Todmorden - Buckstones, CONFIRMED Sat 4th Mar, 2017

[Pale Rider]

I'm cyclically engaged elsewhere and it's probably a bit late for anyone else to join you, but the ride is worth doing just to have a go at the Milnrow to Buckstones climb.

It's not steep so much as long, and is the type of climb we don't have so many of in the UK.

My cycling technique is not brilliant, but I found I could get into a nice, steady, rhythm, pushing moderately hard, but consistently, on the ebike.

A climb on which you can get your head down, settle into, and almost enjoy.

There's the chance of a bit of a breather just after Denshaw as you trundle across the reservoir dam, before the final push to the top.

It's a bit barren, not to say grim, up there, but that's how I reckon a moor top should be.

 

[ColinJ]

I'm cyclically engaged elsewhere and it's probably a bit late for anyone else to join you, but the ride is worth doing just to have a go at the Milnrow to Buckstones climb.

It's not steep so much as long, and is the type of climb we don't have so many of in the UK.

My cycling technique is not brilliant, but I found I could get into a nice, steady, rhythm, pushing moderately hard, but consistently, on the ebike.

A climb on which you can get your head down, settle into, and almost enjoy.

There's the chance of a bit of a breather just after Denshaw as you trundle across the reservoir dam, before the final push to the top.

It's a bit barren, not to say grim, up there, but that's how I reckon a moor top should be.

I was going to correct you and say that it was in fact 2 climbs, which technically it is because there is a descent to Denshaw before climbing back up to Buckstones, but I just checked the elevation profile and in reality there isn't MUCH of a descent. It is almost one long climb but you do get that short relief on the way up.

Actually, the climb starts from Newhey, down the road from Milnrow.

Oops - classic 'forgot to go to bed on night before ride' error ... That's all, folks!

 

[skudupnorth]

Have a good ride, I'm busy with other stuff or I would have dragged the new Spa tourer out

 

[sackville d]

Have a good day ColinJ,the weather looks pretty fair.

 

[ColinJ]

Have a good ride, I'm busy with other stuff or I would have dragged the new Spa tourer out

Well, see you in Cheshire, if not before - June 3rd!

Have a good day ColinJ,the weather looks pretty fair.

Thanks. Yes, it IS looking good. I was dreading opening the curtains to maybe find that it was pouring down but it seems as though yesterday's forecasts were right.

 

[Littgull]

Weather looking good. Right, porridge, fruit, toast, brew, put bottles on the bike, phone etc in jacket pocket and ready to go.

 

[Domus]

Managed 34 hilly miles.
Radcliffe, Edenfield, Rawtenstall, Haslingden, Helmshore, Holcombe Hill, Bradshaw, Bolton and Little Lever and home.
1,600+ feet, feeling quite pleased.

Getting there

 

[skudupnorth]

Weather was perfect for a ride today...... not envious honest !

 

[ColinJ]

Weather was perfect for a ride today...... not envious honest !

It was really nice until we got to Burnley, late in the ride.

We had mild, breezy conditions until we got to our cafe stop at 'Craggies' and then the sun broke through the cloud cover so we chose to sit outside. I noticed drizzle as we came down off 'The Long Causeway' to the A646. We thought about heading straight up Bacup Rd to Deerplay because the forecast was for rain shortly afterwards, but in the end we decided to stick to the planned route and continued to Manchester Rd, and up to the end of Crown Point Rd. As we climbed up towards the hillside on which The Singing Ringing Tree stands, the rain started.



The rain got heavier and heavier but at least it was late in the ride and we would soon be home.

We were pretty wet by the time we had got down from Deerplay to Bacup. We had one last climb to Sharneyford and then a rapid descent to the A6033 between Todmorden and Walsden. The original plan was to do the steep climb to Sourhall and then plunge back down the other side into Todmorden. It didn't seem like a good idea in those conditions and we felt that we had done enough climbing by then anyway.

Ride stats: A smidge short of 2,000 metres (6,500 ft) of climbing, and 103 kms (64 miles) covered.

Thanks to Littgull for his usual cheery company!



It had all gone so well ... I was looking forward to a hot shower, a pot of coffee, and a tasty snack. I started peeling off my damp cycling kit, turned round and knocked my phone off the kitchen worktop. It fell nearly a metre onto the hard, tiled floor!

The phone is in a protective flip case so I hoped that it would be okay but when I opened the front of the case, the phone's screen flickered once and then went blank. The phone is otherwise working. I can see and hear that button presses are being detected and displays updated, but without the screen the phone is useless. Er, DRAT!

The screen has no apparent physical damage and neither does the phone's case. I am just hoping that the impact loosened a connection to the screen, in which case I could reseat the connector and. I will take the phone to pieces later and see if I can repair it. If I can't then I will have to see if it would be cost-effective to pay to have it fixed.

Another ride next weekend, probably another one from Todmorden to Waddington and back. (100 km.)

 

[roadrash]

like for the ride, not the phone

 

[ColinJ]

Thanks.

I was surprised that the screen packed up with no external damage to it so I am hoping that it is just something loose inside the phone. I will check out some YouTube videos to find out how to dismantle it safely. It looks obvious that undoing a load of screws would do the job, but it would make sense to check first.

I am just doing some obvious tests on the phone ...

Ok - I removed the battery and then replaced it. I rebooted the phone and everything proceeded as normal except that the screen wasn't working. The screen did flash in one corner a couple of times so something nearly got written to it. I rang the phone from my landline and that worked too. So - it looks like it is just a screen fault.

 

[Littgull]

It was really nice until we got to Burnley, late in the ride.

We had mild, breezy conditions until we got to our cafe stop at 'Craggies' and then the sun broke through the cloud cover so we chose to sit outside. I noticed drizzle as we came down off 'The Long Causeway' to the A646. We thought about heading straight up Bacup Rd to Deerplay because the forecast was for rain shortly afterwards, but in the end we decided to stick to the planned route and continued to Manchester Rd, and up to the end of Crown Point Rd. As we climbed up towards the hillside on which The Singing Ringing Tree stands, the rain started.



The rain got heavier and heavier but at least it was late in the ride and we would soon be home.

We were pretty wet by the time we had got down from Deerplay to Bacup. We had one last climb to Sharneyford and then a rapid descent to the A6033 between Todmorden and Walsden. The original plan was to do the steep climb to Sourhall and then plunge back down the other side into Todmorden. It didn't seem like a good idea in those conditions and we felt that we had done enough climbing by then anyway.

Ride stats: A smidge short of 2,000 metres (6,500 ft) of climbing, and 103 kms (64 miles) covered.

Thanks to Littgull for his usual cheery company!

It had all gone so well ... I was looking forward to a hot shower, a pot of coffee, and a tasty snack. I started peeling off my damp cycling kit, turned round and knocked my phone off the kitchen worktop. It fell nearly a metre onto the hard, tiled floor!

The phone is in a protective flip case so I hoped that it would be okay but when I opened the front of the case, the phone's screen flickered once and then went blank. The phone is otherwise working. I can see and hear that button presses are being detected and displays updated, but without the screen the phone is useless. Er, DRAT!

The screen has no apparent physical damage and neither does the phone's case. I am just hoping that the impact loosened a connection to the screen, in which case I could reseat the connector and. I will take the phone to pieces later and see if I can repair it. If I can't then I will have to see if it would be cost-effective to pay to have it fixed.

Next ride in 2 weeks time, probably from Todmorden to Waddington and back. (100 km.)

A really enjoyable day out with @ColinJ, both the ride and chat. After the session of rain when I got just a mile or so down the road just past Walsden after bidding goodbye to Colin the road was bone dry. Amazing how localised the rain can be! Then just as I got to within 100 metres of home in Littleborough the rain reappeared.

Following a refreshing shower (not rain, I mean bathroom shower) I made a bit of pig of myself with a huge portion of home cooked quorn spaghetti bolognaise. I think I'll sleep well tonight.

 

[Littgull]

Forgot to mention, that's a bit of a calamity with your phone Colin.I hope you can get it fixed.

 

[ColinJ]

Forgot to mention, that's a bit of a calamity with your phone Colin.I hope you can get it fixed.

Thanks - I am still looking at it.

I just realised that the Waddington ride I was chatting to you about will be next weekend. It is my brother-in-law's 70th birthday party the following weekend!

 

[Littgull]

Thanks - I am still looking at it.

I just realised that the Waddington ride I was chatting to you about will be next weekend. It is my brother-in-law's 70th birthday party the following weekend!

Ah, right. I'll have to pass regarding next weekend for reasons we discussed. I'll be ok for a day (or shorter) ride on either Thursday 16th or Friday 17th March if you are free.