Tiny rides of 2023

[Sixmile]

Wee 4 mile ride down to indoor football last night on the ebike. Strapped my boots onto the rack and put on a decent jacket but boyso, my legs were foundered!

It was a close enough game, thought we'd get trounced but ended up winning by 1. Jumped on the bike on the way home and racked up 4 or 5 local legends as my riding game is coming back

 

[Windle]

Only my fourth ride since mid December and a second run out from home on one of my local routes. The first ride I did back in February, round my usual Cockfield village and fell route had many sections that were extremely swampy so I gave that way a swerve this time, opting for a run down the fairly dry Scotland Lane and along the muddy railway path onto the fell for a loop round and back. A mere 5.5 miles but about 250 feet of climbing. It was only about 6 degrees for most of the half hour I was out, a bit of a contrast to last weeks ride out in mid teens temperatures. I took the Univega, now with trendy flared gravel bars which I'm sure I didn't have on last time I posted on here. The riding position is good on the hoods but a little low on the drops as the frame is a bit on the small side for drops riding. The gate to the railway path, the paved bit being relatively dry compared to the bit across the fell which is still in winter plumage.

The cattle creep under the long gone railway, the path down through here and up the other side seemed pretty dry but I didn't chance riding it as there were a few big rocks on the usual line, which I shifted. Maybe it'd been icy recently and the sheep had been curling with them.

Peering out of the odd little brick shelter across the fell with the Slack bank road behind the red brick building in the distance.

 

[All uphill]

4 miles today in the sun.

Away from home through the college grounds and over the railway bridge. A right turn brings me to Proper Job.

5 purple aubretia bought and back home past Taunton School and then over French Weir.

Great.

 

[Sixmile]

Wee 2.5 mile ride down to church this morning on the ebike with the slap top bungeed on the back rack.

The ebike is such a game changer for local short journeys, especially when the winds in yer face like this morning.

 

[Homers Double]

I managed a huge 7.8m ride on Sunday, BUT I was cycle lead for a local 5km road run race.
The extra 2.8 was the “commute “

 

[Sixmile]

Sunday seems my day of the epic little rides.

Sunday morning ebike to church debuting the Mundo Airpannier to carry my Vox bass amp and a selection of Boss pedals. The pannier was a little fiddly to work out and get right, to ensure the amp case and the rear of my left foot were kept apart. Guild bass on my back. All worked well and a 5 mile return journey was completed in beautifully dry weather.

Sunday afternoon - The in-laws are off to Australia and their horrible overweight monster cat needs fed every few days so I again, used the ebike to ride the 1000ft elevation to their house, 8 miles away to feed the wee hallion. Headwind the whole way apparently - it was bliss.

 

[Sixmile]

First school cycle pick up of the calendar year this afternoon. Fifteenth of the academic year. Need to hit it hard between now and the end of June. 5.6 mile loop on the tandem

 

[Sixmile]

Sundays come round dead quick - it was back on the ebike for the 2nd trip using the Mundo Airpannier. It's very fiddly to get anything into but once its in and attached, it feels very secure for just a piece of cargo net. Five mile round trip without a drip of sweat. Seen a woman walking 2 dogs and a shetland pony on the road on the way back.

 

[Jameshow]

Just a 6 mile ride with my 11yo daughter around the back of the moor. She has cycling proficiency tomorrow so getting some last minute practice in!

She's more confident on the bike than her siblings - probably due to her horse riding.

 

[Sixmile]

6 mile round trip to give blood yesterday evening.

21st time. Only another 79 donations to get a free lunch

 

[fossyant]

Fingers crossed I get permission to do some 'tiny rides' after my appointment today (smashed my pelvis). Hoping at least I'll get the go-ahead to bore myself to death on the turbo, then may progress to getting out on the full suspension MTB - handy machines after broken bones. I don't think riding the cross bike 'off road' is a good idea just yet. Also hoping to be able to 'bin' the crutches.

Watch this space...

 

[Windle]

Only my third tiny ride of the year, down Scotland Lane and along the railway path across Cockfield Fell & return. The surface is a bit dryer than last time and it was a lovely, spring like evening. A bit of a surprise down the end of the lane, there's been some serious de-forestation going on since I was last down here less than three weeks ago, they'll probably 'harvest' the whole lot eventually and replace it with gloomy conifers like they have with the far west end of the wood, up to the right of here.

I've always thought that if Raby Estates ever cut down the narrow bit of wood in front of us we'll get a magnificent view across to the north ridge of Swaledale, we can actually see through the trees in winter, out of the front bedroom window, across to the A66 (Smallways garage between Newsham & Greta Bridge is visible with binoculars). The downside would be the lack of shelter when we get a south westerly storm, which the wood shields us from pretty well.
At the far end of the 5.5 mile route, Bear Valley sporting it's new Middle of Lidl lock-on grips and now with in-board bar ends.