Your ride today....

[pjd57]

A fairly uneventful 8 and a bit miles through a lot of slush , but I had to stop for a picture .
My daughter posted the first , me age 18, on Facebook to say happy birthday. 43 years on , the houses on the left are gone but the trees in the background have grown a bit.
Barrisdale rd , Maryhill G20

 

[Reynard]

Felt motivated enough to take advantage of a lovely if rather cloudy afternoon to squeeze a ride in. Still not bike fit after 3 months away from cycling, but enjoyed my 12-ish mile bimble.

Went out to Littleport via Downham Common and Black Bank. Looped around Parson's Lane, along Main Street and Victoria Street out to Sandhill Bridge. Came back along Branch Bank, picked up the A10 for a bit, then dived back into Littleport via Camel Road. From there I retraced my wheel tracks to finish the ride.

The daffs are starting to bloom along Branch Bank, and I saw a great crested grebe pootling about on the river. Shame the rubbish along Black Bank is still there... Saw three other cyclists - a chap on a tourer, a commuter on a hybrid and a rather chunky gentleman on an e-bike.

Not sure I'll get out until at least Sunday now, but looking forward to my next ride as I really enjoyed myself this afternoon.

 

[Fonze]

Cold and wet hour and a half ride ..
Beans on toast now ..

 

[RoubaixCube]

The sun was out so i decided to give the engine a little turning. Just a 10mile jaunt around town to shake the cobwebs off the bike. popped into my LBS and had a quick tune up to prepare me for the coming months of glorious sunshine. Got talking about silly things we had seen stolen off a bike and I left them a generous tip before I headed for home.

summer baselayer, jersey paired with a gilet and shorts. Kept the chills off nicely once rolling. Looking forward to those longer days.


Oh and some muppet actually honked at me Pushed his way past me but got stuck in traffic a literally a few yards up ahead while i was still on his six all the way. If he brake checked i would have gone right over the back of his car. I gave him a smile and royal wave as i shot past as i filtered past him

what a day

 

[numbnuts]

I have my first turbo ride today since 29 November last year only 30 minutes and it nearly killed me Oh the shame......

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

Only Pete M and me today. We took the fairly traditional route over Longdon Marsh and on around the Bushleys for Tewkesbury. Today we took the straightforward run to Bredon and onto the southern flanks of Bredon Hill. I haven't been this way for a while although I know the roads from many many rides. The steady ramp up to Conderton went fine today. Pete decided to give the downhill run to Beckford a bit of ooomph. As expected the cafe at Beckford is still in refurbishment mode and closed. We were heading for Evesham anyway so we climbed through Ashton-under-Hill and up Kersoe bank for our turn at Elmley Castle. Not long after we rolled up to the cafe at Hampton Ferry.

Much chat later we retraced into a strengthening headwind to Elmley Castle where we could continue our circuit of Bredon Hill. We could see rain over the way as we ramped upwards on the western flanks. Hopefully that should blow away before we arrived. It sort of did but we had a few spots at Defford. More headwind hindered our ramping up to Strensham before we could get some respite dropping down. Traffic was backed up due to roadworks before the Upton bridge. In Upton the high street was closed to traffic so if the river rose the place would be virtually cut off. The river is rising but not yet problematic so we were able to go by Brotheridge Green for our return. Some small rain/hail caught us briefly but didn't amount to a great amount. Good miles if a bit tough at times today. 64 smiles and my longest ride of 2018 so far.

 

[Vantage]

I had a short ride with the council cycling group yesterday. Only 10 miles along the Middlebrook Trail to Lostock train station and back.
When I got home I set about fitting my old drop bars back on and was falling asleep on the couch after 9pm while watching Star Trek The Voyage Home. In bed for 10pm and out like a light.

Bright eyed and bushy tailed this morning, I made my way to the diabetic centre via the cash machine for today's ride. I'd been looking forward to this one for a certain reason since it was mentioned on Monday.
'When I were a lad' my brother and I climbed over the barbed wire fence to have a wander along a disused railway bridge in Great Lever. There were holes in the surface that if you fell through, it was a 100ft or so plummet to your death. It was awesome.
A couple years ago, it was renovated and made part of a new cycleway linking Bolton and Radcliffe and I've been itching to try it out ever since learning of it.
10am and 7 (I think) of us set off through the town centre, along some back roads, onto a cycle path and across the motorway via a caged bridge. Literally, both sides and the roof are a big mess of steel caging...to stop eejits from jumping...or chucking stones probably. More shared cycle/ped path followed and I saw it. The Bridge! It was CRAP! Just like the previous one, all the awe and excitement of ending up flatter than a puncture fairies rampage had gone. All caged in. And it wasn't even painted. It was just bare metal. They could've prettied it up a tad. Gah!
Through Leverhulme Park, the old council estate were I used to hang about on as a kid and along more of the new cycle path. We carried on till we reached an overhead bridge at Bradley Fold Trading Estate and did an about turn. Literally stopped, turned the bikes around and went back the same way about 3/4 mile and turned off the trail to Bradley Fold Garden Centre for a brew. This 3/4 mile seems a bit pointless to me. Unless it's just to add up the mileage. Odd.
Anyhoo, we locked the bikes up and went in. Cup of tea for me.
I'm a socially awkward sumbitch to put it mildly. I struggle to engage in conversation and often feel like I'm intruding if I sit with other people. Today was a little different. I was sat at the table with 3 blokes I barely knew and felt perfectly relaxed. Today's subject was forging steel and Japanese sword making.
Beverages drunk we made our way out and unlocked the bikes. Glad mine wasn't in the hands of Johnny scumbag. The group had left the car park and was on the road opposite while I was still faffing about stuffing my 6lb chain into the Pendle. I soon moved when "Come on Bill!" echoed through the air. Ken, who waited for me and I, who overshot a corner, soon caught up with the rest of the group and settled into a nice steady ride back to the diabetic centre. I hung around and chatted with the ride leader and then slowly (sub 5mph) made my way up Chorley Old Road then through Moss Bank Park and home. I breathed a sigh of relief having just about pushed the heavy lump up the last step to my front door.
Hopefully that last hill will get easier as time passes. It kills me! Early night again I think. Thoroughly enjoyed today though

 

[Katherine]

Sunset and countryside to the left, traffic to the right.

Last night, after no cycling for a week and a half I managed to increase the milage of the route that I normally do for an evening ride from 20 to 31 miles for a metric century. I went all the way to Haydock and then did the longer loop back through Lowton and Culcheth on unlit roads to get to the A57 which was well lit and the path was mostly empty. It was a lovely evening though bright starry sky, not too cold and reasonably still.
I banged my knee on my handlebars within 2 miles of leaving home. I got to close to the kerb at a roundabout trying to do a trackstand and swerved then stopped suddenly. Cycling with a sore knee was doable but it slowed me down.

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

lovely town of Winchcombe

Stanton and Stanway

Stanton is one of my favourite small villages in the Cotswolds:

Broadway

Great part of the world. Lanes by Stanton and Stanway are superb. Stanton village is indeed a gem. I'm looking forward to getting over there again soon

 

[Jon George]

A mild sense of achievement today. I took a look at the sun and decided to get my March 50km ride in, but what has pleased me is that I pushed myself a little harder than normal. And, coupled, I think, with a slight change of diet that is seeing some weight fall away, I got home still feeling good. (Still do, in fact.) I am confident that I can eventually get a 50k done in under 2hrs and, if so, I'd be up for doing two or three a week.

Oh, the sun did go in and the wind was up for a play and buffet, but me and my cycling buddy enjoyed ourselves. Here's Jay at Coddenham.

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

I've missed a couple of good riding days, one through lack of motivation (although I did get out and clean/lubricate the bike) and one through unexpected problems cropping up, so I made sure of getting out today. It's a bit windy and quite cool in the wind so I'm still wrapped up in layers.

I decided to see what signs there were of the remaining snow so headed south to Longnor then over the Folly Bank climb to Cardington. The road over Lyth Hill is now clear again but todays problem once again was water as I splashed through puddles and small floods all the way round. Not sure why I bothered cleaning the bike as it's dirtier after this one ride than it was before.

After Cardington I went through Plaish for a change where I was greeted enthusiastically by a collie whilst taking a photo and he then proceeded to follow me out of the village. Worried about how far we might go before he got bored of this I stopped for another photo opportunity, then sneaked off while he was investigating an interesting scent in the bushes.

En route back to Acton Burnell I got baulked when having got speed up into a dip and hoping it would carry me over the crest without having to shift down, the mobile library came into view.

When I got to the village I joined the Pitchford road just after another cyclist on a much sportier bike. This is a good bit of downhill so as the other rider was only doing 15mph I overtook with a greeting and enjoyed myself. Getting to Pitchford I became aware of a sqeaking noise behind me and looked back to find him on my tail. For those who don't know there is quite a big dip into a valley just after pitchford where you can get some good speed up and need it to get up the other side. Dropping down the gears on the climb out he overtook me again with a casual "You were going pretty well back there. You ought to get yourself a lighter bike." before pulling ahead.

At the next turning I was going left and headed into the wind which slowed me down a bit. It was around here that a rain shower rolled through - misjudged that as I'd hoped to be back while it was still dry. There was more dark cloud up ahead so I headed for the short route home.

28.3 miles at 12.7 mph average.

Still a little bit of snow about in the lovely spring sunshine (note I don't say warmth).

Caer Caradoc as a background.

Surprised to find the road to Willstone still blocked.

At Cardington.

Someone thinks I might have treats.

Looking across to Holt Farm.

 

[Jon George]

View attachment 399054
Looking across to Holt Farm.

I really like this pic.

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

I really like this pic.

Thanks.

It's a nice view in summer but usually the hedge gets in the way for pictures.

 

[Pale Rider]

I've missed a couple of good riding days, one through lack of motivation (although I did get out and clean/lubricate the bike) and one through unexpected problems cropping up, so I made sure of getting out today. It's a bit windy and quite cool in the wind so I'm still wrapped up in layers.

I decided to see what signs there were of the remaining snow so headed south to Longnor then over the Folly Bank climb to Cardington. The road over Lyth Hill is now clear again but todays problem once again was water as I splashed through puddles and small floods all the way round. Not sure why I bothered cleaning the bike as it's dirtier after this one ride than it was before.

After Cardington I went through Plaish for a change where I was greeted enthusiastically by a collie whilst taking a photo and he then proceeded to follow me out of the village. Worried about how far we might go before he got bored of this I stopped for another photo opportunity, then sneaked off while he was investigating an interesting scent in the bushes.

En route back to Acton Burnell I got baulked when having got speed up into a dip and hoping it would carry me over the crest without having to shift down, the mobile library came into view.

When I got to the village I joined the Pitchford road just after another cyclist on a much sportier bike. This is a good bit of downhill so as the other rider was only doing 15mph I overtook with a greeting and enjoyed myself. Getting to Pitchford I became aware of a sqeaking noise behind me and looked back to find him on my tail. For those who don't know there is quite a big dip into a valley just after pitchford where you can get some good speed up and need it to get up the other side. Dropping down the gears on the climb out he overtook me again with a casual "You were going pretty well back there. You ought to get yourself a lighter bike." before pulling ahead.

At the next turning I was going left and headed into the wind which slowed me down a bit. It was around here that a rain shower rolled through - misjudged that as I'd hoped to be back while it was still dry. There was more dark cloud up ahead so I headed for the short route home.

28.3 miles at 12.7 mph average.

View attachment 399049
Still a little bit of snow about in the lovely spring sunshine (note I don't say warmth).

View attachment 399050
Caer Caradoc as a background.

View attachment 399051
Surprised to find the road to Willstone still blocked.

View attachment 399052
At Cardington.

View attachment 399053
Someone thinks I might have treats.

View attachment 399054
Looking across to Holt Farm.

If only you had a pound for every time someone suggests you get a lighter bike.

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

If only you had a pound for every time someone suggests you get a lighter bike.