coffeejo
Ælfrēd
- Location
- West Somerset
Sunshine. Shorts and t-shirt.
Flooded road.
Welcome to Somerset.
Flooded road.
Welcome to Somerset.
Your ride today.... (part 1)
- Thread starter gbb
- Start date
- Status
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ColinJ
Puzzle game procrastinator!
- Location
- Todmorden - Yorks/Lancs border
My ride today was ...
... postponed as long as it took for the rain to stop!
The forecast yesterday was for heavy rain all day today so I was going to have another day off the bike. Sure enough, it was raining all morning and into the afternoon but at 3 o/c I noticed that the sky was finally clearing. I dithered, thinking that it was getting a bit close to sunset and I don't really like riding in the dark, so should I bother? Then I decided that I was being negative, that any ride is a ride worth doing, and anyway - every mile counts towards my MCL target. I will possibly not be riding much in December so I need to bank as many miles as I can now!
I am lucky - I can head out and be on a 4.5 mile climb with fine views within 1/4 mile of home. I decided to ride to the top of the A6033 (Cock Hill, Keighley Road), turn round and come straight back down again. That would be 9 miles, and I would go round the block a few times to make it up to 10. (I only need to average about 6.6 miles a day to hit my target, so anything over that is reducing what I need to do on subsequent days.)
I decided that it would be the first ride of the autumn in my Endura commuter jacket. I had been feeling a bit chilled on descents recently wearing my lightweight gilet. The Endura felt a bit too warm on the climb but I couldn't be bothered to fiddle about with the zips to let more air in.
I got to the summit, turned at the old, now-defunct Bradford university weather research station, and saw a fine sunset developing, not really captured that well by my camera phone, but here you are anyway ...
I was glad to be wearing that jacket for the descent back to Hebden Bridge. The wind was lighter than of late but it was getting chilly riding down into it without the warmth of direct sunlight.
I passed through Pecket Well and was beginning my descent through the woods below, when I spotted a spooky mist developing in the Midgehole valley leading round to Hardcastle Crags. I stopped to take a photo of that, which again was not really captured properly by the phone's camera ...
I got back just as daylight was fading. I had fitted a rear light to the bike, but have mislaid the bracket for the front light so could not attach that. I must find the bracket and fit the light so I don't risk riding lightless if I am ever delayed on my way home.
... postponed as long as it took for the rain to stop!
The forecast yesterday was for heavy rain all day today so I was going to have another day off the bike. Sure enough, it was raining all morning and into the afternoon but at 3 o/c I noticed that the sky was finally clearing. I dithered, thinking that it was getting a bit close to sunset and I don't really like riding in the dark, so should I bother? Then I decided that I was being negative, that any ride is a ride worth doing, and anyway - every mile counts towards my MCL target. I will possibly not be riding much in December so I need to bank as many miles as I can now!
I am lucky - I can head out and be on a 4.5 mile climb with fine views within 1/4 mile of home. I decided to ride to the top of the A6033 (Cock Hill, Keighley Road), turn round and come straight back down again. That would be 9 miles, and I would go round the block a few times to make it up to 10. (I only need to average about 6.6 miles a day to hit my target, so anything over that is reducing what I need to do on subsequent days.)
I decided that it would be the first ride of the autumn in my Endura commuter jacket. I had been feeling a bit chilled on descents recently wearing my lightweight gilet. The Endura felt a bit too warm on the climb but I couldn't be bothered to fiddle about with the zips to let more air in.
I got to the summit, turned at the old, now-defunct Bradford university weather research station, and saw a fine sunset developing, not really captured that well by my camera phone, but here you are anyway ...
I was glad to be wearing that jacket for the descent back to Hebden Bridge. The wind was lighter than of late but it was getting chilly riding down into it without the warmth of direct sunlight.
I passed through Pecket Well and was beginning my descent through the woods below, when I spotted a spooky mist developing in the Midgehole valley leading round to Hardcastle Crags. I stopped to take a photo of that, which again was not really captured properly by the phone's camera ...
I got back just as daylight was fading. I had fitted a rear light to the bike, but have mislaid the bracket for the front light so could not attach that. I must find the bracket and fit the light so I don't risk riding lightless if I am ever delayed on my way home.
EltonFrog
Legendary Member
Third coat on the skirting boards today, six hours of feckin painting! I'm sick to feckin death of it. And it looks like it needs another coat, I'm beginning to forget what a bike looks like!
I was supposed to go for a utility ride today, didn't happen.
I think I'll start a thread called "What Did You Paint Today?
Aaaaafghhhhhh!
I was supposed to go for a utility ride today, didn't happen.
I think I'll start a thread called "What Did You Paint Today?
Aaaaafghhhhhh!
djb1971
Legendary Member
- Location
- Far Far Away
Are you painting everyone's house in the street!
- Location
- Shrewsbury, Shropshire
After using the car for most of this week I was desperate to get some cycled miles in, so when it appeared that the rain had cleared I headed to work on the bike. It wasn't too cold out today so I had a pleasant ride.... as far as Sundorne at least, when the rain came back in, very light at first so I only noticed it when my fleece started feeling damp, then it decided to rain properly and as I was already wet it didn't seem worth putting on waterproofs. The rain was on and off the rest of the way with a final downpour for the last half mile that made my colleagues smirk when I came through the door dripping wet.
I still enjoyed the ride though.
For the way back it was a beautiful dry, clear, cool autumnal evening. I wasn't sure which way to head home this time but thought I'd decide on the way as it's about 3 miles before I have to commit to one route or another. Going up the road past Upton Forge I noticed the traffic on the A5 didn't seem to be going very quick and by the time I reached the bridge on the Upton Magna road it was practically at a standstill. Decision made - if the traffic is that bad on the A5 there will be loads of rat runners and I want a nice easy ride home, so I headed through Upton Magna and towards Uffington. Surprisingly I only passed one car before reaching Uffington, which made for a very relaxed ride.
The main road through Uffington wasn't too bad and I was onto the old canal path past Sundorne which I already knew from the morning ride is really muddy at the moment. The knockabout bike has got dirtier in one round trip today than it usually gets in a whole week.
Joining Telford Way I found it queued back even further than usual. One of those occasions it's nice to be on a bike.
The usual 22.1 miles for the long version of the round trip and an average of 12.9 mph. Out of curiosity I weighed my panniers after this trip and found that in commuting rig the knockabout bike and luggage come to 26kg.
Crossing the A5 and it's all coming to a halt.
Looking the other way: In the time it's taken to stop and take a photo the queue now goes back as far as the eye can see.
I still enjoyed the ride though.For the way back it was a beautiful dry, clear, cool autumnal evening. I wasn't sure which way to head home this time but thought I'd decide on the way as it's about 3 miles before I have to commit to one route or another. Going up the road past Upton Forge I noticed the traffic on the A5 didn't seem to be going very quick and by the time I reached the bridge on the Upton Magna road it was practically at a standstill. Decision made - if the traffic is that bad on the A5 there will be loads of rat runners and I want a nice easy ride home, so I headed through Upton Magna and towards Uffington. Surprisingly I only passed one car before reaching Uffington, which made for a very relaxed ride.
The main road through Uffington wasn't too bad and I was onto the old canal path past Sundorne which I already knew from the morning ride is really muddy at the moment. The knockabout bike has got dirtier in one round trip today than it usually gets in a whole week.
Joining Telford Way I found it queued back even further than usual. One of those occasions it's nice to be on a bike.
The usual 22.1 miles for the long version of the round trip and an average of 12.9 mph. Out of curiosity I weighed my panniers after this trip and found that in commuting rig the knockabout bike and luggage come to 26kg.
Crossing the A5 and it's all coming to a halt.
Looking the other way: In the time it's taken to stop and take a photo the queue now goes back as far as the eye can see.
Last edited:
Billy Wizz
Veteran
- Location
- North Wales
BigonaBianchi
Yes I can, Yes I am, Yes I did...Repeat.
- Location
- Iskele TRNC & Mordor UK
View: http://youtu.be/izOPUdaknR8
Video of a descent on my ride in Northern Cyprus today...let it run and it will take you all the way down lol!
Blog of ride here
http://cyprusonabianchi.blogspot.com/2014/11/log-fire-and-hot-coffee-on-top-of.html
Stu Smith
Veteran
- Location
- Lancashire
Supersuperleeds
Legendary Member
- Location
- Leicester
Well after battling the wind all week whilst commuting my legs were a bit tired last night, but the weather forecast for today was pretty good; cloudy but no rain and very little wind. So I got the road bike ready last night, got up this morning at 5am and the BBC for once seemed to have got the weather forecast bang on.
So jump on the bike and set off to tackle Novembers imperial century ride.
Had some very light rain for a couple of minutes and hit a few mist patches but nothing major, apart from that the weather was perfect.
About 35 miles in spotted a cyclist a fair way in front of me and eventually caught them up to find out it was the lady from my LBS - rode with her for a mile or so before our routes.
Saw loads of cyclists out and caught one other cyclist up, another lady who was just riding around the block having her first ride for 12 months, she looked a lot more steady than I did when I first got back on a bike.
This was also my first 100 miler were I did not stop to get food or extra drink, did it on a cup of tea and two slices of toast before setting off and 1.5 litre of Robinson's apple and blackcurrant juice. Eating a fair bit now though!
101.5 miles done in total
http://www.strava.com/activities/219432674
So jump on the bike and set off to tackle Novembers imperial century ride.
Had some very light rain for a couple of minutes and hit a few mist patches but nothing major, apart from that the weather was perfect.
About 35 miles in spotted a cyclist a fair way in front of me and eventually caught them up to find out it was the lady from my LBS - rode with her for a mile or so before our routes.
Saw loads of cyclists out and caught one other cyclist up, another lady who was just riding around the block having her first ride for 12 months, she looked a lot more steady than I did when I first got back on a bike.
This was also my first 100 miler were I did not stop to get food or extra drink, did it on a cup of tea and two slices of toast before setting off and 1.5 litre of Robinson's apple and blackcurrant juice. Eating a fair bit now though!
101.5 miles done in total
http://www.strava.com/activities/219432674
Goonerobes
Its okay to be white
- Location
- Wiltshire
Nice one & whilst I'm not at all jealous (honestly
) is there also a puffing & panting going up version?
Goonerobes
Its okay to be white
- Location
- Wiltshire
With no real rain in the forecast today I decided to revisit Wiltshire for a reverse version of one of my favourite routes, which once I'm across the forest goes through the medieval market town of Fordingbridge on the river Avon & through a host of one street country villages surrounded by acre after acre of farmland.
What I didn't realise however was that a mile down the road and for the next 40 or so miles I would be cycling into a wall of fog which I don't recall having done before to this extent & although quite peaceful & refreshing to cycle in it wasn't particularly photogenic.
There were still a fair number of cyclists out here to day too including one group of of 5 or 6 I passed where the youngest must have been pushing 70 so much respect to them & hearty waves & hellos were exchanged & I must have smiled to myself for a good 5 minutes after.
58 miles in all which takes me to over 5000 miles for my first year on a road bike.
http://www.strava.com/activities/219430902
Just a little bit foggy!!
What I didn't realise however was that a mile down the road and for the next 40 or so miles I would be cycling into a wall of fog which I don't recall having done before to this extent & although quite peaceful & refreshing to cycle in it wasn't particularly photogenic.
There were still a fair number of cyclists out here to day too including one group of of 5 or 6 I passed where the youngest must have been pushing 70 so much respect to them & hearty waves & hellos were exchanged & I must have smiled to myself for a good 5 minutes after.
58 miles in all which takes me to over 5000 miles for my first year on a road bike.
http://www.strava.com/activities/219430902
Just a little bit foggy!!
Geoff Crowther
"... travel far, not fast", Ted Simon
- Location
- Hayfield, High Peak
Quick ride this afternoon. Through Whaley Bridge and up past Windgather Rocks to Pym Chair. Flew down the road into Goyt Valley then onto the forest track across Hoo Moor. I love this track. It's not challenging ('cept perhaps on a road bike) but just gives a nice feeling of being away from it all. The Sherpa was in its element here. I'm beginning to like this bike ... I could sell all the others ... maybe not.
Life is good.
Enjoy your riding folks.
Life is good.
Enjoy your riding folks.
Soltydog
Legendary Member
- Location
- near Hornsea
http://www.strava.com/activities/219404584 Nice 50 miler today, but on some of the most filthy roads ever. I've never been so dirty after a ride. Should have taken a pic when I got home. At points my chain was so caked in grime that there was a horrible crunching kind of noise. My new carbon steed, looks anything but new at the moment, so after tomorrow mornings ride I have a fair bit of cleaning on my hands 
david k
Hi
- Location
- North West
15 miles with my 12 year old son
part cycle track part muddy old road without tarmac, was fun but he had had enough after 8 miles
part cycle track part muddy old road without tarmac, was fun but he had had enough after 8 miles
- Status
