Spiderweb
Not So Special One
- Location
- North Yorkshire
A beautiful day in North Yorkshire so a steady pootle out to Selby and back. 30 miles with an average of 15.2 mph.
Your ride today....
- Thread starter gbb
- Start date
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A beautiful day in North Yorkshire so a steady pootle out to Selby and back. 30 miles with an average of 15.2 mph.
- Location
- Egham
Whilst I'd have loved to have got my imperial century qualifying ride in today, lack of time due to other events put paid to that. Instead I opted to go and see what all the fuss was about Box Hill. An early start, out the house before 7 and it was chilly enough for arm warmers and gilet. Nice and steady out to Byfleet, then into little known, and unknown roads through Cobham, then the long gradual climb to Ranmore Common. Big drop back down the other side, terrible road surface so not opportunity to have a real whizz.
Going up zig-zag road was far easier than I thought, very smooth surface, and I was looking forward to taking the standard bike next to the viewpoint photo at the top. No such luck, as the top was shrouded in low cloud/morning mist, so visibility was poor, and it was cold
Back via Leatherhead and familiar roads to come home on 54 miles.
Going up zig-zag road was far easier than I thought, very smooth surface, and I was looking forward to taking the standard bike next to the viewpoint photo at the top. No such luck, as the top was shrouded in low cloud/morning mist, so visibility was poor, and it was cold
Back via Leatherhead and familiar roads to come home on 54 miles.
Poacher
Gravitationally challenged member
- Location
- Nottingham
Woken at ~6:40 by loud neighbours, then a car alarm, followed by loud buzzing from a wasp which resisted eviction, further sleep would be impossible. It would also be a waste of a beautiful morning, so on with cycling gear, including the almost unused Exustar sandals, and get the 14-speed Rapide out for a very short ride with no hills. After about a mile I decided to transfer the bottle from the seat tube cage to the downtube. No mobile juggling for me, I pull to the side of the road and stop. Cue first clipless moment for many years, as the new and unworn cleats proved very reluctant to release. Note to self, unclip before stopping next time. No visible damage to bike or person, so carry on to Stoke Bardolph and along the riverside track to the lock/weir, where a playful young miniature Schnauzer gives my hand a gentle chewing by way of saying hello.
Back to Burton Joyce and along the riverside again, turning left towards the village. Back wheel doesn't feel right? Ah, a p******e, great! Serves me right for going off road on flimsy 23mm tyres; must get around to fitting 25mm Duranos at some point. Plastic tyre levers don't really help much, but eventually got the tyre off, removed the offending flint, fitted the spare tube and carried on. Felt pleased with myself for setting off the speed warning at 19 mph, just before a pair of roadies swished past with a friendly "good morning".
Maybe they took pity on me; I drafted them at a respectful and probably ineffective distance, and got a bit of a tow at ooh, all of 21mph for a mile or so before my turn off. Almost got to the lights on amber, but decided to be a good lad and stop despite there being no oncoming traffic. Sat there while the lights went through part of their sequence, twice, but excluding me, before a car drew up behind me, and behind the inductance loop or whatever it is. The driver eventually responded to my entreaty to move forward, and of course the lights changed immediately for them. Must do this again sometime soon!
Back to Burton Joyce and along the riverside again, turning left towards the village. Back wheel doesn't feel right? Ah, a p******e, great! Serves me right for going off road on flimsy 23mm tyres; must get around to fitting 25mm Duranos at some point. Plastic tyre levers don't really help much, but eventually got the tyre off, removed the offending flint, fitted the spare tube and carried on. Felt pleased with myself for setting off the speed warning at 19 mph, just before a pair of roadies swished past with a friendly "good morning".
Maybe they took pity on me; I drafted them at a respectful and probably ineffective distance, and got a bit of a tow at ooh, all of 21mph for a mile or so before my turn off. Almost got to the lights on amber, but decided to be a good lad and stop despite there being no oncoming traffic. Sat there while the lights went through part of their sequence, twice, but excluding me, before a car drew up behind me, and behind the inductance loop or whatever it is. The driver eventually responded to my entreaty to move forward, and of course the lights changed immediately for them. Must do this again sometime soon!
NorthernDave
Never used Über Member
- Location
- The real Northern Powerhouse
Another early(ish) start here, with other stuff do be done later.
The usual roads to Shadwell, then right rather than left, to descend back down through the village all the way to Coal Road where it was straight across and up that steep little incline to the A58 and across again onto Carr Lane.
I don't often ride this road in this direction and after the climb through the S-bend, you get the benefit of a steady drop down into the village and pop out onto Main Street by the Mexborough Arms. Left there and today I climbed Church Hill, then straight on past Bramham Park and through the dip at Wothersome - and the climb back up the other side never seems to get any easier!
Left again at the top onto one of the Thorner Lanes and gently upwards, the plunge through the dip and then more general ascension as far as Jewitt Lane, where I decided to head up there. Again, I cycle this a fair bit, but generally in the other direction.
Up to the summit, where I stopped for a couple of pics:
Much as I'd have liked to plunge down the hill into Collingham and head further out into the scenery, I didn't have time so turned left again onto Compton Lane and climbed up onto the ridge and carried on between the hedgerows almost all the way to East Rigton, but took the sharp left onto Bramham Lane.
It was at this point that I realised I'd not seen a car since leaving Thorner - and not seen another soul since turning onto Jewitt Lane.
Have I mentioned the flies yet? There were thousands of the winged pests out there today, and it was so bad here that I ended up pulling my buff up over my mouth and nose to keep them at bay.
Bramham Lane used to be a lovely quiet lane to ride along, but a combination of a road surface that's being allowed to crumble away and far too much mud(?) being dragged out of fields and not cleared away mean it's not so much fun anymore and in places you're cycling on a strip about 12 inches wide to keep off the dried mud and flinty gravelly stuff. I've reported it to the council several times and action gets promised, but it's still the same as ever.
Anyhow, this soon brought me back to Jewitt Lane and then onwards towards Milner Lane.
Onto there and between the hedges to the drop down into Thorner and then retraced my earlier route up Carr Lane back to the A58 -with the buff getting used again for a big chunk of it.
A quick sprint up the A58, the ascent of Coal Road and along to the roundabout and straight across, passing what looked like 3 separate group rides from Seacroft Wheelers all heading out in the opposite direction.
Local roads down to home, with a long loop around the block to round the mileage up.
20.25 miles (32.5km) in 1h 28m at an average of 13.9mph with 1,076ft climbed
If anything it felt warmer than yesterday despite what the thermometer might say, although with a bit of light breeze at times.
There were absolutely oodles of cyclists out though - as well as the ones I've mentioned about there were a couple of other group rides, a few smaller groups and loads of solo riders as well.
And to end, the map:
The usual roads to Shadwell, then right rather than left, to descend back down through the village all the way to Coal Road where it was straight across and up that steep little incline to the A58 and across again onto Carr Lane.
I don't often ride this road in this direction and after the climb through the S-bend, you get the benefit of a steady drop down into the village and pop out onto Main Street by the Mexborough Arms. Left there and today I climbed Church Hill, then straight on past Bramham Park and through the dip at Wothersome - and the climb back up the other side never seems to get any easier!
Left again at the top onto one of the Thorner Lanes and gently upwards, the plunge through the dip and then more general ascension as far as Jewitt Lane, where I decided to head up there. Again, I cycle this a fair bit, but generally in the other direction.
Up to the summit, where I stopped for a couple of pics:
Much as I'd have liked to plunge down the hill into Collingham and head further out into the scenery, I didn't have time so turned left again onto Compton Lane and climbed up onto the ridge and carried on between the hedgerows almost all the way to East Rigton, but took the sharp left onto Bramham Lane.
It was at this point that I realised I'd not seen a car since leaving Thorner - and not seen another soul since turning onto Jewitt Lane.
Have I mentioned the flies yet? There were thousands of the winged pests out there today, and it was so bad here that I ended up pulling my buff up over my mouth and nose to keep them at bay.
Bramham Lane used to be a lovely quiet lane to ride along, but a combination of a road surface that's being allowed to crumble away and far too much mud(?) being dragged out of fields and not cleared away mean it's not so much fun anymore and in places you're cycling on a strip about 12 inches wide to keep off the dried mud and flinty gravelly stuff. I've reported it to the council several times and action gets promised, but it's still the same as ever.
Anyhow, this soon brought me back to Jewitt Lane and then onwards towards Milner Lane.
Onto there and between the hedges to the drop down into Thorner and then retraced my earlier route up Carr Lane back to the A58 -with the buff getting used again for a big chunk of it.
A quick sprint up the A58, the ascent of Coal Road and along to the roundabout and straight across, passing what looked like 3 separate group rides from Seacroft Wheelers all heading out in the opposite direction.
Local roads down to home, with a long loop around the block to round the mileage up.
20.25 miles (32.5km) in 1h 28m at an average of 13.9mph with 1,076ft climbed
If anything it felt warmer than yesterday despite what the thermometer might say, although with a bit of light breeze at times.
There were absolutely oodles of cyclists out though - as well as the ones I've mentioned about there were a couple of other group rides, a few smaller groups and loads of solo riders as well.
And to end, the map:
jongooligan
Legendary Member
- Location
- Behind bars
A day that started with some good creature features. Hundreds of rabbits (goes without saying really), three partridges, a weaselly stoat (no surprise given the number of rabbits) and a hare. He was in the middle of a car free lane near Menthorpe and lolloped casually away when he saw me. Realising I was still following he put on a burst of speed to see if that would get rid of me. I'm still following so he lit the afterburners and disappeared into a roadside field. As I passed the gate where he'd left the road I glanced across to see three or four more hares in the same field. Magic.
After yesterday's utility ride I'd let Google plot something a little more interesting to get me back home from Yorkshire. I'd also booked myself onto a train from Northallerton as I wasn't sure I could manage back to back 100+ mile rides.
The cyclist's unholy trinity of air resistance, rolling resistance and gravity were largely absent when I set off from Goole at 6:30. There was no wind to speak of, smooth tarmac to ride on courtesty of the Tour de Yorkshire and the countryside couldn't be any flatter. And so it was, one hour after setting out I found myself on the outskirts of York having ridden twenty miles in the first hour without much effort at all. Time for a second breakfast at Strawberry Fields cafe which was absolutely rammed at 7:30 in the morning. Anglers apparently.
I tried the suggested traffic free route through York but the path is narrow and infested with joggers and dog walkers. It's a pleasant enough route but not one to take if you want to get anywhere.
North of York the Google route had me on some increasingly adventurous off road sections, which was fine, except my average speed was plummeting and that coupled with the risk of puncture to the 25mm Luganos made me decide to abandon the route and stick to the roads. The off roading was also playing havoc with my contact points so much so that I had to get off the bike for a stretch just three miles short of my destination. So glad that I'd booked the train from Northallerton. Just couldn't face another mile in the saddle.
Bike in one night touring mode. Train taking the strain.
![20180520_130011[1].jpg](https://www.cyclechat.net/attachments/20180520_130011-1-jpg.410172/ "20180520_130011[1].jpg")
Another seventy miles in the tank though taking me to 290 miles for the week. I'm gradually building up the mileage and may start thinking about one of those audax thingies soon.
After yesterday's utility ride I'd let Google plot something a little more interesting to get me back home from Yorkshire. I'd also booked myself onto a train from Northallerton as I wasn't sure I could manage back to back 100+ mile rides.
The cyclist's unholy trinity of air resistance, rolling resistance and gravity were largely absent when I set off from Goole at 6:30. There was no wind to speak of, smooth tarmac to ride on courtesty of the Tour de Yorkshire and the countryside couldn't be any flatter. And so it was, one hour after setting out I found myself on the outskirts of York having ridden twenty miles in the first hour without much effort at all. Time for a second breakfast at Strawberry Fields cafe which was absolutely rammed at 7:30 in the morning. Anglers apparently.
I tried the suggested traffic free route through York but the path is narrow and infested with joggers and dog walkers. It's a pleasant enough route but not one to take if you want to get anywhere.
North of York the Google route had me on some increasingly adventurous off road sections, which was fine, except my average speed was plummeting and that coupled with the risk of puncture to the 25mm Luganos made me decide to abandon the route and stick to the roads. The off roading was also playing havoc with my contact points so much so that I had to get off the bike for a stretch just three miles short of my destination. So glad that I'd booked the train from Northallerton. Just couldn't face another mile in the saddle.
Bike in one night touring mode. Train taking the strain.
Another seventy miles in the tank though taking me to 290 miles for the week. I'm gradually building up the mileage and may start thinking about one of those audax thingies soon.
pawl
Legendary Member
- Location
- Desford Leicestershire
Pale Rider
Legendary Member
A ride from the Humber Bridge this morning after spending last night at the nearby Premier Inn.
I was still tired from yesterday's Cleethorpes exertions, so nothing too taxing - Beverley about 10 miles away (and back) sounded plenty.
My idea was to follow the cycle route signposts, but as usual there was a couple missing and I soon found myself off piste.
Going north from the bridge, I went through the likes of Kirk and West Ella - loadsamoney around there with streets of modern mansions that wouldn't look out of place in Hampstead Garden Suburb.
After some circling and pointless climbing, I decided to leave Beverley for another day, and head back and over the bridge.
One path was closed (as it sometimes is), which meant there was quite a lot of pedestrian dodging to do as I crossed.
My elevenses stop was at the cafe we use for the York - Humber Bridge ride.
Very agreeable location, food is pretty good, although the service lacked a bit of oomph today.
The usual spot for the usual gratuitous bike and bridge pic was taken by anglers.
They never make cyclists very welcome, despite one or two arriving by bike.
I suppose we must frighten the fish.
No one angling where this pic was taken:
My last stop was a swift visit to the toilet in the visitor car park on the other side of the bridge.
Unremarkable, except for the group of women with push chairs in this pic.
The old-fashioned perambulators they had looked new, but the odd thing was they had no real babies, only plastic dolls.
In other respects, they looked like any group of late middle-aged women enjoying a mini-picnic in the sun.
They may be known in the locality, but the whole thing looked very odd, bordering on the creepy, to me.
I was still tired from yesterday's Cleethorpes exertions, so nothing too taxing - Beverley about 10 miles away (and back) sounded plenty.
My idea was to follow the cycle route signposts, but as usual there was a couple missing and I soon found myself off piste.
Going north from the bridge, I went through the likes of Kirk and West Ella - loadsamoney around there with streets of modern mansions that wouldn't look out of place in Hampstead Garden Suburb.
After some circling and pointless climbing, I decided to leave Beverley for another day, and head back and over the bridge.
One path was closed (as it sometimes is), which meant there was quite a lot of pedestrian dodging to do as I crossed.
My elevenses stop was at the cafe we use for the York - Humber Bridge ride.
Very agreeable location, food is pretty good, although the service lacked a bit of oomph today.
The usual spot for the usual gratuitous bike and bridge pic was taken by anglers.
They never make cyclists very welcome, despite one or two arriving by bike.
I suppose we must frighten the fish.
No one angling where this pic was taken:
My last stop was a swift visit to the toilet in the visitor car park on the other side of the bridge.
Unremarkable, except for the group of women with push chairs in this pic.
The old-fashioned perambulators they had looked new, but the odd thing was they had no real babies, only plastic dolls.
In other respects, they looked like any group of late middle-aged women enjoying a mini-picnic in the sun.
They may be known in the locality, but the whole thing looked very odd, bordering on the creepy, to me.
Donger
Convoi Exceptionnel
- Location
- Quedgeley, Glos.
Upthread a few posts, @cosmicbike got it exactly right when he said that, when you have been overdoing it, sometimes you just have to take a few days off. I didn't quite do that today, but I did decide to miss the Sunday club ride for once and take it easy instead. That's the first one I've missed this year for reasons other than being away on another ride or being on holiday. But in recent weeks I've done a 78 mile audax in Warwickshire; ridden around the Isle of Wight; been on a hilly club ride; had a week's riding in Snowdonia; combined my Metric Century-a-Month Challenge with doing the BHF Cotswolds ride; and taken on the Black Mountain in Carmarthenshire. My knees ached and I just felt like taking it easy this morning.
I took the opportunity of booking a table for Sunday lunch with the missus, slept in for a couple of hours, and just did a gentle 14.7 mile bimble along the lanes to Framilode and back. So gentle that I didn't need my glasses or a water bottle. I ditched the mitts and wore a Nike vest instead of a lycra jersey, doing my best to blur the edges of the ridiculous cyclist's tan that I am already developing.
I ended up by Framilode Church on the banks of the Severn, looking across to the hills of the Forest of Dean .... at just about the time that my clubmates would be slogging their way grimly up St Whites Road in Cinderford, straight in front of me in the distance.
I momentarily regretted not being with my friends, but soon got over that. Bimbled my way back gently to Quedgeley past loads of friendly fellow cyclists out enjoying the sun. Took my favourite lane between Longney and Elmore, which looked particularly gorgeous in the sunshine today.
Must have averaged only about 10mph today, but it was great listening to the birds twittering in the hedges and just gliding along effortlessly with no strain on the knee tendons. Never broke sweat. It is good to remind yourself how nice it can be to ease off every now and again, and to put those unnecessary targets to one side just enjoying being outdoors. I'll be back with a vengeance soon though.
Cheers, Donger.
I took the opportunity of booking a table for Sunday lunch with the missus, slept in for a couple of hours, and just did a gentle 14.7 mile bimble along the lanes to Framilode and back. So gentle that I didn't need my glasses or a water bottle. I ditched the mitts and wore a Nike vest instead of a lycra jersey, doing my best to blur the edges of the ridiculous cyclist's tan that I am already developing.
I ended up by Framilode Church on the banks of the Severn, looking across to the hills of the Forest of Dean .... at just about the time that my clubmates would be slogging their way grimly up St Whites Road in Cinderford, straight in front of me in the distance.
I momentarily regretted not being with my friends, but soon got over that. Bimbled my way back gently to Quedgeley past loads of friendly fellow cyclists out enjoying the sun. Took my favourite lane between Longney and Elmore, which looked particularly gorgeous in the sunshine today.
Must have averaged only about 10mph today, but it was great listening to the birds twittering in the hedges and just gliding along effortlessly with no strain on the knee tendons. Never broke sweat. It is good to remind yourself how nice it can be to ease off every now and again, and to put those unnecessary targets to one side just enjoying being outdoors. I'll be back with a vengeance soon though.
Cheers, Donger.
Stonechat
Guru
- Location
- Staines, Middlesex
https://www.strava.com/activities/1579871636Well before I come to today’s ride will mention Friday’s first.
Limited myself to 20 miles round a few local loops
20.36 miles @18.3 mph, God’s speed for me especially considering traffic.
Little climbing, just motorway and railway bridges
Limited myself to 20 miles round a few local loops
20.36 miles @18.3 mph, God’s speed for me especially considering traffic.
Little climbing, just motorway and railway bridges
Stonechat
Guru
- Location
- Staines, Middlesex
Now today’s ride. Decided to miss today’s 25 mile TT
Went down over Chertsey bridge via Ripley Send and East Clandon, up Newlands Corner, then up Combe Lane, and down the other side up Crocknorth.
Home via Effingham Chobham Esher and Walton
47.87 miles @ 16.2 mph with 2087 feet climbed
Happy with that speed considering the hills
https://www.strava.com/activities/1583990989
Went down over Chertsey bridge via Ripley Send and East Clandon, up Newlands Corner, then up Combe Lane, and down the other side up Crocknorth.
Home via Effingham Chobham Esher and Walton
47.87 miles @ 16.2 mph with 2087 feet climbed
Happy with that speed considering the hills
https://www.strava.com/activities/1583990989
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Headed west on Penny Pot not entirely sure where I was going this afternoon. A cycle event was going other way, more noticeably by the man giving directions at the roundabout than the cyclists themselves given it is the main cycle route west from Harrogate.
It was very defragmented as I kept on passing numbered cyclists the entire length of the road. Good decision to continue west as the wind direction for once was not a major factor and I knocked 32 seconds off my best time. Down and up Wydra Lane then north up Cobby Syke Road to the A59, then right onto Meagill Lane - nice layby just before the turning allows for a gap in traffic to be easilly spotted. Was going to turn off the Blubberhouses-Greenhow road onto Menwith Hill Road but that was closed for an "event", so the next right and dropped through Thornthwaite and down the B6451 to Darley with the cycle event going the other way. Through Darley to Birstwith then up Clint Bank to Burnt Yates Crossroads for another descent through Bedlam to exorcise the chain falling off event yesterday.
All well, so A61, B6161 and A59 homewards.
22.94 miles, 1681 ft climbed, 12.8mph average and weirdly within 1 second of yesterdays time.
It was very defragmented as I kept on passing numbered cyclists the entire length of the road. Good decision to continue west as the wind direction for once was not a major factor and I knocked 32 seconds off my best time. Down and up Wydra Lane then north up Cobby Syke Road to the A59, then right onto Meagill Lane - nice layby just before the turning allows for a gap in traffic to be easilly spotted. Was going to turn off the Blubberhouses-Greenhow road onto Menwith Hill Road but that was closed for an "event", so the next right and dropped through Thornthwaite and down the B6451 to Darley with the cycle event going the other way. Through Darley to Birstwith then up Clint Bank to Burnt Yates Crossroads for another descent through Bedlam to exorcise the chain falling off event yesterday.
All well, so A61, B6161 and A59 homewards.
22.94 miles, 1681 ft climbed, 12.8mph average and weirdly within 1 second of yesterdays time.
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Noodle Legs
Winging it
- Location
- Coalville, Leicestershire
One word...... Brilliant.
I can honestly say that today has paved the way for the best bike ride I’ve ever done (thus far!)
You know when you’re out riding and everything just clicks and slots into place? Well this was it for me.
So I ventured out on the CC Forum ride up to Lincoln, first meeting up with @Lilliburlero at 7am who by this point had already got 12 in and then riding a pleasant and sunny 15 miles to Cossington to meet up with @tallliman, @13 rider and @Supersuperleeds who, was impeccably dressed in his white rose emblazoned “YORKSHIRE” jersey and riding his new steed looking the business! Setting off just before 8am we ventured out through the rolling roads of eastern Leicestershire with hardly a soul about taking in the warming morning sun and the beautiful scenery which was recurring throughout the entirety of this ride.
After an hour or so we hit the first climb of the ride, which was a gentle but longish one where the views were a reminder of just how beautiful our countryside really is. We then crossed over into Rutland and the villages therein which, are just idyllic. It was quite a lumpy section of riding but the flowing banter mixed with everything else made it somehow so easy to navigate. We passed into Lincolnshire and under the A1 where we all reached the consensus that the “climbing was done because Lincolnshire is flat as a pancake”
Wrong.
The lumpyness (?) continued and the road surfaces a bit dodgy in places but we pressed on regardless. Before long we had reached the first cafe stop of the ride and beforehand there were three of us looking at the board but not being able to find the actual cafe, until we bothered to look over our right shoulders and see it in all its splendour!! And it didn’t disappoint either, the food and coffee was to die for!
After there it started to even out elevation wise and we rode another 20-25 miles to the next stop for a quick slurp and we were soon on our way again. Not long after there we hit quite a busy but very flat road so flat you could’ve ridden with a spirit level on the top tube and the bubble would’ve stayed between the lines! We bunched up for a four or five mile dash into Tattershall and this was a personal highlight for me as we managed to average around 20mph for that section.
The roads got flatter, the sun warmer, the wind lighter and it made for absolutely perfect riding as we landed on stop no.3 at bardney, where the drinks and banter flowed in equal measure! This was a quick ish stop as we had to make the train back from Lincoln which was leaving in 45 minutes from this point and so we embarked on the last stretch along the river where the pace picked up a little for the last 9 miles or so.
Needless to say we all made it back to Lincoln in time and that’s where I clocked off the garmin.
112.8 miles, in just shy of 7 hours.
Brilliant ride, Brilliant weather, Brilliant company, Brilliant cafes, brilliant everything. Roll on the next one!
https://www.strava.com/activities/1584577118
Check out CC Forum ride- Ton in the Sun on Relive! https://www.relive.cc/view/1584577118
I can honestly say that today has paved the way for the best bike ride I’ve ever done (thus far!)
You know when you’re out riding and everything just clicks and slots into place? Well this was it for me.
So I ventured out on the CC Forum ride up to Lincoln, first meeting up with @Lilliburlero at 7am who by this point had already got 12 in and then riding a pleasant and sunny 15 miles to Cossington to meet up with @tallliman, @13 rider and @Supersuperleeds who, was impeccably dressed in his white rose emblazoned “YORKSHIRE” jersey and riding his new steed looking the business! Setting off just before 8am we ventured out through the rolling roads of eastern Leicestershire with hardly a soul about taking in the warming morning sun and the beautiful scenery which was recurring throughout the entirety of this ride.
After an hour or so we hit the first climb of the ride, which was a gentle but longish one where the views were a reminder of just how beautiful our countryside really is. We then crossed over into Rutland and the villages therein which, are just idyllic. It was quite a lumpy section of riding but the flowing banter mixed with everything else made it somehow so easy to navigate. We passed into Lincolnshire and under the A1 where we all reached the consensus that the “climbing was done because Lincolnshire is flat as a pancake”
Wrong.
The lumpyness (?) continued and the road surfaces a bit dodgy in places but we pressed on regardless. Before long we had reached the first cafe stop of the ride and beforehand there were three of us looking at the board but not being able to find the actual cafe, until we bothered to look over our right shoulders and see it in all its splendour!! And it didn’t disappoint either, the food and coffee was to die for!
After there it started to even out elevation wise and we rode another 20-25 miles to the next stop for a quick slurp and we were soon on our way again. Not long after there we hit quite a busy but very flat road so flat you could’ve ridden with a spirit level on the top tube and the bubble would’ve stayed between the lines! We bunched up for a four or five mile dash into Tattershall and this was a personal highlight for me as we managed to average around 20mph for that section.
The roads got flatter, the sun warmer, the wind lighter and it made for absolutely perfect riding as we landed on stop no.3 at bardney, where the drinks and banter flowed in equal measure! This was a quick ish stop as we had to make the train back from Lincoln which was leaving in 45 minutes from this point and so we embarked on the last stretch along the river where the pace picked up a little for the last 9 miles or so.
Needless to say we all made it back to Lincoln in time and that’s where I clocked off the garmin.
112.8 miles, in just shy of 7 hours.
Brilliant ride, Brilliant weather, Brilliant company, Brilliant cafes, brilliant everything. Roll on the next one!
https://www.strava.com/activities/1584577118
Check out CC Forum ride- Ton in the Sun on Relive! https://www.relive.cc/view/1584577118
steveindenmark
Legendary Member
Slick
Guru
Mmm, nice.
A couple of rides again:
One during the week, early hours on fixed. About 20 miles but no details.
Today jaunt.
Another sunny day, as I'm sure you will all have been aware of, up and out at a little after 8. No cycling gear again, just shorts a polo top, hat and sunshades.
North up the A58 into Wetherby and on the spur of the moment headed up to Spofforth and on into Knaresborugh. A really steady ride with no thoughts of speed/heartrate/personal bests etc. and so I headed north again through Scotton to Ripley and Ripley castle.
https://www.ripleycastle.co.uk/
I didn't drop in for elevenses. I did many years ago do a few jobs at Ripley Castle. I was taken on by Sir Thomas Ingilby who it must be said is a top bloke.
No standing on ceremony, no airs and graces. just a down to earth chap. In fact on a ride once returning from Pately bridge on Sunday morning I saw him, plastic bag in hand collecting litter from the roadside verges on the Pately Bridge road.
So anyway I turned towards Harrogate and picked up the Nidderdale Greenway which runs from Harrogate/Starbeck out to Ripley. It's the first time I have used it and it's a cracking cyclepath. Well metalled all along, quiet and well away from any roads.
So into Starbeck, back into Knaresborough then south through Little Ribston, North Deighton and Kirk Deighton and into Wetherby again. I think Postman said it's a place you tend to go through on the way to somewhere else, and he's right but it does have a bit about it once you get out of the town.
So from there it was back towards Leeds and rather than taking the now busy A58 I hooked a left up Jewitt Lane
onto East Rigton, the back of Hetchel Woods, through Thorner and got back in around 12.30
View: https://ridewithgps.com/trips/23329949
48 miles with 2800ft of up.
One during the week, early hours on fixed. About 20 miles but no details.
Today jaunt.
Another sunny day, as I'm sure you will all have been aware of, up and out at a little after 8. No cycling gear again, just shorts a polo top, hat and sunshades.
North up the A58 into Wetherby and on the spur of the moment headed up to Spofforth and on into Knaresborugh. A really steady ride with no thoughts of speed/heartrate/personal bests etc. and so I headed north again through Scotton to Ripley and Ripley castle.
https://www.ripleycastle.co.uk/
I didn't drop in for elevenses. I did many years ago do a few jobs at Ripley Castle. I was taken on by Sir Thomas Ingilby who it must be said is a top bloke.
No standing on ceremony, no airs and graces. just a down to earth chap. In fact on a ride once returning from Pately bridge on Sunday morning I saw him, plastic bag in hand collecting litter from the roadside verges on the Pately Bridge road.
So anyway I turned towards Harrogate and picked up the Nidderdale Greenway which runs from Harrogate/Starbeck out to Ripley. It's the first time I have used it and it's a cracking cyclepath. Well metalled all along, quiet and well away from any roads.
So into Starbeck, back into Knaresborough then south through Little Ribston, North Deighton and Kirk Deighton and into Wetherby again. I think Postman said it's a place you tend to go through on the way to somewhere else, and he's right but it does have a bit about it once you get out of the town.
So from there it was back towards Leeds and rather than taking the now busy A58 I hooked a left up Jewitt Lane
onto East Rigton, the back of Hetchel Woods, through Thorner and got back in around 12.30
View: https://ridewithgps.com/trips/23329949
48 miles with 2800ft of up.
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