Your ride today.... (part 1)

[I like Skol]

Were you hiding in the bushes again? ........Nice to be out on the shiny bike again, it like me enjoys these flat Cheshire rides

Today I also did an Impromptu ride on the skinny bike but not in Cheshire!
Over a hill to Glossop, over a hill to Ladybower. Quick bite to eat at The Woodbine then along the Edale valley and over a hill to Chapel, over a hill to Hayfield, over a hill to Glossop and back over the hill into Ashton. 55 much needed miles to help shift some of the pasta, pastries and wine I have put away over the last few days

I was riding along the Edale valley when I met a motorist driving in the opposite direction whose reaction to seeing me was to stare at me while patting his head with a spread hand? I'm not sure if he was cruelly drawing attention to my follicly challenged pate or attempting a game of pat your head, rub your tummy. Either way, I would have felt a lot safer if he had kept both his hands on the steering wheel as he negotiated the narrow twisty lanes.

Managed to hit 51.3mph as I dropped down Chunal into Glossop

 

[Snapper88]

Went to tesco (2.5miles) came out & carried on to my lbs to buy a track pump (2.5mile). On my way there I could hear something rubbing. Looked over my bike while riding & noticed my front disc brake isn't square!! Got to lbs & the disc has been bent!! (Wasn't like that this morning) bought a giant track pump (with test in store) very impressed. 120psi in about 5 pumps 7mile ride home at what felt like a snails pace.

 

[Licramite]

your should get her drop handlebars, slick racing tyres - be no stopping her.

Following on from my earlier post re. Little Spartaks' cycling.
She wanted to go out with me cycling today, so we headed to the park, a round trip of 3.5 kms, which she managed with no problems, even kept going on the slight inclines

View attachment 28192

 

[Licramite]

Well I took thursday off and did my heytesbury to badbury rings - well tarrant kingston. lovely day , not to much wind, no map reading errors, only down side was my brakes were playing up and the pub at tarrant was closed when I got there. I was to early I left at 7am and got there at 10.30 , headed back but the last hour was a struggle - especially the bit across the feilds.
Do feel I should get a bike with front suspension, my wrists were really aching from all the shocks from the potholes in the roads.
I have proved that the guys who designed the range-rover simply measured the distance between country hedges, the number of times I had to get off and climb into the hedge to let range rovers past.
well according to my bike comp I did 59.8miles in 6.30hrs - but that includes the bits I walked and pushed the bike.
not the bits I collapsed by the side of the road with the age old saying of travellers - "sod it-I'm f-ckerd!."

still great day, victory pint at end tasted brilliant (things we do just improve the taste of beer).

 

[laurence]

my longest ride for a while... approx 20 miles (i know, lightweight). shame the weather wasn't as forecast as i was looking forward to sunny blue sky. anyway.
piffled along, but still managed to set off a speed sign at 26mph (it was a 20 zone) and then just pootled around Richmond Park. stopped atop White Lodge hill and was pleased the bench has been repaired. then headed across the park and decided to try kingston gate hill for the first time in ages. managed it with 1 gear to spare (i realy must get something bigger than a 23) and didn't puke (was close though).
back to pen ponds for a coffee and then back around, up to richmond and then to kingston.

not a bad ride, i felt ok - the bike was wonderful and didn't falter. my knee only hurt once, but it feels 'full' as if the skin is tight over it... there's no swelling, but it feels odd (i had a load of 'old' blood removed from it earlier in the year).

i even managed to overtake two people!

i do love cycling, but the worry with the knee is annoying. i may get a turbo trainer to build up strength and get me used to longer sessions again.

must admit, i did brake coming down Broomfield hill as well.

 

[Rustybucket]

http://www.strava.com/activities/76917215

Guess where my chain snapped, added an extra 3 hours onto my journey and killed my average speed - should of turned my garmin off!!!!

 

[BigonaBianchi]

Got up today and for various reasons had a bad anxiety attack...havent had one of those for a few years now. It freaked me out
so much that I had to run...so I got on the bike and rode a loop I had been wanting to do for a while and had
put into my GPS a few weeks back.
The final milage was 93 miles.
The route took me along the coast >shoreham>Fulking>poynings>hurstpierpoint>cuckfield>hawards heath>ashdown forest>
crowborough>hassocks>ditchling and back. I deviated a fair bit in th eforest as its so nice up there.

There were lots of free running sheep and cows in the forest, and on such a lovely day I was happy to spend time discussing
life with a few of them!





It was perfect weather, not to hot or cold, bit humid and I could smell tonights forcasted thunderstorms coming later in the ride.
In Hassocks I called into a shop for a drink...I asked the lady
"got any energy drinks?"
she replied..."red bull over there"
I said.." that will keep me up all night"
she laughed and said "that I'd like to see"
....we chatted while i drank a tin of mountain dew energy ...it was time to move on...lol!
I had the wind against me on the way out, so it blew me back. It's a priveledge to be able to ride like this
at my age, and through such beautiful countryside.
The longer the ride went on the more the anxiety left me...fresh air, exercise, sunshine, green grass, trees,
just what i needed today.
Right...time for an ice cream me thinks ha ha!

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

http://www.strava.com/activities/76917215

Guess where my chain snapped, added an extra 3 hours onto my journey and killed my average speed - should of turned my garmin off!!!!

3 hours added by a broken chain and you're still quicker than me.

 

[Cush]

Thursday Train to Glasgow. Rode to Abington Services. Mixture of excellent and down right horrible both in the scenery, route conditions and my riding. (hit the wall twice) 49 miles + a bit
Friday Abington services to home (to the East of Carlisle). Good easy route to follow but a tad too much motor way noise, did better than yesterday but mucked around watching the shenanigans at Gretna. (I should have learnt to play that screeching cat and made a fortune in tips) Contrived end to make distance over 70 (71.17) for my 70th tomorrow.
This completes a circular from home to Glasgow. Lochs and Glens route and NCR74 with a bit of DIY. Now stiff as hell and twice as smug. Sorry no photos.

 

[Seamab]

After a few days of very mundane short rides i got out for a nice wee run today. Up Dunning Glen through Dunning crossing the busy A9 and the River Earn for a sharp climb up to the hamlet of Findo Gask. (I believe a pop group named themselves after spotting the sign to Findo Gask). Downhill then to Trinity Gask. Not sure what the Gask means TBH, but the OS map shows the area has remains of Roman signalling stations. A lovely downhill to Kinkell Bridge and a recrossing of the Earn before climbing up to Muirton near Auchterarder to find the Johnny Walker Golf Tournament in full swing at Gleneagles. There was a huge leaderboard but facing away from me so i couldn't see who was getting the birdies. A steady climb up Gleneagles and down Glendevon before descending back to Dollar and drafting a car through the town! 41miles. Very little wind. Nice.

 

[BigonaBianchi]

Thursday Train to Glasgow. Rode to Abington Services. Mixture of excellent and down right horrible both in the scenery, route conditions and my riding. (hit the wall twice) 49 miles + a bit
Friday Abington services to home (to the East of Carlisle). Good easy route to follow but a tad too much motor way noise, did better than yesterday but mucked around watching the shenanigans at Gretna. (I should have learnt to play that screeching cat and made a fortune in tips) Contrived end to make distance over 70 (71.17) for my 70th tomorrow.
This completes a circular from home to Glasgow. Lochs and Glens route and NCR74 with a bit of DIY. Now stiff as hell and twice as smug. Sorry no photos.

...like this?

 

[Glow worm]

Only had time for a very short 7 mile bimble, back on home turf today here in the flat country. Still it was great to be back again and after time away with a group of folk, I had been really looking forward to a solitary spin.

It started badly as my wireless cateye computer thing wouldn't work. Not sure if travelling with it has caused the problem- them airport scanning things perhaps- or altitude?

Computer problems aside, I also ididn't feel ready yet for the 'eccentricities' of your average british driver, so chose a largely car free route, which included a beet field or two.

The obligatory pic of Swaffham Bulbeck Lode from the ped/ cycle bridge. No one about whatsoever- bliss.

A quick cuppa at the bird hide on Tubney Fen near Reach village (nothing about save plenty of swallows, a few coots and a lapwing or two). All the swifts seem to have gone now. Thankfully whoever has been stashing grumble in the hide in recent months seems to have found something better to do.

Then I wound my slow way home via Reach and Swaffham Prior via the overgrown and slightly neglected allotment to collect the last of the garlic and a few beans. Blimey, it's a glamourous life.

Embarrassed by other posts on here about some great rides of up to 100 miles or so, I hope to put in a few more miles in the coming weeks.

 

[PeteXXX]

I popped out yesterday evening on a 10 mile circuit to pay my lottery syndicate £10 to a friend, then to Riverside to collect a wireless adapter for the PC.. (I can now get online! Wahey!). As all miles tend to be Strava'd, I uploaded the trip and was surprised to see that I got a KOM on one segment that I didn't even know existed.
Turns out that I am 1 of only 2 that have ridden it... And I stopped for a jimmy riddle!

http://www.strava.com/activities/76957937

 

[The Central Scrutinizer]

Went out yesterday on a 30 mile ride through the leafy lanes of essex.A couple of miles from home hit a big pothole near the edge of the road,lost control and ended up on the grass verge.
Got a badly grazed arm and bruised shoulder and buckled both wheels on my giant defy.
Luckily took it to my lbs and they will be able to true them both.

 

[clid61]

Only had time for a very short 7 mile bimble, back on home turf today here in the flat country. Still it was great to be back again and after time away with a group of folk, I had been really looking forward to a solitary spin.

It started badly as my wireless cateye computer thing wouldn't work. Not sure if travelling with it has caused the problem- them airport scanning things perhaps- or altitude?

Computer problems aside, I also ididn't feel ready yet for the 'eccentricities' of your average british driver, so chose a largely car free route, which included a beet field or two.
View attachment 28219

The obligatory pic of Swaffham Bulbeck Lode from the ped/ cycle bridge. No one about whatsoever- bliss.

View attachment 28220

A quick cuppa at the bird hide on Tubney Fen near Reach village (nothing about save plenty of swallows, a few coots and a lapwing or two). All the swifts seem to have gone now. Thankfully whoever has been stashing grumble in the hide in recent months seems to have found something better to do.
View attachment 28221

Then I wound my slow way home via Reach and Swaffham Prior via the overgrown and slightly neglected allotment to collect the last of the garlic and a few beans. Blimey, it's a glamourous life.
View attachment 28222

Embarrassed by other posts on here about some great rides of up to 100 miles or so, I hope to put in a few more miles in the coming weeks.

Sounds like a perfect day pottering about ! I'm Jealous !