Your ride today....

[TigerT]

Two rides this weekend to report.

The first was on Saturday evening. A friend wanted to go for a ride and gave me a call. Any excuse to go out. He didn't have a bike so I lent him one of mine (a bike I inherited when my main ride buddy passed away last year - I'm not so extravagant as to buy 2 Roubaixs!) and we did my usual Sunday ride over to Baden. It was a perfect evening for riding and we enjoyed a coffee in Baden before riding home in the dark. I love riding in the dark - it's so quiet and the cycle paths are empty. Nice to see the spare bike getting some use, can't bring myself to sell it for sentimental reasons.


Posing with the 'Twins' at Baden station.

Ride 2 was my planned ride for the weekend. Well I say planned, because I had no idea where I'd end up! I set out to go for a coffee by the Pfäffikersee. One of my favourite places to cycle to, it's a lovely spot by the lake. I took then difficult (for me) route with the steeper hills and managed them all. As soon as I sat down for Coffee I realised how tired my legs were from the night before. So I waited a while, had a banana and admired the view for a while. I then decided to head home. I headed down passed Greifensee and needed a comfort break so headed down to the ferry dock as it was just a small diversion. At this point it was starting to get warmer, so despite my legs complaining, I decided to head to Rapperswill for lunch. That really did finish my legs off. Lunch was enjoyed and stubbornness kicked in. I really should have given in and got the train home...... but I hate giving up and with my much improved fitness this year, I had to at least attempt the ride home. So heading across the bridge to the west side of the lake, I followed my normal route back. I was dreading the climb from Zürich centre up to my home, but it went surprisingly well. I put the bike away tired but happy another 110kms ridden. First ride out in shorts and short sleeves. Nice red tan lines to prove it!


Tired legs at the first coffee stop - Little did they know what was expected of them.


The view out over the Pfäffikersee

Escape from the Dinosaur - Passed the dinosaur museum at Aathal

The view from the highest point of the ride looking down towards Rapperswil

....and the map.

 

[Datum2]

Today's ride was a steady circular loop around Bury St Edmunds taking in Suffolk from both sides of the A14. The start point was Newmarket . The weather was just poor again. The sun shone for 15 minutes at the most. Most folks will know that above the A14 in this region runs into Breckland with flat areas, outdoor pigs and root crop land. South of the A14 the countryside is more of the rolling nature with a wealth of fine houses, pretty villages, large greens and ponds in front of every large farm house or so it seemed.
The highpoint was finding the Maglia Rosso cycle cafe at Hawstead Green. You should all pass that way if you get a chance.
Our ride was soon tempered by my friend crashing big time on a down hill run. Too fast, slipped on something or not paying full attention. Job to say but good looks face rather pumelled, big road rash on his thigh, damaged thumb.
Wrecked bike. Taking stock, the cycle helmet badly whacked but probably saved a big trauma. Lots of blood and shook up.
The kindness of passing motorists was gladdening to see, all asked could they assist and we took advantage of one couples offer to repatriate us with our transport at Newmarket.
A truncated ride of 45 miles but certainly worth another visit based around the Maglia Rosso cycle cafe
One other consideration is how much and what first aid bits to carry.
I'd got some Savlon but where that gets used probably not wanted on facial wounds

Edit - suggested Newmarket was in CAMBS but definitely in Suffolk.

 

[Dave 123]

@Datum2 youre right, Maglia Rosso is a nice place. Might have to go that way on the tandem next weekend.

I hope your mate is okay, and mends quickly.

 

[i hate hills]

Up the distance a bit . 27 miles on the mtb . Probs a bit too much for me at this time. Glad i did it though . The route was Brechin to Forfar and a town loop thrown in too. Tail wind though then the mother of all head winds coming back. Bloody knackered now . Good night all.

 

[Datum2]

I hope your mate is okay, and mends quickly.

Thank you, apparently torn ligament in thumb and lots of skin cleaning. Worst bit he says is removing the grit from the flesh wounds

 

[the_craig]

Mrs The_craig got away from work a bit sharp this afternoon so decided on a wee out and back. The roads were quiet due to everyone being caught up with a certain football match. Suited me just fine.

https://www.strava.com/activities/1510722776/

As an aside, on my past couple rides, I have felt a lot faster. I recently changed tyres from Conti Gatorskins to Conti GP4000s ii tyres on and I’m running them at a lower pressure. I maybe expected a small improvement but I didn’t expect so much. Either that or it’s all in my head.

 

[Jenkins]

Just a short, late afternoon 11 miles, roughly 50/50 on and off road, on the Voodoo 29er to take this week's total over 200 miles.
https://www.strava.com/activities/1510820439

 

[Jon George]

The start point was in Newmarket which is just in CAMBS.

No, its not - its in Suffolk.

By the way, I hope your friend gets well soon.

 

[Datum2]

No, its not - its in Suffolk

I stand corrected and will edit my post, thanks

My friend is feeling very sore but lucky no greater damage was done.

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

I hope your friend recovers quickly @Datum2. Sounds like a nasty off.


My own ride today was fortunately very tame by comparison. I set out aiming for a 30 mile loop before lunch taking in Lyth Hill, Condover, Ryton, Longnor, Acton Burnell, Cound Moor, Cressage, Eaton Constantine, Walcot, Upton Magna, Uffington, Shrewsbury and home.

It was colder and windier than I was expexcting which made for hard going for the first few miles to Longnor. I set off with the knockabout bike shiny and clean, which didn't last very long on the lanes, particularly when I pulled over to let a tractor past and found that what looked like the edge of the tarmac was actually a five inch deep hole filled to the brim with sloppy mud. Pah.

Reaching Longnor I had a long stretch with the wind behind me to look forward to and it didn't disappoint, allowing me to cruise along at 18 to 20 mph with ease. I encountered a lorry driver who had missed his turning at Acton Burnell and was having to turn round, then a school outing in three cars who were very lost near Cressage (I think they were looking for Viroconium - sat nav error).

After Walcot there was a strong cross wind which slowed things down again and made me change my original route plan as I'd have been finishing with about 8 miles into the wind. I therefore took a right at Upton Magna and headed for Shrewsbury. Once again I avoided the muddy section of the canal path by using Sundorne Road but oddly it was less pleasant with fewer cars about today as people felt more of a need to squeeze past.

After a trip along the river paths I left town via the English Bridge and finally had to face that headwind for the last push to home.

34.6 miles at 13.5 mph average which is better than I expected. Lots of people on bikes today - most looking like they were on utility rides.

No photos again.

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

I felt a bit tired today but I launched myself forth for a ride around some super lanes. I was aiming at the wild daffs down at Ketford so I went straight out to Redmarley to approach Ryton and Ketford from that angle. The wind was a bit of a hindrance out over the common so it was just a case of plugging away. The wild daffs on the climb at Redmarley were finished but once I was passed Ryton the banks and woods came alive with yellow. The spectacular field of daffs by the River Leadon were stunning but the best was the field after the climb away from the valley. Just amazing.

I continued on to High Leadon to climb onto Woolridge. The floods in the Severn valley were still apparent and as I headed for the Hams I hoped the lane would be free. It wasn't as I had three bits of flooding to ride through none of which were particularly difficult. That road will be clear in the next day or so. Three swallows flitting about are a great sign that Spring has arrived. Well I'm not counting my chickens just yet. The ride back had the benefit of wind assistance but the tiredness I had started with began to make itself known again. Those last up ramps felt tough and my pace dropped noticeably. Nevertheless it was a lovely ride out today for sure. 47 smiles

 

[Spiderweb]

It’s great to see the weather improving so riding in shorts for only the second time this year.
My morning ride was my usual 6.6 mile commute but I extended my home commute to 28 miles.
Great day for cycling!

 

[Jon George]

My ride today did not happen. Nor will it for any day during the next week.
(I have a planned blood test that requires no cycling for a week beforehand. There is also another Cease and Desist Notice, but I won't go into that ... )

 

[Reynard]

My ride today did not happen. Nor will it for any day during the next week.
(I have a planned blood test that requires no cycling for a week beforehand. There is also another Cease and Desist Notice, but I won't go into that ... )

My planned ride didn't go ahead either, if it's any consolation. In my case, little me on my shrunk-in-a-boil-wash bike was in serious danger of being picked up by the wind and blown across the road, straight into the path of oncoming traffic.

Had an afternoon of fettling instead.

 

[Jon George]

^ A like for the fettle.