Your ride today.... (part 1)

[Dave 123]

Strange, I've been using racelite hard cases, the originals that are now discontinued, for years and have a puncture rate of one or two a year, I'm riding 4-5000 miles a year.

I've been through 2 sets of them.....
The two bits of stone that I got out of the tyres were like razors. I may resort to wooden wheels!

 

[Gravity Aided]

7.1 miles today, on my Trek 800. I put wider, but non disintegrating, tires on the bicycle. Then I went out and broke 3 personal bests on leeward courses. Also, ceremonial placement of the Fuji Tourer in the basement means winter has started. Overhaul to come, then mounting of the bicycle on trainer. I used my usual course, following the trail to the main trail going north, then turning east on rural roads to loop back home through some subdivisions along a pond north of my house, also on trail. I've also sorted the gears on the Trek, so they work a wee bit better in all instances. It's not perfect, but it sure is a nice bike for the winter. It's so nice, I'm looking into narrow tires so it can become my 26" tourer when spring comes. Its overhaul will only occur when winter is at its worst. Most weather I can now handle down to 0c and a little below. I got insulated ski pants last week,(2d hand) in anticipation of the winter being a long winter, as it was last year.

 

[EltonFrog]

Despite a grey, damp & miserable morning down here I was determined to get out today as I'm at football tomorrow & as this was my 50th consecutive week of cycling without a break a 10 day rest is now planned to refresh some of my aching body parts & try & get the Christmas shopping wrapped up before the December rush!

Once the rain had eased I headed out along the eastern fringes of the New Forest & up to Redlynch in the north before turning west to take on the challenge of Blissford Hill. Now whilst its not the biggest hill in the world, topping out at just over 25% its the closest I've been to being vertical on a bike & is the nemesis of many a novice & also is quite often covered in muck by farmer Giles (who I don't think likes cyclists). That done I headed for home with another 43 miles in the bag.

http://www.strava.com/activities/221600734

View attachment 62272

Blissford Wall Hill

I've been up that hill a couple of times on sportives, it's a bugger! Last time my wife stalled halfway up, so she went back down and started again, she was determined to get up it. The first time she stopped to help a cyclist who fell of going up. The first time I did it a bloke past me on a fixie!

 

[gavgav]

Been fitting my new saddle this morning, Selle SMP 4Bike Hybrid, as hadn't been getting on great with my Specialized one on anything over 30 miles. The fit was a bit fiddly, but got it level and in the position I wanted, so pootled out for a very quick road test. Must be the first time I have ever gone for a ride in my normal daily clothes, including jeans and no helmet!

Just a quick route around the local estate, where I saw the most ridiculous bit of parking I have ever seen. A Blue Peugeot 406, parked on the wrong side of a T-Junction, against the kerb, half in the main road it was turning into and the side road it was coming out of .

It also started to rain, well it is the monsoon season after all (certainly feels like it anyway) and my jeans kept brushing the chain due to not having my clips on !

The saddle felt very different, but, most importantly, very comfortable. It was only 3 miles and so proof will be tomorrow, as I have a longer ride planned on my day off, due to going to Birmingham later to see James Blunt in concert

 

[Jon George]

My repaired bodged rear mudguard on #2 bike decided it wasn't going to delay the inevitable any longer and broke after about 3 miles today. Two motorists pulled up and enquired whether I needed help as I disentangled the pieces and I can only assume that the cyclist who passed - without even acknowledging my existence - made the calculation that I appeared to know what I was doing.

Not a really inspiring pic today (the avenue of trees appealed to me), but this farm has a tea-shop open in summer and I intend to give it a try next year.

 

[Rustybucket]

http://www.strava.com/activities/222297113

Very wet today - good weather to test my new mudguards, winter boots & Gore-tex jacket. Not a very fast average speed, but it was more about getting round safely today. In some places I was going slower downhill because of the rain & loads of leafs on the road. One car splashed me near Box Hill got soaked, but my jacket worked so didnt get too wet, my headphones werent so lucky thou & the right ear packed up. Enjoyed being out today, didnt see too many other people on bikes. I think I prefer it when its cold, dark, wet & windy! Its abit more of a challenge. Enjoy the rest of the weekend everyone!!!

Also turned the hallway into a swimming pool when I got home, taking all my gear off! Wife was not impressed & first words were - you better not get a cold now you idiot!

 

[Donger]

I've been feeling my age lately, with another birthday coming and going, and still being the oldest member of our cycle club. So it was nice to hang with the Kingsway Massive this morning and show them all that this MAMIL still has a bit of a spring in his step. Chancing a few flooded sections, we loosely followed the West bank of the Severn northwards from Gloucester on one of our longer rides, before crossing the river at Tewkesbury and following a stretch of the A38 until the turn-off for Apperley and Tirley. There we re-crossed the river and turned left , going back along the lanes we had splashed through earlier.

When back at Hartpury, those who were struggling a bit stayed on the main road, while the rest of us took on a short but brutal climb up onto Woolridge Hill before we all met up again at the White Hart at Maisemore after a lovely long downhill along the smooth tarmac of a very quiet little lane. Then came a beast of a roundabout at the village of Over, followed by a few tricky lane changes on the Western by-pass and the huge Cole Avenue crossroads to cross shortly before the finish back on the Kingsway estate. Must have overtaken 30 or 40 cars in the traffic, and I started to enjoy myself out-accelerating the traffic away from the lights. I'm not just a pretty face .... I'm also faster than a speeding van. Okay, so it was quite a big one .... and looked quite full ....and it was being driven by a bit of a dozy looking driver ..... but I'm having it. (Donger 1, Van 0).

41.9 miles for me, all togged up in rain jacket and waterproof overtrousers. So not a drop of rain this morning, of course!

Cheers, Donger.

 

[Stu Smith]

That's better...Enjoyed that one

https://www.strava.com/activities/222342465

 

[david k]

Had a lovely ride today slow and enjoyable. Took in some local tracks and trails and made sure I looked round and took it all in, just over 19 miles at a little over 10mph. Often I think and I guess others look at the value of a ride based on distance and speed, well and gentle enjoyable ride is good for your well being and helping get your body moving in the meantime so I'd say this was a great ride because of that criteria.
And look what I found blocking my path !!!!

 

[Soltydog]

After no cycling yesterday, but one or two alcoholic beverages I had to brave the rain this morning & managed a very wet 26 mile ride. Pretty uneventful, just rain, rain & more rain oh I found out that my night vision jacket is no longer waterproof

 

[EltonFrog]

.....And look what I found blocking my path !!!!

Um. I think you will find that he found you!

 

[arranandy]

Nearly a metric century this morning in absolutely great weather conditions - cold, clear, blue sky and hardly any wind. Did a one of my usual loops up to EK then out to Louden Hill before extending it by heading down to Lesmahagow up through Brocketsbrae down into the Clyde valley before doing the Tillietudlem climb (18% at some bits!!) back up to Draffen before heading back home via Ashgill and Larkhall. Quite a few folks out on bikes this morning all well wrapped up because of the cold early on. All in all 97.5km and 1413m of climbing.
When I got home and uploaded my ride to Strava I realised that I've past the 12000km of cycling for the year so far

 

[toeknee]

Took my new bike for a test ride today, only did 11.5 miles, but with not riding for 2 months, it felt like double that. Anyway bike rode like a dream, gear changes are smooth as silk, bike is nice and light, and flew up the hills ( little inclines ) really easily.

About half of the ride done at this point.
And when I returned home I was greeted with this offf Mrs TK.......

A lovely ride and breakfast, made for a great Sunday midday ride, can't wait to gett out on my next ride now.

 

[djb1971]

can't wait to gett out on my next ride

You'll need to looking at the size of that breakie

 

[dan_bo]

Mucky hour at the Stadt Moers CX. No pics but lots and lots of fun.