Your ride today.... (part 1)

[LarryDuff]

Went out this morning and cycled down the Lagan towpath to Belfast. Went down to the new Titanic Experience building opening today. Looks pretty impressive.

The building is designed to look like the front of the Titanic and the height is the same.

Also saw this old ship

HMS Caroline - last surviving participant of the Battle of Jutland in 1916.

 

[PIlotBecky]

I'm a bit out of practice so just went for a little 6 miler up the hill and back. Glorious in the sunshine, but so slow almost got overtaken by a jogger up the hill! Soon showed her going down though - yipppeeeeee!

 

[Shrimp_Stu]

Nice 43 mile loop round the Southend area. Took on Essex Way this morning for the first ever time, was cold out (no overshoes today) and two guys were going up and down Essex Way 3 times....once was enough and I sloped up to Daws Heath......nice to see lots of cyclists out there for a Saturday and good to complete over 350 road miles for March.

 

[Hebe]

My five mile flat and easy ride this morning - through some scenic Wiltshire lanes and a dairy farm, back over the canal bridge and home to warm my feet up.

 

[Brandane]

Another cracker of a ride today. Wanted to get my monthly mileage up to 300, and this morning I was about 50 short. So decided to do the "3 Ferries" route which some of the west of Scotland members might know. First problem this morning, Cat-Eye Strada not working. So a fivers worth of batteries and a reset later and it is fine. Headed for Loch Thom, then down to Inverkip and round to Gourock for ferry #1. The Western Ferries service to Dunoon.

Just a 15 minute crossing, with some nice views to the north:

Then the longest and hardest section of the day, from Dunoon across the mostly single track road to Loch Striven, and a killer hill from the top of the loch over towards Colintraive.

Ferry #2 at Colintraive:

This is a very short 5 minute crossing to the Isle of Bute, which also happens to be my place of birth, and the source of the name Brandane. It's about 9 miles from that ferry to the 3rd and final crossing from Rothesay to Wemyss Bay, which takes about 30 minutes. I went and visited a couple of old friends while on Bute, so it wasn't until 4pm that I got the Wemyss Bay ferry. Worst part of the day was the 6 mile cycle from the ferry terminal to home. A short stretch on the suicidal A78 which carries a high volume of traffic, before cutting up the hilly and narrow Meigle Road. 53.4 miles, so managed to get my 300 done for March.

 

[HLaB]

I went out for a slow 16mile ride this morning before the Jack Murray road race; not on purpose as I was marshalling not racing; I just couldn't get warmed up. Got home got showered and changed into regular clothes but didn't notice the time and had to sprint up to the start and it felt like I was faster to the start on the heavy hybrid carrying a New York D Lock & Cable. I ended up doing another 13miles up there.

 

[pepecat]

Did a rather cold and drizzly 16 miles up over romsley which included (in my head) 'the killer hill' up past the swallow pub (for those who know the area). Its a long grind at the start and then a nasty sharp kick up at the top. On the plus side though, my average speed up hills does seem to have gone up (slightly), so that's good!

 

[TVC]

The biggest thing to report is that I actually did a ride today.

After problems with my plantar tendon (bottom of the foot) I've been limited to just commuting by bike. Things are getting better, so 30 glorious miles in the sun - at last.

 

[theloafer]

nice 67 mile club run to GT AYTON a bit first thing but it soon warmed up stopped off at sadberge (buck inn) to refuel then darlo lot went there way i came back GT STAINTON way slightly uphill not good after 3 pints
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/163750188

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

Today on a 44 mile ride out to Brands Hatch and back I extended my route-following incompetence by adding ''getting lost downhill'' to my previous classic of ''getting lost uphill.'' I think I should move to the Fens and complete my portfolio!

It turned out to be a lovely day but I had difficulty keeping warm whilst cycling. It's very odd weather: it felt warm when not moving but cold while moving. It's usually the other way round.

 

[HLaB]

It was a bit frosty when I woke up so I opted for bib tights, soft shell jacket, full fingered gloves and a buff. Quickly wished I hadn't though on a fast club run and what quickly turned into a beautiful day Yet again though, I also need to work on my fuelling strategy as I was flagging as we neared the cafe but after the refreshment stop I was good to go again. It helped that we also mostly had a tail wind home

 

[doctornige]

It turned out to be a lovely day but I had difficulty keeping warm whilst cycling. It's very odd weather: it felt warm when not moving but cold while moving. It's usually the other way round.

I second that. I was in the Peak doing the 27-mile 'Macc Triangle' and was quite warm until I started on the downhill sections. The Cat & Fiddle was freezing, and the run down to Buxton gave me a cold-induced headache with the air rushing through the helmet.

 

[PaulB]

34 mile ride from Sheffield to Hyde. It's not all on here http://connect.garmin.com/activity/163629339 because some of it is through a tunnel and the signal is lost.

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

It was really nice out this afternoon so headed out for a long ride (for me). 39.24 miles, including one big climb (292 feet in about a mile), later and I've got no trace of the slight hangover I started with, also I've beaten my previous best time over that route by a full 14 minutes which I'm fairly chuffed with.

It was really nice to see so many other cyclists out and about (even the grumpy ones who won't make eye contact with someone on a "lesser" bike). I managed to catch three guys on racing bikes and was planning to go for a pass but they turned off before I did it. For some reason they didn't seem very impressed when they looked back and saw me gaining on my trekking bike.

 

[endoman]

75 miles ish out with the club, flattish ride, only 3000 feet of climbing so the speed was quickish, 20 mph plus avge to the cafe stop, then a bit more sedate on the way back as we dropped a couple, giving a total avge of 18 mph. Heart rate monitor running out of battery so I've no idea where I was at most of the time, probably just as well as I had to work hard to keep on the pace, great fun and great company though. Cold at start, around freezing, but warmed to high teens so layers were being peeled off.
Glad tomorrow is a rest day!