Your ride today.... (part 1)

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

just a couple of rides today - out to my mum & step-father's to help them collect a mobility scooter for my step-father who was discharged from hospital on Monday without a hip joint (the temporary hip joint that went in after he got a massive infection, snapped and won't get replaced until January at the earliest). So out to Alsager & back. Luckily I left early so had plenty of time to deal with the hold ups through Northwich - not sure what was going on, but it could have been 'rush hour', then onwards to country lanes and back roads and the sun came out. Colder this morning than coming home. Some how managed to miss all of the rain on the way home despite one of those 'I'm going to get soaked' feeling - must have missed it by meters... kept coming across places that were covered in puddles but I got lucky - needed it (ribs are sore from the mtb fall at the weekend). Had to stop part way home and change my "see with" front light because it was down to 30 mins runtime and I have +45 mins of cycling unlit roads left, but luckily my OH was not cycling to work today and I had already thought about life and made sure his 'see with' light was in my rear pocket for an easy switch over. Think Christmas present will have to be an additional battery pack for it! Anyhow, step father is now 'mobile' again with his mobility scooter and I have covered the 69km sloooooowwwwwllllllyyyyyyyyyy...(20 mins slower than the last time I did it, but I was fitter then, not nursing bruised ribs and it wasn't dark last time either!) Out http://www.strava.com/activities/98637524 Home http://www.strava.com/activities/98637525
(sorry no pictures - cloudy and cold on the way out and coming home it went dark on me and I missed the 'sunset' not that there was much of one tonight)

 

[coffeejo]

(sorry no pictures - cloudy and cold on the way out and coming home it went dark on me and I missed the 'sunset' not that there was much of one tonight)

Tsk.

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

It was out, if a little cold, so I couldn't miss the opportunity to get in some more miles. A hilly route this time: over Lyth Hill and though Exfords Green to Oaks. Round the back way to Pulverbatch, then to Wilderley. For a change I then headed to Leebotwood before heading back via Longnor and Condover.

This was a slower ride than usual as not having done the miles lately the legs were pretty tired from yesterday.

It was pretty uneventful up to Oaks, where I completely failed to spook a horse & the rider greeted me politely. The two climbs en route to Pulverbatch followed where there was a great view to Eastridge Woods seeming to glow in the low sunshine. I took a photo but it hasn't captured the look of it at all.

The narrow lanes through Wilderley followed, where I only met a couple of vehicles: a big Merc 4x4 which I needed to squeeze into the hedge to let through (got a thankyou though) and a Parcel Force van who I met on a blind corner. We both had to do sudden stops - my wheels scrabbling for grip on the loose and muddy surface while his just locked and he slid into the bank, stopping with the driver's door alongside me and a shocked look on the driver's face. No doubt he's now telling his mates about these cyclists who tear around the lanes at breakneck speed forcing bigger vehicles off the road.

The route down into Leebotwood was nice and has some great views (I shall have to head that way a bit more often) before I turned towards Longnor and the road home.

23 miles this time at a not very quick 10.8 mph average.

Looking from Lyth Hill to the Wrekin, Ironbridge Gorge and Wenlock Edge.

Up at Oaks and it's nice to have some sunshine to make the most of the autumn colour.

Between Smethcote and Walkmills on the way to Leebotwood with the setting sun lighting up The Lawley and Caer Caradoc.

At the junction for Longnor. (apologies about the spots appearing in the sky. I think some dust has got inside the camera)

 

[welsh dragon]

It was out, if a little cold, so I couldn't miss the opportunity to get in some more miles. A hilly route this time: over Lyth Hill and though Exfords Green to Oaks. Round the back way to Pulverbatch, then to Wilderley. For a change I then headed to Leebotwood before heading back via Longnor and Condover.

This was a slower ride than usual as not having done the miles lately the legs were pretty tired from yesterday.

It was pretty uneventful up to Oaks, where I completely failed to spook a horse & the rider greeted me politely. The two climbs en route to Pulverbatch followed where there was a great view to Eastridge Woods seeming to glow in the low sunshine. I took a photo but it hasn't captured the look of it at all.

The narrow lanes through Wilderley followed, where I only met a couple of vehicles: a big Merc 4x4 which I needed to squeeze into the hedge to let through (got a thankyou though) and a Parcel Force van who I met on a blind corner. We both had to do sudden stops - my wheels scrabbling for grip on the loose and muddy surface while his just locked and he slid into the bank, stopping with the driver's door alongside me and a shocked look on the driver's face. No doubt he's now telling his mates about these cyclists who tear around the lanes at breakneck speed forcing bigger vehicles off the road.

The route down into Leebotwood was nice and has some great views (I shall have to head that way a bit more often) before I turned towards Longnor and the road home.

23 miles this time at a not very quick 10.8 mph average.

View attachment 33608
Looking from Lyth Hill to the Wrekin, Ironbridge Gorge and Wenlock Edge.

View attachment 33609
Up at Oaks and it's nice to have some sunshine to make the most of the autumn colour.

View attachment 33610
Between Smethcote and Walkmills on the way to Leebotwood with the setting sun lighting up The Lawley and Caer Caradoc.

View attachment 33611
At the junction for Longnor.

Nice pics as usual phil. Thanks

 

[totallyfixed]

Bah! Rickshaw Phil wins the prize for best pic of an Oak tree, I might have matched that but by the time I got home the sun was only just above the horizon and the temp was falling. Did I really want to go out on the bike after hard physical work? Damn right I did.
My favourite time of day is when the light begins to fade and the autumn sun is flooding the landscape with horizontal rays that breathe fire into the mundane and infuse objects with a warm orange glow that contrasts starkly with the deep shadows.
As the sun slips out of sight the trees become sharply silhouetted, black against the yellow, pink, oranges and purple hues of the few small clouds. Above all this as often as not silver white slashes marking the passage of jets are writ long across the sky.

About this time I often see Barn owls silently patrolling the hedgerows, I think photographing one of those has to be my next challenge, we will see.
I only wish that I had a camera that could capture what I can see, this was on the camera phone which is fine for daylight shots but struggles when the light fades.
I have a Sony cyber-shot compact that ought to do better so will give that a go next time.

 

[potsy]

Bah! Rickshaw Phil wins the prize for best pic of an Oak tree, I might have matched that but by the time I got home the sun was only just above the horizon and the temp was falling. Did I really want to go out on the bike after hard physical work? Damn right I did.
My favourite time of day is when the light begins to fade and the autumn sun is flooding the landscape with horizontal rays that breathe fire into the mundane and infuse objects with a warm orange glow that contrasts starkly with the deep shadows.
As the sun slips out of sight the trees become sharply silhouetted, black against the yellow, pink, oranges and purple hues of the few small clouds. Above all this as often as not silver white slashes marking the passage of jets are writ long across the sky.

About this time I often see Barn owls silently patrolling the hedgerows, I think photographing one of those has to be my next challenge, we will see.
I only wish that I had a camera that could capture what I can see, this was on the camera phone which is fine for daylight shots but struggles when the light fades.
I have a Sony cyber-shot compact that ought to do better so will give that a go next time.

You don't get views like that on a turbo

 

[Hill Wimp]

Fantastic photos chaps

 

[derrick]

Nice 20 miles this evening, 4 of us from the club thought we would get a few miles in, was a bit round the houses but we found a few hills, nice ride good company what more do we need.
A nice hot shower when i got back home.

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

Rode out into the Vale of Evesham today with two pals. Sun came out and with no wind it was about as ideal as it could be in December. We took a couple of detoury loops off standard roads just for a change. The cafe at Fladbury is now a regular for us after many years of "cyclists not welcome". Good ride, good company and good fun. "What's not to like?"

 

[Hacienda71]

28 miles on the MTB for me this morning.
Best summarised as follows:
Early start.
Nasty dog walkers.
Nice dog walkers.
Nice ramblers.
Muddy crash.
Teggs Nose.
Rocks.
Mud.
Mud spatter everywhere.
Water.
Cat and Fiddle.
Great views.
Great company.
Lots of hills.
Technical descents.
Painful wrist.
Macc Forest.
Looney downhill orange graded downhill no way!
Smile on face.

Or in Pictures:

 

[HLaB]

Went out to test my new light (Cateye Volt 300) tonight to get an idea of how it performed on its own on country lanes and it done very well. Its brighter than I thought and the beam spread is good too (I could clearly see the edge of the road, verges and hedges. It was charged up fully for yesterdays ride of more than 2 hours (at a guess it was on hyper flash for a 1/6 of the time and the rest was on solid (may or may not have been the highest setting though ) for over 1hour 50mins, and it lasted over 2 hours on the highest setting tonight before the low battery indicator came on. Over an hour and 3/4's later despite the low battery indicator, its still producing a beam I'd be more than happy with and its only just went out now

 

[ColinJ]

I did my 4 mile 'blood test walk' this morning. Once again, the sun came out as I walked home and I decided to get the bike out. I should have done it straight away but got distracted by the computer for an hour or so, and by the time I got ready to go out it had started raining. I waited for that to finish then went to get my Basso and discovered that the back tyre was flat. I felt my motivation ebbing away so I made a snap decision to go out on my Cannondale instead before I changed my mind.

I changed my mind 3 times about where I was going to go. I decided in the end to do something a bit different so I set off on the main road towards Tormorden, eventually turning left up Woodhouse Road. It is a nice little lane which crosses the Rochdale canal by a canalside mill which has been turned into luxury flats. It climbs up to Lumbutts Road, steepening as it does so.

I turned right on Lumbutts Road and continued climbing up to The Shepherd's Rest. From there it is a quick run down to Walsden, between Todmorden and Littleborough.

I whizzed along the main road and could tell that I would be getting a cross/tailwind on the climb to Blackstone Edge. That would come in handy because the Cannondale's lowest gear is 45% higher than what I am used to on my Basso.

It has been a couple of years since I rode up that climb. The council have painted a cycle lane on the road since then. I didn't think it would make much difference but I did actually find that drivers were taking notice of it and passing me with at least 4 feet to spare. I watched them as they drove on up the climb and they stayed out in their part of the road and did not encroach on the cycle lane. There is a bend on the steepest part of the climb which used to be a bit dicey in traffic. Even fit riders are going a lot slower than motor traffic up there and vehicles used to pass way too close, way too fast. The road has been widened there and a short stretch of segregated cyclepath laid with a kerb to enforce it. I think it is a very sensible design and felt much safer.

Here's a picture taken from just below the White House pub at the summit, looking back down the hill towards Littleborough and Hollingworth Lake.

I had intended to turn left at the top and ride down through Cragg Vale but the sun had come out again so I decided to make the most of it and go back my usual way - towards Ripponden, left down Blue Ball Lane, then over the network of hilly lanes back to Mytholmroyd, and the Calder Valley Cycleway back to Hebden Bridge..

The sun didn't last long! There was a brief fall of hail, then some spots of rain, then the wind picked up.

I stopped to take one more photo. It doesn't show up very well in the picture, but the Emley Moor Yorkshire TV transmitter was clearly visible in the distance.

That came to 40 km/25 miles, with a few big lumps to get over.

I would like a couple of lower gears on the Cannondale, but its stiffness and lower weight does make it a nice bike to climb on. I should be ok on it on most hills once I lose my final stone of flab, and get some fitness back.

 

[Justiffa]

My ride last nite… about 30km fun ride with one of my cycling groups *i am blessed with many in my area* and on the menu was a lot of hills weehoooo. i got dropped a lot but i dont mind, the sweat i worked up made me feel real good. we finished around midnite, lucky thing no one turned into werewolves hehehehe

 

[Hill Wimp]

Some very atmospheric pictures today

 

[skudupnorth]

Did the usual Volunteer run to Styal and back yesterday which was 20 miles out and 24 back using the scenic countryside route. Road got squelchy towards Lymm and once I got home I found out it was not mud on the road but the smelly stuff that comes out of cows coverin my MTB ! Must buy some new lights so I can see what I am riding through