Your ride today....

[Rickshaw Phil]

Another trip out this morning to make the most of the return to calmer weather. I decided to have another go at the route I had in mind back on Friday when I misjudged the weather and ended up cutting it short.

Today's route was south through Condover, Acton Burnell and up the Folly Bank climb, then I took a right at the top for a change and headed for Cardington via Willstone (taking care at the ford which is very slippy again now that the water has returned) then skirting past Longville on the way to Hughley and the Harley road. A left before reaching Harley as usual then I dropped into Cressage and headed for Eyton-on-Severn, Wroxeter, Upton Forge, Atcham, and the short way home via King Street and Allfield.

It was quite chilly at the start (thermometer by the back door said 4.8C) so I was in my winter layers again and took full finger gloves with me but wasn't quite cold enough to need them. On the plus side it was nice and sunny again with hardly a breath of wind at the start, although that picked up a bit later on.

Traffic was mixed, being quite busy at the start but not much at all once past Longnor. Yesterday's ride caught up with me a bit and I found I couldn't hustle the knockabout bike along in the way I had yesterday, especially on the hilly bits. I should have taken a snack with me as I ran out of energy at about 35 miles.

Wasps were a nuisance again and I'll be glad when they've died off for the winter.

42.4 miles today at 13.2 mph average.

View from Lyth Hill at the start.

Pitchford Hall.

Up in the hills on my way to Willstone.

An hour or so later and looking towards those hills from the road to Wroxeter.

 

[Fonze]

Lovely day again and did 35k which I was pretty chuffed with having done 50k yesterday ..
Bit heavy legged but had great ride and know Winter is just around the corner so need to enjoy each day it's like this ..
Then came home to a joyous feast served up by my good lady ..

 

[Sjw]

How many onions ?!??? You'll certainly have the wind behind you tomorrow ...

 

[Fonze]

How many onions ?!??? You'll certainly have the wind behind you tomorrow ...

They're only dinky things ..

 

[pjd57]

An enjoyable , liesurely run with Free Wheel North from the Whitehouse in Maryhill.
Along the Kelvin , down and over the Clyde to the Tramway and back.
The rain stayed off for most of it

About 15 miles.

 

[LeetleGreyCells]

Yesterday’s rides included a 19-mile loop to Worksop and back on the road bike in the morning, and a total of 6 miles on the MTB doing some cyclo-cross training with the kids to help improve their times and techniques for the Forme NDCXL races.

 

[Old jon]

Well, no ill effects from the previous ride, so it is time to go again. Fifteen and a half miles this morning, still along the towpath but rode a bit further west before I turned around. The last time I rode the towpath this far it had just been macadamed beyond Kirkstall, lots of loose gravel everywhere so quite a bit of care was needed when riding. This time, the loose stuff has gone and riding is a lot easier. Most of the trees around the canal are still carrying summer’s leaves. Sort of limits what can be seen, but the waterway provides a fair bit of visible distraction anyway.

As ever, the delights of Holbeck have to be travelled through. This is not a bad thing, traffic is light to non existent at this time of day, just gone ten, it is rather unusual to see anything sentient at all.

Cross the hump backed bridge by Office Lock and turn left onto the towpath, which soon leads under a significant lump of Leeds City railway station. And out the other side as well. A couple of swans were feeding, or washing their upperworks, just by the pedestrian bridge over the Aire. A few duck, and fewer folk, all the way along to Kirkstall. On Monday I saw a few canoes on the bank here. Today the vessels were in the water, full of children and what may have been a responsible adult at one end of each boat. Fun was evident. I almost asked if I could play too. But I did want to ride a little further, ‘cos there are some hills a bit further along.



Legs and lungs just took me to the top of each rise. The level stretch the rest of the way to Rodley was most welcome, it almost felt easy. Reached the swing bridge there at the same time as the postman, and continued a little further to rest the bike against the bridge that carries the Ring Road over the canal while I ate and drank a bit. And rested.

The return trip was easier, the temperature warmer and the towpath a little busier. I may have seen as many as a dozen people on the journey back to Office Lock. One person did make an impression. A lad, maybe early teens, on one of those scooters with the tiny wheels crossed the road bridge by what was once known as devils elbow, down the road from the Ancestor pub. I rode under the bridge and went a little left onto what was one of the service roads for the old power station. There is the lad on his scooter. Could I pass him? Could I chuff! Just about kept up all the way past the marina ( much too posh a word ) and Armley Mills, then by Viaduct Road I just had to try. So I did. Just. And stayed there. But by ‘eck I did feel old.

After that, leave the canal, ride along Water Lane under the wings and around the bit of Hunslet that takes me in the direction of home. Our lass, our in the Yorkshire way which could be written R lass ( or any member of the family, R lad or R kid ) was already out on her bike when I reached the front door, and I was tempted to ride further to see if a meeting happened. But the mileage and the 325 feet of up, well, I thought. Have a shower.

Stretched further than Monday:--

 

[Denis99]

Lovely weather today.

From Neath, up to Ystradgynlais and down to Pontardawe.

Back up to Rhos and into Neath.

Lost my water bottle on a fast descent, getting more confident at the speed when descending now.

Image taken at the now closed Cefn Coed Colliery, which is now a mining museum.

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

What a beautiful day. Blue skies and it warmed up nicely. Just a zephyr to disturb the cobwebs. I met Jules H at Powick and we headed over to Martley for the ride along the Teme Valley. Beautiful today. We stopped for a quick look at the 12th century church at Lower Rochford before taking our table at T.A.B.S. for an early lunch.

The route back took us via Berrington for the long climb to Leysters. Then by Thornbury to Bromyard we were making excellent progress. Even the continuous climbing was a pleasure today. We took the Frome valley to climb out and over into the Leigh Brook valley for a standard run back. It was one of those days where we both felt it was all going really well. Wish all ride were like that. 66 smiles with over 4000 feet of ups (and downs).

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

Warmer this morning but a bit windy and I set out on the knockabout bike once again to climb some hills despite the legs being a bit lethargic from the last couple of days.

I headed over Lyth hill to start with, taking the more direct dirt track over the top to Exfords Green (rather than braving the main roads today) then plodding slowly against the wind to Minsterley. On the way I ducked into someone's drive to let a combine and four huge tractors past - got a wave of thanks from each which was appreciated.

The wind really made it's presence known after Pontesbury which made me glad to be able to get off the road for a short while on the new cycle path to Minsterley, then at Plox Green I turned off, away from the wind but starting the climbing instead. Low range got some use and with the recent changes to the drivetrain on this bike the gearing seems to be better spaced at the low end.

I plodded may way up through Snailbeach, Stiperstones village and Tankerville. Last time I tried to come this way the road was closed - the reason being that the road from Stiperstones up to Pennerley has been very nicely resurfaced which made my slow progress up the hill a lot smoother and more comfortable. I thought of having a coffee stop at The Bog visitor centre but I didn't have much cash on me so decided to leave that for another time.

Climbing away from The Bog the wind had picked up quite stongly but was helping me along now as I crossed the top of the climb and dropped down to Bridges where The Horseshoe was also tempting but again, lack of funds made that easy to resist (there were a couple of other cyclists just going in though).

I had a bit of a blockage to deal with by the youth hostel where a holly tree was being cut down. A friendly couple of guys doing the work though who helped me past the cut branches to carry on with the climbing through Ratlinghope, Darnford and onto the moor past Robin Hood's Butts. The place looks great in the sunshine, but being high up and exposed to the wind it was very blustery and quite cold.

Dropping down High Park I decided to take a right and head for Plush Hill then drop down to All Stretton. I'm glad I did as the view looked particularly good from there today. I caught a couple of cars on the descent and said hello to the two riders struggling up the climb, which for some reason doesn't get a gradient arrow on the map when it easily ought to.

From All Stretton I had the wind assisting most of the way back to Condover where it became more of a crosswind that I needed to lean into. As I approched the A49 I noticed that the traffic seemed to be stationary, which turned out to be due to some roadworks in Bayston Hill. I'll admit to feeling a little smug as I filtered past them all.

35.7 miles today at 11.4 mph average. 35.5 mph maximum dropping down from the Stiperstones. This ride also takes me just past 5,000 miles for the year to date.

Edit: I forgot to mention that I was pleased to see plenty of other cyclists out on the latter half of the ride, not just the ones already mentioned. Making the most of the weather.

From Lyth Hill near the start.

Working my way up the valley to Stiperstones village.

Tankerville, with some lovely new smooth tarmac.

Looking back towards The Bog. The visitor centre is in the old school down there. Corndon Hill in the distance.

Past the summit of the climb and looking towards the Long Mynd.

The Horseshoe at Bridges.

Wildmoor Pool.

On the way down past High Park.

From Plush Hill.

All Stretton.

 

[Stonechat]

Nice weather tempted me off the indoor trainer and out..

Did s double loop of Shepperton and one of the local reservoirs.

Got slowed by traffic and schools letting out, but an impressive speed (for me at least)

20.75 miles @ 18.4 mph AVE moving speed.

Little climbing

https://www.strava.com/activities/1866970912

 

[cosmicbike]

Had a bit of time before w*rk tonight, and Dad had a social ride organised so I popped along and did the first half with them. Took the Trice, now with new front tyres since the old ones were worn through. Went bigger at 1.75", makes for a nicer ride on the towpath. Staines - Chertsey and back, a mere 14 miles but enjoyable with good company, and far warmer than I expected.
The trike with the London Stone

 

[classic33]

Well, no ill effects from the previous ride, so it is time to go again. Fifteen and a half miles this morning, still along the towpath but rode a bit further west before I turned around. The last time I rode the towpath this far it had just been macadamed beyond Kirkstall, lots of loose gravel everywhere so quite a bit of care was needed when riding. This time, the loose stuff has gone and riding is a lot easier. Most of the trees around the canal are still carrying summer’s leaves. Sort of limits what can be seen, but the waterway provides a fair bit of visible distraction anyway.

As ever, the delights of Holbeck have to be travelled through. This is not a bad thing, traffic is light to non existent at this time of day, just gone ten, it is rather unusual to see anything sentient at all.

Cross the hump backed bridge by Office Lock and turn left onto the towpath, which soon leads under a significant lump of Leeds City railway station. And out the other side as well. A couple of swans were feeding, or washing their upperworks, just by the pedestrian bridge over the Aire. A few duck, and fewer folk, all the way along to Kirkstall. On Monday I saw a few canoes on the bank here. Today the vessels were in the water, full of children and what may have been a responsible adult at one end of each boat. Fun was evident. I almost asked if I could play too. But I did want to ride a little further, ‘cos there are some hills a bit further along.



Legs and lungs just took me to the top of each rise. The level stretch the rest of the way to Rodley was most welcome, it almost felt easy. Reached the swing bridge there at the same time as the postman, and continued a little further to rest the bike against the bridge that carries the Ring Road over the canal while I ate and drank a bit. And rested.

The return trip was easier, the temperature warmer and the towpath a little busier. I may have seen as many as a dozen people on the journey back to Office Lock. One person did make an impression. A lad, maybe early teens, on one of those scooters with the tiny wheels crossed the road bridge by what was once known as devils elbow, down the road from the Ancestor pub. I rode under the bridge and went a little left onto what was one of the service roads for the old power station. There is the lad on his scooter. Could I pass him? Could I chuff! Just about kept up all the way past the marina ( much too posh a word ) and Armley Mills, then by Viaduct Road I just had to try. So I did. Just. And stayed there. But by ‘eck I did feel old.

After that, leave the canal, ride along Water Lane under the wings and around the bit of Hunslet that takes me in the direction of home. Our lass, our in the Yorkshire way which could be written R lass ( or any member of the family, R lad or R kid ) was already out on her bike when I reached the front door, and I was tempted to ride further to see if a meeting happened. But the mileage and the 325 feet of up, well, I thought. Have a shower.

Stretched further than Monday:--

View attachment 431726

Tornado Alley!

 

[Donger]

A pleasant 32 miler tonight with a couple of friends ... (Claire, who came over from Minchinhampton and fellow Cyclechatter @Dark46) . Down to the riverbank at Arlingham, then across to Frampton on Severn, then back home via a short stretch of A38 before re-crossing the canal and taking the lanes through Longney and Stonebench. We did the return trip with lights on, and watched a great sunset over the Severn as we rode along. This was a mercifully flat ride, and we seemed to have more than our share of following breezes. A great evening ride, finishing in the dark.
Cheers, Donger.

 

[Dark46]

Great ride tonight starting from mine late afternoon . As we left before the normal time we were able to get a few more miles in. Usually it's around the 25 mile mark but a decent 32 miles was done at a very socailable pace.
As always great to ride with young @Donger and with the lovely Claire too.