Your ride today.... (part 1)

[Donger]

Out with the remnants of the Kingsway CC this morning. Rained in bucketfulls all night, but cleared up a bit to a steady light drizzle by the time the 5 of us hit the road. Somehow managed over 20 miles before it really started to tip down again, so it was a decent ride out today. We headed out across the Severn at Over before turning right at the White Hart at Maisemore and up onto a scenic little ridge known as Woolridge Hill. From here you get great views of the Forest of Dean to the left, the Cotswolds to the right and the Malverns straight ahead. Up and over a punchy little hill and then the briefest of moments on the main road before turning right at Hartpury and following some lovely quiet, well-surfaced lanes that skirt along the West side of the Severn up towards Tewkesbury, past bird hides, marshes, an interesting tithe barn and the odd beautiful Tudor manor house or two.

This turned out to be a great social ride, as the lanes were so quiet that we were able to ride 2 or 3 abreast and chat as we rode. It felt like we got to know each other a bit better today, and it was nice to stop at one of the riverside pubs (the Yew Tree at Chaceley Stock) for a coffee/tea break on the way. Leaving there, and carrying on towards the next pub at Lower Lode, we had a nice moment as a beautiful bay horse ran alongside us in a field before we turned the corner and it carried on cantering until it ran out of field. At Lower Lode (almost in Tewkesbury) we had another brief stop at a pub (also called the Lower Lode), and a couple of us went down the slipway to the river's edge, accompanied by a mahoosive goose - which fortunately behaved itself. Viewers of Top Gear might remember the amphibious vehicle test that they did here. You also occasionally get to see army river crossing exercises here, but today there were just a few anglers about, and a whole bunch of ducks.

On the way back home it started to rain, getting steadily worse the further we went. Nevertheless, we did one final detour up yet another dead end to the third riverside pub, the Boat at Ashleworth Quay. I feel I have done my bit today in educating the other club members in the delights of Gloucestershire's Severnside pubs, and it served as a good reccie for some nice days out next year. Got soaked on the way home, and diced with death crossing the main Over roundabout and the Gloucester Western By-pass before arriving home looking like a drowned rat. Wouldn't have missed it for the world, though. Great ride today, and another 36.7 miles towards my end of year target. p.s Thanks to Tony for picking up my trip computer, which fell off my bike for no apparent reason for the second ride running.

Cheers, Donger.

 

[Dark46]

This morning @Donger and I went for the usual KCC Sunday morning group ride.

We started off at the usual meeting point and waited for 15 mins, just for any stragglers to turn up. It was good to see Ant turn up on his new Merlin steed on its maiden ride.

We set off with a rough idea where we were going and the weather was dark grey and all ok. We headed up the A38 and one of the group wanted to go segment chasing on one segment. So straightaway I got overtaken by 2 guys speeding up the hill. I thought shoot there goes my top spot in the club on that segment. Then as I rounded the top of the hill the 2 guys that passed me came from my right. They has turned right at the wrong mini roundabout. LOL. My top spot was safe, as it turns out I set a PB on the segment and extended my lead !

We then headed on to the A417 to Maisemore. @Donger and I went a slightly different route to show me the cycle path. It was a good job the others didn't go on the cycle path, as there was a few dangerous overhanging branches that could do some serious damage.

We all met up in Maisemore and turned right at the White Hart. From the road went up hill through the village and into the countryside. The road at times was a bit slippery due to damp leaves, so we were taking it steady. As we entered Hartpury we arrived at the A417 and we took a double right out of Hartpury and out into the Countyside again.

Well from there considering we were off the beaten track the road was one of the best we had ridden in the club , so smooth and no pot holes. We were chatting away side by side with no traffic averaging 16 mph . It was just perfect !

To cut a long story short we arrived at the Yew Tree Inn only to find it was shut. As we were about to leave a lady came out of the pub and asked if we would like some hot drinks? We asked what time they opened and she said it didn't matter . How could we resist hot drinks in a closed pub.

After about 20 minutes we set off again to arrive at cross in the river where Top Gear first tested their first amphibious vehicles.

This turned out to be our furthest point on this ride. We took a detour on the way back to arrive at the Bell Inn at Ashleworth.

The trip home was the same as we went except that the heavens decided to open and drown us all.! While the weather was at its worst @Donger decided that his computer and bike would part company ! So there was a delay as it was retrieved and connected back on the bike.

The trip home from there was straight foward but me feet were feeling as though they were in private swimming pools!

In the ended my right turned out to be just over 36.5 miles. The weather will never put me off unless there is ice on the floor!

@Donger is pictured with a Goose!

 

[Katherine]

Desford the destination, 59 fixed gear miles the journey, got up this morning with the rain bouncing of the windows, but the forecast was for it too clear so I got ready and waited, about nine it cleared so off I went, the overnight rain had washed most of the wet leaves and other detritus off the roads so I was only dealing with wet roads in most places, though there was evidence of spilled fuel and oil in some places, a usual route out of Coventry through Wood End, Shilton, Monks Kirby and Claybrook Pava, a pleasant morning to be out on the bike, I ran into a couple of showers between Croft, and Thurlaston, I got to the outskirts of Desford and was caught by the Coventry Road Club vets and rode the last couple of miles into the cafe with them. Leaving the cafe I turned left instead of right and explored some lanes I didn't know, got lost, picked up a sign for Market Bosworth and rode through to Shenton and continued through Atterton onto Manceter and up Purley Chase, between 10 and 15 miles from home the legs stated to fade and by the time I got home the average speed had dropped off from around 15mph to around 14mph, it was raining steadily for the last few miles between Nuneaton and home but 10 minutes after I walked through the door the sun came out. Not the nicest ride I've done but an enjoyable morning out.

View attachment 60648

Hi, I hope you don't mind me asking but I see you have a light attached to your rack and wonder if you have a special attachment for it? I'm struggling to find a way to attatch a light to my rack or what light to get that could be fastened onto it somehow. My bag of tools and spares obscures the one on the seat post. Thanks

 

[Deleted member 1258]

Hi, I hope you don't mind me asking but I see you have a light attached to your rack and wonder if you have a special attachment for it? I'm struggling to find a way to attatch a light to my rack or what light to get that could be fastened onto it somehow. My bag of tools and spares obscures the one on the seat post. Thanks

The carrier has a light bracket built into it and I use a carrier specific rear light similar to this one here

http://www.sustrans.org.uk/shop/clothing-accessories/permanent-4-led-rear-light-pannier-rack

For the second rear light I use one of Planet X 's phaart lights

http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/LIPHBPDRL/phaart-bleep-dual-05-watt-led-rear-light

mounted on the carrier leg using one of these brackets

http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/hebie-arc-j82s-sl-universal-rack-fitting-light-bracket-prod553/

all the lights except the carrier one get taken of for a Sunday ride and are put back on for Mondays commute.

 

[Geoff Crowther]

Pretty much bin out every day since the new toy arrived. We had a longish walk this morning but this afternoon I sneaked a quick MTB route in on the Sherpa to see how it would perform, for purely scientific reasons you understand. After all, it's not a mountain bike is it?
I'll apologise in advance for the poor phone-camera images.
This is a route I do regularly with my pal on our MTBs when we have an hour or so to spare.
From Hayfield up Sitch Lane then right on a track past Wethercotes Farm.
Left at the Y junction takes you down a quite stony route to Rowarth. I often walk the last bit even on my hardtail so wasn't surprised when the jarring on the rigid Sherpa got too much but, hey ho, I wanted to test its capabilities.
Turning right after the Little Mill takes a bridleway then tarmac off up the hill before turning right down another narrow bridleway to a stream crossing.
This is the top of that bridleway. looking down.

This downhill was well within my (and the Sherpa's) capabilities.
We walked across the, pretty full, stream then off uphill to more tarmac before the Pennine Bridleway turns right towards Matley Moor Farm.

The route here starts wide but narrows as it approaches the farm, then a right turn takes you towards Lantern Pike across a grassy field.

Riding up the grass, the Sherpa felt just as secure as my Whyte MTB.
The stony climb after the gate always defeats me and today was no exception. But once the first steep bit's out the way the bridleway below the Pike is straightforward and fun.

I was soon back on Sitch Lane and the tarmac saw us quickly back home in the village.
A fun little bimble which went some way to showing what the Sherpa (and me) are comfortable on, boding well for touring adventures planned for the future.
Life is good.
PS No, I don't need any more helpful comments about the spacers on the steering head, thanks .

 

[BigonaBianchi]

43 miles 1000m climbs from northern to southern cyprus

http://cyprusonabianchi.blogspot.com/

 

[ColinJ]

A fun little bimble which went some way to showing what the Sherpa (and me) are comfortable on, boding well for touring adventures planned for the future.
Life is good.

PS No, I don't need any more helpful comments about the spacers on the steering head, thanks .

Why, how many have you had so far?

A woman round here has her bars about twice as high as yours. I think she has a very bad back and that is how she manages to keep on riding, which is the important thing, not what the bike looks like!

43 miles 1000m climbs from northern to southern cyprus

http://cyprusonabianchi.blogspot.com/

Point of order - mixed systems of units! If you are going to measure distance in miles, then altitude gain should really be in feet. (Ditto kms and metres.)

Admission - I sometimes mix my units too, but try to stop myself doing it.

 

[Geoff Crowther]

Why, how many have you had so far?

A woman round here has her bars about twice as high as yours. I think she has a very bad back and that is how she manages to keep on riding, which is the important thing, not what the bike looks like!

As you'll appreciate Colin; my attempt at humour. I've at least two comments (one here and another forum) re the spacers (in less than a week of ownership) and it's quite common in the world of Thorn. But, as I've said before, as echoed by your good self, the bike fits and is comfy so what the heck eh?

Cheers
Geoff

 

[GrasB]

Point of order - mixed systems of units! If you are going to measure distance in miles, then altitude gain should really be in feet. (Ditto kms and metres.)

Admission - I sometimes mix my units too, but try to stop myself doing it.

But it's fun to see the expression of total confusion

 

[Katherine]

The carrier has a light bracket built into it and I use a carrier specific rear light similar to this one here

http://www.sustrans.org.uk/shop/clothing-accessories/permanent-4-led-rear-light-pannier-rack

For the second rear light I use one of Planet X 's phaart lights

http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/LIPHBPDRL/phaart-bleep-dual-05-watt-led-rear-light

mounted on the carrier leg using one of these brackets

http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/hebie-arc-j82s-sl-universal-rack-fitting-light-bracket-prod553/

all the lights except the carrier one get taken of for a Sunday ride and are put back on for Mondays commute.

Thanks.

 

[coffeejo]

I cycled over to a friend's today and headed home in the late afternoon. It's funny how a road you know pretty well changes so dramatically after dark. The country lane from their village to the main road just seemed to go and on and on - I was sure I'd taken a wrong turning somewhere! The schools are back in business tomorrow so I had the evening to myself apart from the hooting and screeching of what sounded like Somerset's entire owl population, though I dare say some were hunting in silence. Or trying to.

 

[robjh]

Turning up for the Sunday ride this morning was a triumph of hope over weather forecasts, and in the end the weather forecasts had it right. 16 of us set off south from Cambridge at 9 a.m. into a strong and chilly headwind, and about 20 minutes later the rain started - and didn't stop. 5 turned back a few miles on but the rest of us soldiered on down the lanes through Littlebury Green and the Pelhams, on a roundabout route to Bishops Stortford. In good weather this is a lovely ride, but heads down and riding through sheets of water and shifting gravel, not to mention encounters with a surprising number of vast 4x4s that took up the whole road, we didn't fully appreciate its attractions today. Still, at least no punctures...until about 3 miles from the café. Now that we were stopped, the cooling effect of the wind and rain really kicked in, and as we stood around I noticed several people, me included, were shivering. Rarely has a group been so pleased to get to a café, just to clasp cold hands around warm cups of coffee! It was a new café to us, slightly odd in that we felt like we were sitting a kitchen showroom, but food drink and service were good.
The way back was better - we had a tailwind and the rain had stopped, and we had an enjoyable ride over a few familiar hills that got faster and faster as we got nearer home. I enjoyed it all in a perverse sort of way, and it was certainly one of our more 'memorable' rides.

 

[Gravity Aided]

10 miles this day, on my old mountain bike becoming more of a tourer. It has no suspension, but is sturdy enough and has long enough chainstays to enable it to tour well. It won't set any speed records, but that's not the point. A very nice bicycle for a ride in the country on this crisp autumn day. I saw a skunk beginning his rounds by the time I was 3/4 through my ride. I had to race the sunset to get home, and took the dogs for a walk before darkness fell.

 

[Elybazza61]

Bit late with this but a nice ride-out Saturday on the new two-group club run;went with the 'bit faster and longer group' and although the headwind was a bit tough while at the front was a good ride.

http://www.strava.com/activities/214191138

And we took over the cafe in St Ives;

I'm the handsome chap() between the guys in pink.

 

[Gravity Aided]

Bit late with this but a nice ride-out Saturday on the new two-group club run;went with the 'bit faster and longer group' and although the headwind was a bit tough while at the front was a good ride.

http://www.strava.com/activities/214191138

And we took over the cafe in St Ives;

View attachment 60750

I'm the handsome chap() between the guys in pink.

I guess 17 were going to St. Ives, then. In reference to the nursery rhyme.

View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bEbYOd0toU