Dave 123
Legendary Member
- Location
- Cambridgeshire alps
Your ride today.... (part 1)
- Thread starter gbb
- Start date
- Status
Page may contain affiliate links. Please see terms for details.
Goonerobes
Its okay to be white
- Location
- Wiltshire
Quite how I am here typing this is mystifying me as for the second time this year (I was hit in February) I have had a nasty experience at a roundabout! 
The screenshot below would be drivers view & I was going straight across from the right in daylight, on a white bike, in a red jacket & with a bright flashing front light & no other cars around so how the f*** could he/she not see me!!!!!
I saw the car (a maroon Ford Focus) approaching the roundabout to my left & was travelling with a tailwind at around 15-20 mph. To my right was clear so I had no reason to stop & only slowed a little, which is probably just as well, as half way across I realised the moron wasn't going to stop & as I got my front wheel across him I braced for impact on the back wheel but somehow I made it & let out more than a few choice words!
Other than that
, it was a fairly nondescript 26 miles around a windy New Forest with the added bonus of finding my new dhb Thinsulate winter gloves had been delivered by the postie so I live to ride another day!
http://www.strava.com/activities/230543416
The scene of the crime!!
The screenshot below would be drivers view & I was going straight across from the right in daylight, on a white bike, in a red jacket & with a bright flashing front light & no other cars around so how the f*** could he/she not see me!!!!!
I saw the car (a maroon Ford Focus) approaching the roundabout to my left & was travelling with a tailwind at around 15-20 mph. To my right was clear so I had no reason to stop & only slowed a little, which is probably just as well, as half way across I realised the moron wasn't going to stop & as I got my front wheel across him I braced for impact on the back wheel but somehow I made it & let out more than a few choice words!
Other than that
, it was a fairly nondescript 26 miles around a windy New Forest with the added bonus of finding my new dhb Thinsulate winter gloves had been delivered by the postie so I live to ride another day!http://www.strava.com/activities/230543416
The scene of the crime!!
Dave 123
Legendary Member
- Location
- Cambridgeshire alps
Joshua Plumtree
Approaching perfection from a distance.
Not a ride but a drive !
Checking out a potential alternative TT course for my club next year.
Starting just north of the village of The Gibb it continues thru Grittleton, Hullavington & Norton.
http://ridewithgps.com/trips/3883131
Just make sure it's flat or I shan't be doin' it!
Jon George
Mamil and couldn't care less
- Location
- Suffolk an' Good
For various reasons too long to go into here, I didn't get out for a long ride, today. I did, however, fit in three 3milers on the #3 The Hybrid.
1. Trip to a clinic for some physio on my upper back and neck. (Which meant cycling down, and then back up, on the return, one of the steepest hills in Ipswich.)
2. Shortly afterwards retracing my ride to search for a lost wallet. (I found it on the floor in the bathroom - hurrah!)
3. Trip to Sainsbury's to seek out free-range piggy streaky-bacon for Christmas dinner, only to have the wind blow a whopping piece of polystyrene, presumably from someone's TV packaging, under my front wheel while I was doing about 25-30 mph. Instead of being pitched over the bars as I belatedly grabbed at handfuls of brake, I smashed through as though imitating Starsky and Hutch. Quite an amazing sound!
Still can't believe what a day I've had.
1. Trip to a clinic for some physio on my upper back and neck. (Which meant cycling down, and then back up, on the return, one of the steepest hills in Ipswich.)
2. Shortly afterwards retracing my ride to search for a lost wallet. (I found it on the floor in the bathroom - hurrah!)
3. Trip to Sainsbury's to seek out free-range piggy streaky-bacon for Christmas dinner, only to have the wind blow a whopping piece of polystyrene, presumably from someone's TV packaging, under my front wheel while I was doing about 25-30 mph. Instead of being pitched over the bars as I belatedly grabbed at handfuls of brake, I smashed through as though imitating Starsky and Hutch. Quite an amazing sound!
Still can't believe what a day I've had.
sgl5gjr
Senior Member
- Location
- Huntingdon
A quick 5 miler Thursday evening with only one of the Wheelers..... found several cycleways still blighted from wet leaves, so my reports to the council have been ignored as usual.... 9.6 average and 18.9 mph max on MTB's and cycleways.....
Plenty of nutty drivers out there (as per usual from Nov 17th to Dec 24th) not watching others and especially cyclists...... Mild evening at 13c but a blustery headwind....Next ride will be Sunday morning with the teen on roadies......
Just a quick RIP for a fellow local cyclist who sadly died of his injuries while cycling between the Cambridgeshire villages of Sutton & Earith..... Graham Shaw was just 29 years old and a local lad to us, he was hit from the rear by a coach (both going the same direction) at 3pm this last Tuesday.....
at the time it was Dry, bright and little wind to speak of..... with the coach going the same direction the proportioning of blame for the death/accident/collision points to the driver not the cyclist.....
Knowing of the road leads me to say...... how would a coach hit a cyclist on an open fen road with no buildings etc for distractions..... its like an open exposed road between 2 villages with nothing but ditches either side, no hedges etc........
RIP Graham... and to the rest of us....
Take Care Out There....
Plenty of nutty drivers out there (as per usual from Nov 17th to Dec 24th) not watching others and especially cyclists...... Mild evening at 13c but a blustery headwind....Next ride will be Sunday morning with the teen on roadies......
Just a quick RIP for a fellow local cyclist who sadly died of his injuries while cycling between the Cambridgeshire villages of Sutton & Earith..... Graham Shaw was just 29 years old and a local lad to us, he was hit from the rear by a coach (both going the same direction) at 3pm this last Tuesday.....
at the time it was Dry, bright and little wind to speak of..... with the coach going the same direction the proportioning of blame for the death/accident/collision points to the driver not the cyclist.....
Knowing of the road leads me to say...... how would a coach hit a cyclist on an open fen road with no buildings etc for distractions..... its like an open exposed road between 2 villages with nothing but ditches either side, no hedges etc........
RIP Graham... and to the rest of us....
Take Care Out There....
Supersuperleeds
Legendary Member
- Location
- Leicester
With Christmas approaching at warp speed, time was running out to get my imperial century for December done, so took today off work to do it.
Set off at 05:30, roads very wet, but it was very warm and the strong wind being forecast all week didn't seem to have made an appearance, but it turned out it was just hiding further up the road waiting to pounce on me. First 30 odd miles were bliss, then I turned into the headwind and for the majority of the next 50 miles I battled against it. Stayed warm all the way round and once it came up the sun kept me company all the way around as well - good job I had my cap on as at times it was blinding.
Had the joy of watching an owl fly along in front of me for probably only a few seconds, but it was a great sight.
Also spotted another bird of prey perched in a tree as well. I'll say a kestrel, no idea if it was or not.
Gave a tow to an older chap as he had dropped off the back of his group, got him back to them just before they stopped at a cafe. I suspect he could have got back by himself but it gave him and me the opportunity to have a chat and also a breather for me as I sat at the back of their group for half a mile or so once we had caught them.
Today's ride means I've completed the imperial century a month challenge (and by default the metric one as well.) It also took me to 19,000 miles for the year and 35,000 since I started logging my miles
http://www.strava.com/activities/230778550
Set off at 05:30, roads very wet, but it was very warm and the strong wind being forecast all week didn't seem to have made an appearance, but it turned out it was just hiding further up the road waiting to pounce on me. First 30 odd miles were bliss, then I turned into the headwind and for the majority of the next 50 miles I battled against it. Stayed warm all the way round and once it came up the sun kept me company all the way around as well - good job I had my cap on as at times it was blinding.
Had the joy of watching an owl fly along in front of me for probably only a few seconds, but it was a great sight.
Also spotted another bird of prey perched in a tree as well. I'll say a kestrel, no idea if it was or not.
Gave a tow to an older chap as he had dropped off the back of his group, got him back to them just before they stopped at a cafe. I suspect he could have got back by himself but it gave him and me the opportunity to have a chat and also a breather for me as I sat at the back of their group for half a mile or so once we had caught them.
Today's ride means I've completed the imperial century a month challenge (and by default the metric one as well.) It also took me to 19,000 miles for the year and 35,000 since I started logging my miles
http://www.strava.com/activities/230778550
Saluki
World class procrastinator
- Location
- ...Norwich over the water.
Just in from a nice wee 21.5 mile loop.
The plan was to meet Hubster from Dialysis today and to go the pretty route. I was late out of the door as our little JRT decided to go squirrelling in the woods and danced about out of arms reach when it was time to go home.
When home again I managed to get my right thermal sock back off the puppy only to then have to chase him around the living room as he'd nicked my buff. Finally I had cycling longs on, thermal socks on, a fleece jumper, light gloves and mitts in had. Helmet, aftershokz, phone, gps etc. In reality, most of my stuff lives in my helmet on the bookshelf so I don't have to scrap about for it. Ready to go and heading for the door. Then I went back to the front bedroom and got my bike
Onwards, up our road and heading for Bowthorpe and not feeling the love. From Bowthorpe I headed for Bawburgh and turned right at the bottom of the hill and slogged up the other side and headed off to Marlingford. That Marlingford to Barford to Barnham Broome road is a funny road as it was built by Escher. It doesn't matter what way you ride along it, it always feels up hill. Going into the wind didn't help. It's a road that I know well as I used to live in Barford and rode along it often. It was nice to see the sheep in the fields, and the rabbits too. Nearly got totalled by some old fart towing a grockle box just 25 yards from the turning to the Caravan Club Certified Site. He swore at me. Not quite as much as I swore at him though. He tried overtake, then backed off and then had another go. There was not enough room to overtake but he was desperate to beat me to the turning. I must have ruined his Christmas break by holding him up for 20 seconds or so. Dozy old get.
Anyway, onwards up the never ending upwards slope to Barnham Broome then I turned left up Spar Road rather than ride to the Bell and turn there as I didn't fancy the lovely downhill followed by the horrible uphill again. I crossed the main Watton Road eventually and rode off down to Carleton Forehoe on that nice bit of road, which is a bit muddy but a gentle downhill. I turned left on the Barnham Broome Road and headed to Wymondham. It's the same road that I would have been on had I gone the other route but without slogging uphill again. I was getting fed up with going uphill by now.
At the top (and I mean at the top - another bloody hill) of BB Road, I reached Tuttles Lane, Wymondham and had a lovely and much faster spin along there to the Norwich Road roundabout and then followed it to Hethersett then to the A11 roundabouts where I go under the A47, along to Eaton. All of this is a very gentle downhill. I lose about 90 feet along that nice 6 mile bit. From there I rode along Bluebell Road (more uphill) and then home, after a quick tour of our estate to make up the extra mile. I overcooked it by 800 yards but that was OK.
21.51 miles in 1:45:04 and climbed 424 feet although it felt like more (Don't laugh all of you who live in hilly areas and climb that getting the papers on a Sunday). I averaged 12.3mph and had a good time. I was a bit tired when I got in. Now on 2nd cup of tea. 61.35 miles to goal and nearly 2 weeks to do it in. Lets hope for some cycling weather - vaguely dry will do for me.
The plan was to meet Hubster from Dialysis today and to go the pretty route. I was late out of the door as our little JRT decided to go squirrelling in the woods and danced about out of arms reach when it was time to go home.
When home again I managed to get my right thermal sock back off the puppy only to then have to chase him around the living room as he'd nicked my buff. Finally I had cycling longs on, thermal socks on, a fleece jumper, light gloves and mitts in had. Helmet, aftershokz, phone, gps etc. In reality, most of my stuff lives in my helmet on the bookshelf so I don't have to scrap about for it. Ready to go and heading for the door. Then I went back to the front bedroom and got my bike
Onwards, up our road and heading for Bowthorpe and not feeling the love. From Bowthorpe I headed for Bawburgh and turned right at the bottom of the hill and slogged up the other side and headed off to Marlingford. That Marlingford to Barford to Barnham Broome road is a funny road as it was built by Escher. It doesn't matter what way you ride along it, it always feels up hill. Going into the wind didn't help. It's a road that I know well as I used to live in Barford and rode along it often. It was nice to see the sheep in the fields, and the rabbits too. Nearly got totalled by some old fart towing a grockle box just 25 yards from the turning to the Caravan Club Certified Site. He swore at me. Not quite as much as I swore at him though. He tried overtake, then backed off and then had another go. There was not enough room to overtake but he was desperate to beat me to the turning. I must have ruined his Christmas break by holding him up for 20 seconds or so. Dozy old get.
Anyway, onwards up the never ending upwards slope to Barnham Broome then I turned left up Spar Road rather than ride to the Bell and turn there as I didn't fancy the lovely downhill followed by the horrible uphill again. I crossed the main Watton Road eventually and rode off down to Carleton Forehoe on that nice bit of road, which is a bit muddy but a gentle downhill. I turned left on the Barnham Broome Road and headed to Wymondham. It's the same road that I would have been on had I gone the other route but without slogging uphill again. I was getting fed up with going uphill by now.
At the top (and I mean at the top - another bloody hill) of BB Road, I reached Tuttles Lane, Wymondham and had a lovely and much faster spin along there to the Norwich Road roundabout and then followed it to Hethersett then to the A11 roundabouts where I go under the A47, along to Eaton. All of this is a very gentle downhill. I lose about 90 feet along that nice 6 mile bit. From there I rode along Bluebell Road (more uphill) and then home, after a quick tour of our estate to make up the extra mile. I overcooked it by 800 yards but that was OK.
21.51 miles in 1:45:04 and climbed 424 feet although it felt like more (Don't laugh all of you who live in hilly areas and climb that getting the papers on a Sunday). I averaged 12.3mph and had a good time. I was a bit tired when I got in. Now on 2nd cup of tea. 61.35 miles to goal and nearly 2 weeks to do it in. Lets hope for some cycling weather - vaguely dry will do for me.
Being off work, I thought it was the perfect opportunity to revisit the "climbs" that I haven't done since summer when it was light enough on the evenings to do these pitch black routes.
I set off thinking I'd do two, but couldn't resist descending to do a third:
I got a personal best on part of Brantingham, but the others, although they felt much easier, were slower. I did stop early on up Elloughton though as I saw a dead deer in the trees just beside the road, and I didn't even know there were Deer here, but it reminded me of the video that has been posted recently!
Bizarrely, despite a 20mph head wind for the first few miles, it was a really nice day: the sun was out, but not so low it was in my eyes all the time, the roads were practically bone dry and the temperature fairly mild. None of the roads were around any busy shopping areas and all the traffic seemed fairly calm and patient, especially the poor car that followed me up the last part of Brantingham Dale!
I did 29.2 miles in 2 hours 1 minute, 1768ft elevation:
I set off thinking I'd do two, but couldn't resist descending to do a third:
- Woodgates Lane, North Ferriby
- Elloughton Dale
- Brantingham Dale
I got a personal best on part of Brantingham, but the others, although they felt much easier, were slower. I did stop early on up Elloughton though as I saw a dead deer in the trees just beside the road, and I didn't even know there were Deer here, but it reminded me of the video that has been posted recently!
Bizarrely, despite a 20mph head wind for the first few miles, it was a really nice day: the sun was out, but not so low it was in my eyes all the time, the roads were practically bone dry and the temperature fairly mild. None of the roads were around any busy shopping areas and all the traffic seemed fairly calm and patient, especially the poor car that followed me up the last part of Brantingham Dale!
I did 29.2 miles in 2 hours 1 minute, 1768ft elevation:
Last edited:
Spartak
Powered by M&M's
- Location
- Bristolian
More Christmas card deliveries today & picked up parcel from PO ( 1080 hd camera ).
Beautiful morning after yesterday's rain & strong winds so carried on down the Bristol/Bath railway path for a coffee at the Harbourside.
Nice ride except a Bristol taxi driver no. 1612 nearly wiping me out rushing to get a client to Temple Meads railway station, a few choice words were exchanged
Beautiful morning after yesterday's rain & strong winds so carried on down the Bristol/Bath railway path for a coffee at the Harbourside.
Nice ride except a Bristol taxi driver no. 1612 nearly wiping me out rushing to get a client to Temple Meads railway station, a few choice words were exchanged
Jon George
Mamil and couldn't care less
- Location
- Suffolk an' Good
Had one of those rides where neither the brain nor body was ready or willing to participate. (13 miles - didn't even break a sweat.) On the plus side, I witnessed a monumental murder of crows which the picture below does not really do justice as most had, well, most had flown by the time I got the camera out.
This, only a little further on, is a hint of Playford Hall - the setting (with a different name) that I use in the book currently with my agent.
This, only a little further on, is a hint of Playford Hall - the setting (with a different name) that I use in the book currently with my agent.
Dave 123
Legendary Member
- Location
- Cambridgeshire alps
A few weeks ago I invited some of our friends round tonight for a few drinks and nibbles. So last night when Mrs Dave asked what the plan was for Saturday I told her I was off out on my bike the look I got was "frosty with a hint of violence".....
So I left home just on 9am into a stern head wind. Approaching 2 miles I was feeling like sh1te and taking a battering from the ever present breeze.
The roads were fairly quiet and the motorists that were about were courteous and affording me plenty of room.
I made my way through the Gransdens and on to Gamlingay. It was another of those pedal your nuts off for 12mph stretches! What doesn't kill you- ruins your legs!
Gamlingay was my turn today, so apart from the figure of 8 bit through Gransdens I was wind assisted for the most part.
Last night was my work Christmas do. The strongest thing I had was sparkling water. I wondered how some of the hangovers were doing. Smug? Me? Bloody right!
The flocks of Firldfares appear to have moved west as I only saw 3 today. They seem to have left plenty of haws for the blackbirds and maybe a few waxwings, that would be nice to see on a future ride.
30 miles.
Housework awaits!
So I left home just on 9am into a stern head wind. Approaching 2 miles I was feeling like sh1te and taking a battering from the ever present breeze.
The roads were fairly quiet and the motorists that were about were courteous and affording me plenty of room.
I made my way through the Gransdens and on to Gamlingay. It was another of those pedal your nuts off for 12mph stretches! What doesn't kill you- ruins your legs!
Gamlingay was my turn today, so apart from the figure of 8 bit through Gransdens I was wind assisted for the most part.
Last night was my work Christmas do. The strongest thing I had was sparkling water. I wondered how some of the hangovers were doing. Smug? Me? Bloody right!
The flocks of Firldfares appear to have moved west as I only saw 3 today. They seem to have left plenty of haws for the blackbirds and maybe a few waxwings, that would be nice to see on a future ride.
30 miles.
Housework awaits!
Goonerobes
Its okay to be white
- Location
- Wiltshire
For some reason or other I woke up decidedly unenthusiastic about cycling today, however there was nothing else I needed to do & it wasn't raining so after a bowl of porridge & some coffee I got myself ready & took to the roads.
Having not planned a route & not overly full of energy I decided to make it up as I went but stay local & keep to the New Forest just in case I wanted to bail at any time. So with this in mind & with a brisk north-westerly blowing I headed into the wind to get that bit out of the way first.
After 12 miles I reach the village of Redlynch, on the northern edge of the forest, & finally turn out of the headwind & head south-westerly through Woodfalls & into an area I have only been to a couple of times but is quite dense with trees so the breeze is less of a factor.
Enthusiasm now slightly back I decide to have a bit of fun & take on the short but steep (25% gradient) Blissford Hill knowing that once that's done I have 10 miles of flat road to enjoy before deciding to either head home or carry on...........
Carry on it was & I skirt round Ringwood, bypass Burley by taking a new road for me & avoiding the traffic before the next decision of home or the Bolderwood hill......hill it was then its across the forest & home with another 52 miles in the bank!
http://www.strava.com/activities/231084985
Just a bit of fun really, the short but sharp Blissford Hill.
Christmas tree heaven at Bolderwood.
& the obligatory cute animal picture.
Having not planned a route & not overly full of energy I decided to make it up as I went but stay local & keep to the New Forest just in case I wanted to bail at any time. So with this in mind & with a brisk north-westerly blowing I headed into the wind to get that bit out of the way first.
After 12 miles I reach the village of Redlynch, on the northern edge of the forest, & finally turn out of the headwind & head south-westerly through Woodfalls & into an area I have only been to a couple of times but is quite dense with trees so the breeze is less of a factor.
Enthusiasm now slightly back I decide to have a bit of fun & take on the short but steep (25% gradient) Blissford Hill knowing that once that's done I have 10 miles of flat road to enjoy before deciding to either head home or carry on...........
Carry on it was & I skirt round Ringwood, bypass Burley by taking a new road for me & avoiding the traffic before the next decision of home or the Bolderwood hill......hill it was then its across the forest & home with another 52 miles in the bank!
http://www.strava.com/activities/231084985
Just a bit of fun really, the short but sharp Blissford Hill.
Christmas tree heaven at Bolderwood.
& the obligatory cute animal picture.
Saluki
World class procrastinator
- Location
- ...Norwich over the water.
I have been very brave and have ridden to Norwich city centre. I managed to poke Hubster off the sofa and into his cycling shoes and on to his Boardman. Only an hour I said, it's only about 7 miles 
.
We got on the bikes and rode down Bluebell Road and then turned left and along Newmarket Road on the cyclepaths and Bus lane cyclepaths, all the way down to just short of St Stephens Street roundabout. Just before that horrible roundabout, we turned left up Victoria Street and then right into our friend's road and delivered the cards. We didn't stop as she has an aversion to paying for central heating plus she had a load of windows open. I didn't want to get all cold and then ride home. I just said that I was out for a ride and didn't want my legs to cool down.
From there we rode along the cycle lane, across into All Saint's Green and down Westlegate (we waved at Evans as we passed) and then forced up Theatre Street as there was a large Audi-doodi blocking the turn right cycle lane. He had his hazard lights on, so that was OK then. When we drew level with Gentlemans Walk, the pedestrianised bit, we hopped off our bikes and walked as briskly as possible through the heaving throngs of harrassed looking shoppers. Husbands with panicked looks on their faces as they have managed to finish their shopping and a sink plunger off the market will be fine for Mum, right?
At the top of Exchange Street, we hopped back on the bikes and rode down, doglegged left and right to Duke Street and picked up the Cyclepath to the Marriotts and rode the 2.5 miles (crossing blooming Marlpit Lane as we couldn't face the climb) and then rode home through the Marlpit/Costessey estate. We still climb exactly the same amount but it's half a mile longer and a couple of percent less steep. There is also not a queue for the final third of it and never changing lights at the top.
At the final bit of cyclepath, I headed to Bowthorpe, to do the extra mile, Hubster headed home. I really enjoyed the last mile, hardly saw anyone except for one car who close passed me. It was a beemer so no shock there.
As usual, I stopped my Garmin on a street where I don't live. The same street as I turned it on, as it turned out today.
10.17 miles in a rather slow, but enjoyable 56:35 minutes. We were actually out for an hour but lights and stopping at Debs' house took a minute or 4. Walking for 400 yards didn't help much either but who cares. It was a nice ride. Only 51.2 miles to target
.We got on the bikes and rode down Bluebell Road and then turned left and along Newmarket Road on the cyclepaths and Bus lane cyclepaths, all the way down to just short of St Stephens Street roundabout. Just before that horrible roundabout, we turned left up Victoria Street and then right into our friend's road and delivered the cards. We didn't stop as she has an aversion to paying for central heating plus she had a load of windows open. I didn't want to get all cold and then ride home. I just said that I was out for a ride and didn't want my legs to cool down.
From there we rode along the cycle lane, across into All Saint's Green and down Westlegate (we waved at Evans as we passed) and then forced up Theatre Street as there was a large Audi-doodi blocking the turn right cycle lane. He had his hazard lights on, so that was OK then. When we drew level with Gentlemans Walk, the pedestrianised bit, we hopped off our bikes and walked as briskly as possible through the heaving throngs of harrassed looking shoppers. Husbands with panicked looks on their faces as they have managed to finish their shopping and a sink plunger off the market will be fine for Mum, right?
At the top of Exchange Street, we hopped back on the bikes and rode down, doglegged left and right to Duke Street and picked up the Cyclepath to the Marriotts and rode the 2.5 miles (crossing blooming Marlpit Lane as we couldn't face the climb) and then rode home through the Marlpit/Costessey estate. We still climb exactly the same amount but it's half a mile longer and a couple of percent less steep. There is also not a queue for the final third of it and never changing lights at the top.
At the final bit of cyclepath, I headed to Bowthorpe, to do the extra mile, Hubster headed home. I really enjoyed the last mile, hardly saw anyone except for one car who close passed me. It was a beemer so no shock there.
As usual, I stopped my Garmin on a street where I don't live. The same street as I turned it on, as it turned out today.
10.17 miles in a rather slow, but enjoyable 56:35 minutes. We were actually out for an hour but lights and stopping at Debs' house took a minute or 4. Walking for 400 yards didn't help much either but who cares. It was a nice ride. Only 51.2 miles to target
- Status
