Your ride today.... (part 1)

[Kies]

I was on "door opening duty" this morning for the new coffee table delivery. Who knocks at 06:50 to deliver a bloomin table???
So wide awake and start work on the puter by 7.15, finished around 4pm.
Pick up offspring 1 from college, and decide to wash all 3 cars with the help of offspring 2 , an hour later we are all done and as we are tidying up, a cyclist ( way too small mtb) walks past the driveway holding the rear wheel up in the air .....

Me: hi, can i help
Cyclist: oh yes please, i think my rear wheel has seized up
Me: ok, lets take a look, (looked,tried,fubbarred) yep it has, you will need new earings or wheel.
Cyclist: i thought as much,this bike is very old. could i leave it on your driveway, and collect it tommorow,as i have a long walk home?
Me: yes you could,but i can't be held responsible if it gets stolen
Cyclist: yeah that's fine (starts to unravel his wire lock)
Me: where do you live?
Cyclist: Langley (some 4 miles away)
Me: lets put your bike in the boot of my car - i'll drop you off
Cyclist: oh wow,thankyou so much

Gets to talking with him, on the way, and he is a music teacher from Chile, has been here for two years and is trying to qualify so he can teach in a secondary school, was on his way home from giving a private piano lesson, and works in a care home during the day until the teaching side gets sorted.

Offered me petrol money when we got to his place, and his wife came out thinking something was wrong as we carefully extracted his bike from the car. I refused the money insisting it was my pleasure to help a fellow cyclist.

Home 10 mins later for a pre planned ride with a friend. Just our training (3.2 mile) loop. Decided to take the Triban with recently fitted look keo pedals as it was in the spare room (turbo duties) ..... 17 miles done, and beat my previous single loop time by over a minute. Snatched back the KOM from my riding buddy.

What a great day, in so many way - thanks for reading :-)

 

[Glow worm]

No stranded Chileans for me today, but a great ride all the same. Decided it was POETF day today (instead of Friday's usual POETS day - P*** Off Early Tomorrow's Saturday).

Set off across the fen alongside one of the Lodes (water courses) called Swaffham Bulbeck Lode. Took this pic from a little bridge a couple of miles or so in.

Then off along the 'Lodes Way', my usual territory but just before joining it, I used this track that has been too muddy all winter until now to use. It's well out of the way, there's also a pair of kestrels that nest every year in a poplar next to the pine in this pic.

Then on past a farm called 'Lords Ground Farm'. They grow turf here (among other stuff) though I am not sure if any actually ends up at the home of cricket. The turf always looks wonderful and I'm always so tempted to veer off and cycle across it. here is a field where it has just been cut.

Getting closer to a village called Reach is a National Trust owned reserve called Tubney Fen. There's also a bird hide there, though not much about today except a beatiful shoveler duck and his mate. Also a few swallows dipping into the pools for a drink. At the reserve's edge some gypsies have set up camp. They are a freindly bunch and I chatted to them about their horses before heading off. They still have a traditional caravan too.

The great thing about this area (or at least one of them) is that as the peat of the fen dries, it makes the roads fold like a tablecloth. This has the enormous benefit of slowing the nit -wit drivers right down (though most are pretty good to be fair). you can't do more than about 30 by car without seriously knackering it, which makes life so much more pleasant for the rest of us.

On homewards through Reach, through a new woodland planted only a few years ago. I have heard rumours of bullfinch in there (incredibly rare hereabouts) but no sign this evening. Did hear a few willow warblers and chiffs though.
Only a 9 miler today but a superb ride, and glad I got it in before the forecast colder, wetter weather arrives.

 

[Basil.B]

First ride of the year in my shorts today.
Still got my tan line from last year!

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

Sunday dawned cold and bright, the early sunlight revealing the crispness of a mild frost and promising a chilly wait at the start line. Mind you, since the start/finish was also the lowest point of the course, I didn't imagine I would be cold for long!.................................

...........................................................
What's next? My first audax next weekend (The Merry Monk, from High Ham to Sherborne) and a return to Withypool Common at some point this spring or summer, when the sun is shining.

Wow - great write up. I rode that one with you

You'll enjoy the Merry Monk. Hope the weather is better than last year tho' Torrents of rain and floods was what I rode through.

 

[coffeejo]

I'll cope with anything so long as there's cake

 

[derrick]

Nice evening ride with the other half, she pushed pretty hard tonight, got her on Strava so that may help spur her on.

 

[edindave]

First time I've taken my bike along while out with my son on his balance bike.
He must have covered about 3km altogether today on it


1st proper ride with Isaac

 

[Louch]

12.9 miles at 12.9 mph. Yeah spot on an hours ride tonight, first time I have cycled when it's gotten dark, happy to have done it though, amazed how confident I am on roads etc now against when I started in January. Looking forward to couple of rides with other people I have comi g up.

 

[totallyfixed]

No stranded Chileans for me today, but a great ride all the same. Decided it was POETF day today (instead of Friday's usual POETS day - P*** Off Early Tomorrow's Saturday).

Set off across the fen alongside one of the Lodes (water courses) called Swaffham Bulbeck Lode. Took this pic from a little bridge a couple of miles or so in.
View attachment 22396

Then off along the 'Lodes Way', my usual territory but just before joining it, I used this track that has been too muddy all winter until now to use. It's well out of the way, there's also a pair of kestrels that nest every year in a poplar next to the pine in this pic.
View attachment 22397

Then on past a farm called 'Lords Ground Farm'. They grow turf here (among other stuff) though I am not sure if any actually ends up at the home of cricket. The turf always looks wonderful and I'm always so tempted to veer off and cycle across it. here is a field where it has just been cut.

View attachment 22398

Getting closer to a village called Reach is a National Trust owned reserve called Tubney Fen. There's also a bird hide there, though not much about today except a beatiful shoveler duck and his mate. Also a few swallows dipping into the pools for a drink. At the reserve's edge some gypsies have set up camp. They are a freindly bunch and I chatted to them about their horses before heading off. They still have a traditional caravan too.
View attachment 22399

The great thing about this area (or at least one of them) is that as the peat of the fen dries, it makes the roads fold like a tablecloth. This has the enormous benefit of slowing the nit -wit drivers right down (though most are pretty good to be fair). you can't do more than about 30 by car without seriously knackering it, which makes life so much more pleasant for the rest of us.

On homewards through Reach, through a new woodland planted only a few years ago. I have heard rumours of bullfinch in there (incredibly rare hereabouts) but no sign this evening. Did hear a few willow warblers and chiffs though.
Only a 9 miler today but a superb ride, and glad I got it in before the forecast colder, wetter weather arrives.

If that is the wood between Reach and Burwell then I helped to plant it! Always good to see your pics as I too used to travel those roads and tracks when I lived in Burwell, some good memories.

 

[Glow worm]

If that is the wood between Reach and Burwell then I helped to plant it! Always good to see your pics as I too used to travel those roads and tracks when I lived in Burwell, some good memories.

That wood is thriving and I often admire it as I pedal past. I'll try to remember to take a pic next time and post it, as you'll be amazed how well the trees are doing. The other new(ish) woodland in which I have heard has bullfinches is at the top of the hill (well, a hill for us flatlanders anyway!) 'behind' Reach village (up the bridle path opposite the Dykes End pub).

 

[Archie_tect]

21 miles down to Newburn, along to Dean St in Newcastle then up to Cowgate and home via Kingston Park.

 

[Stringy Bob]

18 miles to work. Mainly sunny. Chilly headwind, fingers a bit cold. Do wish it would start warming up a bit. But, did hear 3 Yellowhammers, 2 Blackcaps and a Bullfinch, amongst other bits and pieces, at various places cycling along the lanes................which was nice!

 

[BigonaBianchi]

50 miles along.the coast then back for lunch and a swim.

It's really windy but warm....makes a change from the cold uk coastal winds of late.

Had a bad click noise from crank area....was thinking bottom bracket...I took off the chain and put it back on and the click was cured.

Friendly traffic...perfect.

 

[GrasB]

My ride today got as far as a the turbo set to 0 resistance & turing the peddles for 15 min... I want to be training damn it!

 

[Old Plodder]

Feeling good, just got back in from a nice 35 miler.
Cold & overcast, bit of sun, back to overcast, drop of rain & home.