Your ride today.... (part 1)

[young Ed]

I'm not sure what was going on on the road this morning, but I wish more days were like that. Everyone was really courteous and helpful, with really good passes or holding so far back I wasn't even sure they were ever planning on overtaking me... and no, I wasn't dreaming either. Part way into town, I suddenly remember that I have a route change and need to turn right (roadworks in town are making it chaos so have bailed to the local cycle path alongside the A556) and glancing back I realise that I can't get over. It's my fault, I normally get out much sooner, but I only remembered at the last minute, so down through the gears and glance over again, still can't get over... eventually I end up opposite the junction and stop on the left - its all I can do. Preparing to wait the queue out, the very last vehicle (female driver of a 4x4) stops and waves me out; there's no oncoming traffic and nothing in the junction waiting to turn right, so it can only be me she is letting out. I thank her and get over, expecting her to also be turning right, but no, she's going straight on. She had stopped simply to let me across the junction! (twas a shame it was totally clear behind her, but it is the thought that counts)... the rest of the day pretty much continued on in that manner!

Some Cheshire sunshine - shame it was as black as night in the other direction
View attachment 49173

View attachment 49174

The wheat (?) is nearly ripe
View attachment 49175

Coming home was almost identical, with drivers of all vehicles being helpful, holding back and safely overtaking me. And on one downhill section where even cars find it difficult overtaking cyclists (queuing traffic in the opposite direction usually blocks them), the vehicle in front of me, having caught a man on a mountain bike, actually realised I had caught both of them us, and pulled over to the left behind the mtb'er so that I could pass both of them on the downhill section before the next up, and then when he did catch me up, he held way back until he turned off right behind me... If only all commutes were that easy!

(there was one black BMW that tried to spoil the day, but a very loud yell at her as she tried to turn right out of a road whilst I was turning right into it got her attention despite her windows being up! which could explain why I got a 2nd place on the next strava segment! Still she didn't ruin a very enjoyable and strangely fast (for me) day's riding.) http://www.strava.com/activities/160390175 68km and a 21.9kph average which for my commutes is quite high!

yep wheat is getting there but still a bit longer till it's ready for the combine
Cheers Ed

 

[Saluki]

I was going to have a short ride today and then get Hubster to drop me and the bike off at Happisburgh tomorrow and ride home but as I am off to Devon, I took the pretty route to the hospital tonight. So, off to Wattlefield, the outskirts of Bunwell where I was nearly taken out by a muntjak then back towards home via Ashwellthorpe. Once within a mile of home I headed off to the right and to Wreningham, out to Hethel and along the cyclepath by Lotus.
Then turned left towards Wymondham and once on the outskirts I headed right and along Hart's Farm to Waitrose and then picked up the road to Hethersett and down towards the hospital.
At the last roundabout before the hospital complex I headed off right to Eaton (I was early still), through the village and then along Bluebell to the UEA and then out on the B1108 to Colney and onto the other side of the hospital complex. I just got to the layby where we meet up and Hubster arrived.

26.38 miles in 1:45:09 so averaged 15.1mph so I was pleased with that. Getting tired towards the end although I could have carried on for maybe another 15 minutes and done 30 miles but I didn't really want to keep Hubster waiting and it was uphill in every direction.

 

[Cush]

It definitely was a lovely evening in these parts. I did my usually post-work Friday ride (albeit on a Monday) with slight variation to add another 8 miles to bring it to just over 30

... and it looks like a sausage dog balancing a ball on it's nose

30.1 miles / 200 ft ascent at 17.5mph

Interesting variation, like the way you manage to keep off the A6, though it has some nice bits between the Golden Fleece and Penrith.

 

[Spartak]

Last night I rode VC Bristol's
Evening 10 TT.
Good conditions helped me gain a
5 second PB !
U102 from Iron Acton to
Charfield roundabout & back.
Slightly undulating course.
http://app.strava.com/
activities/160506169

 

[anyuser]

Not today but last weekend, lovely weather for the C2C and two great days of riding:
Day 1
http://www.strava.com/activities/159831010
Day 2
http://www.strava.com/activities/159830985

 

[EltonFrog]

As some of you may know, my wife is a nutter. She loves her cycling and because of that, when most normal folk would plan the shortest ride to commute to work by bike (16 miles in her case) she decides to plan a longer one 50.15 miles.

I decided I would go with her this morning, just for the craic like, so we were up at bonkers past mental-o-clock, sorted the dogs and breakfast then set off on a cool beautiful sunny morning, up Whitchurch Hill, down to Goring, on to Blewbury, Wallingford, Ewelme, Christmas Common, down a nice long hill in to Henley On Thames where all the posh people were getting ready for the Regatta today. Over Thames into Wargrave, Twyford and Wynersh, our destination for a bacon sandwich and a cuppa.

I left Jane to got to work, then I cycled the shorter 16.5 miles back to Sulham

65.45 miles so far today.

 

[Archeress]

Went out for a little ride, after seeing GP and continuing on to my fiances workplace with him and having a coffee. It was now that I realised the way points I had programmed into my Garmin Etrex conflicted with an old route stored in the memory and I had no route to follow. I left Aztec West Business Park passing the duck pond following Concorde Way towards the Mall.

The cycle path passes close to some homes where the residents feed the squirrels so I stopped to watch them for a while. Passing the Mall I headed for Easter Compton heading out into the country side. I made for Over and then Lower Almondsbury, stopping for tea and flapjack at the Almondsbury Garden Centre. It was mildly annoying that they had nowhere to lock the bike up. I left to climb up the hill towards home. At the top of the climb there was an American couple on a tandem admiring the view.

They are on a tour of the UK and were heading for Wales. I advised them some directions and a pub in Tockington that does some lovely food. Their blog can be found here: http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?o=1&doc_id=14355&v=3B

Todays route: http://www.strava.com/activities/160728987

Hugs
Archeress x

 

[cosmicbike]

A lovely ride in the warm sunshine (and topped 25mph on the downhill !!)
I gave madam a good wash down - just some lubing to do now.
Happy day!

I do hope your downhill was accompanied with the appropriate 'wooohooo/geronimo/fandabidozee'

I was allowed out last night, in full laughing gear (lycra), on the road bike. Amazing how light and easy a road bike feels after a hefty hybrid. A lovely evening pedal and clocked up 20 miles.

 

[ScotiaLass]

I do hope your downhill was accompanied with the appropriate 'wooohooo/geronimo/fandabidozee'

I was allowed out last night, in full laughing gear (lycra), on the road bike. Amazing how light and easy a road bike feels after a hefty hybrid. A lovely evening pedal and clocked up 20 miles.

No. I was too busy trying not to wet my shorts!

 

[cosmicbike]

No. I was too busy trying not to wet my shorts!

Ah, so perhaps 'weeeeeeee' could have been more appropriate

 

[CharlieB]

On a whim and a lot of leave days to use up, I took the day off.
What better opportunity on a sunny morning than to do one of my fave routes out into the Chilterns.
Almost the route I led for the CC'ers last September, Wigginton, Cheddington, Mentmore, Wingrave, Cublington, Whitchurch, Waddesdon, Stone, Gt. Missenden and home to Chesham.
Some amazing long rolling descents more than make up for the ascents. This route always seems to go down more than it goes up.
50m at 16.4 mph, well it's better than working.

 

[Glow worm]

The wheat (?) is nearly ripe
View attachment 49175

I reckon that's barley. We get a lot of it around here! I always remember it as 'bendy barley' (as the ears droop over on themselves, whereas wheat is much more rigid and pointy- to use the technical term)

 

[Elybazza61]

Uneventful ride in this morning although I did average 30kph

 

[Glow worm]

A superb 48 miles here today. Had to make a site visit for work near Peterborough, so on such a nice day, it had to be done by bike. Huge thanks to @HLaB who gave me some excellent route advice on getting out of Peterborough.

First off, the 15 mile ride to Ely station. A barn owl at Swaffham Prior a highlight- still hunting at 7am. Then Ely Cathedral appeared in the distance..

Then a quick train ride to Peterborough. After leaving the suburbs via Bretton following HlaBs excellent advice, within 2.5 miles I was in a different world..

Then came the village of Marholm. They have lovely stone round there- kind of Cotswold like. The church looked beautiful, though I'm used to Norfolk churches with their huge towers, this one looked a little squashed to me, though still lovely.

Then I found a few slight hills to play with- a rare treat for a flat lander. By chance I stumbled upon a welcome farm shop and cafe called Granary or similar. I can recommend their sandwiches and I watched the swallows darting overhead into an open upper floor to their nests.

Then a bit of work got in the way at Castor Hanglands Nature Reserve. It's a lovely spot, and you are allowed to ride through it. Perfect. It's known for nightingales (among other things). 20 pairs here this year, though its autumn now in the bird world and too late to hear their song.

I headed back to Peterborough a different way as I like circuits. It turned out to be 3 miles longer, but very pleasant all the same, over the A47 though Ailsworth and Castor, up a huge hill (for me) and onto the Nene River path. Went over this little bridge.

Further along is a rowing lake..(and awful looking pub nearby. Not sure 'refreshed' rowing is a great idea though).

Pretty soon I was back at the station and onto the Ely train. The final 15 miles home from Ely were good, especially after tea and cake at Wicken Fen cafe.

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

I reckon that's barley. We get a lot of it around here! I always remember it as 'bendy barley' (as the ears droop over on themselves, whereas wheat is much more rigid and pointy- to use the technical term)

yep - have just looked it up and I think you are correct (hence my use of the question mark)