Your ride today.... (part 1)

[Old Plodder]

Good to see (nearly) everyone getting out & enjoying our first bit of decent weather, & some nice pics too.

 

[coffeejo]

No coffee stop pics though. Tsk.

 

[Peteaud]

No coffee stop pics though. Tsk.

It has been noted for my (hopeful) Wednesday ride.

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

I'm back from the lakes. As promised by @gavgav there are plenty of photos from there and I've put them and the ride write ups in the Lakes Holiday thread I started last summer: LINK

I can't believe the contrast in the weather between here and Coniston (I needed thermal layers for our last ride), so had to get out early and enjoy the with a ride to Bridgnorth today.

The route was my usual out to Acton Burnell, then Cressage, Much Wenlock and the quieter way into Bridgnorth. After a lunch break watching the trains at the Severn Valley Railway I followed the old railway path to Coalport, Jackfield and Ironbridge before returning to Cressage and retracing my steps home.

As well as the sun I liked the warmth - although I started out with a fleece on, by the time I was climbing Wenlock Edge it was warm enough for short sleeves and later in the day I could probably have done with shorts.

Wenlock to Bridgnorth was on a route I hadn't ridden before and although it was hillier than I'd have liked (unavoidable round that part of the county) there were some nice fast descents (32mph on the knockabout bike )

The sun had brought out loads of other cyclists - mostly on road bikes and they all seemed pretty friendly. One chap shouted something as I passed but I completely missed it - probably about the yellow T-shirt I was wearing. It's not a replica jersey, just a bright shirt the motorists can see.

At Bridgnorth I did a bit of sightseeing round the town (it's a lovely town centre but I find the outer parts of town more than usually drab, which it doesn't deserve) before dropping to the railway station. on the way I suffered my closest pass for a while and am sorry to say I kicked out at the car as it was that close - just missed it which saves me from a law suit I suppose.

Trains watched and lunch consumed I headed across town towards the path along the old track bed. I nearly wiped out a youngster on a mountain bike who shot out from a junction without looking.

The railway path is great but has become rather potholed since I last rode it. Still, it's about 6 miles without traffic which is worth the rough stuff. It did get worse unfortunately - beyond Coalport mud was added to the mix, and I thought the bike was dirty after the lakes rides.

After Ironbridge I found myself flagging. So much so that when a rider on a similar style of bike passed me I couldn't do anything to catch up again. I'm going to blame the legs being tired from The Lakes.

54.2 miles and I managed to average 12.3 mph which I'm fairly happy with.

A nice display of croci at Concord College.

Much Wenlock - famous for being the birthplace of the modern Olympic Games.

North Gate at Bridgnorth.

The market hall at Bridgnorth.

The remains of Bridgnorth Castle. The tower leans at an angle 3 times steeper than the tower at Pisa.

"The Flying Pig" being run around its train. (the name isn't official by the way)

On the way to Ironbridge now and looking across the river at Apley Park - this is the house that P.G. Wodehouse based Blandings Castle on.

The old railway station at Apley Forge.

One of Shropshire's best known sights - Abraham Darby's Iron Bridge.

On the way back to Cressage - these turns in the River Severn are known as Leighton Bends.

 

[welsh dragon]

I'm back from the lakes. As promised by @gavgav there are plenty of photos from there and I've put them and the ride write ups in the Lakes Holiday thread I started last summer: LINK

I can't believe the contrast in the weather between here and Coniston, so had to get out early and enjoy the with a ride to Bridgnorth today.

The route was my usual out to Acton Burnell, then Cressage, Much Wenlock and the quieter way into Bridgnorth. After a lunch break watching the trains at the Severn Valley Railway I followed the old railway path to Coalport, Jackfield and Ironbridge before returning to Cressage and retracing my steps home.

As well as the sun I liked the warmth - although I started out with a fleece on, by the time I was climbing Wenlock Edge it was warm enough for short sleeves and later in the day I could probably have done with shorts.

Wenlock to Bridgnorth was on a route I hadn't ridden before and although it was hillier than I'd have liked (unavoidable round that part of the county) there were some nice fast descents (32mph on the knockabout bike )

The sun had brought out loads of other cyclists - mostly on road bikes but they all seemed pretty friendly. One chap shouted something as I passed but I completely missed it - probably about the yellow T-shirt I was wearing. It's not a replica jersey, just a bright shirt the motorists can see.

At Bridgnorth I did a bit of sightseeing round the town (it's a lovely town centre but I find the outer parts of town more than usually drab, which it doesn't deserve) before dropping to the railway station. on the way I suffered my closest pass for a while and am sorry to say I kicked out at the car as it was that close - just missed it which saves me from a law suit I suppose.

Trains watched and lunch consumed I headed across town towards the path along the old track bed. I nearly wiped out a youngster on a mountain bike who shot out from a junction without looking.

The railway path is great but has become rather potholed since I last rode it. Still, it's about 6 miles without traffic which is worth the rough stuff. It did get worse unfortunately - beyond Coalport mud was added to the mix, and I thought the bike was dirty after the lakes rides.

After Ironbridge I found myself flagging. So much so that when a rider on a similar style of bike passed me I couldn't do anything to catch up again. I'm going to blame the legs being tired from The Lakes.

54.2 miles and I managed to average 12.3 mph which I'm fairly happy with.

View attachment 39543 A nice display of croci at Concord College.

View attachment 39553 Much Wenlock - famous for being the home of the modern Olympic Games.

View attachment 39545 North Gate at Bridgnorth.

View attachment 39546
The market hall at Bridgnorth.

View attachment 39547
The remains of Bridgnorth Castle. The tower leans at an angle 3 times steeper than the tower at Pisa.

View attachment 39548 "The Flying Pig" being run around its train. (the name isn't official by the way)

View attachment 39549 On the way to Ironbridge now and looking across the river at Apley Park - this is the house that P.G. Wodehouse based Blandings Castle on.

View attachment 39550
The old railway station at Apley Forge.

View attachment 39551 One of Shropshire's best known sights - Abraham Darby's Iron Bridge.

View attachment 39552 On the way back to Cressage - these turns in the River Severn are known as Leighton Bends.

Fantastic photos phil. Excellent

 

[mcshroom]

Sixty seven miles from Aldborough St John to Ripon and back on the Ripon Canter Audax. The outward leg had a head wind all of the way out. @mcshroom was just arriving to sign in as I'd set off and I was disconcerted to arrive at the half way control point with no sign of him. He rooled up a few minutes later have indulged in some sight seeing on the way. I too had stop off at Leeming to have a quick peek at the preserved railway where I saw a prototype rail bus - literally a bus body on a railway undercarriage.

Village pump at Brompton on Swale

Prototype Leyland Railbus

Sean Gregory Snr of YACF also arrived after me and the pair of us decided to return along the outward leg as we reckon it would be less hilly than the official outward leg. How right we were we had time to stop off and have a MacDonalds and still get back to base ten or so minutes before mcshroom and much earlier than I did when I did the ride last year.

A grand day out.

It was good to see you yesterday @vernon and that's a good picture of the Railbus there

We were on a leisurely ride, and Ruth hadn't ridden that far for a while so slow and steady was the order of the day yesterday. Riding down to Ripon started grey, cool and windy (of the head wind variety) which was not quite as pleasant as I would have liked, but as we headed south it started getting warmer and sunnier. That part of North Yorkshire is one of the prettiest areas of cycling I've ridden in, and it was nice to see it in sunshine after the weather on last years ride

After stopping to watch the new baby lambs running around in a field with their mums, and looking at the primroses and daffodils starting to flower on the roadside we rolled into the halfway stop.

The way back was hillier on the suggested route, but had some stunning views out towards the eastern Pennines, and we steadily made our way north in the sunshine and into the sunset, watching a pink-purple haze set on the horizon. as we rode along the last couple kms back into Aldbrough. All in all a good day out

 

[toptom]

Sunday ride with @jayonabike to Epping and back in nice warm and sunny weather. Hemel Hempstead St Albans Colney Heath Broxbourne Epping Forest stopped for lunch in Epping then home 83 miles really good weekend on the bike 137 miles over the weekend

 

[gbb]

A nice simple 20 miles in glorious sunshine for this time of year. No dramas, just good to be out there.

 

[vernon]

I'm back from the lakes. As promised by @gavgav there are plenty of photos from there and I've put them and the ride write ups in the Lakes Holiday thread I started last summer: LINK

I can't believe the contrast in the weather between here and Coniston (I needed thermal layers for our last ride), so had to get out early and enjoy the with a ride to Bridgnorth today.

The route was my usual out to Acton Burnell, then Cressage, Much Wenlock and the quieter way into Bridgnorth. After a lunch break watching the trains at the Severn Valley Railway I followed the old railway path to Coalport, Jackfield and Ironbridge before returning to Cressage and retracing my steps home.

As well as the sun I liked the warmth - although I started out with a fleece on, by the time I was climbing Wenlock Edge it was warm enough for short sleeves and later in the day I could probably have done with shorts.

Wenlock to Bridgnorth was on a route I hadn't ridden before and although it was hillier than I'd have liked (unavoidable round that part of the county) there were some nice fast descents (32mph on the knockabout bike )

The sun had brought out loads of other cyclists - mostly on road bikes and they all seemed pretty friendly. One chap shouted something as I passed but I completely missed it - probably about the yellow T-shirt I was wearing. It's not a replica jersey, just a bright shirt the motorists can see.

At Bridgnorth I did a bit of sightseeing round the town (it's a lovely town centre but I find the outer parts of town more than usually drab, which it doesn't deserve) before dropping to the railway station. on the way I suffered my closest pass for a while and am sorry to say I kicked out at the car as it was that close - just missed it which saves me from a law suit I suppose.

Trains watched and lunch consumed I headed across town towards the path along the old track bed. I nearly wiped out a youngster on a mountain bike who shot out from a junction without looking.

The railway path is great but has become rather potholed since I last rode it. Still, it's about 6 miles without traffic which is worth the rough stuff. It did get worse unfortunately - beyond Coalport mud was added to the mix, and I thought the bike was dirty after the lakes rides.

After Ironbridge I found myself flagging. So much so that when a rider on a similar style of bike passed me I couldn't do anything to catch up again. I'm going to blame the legs being tired from The Lakes.

54.2 miles and I managed to average 12.3 mph which I'm fairly happy with.

View attachment 39543 A nice display of croci at Concord College.

View attachment 39553 Much Wenlock - famous for being the birthplace of the modern Olympic Games.

View attachment 39545 North Gate at Bridgnorth.

View attachment 39546
The market hall at Bridgnorth.

View attachment 39547
The remains of Bridgnorth Castle. The tower leans at an angle 3 times steeper than the tower at Pisa.

View attachment 39548 "The Flying Pig" being run around its train. (the name isn't official by the way)

View attachment 39549 On the way to Ironbridge now and looking across the river at Apley Park - this is the house that P.G. Wodehouse based Blandings Castle on.

View attachment 39550
The old railway station at Apley Forge.

View attachment 39551 One of Shropshire's best known sights - Abraham Darby's Iron Bridge.

View attachment 39552 On the way back to Cressage - these turns in the River Severn are known as Leighton Bends.

I now know where I'm going cycle camping at Easter....

 

[robjh]

About 11 miles out and 15 back, to help out with marshaling at a road race near Cambridge. My earliest start so far this year, I was on the road at 6.45 am. and it was marvellous, the sun just coming up and cutting through the light dawn mist. Three of us then stood and chatted in the morning sunshine for 3 hours, just having to step out and wave flags once every 30 minutes. This was all topped off by some cake and a sociable ride back towards home with one of the other club members. The temp was up to 17 degrees C by this time, and altogether it was a pretty good way to spend a Sunday morning.

 

[ianrauk]

What to wear? What to wear? This was going round in my head all bloody night. I hung up ready to wear - two kits. Kit number 1: 3/4 bibs and long sleeve Merino Jersey. Kit number 2: Bib shorts and short sleeve jersey. I would make a decision in the morning. The weather report was for warm and sunny.

Morning came, 6.30am. The sky is blue, not a cloud in the sky and the sun making a grand entrance. But it was chilly 6degs. Oh gawd, what to do? Bollocks, the weather report for later is for very warm. Okey Dokey, shorts and short sleeves it was, with the addition of a pair of arm warmers.

So out on the road at 7.15 to meet Misters @rb58 and @martint235 at the usual meeting point at the top of the Kent ridge at Pollhill. We had 45 minutes to get to Tonbridge to meet @young Ed , his inaugural Cycle Chat ride.

From Pollhill it's a great descent down into Riverhead, Sevenoaks, but it does mean that it's a fair old slog up to Sevenoaks Knole. And then a rapid, long descent down Hildenborough to Tonbridge. Now this descent was where the arm warmers came into their own.

We rolled into Tombridge bang on time to meet Young Ed, pleasantries exchanged and we were on our way, to Ashford, dropping Young Ed off near his village of Brethersdon.

By now my choice of clothing proved to be the correct one and it wasn't long before the armwarmers come off. It was turning into a wonderful, warm, sunny day.

The majority of our riding today was on country lanes and being a sunday there was very little vehicular traffic and a good few other cyclists out enjoying the weather and putting some miles in.

LongMartin, in his LEL Jersey... Did you know he did LEL?

LongMartin and rb58 disappearing into the distance.

And with Young Ed following

and leading the way

25 miles after picking up Ed, we left him near his home village whilst we carried on the few extra miles to Ashford.

More quiet country lanes

And strange symmetrical woodlands (there are 1000's of these trees, all in rows)

So Ashford Station Cafe, food and drink...though I was a little upset that upon opening the KitKat, I found it to be white chocolate, what the hell is that about.. oh well... gobbles it up anyway. The Brownie was saved for the ride home.

Saw this poor forlorn contraption.... but hey.. at least the saddle will be dry

So a lovely ride today, it got even warmer for the return journey home, but not too hot as to be uncomfortable.
102 miles, Century # 5 for the year and Century # 110 over all.
Great to be out in the glorious weather and really nice to meet Young Ed, hope he enjoyed his ride with us..

 

[Doyleyburger]

Hadn't planned on going riding today as I'm off on a 70 miler with a friend tomorrow but had a text last night from an extremely experienced cyclist who lives just down the road and he kindly offered me to join him on a 25 miler. Would be a good experience for me to cycle with him as he would certainly challenge me in terms of me keeping up !
25 miles turned into 30 and 30 then turned into a total of 42 which was fine as it was a scorcher of a day. Kept up really well and got a KOM along the way. Very pleased !
No pictures today but hopefully get some on my route tomorrow
Happy days !!!

 

[Donger]

Gotta love the spring. What cracking weather near Malvern today, and lovely to see so many other cyclists out and about. But did anyone else notice all the hoardes of people up on top of the Malverns? Was there a charity walk on or had word got around that someone had dropped a £100 note? Every time I looked there were never less than 50-60 silhouettes on the skyline at any one time. Looked like the filmset of "Zulu"!

p.s. What I learned today: Always check whether there's anything on at the Three Counties Showground before going anywhere near there. Otherwise there can be way too much traffic for a nice ride.

 

[Dave 123]

About 11 miles out and 15 back, to help out with marshaling at a road race near Cambridge. My earliest start so far this year, I was on the road at 6.45 am. and it was marvellous, the sun just coming up and cutting through the light dawn mist. Three of us then stood and chatted in the morning sunshine for 3 hours, just having to step out and wave flags once every 30 minutes. This was all topped off by some cake and a sociable ride back towards home with one of the other club members. The temp was up to 17 degrees C by this time, and altogether it was a pretty good way to spend a Sunday morning.

View attachment 39559

So this was the race I was part of for a mile or so?
I loved the motorcycle escort. Can you do it again please?

 

[Wolfy]

What an absolutely awesome day to get out on the bike. Had a Boardman CX for Xmas and took it out on its maiden voyage today! Done 34 odd miles through the Suffolk country side and was a pleasure to ride. Bring on the summer :-)