Your ride today.... (part 1)

[G3CWI]

Consolation run after a mate cancelled for second week in a row. Macc to Whaley Bridge. Uneventful. Called in at cycle shop in Whaley. Friendly chap who took time to have a chat. Admired the carbon road bikes. Called in to chemists for suntan cream. Hadn't expected sun. Climbed up the long hill road to Buxton. It's long and it's a hill. Very steady gradient. Yellow cyclist overtook and that reminded me that I may be fit but lots of people are fitter. Fleeting thought of keeping up but soon decided against it. He turned off into the Goyt Valley and I dropped into Buxton. Stopped at the garage on the way out. Intended finding something healthy but instead I bought a can of fizzy pineapple stuff. After drinking it I read the alarming warnings on the can. Not suitable for children apparently due to the chemicals in it. It also stains clothes. So much for healthy.

Decided against the direct route across to the Cat. A narrow winding ascent with lots of HGVs behind me seemed like a bad idea. Settled on the Axe Edge ascent. Slow and steady. Arrived at the Cat which was very busy with late lunchers. A swift half of Unicorn was followed by an even swifter decent into Macc. Kept up with the traffic so pleased with that.

Slight downer was an altercation with a motorist in the centre of Macc who did not think that I needed any room on the road. But even that did not dampen my overall enjoyment. It's a route that I have intended doing for ages. Rather too busy to do often but I'm glad that I did it.

 

[matthat]

Consolation run after a mate cancelled for second week in a row. Macc to Whaley Bridge. Uneventful. Called in at cycle shop in Whaley. Friendly chap who took time to have a chat. Admired the carbon road bikes. Called in to chemists for suntan cream. Hadn't expected sun. Climbed up the long hill road to Buxton. It's long and it's a hill. Very steady gradient. Yellow cyclist overtook and that reminded me that I may be fit but lots of people are fitter. Fleeting thought of keeping up but soon decided against it. He turned off into the Goyt Valley and I dropped into Buxton. Stopped at the garage on the way out. Intended finding something healthy but instead I bought a can of fizzy pineapple stuff. After drinking it I read the alarming warnings on the can. Not suitable for children apparently due to the chemicals in it. It also stains clothes. So much for healthy.

Decided against the direct route across to the Cat. A narrow winding ascent with lots of HGVs behind me seemed like a bad idea. Settled on the Axe Edge ascent. Slow and steady. Arrived at the Cat which was very busy with late lunchers. A swift half of Unicorn was followed by an even swifter decent into Macc. Kept up with the traffic so pleased with that.

Slight downer was an altercation with a motorist in the centre of Macc who did not think that I needed any room on the road. But even that did not dampen my overall enjoyment. It's a route that I have intended doing for ages. Rather too busy to do often but I'm glad that I did it.

Sounds like a good ride how many miles??

 

[Bill-H]

Was going for a shortish ride today ended up following my front wheel and completed my first metric century well chuffed now to relax

 

[G3CWI]

Sounds like a good ride how many miles??

Not far. 31 miles. 3,300ft ascent.

 

[gavgav]

Took advantage of what look's like the only dry slot this weekend, to head out after a heavy week at work. I set off in cloudy, muggy, windless weather and headed over to Upton Magna, then climbed up Haughmond Hill and then the lovely mile straight down into Somerwood and Rodington Heath. I was amazingly passed by the same hoon in a Blue Peugeot 307 on exactly the same corner as 3 weeks ago!! Must be his regular route home from work. However this time, rather than doing about 70 mph, he was observing the 30 mph speed limit! A case of brown underpants from 3 weeks ago where he slid round the corner and almost lost it, maybe.....

I then continued down towards Walcot and turned left to Isombridge and Longden on Tern. I then headed on roads that I hadn't been on before, a little nervously, as it was the B5062, which is a bit of a rat run in Shropshire and a busy road at times, but it wasn't too bad and I rode over to High Ercall and then Roden. By now I had noticed that the clouds had dispersed to lovely sunshine, but the downside was a very gusty South Westerly wind had got up and I was riding straight into it!! I plodded on and turned off the B5062, back to Upton Magna and into Shrewsbury.

I was met by a couple with 2 dogs, on the canal path and the very friend dog slobbered all over my shorts!!

24.95 miles Avg Speed 11.1 MPH, which I thought was ok considering the last 10 miles were into the strong headwind.

 

[Saluki]

Today we took the MTBs for a spin. They have been neglected lately what with the good weather and no mud or cow poo all over the roads. Also the OHs roadie is in for a service at Halfords. My Spesh MTB went to halfords for a service and apart from having to change to a smaller sprocket twice and then up one to change one gear down its seems fine. Oh, and the small matter of riding up the garden to the gate, turning the handlebars and the front wheel not turning with it. When I ride the OH's roadie home tomorrow I am going to check every nut and bolt first I think.

Anyway, I digress. We have a nice wide footpath locally so we pootled up the road to it and rode down the footpath, past the sheep in the field between us and the railway line, past a few houses and got off the bikes to cross the railway line. Back on the bikes and down past the part-time tip to the main road, right and right past the cemetery and the railway station and paused for a quick swig of lemon squash. From there, we have a road called The Lizard (we are not in Cornwall) and rode down there and along the path to the end, hooked a right and rode along a nice wide path with narrow bits.
The wide bit is great, all the nettles and brambles congregate on the narrow bits, not to mention all the low hanging bushes and tree branches (that's what you wear a lid for, right?). I got nettled to death and am covered in scratches. Himself nearly brained himself on a low branch but didn't get nettled. Maybe I have way fatter calves than he does
Once off the path we arrived on the far end of Rightup Lane so popped over the bike and footbridge that crosses the A11 and followed the quiet roads home again.
According to my watch - forgot to take phone - it was 32 minutes of pedalling joy. 5.79miles according to map my ride.

We had a brill time. We will certainly be doing that one again. I had forgotten what fun the Spesh Hardrock is. Hubby had forgotten that he loves his Giant Revel. Might even go mad and have a play at Thetford at some point.

 

[coffeejo]

Went out with the ladies today from my cycling group. There were seven of us in total and it ended up being the furthest that three of them had ever cycled, so lots of smiles all round. Not that there was much smiling when we were forced to abandon the planned route due to roadworks (on a bridge, helpfully, and we were only able to carry the bikes round if we didn't mind wading through the very deep river) and retrace our steps into the wind.

 

[vernon]

A twenty five mile loop from Meanwood through Harewood onto Otley via Arthington and Poole and back home.

Relatively uneventful until I paused outside a stationery shop and its owner spotted the Woodrup name on the fram and came out to have a chat. He claimed to have the smallest frame buildable with lugs with standard 27' wheels built by maurice Woodrup in 1949. He was intrigued by the Rohloff hub, dyno hub and belt drive and enthused about the green paint. He delayed my arrival at the pie shop by ten minutes.

At the pie shop, , I was forced to depart from the script by buying a non pork pie. A lamb pie no less - there were no pork pies left. As I'd highly rated the shop's porcine products I had no qualms about purchasing an ovine filling . Sadly I was underwhelmed.

That left the clim out of Otley to do before the descent into Meanwood where I finally got around to exploring an unmade road called School Lane. It had lots of promise until it emerged at the top of some standard brick built terraced houses - the second disappointment of the day.

Still I managed to dodge the heaviest of the rain and it was good to be out and about.

 

[Saluki]

Another shortie tonight. I rode from home to the Norfolk & Norwich Hospital again. That is a really quick route. I take the main road out of Wymondham down to Thickthorn Services, cross at the pelican crossing and then along the short cyclepath to the new estate and then round several roundabouts to the Colney Centre at the hospital.

I did this route on Thursday and was well impressed with 33 mins and change. Tonight I averaged an awesome 16.36mph for the ride and did the route in 30:35. I was so so happy. I had a bit of time before Hubby came out of dialysis so I rode gently around the hospital car park (mostly deserted) for a couple of miles to cool down properly which makes a change from coming indoors and finding some cake

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

My brother and sister joined me for a ride today and we headed into town to see the first Shrewsbury Marathon.

It is quite blustery out, with rolling across from time to time. Not ideal for the event but the runners will probably be glad it's not a hot day. There was a pretty good turn out given the weather so hopefully the event will be considered a success and will come back bigger and better next year.

On the English Bridge. The route winds round the town centre and into the Coleham and Kingsland areas of town.

Looking up towards Town Walls as more rain arrives.

I've just suggested that we move from our sheltered spot as the rain isn't so heavy now.

Down in The Quarry, the half-marathon runners are nearing the finish.

Leaving town later on. There are a few runners still going.

 

[derrick]

A nice club ride today, two stops one cafe had a lovely fried breakfast, second stop a few hours later a pub, had a lovely pint of orange juice and lemonade with plenty of ice, really hit the spot. am really getting into club rides, done a bit of tail end Charley on the way back making sure nobody got lost. lol.
http://app.strava.com/dashboard

 

[ianrauk]

So.. yet another solo 100+ miler today. I think a few of you must have been wondering where the report of last weeks ride was? Well, there wasn't a ride. It was Father's Day and I felt a little guilty if I buggered off out for the day. So my challenge of 12 100+ milers in 12 weekends in a row failed. Never mind.

So, I was billy no mates again today so decided to do the ride I did 2 weeks ago with @Trickedem, but this time in reverse. A hilly little number not help by a ferocious headwind for the last 30 miles whilst heading west. Easterly was fun though.

Ruined a brand new tyre due to a country lane pothole. Descending about 25mph when hit it. Caused a nice explosion. Huge snakebite in the tube. I changed the inner and was back on my way. At about 5 miles further whilst following another cyclist. The replacement tube decided to let go with a very loud PSSSSSTTTT. Fugget. The cyclist stopped and asked if I wanted a spare inner tube. Wasn't going to turn that down as the snakebites was unrepearable and the replacement now had a mighty hole. (So if you are reading this Mr Cyclist in West Malling - You Sir are a fine gentleman). I then checked the tyre and found that the pothole had damaged the tyre rim. Which caused the second tube to fail. So placed a boot in the tyre to get me home the last 20 miles.

Apart from that, it was a lovely ride. Not too hot or sunny. A bit windy as I said and a tiny bit of rain.

Kent field full of Poppies.

The Kent lanes were glorious (apart from potholes)

These 2 Alpaca chaps took a great interest in the bloke with the camera.

And...hot off the press from the Sevenoaks Chronicle. It's a mad world.

So here's the route. 103 miles at a 15.5mph avg. With plenty of climbing. A figure of eight, clockwise then anti. 16th Metric century of the year.

 

[gbb]

A mere 21 miles...but on the roadbike ...bloody hell, it was hard work
One lung only working at maybe 80%, just cannot get that real deep breath, but no discomfort on the plus side, so despite the wind and my internal battle to get out there on the carbon...out it came.
The first 4 miles were hard. Bloomin wind and loss of fitness, i got overtook by everyone , its been years since that happened. Three Red Kite, two of them really quite large and one of them meandered right overhead, maybe 20 ft above me.
The wind , the hill (notice there's only one worth mentioning...and that's probably not a hill in some peoples eyes ) and loss of fitness all conspired against me...13.5 mph average, THE slowest ive been in years and years for the amount of work put in

Each time iv'e ridden, i think that one's the key to get me out there more often....but it's continual mind games to psyche myself up to get the bike out.
On the plus side, ive gained 1/2 a stone with not cycling so much, 11 stone, the heaviest ive been in years.

 

[HLaB]

Copy and Pasted from Facebook as I'm feeling a bit lay just now
Who's bright idea was that ;-)
142miles yesterday in the windy Fens and 152miles today and with the journey to/from the start/finish; that'll make it over 300miles.

Flat Out In The Fens
connect.garmin.com
152.39 mi • 8:32:13 • 3:22 min/mi • 17.9 mph • 1,631 ft

 

[flatflr]

First ride for a couple of weeks as have been laid up with flu (or might have been ebola), just 20 miles on my normal westerly route, good to be back but was hard work.