Your ride today.... (part 1)

[sdr gb]

Managed to get out for a ride over to Marsden and back with a loop of a few local hills thrown in for good measure. The main aim of the ride was to try out my Christmas pressie, a Satmap Active 10 GPS unit.

The view from on top of the entrance to the Standedge tunnel

Derelict pub

My pressie

 

[derrick]

26 miles with the other half, was a nice ride although the sun was very low in the sky, made seeing where we were going a bit hard at times, Stopped of at Rochford cycles to change one of my other half presents, she was not keen on the gloves i bought her so she changed them for some over shoes to keep her feet warm. got home hot shower poached eggs on toast, what to do for the rest of the day.

 

[biggs682]

just a nice pre 8 am ride this morning dodging the frosted and icy bits of road , only doing 11 miles but it was enough , new gloves kept my fingers warm so thats good

 

[colly]

there is much to be done to achieve a fitness level which allows bike riding to be enjoyed again.

The sooner you start...........................

 

[alans]

The sooner you start...........................

the sooner I'll be cream-crackered

 

[Hacienda71]

46 what were supposed to be relaxed miles for me today. Started well, i.e I didn't miss the alarm going off despite the large amount of Belgium beer consumed the night before. Chose the right kit and was nice and toasty despite the temperature lingering at about 2/3 degrees. Set off to meet 400bhp and Lymm Looper at Ashley crossroads. As I came through the second airport tunnel, I noticed a slight frost lingering on the cycle lane. I was glad I did see it as I took the corner onto Mill Lane rather gingerly. It was at this point that I did a remarkable impression of one of the Belle Vue Aces speedway team letting my rear wheel drift out at the back so it was almost level with the front. Of course being a cyclchatter, I avoided a tarmac interaction with style grace and definitely did not mutter any profanities under my breath, honest . I then slowly rolled down the hill into the river valley and being confident the ice had passed I got out of the saddle to attack the hill out of the valley only to instantly sit back down again as the rear wheel displayed a total lack of traction. Met the others at the RV and continued. We headed out past Northwhich and Middlewich. The majority of the roads were icey and ungritted so most of the ride was done at a slightly cautious pace.
I was able at one point to startle an unsuspecting buzzard that had landed in the middle of the road by shouting "Oi Buzzard buzz off" It looked less than impressed with me as it flew off.
We arrived at the Cafe stop at Jodrell Bank for what I am growing convinced is one of the best bacon Butties in Cheshire.
Potsy would be proud!

Then after the stop a leisurley ride with a slight tailwind along the lanes to Wilmslow. As always a good ride with good company.

 

[gavgav]

Due to lllness, raging toothache, the weather, Xmas stuff, etc, I hadn't been out for a ride since 9th November and so with the wind finally relenting I got out today . I layered up and headed out in lovely through the estate and down the old canal path by the River Severn. The river is spilling out of it's banks and the gravel path was very wet and muddy and covered in a slimy mulch and various branches brought down by the wind yesterday, so felt quite slippy under the wheels. Approaching the road at Uffington I encountered a fallen tree, but someone has kindly cut enough of a gap in it that the path remains open and passable.

I was glad to get out onto the road at Uffington and I headed to Upton Magna. The legs felt a bit lethargic to start with, but they had warmed up by now and it was great to be out again finally! I continued to follow the National Cycle Route 81 down through Withington and then I turned left and through a couple of floods up to Rodington Heath, looping around to Rodington and back to Rodington Heath, to begin the climb back to Upton Magna.

This road is quite narrow and heading around one bend I encountered White Van Man, going a bit too fast and he braked and skidded on the very muddy road, glancing the bank as he passed me (remember this chap, he will appear again shortly!!).

I climbed up the bank, legs were feeling it a little by now due to no cycling for a while, but I was making good progress until I met a car on the narrowest bit . I stopped to let him through and suddenly there was a screech of tyres behind me as..........yes you've guessed it, White Van Man skidded to a halt behind me!! I cycled past the car and left the 2 of them to sort out how they were going to pass each other. I continued onwards for about 5 minutes and pulled in to let a horse box pass me from the opposite direction, just as White Van Man appeared behind me, going a bit slower now funnily enough!! I waited in the pull in for him to pull away and he did, just as another car came towards us, so he had to back into the pull in again! I let him pull away again and he wound his window down, so I was ready for him to provide a volley of abuse at me, but.......NO! He was laughing his head off and we had a pleasant exchange about him having about 4 goes to pass me in the past 10 minutes! (Note to self, don't always judge a book by its cover).

I continued back into Upton Magna and retraced my steps to Uffington, being passed from the opposite direction in cars by Darren Jones (Centre back for Shrewsbury Town FC) and then a policeman. I hope he wasn't chasing Darren down to arrest him for impersonating a footballer!!

I was passing through Uffington and guess who was reversing out of a driveway near the pub......yes you've guessed it, White Van Man again!!!!! He passed me much easier this time, as it's a bigger road and he gave me loads of room and a cheerful wave .

I returned along the old canal path and came across a horse using the bridleway, which is the 1st time I've seen one along there. I knew they used it often though, from the amount of horse muck I frequently encounter . It was back through the estate and I almost got wiped out by a moped on my side of the road. He was looking directly into the bright sunlight, which was making the damp roads glare as well and so I am prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt.

An enjoyable ride, encountered lots of cyclists and dog walkers who were all willing to say hello. Perhaps Christmas has done everyone a bit of good and cheered them up

17.17 miles, avg speed 11.0 mph

 

[arranandy]

55 miles with over 3000 feet of uphill this morning. Headed out to Strathaven and then came back home via the Ardochrig climb then a detour round EK and then it was downhill all the way home via Bothwell and Strathclyde Park. Quite windy at times but the rain stayed off

 

[coffeejo]

45 miles today, longest ride for a while. Started cold, warmed up, got colder, warmed up, got colder ... you get the picture.

Note to self for future reference: it's all very well unzipping your jacket for the climbs because you're getting too hot but don't leave it open for the 30+mph descent or you will be in real danger of quite literally freezing your chesticles off.

 

[tug benson]

nHeaded up sheriffmuir today, maybe the last time this year...the wind seemed to be howling in every direction...really wet roads in central Scotland today, should be a bit better weather tomorrow, will see how hungover i am, i might hit Dunning hill tomorrow

I`ve not had any long rides in a while, just keeping myself ticking over

my ride today

http://www.strava.com/activities/102358425

 

[Glow worm]

A sparkling day here in the flatlands. Managed to combine a routine shopping trip to Burwell with a saunter across familiar territory out on the Fen. Only took one picture- this is Burwell Lode from the newish cycle bridge.

On the bridge I met up with another regular along this route who I hadn't seen for some weeks, so I was pleased to catch up. As we stood there hoping to see owls (we didn't), a few cyclists passed by and stopped for a chat.

Headed home via Reach to watch the large flock of starlings form mind bending shapes in the sky as they came in to roost. Sadly the spectacle is also drawing an awful lot of cars to the area. Watching the birds, I had the Norwich game on the portable radio (low volume) and a member of the wheeled cage brigade asked me ridiculously if the sound put starlings off their display. I somehow managed to resist suggesting that dragging two tons of filthy metal onto a nature reserve may have slightly more effect than a barely audible Radio Norfolk. I sometimes wish I was a lot less polite!

Whizzing past the array of idiotically parked cars I then headed for home as night fell- only 13 miles in 3 hours or so today.

 

[Saluki]

I rode from home to the hospital again this evening. It was 8.33 miles and took me 37:29 which is a couple of mins slower than boxing day. Then again on boxing day it was broad daylight and not frosty.
The cycle paths and roads were not too bad until I got to the end of the Hethersett Road at Thickthorn, the cyclepath under the A47 was OK but then I went on the cyclepath that runs parallel with the A11 (behind some big hedges) and it was as icy as anything. I could feel my back wheel sliding about so decided that discretion was the better part of valour and crept along that bit at about 7mph in case I fell off. I figured it was better to hit the deck at 7mph than 15mph.
Just as I was approaching that bit of cycle path, I saw 4 little rabbits crossing the road ahead of me and darting into the bushes. Naughty bunnies had RLJ'd and everything, but they got across safely.
The last bit was really quiet, the road from the A11 to the hospital was deserted, I saw no cars and the street lights appeared to have died too. It was lovely cycling through the silent dark. I was quite disappointed to get to Hubby's car in the layby he waits at. I could have ridden a couple more miles as I was nice and warm by then. I think that I am getting a bit of fitness back.

 

[PeteXXX]

Work this afternoon, but couldn't stay in on a lovely morning like this!
Only a short ride, but lovely and peaceful. Just the sound of birds and ice crunching 'neath the wheels!

I rode a local loop across Overstone Manor and past the lakes then back home.
These are the (occupied) old stables,

Very posh....

And this is the boarded up and dilapidated old Manor House nearby (occupied, in part, by a religious sect.)

I rode back through Court Farm woods and through Overstone Park where I was surprised no-one was swimming in the Open Air pool!!!

If only I'd had the time and a pair of Speedo's. Never mind, next time...

Oh well, lunch and work again I suppose..

Only 7 and a half miles, but really nice to get out.

http://www.strava.com/activities/102544027

 

[colly]

First after Christmas ride. It was a lovely sunny morning, kind of breezy and not too cold.
I couldn't make my mind up on which way to go so went with it and let the route take care of itself. It was still a slog though and now my throat is feeling sore so maybe I'm getting the lurgi. 34 miles with about 2000ft of climbing.

http://app.strava.com/activities/102556163
http://ridewithgps.com/trips/2111201

 

[Justiffa]

Would like to share another community ride i did with my buddies recently. It was in Putrajaya, malaysia's seat of government and again it was to create better awareness of healthy lifestyle options.

After the ride, we all hung around for the lucky draw…. but as usual lady luck wasnt anywhere in sight.

Here u see me, the roadie chick with my friend, the mtb queen lol