffic than I’d expected, so went straight on. When it eased, I did a U turn and approached the lights from the other direction, then turned left. Up a hump, then downhill to turn left downhill again to the town centre. Not much wind, but it was in my face. Still, promising for the return journey. All clear at a mini roundabout so straight through then a red light ahead so I hopped on to the painted cycle path on the pavement and bypassed the lights and a pedestrian crossing before hopping back on the road 50 yards further on.
A slight uphill to the traffic lights at the A54 dual carriageway, with a smattering of traffic and a red light in the middle lane. A longish delay before being able to cross the steeply cambered road on to Grange Lane. Then over various speed bumps and the least worst of the array of potholes until the surface smoothed out. A long slight downhill followed by a long slight uphill then level and left into the sports complex car park. I followed the path then stopped briefly to change the chain to the lower gear ratio. I rolled steadily downhill past the sports fields then started the climb to the exit barrier. Gently at first, then steepening, it was no real effort. I took a photo before going through the barrier,
and tucking myself in, rolled straight through. I stopped on the other side and took a photo of the trike in the barrier. There is daylight between it and the barrier, but not much. It emphasises how small the trike actually is.
Flushed with success, I pulled it forward, hopped on and headed up the steep lane. I undramatically climbed to the top, turned right uphill on to an estate road then worked my way through the gears as the slope eased. Shortly before a T junction with Delamere St I stopped to put the chain onto the higher gear range then turned left. A good stretch of road, not much traffic, with gentle undulations allowing easy progress. Plenty of potholes to avoid or endure, and speed humps galore. After surviving the trial by road irregularities I reached the A54 roundabout. Despite the traffic queueing to get into the road I was exiting the roundabout was clear. I went while the going was good, speed diminishing as I reached my exit and climbed the invisible hill. Over a hump, some easy rolling before a long gradual uphill. The traffic was sparse, no pressure from following vehicles. Speed wasn’t spectacular but I kept pushing those pedals. Soon travelling downhill again to some traffic lights, through on green, down a dip with no traffic to impose speed or direction changes, up the other side, speed dropping. Ahead, a parked car. Imminently approaching, a large oncoming lorry with a following gaggle of cars. I turned right on to a lowered pavement and after 25 yards turned right again on an estate path.
Where it met a cul de sac I greeted a familiar object in the middle of the path. Hello, fat bollard.
Last time I passed through coming the other way I passed it on what would be the right side from this direction. The gaps looked the same width, so I tried the left side today after taking a photo. I came to an abrupt halt. Not properly lined up? I pulled back and tried again. Not quite. Another try, and I was through. I took a photo from the other side. Goodbye, fat bollard. Goodbye, crazy tricyclist.
Leaving the trail of the lonesome bollard behind I exited the close and turned right at a T junction. Soon I was in my own close, on to my drive and parking the trike in the garage.
Conclusion
Handlebar mods are successful as far as that particular barrier is concerned. No issues riding straight through. Hopefully, other barriers of that type don’t vary in size too much.
Distance 4.59 miles Max 21.1 mph Average 7mph according to Garmin.
Total Ascent: | 140 | ft | |
| Total Descent: | 149 | ft | |
| Start Elevation: | 191 | ft | |
| End Elevation: | 181 | ft | |
| Min Elevation: | 136 | ft | |
| Max Elevation: | 219 | ft |
61 ft per mile approx
annedonnelly
Girl from the North Country
- Location
- Blyth, Northumberland
Afre you always going to have to manually move the chain for the other gear ratios? Or is there some sort of mod you can do? Seems a bit of a faff that might spoil a nice ride.
