Your ride today....

[gavgav]

At this time of year, there is no way that I would go to Barmouth. Too many day trippers for my liking.

Luckily our holiday home is based just far enough away that we can pick and choose our days to avoid the West Midlands invasion

 

[welsh dragon]

Luckily our holiday home is based just far enough away that we can pick and choose our days to avoid the West Midlands invasion

Indeed. The Birmingham contingent is errr very big in numbers.

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

I then crossed Barmouth Bridge

That's great news. There was a threat a while ago that it was going to be closed. Lot's like me complained. Seems it worked

 

[iancity]

Mr Celine (or anyone) - how do you get the picture of your Strava ride like that and uploaded on here? I understand how to upload but none of my Strava pics look like that :-(

 

[Donger]

Indeed. The Birmingham contingent is errr very big in numbers.

And here's another Brummie (a big one at that) who's about to join them. Nice write-up and pictures @gavgav . I'm going to be spending a week near Harlech soon, and you've given me plenty of ideas and inspiration for that trip.

 

[welsh dragon]

And here's another Brummie (a big one at that) who's about to join them. Nice write-up and pictures @gavgav . I'm going to be spending a week near Harlech soon, and you've given me plenty of ideas and inspiration for that trip.

If the weather is kind to you Donger you will really enjoy it.

 

[Mr Celine]

Mr Celine (or anyone) - how do you get the picture of your Strava ride like that and uploaded on here? I understand how to upload but none of my Strava pics look like that :-(

I only worked that out today. On an android phone in Strava there is an icon at the top right of the 'your ride' screen, looks a bit like <
Click on that, this gives you the option to 'share'. Upload to photos didn't work, but upload to drive did, from where I could download it to my photos then upload it to cycle chat.

Thanks for asking as having typed this I'll be able to search for this post next week, by which time I would have completely forgotten how it's done.

 

[Aravis]

A good cycling day in prospect today, and I set off at about 6:30am through the streets of a very quiet Gloucester. Through Stonehouse, Nailsworth and Avening into the Cotswolds (a well-worn path), and on to Tetbury, I then started to mix it up a bit, using roads I've by-passed many times before. The minor road heading almost due east from Malmesbury was quiet and pretty, if a bit rough in places. Turning northwards through Minety, I quickly arrived at Ashton Keynes, and a photo-opportunity beside the Thames. It's not obvious here but in these parts the roads were swarming with cyclists:

As others have reported, there was quite a bit of early morning mist, especially up high. The above scene is at about 10am; the skies continued to get bluer and the temperature rose rapidly.

I did a loop back through Purton and on to Brinkworth, which sits on the ridge between the valleys of the Thames and Avon (the Bristol one). I worked my way steadily back to Malmesbury, this time heading through the centre. Very pretty, especially by the river, but horrendously busy. From there I took a pleasant route back to the Cotswold ridge via Westonbirt, eventually dropping down to Wotton-under-Edge, and a complete change of scene.

The options back up to Gloucester are pretty familiar, but I still managed to find one stretch I didn't know. My planned route had an option to extend northwards with another loop if I felt like it, the intention being to hit my next available "new" number, 131 miles. I would've had it spot on, but heading past Ashleworth on the minor road to Tirley I was confronted by this:

Yes, there were warnings, but as usual I ignored them. You can't win them all. There was plenty of evidence that the level has recently been much higher, but I can't see the road being open anytime soon.

That made a mess of my carefully drawn route outline. A quick replan, and I went back towards Gloucester and around the Sandhurst road. It started to look as though I'd be over distance, so I went another time round the triangular loop near Sandhurst village, which pushed me just over 134 miles, another number needed for the collection.

Another milestone reached today: in my attempt to ride 365 lifetime centuries (a year's worth), the target is now under 50.

 

[iancity]

I only worked that out today. On an android phone in Strava there is an icon at the top right of the 'your ride' screen, looks a bit like <
Click on that, this gives you the option to 'share'. Upload to photos didn't work, but upload to drive did, from where I could download it to my photos then upload it to cycle chat.

Thanks for asking as having typed this I'll be able to search for this post next week, by which time I would have completely forgotten how it's done.

Upload to drive doesnt work for me but much further forward than I was, at least I now know where the picture comes from ...thanks :-)

 

[Jenkins]

Really wanted to get out for a ride this morning with the weather (finally) being warm & sunny, but the need to do some garden tidying had to take preference so, having filed the green waste bin with fuschia cuttings, weeds and cropped lavendar bushes, it wasn't until 2pm that I managed to get out.

The initial plan was for a ride out to the far side Ipswich and back via the local Lidl (bacon rolls for tea!) for a metric 50 and, as there was no hurry, I used the Cube for the first time in over a month. As usual out viia Levington & Nacton into Ipswich and out to Sproughton using a cut through under the A14 before heading out to Bramford

and along Paper Mill Lane into Claydon, off road on a restricted byway to Akenham, across to Westerfield, Rushmere St. Andrew, another off road section to Martlesham and then down into Foxhall

Then along to Bucklesham, Kirton and Falkenham

Followed by another couple of off road sections (Candlet Path & Hyems Lane linked by Gulphur Road) into Felixstowe and then along the seafront before cutting inland to Lidl where I finally stopped to get the bacon & rolls with the last section skirting the docks & back home up Blofield Track giving me a final total for the afternoon of 50 miles instead of the 50km initially planed.
https://www.strava.com/activities/1508574994

 

[gavgav]

That's great news. There was a threat a while ago that it was going to be closed. Lot's like me complained. Seems it worked

Yes indeed, we did as well and common sense seems to have prevailed. There are even plans now to put in a path and cycleway, linking the promenade to the bridge, so that you don’t have to climb up that nasty piece of narrow windy road to get to the bridge as current.

 

[gavgav]

And here's another Brummie (a big one at that) who's about to join them. Nice write-up and pictures @gavgav . I'm going to be spending a week near Harlech soon, and you've given me plenty of ideas and inspiration for that trip.

Excellent, have fun. Plenty of good rides to be had round there and plenty of hills as well! The main road between Harlech and Barmouth isn’t much fun, but you can avoid some of it by climbing into the hills.

 

[welsh dragon]

Yes indeed, we did as well and common sense seems to have prevailed. There are even plans now to put in a path and cycleway, linking the promenade to the bridge, so that you don’t have to climb up that nasty piece of narrow windy road to get to the bridge as current.

I hope they do. That nasty first part is what puts me off doing the trail to be honest.

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

Two rides yesterday on the Raleigh which has been out for the first time this year. Also my first rides of the year in short sleeves.

The first ride I used as a shakedown as the bike hasn't been out since being serviced and having an upgrade to 27 speed. The route was Lyth Hill, Condover, Attingham Park, Upton Magna, Uffington, a convoluted tour round Shrewsbury and home.

My route took advantage of the wind direction (although it was pretty light) and having a more lively bike than I've been used to lately I got along very nicely from Condover. I caught and overtook a couple of riders on lightweight machines up the sharp little climb near Allfield and easily got up to 32 on a similar short sharp descent at Cronkhill.

Attingham Park was fairly busy and I got held up following a driver who slowed to a crawl for all the cattle grids. I got on fairly well to Upton Magna and on the climb to Downton this bike made it feel so easy.

Since the bike had started off clean I didn't want to drag it through the mud on the old canal path so just used the first tarmac section then turned off and joined Sundorne Road where the traffic was queueing for quite a long way and I felt a little smug at being able to filter past.

I headed along the riverside next and found a large group of canoeists engaged in portaging their vessels around the weir, then to extend the ride a bit I headed up St. Mary's Water Lane and around the town centre to the Welsh Bridge before riding through The Quarry (very busy with people out strolling through the park). Quest 88 were doing a demonstration day so there were a few recumbents being tried out on Victoria Avenue.

Finally I left town via the English Bridge and headed home. 23.3 miles at 14mph average despite lots of riding at slow speed around the town centre. 32.3 mph maximum.

Having had a stop for lunch I headed for my second ride. I wanted to try out my new ridiculously low climbing gear so a trip to Chuch Stretton was the obvious choice. I took the direct way to Condover, along the main road then headed for Ryton, Longnor, along the old roman road to All Stretton, Church Stretton and up the Burway.

The wind had picked up since the morning and I was riding directly into it so progress wasn't as swift as earlier. The ride out was pretty uneventful and I was soon winding my way up the Burway to the cattle grid where the gradient really ramps up. I had a pause for a drink then tackled the grid and dropped into my new low gear. I'm very happy with this. I was able to stay seated and just winch my way up this climb (over 900 feet in around a couple of miles) without any trouble. After that, the remaining climbing to the summit felt pretty easy.

I'd brought a fleece expecting it to be colder on the top of the Long Mynd but didn't feel the need for it in the end. The ride back was across Wild Moor to Robin Hood's Butts, down through High Park, then I took a right towards Plush Hill (some might know it as Jinlye) and down Castle Hill to All Stretton.

I had the wind behind me for the return journey and it made quite a difference to my speed. I was up over 20mph for long stretches. I did have a bit of a moment when my enthusiasm got the better of me and I barrelled into a corner a bit quick only to find my way barred by a couple of vehicles. Fortunately the canti brakes on the Raleigh are very good.

I took the longer way home, via Acton Burnell, Pitchford and Cantlop, then stuck with the main road after Condover to make the most of that tailwind.

33.8 miles at 13 mph average making it 57.1 miles for the day.

First ride. The Raleigh has a few shiny new bits. It didn't stay this clean for long.

Shifting canoes round the weir.

Busy in the centre of Shrewsbury.

Quest 88 demonstrating their bikes and trikes.

Second Ride: A pause before I tackle the Burway, which annoyingly looks practically flat in this photo.

View from the summit of the Burway climb. Not the summit of the Long Mynd though (Pole Bank) which we can see ahead.

Not as clear at Pole Bank as last time I was here. I'm about to take this path to Shooting Box and Wild Moor.

The view from Plush Hill from where I'm about to start my descent to All Stretton.

 

[Spiderweb]

A Naburn Loop this morning with friends Martin & Gaynor with a coffee and toasted tea cake stop at D’Oylys tea room at Bolton Percy. Nearly 27 miles in total, lovely ride out.