Like for the ride not the bruises. GWS.
edit: Sorry about the cribbing. Just not fast enough on the keyboard.
Your ride today....
- Thread starter gbb
- Start date
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Like for the ride not the bruises. GWS.
edit: Sorry about the cribbing. Just not fast enough on the keyboard.
Nearly happened to me the other week - as I stopped the bike was affected by the road surface and tilted to the left (I unclip the right foot) and I just managed to alter my balance on the bike to correct
Reynard
Guru
- Location
- Cambridgeshire, UK
Another like for the ride, but not for the "ouch" moment... Hope you mend soon, hun xxx
- Location
- Shrewsbury, Shropshire
Back from a couple of days away and a couple of rides, one of which was something new and special.
Tuesday's ride:
I've talked a number of times about riding over to @gavgav's caravan on the coast, partly for the personal challenge and partly to suss out the route for a possible future group ride. I'm quite good at talking about plans and not actually doing them though so as he was planning to stay over there for a few days, Gav persuaded me to do the ride this week and stop over.
I'd have liked to do this one on the Raleigh but as mentioned elsewhere I've just needed to retension the back wheel and didn't think that a loaded tour would be the best idea for a first ride after that repair, so the knockabout bike got used instead.
This was the first outing for my new Ortleib panniers which were pretty packed even though it was only an overnight stop, mainly due to the addition of a sleeping bag. I thought I'd loaded the bike heavily in the past but this was something new and needed a different riding style to save the muscles for the hills later on.
The first half of my route was mostly pretty familiar as I did a variation of my route out to Llynclys, up the Tanat Valley and over the hills to Lake Vyrnwy. I did use some different roads around the Maesbrook area to avoid diverted traffic on the B4396, then took another diversion further up the Tanat Valley to visit Llanrhaeadr Ym Mochnant which I haven't cycled to before as it's a mile off my normal route. It's a nice place.
The road out of Llanrhaeadr was my first test of proper climbing with the bike fully loaded. I made it okay but had to drop right the way down the gears. Slightly concerning considering what was to come.
Approaching Penybontfawr I encountered another cyclist at the side of the road. I paused to check he was alright and we ended up chatting for a while - he was staying at a caravan site nearby and doesn't cycle far as he can't manage the hills anymore, so we talked electric bikes. I think he thought I was a bit nuts riding to the coast.
Moving on again I was swiftly onto the next climb. Again, lots of use of bottom gear but I made it up the steeper gradient here so perhaps things would be alright after all. My planned cafe stop at Vyrnwy was very welcome but finding that my preferred cafe (The Old Barn) is closed on a tuesday wasn't. I therefore repaired to Artisan's instead which did me a very nice hot baguette with bacon and cheese plus a couple of coffees. I got talking to another rider there who had also come out from Shrewsbury and was hoping to make it 100 miles for his ride. He'd been sworn at on the way over so not having as good a ride as me, and then went on to drop his coffee before getting to the table. Oops.
I was back on the road later than intended and enjoyed the flat riding round the lake to the turnoff signed Dinas Mawddwy which has long been one I wanted to take. This road very quickly takes an upwards turn and although not the steepest road I've ridden just seems to climb forever. There is some good scenery on the way with woodland and waterfalls opening out into wide moorland with a ribbon of tarmac winding its way into the distance. This was all very slow going but in that scenery I didn't mind.
Eventually this road joins another: Bwlch Y Groes which is a well known and challenging climb. Fortunately I only had to do the last bit of this climb, which required standing on the pedals to keep moving, before enjoying the view at the top then the long descent through Cwm Cynllwyd to Llanuwchllyn. On the way down this road I found a blockage where a car had been dropped into the ditch and the recovery vehicles were completely blocking the road while the crew tried to work out how to remove said car from its predicament without ripping the bottom out of it on the rocks at the edge of the road. Unfortunately I thought about how I was going to squeeze myself past (it was a tight fit) before thinking to take a photo of the scene, by which time the view was blocked by the other vehicles.
After Llanuwchllyn I was onto the section of the ride I'd been most wary of - the A494 to Dolgellau as this is a through route that can be busy. Doing it in the week and out of the holiday season it wasn't bad (apart from one driver right after I'd joined the road who pushed past without putting a wheel over the white line even though there was nobody else on the road
) The highlight of this leg of the trip started a couple of miles in when I crested the summit and had a full 10 miles that was almost completely downhill.
With a following wind I cruised along at between 20 and 25 mph on a surface that wasn't cratered like it would have been in Shropshire. Enjoyed that.
The good run continued after Dolgellau too. I was onto the Mawddach Trail now which is pretty flat being an old railway line and with a fairly good gravel surface I was able to keep up 14 or 15 mph, however my average will have been quite a bit slower than that due to lots of photo stops. Finally the path narrows and swings round towards Barmouth Bridge which slowed things down again (the bridge in particular is quite rough to ride over).
At this point I picked up a fairly strong headwind from the north which slowed me right down for the last bit up the coast (and up the very steep climb from the promenade to the main road) but it felt really special to have arrived under my own power and the last minute distractions of having to stop and untangle a shoelace from my pedal then being held up by a train at a crossing didn't detract from it.
85.5 miles at 12.6 mph moving average with a 29.2mph maximum. Time including (lots of) stops was almost exactly 9 hours.
Summer blooms on the way to Kinnerley.
Making my way up the Tanat Valley.
Llanrhaeadr Ym Mochnant. A nice place that has been used as a film location three times that I know of.
After my cafe stop, enjoying the flat bit before the big climb of the day starts.
Waterfall on the Eunant (one of the brooks that feeds Llyn Efyrnwy).
Up onto the moors. Marked on the map as Waun Y Gadfa.
At Llanuwchllyn I took a minor detour to look at the Bala Lake Railway.
En route to Dolgellau along the A494.
At Penmaenpool looking back along the Mawddach Trail.
Barmouth. Very nearly there but heading into the headwind for the last couple of miles or so.
Tuesday's ride:
I've talked a number of times about riding over to @gavgav's caravan on the coast, partly for the personal challenge and partly to suss out the route for a possible future group ride. I'm quite good at talking about plans and not actually doing them though so as he was planning to stay over there for a few days, Gav persuaded me to do the ride this week and stop over.
I'd have liked to do this one on the Raleigh but as mentioned elsewhere I've just needed to retension the back wheel and didn't think that a loaded tour would be the best idea for a first ride after that repair, so the knockabout bike got used instead.
This was the first outing for my new Ortleib panniers which were pretty packed even though it was only an overnight stop, mainly due to the addition of a sleeping bag. I thought I'd loaded the bike heavily in the past but this was something new and needed a different riding style to save the muscles for the hills later on.
The first half of my route was mostly pretty familiar as I did a variation of my route out to Llynclys, up the Tanat Valley and over the hills to Lake Vyrnwy. I did use some different roads around the Maesbrook area to avoid diverted traffic on the B4396, then took another diversion further up the Tanat Valley to visit Llanrhaeadr Ym Mochnant which I haven't cycled to before as it's a mile off my normal route. It's a nice place.
The road out of Llanrhaeadr was my first test of proper climbing with the bike fully loaded. I made it okay but had to drop right the way down the gears. Slightly concerning considering what was to come.
Approaching Penybontfawr I encountered another cyclist at the side of the road. I paused to check he was alright and we ended up chatting for a while - he was staying at a caravan site nearby and doesn't cycle far as he can't manage the hills anymore, so we talked electric bikes. I think he thought I was a bit nuts riding to the coast.
Moving on again I was swiftly onto the next climb. Again, lots of use of bottom gear but I made it up the steeper gradient here so perhaps things would be alright after all. My planned cafe stop at Vyrnwy was very welcome but finding that my preferred cafe (The Old Barn) is closed on a tuesday wasn't. I therefore repaired to Artisan's instead which did me a very nice hot baguette with bacon and cheese plus a couple of coffees. I got talking to another rider there who had also come out from Shrewsbury and was hoping to make it 100 miles for his ride. He'd been sworn at on the way over so not having as good a ride as me, and then went on to drop his coffee before getting to the table. Oops.
I was back on the road later than intended and enjoyed the flat riding round the lake to the turnoff signed Dinas Mawddwy which has long been one I wanted to take. This road very quickly takes an upwards turn and although not the steepest road I've ridden just seems to climb forever. There is some good scenery on the way with woodland and waterfalls opening out into wide moorland with a ribbon of tarmac winding its way into the distance. This was all very slow going but in that scenery I didn't mind.
Eventually this road joins another: Bwlch Y Groes which is a well known and challenging climb. Fortunately I only had to do the last bit of this climb, which required standing on the pedals to keep moving, before enjoying the view at the top then the long descent through Cwm Cynllwyd to Llanuwchllyn. On the way down this road I found a blockage where a car had been dropped into the ditch and the recovery vehicles were completely blocking the road while the crew tried to work out how to remove said car from its predicament without ripping the bottom out of it on the rocks at the edge of the road. Unfortunately I thought about how I was going to squeeze myself past (it was a tight fit) before thinking to take a photo of the scene, by which time the view was blocked by the other vehicles.
After Llanuwchllyn I was onto the section of the ride I'd been most wary of - the A494 to Dolgellau as this is a through route that can be busy. Doing it in the week and out of the holiday season it wasn't bad (apart from one driver right after I'd joined the road who pushed past without putting a wheel over the white line even though there was nobody else on the road
) The highlight of this leg of the trip started a couple of miles in when I crested the summit and had a full 10 miles that was almost completely downhill. With a following wind I cruised along at between 20 and 25 mph on a surface that wasn't cratered like it would have been in Shropshire. Enjoyed that.The good run continued after Dolgellau too. I was onto the Mawddach Trail now which is pretty flat being an old railway line and with a fairly good gravel surface I was able to keep up 14 or 15 mph, however my average will have been quite a bit slower than that due to lots of photo stops. Finally the path narrows and swings round towards Barmouth Bridge which slowed things down again (the bridge in particular is quite rough to ride over).
At this point I picked up a fairly strong headwind from the north which slowed me right down for the last bit up the coast (and up the very steep climb from the promenade to the main road) but it felt really special to have arrived under my own power and the last minute distractions of having to stop and untangle a shoelace from my pedal then being held up by a train at a crossing didn't detract from it.
85.5 miles at 12.6 mph moving average with a 29.2mph maximum. Time including (lots of) stops was almost exactly 9 hours.
Summer blooms on the way to Kinnerley.
Making my way up the Tanat Valley.
Llanrhaeadr Ym Mochnant. A nice place that has been used as a film location three times that I know of.
After my cafe stop, enjoying the flat bit before the big climb of the day starts.
Waterfall on the Eunant (one of the brooks that feeds Llyn Efyrnwy).
Up onto the moors. Marked on the map as Waun Y Gadfa.
At Llanuwchllyn I took a minor detour to look at the Bala Lake Railway.
En route to Dolgellau along the A494.
At Penmaenpool looking back along the Mawddach Trail.
Barmouth. Very nearly there but heading into the headwind for the last couple of miles or so.
- Location
- Egham
Stayed at that hotel a couple of years back for my annual hike. Very funny place, wonderful location.
Vantage
Carbon fibre... LMAO!!!
- Location
- Behind everyone else, Bolton
85 miles? Loaded??? Thats nuts! Well done sir!
Elysian_Roads
Senior Member
It's a good point that I need to be careful about.
I always unclip on the left first to avoid a clipless moment (an attempt at muscle memory...) but if there is a significant camber in the road into a gutter I may end tilting over anyway.
Ps GWS @Bryony.
- Location
- Shrewsbury, Shropshire
Wednesdy's ride:
After my efforts the previous day I wasn't sure now my legs would be, but they weren't too bad so the planned ride with @gavgav could go ahead. He had done his own shorter but still very hilly ride on the lanes near Harlech the previous day so I think we were in a similar position really regarding aches.
We went for a route we've done before: down to Barmouth, up the Mawddach Trail to Dolgellau then up the long steady climb to the wonderfully picturesque Llynnau Cregennen before dropping down the hill to Arthog and rejoining the trail over Barmouth Bridge and back to the site.
By Barmouth the legs were freeing up nicely and we expected to have the wind helping us along the Mawddach trail this time. After rattling our way over the bridge (which showed up how saddle sore we were feeling) I managed to get stuck in a patch of sand that I'd ridden through with relative ease the previous day, much to the amusement of the walkers who had just let us past.
We weren't as quick up the trail as I'd been yesterday, however this wasn't about getting places but about chatting and enjoying the scenery. For some reason the Mawddach Trail always seems to go on for a long time in this direction so we were glad to reach Dolgellau and have a bite to eat (packed lunch not cafe stop).
We rode through town and started on the ascent which came as a shock to the legs and both of us were pretty slow. Added to the climb we had a fairly stiff headwind today which made even the few downhill dips seem like hard work.
There wasn't much traffic but one car was memorable for pulling in to let us by and the driver waving to say; "slow down, no rush" when we accelerated forward.
Up at the lakes we finished off what food was left and enjoyed the scenery which we had, apparently, almost to ourselves. This was an illusion as just around the corner the place was milling with people, including a guy with a professional video camera and steadicam rig - I wonder who he was filming for.
Another pause round the next corner to enjoy the view over Barmouth and the Mawddach Estuary and we were disturbed by a fight of Canada geese very low overhead. For once I had my camera to hand and was able to grab a shot before they got too far away.
The descent to Arthog is a thrilling bit of road (if you like that kind of thing) but is gated so you have to take a bit of care and be prepared to stop. We got to one gate at the same time as a car and the driver gave me profuse thanks for letting them through first, even though Gav was the one holding the gate.
Soon we were back to the trail, rattled over Barmouth Bridge and headed along the promenade but with a crosswind rather than the tailwind that the forecast had promised - pah.
33.2 miles this trip at 10.2 mph average and a 31.5 max (that gated road)
This is where my short break ended as I had to pack up, ride over to the station and hop on the train back to Shrewsbury. I hope the new franchisee makes better provision for bikes than Arriva does.
Joining the promenade at Barmouth.
Action shot on the Mawddach Trail.
Dolgellau
Couldn't resist this pic.
En route to Llynnau Creggenen.
Gav gets the first gate on on this road. We did share the gates - honest.
At the lakes.
The view down to Barmouth.
Flyby from a flock of geese.
View for the bikes at our attempted pub stop. (They weren't open yet. We went to a place a couple of miles further on instead.)
After my efforts the previous day I wasn't sure now my legs would be, but they weren't too bad so the planned ride with @gavgav could go ahead. He had done his own shorter but still very hilly ride on the lanes near Harlech the previous day so I think we were in a similar position really regarding aches.
We went for a route we've done before: down to Barmouth, up the Mawddach Trail to Dolgellau then up the long steady climb to the wonderfully picturesque Llynnau Cregennen before dropping down the hill to Arthog and rejoining the trail over Barmouth Bridge and back to the site.
By Barmouth the legs were freeing up nicely and we expected to have the wind helping us along the Mawddach trail this time. After rattling our way over the bridge (which showed up how saddle sore we were feeling) I managed to get stuck in a patch of sand that I'd ridden through with relative ease the previous day, much to the amusement of the walkers who had just let us past.
We weren't as quick up the trail as I'd been yesterday, however this wasn't about getting places but about chatting and enjoying the scenery. For some reason the Mawddach Trail always seems to go on for a long time in this direction so we were glad to reach Dolgellau and have a bite to eat (packed lunch not cafe stop).
We rode through town and started on the ascent which came as a shock to the legs and both of us were pretty slow. Added to the climb we had a fairly stiff headwind today which made even the few downhill dips seem like hard work.
There wasn't much traffic but one car was memorable for pulling in to let us by and the driver waving to say; "slow down, no rush" when we accelerated forward.
Up at the lakes we finished off what food was left and enjoyed the scenery which we had, apparently, almost to ourselves. This was an illusion as just around the corner the place was milling with people, including a guy with a professional video camera and steadicam rig - I wonder who he was filming for.
Another pause round the next corner to enjoy the view over Barmouth and the Mawddach Estuary and we were disturbed by a fight of Canada geese very low overhead. For once I had my camera to hand and was able to grab a shot before they got too far away.
The descent to Arthog is a thrilling bit of road (if you like that kind of thing) but is gated so you have to take a bit of care and be prepared to stop. We got to one gate at the same time as a car and the driver gave me profuse thanks for letting them through first, even though Gav was the one holding the gate.
Soon we were back to the trail, rattled over Barmouth Bridge and headed along the promenade but with a crosswind rather than the tailwind that the forecast had promised - pah.
33.2 miles this trip at 10.2 mph average and a 31.5 max (that gated road
)This is where my short break ended as I had to pack up, ride over to the station and hop on the train back to Shrewsbury. I hope the new franchisee makes better provision for bikes than Arriva does.
Joining the promenade at Barmouth.
Action shot on the Mawddach Trail.
Dolgellau
Couldn't resist this pic.
En route to Llynnau Creggenen.
Gav gets the first gate on on this road. We did share the gates - honest.
At the lakes.
The view down to Barmouth.
View for the bikes at our attempted pub stop. (They weren't open yet. We went to a place a couple of miles further on instead.)
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delb0y
Legendary Member
- Location
- Quedgeley, Glos
I'm just getting no time to ride at the moment. I even had a half day off work thinking i might get out but ended up cutting the hedge instead as it was a disgrace. So tonight, with just an hour to spare I managed another lap of my new 1 hour loop - just ten miles, a steep ride up onto the top road, and a 35 mph descent on the nice new tarmac (although I notice after just a couple of weeks the surface is started to ripple from the weight of lorries. The Roman's wouldn't be impressed). That's three times I've done the same hill recently. There's another one just along from this one that's meant to be tougher. Will try that one next maybe. Then there's the worst of the lot (supposedly) just a little further on. One to target when i get a bit fitter!
Spiderweb
Not So Special One
- Location
- North Yorkshire
Another extended home commute this afternoon. 28.1 miles with an average of 16 mph. Lovely ride but feel knackered tonight.
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dan_bo
How much does it cost to Oldham?
Home the long way round on the crosser.
Bryony
Veteran
- Location
- Ramsgate, Kent
Thank you everyone for the get well wishes. My bruises are coming out nicely, very colourful! My right knee is still quite sore when I bend it but may try a bimble on the bike Sunday.
My right knee is still quite sore when I bend it but may try a bimble on the bike Sunday.
derrick
The Glue that binds us together.
- Location
- On the edge of London
Nice easy ride today with a mate who is iron man training, She had a hard run yesterday i had a hard ride last night, so a steady ride today, 39 miles stopped half way round to check out a marina on the river lea, then back to our local. we met up with a couple of mates, then home for a shower, then back to the pub to meet my other half and a couple of freinds, great day the weather was good all day.
https://www.strava.com/activities/1639717283
https://www.strava.com/activities/1639717283
Aravis
Putrid Donut
- Location
- Gloucester
I'm trying to gain confidence for a 300km Audax early next month. I think I'm almost there!
Yesterday I visited a number of places I seem to have bypassed this year. Down the eastern side of the Severn Estuary, using the lanes wherever possible. After the big bridge, the day's one substantial climb out of Chepstow to St. Briavels. After exiting the forest at Blakeney, back onto more familiar territory, eventually returning to Gloucester from the opposite direction. Here's the map, 119.9 miles:
There seemed to be a lot of well-mannered motorists out yesterday. Time after time I had oncoming car drivers unexpectedly waiting for me on narrow sections of road or where parked vehicles were in the way. Needless to say there were a few who let the side down.
Here's a nice view at one of my fuelling stops, approaching Huntley from the south. It's starting to look quite late summery:
I'm still have some anxiety about the Audax, but it's supposed to be a challenge, isn't it?
Yesterday I visited a number of places I seem to have bypassed this year. Down the eastern side of the Severn Estuary, using the lanes wherever possible. After the big bridge, the day's one substantial climb out of Chepstow to St. Briavels. After exiting the forest at Blakeney, back onto more familiar territory, eventually returning to Gloucester from the opposite direction. Here's the map, 119.9 miles:
There seemed to be a lot of well-mannered motorists out yesterday. Time after time I had oncoming car drivers unexpectedly waiting for me on narrow sections of road or where parked vehicles were in the way. Needless to say there were a few who let the side down.
Here's a nice view at one of my fuelling stops, approaching Huntley from the south. It's starting to look quite late summery:
I'm still have some anxiety about the Audax, but it's supposed to be a challenge, isn't it?
Noodle Legs
Winging it
- Location
- Coalville, Leicestershire
Good luck @Aravis, looking at this effort I don’t think you’ve got anything to worry about next month!
