Your ride today.... (part 1)

[Old Plodder]

As we were changing the tube, several riders asked if we were OK as they cycled past. We had the stuff we needed, but it's always nice to have an offer of help, just in case.. 15 mins later, we were on our way.

Yep, I always ask when I see someone having a problem, & appreciate being asked when I'm having problems too, (even though I carry all the necessities).

 

[cyberknight]

Blustery leg breaker testing out aero bars .
To windy to really get a feel for them and i need to cut a good couple of inches off the back as the knees hit them when climbing .
http://www.strava.com/activities/176370562

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

More commuting miles today. After yesterday's misjudgment I set out a few minutes later which worked fine. A mostly uneventful journey but I did nearly take out a squirrel that dashed across in front of me.

I could feel the legs while carrying parts up to the mezzanine level during the day and sure enough, the journey back was quite hard (cycling plus being on your feet all day takes a bit of getting used to). It didn't help that I had a 17 mph headwind all the way back so I didn't really feel any benefit from trying the different route home. Riding past lots of crawling traffic again did make me feel better about it though - I'd rather be on a bike with aching legs than sat bored in a jam.

21.1 miles round trip today at 12.9 mph average.

 

[Deleted member 18052]

Just got out for a quick 12miler with a mahoosive (for me) hill that i'd not been able to get up without stopping yet.

http://www.strava.com/activities/176447545

This segment: http://www.strava.com/segments/766070

Today I managed it in 9mins, last time I attempted it was June and almost 15minutes to the top so i'm very happy at the moment!!

 

[Dark46]

Got a soaking 4 miles from home! After I took waterproofs out of bike bag and put my sunglasses on! Got that wrong

 

[Elybazza61]

Another commute on a similar route to Tuesday although I did spin up a bit more this time after grinding against the breeze previously.The dead badger is still on the road but apart from that uneventful;

http://www.strava.com/activities/176663166

Did have thoughts of completing the Strava summer challenge again but I think time restraints and the weather is going to stop that.

 

[hatwell]

i am "tapering" as i'm doing my longest ride to date on saturday, but did my 2.5 miles into work in under 10 mins today which was nice - think i got very lucky with the traffic lights

 

[DCLane]

I've lost a load of my Strava KOM's recently; here in the UK one rider has been systematically taking them (I think I upset him by taking one of his!) and in France a pair of riders took the ones I had there. I'm back in France next week but got one back from a different rider locally on my way back from Sid's Cafe in Holmfirth.

Sid's has dropped the spotted KOM look and is back to it's old 'Last of the Summer Wine' one

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

Today's ride resulted in rather more bruises that I had hoped for, but also proved that some car drivers (BMW - I think) are kind and considerate and more importantly, human!

The ride/commute started off badly, by when the forecast suggest nothing of the kind, so I ignored it and didn't put my waterproof jacket on... then it got heavier but I was going downhill, then it continued and by now I was damp, and decided that it was now pointless putting on my waterproof and 45 minutes after it started to , it finally stopped... A few miles further on my chain decided that it wasn't going to mesh with the cassette as I tried to pull away at a minor turn onto a major A road (I have to do about 1/2-1 mile on the A54)... The result was that the pedals moved, the bike didn't, there was an awful crunching noise and gravity took over... . I can't land on my left side at all, or for that matter get the foot our of the toeclips in a rush (due to being slightly paralysed down that side) so once I topple too far to the left, the outcome is inevitable. The outer chainring has cut into right my leg, but thankfully was clean enough not to have filled the scratches with muck... and there are rather more physical bruises on my legs than I had hoped for... A BMW driver stayed at the junction and waited until I was back on my feet and then continued to wait until he had seen me back on my bike and cycling - he was genuinely concerned (kind of him, if a touch embarrassing ). Once I was around the corner, a convenient bus stop was located and I was able to check the bike over, which was of course now behaving... more or less. I only checked the chain at the weekend and know it is not yet at 0.75% so think this is just a case of an indexing issue.... But I now have an annoying click at the top of every pedal stroke and predominately on the inner chain ring and I think my right calf has whacked the front derailleur because it is now complaining (chain rattle) loudy in every gear except 50/11 ... I knew of a bike shop that I went passed, so called in there hopeful that there was no major issues. The guy although very busy was concerned enough that it had thrown me from my bike to assist me, but also could find nothing and he checked for chain stretch as well. He did pick up that my front hub has some play in it (which is worrying because the sealed cartridge bearings were only replaced 3,000km ago) but otherwise bike seems OK.

Coming home was much less eventful, and slower mostly due to a headwind, but was also ... bike and I need some TLC this evening but it is a case of me first. It would be a long hot soak in a bath, if we had one... I shall have to settle for a warm shower - it will help to make up for the cold 45 minute on this morning!

Right on my front door step, I spotted this little fellow. A tiny moth I think... its about 7mm wide and 10mm long!

(Edit: since id'ed by @djb1971 as a mint moth )

A slowish 69.5km http://www.strava.com/activities/176871802

 

[jazzkat]

Not so much a your ride today as a your ride last week.
I spent a week the French alps!
Each day was a ride up some (in)famous mountain pass. I went with a couple of other chaps and we tackled - Alpe D'huez, Col du Sarenne, Les Deux Alpes, Col du Lautaret, Col du Telegraph, Col du Galibier. We had a bit of a drive one day and did the Col d'Izoard which was absolutely superb. On one day we got very wet ascending the Col d'Ornon which was ok until we came down. I now know the true misery of descending on a wet stage of the tour. When we got to the bottom we quickly found a cafe while struggling in vain to warm up. We were shivering quite badly and so we made a hasty exit to get out of our wet clothes. A very quick time-trial effort down the valley to our chalet warmed us up, but it wasn't nice!!
On the final day of our stay in the alps we packed up and headed south to a little town just north of Carpentras. Where we had booked a B&B for two nights so we could ride the mighty Mt Ventoux. Just as we arrived a thunderstorm started that stayed all through the night but by morning had left us with a clear blue sky (apart from a little cloud hiding the summit of Ventoux), no wind and a lovely (and manageble) 20ish degrees.
A quick breakfast and we were of up the mountain. After riding up and back again we returned to the B&B for a splash in the pool in the now baking heat. The next day we packed early and headed home, leaving the south of France at 8am on Monday and I finally got to bed at 4:30am Tuesday morning.
Pictures!!!
Climbing Alpe D'huez

Top of the Col du Sarenne

Top of the Col d'Izoard

Top of the Col du Telegraph

Top of the Col du Galibier

Tom Simpsons memorial just before the top of Mt Ventoux

The last ride of the week, the summit of Ventoux

 

[Dave 123]

I sent the boss a text this afternoon asking her if she'd like a spin this evening..... She said yes!

Just before we left she said "are we doing about 10 miles?", I just smiled!
We went on my usual Gransdens loop of 20 and a bit miles. Considering she's always been a reluctant cyclist her three efforts this week have been out of this world. She's really getting to grips being clipped in
We saw a couple of nice male yellowhammers and a buzzard at close quarters.

The average speed was 12.3mph which is a Stirling effort. Give it a year, she'll be kicking my arse!

 

[theloafer]

I little bit longer ride today 64 miles poor knees are feeling it now ..lol not to bad for an old dog.. best get some miles in as I will soon not be allowed on the bike for 7+weeks
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/559570596

 

[Glow worm]

With the forecast being grim for tomorrow, I slipped out a day early for my POETS day ride after work.

Normally, a wet forecast guarantees a sunny, dry day here- we'll see. So a nice slow 10 mile circuit it was. This is near Reach village. I walk the bike along this bit as I don't fancy spending hours picking grass out of my jockey wheels and cassette!

At Reach Lode bridge a woodpecker was lurking but too quick to photograph. One of the great spotted flavour I believe.
I sailed past the Konik ponies on Burwell Fen - lots of foals this year. I didn't take a pic today, but this is one from last Sundays ride..

Nearly got taken out by a deer as I ambled alongside Swaffham Bulbeck Lode. I must have spooked the damn thing and it dived past my front wheel a bit too close for comfort!

A pleasant couple of hours in the saddle, and quite a few fellow cyclists out today too.

 

[Mike_P]

Pretty uneventful 18 miles this evening, managed to get along a bridleway with no problems, the first time the bike fell over whilst opening a gate and the next time I knocked the cycle computer off and only noticed after a mile. Could have been more interesting as a horse despite watching me coming towards it decided to panic as I passed it. Convinced me definately that a horse rider who had assurred me I could ring the bell was probably not correct

 

[Donger]

A late night trip out to Arlingham and back tonight. Went out via the A38, where I discovered this spectacularly wide cycle lane marked out (surely in error?) on the main road:


I definitely don't advise anyone to ride the A38 for the next few days. Everyone was completely ignoring the 20mph limits on the long, newly gritted stretches and pelting me with gravel, to the point where I had to cycle with one hand in front of my eyes for protection.Clouds of choking dust everywhere.

Left the A38 and nipped through Epney and Saul to ride along the riverbank at Priding. The water level in the Severn is getting low now, and summer sandbanks are emerging in the shallows.


The Old Passage at Arlingham was looking lovely in the evening sunshine. Shame I didn't have the cash on me for a pint.


After dawdling a little while at Arlingham, listening to the church bells in Newnham (on the other bank) chiming 8 o'clock, I had a lovely quiet ride home, with only the sound of the occasional sheep or cow in the fileds, and kestrels and owls screeching overhead for company, and a low sun making my shadow look like I was riding a penny farthing.


Before having to put my lights on, I came across this little group of llamas at Longney. They seemed really cute until one of them farted like a hippo.


Even after stopping off for photos and a little detour up a dead end I had never ridden up before, I still broke my own record time for getting home from Arlingham. 1,300 miles up for the year now, after this, my 51st ride.

Cheers, Donger.