Your ride today....

[twentysix by twentyfive]

It's WWC 2018 on Sunday. So I fitted a 28 sprocket for the severe climbing involved. That lead me to take a ride out to fettle the rear mech and get the bike event ready. I was hoping to dodge the showers that were about too. I hadn't realised how strong the wind was tho'. I dived into the lanes and headed off over the Marsh. Road works prevented my usual progress so I had to divert by Longdon and back into the lanes eventually for Bushley. By this time I'd stopped a few times and twiddled the rear mech low setting adjuster. Things were getting better - honest. By the time I tested the 28 sprocket on the hill before Strensham I was happy I'd got things as best as possible. The ride back was into that wind but shelter from Upton helped. As I rode the last mile the rain started but I got in just as a proper deluge was unleashed. All set now for WWC. 36 smiles

 

[cosmicbike]

First proper ride out since returning from France on Wednesday. Opted for an afternoon ride on the trike, and followed a previous route out through Wentworth, along the A30 and back through Windsor Great Park. All very nice, leg trouble in the park needed magic pills to resolve but didn't spoil the ride. 15.5 miles.

 

[Mr Celine]

Bit of a 'jour sans' today (pardon the francais), possibly caused by the blustery wind or more likely by having to wear 3/4 bibs and a long sleeved base layer under my cycling top for the first time this - autumn - because that is what it felt like. I went out after w*rk and decided on a familiar loop so I didn't really need to think about where I was going. But after climbing the Woll and bombing down the other side I decided to go exploring. There is a dead end road near Ashkirk that I have never had any reason to go up, so now being as good a time as any gave it a blast. The road alongside the Todrig burn is pothole free and relatively flat and initially has some good views of the Alemoor climb (a more common route) before becoming a bit more remote feeling. The tarmac runs out after three miles where I stopped to view this v des res, req refurb and upgrade.

It comes with a fine rural outlook and three very nosey neighbours.

I retrieved the bike before its weight provoked a total collapse of the structure and headed back down the glen. There were lots of rowan trees covered in bright red berries which just reinforced my belief that winter is coming.

Just east of Lilliesleaf a tractor and trailer stopped at a field entrance to give way then followed me for the next three miles, which did at least inspire me to go flat out to keep ahead of it.
The mojo having briefly returned I detoured two miles from my normal route home to pass the w*ork's HQ so that I could blow snot rockets in its general direction. This proved to be a big mistake. Down in the HQ bunker some minion must have been monitoring the CCTV and spotted an employee failing to salute in the correct manner. An immediate air stirke was summoned in the form of a huge black cloud which appeared out of nowhere. I attempted to outsprint it home, but just two miles from safety (ie I would have been dry but for the detour) the torrential downpour struck. The met office had predicted their usual 5% chance of rain so this rain was clearly the action of some higher power.

Today's map -

37.4 miles @ 14.5 mph, 2499 feet upwards.

 

[simonali]

I rode about a mile to the only field I knew that still had some haybales in it, took a few photies and then rode home again because I was having some wheels delivered!

 

[Reynard]

I rode about a mile to the only field I knew that still had some haybales in it, took a few photies and then rode home again because I was having some wheels delivered!

You got out on the bike.

I took one look out of the door and thought the better of it.

 

[simonali]

I had to go to work afterwards so I couldn't go out again after the courier came.

 

[Reynard]

I had to go to work afterwards so I couldn't go out again after the courier came.

Ah, botheration xxx

 

[Jenkins]

Couple of days off work yesterday & today. Thanks to the lousy weather, yesterday was a day at home doing basic chain cleaning & lubing on all 8 bikes and frame/wheel cleaning as necessary (once I'd done the washing, vacuuming, ironing, mopping the kitchen floor, etc)

Today was a lot cooler & breezier, but at least I had a bit of time to get out. This morning it was a trip to the bottle bank & some shopping - a 14 mile on & off road round trip on the Voodoo that could have been done in under 5 miles (but where's the fun in that?)

And in much the same vein, Evans Cycles recently opened a new branch in Martlesham, about eight miles from me. Having ordered a pair of ex display Hummvees on line, I opted to have them delivered to the store for collection and they arrived today. So, having cut the lawn and had lunch after the bottle bank run I went out to collect them, but took the long way round of a 35 mile loop instead of the 16 mile direct trip.

And now for 7 straight days of commuting...

 

[Stonechat]

Went out today
Original idea was a time trial type session (solo) but it was so windy so just did a loop down to Windlesham and back over the new bridge

Did 27.82 miles @ average moving speed of 17.8 mph 738 feet climbed.

https://www.strava.com/activities/1793910419

Another short outing in the afternoon to the shops
https://www.strava.com/activities/1794252498

Edit Just found this incomplete email from yesterday - cannot be bothered to add more so here it is

 

[colly]

Out on a forum ride organised by @ColinJ . Colin and @Littgull were arriving at Harrogate station at 10.30am so I set of perhaps a bit too early at just before 9am. It's about 15 miles from my place but I wanted to take it steady so I gave myself plenty of time. As it happened I got to the station dead on 10am so I had a half hour to kill reading the paper.
Colin and Brian turned up bang on time and we set of and made for Ripley where we were to meet up with @Oldfentiger and two of Colin's pals Carrie and Kevin.
We took the 'Harrogate Greenway' which is a cycle track along the bed of an old railwayline.

In Ripley we met up with Colin's friends, and also @Oldfentiger .
Out of Ripley via a couple of miles of off road track, an extension of the Harrogate Greenway I suppose.Which I'm told will eventually link up with Pately Bridge. Picking up tarmac again we crossed the main Ripley to Pately Bridge road and took the uphill route passing Brimham Rocks.

Kevin, Carrie, Littgull and Oldfentiger

and Colin following on having stopped for a 'comfort break'

As you can see despite the dire warnings of the MetOffice is was in fact a sunny day. Well in parts anyway.

So up and then down again to re-cross the Ripley/Pately road and into Glasshouses and then Bewerley, which is at the foot of Greenhow Hill.

Looking from The Royal Oak towards Pately Bridge:

Down to the park by the river in Pately Bridge and a left which took us alongside Gouthwaite Reservoir and Ramsgill. A short run and we were in Lofthouse and at the bottom of Trapping Hill. The big climb of the day.

It was a climb. And it was big.

Once you get started the first one third of the climb doesn't drop below 10% and is mostly 12% to 15% and a maximum of 18.5%. The remaining two thirds of the climb ranges between 4% and just over 6%.
1.8 miles in all climbing 837 feet. A photo taken from the top:

Down the other side was a long, long sweeping decent. Taken carefully, be me at least, because of the sheep on the road.
We crossed this bridge at Leighton Reservoir where we had a break/hold up while Colin fixed a puncture he'd picked up:

Being a bit short on time the route was changed and shortened so we would be in Masham in time to meet @Julia9054 and @Almartino at the cafe.
I think we got there pretty much the same time as they did.
Nice cafe, and baked beans on toast and cup of tea later we were on the road again, in the rain, making our way back towards Ripley.
The rain stopped and out came the sun and it was a lovely up and down route through some glorious countryside, taking in Swinton, Grewthorpe, Kirkby Malzeard, Risplith, Sawley, Fountains Abbey and Bishop Thornton eventually skirting the grounds of Ripley Castle and back into Ripley.
The company broke up here with Carrie, Kevin and Oldfentiger collecting their vehicles with ColinJ, Littgull, Julia and Almartino getting back onto the Harrogate Greenway again and making for Harrogate.
Just outside Harrogate Julia and Al split for Knaresborough and Me, ColinJ and Littgull made our way into Harrogate.
I parted company with them near the station and made my way back to Leeds via the A61. Not the best of choices but it was the most direct route after a long tiring day. Up Harewood Bank and through Wike into Shadwell and home.
Great day out with 84 miles covered with 6800 feet of climbing.


View: https://ridewithgps.com/trips/27013121

 

[Nonethewiser]

Nice one Colly, an interesting write up and pics - looks like a great ride!

 

[cosmicbike]

Despite best intentions I didn't manage to get my 100km challenge ride in whilst in France, so time constraints meant it had to be today. I had what looked like a nice route planned, and on another day it probably would have been. Not today though, the legs were still feeling yesterdays pills so felt empty from the off. The first 40 miles were tough, and if it weren't a challenge ride I'd have gone home
Familiar territory to Pirbright, then new stuff through Aldershot, Farnborough, Farnham (horrible town centre) and back through Badshot Lea. Horrible short sharp hills that I just couldn't get on with, but made it up the lot with a bit of huffing, puffing and the occasional bit of cursing....
Full marks to the 6 Twickenham CC riders on the way onto Chobham for the car shout on the blind bridge

64.1 miles done with 1040m of climbing. Look forward to falling asleep in front of the F1 qualifying now.

 

[ColinJ]

Nice one Colly, an interesting write up and pics - looks like a great ride!

I organised the ride, but it was at the suggestion of @Oldfentiger who had done pretty much that route last year on a sportive in aid of Parkinson's Disease Research.

That ride started and finished at Ripley but I added the cycle path from Harrogate so that @Littgull and I could travel there by train. It is a great cycle path. I think that as many as possible of these old disused railway lines should be turned into similar shared-use paths before houses, shops, industrial estates or roads get built on them. It is unlikely that many of the lines will ever be reopened for trains!

The other change that I made to the original route was to get us off the B-road through Pateley Bridge onto the nice lane through Glasshouses instead. I suspect that the sportive organisers avoided it because of a steep descent and how narrow the road was in places.

It really is a nice area for cycling. It is slightly to the east of the Yorkshire Dales and most of the hills seem to be a bit easier than than those in the national park, Trapping Lane being a very notable exception!

I'll organise a similar ride again next year, or go on one organised by @Julia9054. (I had intended to do her ride a few weeks ago but there was supposed to be industrial action on the trains that day so I didn't go.)

 

[Dave 123]

Tandem time today. Mrs Dave was grumbling that she could see evidence of windy weather, I ignored her!
Just out of Hardwick we spied some bikes up ahead, by the Caldecote roundabout we were with them. It was a Breeze ride. We had a little chat. Mrs Dave had looked them up before, but rides never coincide with her life, but she told them she’d make an effort. They were off to Waresley GC. So were we, but by the longer route. We left them, saying we would see them later.

We turned for Knapwell and Connington. The A14 works are taking shape

In Graveley a couple of solo bikes with racks and very light panniers turned right where we were turning left. We followed them. Eventually through Croxton we caught up with them. Turns out they were from Peterborough and they’re riding to Paris over the weekend. Eurostar back on Tuesday.
We shot off on them as we knew we had a nice down hill section.

Not long after we were at the garden centre.. Mrs Dave went to get the teas and I earwigged the conversationfrom the Breeze girls...... Poldark, and the merits of Mr Poldark! How predictable.

The treasurer returned with goodies

As the Breeze girls were leaving a conversation was struck up. Apparently they’ll let me go with them if I wear a wig....but I told them that Mrs Dave wouldn’t be coming with them as they were talking about men as sexual objects. It didn’t wash!
Coming out of the garden centre we spotted a woodosaurus

Down to Gamlingay and along to Hatley and Arrington, then cutting through Wimpole. I’d love to be a scaffold company owner around Cambridge, they must be raking it in....

Out the driveway, and someone was just going to work...

Up Old Wimpole hill and home via Bourn and Toft.
Almost 41 windy miles

https://www.strava.com/activities/1796043208

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

It's a nicer day than I'd expected from yesterday's forecast so I took the chance to get some more miles in on the knockabout bike. Nothing too long this time, heading over Lyth Hill to Condover then through Boreton, Cross Houses, Attingham Park, Upton Magna, Uffington, Sundorne, a meandering route through the town centre then home.

The first bit to Condover went pretty well and going through Boreton was done on a whim as I don't go that way very often. I got accosted by someone looking for directions to the motocross track at Boreton which unfortunately I wasn't able to help with. I know roughly where it is but have no idea how you actually reach it.

I'd had it quiet when crossing the A49 but the next main road crossing at Cross Houses was different and I had to wait a while for a gap in the traffic. Anyone would think it was a Bank Holiday weekend.

Having gone through Attingham Park (also busy today) I was on my way to Upton Magna when I got asked for directions again, this time by a guy who was walking and wanted to know the way to Wellington. I told him (very easy directions from where we were) but he wasn't happy when I mentioned it's about 8 miles away.

There were a few cyclists from Upton Magna onwards which is always a nice thing to see. At Uffington I started along the old canal path but turned off before getting to the muddy bit and made my way through Sundorne to Heathgates Island before rejoining the marked cycle route along Sydney Avenue and along the riverside.

I'd intended to go past the prison but changed my mind and turned up Watergate (got some use out of low range on this climb) and into the town centre which was very busy today. After taking a tour round the town centre I ended up on St. Chads Terrace and headed down Claremont Bank and into The Quarry where I suddenly noticed that my speedometer was missing. After thinking for a moment I realised I'd unclipped it while pushing my bike when taking photos up by St. Chad's and hadn't clipped it back in. I headed back up there and did find the device, but unfortunately it had been run over at least once and is smashed.

That rather spoiled the rest of the ride back. I did drop in to Halfords (as it was on the way) to see if they had a replacement but couldn't see an equivalent in their display so headed home.

Obviously I can't quote speed and distance today. I'd guess at about 24 miles for the trip.

Taken from the old Atcham Bridge. I'd hoped the fisherman would stand out a bit better than he has in the photo.

On the way into Attingham Park.

Up by the Hall.

View into The Quarry from St. Chad's Terrace.