You certainly picked the wrong camera - the picture is too blurred for me to work out whether it is a normal road bike or a CX bike!
You certainly picked the wrong camera - the picture is too blurred for me to work out whether it is a normal road bike or a CX bike!
That's the kind of terrain that I want a CX bike for - not gnarly enough to require a MTB, but a bit hard on a lightweight road bike. There are lots of trails like that round here.
PS I try not to lay my bikes down on the righthand side to avoid bashing the rear mech.
I certainly didn't take any pictures of my ride yesterday!throw us a bone Col it was freezing windy AND I had me big gloves on
!! It was quite a sight and very noisy. I believe they were off on the "Santa Run" for the local hospital.
Even a decent breakfast would probably be enough to prevent bonking at 28 miles, it's quite early
Unexpected joint ride out, today.
Just over a month ago I got talking to another cyclist, only to discover we both live on the same street and that his wife has been working in the local Co-op for the last four years. Passed on my contact details when I next had a gossip with her, because her husband and I had talked about doing a ride together, but didn't hear anything until late this morning, when he phoned up, asking if I was interested in a 'short' ride this afternoon.
Just over two hours later, and 34 miles in the bag, I am home. I am also a bit knackered.
I believe I may have passed some interesting and pretty sights, but I can't be sure.
He is seven years my junior and has legs like pistons.
I was also up late last night.
Alcohol may have been involved,
) plus the constant crackle of the studs. Surprisingly though they didn't seem to slow me down much.
.
First ride with the new snow stud tyres today to bed the studs in. The riding experience is interesting with them fitted as you've got the buzz of a knobbly tyre (sounds like the warp drive from the original series of Star Trek
I took a tour through Condover out to Acton Burnell and Cressage before turning north through Wroxeter, past my work and round to Atcham then through the lanes to Condover again before heading home.
It's quite windy out so the first few miles were a bit of a slog until Acton Burnell where I had a nice tail wind and could scoot along quite nicely to Cressage. I'd hoped to keep the tyres as dry as possible for the bedding in process so having to wade through a small flood on the lanes to Wroxeter wasn't ideal
On the way to Upton Forge the distinctive Virgin Trains livery caught my eye on the railway - our new direct service to London starts today.
At Atcham my route was blocked by flooding so a small detour was required. Nice to have found out about this before riding to work tomorrow.
Another detour was needed at Condover - going through the village again rather than taking the shortcut which also had signs up to say it was flooded.
28.5 miles at 12.4 mph average. In the wind and drizzly rain today I'd probably have done about the same speed on the TourRides, so fairly impressed. I've covered the recommended distance for bedding in - just need some ice or snow now.
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The Severn is in flood after heavy rain a couple of days ago. The old pill box is cut off at Cressage.
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Looking to the Wrekin from the same location.
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On the way to Wroxeter looking over the Severn Valley to the Stretton hills in the distance.
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As I'm here: The almost obligatory view of the ruins of Viroconium at Wroxeter.
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The River Tern is quite high as well and we have another old pill box guarding the river crossing.
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The flood plain at Atcham.
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Just after the bridge my way is blocked..........
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...........As is the adjoining road to Cross Houses. However, some people won't believe the signs (a slightly-more-than-three-point-turn being performed down there).
My 1st proper ride for about 3 weeks, today, due to various things stopping me from getting out, like Man Flu, Xmas Parties, etc.
It was a bit milder than it's been all week and I think I had perhaps one too many layers on really, but the South/South Westerly wind was strong and continued to strengthen throughout the ride, meaning that in all probability I would have been cold from the sweat, on the down hills, if I had taken a layer off.
I set off along the cycle-paths through Shrewsbury, crossing the River Severn which had burst it's banks overnight and was out on the flood plain. It's heading your way @Donger ! I was riding into the wind and boy was it strong and gusty, so it was a slow start to the ride. I reached Meole Brace and knew the underpass would be under water from the stream, so I took the opportunity to head up to where my new house is being built, to see how things have progressed this week. It's coming on quite well now, with the Roof on, ready for tiling this week.
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I continued through Bayston Hill, passing a chap selling wooden animal carvings out of the back of a lorry! and climbed up Lyth Hill, onto the off road section. Unfortunately, with the recent incessant rain round here, the track has filled up with it's deep pools of water again. They completely fill the single track and require getting up enough speed to freewheel through, without dipping feet into the water. I managed to do fairly well, with only a near calamity as I ground to a halt in one of the pools, but managed to put my left foot onto the bank and haul myself along by grabbing onto the fence. I don't know who owns this track, but it really does need sorting, it gets worse every year and I think I will attempt to find out and send them a letter!!
I then descended down towards Exfords Green, into a brief shower of light rain and then along to Stapleton, where I called in to see Dad for half an hour and take the opportunity to have a bit of food from my lunchbox.
The sun had come out now, but the wind was getting stronger and so it was a hard slog through Ryton and Longnor, before I turned back towards Shrewsbury and finally had the wind behind me. It was a joy to cycle along the next section to Frodesley and Acton Burnell, cruising quite happily at 20 to 25 mph with the wind pushing me along. I then turned off towards Concord College and up to Evenwood, where, as I ascended the only hill during this ride that has a gradient arrow, my left knee started to hurt in the same place as 3 weeks ago. I don't know what it is, maybe the new saddle set up, but it got worse and worse during the remainder of the ride and I was basically cycling on one leg by the end.
From Evenwood I went up onto Coundmoor and then down to Cressage, crossing the flooded river again, and up to the NCN route around to Wroxeter, with good views of the River Severn in flood..
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I was really struggling with my knee as I crept through Upton Forge, back into the wind again and was passed and left for dead by another cyclist, but with a friendly hello from him. I crossed the River Tern here and that was in flood as well.
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It was then more buffeting from the wind on the road to Uffington and onto the old Canal Path, where for the umpteenth time it started to pour down during the final mile of the ride. I have lost count of the number of rides this year where that has happened!!
As I turned into the road where I live, I was met by around 100 Father Christmas' on Scooters and Motorbikes
I need to try changing the saddle position before my next ride, to see if that sorts the knee issue out. If it doesn't then some proper long rest is going to have to be tried and I really don't want that.
35.7 miles (which takes me past 1750 miles in 2014)
Snail pace 10.9 mph avg
1138 ft of clmbing
