Your ride today....

[twentysix by twentyfive]

I rode over the Hill to join the CTC ride. Their plan was to see the daffs that I'd visited yesterday but by a differing route. 19 of us were at the meet but my old pal, Bill D, peeled off in Ledbury. Ben F was our leader and he took us the lanesy route to Ledbury. From here we aimed at Tiller's Green. It was while looking after some of the slower riders that I got caught in no man's land and took the wrong guess at a cross roads. By the time I'd climbed up the ramp for St Mary's I knew I'd be on my own for a while. I went by Kempley where and continued through the woods to Shaw Common where I asked a rider coming the other way if he'd seen the group. No sightings reported I took aim at the cafe (cyclists always end up at the cafe!). That meant winging it through the confusing Gorsley triangle which I seemed to manage well. I ended up on the lane for Aston Crews as intended. From Aston Crews it was straightforward to drop for Barrel Lane and then Longhope and the cafe. I ordered and waited as I was first there! Some time later they arrived. Ben's navigation had gone awry and he'd done an extra loop. No worries.

Setting off Ben took us to Barrel Lane (again for me) but took a different dodge into the Gorsley triangle. He did an excellent job of taking us through to North Pole Lane and the steep climb into Dymock wood. The daffs here had begun to show much better than I'd seen yesterday. What a difference a day makes. Dymock arrived as expected but time was getting on. Then my freewheel stopped engaging. I managed to get it to reengage and some of us began to up the pace a touch as time constraints became an issue. We dodged around the flood at Bromsberrow as we had yesterday and not long after it was just Rick A and me riding for home. My freewheel disengaged again so with 2 miles to go I scootered my way homeward. Mrs 26 rescued me with 0.5 miles to go. It was nice to catch up with some old pals today and to meet some new ones. Now it's time for me to look out my spanners as a non working bike is not allowed. 54 smiles and a new cafe added to my repertoire.

 

[PeteXXX]

Back to front commute just finished.
I put the CX in the car and drove us to w*rk for 13:30 yesterday afternoon so I could ride home when I finished at midnight.

It’s dark out there, with a surprisingly cheeky headwind all the way home.

12.5 miles, ready for a shower & bed, then ride back in to w*rk tomorrow afternoon.
Maybe I’ll leave the car there again and commute two days on the trot.

 

[Stonechat]

Despite looking forward to and making vague but definite plans of riding while I spent a few days away............................it never happened.

Was it the snow ? Was it the ice ? Was it the cold or the wind ? Nope, nothing like that. I left my cycling shoes behind. What a silly arse.
So we drove down on Sunday after being delayed by 6'' of snow on the road we live on. Setting off at noon rather than at 9am, it was Sunday to Wednesday at a lovely hotel and spa on the edges of Rutland Water.
The place was good as were all the facilities. The local town of Oakham was a real nice place. Lovely views all round.
I've been riding once before around here a couple of years back on a 100 fixed ride so I was looking forward to cycling. Instead I managed a few miles walking around 'The Water' I took a couple of photos:

View attachment 400985 View attachment 400986 View attachment 400988 View attachment 400989 View attachment 400990 View attachment 400991

and then the battery on my phone ran out.

So while I've had a good time away. I could have been better organised.

Sounds like me
I did London to Brighton, Mrs Stonechat drove down and I was packed up.
Late the day before I wanted to go out so raided my packing for my normal shoes.
So ended up in Brighton with only cycling shoes! At least at the time I was wearing moutain bike type.
Had to dash into town for some trainers

 

[pjd57]

Went out from Maryhill to Fintry today.
We avoided the Crow Rd route and opted for Milngavie to Killearn then Fintry.
Lunch at the excellent Fintry Inn, with our partners( who came by car ).

Probably ate too much and "enjoyed" the hills coming home with indigestion thrown in.

42 miles and 2,500 feet of climbing

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

the Crow Rd

Ah yes - thanks for the memory. In a previous life I used to ride over the Crow Road, through the Carron Valley and back over the Tak Me Doon. Once upon a time Fintry had a youth hostel. I suppose it's gone now..... That reminds me - is the "Roof of the World" road still there?

 

[pjd57]

Ah yes - thanks for the memory. In a previous life I used to ride over the Crow Road, through the Carron Valley and back over the Tak Me Doon. Once upon a time Fintry had a youth hostel. I suppose it's gone now..... That reminds me - is the "Roof of the World" road still there?

I'm not sure about the "Roof of the World " road.
Although I live in Maryhill , I am a bit lost on the roads out there. I just follow my mate.

We were planning on going through the Carton Valley on our last trip out that way but it was still under umpteen feet of snow.

Great cycling area.

 

[derrick]

Nice 25 miles to the pub, the Moon under Water a Weatherspoons, best ham egg and chips ever washed down with a couple of beers, i think it was 5 to be honest, great ride with 5 mates. whats not to like.
https://www.strava.com/activities/1467426274

 

[Mr Celine]

First proper ride for a fortnight thanks to the sn*w. The ongoing melt plus last night's rain had an unusual effect on the rivers. This is a view looking from the recently restored Rink bridge over the Tweed, which is high but still dark, towards the confluence (lovely word that) with the Ettrick, which is a yellowy brown colour and in full spate.

The snow has mostly gone, hopefully this is the last time this year I'll be able to do this.

Which was a good excuse to stop half way up the Woll and look back the way towards Selkirk.

On the descent the sun shining on the distant snow covered Cheviot was distracting enough to make me stop.

And 10 miles further on it looked even better.

Last night's rain had washed all the salt off the roads and they weren't too muddy. I'd just decided to take the road bike out this weekend for the first time this year when round the corner came a cooncil gritter bearing the name 'Ready Salted'. Oh well, maybe next week.
30 miles at 12.9 mph.

 

[User6179]

Ah yes - thanks for the memory. In a previous life I used to ride over the Crow Road, through the Carron Valley and back over the Tak Me Doon. Once upon a time Fintry had a youth hostel. I suppose it's gone now..... That reminds me - is the "Roof of the World" road still there?

Top of the World, highest point between Fintry and Kippen

 

[Reynard]

14 miles for me this evening - not as long as Wednesday's ride, but I swapped very flat for what passes for hills out in this neck of the woods. Rode the Downham - Way Head - Coveney - Ely - Downham loop, first time since the Autumn. Made for a nice change, but those short, sharp climbs were a bit of a shock to the system... Also, the road surface between Downham Hythe and Coveney has deteriorated markedly - not that it was ever particularly brilliant - but some of the potholes really are mahoosive.

Did enjoy riding out at dusk though, it's one of my favourite times of the day to be out on the bike. Plus the wind had completely dropped, so it was very pleasant out. Unlike along Branch Bank, the Blackthorn along Downham Hythe and West Fen is only starting to get going, plenty of daffs here and there, no sign yet of the periwinkles that were so abundant at this time last year, but saw several stands of beautiful pussy willow. Saw bats flitting about (first time this year) and a barn owl hunting over Downham Common.

Downside was that the ash trees opposite Isle Vets, which used to house a thriving rookery, have been cut right back. I suppose the upside is that the road isn't slimed in about an inch of bird poo at this time of year, but it's sad to see the birds gone and the trees butchered...

Did have my first ever non-comestible roadside find though - a 20p piece.

 

[Mr Celine]

[QUOTE 5191594, member: 9609"]

I take it you were out later in the day, I was out mid afternoon and the cloud never lifted of cheviot
[/QUOTE]
Out at 4:15pm, the last photo was taken about 6:15.

 

[mjr]

Went on a short tulip hunting ride yesterday. Not much showing yet but a couple of suspects. I think the snow has probably delayed them which could cause a scheduling problem for the tulip ride because early May's already pretty packed with wellies, Reach and fancy dress rides.

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

Top of the World, highest point between Fintry and Kippen

Yes - I had a look at the map and decided that must be the road. Funny thing is that it isn't the highest road in them thar parts IIRC

 

[User6179]

Yes - I had a look at the map and decided that must be the road. Funny thing is that it isn't the highest road in them thar parts IIRC

Aye, its not that high, less than 600ft, think the Crow is just over 1000ft.

 

[delb0y]

Gentle 32 for me today. although even the slightest hills felt less than gentle. Still trying to find some fitness after only pootling around this winter. Not much to report. Alney Island was very wet and muddy - enough to make me wash the bike when I got back, and the horses are tethered and left again.