Your ride today.... (part 1)

[cyberknight]

54.75 mile medium club run, average of 18.3 mph ish , i will upload the data later.
Went past Dave Brailford`s house (apparently) and its certainly impressive but i wondered why he was not out there offering bidons to us potential TDF winners
Stopped at Derby County`s football ground in starbucks , luckily no french plated cars tried to run us off the road although i did get something thrown from a car full of youths on the way home but for some reason they did not take me up on the offer of a more close quarter "conversation " as they must be scared of 4 mamils

 

[Supersuperleeds]

The usual 26 mile pootle with our lass this morning. Helped me knock off a massive 341 feet against the Vuelta challenge on Strava.

 

[ComedyPilot]

Today's ride was a first for me. The first time I have ridden a bike equipped with a dynamo front wheel - built by me last night/this morning.

Yesterday the component parts were in a pile in the computer room.

Today they have enabled me to wheel along the lanes for a coffee at the Cranswick Garden Centre. I am in no way mechanically skilled, but with the power of YouTube, Sheldon Brown and a lot of patience I now have 100% electric on the bike.

Time to write my xmas list for Satan Santa - Dear St Nick, I have been a good boy and would love my stocking to be filled with a B&M eWerk.

Ta muchly

CP

 

[Old Plodder]

.....a dynamo front wheel - built by me.....

Congratulations!

 

[Spoked Wheels]

Another 50 miler with the club yesterday. The weather forecast said showers so I got my winter bike nice and ready on Friday night.
Saturday morning was sunny and stayed that way most of the day. No showers at all but I'm happy I took the winter bike out.
It was a lovely ride although there were many faces missing, it must be a last minute holiday thing. Still it was good to see some new faces

I never get bore of riding in the New Forest and the views are great at this time of the year. I rode with a couple of guys that wanted to push hard so no time for a picture

 

[HLaB]

I headed down to a lbs 90 odd miles later I got back, so I went passed the door to make it an even ton. (There's 1.5miles, either side but I dont count that its through a park at near walking pace; I prefer my fast ride on the road unlike some ignorant people). The bike shop ride isn't the best organised (their rider's forget to point things out and can end up three a breast) but the company was good, route was good, the weather was good and I quite easily talked folks into a cafe stop at the end

Edit: Link Added

 

[HLaB]

No showers at all but I'm happy I took the winter bike out.

I'm not happy, all this talk about something which is months off

 

[Toeclip]

I rode out to Mill Green near Ingatestone this morning to the start of the Essex CTC rough stuff event, I wasn`t taking part myself I just wanted to see a few of my old club mates. After they set off I had a spin around the lanes and met the riders again in the Viper pub in Mill Green for lunch, homeward bound I caught a few showers and got back indoors with 54 miles on the clock. It was so good to meet up with some of my old club mates again I`ve not seen some for over 3 years.

 

[derrick]

49 mile club ride, stopped for breakfast after 20 miles, really nice cafe, then another 23 hilly miles ended up in High Beech for a nice cuppa tea, the puncture fairies were with us today, three guy's punctured on the way back, but a really nice relaxing ride, especially after last Sunday's rip it up ride.

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

I fancied a bit of hill climbing today so took the Raleigh out to the Long Mynd.

The ride out was against the wind so not the fastest in the world. I started off pacing myself quite well but seemed to speed up as I went along, which wasn't a great idea. (I can't help myself )

On the approach to All Stretton a Volvo driver clearly thought that six inches was sufficient space to leave a cyclist. I begged to differ and he got a yell and an Agincourt style salute, which I know he saw. I could see the passenger gesticulating as they disappeared down the road - I suspect the driver was getting an earful.

Next stop was the Burway where a couple of walkers gave a sympathetic look and wished me good luck. It's been quite a while since I last rode up here (I usually avoid it as it gets a bit busy with tourists) and was pleasantly surprised at how easy the climb seemed with the current gearing. The only downside was that the weather decided at this point I clearly wasn't wet enough and proceeded to rectify that. (Guess who left his waterproofs at home )

By the time I'd climbed to Pole Bank (the summit) the sun was out giving a good contrast to the heavy showers surrounding the Mynd. While up here I had a text from my brother offering to come and pick me up as it was pouring at home. Nice but I wanted to complete the ride.

With a new shower chasing me I headed back via High Park and Gogbatch before retracing my steps via Longnor, Ryton and Condover. I caught up with the previous rain before Ryton and had a fairly wet end to the ride, although judging by the amount of water on the road I'd missed the worst of it.

30.6 miles done today up to the 1693' summit & back at a reasonable average of 12.5 mph.

Between Longnor and Leebotwood - There's been so little rain lately that the ford has dried up.

A quick drink stop and about to take on the Burway. Annoyingly it has just started raining.

Up at Pole Bank and the shower that soaked me can be seen heading off to the Clee Hills.

Looking towards Wild Moor and the sky looks quite threatening in the direction of home.

At the top of the High Park climb. (Or descent as it was today)

Caer Caradoc from the top end of Gogbatch.

At Great Ryton getting wet, but at least with something to look at.

 

[BigonaBianchi]

almost...

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

almost...

That'll be the one here. I went past Boiling Well (at the other end of that road) on today's trip.

 

[BigonaBianchi]

That'll be the one here. I went past Boiling Well (at the other end of that road) on today's trip.

...its a lot dryer and warmer on google lol!

 

[jayonabike]

60 miles on my own this afternoon. I was supposed to go out for a ride with @toptom and another mate James but couldn't get up in time (working nights plays havoc with your body clock) So after the Mrs woke me up at 11.30 with a cup of coffee I went out on my tod. The weather had changed a bit, which meant I could wear my new long sleeved top and Thermal bib shorts, both ideal for autumn cycling. I love cycling at this time of year, much better than during the summer. I didn't have a route planned, so just headed off and made it up as I went along. I planned to stop after about 40 miles at a favourite coffee stop near Tring, but was enjoying the ride to much to stop. "O.K, I'll stop at Ashridge after the sharp climb up Toms Hill out of Aldbury" I thought. I cycled past that as well, still not needing a stop, even after 45 miles or so, I was enjoying the ride to much to stop. Down one hill and up another and I was in Studham and an almost flat ride down to Redbourn. I tanked it for about 5 miles or so into Redbourn and after 55 miles had a quick coffee stop at a little 'cyclists cafe' thats opened up, it's only 5 or so miles from home but they make lovely coffee! Arrived back home to the smell of a Sunday roast cooking. A cracking afternoon on the bike.

 

[Cubist]

I braved the Holme Valley MTB Challenge today. I had promised myself if I got myself fit enough despite the knackered hip I'd do it. One by one the folk that were going to ride with me dropped out, but one look at the sunshine this morning convinced me. I bumped into loads of people I knew at the start, and was entrant 404 on the day. I made it round in 3.58, Strava telling me it was 33.3 miles. The Soul is hardly an XC whippet, and there were a lot of exotica evident, including some serious looking 29er carbons, but it behaved impeccably, and between us we saw off a fair few mincers on the rough stuff

Climbing is a bit of a nemesis for me and the hip, and Strava identifies a good number of cat 3 and 4 climbs on the overall route, and although it's looking like over 4.000 ft climbing, I'll wait and see what Garmin says when it's recalculated the elevation (server's down at the moment).

Edit: Corrected Garmin says 4178ft gained.

Very sore legs, and the hip is screaming at me, even through the codeine, so tomorrow may be interesting. May drive to work......