Your ride today.... (part 1)

[Rickshaw Phil]

Riding home against that howling gale yesterday has done something to my legs............................... they feel brilliant!
The bike seemed to just fly along this morning and I was a couple of minutes quicker to work than I was yesterday with that 20mph+ tailwind. I thought I must have had a strong tailwind again, but checking the Met Office website when I got back it was all of 9mph. Not enough to account for my pace.

I passed another cyclist early in the ride, who dropped into my slipstream and we chatted for a bit until I had to turn off. The A49 and the Condover road were quite busy but there was hardly any traffic on the other roads.

I wasn't as quick on the way back (the wind and the hills aren't favourable in this direction) but was able to press on fairly well on the flatter bits. Got chased by two pairs of dogs, either side of Upton Forge - I did my usual thing of speaking gently to the dogs while the owners stood shouting "no, stop it, come back here" at them with differing degrees of success.

Again there wasn't as much traffic as usual for most of the route, with the exception of the A49 which was busier than usual for the time of day. I had an artic wait patiently for a good chance to overtake and then give me plenty of room. I gave the driver a thankyou wave but couldn't see a company name on the waggon to mention on here.

The usual 20.2 miles at a better than usual 13.5 mph average for the round trip. Fairly happy with that.

 

[Goonerobes]

A couple of miles into today's ride I realised I hadn't brought either my camera or camera/phone. Not to worry I thought, its only one of my regular midweek rides so they'll be nothing I hadn't seen before.

Wrong!! 11 miles in & I'm merrily cycling up hill when I spot 2 couples in one of the many forest car parks sitting eating at a table.
Now there's nothing unusual about that, even though its a chilly October afternoon, accept the fact that its a fully dressed dinner table & they also have a chef/waiter serving them!! They spot me looking & all give a cheery wave which I return along with a proper "laugh out loud".

Half a mile further on & still smiling about dinner table I see a large group of people stood around a gazebo on a grassed area of the forest at Bolderwood. Interested in what they were doing I continued to look over whilst pottering along only to see a Wellington boot go flying through the air & I realise that they are actually having a boot throwing competition!!
Lifes never dull when you're cycling is it.
http://www.strava.com/activities/210371087

Due to the lack of photos I thought I'd bore you with show you another from Sundays South Downs Sportive.

This is yours truly sharing a joke with Elvis near the top of Butser Hill. The poignant fact of this being that this time last year I would have been walking up the hill unable to crack a smile let alone talk & laugh so I must be getting fitter!

 

[Freds Dad]

Another couple of rides to take my monthly total rides over 125 miles. Not a lot I know compared to some but I've only been doing this for just over two months.

http://www.strava.com/activities/21044028


http://www.strava.com/activities/210430771

 

[i hate hills]

I got dive bombed by one. Must have been near its nest or something........or it thought I was a rabbit. Lol.
Neighbour wasn't so lucky. It actually scratched his neck with its talons.

Learned my lesson Mo, its a helmet on at all times for me ,no matter how daft i think i look. Had a yelllow hi vis jacket on at the time , he must have thought i was Big Bird.

 

[brand]

brand said: ↑
The engineer might have been right as I am down to my underpants.

That's scary

Woodburner working really well....no need for underwear!

That's my cornflakes over the iPad now. Just glad I'm not having a full English, tomatoes and sausage anyone

Who would've thought Cycle Chat could scar you for life

I need to light the fire later as I have nowt left to take off. Think I will stand outside for 10 minutes that should do it. Neighbours won't mind there used to it. Should have bought a smaller woodburner.

 

[djb1971]

Think I will stand outside for 10 minutes

Wishful thinking, do you not think a minute or two would cure it

 

[EltonFrog]

Not been riding much lately, this last two weeks we've been moving house/ on a short break.

On Sunday we moved the cat into the new house from the cattery and on Monday at some point whilst we were out and about moving furniture with a hire van the cat escaped! Couldn't find him anywhere! We searched the house, garden, neighbour’s gardens, the roads. I thought it might be quicker to ride around the village to try and find him.

The only bike to hand was the Kingpin, so I'm riding about the new village shouting out for the cat "Timmy!, Tiiiiiimmmmeeee” making sucky cat noises between my teeth on a bloody shopper bike, asking total strangers if they have seen my big Red Burmese / ginger pussy. I'm riding along the footpaths, bridle ways, up people's driveways “Timmeeeeee, folk must've thought there's a new idiot come to the village. The saddle squeaks on the Kingpin not quietly, but really very loud with every movement of the legs and ever matchstick sized lump in the road, I don’t know where Timmy the cat was but he probably thought there was banshee trying to catch him.

In the end I gave up on the bike, which by now was filthy with mud, and we had to get to the other house to move some more furniture and get the hire van back. We got back to the new house a couple of hours later still no sign of Timmy, so in between unloading the van we are still calling out for him, my wife is getting distraught because she’s convinced he’s gone forever. We just finished unloading the last bit of furniture, and I’m in the lav, and the missus shouts “he’s here, Timmy’s back, he’s back”! What a relief, the little sod just came back in the way he went out as if nothing had happened. Nearly six hours later.

In the driveway getting into the hire van to take it back, I noticed that not only was my shiny restored Kingpin, wet and muddy, it also had a fecking puncture! Gah!

 

[brand]

asking total strangers if they have seen my big Red Burmese / ginger pussy!

Seriously?

 

[brand]

Wishful thinking, do you not think a minute or two would cure it

Possibly, but accept for one street light its unlikely that anyone would see me, if they do I am sure they don't mind. So I enjoyed the extra minutes walking round the garden. Even a did bit of garden. Don't normaly pee in the toilet but into a large sweet jar and pour into one of the compost bin. Gave the bin a bit of a mix round with my hand (couldn't find a glove but normally wear one). Pee is a superb compost activator. Absolutely superb. Try it if you have compost bin. The insect life increase dramatically and the food waste is less likely to attract rats.

 

[EltonFrog]

Seriously?

No. It was a joke.

 

[djb1971]

Try it if you have compost bin

Haven't got one, but may pop around and use yours

 

[simo105]

Been unable to get a ride in this week until today! The good wife was off work Monday and Tuesday, Wednesday was health and safety day at work! (matchsticks required) i was completely drained by the night. So today i managed to get back from work a bit early and decided to jump on the bike. I decided to do a couple of circuits of my canal and reservoir route on the hybrid. It would also help me complete the ride for challenged athletes on strava and also a warm up for my ride at the weekend with the old man(Telford and back)
On my first circuit i knew the canal would be pretty clear due to it being a bit early and was before the schools ring the final bell. It was rather windy out and seemed like there was a bit of bad weather coming. The only obstacles i hit were a couple of moorhens making way to the canal as i breezed past and had to come to a stop when approaching six mallards. They appeared to be sleeping in the middle of the footpath so i slowed right down so they could wake and wiggle off until i came up to that last one. It was just sat there with its head between its wings, he must be having a half decent dream because he wasn't budging. As my foot hit the floor by him his head finally looked up at me, gave me a stare and in his on time he made way!
My second and final circuit was somewhat different.I kinda knew it was the Final bell time and that the kids would be on there way home, what i didn't realize is how much of a kiddy magnet under bridges were. One of the bridges i do go under is quiet small and very low and there was a congregation of about 10 youngsters under there, i believe they was creating a chamber of smoke from the few fags they had, so they could all get an intake of smoke before they head off home. To be fair to them when they seen me approaching the all tucked into the side to let me pass, unfortunately the one chaps back bag was soo big i could only just squeeze by, leaving me an inch from Tyre to the canal and a slightly brushed his bag. He then took a guess at my name by shouting the nickname of the people called Richard! to which he was wrong but it was a good effort. The next bridge i hit was a lad and lass having a romantic moment under it, probably not the best place to take the one you love as its a place many siphon the python and the stench would singe your nose-hairs. Anyways hitting the final part of the circuit the wind had picked up and light was drastically reducing so i decided to do a lap of the reservoir and head home.
Now to kitchen before the wife gets home.

http://www.strava.com/activities/210729544

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

More of the usual. Tired this morning after yesterday's enthusiasm so I took it easy and had a jaunt through Attingham Park for a bit of variety.

On the way back I thought I'd go on the longer (but less hilly) route again, which was fine for the first half but the second half was directly into the wind which was stronger than yesterday so I wasn't quick. Despite this I caught and passed a couple of fellow cyclists.

21.8 miles with the scenic route this morning and 12.8 mph average, which is okay on this bike.

The gatehouse at Attingham Park.

On the drive up to the house.

Looking across the deer park to The Wrekin.

Going for the traffic free option on my way home this evening.

 

[gavgav]

I had the afternoon off work today, to firstly head down to the development, where my new house is being built, to choose all of the flooring, tiling, kitchen units, etc, etc. Hope I've chosen the right one's!! That finished at about 2PM and so it left the afternoon free for an unexpected bike ride. I tried my new lights out for the 1st time, with it being quite dull weather, but it was pretty warm again today, at 17C and so I went for shorts which was the right decision.

I decided to do one of my favourite routes, but on checking my Strava feed I hadn't actually ridden it since 22nd June, goodness knows why not!

It was out on my regular route to Uffington, and then in the direction of Upton Magna. I was travelling along quite nicely and had reached the narrowest part of this section, which incidentally is downhill and so I was doing about 20mph, when I heard a car (Black Vauxhall Insignia - Reg Plate BF11 AOR - If you see it @Rickshaw Phil then watch out!) come speeding up behind me and sit right on my tail. I knew there was a layby coming up, in about 20 seconds and just as I was thinking about pulling in to let them through, they decided to force their way past me, making me swerve off, almost into the hedge.

I was not happy, but continued onwards into Upton Magna, and sure enough the car concerned had pulled off the road to the left, just up from the Primary School. 2 women were in the process of getting out and I looked in their direction just in time to hear the driver shout "You give cyclists a bad name"!! I was bloody seething and so skidded to a halt, and asked her what she meant.

She - "why didn't you pull off the road to let me through"
Me - "If you had waited for more than 10 seconds behind me then I was about to pull into a layby".
She - "You should have pulled over before that"
Me - "What did you expect me to do, jump the hedge?!"
She - "Cyclists shouldn't be on the road, don't pay tax, etc"
Me - "Yawn yawn, heard it all before. You forced me off the road, I have taken your number plate and I'm happy to report you to the police if you would like"
She - Getting a bit more sheepish now "Cyclists should have plates on as well"
Me - Laughing at her "Whatever" and with a flick of 2 fingers I left her to it.

I had thought she lived there, but, after checking out where she was parked, on my way back, I think she was actually a mother picking kids up from school and thinking she owns the road.. What a pathetic excuse of a woman. I pity the poor kids she was picking up from the school, having that as a parent!

Should I report her? Probably a waste of time, as no damage done and I have the satisfaction of knowing she must lead a miserable sad life!!

As I approached the junction just down from the school, I met a group of about 20 cyclists heading up towards where she was parked! I wonder if she decided to give them abuse as well?!!

I continued on to Atcham, Condover and Ryton, cycling into the strengthening headwind for most of the way, which made it hard going at times. After I had reached Longnor and taken the turn towards Frodesley, it became a tailwind and I flew along to Frodesley, Acton Burnell, Pitchford and Cantlop, setting a few new PB's on Strava segments.

I then retraced my steps to Atcham, but decided to go through the Attingham Park estate (same as @Rickshaw Phil did on his ride above!), to avoid as much of the "rat run" as possible, with it being 5PM. They drive like absolute loonies along that stretch of road, before heading back to Upton Magna, Uffington and through the estate home.

My new brighter rear light seemed to do the trick on quick flash setting, as all cars apart from pathetic woman (and there were loads about on the lanes for some reason) gave me a lot more room than on previous rides. Not dark enough to test my new "see where i'm going" front light properly, but it makes me more visible than my previous one.

32 miles (dead on!!) at 12.2 mph avg
1046 ft of climbing

 

[gavgav]

More of the usual. Tired this morning after yesterday's enthusiasm so I took it easy and had a jaunt through Attingham Park for a bit of variety.

On the way back I thought I'd go on the longer (but less hilly) route again, which was fine for the first half but the second half was directly into the wind which was stronger than yesterday so I wasn't quick. Despite this I caught and passed a couple of fellow cyclists.

21.8 miles with the scenic route this morning and 12.8 mph average, which is okay on this bike.

View attachment 59795
The gatehouse at Attingham Park.

View attachment 59796
On the drive up to the house.

View attachment 59797
Looking across the deer park to The Wrekin.

View attachment 59798
Going for the traffic free option on my way home this evening.

Is the gatehouse picture taken today? Didn't seem that sunny this morning?!!