Pleasant 24.5 miler this afternoon up to Winscar reservoir, legs still feel shocking but after getting on the scales this morning and realising I've put on nearly a stone since christmas I'm not surprised. 15mph average and 1800ft of elevation still far from good enough as was my average cadence which still in no way reflects what I do on my turbo trainer, any way here is a pic.
Your ride today.... (part 1)
- Thread starter gbb
- Start date
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gavroche
Getting old but not past it
- Location
- North Wales
How did you managed to take this picture so close up?Lots ofbut still a bit
(4° in the barn) so a gentle trip to St Cyr. Stopped at the war memorial for a banana
View attachment 39253
About 50 names for the 1st War and only 2 for the 2ndA couple of additions at the bottom for Indochina (2) and Algeria (1)
I was just enjoying the peace and tranquillity on the way back (it was lunchtime, so no traffic) when 2 of these appeared - playing 'scare the carp out of the peasants'
View attachment 39254
SatNavSaysStraightOn
Changed hemispheres!
- Location
- ɐᴉlɐɹʇsn∀ 'ɐɹɹǝquɐƆ
Another Monday and another domestic commute over to my parents home to do all the chores I didn't do over the weekend...
I decided that with all the photos of blue skies etc, I wouldn't provide anymore so no pictures. Don't want to over do it do we?
Going out was bright and sunny, but started cold... notable only for a lorry that decided he would much rather sit behind me than overtake me... He had come out of a side road behind me and I had noticed that it was a left hand drive vehicle so had moved right over to the middle of the carriageway so the driver would see me... after that he sat behind initially not being able to overtake me, then not overtaking me where local lorries do and finally onto a 30mph stretch of dual carriageway where he continued to sit behind me... at this point I turned around and looked at him so he finally over took me...Then I established it was a German lorry and I guess that probably explained it all.
Then it there was a nice man in a white vehicle as I approached a junction on the same dual carriageway where the right lane is a right filter lane at lights and I needed over... my 2nd glance over my shoulder showed that the car driver had seen my first, guessed I wanted over and held back and allowed me over into the right lane - nice man...
Coming home was warm setting out, but I knew it was going to get colder and quite quickly once the sun dropped, so it was cycling jersey rather than summer top over a thermal layer... Approaching a nasty junction (but less nasty than the one prior to it), tonight it was worse than ever - not because of the vehicles, but because of the position of the sun. I needed to turn right off the main road (A54) and one look at the situation told me no-one was going to see anyone at that junction (even I could not tell if the road was clear to turn right the glare was that bad) and there was no way I was going to stand in the middle of the A54 in a national speed limit section, so I did my usual other trick, which is to turn left instead, do a U-turn and join the traffic going straight over at the crossroads instead. Only tonight a nice lady ( very local as it turned out) realised what I was doing as she approached the junction from my left and held back indicating she knew I was about to do a U turn (indicated with a hand signal) and go straight over at the crossroads... I can only guess she has seen me do this manoeuvre more than once before and within 1/4 mile she had turned off into one of the farms. She got a big thank you as well.
Seems that the good weather has brought out the best in drivers today! And there was a semi-reasonable sunset, only I was going through Northwich at the time and there was nothing that was going to make it look good on a photo... Even an amazing sunset won't do that for Northwich
http://www.strava.com/activities/119462549
I decided that with all the photos of blue skies etc, I wouldn't provide anymore so no pictures. Don't want to over do it do we?
Going out was bright and sunny, but started cold... notable only for a lorry that decided he would much rather sit behind me than overtake me... He had come out of a side road behind me and I had noticed that it was a left hand drive vehicle so had moved right over to the middle of the carriageway so the driver would see me... after that he sat behind initially not being able to overtake me, then not overtaking me where local lorries do and finally onto a 30mph stretch of dual carriageway where he continued to sit behind me... at this point I turned around and looked at him so he finally over took me...Then I established it was a German lorry and I guess that probably explained it all.
Then it there was a nice man in a white vehicle as I approached a junction on the same dual carriageway where the right lane is a right filter lane at lights and I needed over... my 2nd glance over my shoulder showed that the car driver had seen my first, guessed I wanted over and held back and allowed me over into the right lane - nice man...Coming home was warm setting out, but I knew it was going to get colder and quite quickly once the sun dropped, so it was cycling jersey rather than summer top over a thermal layer... Approaching a nasty junction (but less nasty than the one prior to it), tonight it was worse than ever - not because of the vehicles, but because of the position of the sun. I needed to turn right off the main road (A54) and one look at the situation told me no-one was going to see anyone at that junction (even I could not tell if the road was clear to turn right the glare was that bad) and there was no way I was going to stand in the middle of the A54 in a national speed limit section, so I did my usual other trick, which is to turn left instead, do a U-turn and join the traffic going straight over at the crossroads instead. Only tonight a nice lady ( very local as it turned out) realised what I was doing as she approached the junction from my left and held back indicating she knew I was about to do a U turn (indicated with a hand signal) and go straight over at the crossroads... I can only guess she has seen me do this manoeuvre more than once before and within 1/4 mile she had turned off into one of the farms. She got a big thank you as well.
Seems that the good weather has brought out the best in drivers today! And there was a semi-reasonable sunset, only I was going through Northwich at the time and there was nothing that was going to make it look good on a photo... Even an amazing sunset won't do that for Northwich
http://www.strava.com/activities/119462549
- Location
- Egham
My ride Saturday was a supposed quick 20 miler to test the new saddle. Got lost again, and ended after 24 miles. Bit of sore rear, so saddle position needs tweaking, and nothing to do with my brief drink stop
Well and truly 'bonked' at 18 miles, and struggled to get much over 11mph for the last 6 miles
That'll teach me to go out on just 1 Weetabix.
Well and truly 'bonked' at 18 miles, and struggled to get much over 11mph for the last 6 miles
That'll teach me to go out on just 1 Weetabix.
skudupnorth
Cycling Skoda lover
- Location
- Astley,Manchester
Sunday was volunteer day with a herd of Longhorn cattle and the chance to try my driving skills out with a classic Czech built Zetor tractor and muck spreader !
44 miles on the bike with wonderful weather and even better motorists which must have been in a good mood with all the sunshine .
Longhorns
Target for the best part of 90 ton's of poo !
Weapon of choice for the moo poo spreading, Zetor tractor which is a company that comes under the Skoda engineering works and shares many parts with old Skoda's......I was in heaven !
44 miles on the bike with wonderful weather and even better motorists which must have been in a good mood with all the sunshine .
Longhorns
Target for the best part of 90 ton's of poo !
Weapon of choice for the moo poo spreading, Zetor tractor which is a company that comes under the Skoda engineering works and shares many parts with old Skoda's......I was in heaven !
young Ed
Veteran
tool for the job!Sunday was volunteer day with a herd of Longhorn cattle and the chance to try my driving skills out with a classic Czech built Zetor tractor and muck spreader !
44 miles on the bike with wonderful weather and even better motorists which must have been in a good mood with all the sunshine .
Longhorns
Target for the best part of 90 ton's of poo !
Weapon of choice for the moo poo spreading, Zetor tractor which is a company that comes under the Skoda engineering works and shares many parts with old Skoda's......I was in heaven !
Cheers Ed
Doyleyburger
Veteran
- Location
- NCE West Wales
I met a friend at his house this morning as he had routed a 65 mile trip for us to crack on with. Quick cuppa at Andy's house and we set off in the blazing sunshine. From his house we made our way to Haverfordwest which started out with a 3 mile hack up hill.......
Got to the top where we were greeted by a fellow cyclist who had stopped for a quick drink .....
After a brief refreshment of our own we descended on the other side of the mountain hitting 49mph as we did so. Made all that climbing worthwhile !!
From Havorfordwest we headed for the seaside town of Newgale where we stopped for a banana break and watched a couple of surfers hit the waves......
Was a hell of a climb as we came out of Newgale but the scenery was simply breathtaking, which took the pain out of the hill a little bit......
Next stop was another seaside town called St Davids where we found a cracking little café. Latte and lemon cake was a warm welcome....
20 mins later we made our way to Fishguard where we had another coffee before the last 15 miles back to Andy's house in Eglwyswrw
His bike he has recently built for our London to Paris trip in September. ..
Really digging these steel retro looking roadies at the minute.
Thoroughly enjoyed today and felt like I could have completed my first century if we decided to carry on, but my van was at Andy's house so ill leave that for another day.......
65 miles done !
Got to the top where we were greeted by a fellow cyclist who had stopped for a quick drink .....
After a brief refreshment of our own we descended on the other side of the mountain hitting 49mph as we did so. Made all that climbing worthwhile !!
From Havorfordwest we headed for the seaside town of Newgale where we stopped for a banana break and watched a couple of surfers hit the waves......
Was a hell of a climb as we came out of Newgale but the scenery was simply breathtaking, which took the pain out of the hill a little bit......
Next stop was another seaside town called St Davids where we found a cracking little café. Latte and lemon cake was a warm welcome....
20 mins later we made our way to Fishguard where we had another coffee before the last 15 miles back to Andy's house in Eglwyswrw
His bike he has recently built for our London to Paris trip in September. ..
Really digging these steel retro looking roadies at the minute.
Thoroughly enjoyed today and felt like I could have completed my first century if we decided to carry on, but my van was at Andy's house so ill leave that for another day.......
65 miles done !
- Location
- Egham
Playing catchup here, due to 'IT issues'.
Following a nice rest day yesterday, I aimed high with the plan being a repeat of a ride from last year with some chaps from work, and also to beat my longest ride since getting back on the saddle in early 2012. About 2 weeks before being hospitalised in July last year, I did a 42 mile pedal, so my target was to beat that. Given my physical fitness is a way off where it was then, I wanted a flat route, so headed out through Staines along the Thames. The towpath is passable now, and after a few miles the first signs of the after effects of the recent flooding
There's an awful lot of detritus in the river, and the authorities were clearing it at Chertsey weir. The pic above and below are further upstream at Penton Hook Weir.
More ambling along the towpath, deliberately limiting myself to around 10 - 12 mph as I was conscious of what I was trying to achieve. Once over Chertsey Bridge and across the Meads I had a quick look to see if the Chertsey BMX track was still there. It was, and I was very tempted to do a lap, but a couple of watchers made me rather self conscious (37 year old bloke on a hybrid on a BMX track, hmmmm)
From here headed up through New Haw and joined the Wey Navigation. The towpath is in decent shape given all the rain, and it was nice to get away from the roads
Only a short while later and the route passes under the M3 (I think), and you chose between the Wey Navigation straight on, or the Basingstoke Canal over the bridge.
The towpath alongside the Basingstoke Canal was re-surfaced a few years back, and it an excellent, smooth surface, plenty good enough for a road bike on 23c tyres, though today I was 'roughing it' on the hybrid. Certainly not a route you'd want to do at the weekend due to walkers, but today it was relatively quiet with only a few dog walkers and shoppers, the bell being used rarely. Most amusing moment approaching a group of 4 'older' gents from behind, all togged up in decent walking gear, I pinging away on the bell to no avail. Last minute one of them spots me and taps the rest of the group to move aside. "They're all deaf" he chuckled as I bode them a good day, later seeing them again on my return trip, this time going towards them so much easier. Went as far as St Johns before re-tracing my steps back along the canal, stopping to take a pic of this
Looks like a pump of some kind?
So, followed the same route back to Staines, finding that I'd done a mere 31 miles Righty ho, along the Thames to Runnymede, stopping to lift the bike over no less that 4 fallen trees across the path. A lap of Egham, back to Staines along the Causeway, then up to Thorpe Park along the now dry Chertsey Lane. Follow this by a lap of Chertsey and home.
43.4 miles
Well chuffed, average speed of 10 mph, 4.5 hrs out. Knackered, fell asleep on sofa, but well pleased
Following a nice rest day yesterday, I aimed high with the plan being a repeat of a ride from last year with some chaps from work, and also to beat my longest ride since getting back on the saddle in early 2012. About 2 weeks before being hospitalised in July last year, I did a 42 mile pedal, so my target was to beat that. Given my physical fitness is a way off where it was then, I wanted a flat route, so headed out through Staines along the Thames. The towpath is passable now, and after a few miles the first signs of the after effects of the recent flooding
There's an awful lot of detritus in the river, and the authorities were clearing it at Chertsey weir. The pic above and below are further upstream at Penton Hook Weir.
More ambling along the towpath, deliberately limiting myself to around 10 - 12 mph as I was conscious of what I was trying to achieve. Once over Chertsey Bridge and across the Meads I had a quick look to see if the Chertsey BMX track was still there. It was, and I was very tempted to do a lap, but a couple of watchers made me rather self conscious (37 year old bloke on a hybrid on a BMX track, hmmmm
)From here headed up through New Haw and joined the Wey Navigation. The towpath is in decent shape given all the rain, and it was nice to get away from the roads
Only a short while later and the route passes under the M3 (I think), and you chose between the Wey Navigation straight on, or the Basingstoke Canal over the bridge.
The towpath alongside the Basingstoke Canal was re-surfaced a few years back, and it an excellent, smooth surface, plenty good enough for a road bike on 23c tyres, though today I was 'roughing it' on the hybrid. Certainly not a route you'd want to do at the weekend due to walkers, but today it was relatively quiet with only a few dog walkers and shoppers, the bell being used rarely. Most amusing moment approaching a group of 4 'older' gents from behind, all togged up in decent walking gear, I pinging away on the bell to no avail. Last minute one of them spots me and taps the rest of the group to move aside. "They're all deaf" he chuckled as I bode them a good day, later seeing them again on my return trip, this time going towards them so much easier
. Went as far as St Johns before re-tracing my steps back along the canal, stopping to take a pic of thisLooks like a pump of some kind?
So, followed the same route back to Staines, finding that I'd done a mere 31 miles
Righty ho, along the Thames to Runnymede, stopping to lift the bike over no less that 4 fallen trees across the path. A lap of Egham, back to Staines along the Causeway, then up to Thorpe Park along the now dry Chertsey Lane. Follow this by a lap of Chertsey and home.43.4 miles
Well chuffed, average speed of 10 mph, 4.5 hrs out. Knackered, fell asleep on sofa, but well pleased
skudupnorth
Cycling Skoda lover
- Location
- Astley,Manchester
tool for the job!
Cheers Ed
Tractor envy !!!
- Location
- Shrewsbury, Shropshire
young Ed
Veteran
- Location
- Egham
Good call, and nice find. It looks to be 'original' as it were.
- Location
- Egham
Maybe this one, taken from Basingstoke Canal News 91, June 1980...
CANAL-SIDE CRANE PURCHASE Last year Fleet member, David Quilley noticed an interesting canal-side crane standing on the site of a disused nursery near Lower Heyford on the Oxford Canal. This site was an old canal wharf many years ago. He made enquiries at the time and recently we were offered this crane for £150 which the committee accepted with alacrity.
It will be dismantled in the near future and brought back to the Basingstoke Canal for re-assembly and restoration. Initially it will go to the Hampshire C.C. maintenance yard at Ash Lock before eventually possibly being installed elsewhere on the canal at a suitable location.
The crane was originally built by a railway company about 100 years ago and came to the wharf sawmill site in 1912.
Dangermouse
MousePower
We went shopping earlier and had the roof down on the car, it was so nice that I decided that no lurgy was gonna keep me off the bike today, so on with the new gloves and off we toddled, lovely 20 odd miles in glorious sunshine, and warm on the way out, stopped for some refreshment ............
You could imagine this was somewhere Mediterranean and not Lincolnshire
But the wind on the way home was quite strong, didn't realise it was so blowy when we set off.
You could imagine this was somewhere Mediterranean and not Lincolnshire
But the wind on the way home was quite strong, didn't realise it was so blowy when we set off.
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