Your ride today.... (part 1)

[Peteaud]

Crackin' 53 miles today across Northampton to drop summat off for a mate. I carried on to Stoke Bruerne canal and locks for a looksee. I haven't been there for ages. It's still a lovely place but can get extremely busy at weekends if you ever intend going there!
View attachment 28509

View attachment 28510


From the canal, I aimed towards Salcey Forest via Hanslope and was rather perturbed, when I looked down, to see a wasp clinging to the lycra stretched over my right testicle.
My dilemma was this. Swat it? Painful.. Stop and flick it off? Didn't fancy putting a leg to the ground and giving the bugger the chance to sting me... I went with a quick brush with a gloved hand and got away with it!! Phew

Anyways... I ended up at one of my usual cake & coffee stops, Salcey Forest and grabbed the biggest slice of coffee cake on the stand

View attachment 28511

There's lots of lovely villages around the area to make any ride a pleasure!

View attachment 28512

All in all, a great 53 miles

http://www.strava.com/activities/78421127

Been through there on a canal boat, fantastic countryside.

Nice bike by the way (i have one)

 

[PeteXXX]

Been through there on a canal boat, fantastic countryside.

Nice bike by the way (i have one)

I went through the Blisworth Tunnel a few years ago on a mates canal boat. Quite spooky!

 

[Peteaud]

I went through the Blisworth Tunnel a few years ago on a mates canal boat. Quite spooky!

Especialy when you meet one coming towards you as well. Very earie i agree.

 

[HLaB]

Tonight was the last midweek TT and I'd finally succumbed to the clunky freehub and bought new wheels, Fulcrum Quattros; according to the blurb they offer the best weight/aero/stiffness/cost and handbuilt quality. You can get wheels what are lighter but the price then goes up threefold at least and they are 150g lighter than the new version of my old wheels and are certainly more aero and don't have a clunky hub; I do miss the ratched howl though
I needed to test them out, the warm up was as good a place as any. 23.5mph out of town into a headwind, tick
Then the TT itself, new pb (27:23 official) and I'm pretty sure I could have gone harder
And (bad grammar to start with 'and' ) I still had energy (tail wind assisted) for a good pace back into town
So after the first ride I'd agree with the blurb for now; maybe next season I'll get tri bars

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

Just the morning chores and a quick ride afterwards today. Set out in cloud and was wondering if I was going to be warm enough (leg injury needs to be kept warm), it took a while but I did warm up and after a quick trip to the post office and then into town to (not) pick up a zip from the sewing shop (they were unexpectedly closed today for a funeral) I set off down some new lanes to cycle to Knutsford and back just to keep the miles up for the upcoming tour. (This time next week I will be driving to Inverness...)

Went along some lovely lanes, spotted some really nice places and wished I had my camera or iPhone with me but the parcel to the post office this morning had taken all the space in my saddle bag and the iPhone does not survive even the slightest knock now.

So a casual ride along some nice country lanes before my tummy informed me it was hungry. Spent the next 45 mins starving trying hard to get by on only water! Next time I will remember to take something I can eat with me - honest.

http://www.strava.com/activities/78644874 47.6km (29.6miles) with a moving average of 22.5kph (14mph).

 

[Cush]

Yesterday, up by 00:30, walked an unsettled dog round the village and on the paved part of the A69. Caught the 07:49 train to Preston. Rode the short route to Blackpool along the A583, Council could do with cutting back some of the clutter hiding the road signs, almost went down on to the M55 at junction 4. Surprised I got to Blackpool a lot quicker than I expected. Fascinated by those riding "The Big One" at the pleasure beach. Was pleasantly surprised at the coast line to Lytham St Anne's. I had never realized that Preston had such a large dock basin. Too tired to explore it properly but it is on the long list of "to do's" . Arrived on the station two hours before my train was due but could not change the ticket because cheap wad that I am I had booked well in advance. So had long wait on Preston station. Still I was able to check out the new Cree XM-L in field conditions and it worked nicely. Was also able to check out the LEDwear jacket i got as a freebie for taking out a subscription to one of the cycling mags . I like it and will be using it on the Manchester - Blackpool night ride in September.

 

[BigonaBianchi]

today i rode 2 miles to lidl and back

 

[HLaB]

today i rode 2 miles to lidl and back

Beats my 5.5 miles to work, LIDL is definitely a more attractive destination just now

 

[BigonaBianchi]

Beats my 5.5 miles to work, LIDL is definitely a more attractive destination just now

I got some arm and leg warmers for the bike as the autum comes...the bib longs were not stretchy enough...

 

[HLaB]

I got some arm and leg warmers for the bike as the autum comes...the bib longs were not stretchy enough...

I think I ended up using my Aldi arm warmers as shin warmers

 

[compo]

I have recently been getting hypoglycaemic attacks which are taking a lot more than a few jelly babies to sort out. I get them overnight, waking up to an absolutely sodden bed (sweat, not the other!!), and at odd times during the day. I know I have to go to the doctors it is just so much aggro getting an appointment. I am seeing the practice nurse on Monday for a non related issue so I will raise it with her whilst there.

Today was quite scarey. I was out on the bike and I gradually ran out of energy, I got the sweats and the shakes and I was all over the place being so light headed and dizzy. I stopped at a village shop and bought some Jaffa cakes, sat on a bench for about 15 minutes until I was clear enough to turn for home. I had to munch a couple more on the way. I just hope I feel better tomorrow.

I have now bought a blood glucose monitor so I can have some idea for when I go to the doctor's eventually. To cap off a bad ride I left my phone on the bench where I was recovering after speaking to my wife. I didn't miss it till I got home. That's gone for ever! Thankfully it was only a cheap Ebay one.

 

[coffeejo]

Hope you get a GP appointment soon @compo and they sort you out.

 

[gavgav]

Headed out after work with the intention of following National Cycle Route 81 from Shrewsbury to Wrockwardine, for about a 20 mile ride. I set off in very blustery conditions, with a few threatening clouds overhead and wondered if I was making a mistake........little did I know.

I followed the route along the old canal path and through Uffington and headed up towards Upton Magna, and as I was trundling along quite nicely at about 15 mph I suddenly had the sensation of something landing on my neck and before I knew it a searing pain in my neck. I was wearing gloves and so grabbed the area and there was the crunch of what must have been a bloody wasp, as I threw it to the ground I think it was the mates of the one I squashed at the pub during my Bank Holiday Monday ride getting their own back!

Its the first time I have been stung for about 20 years and I had forgotten how much they hurt I had only done about 3 miles by now and so I pressed on a little bit to just past Upton Magna, but by now the throbbing had started in my neck and so I turned around and headed back towards home

Heading back through Uffington, in the 30 mph limit, I was pootling along towards a parked car on the opposite side of the road and a T****r in a blue Skoda decided to fly past me at about 50 mph and give me zero room as he squeezed past me and the car. The level of expletives I shouted at him (fuelled by my annoyance at the wasp sting) are not repeatable on here

I arrived back home and was putting the bike back in the shed, only for another wasp to land on the bin next to the shed. Suffice to say it was pulverised appropriately Humans = 2 Wasps = 1 for the week!

10.62 miles, 11.9mph avg My least enjoyable ride ever and wish I hadn't bothered!

 

[Steve Malkin]

It must be 'crap rides day' today, what with Compo feeling poorly and gavgav being attacked by waspy feckers.

I set out for Jodrell Bank with the intention of stopping off at the cafe for a coffee and some cake only to find when I got there that it was closed to the public today

On my way back home I tried to bunny hop up a kerb and made a spectacular mess of it, sending myself over the handlebars and onto the pavement there's no fool like an old fool.....

Only once I got home and the adrenaline wore off have I realized that I have a very hurty thumb and some bruised ribs from the impact (as well as the skinned knuckles and grazed elbow that were immediately apparent) so I'm just hoping that I'll be recovered in time to go on the club run this Sunday.

I'm wishing I'd stayed in bed today too..

Take care Compo and I hope you get sorted out soon , that does sound scary, I'd take injury rather than illness any day, at least I know my grazes are going to be OK in a few days.

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

Sounds like the day for bad rides alright. I hope the doc can sort you out @compo and that it's nothing majorly serious.

I also hope the ouchy bits for @gavgav and @Steve Malkin feel better soon.