Your ride today.... (part 1)

[Katherine]

• Headwind - hardwork
• Hail - ouch
• Forgot my snack bar - hungry
• Rainbow - beautiful
• Tail wind - weeeeeeeee
• Lent my phone to a stranded cyclist - glad it wasn't me
• Home - hot coffee and stollen

 

[Deleted member 1258]

The Market Bosworth Battlefield the destination, 55 hard miles the journey, Got up to a grey wet morning but ignored the Duvet calling me back to bed and got the bike out. The first part through Shilton, Withybrook and Monks kirby wasn't nice, ridden in interminant drizzle with bursts of heavy rain, but by the time I got to Claybrook Magna the sun had come out, the rain had stopped and it was rather pleasant apart from the wind, turning towards Peckleton and Kirby Mallory had me grafting into the wind and it seemed in my face most of the way to the Battlefield. When I left the sun had gone and the wind had strengthened and I seemed to spend most of the ride home working slowly into it. I punctured just outside Shenton, my fault, I cut a corner too much, dropped the back off the inside of the road and picked up a snake bite, third puncture this year, I must mention the two young ladies who stopped and lent me a pump, today I discovered that mine had stopped working. Apart from that it wasn't a bad morning on the bike, hard work into the wind and a bit unpleasant in the rain at the start, but not bad.

 

[Donger]

'Tis the run-in to Christmas, and people have been out a-partying. This probably accounts for why none of the original handful of Kingsway CC riders (and very few of the new ones) made it out in the drizzle at 9am this morning. Apparently 3 of them did the Severn Bridge loop yesterday, so they are excused, but @Dark46 just failed to drag his sorry ass out of bed in time this morning, along with one or two other no-shows. No matter., it was still a cracking ride in good company.

The intrepid trio of Ant, Dave and I all headed off down the road at 09:10 this morning, just as the drizzle was stopping, and were soon joined by Kevin, who was a little late, but had correctly guessed which road we were taking. The four of us headed off for a big loop up onto and along the Cotswold escarpment via Stroud, and the lovely Slad Valley. Once the climbing was over and we were almost at Birdlip, we turned sharp left and headed across Cranham Woods and Buckholt Woods. The road followed the escarpment back in the opposite direction for a few miles through gorgeous woodland and along lovely smooth, undulating and winding tarmac with great views down into the Severn Vale. I hit 36.5 mph at one point, and was left with an indelible grin for the rest of the ride. We rejoined the main A road near Prinknash Abbey, all agreeing that, whatever way you struggle your way up these hills, it is most definitely worth every bit of effort, just for the amazing glide through Buckholt Woods.

It was also nice to add another 2 or 3 miles of downhill on the main road back to Brockworth, but it was near here that I started to put the kybosh on my fellow cyclists. A few minutes after admiring Dave's yellow tyres , the puncture fairy struck his rear wheel, requiring a stop for a change of tube. Not long after we got going again, and picked our way around the Gloucester suburbs back towards Kingsway, I commented that we had been lucky to escape the rain today .... cue another onset of drizzle almost immediately. I thought it best to try not to speak again until we got home. 37.8 enjoyable miles today, in mostly fine weather. Totally mud-splattered, though.

Cheers, Donger.

 

[sgl5gjr]

A Second run out for the teen today on her new Road Bike..... stretched her legs out on this one on 8.77 miles from our home and through 2 local villages and return.... couple of stops for saddle adjusting for her....
8.7 mph average & 20.8 mph max speed... 8c and damp roads, mainly dry apart from the odd light spit spot of rain... We did the "Good Morning" to fellow riders who were also out there today.... shame the promised sunshine decided to stay away....

 

[Dirk]

Just a quick 5 miles around the marshes, with the missus, to try out the new tyres on her Mixte.

 

[Dark46]

No ride this weekend or today due to throwing up most of yesterday and feeling more the best today. I needed my sleep and woke up 2 minutes before ride was due. I normally awaken at 08:00 have breakfast then ride out at 09:00. The one time I rode without breakfast I had a really bad ride.

 

[jifdave]

39 miles down to faversham and back essentially just 1 long 19.5 mile on 1 road and then back

http://www.strava.com/activities/227083261

 

[G3CWI]

Odd one today. Set off in sunshine to join the club run which was starting in Wilmslow, about 7 miles from home. 200m from my front door I witnessed a rider knocked off by car turning across him (not hurt). Then the rain started. It poured and I arrived at the meeting point rather damp. 13 turned up and off we set. 20 minutes of heavy cold rain ensued and words of discontent were being exchanged. One of the women was talking about turning back and the chap next to me (Ken) was getting very cold. I was not enjoying it so Ken and I turned back. I cycled with him back to Bollington. On the way he apologised for being very slow - in part due to his age (74). Slow? I struggled to keep on his wheel on the flat. Turns out he's an ex-racer. Naturally as soon as we left the group the weather improved.

On arrival in Bollington and after leaving Ken, I decided to make best use of the break in the weather by heading up the fearsome Blaze Hill. Unfortunately the rain returned but this time in the form of hail. I decided to return down the Brickworks. As soon as I crested the hill I realised that this was going to be hard work. I was faced with a very strong wind and huge hail stones. This was hell on a bike. The hail stones were ringing the bell on the bike and pinging against the frame. Quite musical. Unfortunately they were also hitting my face. This was so painful I was forced to stop three times and cover my face with my hands. Cars crawled by and I had no alternative but to push on. It must have been cold as the cap on my bidon shattered.

Back into Bollington I took the Middlewood Way. This was covered in hail stones and the tyres made an odd crunching sound. I thought I had a puncture at first. I was very cold by the time I arrived home.

Over six hours later and my face is really sore. Like some sort of exfoliation by hail stones.

54 km 576 m ascent.

 

[DaveReading]

Rode from home in Reading to son/D-i-L's on the Tolworth/Surbiton border to celebrate grandson's first birthday. One way ride only, as wife didn't fancy cycling so she brought the car and the bike went home on top.

Mostly quiet roads as far as Staines, lots of deer in Windsor Great Park. Only issues were IMHO a very cycle-unfriendly layout at the Runnymede Roundabout under the M25 and a slightly hairy experience at the Hampton Court one.

But with a steady 10-15 mph westerly following wind all the way, I'm not complaining.

 

[Gravity Aided]

Another 4.5 miler today, and a pb on a hill near me. Quite cold and cloudy, another day for the hand-warmers and triple layers. Mrs. GA making Christmas candies, better to stay out of the way, especially in the kitchen. When I returned, dogs were walked to get them out of the house as well.

 

[derrick]

Couple of rides over the weekend, Saturday club ride with new club, http://www.strava.com/activities/226708215
.
Sunday out with friends for a nice social ride.http://www.strava.com/activities/227105180
Stopped for breakfast in Hatfield Heath. then a blowy ride back home,

 

[PeteXXX]

I rode down to the local shops today to buy a few Christmas bits, cards etc. It wasn't as chilly as I thought it might be and soon took the buff off to let some steam out!

I decided to take sellotape and a pen, buy some wrapping paper and call into the library to sort my stuff out. I then rode to the Post Office to send the bits to Washington DC. It cost nearly as much to post them as buy them!
Never mind, they're on their way now.

On the way back, I had a bit of time to spare before lunch and w*rk this afternoon so I dropped down the hill in Overstone Lodge

across the golfers bridge and back home.
Only 6 or 7 miles, but nice to get out before the predicted grotty weather hits in a few days time..

http://www.strava.com/activities/227423325

 

[mooseracer]

Little 14 mile ride this lunchtime

 

[cosmicbike]

Hoping to get away to see family for a couple of days this Christmas, and following discussion felt best option would be to kennel the dogs. That planned my ride for today, so I set out through Virginia Water and Chobham before arriving at said kennels in Knaphill some 11 miles later. At this point my feet were still ok, as following my last cold toed ride I'd taken Homer with me

Doh!! Unfortunately I still ended up with cold toes after a couple of hours, can't wait for my MW81's to arrive...
Still, kennels had a few dates available so a worthwhile trip. Since I was in new territory I followed my nose which led me back through Chobham, Sunningdale, Ascot and (surprise surprise) I ended up at Dukes Lane entrance to WGP. However, I fancied a change, so rather than go into the park I went round it, hoping to avoid the hills. How silly of me, far more hills round the outside! On the plus side, it does lead to a great downhill run back into Windsor, though today I bottled out at 32mph as the crosswind was fierce.
My 2nd stop was somewhat nearer the Castle than normal

Now clearly no cycles is obvious, but what is one to do with a cycle, other than ride it??

I tried rollerblading once, at a disco. Didn't go too well....
Pretty dull ride from here to home on the main drag through Old Windsor and Runneymede.
All in all a rather nice ride though, warmed up nicely, found a few new roads so all good, and loving this winter sunshine. The planned 22 miles somehow ended up at 32 miles, with 1100ft of climbing. Still, great excuse to eat lots when I got home

 

[EltonFrog]

The Market Bosworth Battlefield the destination, 55 hard miles the journey, Got up to a grey wet morning but ignored the Duvet calling me back to bed and got the bike out. The first part through Shilton, Withybrook and Monks kirby wasn't nice, ridden in interminant drizzle with bursts of heavy rain, but by the time I got to Claybrook Magna the sun had come out, the rain had stopped and it was rather pleasant apart from the wind, turning towards Peckleton and Kirby Mallory had me grafting into the wind and it seemed in my face most of the way to the Battlefield. When I left the sun had gone and the wind had strengthened and I seemed to spend most of the ride home working slowly into it. I punctured just outside Shenton, my fault, I cut a corner too much, dropped the back off the inside of the road and picked up a snake bite, third puncture this year, I must mention the two young ladies who stopped and lent me a pump, today I discovered that mine had stopped working. Apart from that it wasn't a bad morning on the bike, hard work into the wind and a bit unpleasant in the rain at the start, but not bad.

View attachment 73729

Nice Bike.