Your ride today.... (part 1)

[derrick]

Had a nice ride with the other half, 60 miles in the sun, bit of brunch at Hatfield Heath then a nice pootle back to Epping for a well deserved pint of the amber nector
http://app.strava.com/activities/119119040

 

[young Ed]

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?
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LongMartin and rb58 disappearing into the distance.
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And with Young Ed following
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and leading the way
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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
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And strange symmetrical woodlands (there are 1000's of these trees, all in rows)
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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.
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Saw this poor forlorn contraption.... but hey.. at least the saddle will be dry
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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..

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very nice good to know you enjoyed it! i certainly did so tanks for letting me tag along for a small part of your day

and looking at those pics i really need to up the fitness levels as i look like i am dying in this sot! (BTW i wasn't!)

and i really need a new bike to fit in with you chaps! my clothing may not match but i am certainly visible to drivers!

oh and you do know this sandwich was a rip off!

for the future a normal kitkat looks like this

not like a white one that looks like this

good idea to print this out and keep it handy when buying kitkats in the future!
Cheers Ed

 

[young Ed]

add another 16 mile to that to make my days total up to 46 miles, 1 mile more than my rough PR for one day! ended up rather dark riding home though! also flying down a hill at round about 30ish odd and hitting one or two little bumps making you chain fall off and your rear gear cable pull through is not much fun!
Cheers Ed

 

[Stu Plows]

6am start, got to Stanmore at 7 and set off half an hour later. After just a few miles I was greeted by this....

Did a run of 4 killer hills (killer to me) all within the space of a few miles, that absolutely ruined me on the fourth, to the point that I cramped in both legs! Nonetheless, a great route and some lovely views.

Met the Mrs at Chesham and then headed back to the car and into the centre of London. Topped a good day off with this...

Strava route - http://www.strava.com/activities/118975263

 

[young Ed]

6am start, got to Stanmore at 7 and set off half an hour later. After just a few miles I was greeted by this....

Did a run of 4 killer hills (killer to me) all within the space of a few miles, that absolutely ruined me on the fourth, to the point that I cramped in both legs! Nonetheless, a great route and some lovely views.

Met the Mrs at Chesham and then headed back to the car and into the centre of London. Topped a good day off with this...

Strava route - http://www.strava.com/activities/118975263

what is the red drink in the right hand glass?

sounds and looks like a great day/ride!
Cheers Ed

 

[totallyfixed]

Not much to add really, same as most others have said, not a cloud in the sky, bit of a breeze. The things that made it feel like Spring were the daffodils that lined the road in the villages and the odd patches of bright green of Hawthorn hedges coming into leaf.
Saw about 80 other cyclists [we counted, don't ask], a barn owl, a sparrowhawk and lots of parachutists, but not all together.
Most of the pics I take are on the move so never great but it's hard getting her to stop.

62 miles with not many flat bits on half a bottle of water and a fruit scone .
Fantabulous day.
[Getting hungry now, wonder if she will notice some of her rocket leaves missing]

 

[PeteXXX]

I'm only just getting the chance to post My Ride Today from yesterday as , by the time I got home, I was cutting it fine to get showered, fed and clothed, ready to go to work
Blasted annoying as I would have loved to stay out on the bike all day! Such is life...

My plan was to get to either Pitsford or Salcey for a cuppa, then back home with 20 to 25 miles under my belt, with the decision which direction to ride when I got near the town. As I'd forgotten to take any cash with me, I had to go to an ATM to get a tenner out or it'd be a 'no tea' ride! At this point, I decided on Salcey Forest as a stop.

On the way up the hill out of town is Queen Eleanor's Cross....

With a lovely inscription ion a wall nearby...

That went well, didn't it!

Anyway, onwards towards Salcey and tea..

As everyone else is posting Spring pics, here's mine! Lovely to see the blossom blossoming..

On the way through Hardingstone village I caught up with a chap riding a Brompton (complete with Brooks saddle and SPD's) at a fair lick.. We stopped for a chat for a while about bikes in general and he showed me how the Brompton folds up. Having never had a close up look at one I was really impressed. I asked if he was on CC but he wasn't, but said he might look us up. I hope you join up Barry!

Next stop was Salcey Forest.

No cake today, just a nice mug of tea.
Note the Llama Farmers in the background (with their Alpaca's if previous ride posts are remembered )

Shame I only had time for 26 miles, but.. Hey Ho, work beckoned.

http://www.strava.com/activities/118979839

 

[coffeejo]

I had a good ride yesterday - 44 miles over the Blackdown Hills in the glorious sunshine with 2800ft of climbing. Fantastic to be out with sunglasses, summer mitts and bare arms and legs. A persistent slow puncture tried to ruin the day but the views on the pauses to repair/reinflate the tyre (rear, naturally) helped keep my swearing down to the barest minimum. Yes, I should have just changed the tube instead of trying to repair it. Yes, I fully expect that today's chores will include changing the tube...

Sunshine, green grass ... but I won't be truly content til the trees have adorned themselves once more.

Sunday afternoon - had the roads pretty much to myself.

Head ruled heart for the descent back off the hills and I didn't push the pace despite the superb conditions, lest the tyre explode and I go over the fence for the really steep way down. Was not impressed to discover that I hit 39.1mph... imagine if I'd been pedalling at that point!

 

[ScotiaLass]

Just back from a very pleasant 12 miles on cycle paths, tow paths and woods.
Nothing untoward except I had my daughter with me today, as well as my son.
She didn't cope well - she has a chest condition and we had to keep slowing for her to keep up. By the time we were on our way back she was in a lot of pain and actually crying...I felt so bad

I wanted to stop and call my husband to come and get her but she made it home.
The operation she needs to correct it, a sternum defect, can only be done in the USA apparently.
It affects her with palpitations, chest pain and shortness of breath.

Anyway, I took some pics as we stopped more frequently today...enjoy!

My bike enjoys hiding in the woods...

Heading up...

Lovely day for it!

The Kelpies

It had to be done!

Rachel taking a selfie with me

The Mausoleum has stood since 1780...part of the estate and set in a lovely spot, overlooking the lake.
The family emptied the tomb years ago and it's all sealed up.

My lovely teens...

My tan line? Nah it's a mud line!

 

[welsh dragon]

Just back from a very pleasant 12 miles on cycle paths, tow paths and woods.
Nothing untoward except I had my daughter with me today, as well as my son.
She didn't cope well - she has a chest condition and we had to keep slowing for her to keep up. By the time we were on our way back she was in a lot of pain and actually crying...I felt so bad

I wanted to stop and call my husband to come and get her but she made it home.
The operation she needs to correct it, a sternum defect, can only be done in the USA apparently.
It affects her with palpitations, chest pain and shortness of breath.

Anyway, I took some pics as we stopped more frequently today...enjoy!

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My bike enjoys hiding in the woods...


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Heading up...


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Lovely day for it!


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The Kelpies

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It had to be done!


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Rachel taking a selfie with me


View attachment 39619
The Mausoleum has stood since 1780...part of the estate and set in a lovely spot, overlooking the lake.
The family emptied the tomb years ago and it's all sealed up.

View attachment 39620
My lovely teens...

View attachment 39621
My tan line? Nah it's a mud line!

Great pics girl.

 

[ComedyPilot]

On holiday from work so free to come and go as I please. Popped into work at 05:30 to clear my desk a bit, then came home at 8.

Rang bro at 9 and as if by chance he was on a rest day from work. 30 minutes later I was togged up and on my way to Beverley to meet him. The wind from the north had a bit of a chill to it, but once rollong it gave me a nice push on the back. 5 miles in I met bro, and we turned around to head towards Driffield. That lovely (but chilly) tail wind was now a full blown (sic) headwind, and made us work every pedal stroke for the next 10 miles or so. I did a couple of errands in Driffield then we headed back to TJ's coffee shop in Cranswick for lunch.

I asked bro if he was having a cup of tea, "No, tea is Satan's urine"

After lunch we sauntered back to our respective homes, and I got another (chilly but pleasant enough) 30 miles in the bank.

 

[booze and cake]

@Scotia Lass, either you've had part of your big toe amputated or you are tryng to hide your toe nail varnish/uncut hobbit toe nails

 

[ScotiaLass]

@Scotia Lass, either you've had part of your big toe amputated or you are tryng to hide your toe nail varnish/uncut hobbit toe nails

Damn you! How did you know about my freakish hobbit feet?!!
Actually, I was gripping the settee as my balance is cack

 

[booze and cake]

hehe, as Eddie Izzard said on a sketch many moons ago, that curled toe grip is just the technique you need to master if you want to run in flip flops.

 

[ScotiaLass]

hehe, as Eddie Izzard said on a sketch many moons ago, that curled toe grip is just the technique you need to master if you want to run in flip flops.