Your ride today.... (part 1)

[gbb]

This is one of my favourite threads but looks like i wont be able to contribute any time soon bcos i busted my achilles tendon completely and am now under long rehab. They're saying minimum recovery in 2 months, full recovery in 4-6 months.

View attachment 40030

Popped it on monday, went in for surgery on wednesday and now hobbling at home trying my best not to go crazy.

But its hard, its really hard

my sympathies Justiffa ...

For me today...27 miles, quite blowy so took a crosswind route for the most part, toward Oundle, along Bullock Road, towards the radio towers...

Thats a short sharp stab of a hill...as good as it gets round here , then diverting toward Lutton instead of the Giddings for a change, nice to see some different countryside. Came across Polebrook, site of a USAF base in the war, the 351st (IIRC)Bombardment Group, even that sounds grand ..Bombardment Group , with its inevitable memorial...

Not such a good pic, the sun was low and behind it. Memorial/visitors book nearby makes sombre reading..people from all over the world have signed, some relatives of guys that died or were stationed there...but all, even the latest generation recognising the sacrifices they made, nice thoughts.
Onto Warmington, across the 605 and back via Fotheringhay and Elton.

A shade under 14mph average....considering the damage to my lungs where I now sometimes puff going up the stairs...not bad. Terrible compared to the old days, but...

Edited to say...excellent photos on previous posts...keep it up, its nice to see other cyclists scenery

 

[Deleted member 1258]

80 miles the journey, raising money for the Myton Hospice in Warwick the aim, out on Mikes Myton ride on a beautiful March morning, spring flowers in the hedgerow, warm sun on my back and a cold wind to make sure I worked, ride report here.

http://www.cyclechat.net/threads/mikes-myton-ride-16-03-14.150960/

 

[Paul.G.]

This is one of my favourite threads but looks like i wont be able to contribute any time soon bcos i busted my achilles tendon completely and am now under long rehab. They're saying minimum recovery in 2 months, full recovery in 4-6 months.

View attachment 40030

Popped it on monday, went in for surgery on wednesday and now hobbling at home trying my best not to go crazy.

But its hard, its really hard

Ouch, hope you get better soon

 

[derrick]

43 mile club ride in the sun, lovely day short sleeve top and bibshorts, nice easy ride out to St Albans for a bit of breakfast, we had to divide the ride into 2 groups as there were so many of us, i went of with the so called faster ride and my other half went with the so called slower ride, they arrived at the stop less than 2 minutes behind us, after breakfast the ride split we took the option to come home as we were supposed to be seeing one of my daughters, the other half of the riders went on to do a few more miles, we got back towards home and i thought i deserved a pint, so of to the pub.

 

[Paul.G.]

Treat myself to a new cross-bike yesterday as the old one was getting a bit tired. So today on its maiden voyage I managed to run into another cyclist head-on. Rear mech hanger bent, levers scratched, bar tape ruined and I'm a bit battered! Bloody typical, I bet it would not have happened if I had been on the old clunker. Cause was too silly old men in Lycra going too fast ( one being me obviously ) we collided under a tight bridge on the Kennet & Avon canal, a route I've ridden a thousand times without a glitch, oh well, that's cycling!!

 

[HonestMan1910]

This is one of my favourite threads but looks like i wont be able to contribute any time soon bcos i busted my achilles tendon completely and am now under long rehab. They're saying minimum recovery in 2 months, full recovery in 4-6 months.

View attachment 40030

Popped it on monday, went in for surgery on wednesday and now hobbling at home trying my best not to go crazy.

But its hard, its really hard

I was 12 weeks in plaster, 3 seperate casts, 4 months rehab

Hope it heals okay

 

[coffeejo]

This is one of my favourite threads but looks like i wont be able to contribute any time soon bcos i busted my achilles tendon completely and am now under long rehab. They're saying minimum recovery in 2 months, full recovery in 4-6 months.

View attachment 40030

Popped it on monday, went in for surgery on wednesday and now hobbling at home trying my best not to go crazy.

But its hard, its really hard

+1 to what everyone else has said - GWS but at your body's speed not your impatient mind's!

 

[HLaB]

This is one of my favourite threads but looks like i wont be able to contribute any time soon bcos i busted my achilles tendon completely and am now under long rehab. They're saying minimum recovery in 2 months, full recovery in 4-6 months.

View attachment 40030

Popped it on monday, went in for surgery on wednesday and now hobbling at home trying my best not to go crazy.

But its hard, its really hard

GWS!

 

[PatrickPending]

162Km today - longest ride of the year so far. Ending up in Fotheringhay - some ace cycling there, but a long way from home.....

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

@Justiffa Best wishes and take care of it. It will take time and it's hard. I did mine first time around as a teenager and it was not fun.

My ride today was best described as a ride of 2 halves. One against a very stiff headwind (having to pedal hard down hill (like granny ring on downhills!)) and a wonderfully easy section where we hardly noticed we were pedalling and flew along the other side of the loch!

So first day of holiday, a lie in listening to the high winds outside and all thoughts of a morning ride blown away. After lunch it was time to stop being a wimp and get my act together... a circuit of the loch was in order... it was an interesting start, having to cycle down a steep track in my granny gear against a stiff headwind and thoughts of "is this actually sensible" were springing to mind... but after the first 30 mins into the headwind, we got a nice tail wind for the next 50 mins or so and then another fight to return to the cottage (after helping a female cyclist with a chain problem).

Some photos...

Nice view looking towards Kinloch Rannoch.

I just love the colours along this section of loch...

Corrie Falls - handheld...

Loch Rannoch is not known for its surfing... today it seems that it would probably have been easier than cycling into the headwind!

A nice patch of light...

That "mist" is actually spray from the waves that are more than 3 foot high along the loch at the moment!

Surfing anyone? Cycling along the shore today was like cycling along the coast with the waves pounding alongside you!

Rainbow...

Its getting a little wild out there at the moment! but good fun and a warm and enjoyable, if slow ride!

http://www.strava.com/activities/121231644 no cobwebs left now!

 

[welsh dragon]

@Justiffa Best wishes and take care of it. It will take time and it's hard. I did mine first time around as a teenager and it was not fun.

My ride today was best described as a ride of 2 halves. One against a very stiff headwind (having to pedal hard down hill (like granny ring on downhills!)) and a wonderfully easy section where we hardly noticed we were pedalling and flew along the other side of the loch!

So first day of holiday, a lie in listening to the high winds outside and all thoughts of a morning ride blown away. After lunch it was time to stop being a wimp and get my act together... a circuit of the loch was in order... it was an interesting start, having to cycle down a steep track in my granny gear against a stiff headwind and thoughts of "is this actually sensible" were springing to mind... but after the first 30 mins into the headwind, we got a nice tail wind for the next 50 mins or so and then another fight to return to the cottage (after helping a female cyclist with a chain problem).

Some photos...
View attachment 40056
Nice view looking towards Kinloch Rannoch.

View attachment 40057
I just love the colours along this section of loch...

View attachment 40058
Corrie Falls - handheld...

View attachment 40059
Loch Rannoch is not known for its surfing... today it seems that it would probably have been easier than cycling into the headwind!

View attachment 40060
A nice patch of light...

View attachment 40062
That "mist" is actually spray from the waves that are more than 3 foot high along the loch at the moment!

View attachment 40063
Surfing anyone? Cycling along the shore today was like cycling along the coast with the waves pounding alongside you!

View attachment 40064
Rainbow...

View attachment 40065
Its getting a little wild out there at the moment! but good fun and a warm and enjoyable, if slow ride!

http://www.strava.com/activities/121231644 no cobwebs left now!

Beautiful photos.

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

Sorry to hear about the tendon @Justiffa. I hope it heals swiftly.


It's another day of beautiful here, even if the wind is a bit on the cold side, so I decided to head for the hills and do another Long Mynd ride. (This being a good chance to test how the climbing ability has changed with the new gearing). The route was the same as the last time I went out there - the usual way to Church Stretton then through Little Stretton, Minton, Hamperley, up to the Gliding Club, across the top to Pole Bank and back down to Church Stretton via the Burway before heading home.

I started off with a fleece on but was able to put that away at Ryton, where another rider stopped to do the same thing and we chatted. He was rather surprised that I planned to ride the Long Mynd on the knockabout bike complete with panniers. I in turn was surprised that it was his first ride of the year (but was too polite to say so).

The ride into Stretton was slowed slightly by the wind (nothing unusual there due to the way the wind flows around the hills) and I could feel the muscles a bit on this section after the last two rides.

Once in Church Stretton there were loads of other cyclists about - mostly mountain bikers to start, but as I headed towards Little Stretton there were far more roadies coming the other way. Spotting that most had race numbers I concluded that it must be a sportive or an audax. I've had a look on the Audax UK site and can't see any events in this area - anyone know what event it was? (Edit: A bit more searching suggests it was The Shropshire Devil sportive. Anyone on here ride it?)

I was going against the flow of the sportive riders as far as Hamperley where I turned to climb up Nut Batch. Here I discovered two things; firstly the new gearing is great - the small change to a 26 tooth small ring with the 12-32 cassette gives me exactly the gearing I'd hoped for. Secondly I'd made a bit of a fuelling error. I usually have a drink and a cake at my first stop when riding this route, but today I only had the drink. This meant I was running out of energy a bit and the climb was quite a slog - just as well I've got those nice low gears to fall back on. I stopped at a spot with a view for a bite of lunch, but it didn't really help with the rest of the climb and I was glad when I finally wound my way to the top of this bit.

I needed to put on extra layers once out of the shelter of the trees as being approx 900 feet higher than Church Stretton there is a noticeable temperature difference up here even without the wind chill. Fortunately though, the wind was going my way so I was helped along to Pole Bank.

After leaving Pole Bank and rejoining the tarmac at Shooting Box I started to pass riders with race numbers - yes, I'd caught up with the same sportive ride again and I was headed down the Burway while they were coming up.

With the wind behind me I was able to leave Church Stretton at a brisker pace than I'd arrived and after a pit stop to fix an annoying creak (rear wheel skewer needed tightening slightly) made better time on the way back - catching and passing 5 other cyclists on the way.

36.2 miles today and I just managed to get over 11mph average.

Apologies for the funny angle - Smoke over the Long Mynd. It looks as though there has been a fairly big heather fire on the neighbouring Stiperstones.

Church Stretton

Brookside Cottage at Little Stretton.

At Priors Holt - another location that has made it into literature, this time as Witchend from Malcolm Saville's childrens books. I'm headed off on the road to the left at this point

Really clear views from the top of the climb today.

Gliders waiting their turn for launch...........

.........a hang glider pilot has beaten them to it though

Have a guess which way the wind usually blows up here.

At the summit.

A few of the riders on the event struggle up the Burway.

 

[welsh dragon]

Sorry to hear about the tendon @Justiffa. I hope it heals swiftly.


It's another day of beautiful here, even if the wind is a bit on the cold side, so I decided to head for the hills and do another Long Mynd ride. (This being a good chance to test how the climbing ability has changed with the new gearing). The route was the same as the last time I went out there - the usual way to Church Stretton then through Little Stretton, Minton, Hamperley, up to the Gliding Club, across the top to Pole Bank and back down to Church Stretton via the Burway before heading home.

I started off with a fleece on but was able to put that away at Ryton, where another rider stopped to do the same thing and we chatted. He was rather surprised that I planned to ride the Long Mynd on the knockabout bike complete with panniers. I in turn was surprised that it was his first ride of the year (but was too polite to say so).

The ride into Stretton was slowed slightly by the wind (nothing unusual there due to the way the wind flows around the hills) and I could feel the muscles a bit on this section after the last two rides.

Once in Church Stretton there were loads of other cyclists about - mostly mountain bikers to start, but as I headed towards Little Stretton there were far more roadies coming the other way. Spotting that most had race numbers I concluded that it must be a sportive or an audax. I've had a look on the Audax UK site and can't see any events in this area - anyone know what event it was?

I was going against the flow of the sportive riders as far as Hamperley where I turned to climb up Nut Batch. Here I discovered two things; firstly the new gearing is great - the small change to a 26 tooth small ring with the 12-32 cassette gives me exactly the gearing I'd hoped for. Secondly I'd made a bit of a fuelling error. I usually have a drink and a cake at my first stop when riding this route, but today I only had the drink. This meant I was running out of energy a bit and the climb was quite a slog - just as well I've got those nice low gears to fall back on. I stopped at a spot with a view for a bite of lunch, but it didn't really help with the rest of the climb and I was glad when I finally wound my way to the top of this bit.

I needed to put on extra layers once out of the shelter of the trees as being approx 900 feet higher than Church Stretton there is a noticeable temperature difference up here even without the wind chill. Fortunately though, the wind was going my way so I was helped along to Pole Bank.

After leaving Pole Bank and rejoining the tarmac at Shooting Box I started to pass riders with race numbers and familiar faces - yes, I'd caught up with the same sportive ride again and I was headed down the Burway while they were coming up.

With the wind behind me I was able to leave Church Stretton at a brisker pace than I'd arrived and after a pit stop to fix an annoying creak (rear wheel skewer needed tightening slightly) made better time on the way back - catching and passing 5 other cyclists on the way.

36.2 miles today and I just managed to get over 11mph average.

View attachment 40046
Apologies for the funny angle - Smoke over the Long Mynd. It looks as though there has been a fairly big heather fire on the neighbouring Stiperstones.

View attachment 40047
Church Stretton

View attachment 40048
Brookside Cottage at Little Stretton.

View attachment 40049
At Priors Holt - another location that has made it into literature, this time as Witchend from Malcolm Saville's children's books. I'm headed off on the road to the left at this point

View attachment 40050
Really clear views from the top of the climb today.

View attachment 40051
Gliders waiting their turn for launch...........

View attachment 40052
.........a hang glider pilot has beaten them to it though

View attachment 40053
Have a guess which way the wind usually blows up here.

View attachment 40054
At the summit.

View attachment 40055
A few of the riders on the event struggle up the Burway.

Fantastic photos Phil

 

[Donger]

What a great 30 miler today. Found a perfect route for a hybrid/touring bike with bomb-proof tyres. Out from Gloucester to Stroud, then along the old railway path (all muddy puddles and stone chippings) into Nailsworth for a quick pint at the Egypt Mill. Then needed all 27 gears to shift my 20 stone ass up the hairpins and up onto Minchinhampton Common for an icecream. An invigorating 35mph glide back down through Amberley with brakes squealing, then back on on the railway path again. Finally back home, breeze assisted and leisurely,along the A38 to Gloucester. All the young lads on racers with skinnies seemed to think they we "scalping" me, but I don't think they had the slightest idea of all the fun they had been missing out on by sticking to the flat tarmac down in the vale. You've just gotta love a versatile bike that can go anywhere and do anything. Over 400 miles in to my target of 1700 for the year now, and ramping up the climbing towards taking on Bealach Na Ba later in the year. I will not fail, I will not fail, I will not fail.

 

[arranandy]

First day on Mallorca so it was a fairly easy route - 96km of rolling countryside. Sunshine, blue skies but quite a stiff wind at parts. Lunch stop at Sineu then back to the hotel for a post ride ride refreshment


Wind had dropped by this point so I decided to take another short spin up to Puerto Pollensa



Great first day, I hope the rest of the week is the same