Your ride today.... (part 1)

[fenlandpsychocyclist]

just before which I watched a big old barn owl lumbering up a tree stump with a vole or something in his claws. Very chuffed with himself he looked too. I did that squeaking sound you're supposed to do through your teeth to make them think there's a rodent about and come your way, but he just looked at me and if there was an owl way of saying 'you complete tosser' that was it.

Cambridgshire is supposed to have the highest concentration of owls in the uk! I can guarantee to see at least one every single time i do my usual 30 miler around upwell/stowbridge/wigenhall.
Its magic when you're biking along, with an owl flying right beside you along the centreline of a dyke. They don't seem to notice cyclists!!
As for "calling them" ... i've got an app on my phone that plays the noise of a mouse in distress. If you hide near a bush and play that one
they certainly fly over for a look!! (Tried it twice with good results).

 

[fenlandpsychocyclist]

Had to wait until the fen roads cleared of ice before leaving for a 50 miler today, and headed out late at 1pm with clear blue skies and
2c air temperature.
I'd heard the forecast saying about -1.0c overnight, so thought i'd be ok to get round and home without having to worry about "unsalted"
back roads freezing before sunset.

Lets just say pictures speak a thousand words:
At 4pm

Apart from toes getting a bit painful from cold, the rest of me was just right due to the clothing i was wearing:
Tee-shirt & pullover & high vis.
Cycling trousers & jogging trousers.
Mountaineering socks & normal socks.

 

[ComedyPilot]

Lovely 30 mile loop on the Yorkshire Wolds - Home to Driffield, then Driffield to Sledmere via Spellowgate and Cowlam, then coffee stop at Sledmere Monument - got waved at by a passing gyrocopter (which was nice), then home via Garton on the Wolds and Tibthorpe.

Front tyre p*uncture near Tibthorpe, but it was a slow one anyway (I think), and I helped a striken MTBer on Spellowgate whose pump was knackered (and he didn't have a spare inner tube???)

 

[Glow worm]

Cambridgshire is supposed to have the highest concentration of owls in the uk! I can guarantee to see at least one every single time i do my usual 30 miler around upwell/stowbridge/wigenhall.
Its magic when you're biking along, with an owl flying right beside you along the centreline of a dyke. They don't seem to notice cyclists!!
As for "calling them" ... i've got an app on my phone that plays the noise of a mouse in distress. If you hide near a bush and play that one
they certainly fly over for a look!! (Tried it twice with good results).

I'll have to get that. The owl at Lode flew alongside and just above me for a little while quite unconcerened about the cyclist below him! I'm off to Burwell Fen again tomorrow to see the short eared owls which are awesome.

 

[fenlandpsychocyclist]

I'll have to get that. The owl at Lode flew alongside and just above me for a little while quite unconcerened about the cyclist below him! I'm off to Burwell Fen again tomorrow to see the short eared owls which are awesome.

I once heard a rodent squeeling over my head ... when i looked up i saw it being carried in the talons of a tawny owl! (Probably to its nest).
I keep meaning to get a waterproof camera to clip on the bike somewhere as theres so many nature related things i see round the fens that could be caught on camera.
The best camera in the world is the one that is ready......

 

[Mike Warren]

Nice photographs Reiver. The silos at Blyth aren't for grain - they're for aluminium ore for the Alcan smelter.

 

[Mike Warren]

I like the Geordie climbing frame - very close to the spot where I picked up a puncture a week ago!

 

[BigonaBianchi]

W I N D Y

 

[Paladin - York]

North Yorkshire

A couple of miles up the road to the AONB and a familiar "dash" (tourers parlance). Marton-in-the-Forest - Stearsby - Snargate Hill - City of Troy - Skewsby - Whenby - Sheriff Hutton - Farlington - Marton-in-the Forest. 15.29 miles.

Stopped awhile at City of Troy viewpoint (SE625718). In excess of 30 mph down Skewsby Bank (SE630707), arrived home with cheek bones that Joanna Lumley would've been proud of! Very few motor vehicles around, one cyclist, one horse & rider and a few walkers. Excellent but ccccccccold!

 

[PpPete]

PpPminor was on a climbing course at Calshot, but the timing was wrong for a velodrome session so put the bike in the back of the car and while he was doint his thing I had a quick blat around the lanes of Beaulieu, Exbury, Lepe on the fixed wheel.
Chuffing eck was it windy or what ? Quite pleased I managed to average just over 16 mph though.

 

[endoman]

Didn't fancy club ride due to ice, so tried a 30 miler on main ish roads. Very chilly, -ve temps all the way, had to stop at a cafe to warm hands. roads were actually fine, some huge lumps of ice but visible, nice to tackle one of my favourite climbs with hardly a car at all, ( Beeley Moor)
Felt a bit sorry for the locals in a nice cafe when 20 odd of a cycling club arrived en mass, re arranged all the tables and chairs, and increased the volume level 20 fold. Not an acknowledgement to us two cyclists that were already in there. Several then sat there eating their own food. Glad I'd nearly finished to be honest.

 

[paddy01]

Went on my first ever club run today. Lovely ride in the sun around the Devon lanes, a stop off for coffee and a toasted tea cake.. marvelous!

43 miles in all and having barely ridden in 6 months, boy are my legs feeling it!

 

[Ajax_Gaz]

Been out on the normal 15 mile route today. Feared it would be very frosty and cold after the overnight salting of the roads but despite the chilly wind, what a nice ride! Makes a big difference having the sun shining and its been ages since i could wear my sunglasses!

Really wanted to go a bit further but in these conditions i'm happy to keep going on the regular ride/distance and get used to the new bike.

Hopefully going to meet up with a local group soon and have a blast with them.

 

[coffeejo]

6 miles with the dog. She had a great time jumping in and out of the streams and puddles and is now fast asleep. Job done!

 

[GlasgowGaryH]

55 miles this morning with the Club. Feet just about thawing out. First time I have ever had cold feet after a ride.