anothersam
SMIDSMe
- Location
- Far East Sussex
The horrid turbo. It's horrid. Unchanging scenery. LOUD. Exhausting. Really no fun at all. Why do I do it? I hire a man to hold a gun to my head. Plus it's raining.
Your ride today.... (part 1)
- Thread starter gbb
- Start date
- Status
Page may contain affiliate links. Please see terms for details.
burndust
Parts unknown...baby
you love it really
My planned ride today didn't happen, Mrs Kipster fell over walking the dog this morning and when she got back to the house she collapsed. Got her up to A&E to be checked out, seems she fainted due to the pain and shock. Her hands are cut up, as is one knee.
She was feeling sorry for herself when we got home so I had to stay in, and I spent ages picking flints out of the tyres yesterday, bl**dy inconsiderate if you ask me (she's sat next to me as I am writing this, chuckling). The only cycling related thing I can make is that she was treated by the same nurse as me when I last fell off my bike and banged my head on the road.
She was feeling sorry for herself when we got home so I had to stay in, and I spent ages picking flints out of the tyres yesterday, bl**dy inconsiderate if you ask me (she's sat next to me as I am writing this, chuckling). The only cycling related thing I can make is that she was treated by the same nurse as me when I last fell off my bike and banged my head on the road.
I haven't been feeling too good, and not sleeping well for the past few days (and nights) so thought I would have a little run out on the roadbike today to see if I could shake it off. I should have stayed in bed. My chest feels like it has a jubilee clip round it that gets tighter as effort increases. Guess I have a cold. I cut my planned ride short and just did 12 miles around the lanes between Harlow and Epping.
arranandy
Legendary Member
45 miles this morning. Started out dry then after about 12 miles the rain came on 
After that it was head down, grin and bear it stuff. Cold, wet and windy. Roll on the 15th March when I go back to Mallorca again
After that it was head down, grin and bear it stuff. Cold, wet and windy. Roll on the 15th March when I go back to Mallorca again
D
Deleted member 23692
Guest
I've just come back for a few days in Notts visiting the relatives and managed to get a ride in 
There's a cracking set of bridleways, towpaths and old rail lines that have all been converted to make a wonderful network of off road routes, and it starts within 150m from my folks' house, where I can follow a bridleway out to Cossall and pick up the Nottingham Canal and follow that all the way up to Eastwood
Once at Eastwood it's a short road section up the bugger of a hill to Heanor and then a quick dodge through some back streets to pick up the bridleway that leads to, and through, Shipley Park eventually joining the Nutbrook Trail...
...which is followed to join the Erewash Canal...
...which leads easily through Sandicare, and Long Eaton ...
...to join the River Trent at Trent Lock.
A super track runs along the edge of the Trent as far as Beeston Marina where I took the Beeston Canal which heads for the centre of Nottingham
However I turned off at Dunkirk, and cut through a few side streets before crossing the University Campus and Wollaton Park, then it was just a few more side streets before reaching Sandy Lane LNR which is just a stones throw from my folks.
Total distance is 34 miles, of which around 3 miles in on road, and most of those are quite residential ones.
There's a cracking set of bridleways, towpaths and old rail lines that have all been converted to make a wonderful network of off road routes, and it starts within 150m from my folks' house
, where I can follow a bridleway out to Cossall and pick up the Nottingham Canal and follow that all the way up to EastwoodOnce at Eastwood it's a short road section up the bugger of a hill to Heanor and then a quick dodge through some back streets to pick up the bridleway that leads to, and through, Shipley Park eventually joining the Nutbrook Trail...
...which is followed to join the Erewash Canal...
...which leads easily through Sandicare, and Long Eaton ...
...to join the River Trent at Trent Lock.
A super track runs along the edge of the Trent as far as Beeston Marina where I took the Beeston Canal which heads for the centre of Nottingham
However I turned off at Dunkirk, and cut through a few side streets before crossing the University Campus and Wollaton Park, then it was just a few more side streets before reaching Sandy Lane LNR which is just a stones throw from my folks.
Total distance is 34 miles, of which around 3 miles in on road, and most of those are quite residential ones.
Glow worm
Legendary Member
- Location
- Near Newmarket
Return trip from a rare visit to London where I went yesterday - returning this morning. Couldn't face the underground so there was only one thing for it!
The start of the ride was a 70% circuit of Regent's Park which was lovely. Even saw a giraffe as I pootled past the zoo. A little further along I stopped to take a pic.
I enjoy cycling in London- and it's fantastic to see so many cyclists about the place. It is without question the best way to get about and I don't find drivers there any worse than anywhere else.
My only gripe is how difficult it is to retrace your steps sometimes due to all the one way streets. There's also loads of no left or right turns signs so I found myself getting off a lot and walking a bit and jumping back on again further along when I needed to turn left or right. If you don't know the place, it makes navigating quite tricky. I guess the locals probably have it all figured out. Anyways, after the park, it was left onto Euston Road
(ignoring yet another pointless 'no left turn' sign!) to head to King's Cross Station. Euston Road was a lot quieter than last night's gridlock when I had really needed my wits about me.
I love the red lines - though as a foreigner, I often wonder what the difference between a double yella and a single red could be. Luckily my choice of transport meant it will remain a mystery I'm not that concerned about!
A quick train journey to Cambridge and once free of the place, the contrast with Euston Road coudn't have been greater.
And relax.....the home straight in the Cambs /Suffolk border country
Only a 24 mile round trip, but a fun ride in great weather and a nice change of scene for me. Looking forward to some solitary fen riding tomorrow.
The start of the ride was a 70% circuit of Regent's Park which was lovely. Even saw a giraffe as I pootled past the zoo. A little further along I stopped to take a pic.
I enjoy cycling in London- and it's fantastic to see so many cyclists about the place. It is without question the best way to get about and I don't find drivers there any worse than anywhere else.
My only gripe is how difficult it is to retrace your steps sometimes due to all the one way streets. There's also loads of no left or right turns signs so I found myself getting off a lot and walking a bit and jumping back on again further along when I needed to turn left or right. If you don't know the place, it makes navigating quite tricky. I guess the locals probably have it all figured out. Anyways, after the park, it was left onto Euston Road
(ignoring yet another pointless 'no left turn' sign!) to head to King's Cross Station. Euston Road was a lot quieter than last night's gridlock when I had really needed my wits about me.I love the red lines - though as a foreigner, I often wonder what the difference between a double yella and a single red could be. Luckily my choice of transport meant it will remain a mystery I'm not that concerned about!
A quick train journey to Cambridge and once free of the place, the contrast with Euston Road coudn't have been greater.
And relax.....the home straight in the Cambs /Suffolk border country
Only a 24 mile round trip, but a fun ride in great weather and a nice change of scene for me. Looking forward to some solitary fen riding tomorrow.
Last edited:
Rob3rt
Man or Moose!
- Location
- Manchester
An "easy" ride over Skye Rd and Holme Moss to ease back in after 5 days off after the National HC. 5 days off and eating loads of biscuits and cake, takes its toll, I felt a bit sick going up Skye Rd and I wasn't pushing it at all, hah.
theloafer
Legendary Member
- Location
- newton aycliffe
not far today just from bike shop (1 1/2 mile) to pick up my boardman cx..had full service and bb7 fitted ..
mooseracer
Guru
- Location
- Nr Bristol
Yes it is, on the road from Sodbury to Wickwar, on the right as you go past the quarry.
So I'm told.
bikingdad90
Guru
Just a short 20 miler for me today not that it was easy or eventless.
Headed out through Hilton and Hutton Rudby to Roots Cafe, fighting a very strong side wind all the way there whilst dancing around the mud splattered country roads carefully picking the bits of unspoilt surface as best as possible. The challenge was made harder still due to the rubbish stock tyres on Triban 3 (rubbing tyres and rims into ground before upgrading). All these factors combined resulted in some hairy moments with the back end losing traction in a straight line a few times.
Feeling a bit crap and discouraged I felt like going home but no I caught sight of a local club and set off in pursuit of them at full pelt aiming to get some rest from their slip stream but no to my horror just as I was closing the gap they turned off. Huffing and panting and cursing I reached Hutton Rudby bank and instead of letting gravity do it's thing I decided to wuss out and tiptoe at a snails pace down it. Back up the other side I went continuing to battle with the wind until I made it to Roots.
I had pre-arranged to meet my wife a non cyclist (and baby son) in the cafe but once I took the lights of the bike and got myself sorted the drama continued. The phone buzzed; an answer phone message from my distraught wife. She had overshot the turning for Rounton and ended up in Thirsk!
After much waiting round and ogling of other bikes and their owners (Darlington tri club, a few mtb'ers and a fellow triban owner) we finally met up and enjoyed lunch, indulging in a full breakfast and scones with tea.
Just as we were leaving the weather closed in and it started chucking it down. "No problem" I thought "I don't mind getting wet" but no as I set off on the return leg my body started to shiver, my brakes got wet and became useless and to top it all off the wind switched direction to a cross wind meaning I had to really really concentrate on keeping the bike upright and control any slides that occurred.
Another slow 45 minutes later I made it home in one piece, soaked, frozen and frazzled like a drowned rat. Once all the usual cleaning and de clothing was complete I rewarded myself with a bath. While I thawed I reviewed my stats and contemplated my upgrades to the triban.
Ended up a happy bunny as I averaged 15.8mph over 22.3 miles and only took 1:24:16 to complete on a fairly hilly route. I even managed to break my previous high speed by 1mph on way home so it's now 28.4mph. Only another 1.6mph to go before the 30 sign on the flat in Hilton will flash at me. He he childish I know but pushing my gut, my calves and thighs to burning point to do it is fun and a way of burning off my reserves so that I can have a nice nap and that extra mars bars I crave but can't have as I am on slimming world with the missus.
Headed out through Hilton and Hutton Rudby to Roots Cafe, fighting a very strong side wind all the way there whilst dancing around the mud splattered country roads carefully picking the bits of unspoilt surface as best as possible. The challenge was made harder still due to the rubbish stock tyres on Triban 3 (rubbing tyres and rims into ground before upgrading). All these factors combined resulted in some hairy moments with the back end losing traction in a straight line a few times.
Feeling a bit crap and discouraged I felt like going home but no I caught sight of a local club and set off in pursuit of them at full pelt aiming to get some rest from their slip stream but no to my horror just as I was closing the gap they turned off. Huffing and panting and cursing I reached Hutton Rudby bank and instead of letting gravity do it's thing I decided to wuss out and tiptoe at a snails pace down it. Back up the other side I went continuing to battle with the wind until I made it to Roots.
I had pre-arranged to meet my wife a non cyclist (and baby son) in the cafe but once I took the lights of the bike and got myself sorted the drama continued. The phone buzzed; an answer phone message from my distraught wife. She had overshot the turning for Rounton and ended up in Thirsk!
After much waiting round and ogling of other bikes and their owners (Darlington tri club, a few mtb'ers and a fellow triban owner) we finally met up and enjoyed lunch, indulging in a full breakfast and scones with tea.
Just as we were leaving the weather closed in and it started chucking it down. "No problem" I thought "I don't mind getting wet" but no as I set off on the return leg my body started to shiver, my brakes got wet and became useless and to top it all off the wind switched direction to a cross wind meaning I had to really really concentrate on keeping the bike upright and control any slides that occurred.
Another slow 45 minutes later I made it home in one piece, soaked, frozen and frazzled like a drowned rat. Once all the usual cleaning and de clothing was complete I rewarded myself with a bath. While I thawed I reviewed my stats and contemplated my upgrades to the triban.
Ended up a happy bunny as I averaged 15.8mph over 22.3 miles and only took 1:24:16 to complete on a fairly hilly route. I even managed to break my previous high speed by 1mph on way home so it's now 28.4mph. Only another 1.6mph to go before the 30 sign on the flat in Hilton will flash at me. He he childish I know but pushing my gut, my calves and thighs to burning point to do it is fun and a way of burning off my reserves so that I can have a nice nap and that extra mars bars I crave but can't have as I am on slimming world with the missus.
Spartak
Powered by M&M's
- Location
- Bristolian
Another MTB ride today, out early to meet a mate at Ashton Court cafe ( great sausage bap & coffee ).
Couple of laps of off road stuff in Leigh Woods then home via the Bristol/Bath cycle path.
Even managed a 5th place on Strava for the 'Dramway Gravel Dash'
http://www.strava.com/segments/3070147
Couple of laps of off road stuff in Leigh Woods then home via the Bristol/Bath cycle path.
Even managed a 5th place on Strava for the 'Dramway Gravel Dash'
http://www.strava.com/segments/3070147
Hacienda71
Mancunian in self imposed exile in leafy Cheshire
- Location
- Wilmslow, Cheshire
69 miles with 4500ft of climbing for me today with @400bhp. We had decided to go for a flat ride across The Cheshire plain rather than up in the hills, which it wasn't quite. 
We met at Ashley at 7:30 am fully expecting to be rained on and headed off towards Biddulph, final destination the hamlet of Bagnall in Staffs in between Leek and Stoke. As we passed Congleton and headed over Biddulph Moor the wind picked up and I remembered that it wasn't all that flat around there. The small villages in that area are very picturesque even with the fog that had descended around us. We even had to cross a couple of fords which was a first for me on 23's but it went fine. We arrived at the cafe stop and consumed a large full English each
. I had a hot chocolate (deluxe of course) and ceremonially recorded it all for @potsy (see what you could have had 
)
Oh, the black pudding was hiding under the tomato.
We headed back through Tunstall where we were confronted by a small lake that had manifested itself across a road. 400bhp went first and promptly performed a near perfect head first dive into the said puddle. I was impressed by his casual check of the bike remount and continue on regardless. The motorist waiting on the other side of the flood seemed more concerned about his wellfare than he did. We then headed for the A50 to TT it back home with a nice tailwind. It was then that 400 bhp commented that one of his winter boots was saturated with water. I did contemplate asking if the aditional rotational weight was making accelaration harder than when his bottle had been full as a fixed mass earlier on in the ride and how Newtons laws of gravity would influence his thinking, but thought better of it.
Anyway the rest of the ride was hard fast and fairly uneventfull, although one point of note was that we had not been caught in a single shower
. 
To the BBC weather forecasters.
We met at Ashley at 7:30 am fully expecting to be rained on and headed off towards Biddulph, final destination the hamlet of Bagnall in Staffs in between Leek and Stoke. As we passed Congleton and headed over Biddulph Moor the wind picked up and I remembered that it wasn't all that flat around there. The small villages in that area are very picturesque even with the fog that had descended around us. We even had to cross a couple of fords which was a first for me on 23's but it went fine. We arrived at the cafe stop and consumed a large full English each . I had a hot chocolate (deluxe of course) and ceremonially recorded it all for @potsy (see what you could have had )Oh, the black pudding was hiding under the tomato.
We headed back through Tunstall where we were confronted by a small lake that had manifested itself across a road. 400bhp went first and promptly performed a near perfect head first dive into the said puddle. I was impressed by his casual check of the bike remount and continue on regardless. The motorist waiting on the other side of the flood seemed more concerned about his wellfare than he did. We then headed for the A50 to TT it back home with a nice tailwind. It was then that 400 bhp commented that one of his winter boots was saturated with water. I did contemplate asking if the aditional rotational weight was making accelaration harder than when his bottle had been full as a fixed mass earlier on in the ride and how Newtons laws of gravity would influence his thinking, but thought better of it.
Anyway the rest of the ride was hard fast and fairly uneventfull, although one point of note was that we had not been caught in a single shower
. To the BBC weather forecasters.
Last edited:
potsy
Rambler
- Location
- My Armchair
- Status
