Your ride today.... (part 1)

[coffeejo]

NIce ride in to work this morning in warm (for the end of October) conditions, which was completely ruined in the last half mile when I was close passed on a dead straight, wide bit of road (less than a foot clearance at at least 60mph ). The moron saw my gesture of frustration and immediately stopped to ask "what's your problem". My response was unfortunately not diplomatic and certainly not suitable for CycleChat and he ended up following me onto the estate to carry on the argument. Apparently I can't complain about his driving because he didn't "actually hit me or run me off the road". Words were exchanged and I don't think either of us came out of it well, but I think I won the moral high ground when after repeatedly calling me names he offered (but failed to carry it through) to get out and "settle it right here". How childish!

For my return journey the forecast rain started at exactly the specified time, but fortunately eased right off after the first 3 miles and didn't restart again until near the end. I did have to contend with a fairly strong headwind though (17 mph according to the Met Office) which typically had only perked up while I was travelling. There was loads of traffic rat running (unusual for a tuesday, 'til I remembered it's the Shrewsbury vs Chelsea match this evening) and I had the pleasure of filtering past a long queue at Atcham. More close passes on the A49 which I refrained from being stroppy about this time coz I don't want any more rows.

View attachment 60188
Approaching the old bridge at Atcham this morning, while I was still enjoying the ride.

Phil, maybe it's time to learn to let go of your frustration at close passes before an incident like that gets nasty? I only mention this because you talk about close passes an awful lot in your ride reports, which suggests you're still dwelling on them. I don't think it's healthy though I appreciate that this is just my opinion and I may have overstepped the mark.

 

[Dave 123]

Approximatley 43 miles (28 on th egarmin due to cock up on the pushing the start button front). This was one of th emost beautiful rides I have ever done anywhere. Got a cuppa T from Turkish white van men and my name painted on a rock!
http://cyprusonabianchi.blogspot.com/

That doesn't even come close to my damp commute this morning. You need to try a bit harder!

 

[Elybazza61]

Nice little 20k commute in today mainly to give my re-built Mavic rims and new Challenge grifo pro tyres a run out;spent part of the time avoiding wildlife and rowing coaches but well pleased with the tyres,nice and grippy even on wet grass and roll ok on tarmac too;just got to give them a try on some muddier stuff.

Oh and the Garmin behaved itself today;

http://www.strava.com/activities/213023777

 

[Elybazza61]

Approximatley 43 miles (28 on th egarmin due to cock up on the pushing the start button front). This was one of th emost beautiful rides I have ever done anywhere. Got a cuppa T from Turkish white van men and my name painted on a rock!
http://cyprusonabianchi.blogspot.com/

Not,,, jealous,,, at,,, all,,,,

 

[gbb]

Phil, maybe it's time to learn to let go of your frustration at close passes before an incident like that gets nasty? I only mention this because you talk about close passes an awful lot in your ride reports, which suggests you're still dwelling on them. I don't think it's healthy though I appreciate that this is just my opinion and I may have overstepped the mark.

If I may , your words do have value. I ve seen times where close passes just seem to come one after the other, the fustration builds, you start to get angry at everyone that comes within 6 ft of you (not literally of course). Then you start getting fed up of feeling your passion is being spoiled and for me, then I suddenly relaxed and thought, **** the lot of you, forget the fustration and just enjoy what you re doing. Its like flicking a switch, like taking off a lead overcoat.

I dont know if that related to Phil, not suggesting he's feeling that way but if anyone does...relax, enjoy your cycling, I know I dwelled on too many close passes....it was ME spoiling my cycling, not the drivers.

 

[Gravity Aided]

We're here for you, Phil, as much as people on the internet can be. I cannot evaluate your experiences as You alone have had them. But these things do seem to come in packs, as do bad drivers. I can go for months without incident, and then have 2 or three. I just blame in on the snobs living lakeside, or their chauffeurs.

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

Today was a leisure ride for once. We have a warmshowers guest staying and he arrived long after dark last night so with sunny (but cold) weather this morning we went out to see the surrounding area and over to Lewis Carroll's birth place. It was a pleasant ride with numerous stops for photos and am meander along the river Weaver. Warmer when the sun was out, but we knew the best of the weather was going to be early on, so made the most of it. A pleasant but slow 34.4km http://www.strava.com/activities/213107152

I have been trying to get a reasonable shot of this lovely footbridge for some time. not sure I have it yet, the bridge is too long to photo straight on, but the vegetation is too high (trees) to photo it from an angle. Defintely needs more practice The bridge has 2 dates on it. 1919 and 1994... guess it must have been restored at some point in 1994.

The light came and went, but sadly the camera didn't capture what I was seeing which was the lovely light on the fields in the background. Oh well.
(The River Weaver)

Edit: Just remembered I saw a dead stoat today as well. Good to know they are still around these parts even if this one tried crossing the A49 and failed

 

[Supersuperleeds]

It's our lasses birthday today, so decided to take the day off work without telling her and surprise her when she gets home. In order to keep up the pretence I left the house this morning at my usual time and pretended to go to work. Figured I needed to be out of the house for 3 1/2 to 4 hours.

Was warmer than expected and was dry for the first 30 miles or so, then it started to drizzle, one of those drizzles that just soak you without it properly raining. At 51 miles, the GPS decided to play silly buggers, managed to save the gpx file and reset it. 14 miles later - 65 in total, was home. Sussed how to combine the two gpx files to get the ride as one into Strava.

http://www.strava.com/activities/213067280

Have been shopping, flowers and balloons (She'll hate the balloons ) waiting in the living room, I've baked her a cake which is cooling in the kitchen, and her favourite steak is in the fridge.

 

[ScotiaLass]

After my epic, (stop laughing at the back!) hilly, 26 miles last night, I wasn't sure about riding today.
But I decided to go stretch my legs, so made a roll, grabbed a drink, and headed down to the Kelpies, where I sat and ate my lunch in the sun

It was a bit busy (doesn't look like it in this photo but there were loads of people standing behind me taking photos) then I realised it's English half term, so a lot of people are visiting.
I had a lovely conversation with two little boys who told me they had come up from England to visit their Grandma

A lovely 10 miles, slightly chilly but it was lovely

 

[gavgav]

Phil, maybe it's time to learn to let go of your frustration at close passes before an incident like that gets nasty? I only mention this because you talk about close passes an awful lot in your ride reports, which suggests you're still dwelling on them. I don't think it's healthy though I appreciate that this is just my opinion and I may have overstepped the mark.

I do see where you are coming from Jo. Sometimes however things just cause you to snap, human nature really. I try very hard not to react to idiots, because you never know what they are likely to do, but only last week I was almost run off the road by a stupid woman, hadn't reacted, but then when she verbally abused me in the next village, after she had been in the wrong, then I certainly reacted and gave her some choice words.

 

[Berties]

Last riding day in Flanders and it rained came out of Sint Andries towards jabbeke then to de haan
Then back to Brugge , went on my billy and kept up a good average then into the tourist mode,bought my self a wall of beer wind proof ,all in all a good few days on the bike , but no climbing!!flat as a pancake , or as I'm in Belgium a waffle

 

[gavroche]

Well I did go for a ride this afternoon, only 23 miles but good for the legs. Then went to get my kitchen tap at B&Q but guess what? They don't do the 10% discount on kitchenware so had to pay the full price of £54! In the old days, and not that long ago I must add, I would have fitted it myself but I guess I am getting lazy as I get older so called our local plumber to do it. He is coming tomorrow. Hoping to go for another ride tomorrow afternoon, after work, before it gets dark and if it doesn't rain ( not asking much am I?)

 

[Dark46]

Have been out for a small 12.5 miler this evening I left it too late to go out really as it was starting to get dark. The rain didn't really help and my glasses were steaming up from the hot coming out of my boil in the bag waterproof jacket.

I thought in going to do the Longney Loop but the signs say road closed! Sod it I'm going for it I thought , I don't take any notice of road closed signs hehe. I was right you wouldn't be able to get through with a car.

O and the smell! Yuk they had not long ago been out much spreading! I near wreched at one stage.

At the end you can see I got a few trophies to boot so that was good.

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

Wasn't driving a Black Insignia was he?! There are some real knobheads on the roads in Shrewsbury at the moment. Do be careful though

No, something silver, bland and anonymous - Toyota I think. I'll be as careful as I can - can't do anything about everyone else though.

 

[cosmicbike]

As seems to be the norm for me recently, 'ride day' dawned grey, cloudy and threatening to rain. Not to worry, I had a 20 mile target which for once was nearly all planned out. Little bit chilly for the first couple of miles with no sunshine to help warm things up, so it wasn't until I was heading into Chertsey High Street that I started to feel bit warmer. Legs felt good today, so I pressed on at a decent rate (for me anyway), notching up a few PB's as I went along. Lovely along Dockett Eddy Lane today, the Thames is calm and there were some lovely converted barges and narrow boats moored up. Stopped briefly at Shepperton Lock for a photo.

The island that you can see a footbridge to is known as D'oyly Carte Island, after Richard D'Oyly Carte, who in addition to being the producer of the Gilbert & Sullivan opera's in the Victorian times, also happened to be a hotelier of note, and built the house on the island (Eyot House) as an annex to the Savoy Hotel. I've loved the house from when I cycled past it as a child, and it's up for sale at the moment. Guide price is £4 million, so I guess I'll just look at it for a few more years!
Onwards towards Walton, and as I approached the bridge I heard a scuffing sound. Quick check revealed no leaves or other, so I continued on. Moments later is became apparent that the sound had been none other than the bloomin' P fairy paying a visit On the plus side she'd thrown a lump of glass at me so easily found, and it also made me decide that the el-cheapo bikehut pump needs to be replaced. Somewhat annoyingly the rain started coming down whilst I was fitting a new tube, and it was that horrible fine stuff that soaks you through. I aimed straight for home after the repair as I couldn't get a great deal of pressure into the tyre, and had no other spare tubes.
Aside from the visit, and getting soaked, I really enjoyed it. Just shy of 17 miles.