Your ride today.... (part 1)

[Standoff]

Normal 30 mile loop. Highlight was owl flying alongside for what seemed ages!
Cheap Chinese light easily lasted the two hours.

 

[coffeejo]

Yesterday morning, a friend and I ventured out into the sunshine to test a new-to-us coffee stop, Barleymow's Farm Shop near Chard, as recommended by Peteaud of this parish. As part of my "training" for the Exmoor Beauty in April, I'd decided on a hilly route, completely ignoring the friendly canal paths and gentle undulations to the north of Chard in favour of something far more challenging via the Blackdowns.

Blagdon Hill, one of several gateways into the Blackdowns, was ok. Tough, but ok and having survived the first climb of the day, we pushed aside all thoughts of the ones to come and just enjoyed the simple pleasure of riding our bikes in the warmth of the late winter sunshine as we made our way across the upland plateau before dropping down into Upottery.

Turning left, we crossed the River Otter and tried to ignore the second hill looming above us. All memories of conquering Blagdon vanished as my legs screamed and my lungs burned. I resisted the urge to get off and walk, but did stop several times to let my muscles regroup. To add insult to injury, the last section of the hill was met with a warning sign for the junction with the busy A303. One hundred yards left, all of them pointing up towards the sky. You couldn't even see the tarmac of the main road from the sign's location! I lurched my way up there, inspired by the promise of a chance to stop. However, almost as soon I put one foot down, the traffic eased and we had no option but to cross then and there. Why does that never happen at other times?!

The rest of the ride between there and Barleymow's is a bit of a blur. Swooping down country lanes, past busy farms and lazy livestock, all making the most of this dry spell before the cold sets in later in the week, crossing over the River Yarty and then up, up, up, to the other side of the valley, collapsing at the top and soaking in the view, marvelling at how small the bottom of the valley appeared from our vantage point.

One last push and we were greeted with a large and friendly sign for our destination:

The restaurant was packed so we sat outside, devouring the delicious food and laughing at the look on our waitress's face when she asked how far we'd come.

Wisely avoiding the agony of Combe St Nicholas (a pretty village but surrounded by ridiculously steep hills on all sides), we instead headed up the A30 for a mile or so before turning off to take the comparatively gentler road back up into the Blackdowns, waving at the village far below us as we took on the last handful of spikes in the road before collecting our reward: the descent down into the village of Staple Fitzpaine. And at 38mph, it was indeed a fine prize. We cruised back into Taunton, recuperated with tea and a wonderfully hot shower and then headed to the cinema for a late afternoon showing of Les Mis. Powered by a picknmix-induced sugar rush, I then made my way home under a blanket of stars and the gleaming light of the moon, tired but happy.

 

[G3CWI]

Lovely loop around the Peak in the sun. 13 miles, 1700 ft ascent. Glad that we live in Macclesfield - Peak district one side, Cheshire Plain the other. Cheers Richard

 

[HLaB]

The sun is splitting a cloudless sky here so I couldn't resist popping out for a wee ride. There was quite a bit of congestion on the St John's Road/ The Vineyard but I just cruised by it down the middle of the lane and then left it behind when I headed left into the Fengate and then the 2 and 1/4 miles along the cyclepath I found this morning. Even when that ended there was barely a car until I got to Oxney Road making for a very pleasant ride. I then nipped back through town (still the traffic was relatively light ) back to work

 

[Mike Warren]

My first clipless ride - a sedate 15 miles in the mist and fog. Didn't make the best of starts - I couldn't get the cleat on my right shoe off the pedal. For a moment I thought I might have to amputate my right foot but slackening the spring tension proved to be a better option. After that, no problems.

 

[Hacienda71]

47 Miles for me in the Peaks with 4400 ft of climbing. Group of six of us who all work in the same profession and are all keen cyclists, so we justified it as networking. Set a PR up The Brickworks which was good although got dropped at the end of the climb by one of the riders who had that little bit in reserve on the last ramp up. The sun was out bit icey at the start, had to walk at one point for 50 yards in the Goyt Valley as the ice was across the whole road. Nice Cafe stop at Blaze Farm with a large slice of choclate fudge cake to fuel me home. I think I need to do more networking.

Oh and saw G3CWI going in the opposite direction who gave us a cheery hello.

 

[Ron-da-Valli]

A pleasant 26 miles down the coast to Talacre and back. The sun felt quite warm despite the chilly breeze.

 

[john59]

I Left my house at nine and soon discovered fog and ice. An hour later the sun was shining which lifted the spirits. Cycled down to Bangor On Dee, via Chester.

Returned via Ferry Lane Footbridge.

In total 122.5km with an average speed of 24.2 km, my longest ride this year. According to my Garmin the average temperature was 4c. Roll on spring and summer!

John

 

[totallyfixed]

How can you not go out when the sun is shining? So I went out for a lunchtime ride, only gone a few hundred metres when I see this chap ahead of me, there was so much wrong I had to take a couple of sneaky pictures, I'll let you be the judge, apologies for the finger!

He came off the pavement just ahead of me without looking behind, perhaps it was the full face helmet that gave him confidence. After we both turned right at the roundabout which I went around while he did the pavement, he then crossed the road again without looking and off he went again pedalling furiously, the road starts to ramp up so I left him to it.

This is about 4 miles from home, you can see my house in the distance

A bit further to the left as you look at that picture is where the Ospreys nest.

 

[Rohloff_Brompton_Rider]

33 miles to Hebden, 2 cups of tea with colinj then return home.

Edit:didn't mention I saw STASS today, looking far too young and healthy..

 

[potsy]

How can you not go out when the sun is shining? So I went out for a lunchtime ride, only gone a few hundred metres when I see this chap ahead of me, there was so much wrong I had to take a couple of sneaky pictures, I'll let you be the judge, apologies for the finger!

He came off the pavement just ahead of me without looking behind, perhaps it was the full face helmet that gave him confidence. After we both turned right at the roundabout which I went around while he did the pavement, he then crossed the road again without looking and off he went again pedalling furiously, the road starts to ramp up so I left him to it.

Looks to me like you were scalped

 

[edindave]

Myself and Scoosh of this very parish managed a pleasant 60km today.
Scones, coffee/tea, soup and cake all factored into a very enjoyable day.
Bizarrely I think it got colder as the day went on up here.

Captured the man himself and his 'bent at... Longniddry Bents. It had to be done.

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

rather slow 100.31km in to get over to see my 90 yr old Grandad, then over to see my mother & step father and home again.
set out in 3/4 length shorts in beautiful sunshine just as the fog was starting to burn off... spent the first 20 mins freezing, cursing and trying to remember why I was not doing my usual way out - road closed for resurfacing which means avoiding it for weeks to come, then decided to follow the 'planned route' that garmin had come up with and ended having to get off the bike to walk it through some frozen mud that was several inches deep and badly rutted - that route gets relogged as mtb only... somehow managed to include a strava cat 4 climb (not sure going up and over Alderly Edge twice in one day was my best move personally)... managed a 2nd place on that climb (great being female on strava!)
strangley all the cars & other vehicles on teh raod today were really well behaved and very polite. 2 horse riders waited several minutes for me to pass them rather than them come out in front of me and then me fight to climb passed them on a badly potholed narrow road. they got a big thank you and generally it was a really nice ride. Left my Grandad's late afternoon and headed back up and over the same hill to get to my mum's remembering to call in at the health food shop and pick up some spices I needed... And from my mum's once it had gone dark it was back into winter kit - now below freezing, but a good run home with one or two minor detours torwards the end to ensure I made it over the 100km mark... no photos, I had 2 panniers with me as it was and did not want the extra weight (). I knew I would be pushing what I could manage as it was, so 100.31km with an average of 19.4kph which I am quite pleased with (think my tyre pressures are low which won't help) and that hill twice made life somewhat more interesting...

 

[vernon]

I had planned a ride out into new pie territory from Otley through Summer Bridge and onto Pateley Bridge returning through Beckwithshaw but it was not to be. I had prolonged faffing session and left later than expected. It was glorious weather though there was a nip in the air. Menwith Hill spy station could be seen across the moors as I climbed out of Otley and I abandoned the notion of pressing on past Blubberhouses as the climbing took longer than expected and I had to be back in Leeds before I could have finished the planned ride. I comforted myself with the prospect of a pie in Addingham and turned left when I reached the A59 and headed for Bolton Bridge. There was a bit of a long draggy climb and a wonderful descent from Beamsley hill where I reached 38mph. A pie was duly purchased and consumed before pedalling back into Otley. I'd found the climbing a bit of a struggle compared with Saturdays ride. 27.2 miles with 2,000 of climbing. No wonder my legs ached.

Looking back into Otley

Menwith Hill communications monitoring/spy station

Looking into Wharfdale from the top of Beamsley Hill

 

[totallyfixed]

no photos, I had 2 panniers with me as it was and did not want the extra weight ()

Use your phone? I think you said you have an iphone? I really enjoy looking at others pics and find it difficult to go out now without at least taking one.