Your ride today.... (part 1)

[gbb]

Ooer, I thought i'd posted this...

Decided to stop making excuses with myself, i'm recovering from Pleurisy, I just have some difficulty filling my lungs and some discomfort but not pain. Ive been off the bike for months barring odd rides, so out tonight for a quick 14 miles....at 16mph average fastest ive been this year . Just got to work on upping the mileage now.
Nice to feel the response of the Ribble under me rather than the trusty but uninspiring Trek hybrid that's been my preferred choice on odd rides lately.

 

[vernon]

Second and third rides today totalled 12 miles riding from my house over to Horsforth to the Abbey where there was a beer festival and live music. Went back to a friends house for a takeaway then peddled home. I've surprised myself today with the amount of utility cycling that i've done. The music was surprisingly good. The beers were wonderful.

River Aire

Ginnel leading to the Newlay Bridge in Horsforth

Hendrix wannabe making a pretty good job of sounding like Hendrix.

 

[EltonFrog]

30 Miles this morning up BrillbastardfeckinsoddingHill and back. Left at 7.30am which is very very very very early for me. Back by 9:20. A totally lovely morning, really stunning out there today.

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

Ginnel leading to the Newlay Bridge in Horsforth

What a lovely little bridge it is, the Kirkstall Harriers cross it in one of their races

By The Way;
do you know about this truly fascinating site???
http://www.secretleeds.com/

 

[Glow worm]

Just a 17 miler here (yesterday). I needed to go into Newmarket for some errands, but, being a miserable sod, I just couldn't face the crowds and shops so headed off for a nice solitary saunter across the fen instead.

First out through Bottisham and then Lode where the swits were screeching and wheeling about the place like crazy. Looked as if some were nesting in an old building and I stopped and could just about hear the young as the adults returned to feed them. Standing within 10 feet or so of the adults as they very briefly perched to feed the young, I was struck by how big they are. Then I headed out onto the Lodes Way.

I do this route very often because it's quiet and largely car free. Up past Burwell Lode is Adventurer's Fen which is currently being 're-wetted'. What was a wheat field only 5 years ago is already attracting large numbers of waders such as snipe. There's also hordes of little egrets there and in winter, short eared owls.

A little further on, the National Trust sign and a windmill in Wicken village behind.

Just around the corner is Monk's Lode, a crystal clear chalk stream and I couldn't resist dipping my hot feet in there. Not sure the fish enjoyed it as much as I did though.

For the first time in ages here I didn't hear a single cuckoo. Looks like they've already mosly headed south, an assumption that this site which tracks cuckoos would seem to back up.

Finally, with soggy but cool feet, I headed home. The road into my village was almost deserted for a change. I wish it could be like that more often.

17 miles in 3 hours. I suspect I won't be troubling the good folks at Strava anytime soon (thankfully!)

 

[skudupnorth]

Just a 17 miler here (yesterday). I needed to go into Newmarket for some errands, but, being a miserable sod, I just couldn't face the crowds and shops so headed off for a nice solitary saunter across the fen instead.

First out through Bottisham and then Lode where the swits were screeching and wheeling about the place like crazy. Looked as if some were nesting in an old building and I stopped and could just about hear the young as the adults returned to feed them. Standing within 10 feet or so of the adults as they very briefly perched to feed the young, I was struck by how big they are. Then I headed out onto the Lodes Way.

I do this route very often because it's quiet and largely car free. Up past Burwell Lode is Adventurer's Fen which is currently being 're-wetted'. What was a wheat field only 5 years ago is already attracting large numbers of waders such as snipe. There's also hordes of little egrets there and in winter, short eared owls.
View attachment 25859

A little further on, the National Trust sign and a windmill in Wicken village behind.
View attachment 25860

Just around the corner is Monk's Lode, a crystal clear chalk stream and I couldn't resist dipping my hot feet in there. Not sure the fish enjoyed it as much as I did though.

View attachment 25862

For the first time in ages here I didn't hear a single cuckoo. Looks like they've already mosly headed south, an assumption that this site which tracks cuckoos would seem to back up.

Finally, with soggy but cool feet, I headed home. The road into my village was almost deserted for a change. I wish it could be like that more often.
View attachment 25863

17 miles in 3 hours. I suspect I won't be troubling the good folks at Strava anytime soon (thankfully!)

Looks like some good riding around your way !

 

[Glow worm]

Looks like some good riding around your way !

Cheers! Yes we're pretty lucky really with a good range of off road paths and tracks, though a hill or two would be a bonus! For a supposedly fairly crowded part of the UK it's amazing how easily you can just slip away and go for miles without seeing a soul.

 

[coffeejo]

The views on my way home last night:

 

[EltonFrog]

@coffeejo nice piccies.

 

[coffeejo]

Thanks @CarlP

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

I'll second that - great pics @coffeejo.

 

[BigonaBianchi]

58 miles of warm sunny if very windy sussex lanes for the most part today.
Worthing>Shoreham>Fulking>Poynings>Warninglid>Slaugham>Staplefield>Cuckfield>burgess hill>Hurstierpoint>Bamber>Steyning>Shoreham>Worthing>beach>sleep

No near misses from numpties, always a plus that. Decided I like Slaugham a LOT....shame you need a million quid to buy a shed there...a lot of these lanes is where I grew up, and cycled when I was 15 ish....some of the best cycling in the uk around here I feel...erm...when the sun is shining...and if you ignore the A259 coastal road which is at best ugly and at worst pretty dangerous at times.

Sat on the village green in Hurstpierpoint under a tree with a tin of coke chatting to a nice elderly lady about the tour de france and the tennis....she knew more about it than I did.

Front derailer is out of kilter...back up the stand tonight I guess...

Think I'll eat and head out again for a quick 10 miles or so as the sun sets.

 

[s7ephanie]

approx 85 Km today, all was going well then i came to a long and winding hill I must admit to walking a couple as i got nearer to home, bum was begining to hurt on way home, so ho how will i ever manage to hit the 100 Km

 

[s7ephanie]

from todays ride

 

[BigonaBianchi]

approx 85 Km today, all was going well then i came to a long and winding hill I must admit to walking a couple as i got nearer to home, bum was begining to hurt on way home, so ho how will i ever manage to hit the 100 Km

..no shame in walking up steep hills...I walked up a good few stretches on le jog...who cares...and how will you ever reach 100km?...you just will...simples.