Your ride today.... (part 1)

[Stu Plows]

what is the red drink in the right hand glass?

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

Sorry Ed, missed your reply until just now. It's a Bulmers mate, referred to as number 17. Red Berries, and Lime in Cider basically.

 

[Peteaud]

Todays ride was in a direction i don't normally head, East and West!

From Chard I went along my normal escape lane and over to the cider farm at Dowlish Wake. Then headed east through Hinton St George, Merriott, West chinnock and chiselborough, all quiet back roads largely free from traffic apart from the odd horse and rider before gaining altitude up to Ham Hill Country Park, an Iron age fort.

The road up is a single lane and at 13% in one part, pretty steep, I almost made it to the top but a car coming down meant i did the decent thing and pulled over to let them pass. Back on and made it over to the top to check out the wonderful view, of fog!

Dropping back down to Stoke Sub Hamdon, and Norton Sub Hamdon i headed west, criss crossing the A303 until reaching Seavington St Micheal and back down to chard.

Really good ride, apart from the cold, and one i must do again, as it forms some of the route 30 somerset 80 mile ride.

Dowlish Wake.

The old Manor house.

Some of the roads are starting to dry out.

Some are still small streams.

11 o'clock

Turn right here.

Looking down the hill.

On a sunny day it is a nice view. today it is just fog.

Profile

Route.

30.5 miles in all, 2230 Ft climbs.

 

[welsh dragon]

Todays ride was in a direction i don't normally head, West!

From Chard I went along my normal escape lane and over to the cider farm at Dowlish Wake. Then headed west through Hinton St George, Merriott, West chinnock and chiselborough, all quiet back roads largely free from traffic apart from the odd horse and rider before gaining altitude up to Ham Hill Country Park, an Iron age fort.

The road up is a single lane and at 13% in one part, pretty steep, I almost made it to the top but a car coming down meant i did the decent thing and pulled over to let them pass. Back on and made it over to the top to check out the wonderful view, of fog!

Dropping back down to Stoke Sub Hamdon, and Norton Sub Hamdon i headed east, criss crossing the A303 until reaching Seavington St Micheal and back down to chard.

Really good ride, apart from the cold, and one i must do again, as it forms some of the route 30 somerset 80 mile ride.

Dowlish Wake.

The old Manor house.

Some of the roads are starting to dry out.

Some are still small streams.

11 o'clock

Turn right here.

Looking down the hill.

On a sunny day it is a nice view. today it is just fog.

Profile

Route.

30.5 miles in all, 2230 Ft climbs.

Beautiful pics peteaud many thanks.

 

[compo]

My ride was a pretty uneventful 35 miles on the mountain bike. I went up the lanes to the Flitch Way, then along the track to Takeley before returning to the road for the ride home. My bottom is protesting madly though at the saddle abuse I subjected it to. I think the MTB is going to be relegated to short runs and my Trek hybrid with it's lovely comfortable Brooks for longer rides. One amusing thing to reinforce the buy cheap buy twice mantra. I had fitted a new computer, a cheap and cheerful Tesco job. It was fairly old but never been used and still in its original packaging, so I thought it would be OK. I was at about 12 miles when I looked at the readings on the screen. 83 miles it read. Then I watched my speed which varied between 4mph and 125 mph, and that was going up hill, so I am definitely getting faster. It turns out, watching the readings with what was around me, is that every time there was a telephone line along or above the road the readings went haywire. Anyway, that computer is now consigned to the rubbish bin. Next week I may get one of the Lidl ones which have done me OK in the past .

 

[mooseracer]

Took the afternoon off on the basis of the forecast saying the sun would come out at lunchtime. 1pm and it was cloudy and only 5 degrees still and I'm starting to wonder whether to bother or not. Took the dog out instead and when I got back the skies were clearing so headed out.

Not the 70 I was planning as it was 2:30 by the time I left but a lovely 50 miler instead in great sunshine and light winds.

http://www.strava.com/activities/120024790

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

I got up to dense freezing fog. Now that left a problem for a longer commute. Do you wrap up and stay warm knowing there is a chance you will cycle out of the fog and into sunshine or do you go cold to start off with and freeze knowing that once the fog burns off you will be fine? Hummm a quick call to my OH and he confirms that it is starting to lift 12 miles north of here, but I'm going south, so a quick call to my mum and she says the same thing.... Looking out of the window I was not impressed with the option of cycling cold and hoping it would burn off, but it seemed to be the better of the 2 options because of the homeward bound commute considerations... so cold and trying hard to look macho was the order of the day. I think I failed to look macho by the way... It took almost the entire journey for it to burn off and suddenly somewhere close to Sandbach I found myself cycling in bright blue skies and very sunny weather and now way too hot! Time to stop and change layers... Near to the M6 I came across my first tulips in flower - yes tulips! surprised me as well, boy are they early! More interesting wer the 3 or 4 magnolia trees I saw now showing colour in their buds and threatening to open! Any frost and they are history for this year!

Coming home was a similar dilemma... I opted for the look macho and go with my thinnest merino wool top under my summer jersey which worked really well, though I have to say I was getting very odd looks from all of the other cyclists I met (roadies wrapped up to the nines, not to mention mtbers also wrapped up like it was cold)... perhaps I was trying too hard with the heavy panniers I had on the way home... My OH's birthday is coming up and I had 2 full panniers coming home!

I stopped off to photo the only attempt I could at the sunset tonight, so you will all have a picture. Not great, but all I could do - I was too fast coming home and the sun had not really set enough!

http://www.strava.com/activities/120042244

 

[MikeG]

What a day for a ride! Gorgeous.

I dropped everything at mid-day, put some shorts on for the first time this year, and headed off on a circuitous route through Constaple country (Langham, Dedham, Stratford St Mary, and so on) to Manningtree, where I had a cafe stop, before another circuitous route back home (via Hadleigh, Kersey, surely one of the most beautiful villages in England, Boxford, Stone Street.......another beauty.........and home via Bures). 67 miles at 15.7mph ave. Cold knees were a minor irritation, but as nothing when riding through this wonderful scenery.

Now I have to pay for it by working into the evening. Ho hum.

 

[davester65]

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!

View attachment 39613
My bike enjoys hiding in the woods...


View attachment 39614
Heading up...


View attachment 39615
Lovely day for it!


View attachment 39616
The Kelpies

View attachment 39617
It had to be done!


View attachment 39618
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!

Love the Kelpies....I drive past them about twice a week on my way into Asda CDC Falkirk.

 

[ScotiaLass]

Love the Kelpies....I drive past them about twice a week on my way into Asda CDC Falkirk.

Cool. Gimme a wave next time you pass

 

[PeteXXX]

It was a much chillier start to my ride than I was expecting this morning! I could feel the ice crystals in the fog hitting my face... Still, it woke me up and made me put a bit more effort in to get warm.
I was planning for a nice long ride as I had no chores to do and no work today

I've been meaning to ride over to Grafham Water for a while now, and today was the day. The road there (once I'd found my way through Rushden as there are few signposts and the locals don't seem to know where anywhere else is.. )
With an extra mile around the town, I found the road that went to the road I wanted.. Just as well I wasn't in a rush to get anywhere!
The B645 that used to be the main A45 years ago goes through Kimbolton that was a nightmare for trucks as there are really tight bends by the old Kimbolton School.

It's a lovely old building. Luckily there's a weight limit on the road now so it is only cars and vans to avoid!

I used to use this road years ago. It must have been hell for the locals before the main A14 bypassed it.

It's not a bad road to cycle now and I saw several others riders enjoying the day.
I arrived at Grafham Waters at about midday and checked out the bike shop there. I had nothing urgent to buy so contented myself with browsing. The prices are fairly good for some of the stuff. I would have liked to do the 13 miles round the reservoir but was on the wrong bike for it. Next time, I might ride there, hire a hack for an hour or two, then ride home.

Next stop, coffee and a spot of lunch.

Smashing warmed ham and cheese ciabatta with pickle & salad washed down with the obligatory black coffee.
Aiming for home, I used mainly counrty lanes through villages I'd not been through before. There really are some beautiful places in this area that I want to spend a bit more time exploring.

Not the best picture I'm afraid, but it is Yelden Castle.

This explains it better!! So much history tucked away within this tiny hamlet.
Time to press on though. I do tend to dither around on rides, hence my low average speeds. But it is all about enjoying the day to me, and I make sure I do

On my way back home, I decided to go through Grendon, Whiston & Cogenhoe to see how my legs would stand up to the hills after a metric ton... I was happy to see when I uploaded my ride that I got a PB on all three bits off Col de Cogenhoe! That's a pleasing result for me I must admit.

A very pleasant day where I pushed myself a fair bit.
72 miles ridden with all but one driver being very considerate.
Back home by about 16:00 to celebrate the rest of the afternoon with a couple of pints of Guinness..

http://app.strava.com/activities/119996219

 

[coffeejo]

It was a much chillier start to my ride than I was expecting this morning! I could feel the ice crystals in the fog hitting my face... Still, it woke me up and made me put a bit more effort in to get warm.
I was planning for a nice long ride as I had no chores to do and no work today

I've been meaning to ride over to Grafham Water for a while now, and today was the day. The road there (once I'd found my way through Rushden as there are few signposts and the locals don't seem to know where anywhere else is.. )
With an extra mile around the town, I found the road that went to the road I wanted.. Just as well I wasn't in a rush to get anywhere!
The B645 that used to be the main A45 years ago goes through Kimbolton that was a nightmare for trucks as there are really tight bends by the old Kimbolton School.
View attachment 39788

It's a lovely old building. Luckily there's a weight limit on the road now so it is only cars and vans to avoid!

View attachment 39789
I used to use this road years ago. It must have been hell for the locals before the main A14 bypassed it.

It's not a bad road to cycle now and I saw several others riders enjoying the day.
I arrived at Grafham Waters at about midday and checked out the bike shop there. I had nothing urgent to buy so contented myself with browsing. The prices are fairly good for some of the stuff. I would have liked to do the 13 miles round the reservoir but was on the wrong bike for it. Next time, I might ride there, hire a hack for an hour or two, then ride home.

Next stop, coffee and a spot of lunch.
View attachment 39790

Smashing warmed ham and cheese ciabatta with pickle & salad washed down with the obligatory black coffee.
Aiming for home, I used mainly counrty lanes through villages I'd not been through before. There really are some beautiful places in this area that I want to spend a bit more time exploring.

View attachment 39791

Not the best picture I'm afraid, but it is Yelden Castle.

View attachment 39792

This explains it better!! So much history tucked away within this tiny hamlet.
Time to press on though. I do tend to dither around on rides, hence my low average speeds. But it is all about enjoying the day to me, and I make sure I do

On my way back home, I decided to go through Grendon, Whiston & Cogenhoe to see how my legs would stand up to the hills after a metric ton... I was happy to see when I uploaded my ride that I got a PB on all three bits off Col de Cogenhoe! That's a pleasing result for me I must admit.

A very pleasant day where I pushed myself a fair bit.
72 miles ridden with all but one driver being very considerate.
Back home by about 16:00 to celebrate the rest of the afternoon with a couple of pints of Guinness..

http://app.strava.com/activities/119996219

Did someone say "coffee stop"?

Get thee to the photo challenge thread, good sir...

 

[Bobby Mhor]

This weather was too tempting..
Please a day off, mr Boss..

There was a healthy frost overnight and as I headed up over the Green track at the local golf course, I had to avoid icy stretches but I soon started to drop down.
My plan was the Isle of Cumbrae..
I took the rough track over Garshangan then it was more upward climbing before a long drop into Brisbane Glen.
I took a wee detour to visit the parts of Largs I stayed in 40 years ago...no change.
I met this fella on largs seafront

I headed down to catch the ferry across to Cumbrae..

Not long until it was off round Cumbrae but I'd planned to check 15 geocaches enroute ( I got 10 but checked DNF's just in case).
I eventually arrived in Millport and did a tourist thing, I bought a fridge magnet for Mrs Mhor...
It was more detours on the return to the pier reliving old fishing haunts.
Across in Largs, it was not 'Cake time' but a fish supper which was to fuel me for the ride back home via Skelmorlie, Wemyss Bay past Inverkip and a sudden rise up to Cornalees for a quick coffee at Ardgowan Fishery.

The sun was dropping as I left Loch Thom behind and it was a bumpy ride on the hybrid over Garshangan as I then headed home via Route 75 then home.
51 mile in the bag..
A great day oot

 

[PeteXXX]

Did someone say "coffee stop"?

Get thee to the photo challenge thread, good sir...

Consider it done..

 

[ColinJ]

I like following this thread but it is hard to keep up. Sometimes I just quickly scan through the latest rides and miss a few out, but I would just like to say 'Keep up the good work everyone'!

I'm not even keeping up with my own rides. Here's a quick update:

Saturday 8th March - 33 hilly miles on a windy day with a superfit tiny friend who makes the petite dr_pink look tall! It was an extended edition of my 'Trauma of Trawden' route and I think it is the first time that I have ridden it since getting my DVT.

Sunday, 9th March - 25 lumpy miles in the Spring sunshine. Took 38 seconds off my Cragg Vale HC time.

Wednesday, 12th March: Another fantastic sunny Spring day here. I decided to tackle a couple of severe hills that I avoided since getting ill. My route was a hilly 25 miler - Hebden Bridge, Pecket Well, Old Town, Midgley, Luddenden, climb of Stocks Lane (used for National HC Championships a few years back), Wainstalls, Cold Edge, Oxenhope, Leeming, Sawood (to the top of the steep climb, then back down a bit), Black Moor Lane, Haworth Brow, Oxenhope, Cock Hill, Pecket Well, Hebden Bridge.

The main feature was the Stocks Lane climb which averages 11% for 2 km, and has a nasty kick up round an s-bend halfway.

Ride profile:

Stocks Lane starts at about the 9km point. Here's a more detailed look at its profile:

You can see where it ramps up round the bends at about 900 metres.

Here's what the bend looks like on Street view:

My legs are stiff tonight!

 

[totallyfixed]

Tonight's ride to meet dr_pink was different from the others I have done many times on the same roads. First of all there was no wind, secondly a very faint mist was giving everything an ethereal quality accentuated by a half moon. At 6.40 I set off, knowing that dr_pink was already 30 mins into her commute and I wanted to meet her at about the 18 mile point. This entails me going out in a different direction and looping around hopefully to reach a junction before she gets there, that is the plan anyway.
When you have done a route many, many times before I can usually be fairly accurate when I will be at certain landmarks, for dr_pink I can also estimate pretty well how long she will take, however I knew she had a head cold and she had said she would be slow tonight, mmm
There is very little flat on this ride, I would estimate less than a mile in 16 miles but it was such a beautiful evening it felt easy. The first mile long climb starts at just over 3 miles into the ride and by that time the solitude is complete, no cars or artificial sounds, just your breathing and your island of light that isolates you from the surroundings. I try to match my pedal rhythm to my breathing and tonight it is comfortable even though I am standing for the whole climb.
I pass through just one village and always feel like a travelling voyeur as I see people moving around in their own pools of light, safe behind stone walls, it's a good feeling but I'm at a loss to explain why. At nearly 8 miles I approach a 14% short climb shrouded on both sides by a dense wood, but I know it well, it's an old friend that never surprises me because it is so sheltered.
I glance at my watch, this could be close! About 200 metres before the junction where I will either wait for dr_pink or turn on to the same road and ride a bit further to meet her, I see a powerful light about the same distance as me from the junction, talk about well timed! Mind you 30 secs later and I would have missed her, so much for a cold slowing her down. I know it is dr_pink because we have never yet seen another cyclist out when it is dark in the depths of the countryside. Part of the ride back to Oakham from here entails going down a long hill called "The Wisp", an apt name tonight. As we cycle down this hill the temperature gradient drops accordingly. Through one more village, another steep climb then down into the welcoming lights of Oakham.
Only 16 miles for me, 23 for dr_pink, but we both thought they were a bit special tonight.