Tiny rides of 2023

[Kingfisher101]

A tiny ride of just 1 mile today! After being out for a run on my Cannondale I got back home and decided to have a look down to the Cockfield footpath on the Univega, complete with jazzy new bar tape. I just went to see if it was still a swamp but was pleasantly surprised ~ I think the winter traffic news terminology is 'passable with care' . Now I know I can have a crack at my local loop then, but not today, the legs were knackered after my hilly 17 miler before. Stopping on the way back up to take a couple of pictures and I spotted a grim sight just next to the bike, this poor fella lying dead at the bottom of a loose coil of fence mesh, probably went in after a mouse and couldn't get back out .

View attachment 724654 I pulled him out to have a better look, don't think he'd been dead long but very much an ex-barn owl, before depositing the corpse in the hedge back.

View attachment 724656 Anyway, the Univega with new bar tape. View attachment 724657 Only the second ride out since putting the drop bars on, it feels a little stretched but still comfortable, maybe I'll flip the stem back the proper way up and see how it goes. I still got 83 feet of climbing in even though the ride was only a mile.

Hi, Tell the Police responsible for wildlife in your area, they will get that moved. Its very sad.

 

[Windle]

Hi, Tell the Police responsible for wildlife in your area, they will get that moved. Its very sad.

I don't think the mesh had been set up as a trap, it was just the end of a roll left beside the fence, but was quite narrow. I think the owl dropped down into it but couldn't get his wings stretched wide enough to fly out, and unfortunately I don't think they can climb like parrots despite similar body architecture.

 

[Kingfisher101]

I don't think the mesh had been set up as a trap, it was just the end of a roll left beside the fence, but was quite narrow. I think the owl dropped down into it but couldn't get his wings stretched wide enough to fly out, and unfortunately I don't think they can climb like parrots despite similar body architecture.

Even if its not intentionally a trap, it needs moving so another bird or any other wildlife doesn't die.

 

[Windle]

Even if its not intentionally a trap, it needs moving so another bird or any other wildlife doesn't die.

I'll probably be down there tomorrow anyway, so I'll see if I can shift the bugger.

 

[a.twiddler]

18/3/21
Shopping trip on the Spirit.
To town and back.

A sunny day, would have liked to go for a longer ride but the jobs to do were piled up. Lucky to get out on the bike at all, methinks. So, the Spirit recumbent bike, all set to go, Garmin attached.

Out the back gate, wended my way to Swanlow lane and the uphill traffic lights. More traffic than usual, nevertheless got into the righthand lane and turned off for the short route to the town centre. Still a decent downhill. Eased on the brakes at the traffic lights at the bottom of the hill and got there just as the traffic started moving. Through the lights, left shortly afterwards to supermarket No 1 and chained up to a pillar.

Back out again to cross the road then right on a pavement cycle path, left round the corner then along a white lined cyclepath on the road until I turned up the pavement again past a supermarket car park. I cycled slowly as though there weren’t many about, the ones that were probably expected passing cyclists to be at eye level rather than waist level. Cycling under the radar has its drawbacks.

Locked up, dived into supermarket No 2. Soon out again, unlocked, down the pavement to the road then turned off for the leisure centre. Followed a path to the road behind, left then right on to Gladstone St. The gradual slope steepened and I felt the weight of the shopping holding me back. I changed down and twirled onwards, soon through a traffic chicane and on to Townfields Road, over the top and changing up again. After being held up by a queue of cars at the lights I rolled on to a T junction, then a few ups and downs arrived at my back gate.

A bit of a rush job today, wasn’t able to relax and enjoy the trip as I usually did. Still, a ride is a ride.

Distance 3.11 miles. Max speed 22.2 mph, Average speed 7 mph. According to Garmin.
Ascent 120 ft. According to Bikehike.

 

[a.twiddler]

3/4/24
Tiny Ride Today
Town Centre, Library, Shopping and back on the Spirit recumbent.

Forecast for rain later but it was dry though overcast. I’d been itching to get out on a bike to expand my mileage but for the last week the opportunity and the weather hadn’t coincided. I got my stuff together and set off through the back gate. Once on the road it was pleasant, heading for the uphill traffic lights on Swanlow Lane. Right at the lights, then next left and downhill through a mini roundabout to turn right at the next lights. Keeping pace with the slow traffic to go through the next mini roundabout and left at the following one. Left again into a service area then a dismount to take a shortcut through the precinct. Once through, hopped on again to cross another service area to the Library. As I locked up outside some raindrops began to fall. Maybe it was just a brief shower.

When I came out later, light rain was steadily falling. Ho hum. I zipped up my books, unlocked and set off back to the precinct. When I reached the exit to the service area I came to a halt at a T junction with a tall SUV blocking my view to the left when I wanted to turn right. It was a bit nadgery getting out with the intermittent traffic from some traffic lights on the left but I got out unscathed. Right at the next roundabout, right at the following one into a supermarket car park keeping a healthy distance from the cars, then to my usual barrier to lock up.

After a spot of shopping, out into the drizzle to load up again and wheel the bike down the pavement past random passers by. I hopped back on at the bottom to follow a pavement cycle path to turn right at the next junction. Soon afterwards I crossed over and rode along the road until I came to the entrance to another supermarket car park. I turned left here, knowing that there was a short path that linked to terraced streets behind the car park, with a bit more shelter from the rain.

I zig zagged through the streets climbing steadily until I reached Swanlow Lane where I turned left.

Soon I was stopped behind some traffic at Townfields Road lights; then the swoop down ready to get up my uphill turn off. A little later I was at my back gate. A pleasant ride despite the rain. With my waterproofs it would have been no problem to go for a longer ride.

Distance 3.45 miles, Max 22.3 mph, Average 7mph. According to Garmin.
Ascent 130ft. According to Bikehike.

 

[a.twiddler]

Tiny ride today
8/4/24
Shopping trip on the Linear LWB Recumbent-Town Centre.
After pumping up the tyres of my little garage tribe last week I came to the Linear a day or so later to find the rear tyre flat. Thinking it was just Presta valve-itis I pumped it up but a day or two later it was soft again. I took the wheel off but couldn’t find any leaks. There were a couple of patches on the tube already so I took it off and binned it. It had been on there for four years and I didn’t trust the valve any more. No obvious sharp points in the tyre so I put a new long valve tube in. It has a deep rim which originally had a long Schrader valved tube in but at the time I fitted a new tyre I was only able to get hold of Presta tubes with the longer valve. I’m trying to standardise on Schrader having long ago given up my sporty pretensions and the belief that Presta is wot proper cyclists use, innit. The Linear back wheel and the steel tourer are the last holdouts for Presta in my garage.

Anyhow, the wind and the rain of the last few days are having a rest so since I had to nip out to the shops I decided to check out the Linear while I was at it.

Having negotiated the various obstacles between the garage and the back gate I climbed aboard and prepared to launch. Hard to believe that I’ve not been out on the Linear since the end of January, yet everything was just so familiar.

All the controls fell easily to hand, and lift off happened uneventfully. I just had to stop after a few yards to tweak the mirror, then away we went. Onwards to Swanlow Lane, to the uphill traffic light where I was stopped. Setting off again along Swanlow Lane, rolling easily, suspecting a sneaky following wind which would extract its penalty later. Not much traffic but I stopped again at a red light on the A54 roundabout. Finally getting into high gear on the long downhill only to have to ease on the brakes at a pedestrian crossing light, didn’t have to put a foot down but lost speed as the traffic got going again. Rolled to a halt again at the cyclists’ advance line waiting to turn right at the town centre lights. Finally on to the pavement cycle path and left en route to my regular supermarket, left again through some bollards then waited for a crowd of shoppers to go by. I was locking up to the familiar barrier when one of the trolley guys grumbled about getting his trolleys past. I parked tight up against the barrier. Not been a problem previously. Just have to park somewhere else next time. Out again with my shopping, moved the bike to another spot to load up.

Across the car park, left at the exit roundabout, right at the next one into Dingle Lane, over the speed humps then across the pavement at the end. Into Gladstone St, uphill, passing a newly widened spot where the previously existing traffic chicane used to be. Fresh black tarmac and a speed hump now took its place. Uneventfully on to Townfields Road where the anticipated headwind had gone AWOL, not that I was complaining. There was a queue stopped at the Swanlow Lane traffic lights so I took an illicit shortcut over the pavement to turn left. The pedestrian crossing warning was bleeping, stopping traffic, so I nipped on to the road while the coast was clear to get up speed for my uphill turn off. I am a terrible example to the young and impressionable amongst you out there. I urge you not to follow my example!

Soon I was rolling downhill to my back gate. I need to be getting more miles in. Hopefully the weather will improve from now on and I can stretch them out a bit.

3.24 miles. Max 22.7. Average 7mph. According to Garmin.
Ascent 115ft. According to Bikehike.

 

[DCBassman]

My first ride of any sort since August 2023! Lack of mojo and a broken bike called the halt. Finally got off my backside, built up a new-to-me frame with the parts from the Scott, and today was the first/test ride. All is well.

 

[Windle]

Finally a chance of a short evening ride not blighted by wazzing rain or howling gale. I've recently swapped the stem of my Giant XTC4 and Univega round as the Univega felt a bit too stretched out after I'd put drop bars on it and the Giant has always felt a bit too short. Job jobbed the other night I sneaked a ride on the Univega and all was well. Tonight was the Giant's turn, just the usual route down Scotland Lane and along the railway line, up the farm track to the road and down to the railway line path, whence I retraced the route. It was a fairly sunny evening but the wind was still freezing, blowing from the north again. The bike feels better for the 35mm longer stem (it's original stem is now on the Trek 810). The farm track that runs almost parallel to the railway which is lower down the fell side.

It's surprising how quickly the tracks are drying out, warmer temperatures and undoubtedly the wind has helped, this was a dark brown bog last week.

Retaining wall in the deep part of the railway cutting.

Your bike in front of some water? Most definitely! This must be a small field drain but its been a flood for ages, I can't recall ever seeing it as bad as it's been recently and it's dried out in the past few days.

Back home after a 5.6 mile trundle with a couple of hundred feet of climbing. I still love this bike, my first proper mountain bike, which I bought off a work colleague in late 2009 and despite a few niggles (it'd probably benefit from a new drivetrain) it rides really well and is surprising light for an aluminium frame.

 

[a.twiddler]

26/4/24
Shopping trip on the Spirit recumbent bike.
Some sunshine today, though a cold wind, and cool in the shade. After the half century nearly two weeks ago I’d been hoping to do another one to build on it but due to weather and Mrs T’s gardening aspirations it didn’t happen. So I made the most of this opportunity.

The Spirit has proved itself handy round town and all the gear was on it already so it was a no brainer to use it for some shopping. As it happened the luxury length of the Linear would have been no drawback if it it had been ready to go, as there were no obstacles despite the town centre still being topsy turvy due to the ongoing refurbishments. Useful to bear in mind for future trips.

Out through the back gate, diagonally across to an estate road, into a chilly headwind. I pressed on, expecting to warm up as I went on. Up a small hill, then on the flat for a while. Feeling pretty unfit today.

Soon I was at a T junction, left and enjoying a downhill, holding on to the speed as it levelled out then slowly bleeding away. Trundling steadily into the wind until I came to the uphill to a T junction with Oakmere Road. I turned right along the pavement as the uphill continued then levelled before reaching Over roundabout. I came up behind a middle aged man who was waiting to cross the dual carriageway at a crossing. He didn’t seem surprised to see me on the pavement. With the busy traffic on the dual carriageway it seems be to an accepted thing. All he said was, “smart bike”. I took a shortcut to Swanlow Lane, turned left to the roundabout then followed it round to the long downhill to the town centre. Despite the strong cold wind in my face I kept pace with the traffic and turned right at the town centre lights. The temporary pedestrian lights were red but I was going left into the precinct so I dismounted and wheeled through the narrow entrance hemmed in by boards with the contractor’s name on. The narrow section went on for a good few yards before opening out into a square where the war memorial used to be.

The war memorial is going to be resited outside the Library, not too far away. I hopped on and rode across the square, hopping off again to enter the precinct itself. Do I have frog’s legs? Doing a lot of hopping today. Hopping as well as shopping, it seems.

After locking the bike to a pillar I nipped into a shop for an item before unlocking and heading out of the precinct and downhill. Soon I was outside a supermarket where I locked the bike to a barrier keeping well away from the trolley access. In and out again I was quickly under way downhill to turn right on to a pavement cycle path. I followed it to the next junction, turned right then when the road was clear, crossed over and followed it to the right. Through a temporary pedestrian light, then just before the town centre traffic lights left on to a pavement for the long pull up to Over roundabout. Steadily uphill, the following wind didn’t seem to be helping much but the distance went by easily enough.

The traffic was busy at the roundabout so I took the pavement option alongside Oakmere Road. I didn’t get far before a man in a wheelchair came up the hill pushing laboriously with his arms.

I pulled back and moved over to let him get past. As he got closer I saw that he was a Chinese guy with no legs. As he came level he stopped and smiled and made pedalling movements with his arms. “It’s a very nice bike” I said. He nodded and went on his way.

As I trundled downhill I considered how the sight of a recumbent has the ability to make the most unexpected people smile.

I reached the point where an estate road turned to the left, got on the tarmac and rolled down a long hill. The road swept to the left at the bottom then was level for a while. Annoyingly, the cold wind was in my face again. Still, I was well warmed up by now, and was soon up a short hill, turning off to the right, level and down a short steep hill. I was soon at my back gate. Not such a nice day today, but no ride is wasted, especially if I can spread a little happiness on the way.

Distance 5.04 miles, Max speed 22.4 mph, Average 7.9 mph. Ascent 200 ft.

Felt like hard work, and slow, today. Must get out more. I checked my dates and find I’ve done 18 rides in 17 weeks, just keeping ahead of one ride per week average. I feel that shadowy presence behind me, and will feel better once the weather improves and I can do several rides a week for a few weeks to open out the gap. It has certainly been a sparse one for cycling this year so far.

 

[All uphill]

Out on my new-to-me 1986 Halfords folding bike, accompanied by Ms AU on her commuter.

Tootled around a few streets to French Weir in Taunton. Sat on a bench listening to competing woodpeckers drumming while we drank coffee.

Lots of people enjoying the open space and improved weather. Great to see.

Back on the bikes for a different route home.

3 miles.

 

[Windle]

Yesterday evening I enjoyed the first ride of the year in shorts and short sleeved top! A balmy feeling 16 degrees C with a warm southerly wind rather than the freezing cold northerlies we've been having lately. Only 5.7 miles of up & down some local routes but it was a lovely change weather wise and I can now look forward to some decent warm weather riding (hopefully).
Marlin 7 against one of the wonky stone gateposts of the footpath / farm track across to Cockfield.

 

[Windle]

A short but savagely graded ride this evening, half a mile down the road, then through the hole in the wall, down through the (increasingly Bluebell filled) wood and across the field to Raby Castle entrance gate, the purpose ~ to see how many feet of climbing there is on the way back up. I rode down this way a couple of weeks ago but it's a long time since I rode up it. I certainly wasn't disappointed! The narrow path at the bottom is a hike-a-bike as the path is very narrow and very uneven. Once over the stile though it's straight up across the field, peaking at 14%, on grass, then over another stile and up through the wood on a gravel path, maxing out at 12%. A proper lung bruiser, especially as the Univega refused to let me in the granny ring of the triple. By the time I got back to the hole in the wall I'd clocked 247 feet of climbing in about 0.7 mile, on grass & gravel. I rode back up the road past home and did a brief warm down part way up Scotland lane & back. Still enjoyed it mind .
The hole in the wall, with a better view of the remains of the iron stile that used to adorn it.

The busy A688 away behind the wall on the last narrow part just before the castle entrance.

I told you it was uphill! I was breathing so hard going up here that I was scared of ingesting sheep messages through the air intake and my tongue was nearly getting caught in the front wheel spokes!

Back at the hole in't wall, the computer was reading 3 ft of climbing at the bottom. A bit daft but worth the challenge to spice up a short run out

 

[Windle]

Bl@*dy 'ell, 'e's on here again! Yet another tiny ride in a dull & just into double figures South West County Durham. I took the old Trek 'Tank' Singletrack out this time, initially putting my cleated shoes on before realising it's got flat pedals on, durrr. A quick swap to trainers and I was off, just down Scotland Lane, along the railway and up the farm track before a brief road bit then over the stile and all the way down across Cockfield Fell at a pretty decent speed over bumpy grass (sheep jobbies occasionally flying off the front wheel) and past the Cemetery before returning via the football ground and claggy lane. 5.1 miles completed with 322 feet of climbing and a bike plastered with Mint Sauce messages.
My bike in a gate? The end of the all too brief paved section of the railway route as it passes into a cutting, the Gorse is in full bloom. Skylarks could be heard as well as a couple of warblers in the trees, I must bring the bins along next time, but then it would turn into a bird watching trip rather than a bike ride.

The stile at the top South West corner of Cockfield Fell.

Cockfield Cemetery gates (there's a song title in there).

 

[All uphill]

Out with Ms AU this morning.

We started by heading to French Weir in Taunton which was busy. On along the river to The Shed where we enjoyed a coffee.

We followed the river out of town past the theatre and cricket ground.

Sat on a bench admiring the wildlife and my latest bike.

Then headed back home for a toasted sandwich.

5 miles of pleasure.