Your ride today.... (part 1)

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

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.

the iPhone we have takes awful pictures because the lens is badly scratched on it (it was 2nd hand for us and came that way). I have a tendancy to think 'commute' and not take pictures. It wasn't a commute yesterday but anything involving family has that feeling . I should have really just taken the extra weight really becuase it was a beautiful day and I did think to myself as I was passing various places that it was a nice photo... but need to sort a saddle bag to keep it in rather than having to keep opening the panniers when I want to take a picture. If I change the saddle, then perhaps it will have more space for the adaptor that my MTB saddle bag uses and I can then take somehting more convienient...

 

[coffeejo]

the iPhone we have takes awful pictures because the lens is badly scratched on it (it was 2nd hand for us and came that way). I have a tendancy to think 'commute' and not take pictures. It wasn't a commute yesterday but anything involving family has that feeling . I should have really just taken the extra weight really becuase it was a beautiful day and I did think to myself as I was passing various places that it was a nice photo... but need to sort a saddle bag to keep it in rather than having to keep opening the panniers when I want to take a picture. If I change the saddle, then perhaps it will have more space for the adaptor that my MTB saddle bag uses and I can then take somehting more convienient...

Do you have a DLSR camera or a point n click? If it's the latter, I highly recommend a Topeak "fuel tank" top tube bag. I've got the large one and it takes my camera, wallet, phone, hanky, basic first aid items and keys. Makes such a difference.

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

Do you have a DLSR camera or a point n click? If it's the latter, I highly recommend a Topeak "fuel tank" top tube bag. I've got the large one and it takes my camera, wallet, phone, hanky, basic first aid items and keys. Makes such a difference.

both.... but neither would fit into one of those I'm afraid. My smallest camera is a Canon Powershot G12 which is not really that small and whilst I would love an opportunity to purchase a new camera that would fit, it would have to be able to take in RAW not JPEG and I don't have the funds currently (not having a job etc... must update my CV and start looking for one.. its only 9 years out of date - 1 job & 1 bike ride!)

 

[G3CWI]

OH and daughter had to go to Leek. Said I would join them for coffee. Look of complete and utter disbelief when they realised that I intended cycling. Cold and windy blast along a main road but enjoyed it none-the-less. Arrived 30 minutes after them. Beat them home by ages. Driver tried to "Wiggo" me pulling out of service station. The revving and crunching of gears gave away his knowledge of my fast approach. Amusingly he fluffed his next gear change and thus I caught him, pulled alongside and gave him a clear indication of my displeasure.

 

[hotfuzzrj]

Yesterday I was pushed for time but accidental woke up too early (5... Night shifts are a bugger to your sleep pattern) and it was such a bright clear day. So I popped to Reigate and back which was only 16 miles.
Today my normal commute (27 miles) but on the way home I went over Newlands Corner nr Guildford which I normally avoid. It was easier than I remember and the view from the top was worth it. I will try to do it more often as it'll help me get fitter!

 

[Matthew_T]

Had the most bizarre interaction with a woman today. I was waiting at a set of construction lights with cars infront and behind me. The traffic that was coming through the lights was getting held up by another set.
As the traffic built up, an opposing car stopped and as I glanced around, a woman driver started waving at me. My first thoughts were that she was waving at my camera. She then wound down her window (pressed the wrong button first) and said: "Hi, I've seen you around a lot." Me: "Oh right" Her: "Are you in a local club?" Me: "Yes, I am in the local club".
My lights then changed so I had to ride on but she seemed like a lovely lady and I would have loved to stay and chat.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxCCrCDR_Ek

 

[Trail Child]

Did a Canadian winter triathlon today: a one hour ride on the bike trainer, a 30 minute run on the treadmill and finished off with a 30 minute snow shovelling. Had more snow today and it can stop anytime.

 

[coffeejo]

Brrrrr. 30 chilly miles round the edge of the Brendon Hills along a mix of familiar and new-to-me roads. It started badly and I nearly turned for home just a couple of miles in but I'm glad I persevered.

Saw this and thought of totally fixed:

I watched the sun set in the hills and then headed home, wondering why on earth I hadn't brought a flask of something hot and caffeinated with me! Did I mention the cold?

 

[derrick]

Got home from work early, got off the commuter put on the lycra and got on the road bike for a chilly 20 miler, roads were not to busy it was nice to ride during the week, have got tommorrow off work so i have a nice three day weekend, hopefully get some miles in, it's suppossed to be dry we shall see,
must remember to take a camera.

 

[Standoff]

Freezing twenty taking in some climbs. First twenty minutes were terrible. Think I should stick to a flatter route on these cold days.
Enjoyed it...but only after I got home!

 

[HLaB]

I decided to reverse my current lunchtime loop and fight the head wind in the more sheltered town and save the tailwind for the Fens Bizarrely the Fen path seems less subsided when you have a tailwind Its been a good loop for the last few days but unfortunately the road that is shut (flooded) is due to have reopened in the afternoon.

 

[Accy cyclist]

Was it the A666 that was closed? I ended up on it yesterday and had to gounder a railway bridge with one half of the road blocked by scaffolding and a couple of bloke on a hydralic platform hitting the bridge underside with hydraulic tools. I took my chance and guessed that I'd be able to walk through. Four or five motorists also thought that they'd ignored the road closed sign and had to do an about turn.

Sorry about the delay in replying, i hadn't seen your post. It's this road. http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.u...of_bridge_works/?action=complain&cid=11254514

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

About to die. R.I.P me

Swapping to screen 3 on my 800 revealed that temperature was -0.5oc for most of the ride. Fingers and toes non existent, coffee stop boosted morale,steamed my glasses up and forced ideas of a taxi home into my head.

Should have worn thermals instead of warmers <insert something about HTFU/MTFU>

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

My ride today was to see a hole in a canal. So a short ride to where the canal breach is... (10km each way). cold ride each way, but the snow flurries held off long enough for me to get there & back, though theya re now back again... And all the vehicle drivers were on 'be friendly to cyclists' day (at least on the way out...). Didn't take long to get there, and find the location. I had already contacted them to make sure I could leave my bike somewhere safe - no problems, they really were expecting a cyclist and unlocked bike was left safely whilst I wandered around the repair site. Journey home was a touch more interesting with one white van man doing the standard overtake turn left, but he did realise the error of his ways and ended up turning left on the wrong side of the left hand junction to avoid hitting me. guessing I was going faster than he realised. Vehicles after him game me loads of room! Cold ride, but nice to get out.

This was it on the 26th September last year.. http://canalrivertrust.org.uk/get-involved/appeals/help-repair-the-trent-and-mersey-canal-breach


Anyhow - today's ride was to see the repairs and it is hardly recognisable now. there is still loads of work to do but it was really interesting to see.



Doubt I will ever get to walk beneath the bottom of a canal every again, was interesting to do so, but in someways it is shame that concrete is being used instead of the old stone, but I guess I can understand the problem given the embankment that still has to be replaced. the 3rd image above gives some scale of how much land has to be replaced still....

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

Crumbs - that's a big hole to repair. Are volunteers doing it?

Being a bit cold out I nipped off on a standard loop. 34 miles at tempo pace. Snowdrops seemed to have gone back into hibernation. Severn was well inside it's banks and lower than it's been all winter. Still plenty of water about yet. Some off it seems to be trapped due to blocked ditches or whatever.

Not sure what to do this weekend. Should I stir up the "saturday crew" - 2 have already wimped out because of the cold. Should I join in on the saturday CTC ride (slow in the cold?) or head over for a very brisk Wheelers ride on Sunday? Decisions, decisions