- Location
- Shrewsbury, Shropshire
Yes, I have a few ideas but haven't currently got the funds. Not too worried about that though as I've got the spec of the Raleigh just how I want it at the moment.
Your ride today.... (part 1)
- Thread starter gbb
- Start date
- Status
Page may contain affiliate links. Please see terms for details.
Dangermouse
MousePower
Yes, I have a few ideas but haven't currently got the funds. Not too worried about that though as I've got the spec of the Raleigh just how I want it at the moment.
Looks good too
Nothing much on today so headed for Holme Moss as I've never attempted it before, dont think I'll attempt it again 
seemed to drag on for ages but the gradient didn't feel ridiculous but then when I turned around at the summit and headed home I really felt it in the legs, and average speed, on the hills on the way home which normally I cope with, nice ride out though and its a tick on my list 
33 miles with just over 3800 feet of climbing.
And just to prove to my self that I actually got there a shameless selfie
seemed to drag on for ages but the gradient didn't feel ridiculous but then when I turned around at the summit and headed home I really felt it in the legs, and average speed, on the hills on the way home which normally I cope with, nice ride out though and its a tick on my list 33 miles with just over 3800 feet of climbing.
And just to prove to my self that I actually got there a shameless selfie
D
Deleted member 23692
Guest
As yesterday's planned ride was thwarted due to the usual shite weekend weather, I made amends with a quick post-work 19 mile ride on my slick shod MTB.
Sorry there's no rest-stop photo because I didn't stop
I do have a map though.
Sorry there's no rest-stop photo because I didn't stop
I do have a map though.
gavgav
Legendary Member
We had the same thing with a hoot on Saturday, from a foreign camper van and I agree that it wasn't malicious then either, as they gave us loads of roomI had organised to take Doug out to get some further mileage under his belt, however he got a last minute call wondering if he was available for a job in Glasgow, which put paid to the plan. So just me for the ride today then.
The forecast suggested a dry morning and showers in the afternoon which didn't sound enticing for a long distance ride so I decided to take the Raleigh into the hills instead and climb over the Long Mynd.
It was the usual route out as far as Leebotwood where I climbed up the High Park side this time. There was a stop on the way up to rescue a lamb that had got out onto the road but couldn't find his way back into the field.
The path across the top is still really rough where new stone has been laid. My suspicion is that they aren't going to do anything else with it which is a shame as it was possible to cruise across the plateau quite nicely on the old surface.
I stopped for lunch at the summit, and met a group of chatty walkers who took a great interest in the bike
The trip back was fairly straightforward - the wind was light so even though I was riding against it I wasn't slowed down, a guy hooted before overtaking which made me jump (don't think it was malicious - just a warning that he was passing like they do in some places abroad), I had to lower the saddle as it still seemed a little high after my winter adjustments and I got a fly in the eye near Ryton - that smarted a bit.
35.7 miles today at 12.5 mph average.
View attachment 43592
I passed through Woolstaston on the climb up to High Park.
View attachment 43593
Pole Bank. Not much in the way of a view today due to the mist.
View attachment 43594
There was a bit of activity at the Gliding Club, but no aircraft up today - I think the wind was too light for them.
View attachment 43595
After the recent rain it was rather muddy on the Portway.
View attachment 43596
An attempt at an arty shot on the path from the Portway heading to Nutbatch.
View attachment 43597
The view back towards the Gliding Club - it's where the group of trees and the white blobs are far in the distance.
View attachment 43598
Descending through the Forestry Commission plantation..........
View attachment 43599
........down into Nutbatch.
Saluki
World class procrastinator
- Location
- ...Norwich over the water.
We decided to mix it up a bit today. We went here. Hopefully the link will work.
We took the MTBs out of the shed, dusted them off and squirted a bit of lube in the vague direction of the chain, loaded them into the car and then got shouted at by her downstairs and told not to be "so effing unreasonable, don't you know I am trying to sleep here and you are talking and banging about". I pointed out that it was 4.30 in the afternoon and she should shut the eff up. We then carried on loading bikes, helmets, water bottles and scrunched about on our gravel bit where we park our car. Childish? For sure but it made us feel better for the next 2 minutes or so.
Once at Whitlingham, we parked in the first place we could and as far away from the Broad as we could as we wanted to cycle down the road, not drive down it. After all, we were out for a bike ride and not a drive. Ken got the new Garmin Edge Touring on to his MTB (Giant Revel) and I put the saddle bag on my MTB (Spesh Hardrock). We discovered that Ken had only one of his gloves so he rode gloveless rather than try to emulate Michael Jackson on a bike ride.
We pedalled along and soon found the proper car park, the one you have to pay for, interestingly there were quite a few cars there, and cycled across it to the trail. Its about 3 miles round and we did a quick lap, then we did another and then got bored so we carried on up Whitlingham Lane and then decided that we would ride round one of the dog walks we do when walking 'city' dogs.
That was a bit fun, that bit. We swung left to the track and what happened next went through my head as follows:
Hmmm, bit quick I can't bunny hop that at this speed without falling off
Tapped the brakes a bit.
Hmmm, bit slow now I can't bunny hop that this slowly without falling off.
Tried to speed up.
Hit the Kerb
Fell off
Felt a pratt
Sat up and looked about
Nobody but Ken about to witness looking a pratt.
Laughed a lot and got up and got back on the bike
Realised that I had really battered my duff wrist. Heigh ho. Keep riding, it'll be fine.
We then followed the dog path alongside the A47 with a nice screen of trees and bushes between us and the duel carriageway. Then we did a bit under the A47 and then we went down the narrow, lumpy bumpy trail back to near when I fell off the bike. We decided not to go back on the road as that's just boring, we'll carry on along the thin track and try not to fall into the river. We did this section slowly until we ran out of track and went back on the road.
Once back on the Road we then noticed another track to the right so we went along that and it brought us out on the Great Broad trail where we had already done 2 loops. We went right and did the back half of the loop before coming out near the car park again and then followed yet another track that brought us out on Whitlingham Lane again and back to the car.
10.85 miles in and hour and a bit, averaging 9.2mph. I also appear to be QOM on a MMR segment that I didn't know was there. As I was barely moving, heaven only knows how slowly the other ladies were going. Maybe they were watching the ducks, swans, canoeists etc too.
Great ride, will do it again really soon. Only next time we'll include the little Broad in our loop too. The path to that seemed to be closed this eveing for some reason. Sorry no pics. I put the camera out to take and then forgot. The camera on my ancient smartphone hasn't worked for years.
We took the MTBs out of the shed, dusted them off and squirted a bit of lube in the vague direction of the chain, loaded them into the car and then got shouted at by her downstairs and told not to be "so effing unreasonable, don't you know I am trying to sleep here and you are talking and banging about". I pointed out that it was 4.30 in the afternoon and she should shut the eff up. We then carried on loading bikes, helmets, water bottles and scrunched about on our gravel bit where we park our car. Childish? For sure but it made us feel better for the next 2 minutes or so.
Once at Whitlingham, we parked in the first place we could and as far away from the Broad as we could as we wanted to cycle down the road, not drive down it. After all, we were out for a bike ride and not a drive. Ken got the new Garmin Edge Touring on to his MTB (Giant Revel) and I put the saddle bag on my MTB (Spesh Hardrock). We discovered that Ken had only one of his gloves so he rode gloveless rather than try to emulate Michael Jackson on a bike ride.
We pedalled along and soon found the proper car park, the one you have to pay for, interestingly there were quite a few cars there, and cycled across it to the trail. Its about 3 miles round and we did a quick lap, then we did another and then got bored so we carried on up Whitlingham Lane and then decided that we would ride round one of the dog walks we do when walking 'city' dogs.
That was a bit fun, that bit. We swung left to the track and what happened next went through my head as follows:
Hmmm, bit quick I can't bunny hop that at this speed without falling off
Tapped the brakes a bit.
Hmmm, bit slow now I can't bunny hop that this slowly without falling off.
Tried to speed up.
Hit the Kerb
Fell off
Felt a pratt
Sat up and looked about
Nobody but Ken about to witness looking a pratt.
Laughed a lot and got up and got back on the bike
Realised that I had really battered my duff wrist. Heigh ho. Keep riding, it'll be fine.
We then followed the dog path alongside the A47 with a nice screen of trees and bushes between us and the duel carriageway. Then we did a bit under the A47 and then we went down the narrow, lumpy bumpy trail back to near when I fell off the bike. We decided not to go back on the road as that's just boring, we'll carry on along the thin track and try not to fall into the river. We did this section slowly until we ran out of track and went back on the road.
Once back on the Road we then noticed another track to the right so we went along that and it brought us out on the Great Broad trail where we had already done 2 loops. We went right and did the back half of the loop before coming out near the car park again and then followed yet another track that brought us out on Whitlingham Lane again and back to the car.
10.85 miles in and hour and a bit, averaging 9.2mph. I also appear to be QOM on a MMR segment that I didn't know was there. As I was barely moving, heaven only knows how slowly the other ladies were going. Maybe they were watching the ducks, swans, canoeists etc too.
Great ride, will do it again really soon. Only next time we'll include the little Broad in our loop too. The path to that seemed to be closed this eveing for some reason. Sorry no pics. I put the camera out to take and then forgot. The camera on my ancient smartphone hasn't worked for years.
ColinJ
Puzzle game procrastinator!
- Location
- Todmorden - Yorks/Lancs border
I escorted a friend on a confidence-building bike ride today. She wanted to do a very easy ride to a cafe in Sowerby Bridge via the Calder Valley Cycleway. I didn't tell her that I was hoping to tempt her into doing a more exciting route back over a whacking big hill because I thought it would put her off ...
Tour de France fever is starting to build here in the Calder Valley, along which the pro riders will pass on stage 2 of this year's Tour. We have already had a bunch of nutters tow a grand piano up one of the climbs as a publicity stunt, and I manage to ride through another event involving scores of riders and 5 times winner of the TdF, Bernard Hinault, without even realising what was going on ...
!
In case people somehow hadn't yet heard what is coming up in July, locals are dropping a few broad hints ...
The council is doing its bit too ...
They have even added hire bikes at the railway station! (I have not actually seen anybody riding one yet though ...)
Anyway - off we went along the cycleway. I soon noticed that the tarmac section after the railway station has been swept clean of years of accumulated debris. Then a muddy section further on has been resurfaced. It is only compacted crushed stone and a sand-like substance, but it is a lot better than what went before.
We continued through Mytholmroyd and on to the path that runs through the woods, parallel to the railway line. This too had been cleaned up, and workers were out putting up new fences either side of the path. It dawned on me that this effort is probably to welcome hundreds of cyclists to the valley and get them in to Hebden Bridge and Mytholmroyd when the TdF comes through and the roads are closed.
So, there I was tootling along, explaining all this to my pal, when BANG! I rode over a big twig which got flicked up into my front mudguard (a Crud Roadracer) and it did what it was supposed to do - sacrificed itself rather than jamming my wheel and sending me over the handlebars. Good job Cruddie, but - oh, bugger!
I stopped and removed the dangling remnants of mudguard from my bike, and put them in my bag to dispose of them when I got home.
As we proceeded along the Cycleway, we discovered that a section was closed so council workmen could use some heavy machinery in safety. More infrastructure improvements! If only we could get our roads and cycleways maintained like this when we were not expecting a world-class sporting event to hit the area ...
So, we had to get off the Cycleway near Brearley and take to the Rochdale canal towpath sooner than we normally do. I was on my road bike so I was concerned that it might be as rough and potholed as it was last time I was along there, about a year ago. Nope - those pesky workers have been out improving that too - *gasp*!
How's that for a nice offroad route! (Spot the bluebells ...)
Even the steep, normally muddy and gravel-strewn slope off the towpath onto the backstreet leading into Sowerby Bridge had been resurfaced. It is now tarmac with little cobbled strips across to act as speedbumps.
We arrived in SB, and had our cafe stop. It was very pleasant there in the sunshine (apart from the traffic noise from a nearby A-road). My pal said that she had enjoyed the ride so far and didn't want to head straight back. Aha - my opportunity! I suggested a longer, more scenic alternative - ride back to Luddenden Foot, cross the busy A646 and then climb up steep(ish) Solomon hill towards the village of Midgley. She was a bit worried about the hill, but agreed to have a go. In fact, she managed to ride up the first half and then walked the rest.
We decided to extend the ride further by detouring up the Luddenden valley to Booth, then climb up lovely Jerusalem Lane, before hairpinning back to the left and descending into Midgley.
On the way up Height Road beyond the village, I beheld a fearsome sight ... I don't like to worry @potsy, but the scourge of Highland cattle seems to be spreading!
From the summit, it was a rapid plunge down Birchcliffe Road back into Hebden Bridge.
I enjoyed riding even slower than I usually do and watching someone else exceed their own expectations. My friend was a bit sore and tired by the time we got back, but I think tackling 25 km (15.5 miles) including a big, steep hill is a good effort for someone who hardly ever rides a bike!
Tour de France fever is starting to build here in the Calder Valley, along which the pro riders will pass on stage 2 of this year's Tour. We have already had a bunch of nutters tow a grand piano up one of the climbs as a publicity stunt, and I manage to ride through another event involving scores of riders and 5 times winner of the TdF, Bernard Hinault, without even realising what was going on ...
!In case people somehow hadn't yet heard what is coming up in July, locals are dropping a few broad hints ...
The council is doing its bit too ...
They have even added hire bikes at the railway station! (I have not actually seen anybody riding one yet though ...)
Anyway - off we went along the cycleway. I soon noticed that the tarmac section after the railway station has been swept clean of years of accumulated debris. Then a muddy section further on has been resurfaced. It is only compacted crushed stone and a sand-like substance, but it is a lot better than what went before.
We continued through Mytholmroyd and on to the path that runs through the woods, parallel to the railway line. This too had been cleaned up, and workers were out putting up new fences either side of the path. It dawned on me that this effort is probably to welcome hundreds of cyclists to the valley and get them in to Hebden Bridge and Mytholmroyd when the TdF comes through and the roads are closed.
So, there I was tootling along, explaining all this to my pal, when BANG! I rode over a big twig which got flicked up into my front mudguard (a Crud Roadracer) and it did what it was supposed to do - sacrificed itself rather than jamming my wheel and sending me over the handlebars. Good job Cruddie, but - oh, bugger!
I stopped and removed the dangling remnants of mudguard from my bike, and put them in my bag to dispose of them when I got home.
As we proceeded along the Cycleway, we discovered that a section was closed so council workmen could use some heavy machinery in safety. More infrastructure improvements! If only we could get our roads and cycleways maintained like this when we were not expecting a world-class sporting event to hit the area ...
So, we had to get off the Cycleway near Brearley and take to the Rochdale canal towpath sooner than we normally do. I was on my road bike so I was concerned that it might be as rough and potholed as it was last time I was along there, about a year ago. Nope - those pesky workers have been out improving that too - *gasp*!
How's that for a nice offroad route! (Spot the bluebells ...)
Even the steep, normally muddy and gravel-strewn slope off the towpath onto the backstreet leading into Sowerby Bridge had been resurfaced. It is now tarmac with little cobbled strips across to act as speedbumps.
We arrived in SB, and had our cafe stop. It was very pleasant there in the sunshine (apart from the traffic noise from a nearby A-road). My pal said that she had enjoyed the ride so far and didn't want to head straight back. Aha - my opportunity!
I suggested a longer, more scenic alternative - ride back to Luddenden Foot, cross the busy A646 and then climb up steep(ish) Solomon hill towards the village of Midgley. She was a bit worried about the hill, but agreed to have a go. In fact, she managed to ride up the first half and then walked the rest.We decided to extend the ride further by detouring up the Luddenden valley to Booth, then climb up lovely Jerusalem Lane, before hairpinning back to the left and descending into Midgley.
On the way up Height Road beyond the village, I beheld a fearsome sight ... I don't like to worry @potsy, but the scourge of Highland cattle seems to be spreading!
From the summit, it was a rapid plunge down Birchcliffe Road back into Hebden Bridge.
I enjoyed riding even slower than I usually do and watching someone else exceed their own expectations. My friend was a bit sore and tired by the time we got back, but I think tackling 25 km (15.5 miles) including a big, steep hill is a good effort for someone who hardly ever rides a bike!
Last edited:
ScotiaLass
Guru
- Location
- Middle Earth
A quick 10.5 miles down to the Kelpies and around Helix Park.
Glorious morning, so I stopped to take some photos with my Nikon Coolpix...no further words are need
The magnificent Kelpies
Priscilla is dwarfed!
This is how to travel with your bike!
Lovely!
This cygnet followed me around the Lagoon!
Priscilla at the Lagoon
Glorious morning, so I stopped to take some photos with my Nikon Coolpix...no further words are need
The magnificent Kelpies
Priscilla is dwarfed!
This is how to travel with your bike!
Lovely!
This cygnet followed me around the Lagoon!
Priscilla at the Lagoon
BigonaBianchi
Yes I can, Yes I am, Yes I did...Repeat.
- Location
- Iskele TRNC & Mordor UK
KEEF
Veteran
- Location
- BURNOPFIELD
welsh dragon
Thanks but no thanks. I think I'll pass.
Looks lovely. Great scenery
Saluki
World class procrastinator
- Location
- ...Norwich over the water.
We got up, walked the dogs, came on here for a natter and then went off to Thorpe Marriott & parked in a client's drive. We unloaded the MTBs, lidded up and rode down her road and towards the Marriotts Way Cyclepath (Cyclepath No. 1 for those who are interested). We rode into Norwich and parked at the secure bike cage at St Andrew's Car Park and then wandered into the city and had breakfast at Girraffe (Strangled eggs on focaccia with a grilled tomato or 5 for good measure) then walked back to the bikes and swapped bikes for the return trip.
Hubby has knobblies on his MTB and I have lovely Schwalbe Land Cruiser tyres. Hubby was knacker and the tyres didn't help. At Station Rd Drayton we got off and pushed up the gravel hill as the last time we tried to ride up it, I fell off. Its big gravel and a PITA to ride up. Quite interesting going down in fact, then again we are a bit wussy. We also walked up the first bit of the hill once off the Marriotts and back into Thorpe Marriott. I faffed my gears up and riding a bike too big for me was not best helpful either. Once at the top I got back on and rode the rest of the way back, even up the hilly bit as I got my gears organised in advance this time.
Nice ride 13.28 miles all in all in 90 mins and 18 seconds. Not fast but then we didn't mean to be fast. We poddled along looking at the horses, various jack russells diving in and out of the hedges, dodged joggers and walkers. Its a busy wee route is the Marriotts. No horses today on the trail, which makes a change.
Hubby has knobblies on his MTB and I have lovely Schwalbe Land Cruiser tyres. Hubby was knacker and the tyres didn't help. At Station Rd Drayton we got off and pushed up the gravel hill as the last time we tried to ride up it, I fell off. Its big gravel and a PITA to ride up. Quite interesting going down in fact, then again we are a bit wussy. We also walked up the first bit of the hill once off the Marriotts and back into Thorpe Marriott. I faffed my gears up and riding a bike too big for me was not best helpful either. Once at the top I got back on and rode the rest of the way back, even up the hilly bit as I got my gears organised in advance this time.
Nice ride 13.28 miles all in all in 90 mins and 18 seconds. Not fast but then we didn't mean to be fast. We poddled along looking at the horses, various jack russells diving in and out of the hedges, dodged joggers and walkers. Its a busy wee route is the Marriotts. No horses today on the trail, which makes a change.
D
Deleted member 23692
Guest
Seeing as the weather this evening is very similar to last evening, I did the same ride again, so rather than type any more.....
Still no rest-stop, so no rest-stop photo
As yesterday's planned ride was thwarted due to the usual ****e weekend weather, I made amends with a quick post-work 19 mile ride on my slick shod MTB.
Sorry there's no rest-stop photo because I didn't stop
Still no rest-stop, so no rest-stop photo
SatNavSaysStraightOn
Changed hemispheres!
- Location
- ɐᴉlɐɹʇsn∀ 'ɐɹɹǝquɐƆ
Another one of my 'over to my parents' commutes' today, but thinking about a certain thread and competition that @Spinney has set, I decided to avoid some issues with some road works (light sequence not long enough and road not wide enough for a car to pass a bike even when stationary) and forfeit a strava segment (uphill one I have been 'working' on) and get a photo. There is a carving of an owl in a tree stump that I have been thinking about stopping and taking for a while, but usually I pass it on the way home which is downhill and... whoosh it is gone... so today, I stopped on the uphill and photo'ed it.
Otherwise the route out was surprisingly fast and surprisingly OK. The workmen for the road works were out early this morning, but were happy to let me through, so I got to have the nice wide NSL A road to myself for well over a mile or more, shame it was a headwind. Weather wise it was one of those WTFU mornings where I knew I was going to be cold for the first half hour (it was misty at our end) and by the time I got to my parents' it was too warm for long leggings and I was wanting to take the arms off my new top and convert it to a s/s jersey, but everytime that sunshine disappeared behind a cloud I was more than glad of the long sleeves and long leggings...
Home was quick - beat my 1hr 30 min alarm which surprised me, but I don't know what it was with the commuters tonight, but only those on mountain bikes & hybrids (with one exception) would say hello. All the roadies were grumpy were having a bad day... I kept trying and finally the last one I met, finally said hello..
The new bike continues to surprise me - strava agrees with 13 cups for today's ride - doubt I will be so quick tomorrow... it will effectively be the 3rd day in a row of 60-70km distances and that tires me out rather a lot! http://www.strava.com/activities/135493853
Otherwise the route out was surprisingly fast and surprisingly OK. The workmen for the road works were out early this morning, but were happy to let me through, so I got to have the nice wide NSL A road to myself for well over a mile or more, shame it was a headwind. Weather wise it was one of those WTFU mornings where I knew I was going to be cold for the first half hour (it was misty at our end) and by the time I got to my parents' it was too warm for long leggings and I was wanting to take the arms off my new top and convert it to a s/s jersey, but everytime that sunshine disappeared behind a cloud I was more than glad of the long sleeves and long leggings...
Home was quick - beat my 1hr 30 min alarm which surprised me, but I don't know what it was with the commuters tonight, but only those on mountain bikes & hybrids (with one exception) would say hello. All the roadies were grumpy were having a bad day... I kept trying and finally the last one I met, finally said hello..
The new bike continues to surprise me - strava agrees with 13 cups for today's ride - doubt I will be so quick tomorrow... it will effectively be the 3rd day in a row of 60-70km distances and that tires me out rather a lot! http://www.strava.com/activities/135493853
Superb.
- Status
