Tiny rides of 2023
- Thread starter Hebe
- Start date
Page may contain affiliate links. Please see terms for details.
I tiny-rided 
6.7k loop, even though my quads grumbled a bit when they realised I was serious
Strangely I picked up a couple of the little Strava medals so it was faster than I thought, as well as both colder and windier than I expected. It was nice though. I definitely won’t be waiting two months before the next one.
6.7k loop, even though my quads grumbled a bit when they realised I was serious Strangely I picked up a couple of the little Strava medals so it was faster than I thought, as well as both colder and windier than I expected. It was nice though. I definitely won’t be waiting two months before the next one.
annedonnelly
Girl from the North Country
- Location
- Blyth, Northumberland
a.twiddler
Veteran
Tiny rides of 2023.
29/4/23. The Linear goes shopping.
It’s a while since I fitted the front lowrider pannier frames and a pair of Carradice cotton duck front panniers to the Linear. I tested them with a light load then but I haven’t used them for any serious shopping. So, today’s the day.
Tyres and oily bits checked a couple of days ago. A nice day, mild with slight wind, so I decide to extend my tiny ride a bit. Out the back gate, line up the bike, climb aboard and launch with little ado. Off the kerb, across the road, mirrors are fine so no need to stop to adjust them.
Through the lanes to Swanlow Lane, dive down the dip to the uphill traffic lights, see them turn red, slow down, slow, slow, just about to put my feet down when they go green and I push away without stopping. Over the camber of the crossroads, up through the gears, past a traffic island when a tailback of cars sweeps past giving me plenty of room. I keep on rolling to the A54 roundabout. Left or right, whichever way you turn it’s a downhill dual carriageway.
I turn left today, wanting to stretch my ride a bit. The downhill is not particularly steep but it’s a mile or so long. Despite pedalling steadily in top I’m breaking no records today. Traffic obligingly lets me take the right hand lane when I stick my hand out at the bottom to turn right at the next roundabout. They usually give me a load of room anyway. No matter how languidly I stick out my hand, as long as I look like I mean it, I usually get the space. In this situation I tend to give an early signal, as somebody is bound to think they ought to get past, then a signal as I reach the hazard before moving over.
There is an unusually wide shared pedestrian/cycle path on the left here up to the entrance of the Cheshire Police HQ but the dropped pavement to give access from the road flies past before I realise it. I carry on steadily Chesterwards untroubled by traffic. Straight across the next roundabout then right at the following one back towards town. A slight but steady climb then back on the level, with a few undulations to keep me amused. I come across some backed up traffic. I turn on to the pavement to try to get past the obstruction but a parked van moves off to try to get into the traffic flow, and blocks my exit. I carry on along the pavement until the way is clear then get back on the road. Tsk! Pavement cyclists!
I roll along to the A54 roundabout thinking that I will have crossed it in four directions today. I come up behind two vehicles, one goes off round the roundabout but the other dithers although the way is clear. I arrive behind him and have to stop. No matter how much you try to think for other people they can block your way. I’d anticipated rolling steadily through the junction in high gear as I can ride slowly in high gear quite easily but having to start in high gear is something else. Still, he goes, I get started, and a slightly better downhill than earlier, down to the town centre, follows. Traffic is backed up at the lights and it takes a couple of cycles through green before I am able to turn right and get going again.
Left on to the shared cycleway then left again to follow a paved area to my supermarket of choice. A couple of pedestrians are slowly walking ahead of me so I dawdle behind them. Soon there are more people so I Fred Flintstone it the last couple of yards to a handy tall post where I lock up.
I dive in to do my shopping and bring it all out to load up. The front panniers and seat back bag take the load and there are no handling problems.
Across the car park then off to Dingle Lane, over the speed humps then across the pavement en route to the final climb. On to Gladstone Street, then Townfields Road. Over the top, then left at the lights to take a run through the dip on Swanlow Lane and the extra weight seems to help me keep going up the other side. Only a short spell of huffing and puffing before the road levels out. I carry on for a mile or so before turning right and after winding through the lanes for a short time I arrive at my back gate. The old panniers have proved themselves useful. Maybe not the sort of things in which to cart home weighty new additions if I were to start a vintage anvil collection, but certainly good enough for general purpose use.
7.04 miles. Max speed 23.3mph. Average speed 9.0 mph according to Garmin.
According to Bikehike
56.5 ft per mile ascent.
29/4/23. The Linear goes shopping.
It’s a while since I fitted the front lowrider pannier frames and a pair of Carradice cotton duck front panniers to the Linear. I tested them with a light load then but I haven’t used them for any serious shopping. So, today’s the day.
Tyres and oily bits checked a couple of days ago. A nice day, mild with slight wind, so I decide to extend my tiny ride a bit. Out the back gate, line up the bike, climb aboard and launch with little ado. Off the kerb, across the road, mirrors are fine so no need to stop to adjust them.
Through the lanes to Swanlow Lane, dive down the dip to the uphill traffic lights, see them turn red, slow down, slow, slow, just about to put my feet down when they go green and I push away without stopping. Over the camber of the crossroads, up through the gears, past a traffic island when a tailback of cars sweeps past giving me plenty of room. I keep on rolling to the A54 roundabout. Left or right, whichever way you turn it’s a downhill dual carriageway.
I turn left today, wanting to stretch my ride a bit. The downhill is not particularly steep but it’s a mile or so long. Despite pedalling steadily in top I’m breaking no records today. Traffic obligingly lets me take the right hand lane when I stick my hand out at the bottom to turn right at the next roundabout. They usually give me a load of room anyway. No matter how languidly I stick out my hand, as long as I look like I mean it, I usually get the space. In this situation I tend to give an early signal, as somebody is bound to think they ought to get past, then a signal as I reach the hazard before moving over.
There is an unusually wide shared pedestrian/cycle path on the left here up to the entrance of the Cheshire Police HQ but the dropped pavement to give access from the road flies past before I realise it. I carry on steadily Chesterwards untroubled by traffic. Straight across the next roundabout then right at the following one back towards town. A slight but steady climb then back on the level, with a few undulations to keep me amused. I come across some backed up traffic. I turn on to the pavement to try to get past the obstruction but a parked van moves off to try to get into the traffic flow, and blocks my exit. I carry on along the pavement until the way is clear then get back on the road. Tsk! Pavement cyclists!
I roll along to the A54 roundabout thinking that I will have crossed it in four directions today. I come up behind two vehicles, one goes off round the roundabout but the other dithers although the way is clear. I arrive behind him and have to stop. No matter how much you try to think for other people they can block your way. I’d anticipated rolling steadily through the junction in high gear as I can ride slowly in high gear quite easily but having to start in high gear is something else. Still, he goes, I get started, and a slightly better downhill than earlier, down to the town centre, follows. Traffic is backed up at the lights and it takes a couple of cycles through green before I am able to turn right and get going again.
Left on to the shared cycleway then left again to follow a paved area to my supermarket of choice. A couple of pedestrians are slowly walking ahead of me so I dawdle behind them. Soon there are more people so I Fred Flintstone it the last couple of yards to a handy tall post where I lock up.
I dive in to do my shopping and bring it all out to load up. The front panniers and seat back bag take the load and there are no handling problems.
Across the car park then off to Dingle Lane, over the speed humps then across the pavement en route to the final climb. On to Gladstone Street, then Townfields Road. Over the top, then left at the lights to take a run through the dip on Swanlow Lane and the extra weight seems to help me keep going up the other side. Only a short spell of huffing and puffing before the road levels out. I carry on for a mile or so before turning right and after winding through the lanes for a short time I arrive at my back gate. The old panniers have proved themselves useful. Maybe not the sort of things in which to cart home weighty new additions if I were to start a vintage anvil collection, but certainly good enough for general purpose use.
7.04 miles. Max speed 23.3mph. Average speed 9.0 mph according to Garmin.
Total Ascent: | 199 | ft | |
| Total Descent: | 198 | ft | |
| Start Elevation: | 192 | ft | |
| End Elevation: | 193 | ft | |
| Min Elevation: | 125 | ft | |
| Max Elevation: | 220 | ft |
56.5 ft per mile ascent.
- Location
- Somewhere wet & hilly in NW England.
a.twiddler
Veteran
Good ride and read but which took longer - the Tiny Ride or the write-up?
Definitely the write up! It lets me enjoy the ride twice. Better if I'd got some pictures in though.
TrishE
Über Member
Have read through the thread really encouraging to read about short trips
First ride for me for ages yesterday and just a three mile round trip to Halfords. Just a short route but enjoyed it a lot. I bought a foldy bike nearly a year ago and have hardly ridden it since and realised that I hadn't taken it for the servicing plan visits I'd paid for. I've booked it in for later this month. I've recently moved to somewhere with nice blue cycle route signs over the garden wall so I should be able to get out more now
First ride for me for ages yesterday and just a three mile round trip to Halfords. Just a short route but enjoyed it a lot. I bought a foldy bike nearly a year ago and have hardly ridden it since and realised that I hadn't taken it for the servicing plan visits I'd paid for. I've booked it in for later this month. I've recently moved to somewhere with nice blue cycle route signs over the garden wall so I should be able to get out more now
annedonnelly
Girl from the North Country
- Location
- Blyth, Northumberland
Have read through the thread really encouraging to read about short trips
First ride for me for ages yesterday and just a three mile round trip to Halfords. Just a short route but enjoyed it a lot. I bought a foldy bike nearly a year ago and have hardly ridden it since and realised that I hadn't taken it for the servicing plan visits I'd paid for. I've booked it in for later this month. I've recently moved to somewhere with nice blue cycle route signs over the garden wall so I should be able to get out more now
How exciting to have new routes to explore!
Have read through the thread really encouraging to read about short trips
First ride for me for ages yesterday and just a three mile round trip to Halfords. Just a short route but enjoyed it a lot. I bought a foldy bike nearly a year ago and have hardly ridden it since and realised that I hadn't taken it for the servicing plan visits I'd paid for. I've booked it in for later this month. I've recently moved to somewhere with nice blue cycle route signs over the garden wall so I should be able to get out more now
Lovely! I wish you many happy tiny rides.
Sunday is looking like the only dry day here for a few days.
TrishE
Über Member
Yes it's lovely I'm finding new paths too. I went on a walk with a group this morning and found more routes around the area. I've got space for a full size bike now too so I'm looking into that which will be great
TrishE
Über Member
Thank you
It was sunny here today but didn't get out for a ride as I went for a group walk and then watched the coronation on a screen in the park where I am. Might get out in the morning before work if the weather is good
Aloha tiny riders! Today’s was not so much tiny for me as barely long enough to trigger my smart watch. I blame the brutal wind, not helped by the driver turning right across my right of way without signalling. Clearly hi-vis orange jacket and pannier and actual right of way wasn’t enough. Good to know that my Paddington hard stare still works. As does my bike
annedonnelly
Girl from the North Country
- Location
- Blyth, Northumberland
Nothing more scary than a Paddington hard stare
Nothing more scary than a Paddington hard stare
I think it worked. Anyway, I got out and rode my bike, and that feels good
Next time it looks a bit too windy I’ll go for a walk instead.Windle
Über Member
- Location
- Burnthouses
All of my outside rides are tiny rides of late so Saturday's was a typical brief jaunt, just to remind myself that the Univega's gears don't work properly! 
Had a run down Scotland Lane then turned right just before Gibsneese, down the old railway line along to Cockfield Fell station and returned the reverse way. Just a brief detour on the way back, part way down the lane to Peathrow to see what the seemingly stray Minorca cockerel was up to. Well, he appeared to have been joined by a hen, so maybe he's thinking of setting up home there (I couldn't get close enough to get a decent photo).
A grand total of 5 miles and some tinkering to do to enable me to have a choice of more than three gears in each chainring, but an enjoyable run nonetheless, incorporating a mix of road, hard packed gravel railway path, dry mud and spongey fell grass.
Had a run down Scotland Lane then turned right just before Gibsneese, down the old railway line along to Cockfield Fell station and returned the reverse way. Just a brief detour on the way back, part way down the lane to Peathrow to see what the seemingly stray Minorca cockerel was up to. Well, he appeared to have been joined by a hen, so maybe he's thinking of setting up home there (I couldn't get close enough to get a decent photo).A grand total of 5 miles and some tinkering to do to enable me to have a choice of more than three gears in each chainring, but an enjoyable run nonetheless, incorporating a mix of road, hard packed gravel railway path, dry mud and spongey fell grass.
