stumpy66
Veteran
- Location
- Lanarkshire
Lovely sunny day, light winds and 3 degrees
Your ride today....
- Thread starter gbb
- Start date
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fatjel
Veteran
- Location
- West Wales
Went on the club ride today.. With getting there and back just a little over 70 miles.
No punctures or breakdowns !!! Was a bit dull lol
https://app.strava.com/activities/251574445
No punctures or breakdowns !!! Was a bit dull lol
https://app.strava.com/activities/251574445
Goonerobes
Its okay to be white
- Location
- Wiltshire
Uncertainty around the weather & my annoyingly achy hip meant I didn't plan a route for today so it was a case of wake up & see whats what.
When I did eventually drag myself from my pit the roads were a mass of whiteness from the overnight frost but on the plus side I had no aches or pains so after a large bowl of porridge, plenty of coffee & a bit of a wait for the frost to clear I decided to stick to the New Forest where at least the roads are pretty free from potholes full of ice compared to some around here.
Heading north & into the chilly north-easterly I passed through Furzley & Landford en route to Redlynch on the northern tip of the forest before turning south & west towards Godshill & picking up a tail wind. The next decision was can I be bothered with the little 26% climb at Blissford Hill? Might as well I guess as its not exactly hilly round here, so that done I headed down towards Ringwood before cutting back across the forest to Burley, up & down Bolderwood, through Minstead, Bartley & Winsor before home & a 51 mile round trip.
https://www.strava.com/activities/251559384
I'm sure my front wheel left the tarmac going up here today!!
Blashford Lakes nature reserve near Ringwood.
Nice empty roads again today with just the occasional car & cyclist.
When I did eventually drag myself from my pit the roads were a mass of whiteness from the overnight frost but on the plus side I had no aches or pains so after a large bowl of porridge, plenty of coffee & a bit of a wait for the frost to clear I decided to stick to the New Forest where at least the roads are pretty free from potholes full of ice compared to some around here.
Heading north & into the chilly north-easterly I passed through Furzley & Landford en route to Redlynch on the northern tip of the forest before turning south & west towards Godshill & picking up a tail wind. The next decision was can I be bothered with the little 26% climb at Blissford Hill? Might as well I guess as its not exactly hilly round here, so that done I headed down towards Ringwood before cutting back across the forest to Burley, up & down Bolderwood, through Minstead, Bartley & Winsor before home & a 51 mile round trip.
https://www.strava.com/activities/251559384
I'm sure my front wheel left the tarmac going up here today!!
Blashford Lakes nature reserve near Ringwood.
Nice empty roads again today with just the occasional car & cyclist.
Saluki
World class procrastinator
- Location
- ...Norwich over the water.
Is the pottery place still at Godshill?
Goonerobes
Its okay to be white
- Location
- Wiltshire
Yes, I do believe I have seen a sign for some sort of arts & crafts place along there.
totallyfixed
Veteran
- Location
- The only county without a McDonalds
Every day I have been checking on the progress of Steve "teethgrinder" Abraham, the last time he was in these parts we couldn't work out where he was heading so intercepting his route to ride with him proved to be too difficult, plus on Saturdays we have to be back before the light goes to feed and walk geese, ducks and hens. After a mundane morning of shopping we were anxious to get riding so I checked the live tracking to see where Steve was and saw he was heading in the general direction of Oakham where we live. Great news except the problem facing us now was which road he would take next, as we looked again at the live tracking we could see he was about 6 miles away, unfortunately [under any other circumstances this is actually very fortunate] there are a myriad of lanes to choose from so second guessing him was not going to be straightforward, and so it turned out. We hot footed [pedalled actually] it to the village of Whissendine where of course he didn't turn up and the mob phone signal was non existent, cycled up and down round and round in the village trying to get a signal, when we eventually got a reading it showed he had turned the opposite way, aargh!!
Plan B. In theory one should always have a plan B, we didn't have a plan B. In the end we took a punt that he needed to eat and we saw he had turned towards Wymondham [not the Norfolk one] where there is a cafe at the windmill [and a good bike shop run by our friends] so we headed in that direction. On arrival there were about half a dozen bikes [it's a well known and popular cyclists cafe] leaning against the wall of the windmill but not Steve's as I know he is riding a Raleigh. Then I spotted it, on it's own under the cafe window. The two nearer are ours [obviously].
We found him sitting alone in another room away from the other cyclists who, when we initially enquired of them, had never heard of Steve or his remarkable challenge! We said a brief hello and met him after his meal as he was leaving. What a lovely chap, about as unassuming as you could wish to meet. It turned out, unsurprisingly that we had many mutual friends so much to talk about. Some pics of the two of us riding with him, one of us had to sprint ahead to get them and again to catch up.
Not the warmest of days but at least the wind was much gentler. We would happily have continued riding with him, but we will again, maybe even tomorrow.
The very best of luck Steve, our thoughts are with you.
Plan B. In theory one should always have a plan B, we didn't have a plan B. In the end we took a punt that he needed to eat and we saw he had turned towards Wymondham [not the Norfolk one] where there is a cafe at the windmill [and a good bike shop run by our friends] so we headed in that direction. On arrival there were about half a dozen bikes [it's a well known and popular cyclists cafe] leaning against the wall of the windmill but not Steve's as I know he is riding a Raleigh. Then I spotted it, on it's own under the cafe window. The two nearer are ours [obviously].
We found him sitting alone in another room away from the other cyclists who, when we initially enquired of them, had never heard of Steve or his remarkable challenge! We said a brief hello and met him after his meal as he was leaving. What a lovely chap, about as unassuming as you could wish to meet. It turned out, unsurprisingly that we had many mutual friends so much to talk about. Some pics of the two of us riding with him, one of us had to sprint ahead to get them and again to catch up.
Not the warmest of days but at least the wind was much gentler. We would happily have continued riding with him, but we will again, maybe even tomorrow.
The very best of luck Steve, our thoughts are with you.
Racing roadkill
Guru
Gravity Aided
Legendary Member
- Location
- Land of Lincoln
I rode 12 miles today, indoors, as there are still several inches of snow outdoors. 40 f, though, and maybe the same tomorrow, that will clear a few road enough for some judicious cycling. As I was driving home from a funeral this morning, I also saw a bald eagle. At first, I thought it a crow with something in its mouth, but it flew directly over me, and I saw it was a bald eagle. Very impressive. I think winter must be getting ready to loose its grip, if eagles are getting this far afield.
ColinJ
Puzzle game procrastinator!
- Location
- Todmorden - Yorks/Lancs border
Another chilly, sunny winter day, so here is report #6 ...
The sun was late showing its face so I decided not to bother with my planned 56 km route and improvised a shorter one instead. It was nice out so I extended the ride a bit but then it got really cold as the sun was getting low in the sky so I headed for home and got back just before sunset.
The route: Up Heptonstall Road, then Lee Wood Road/Draper Lane to Slack. Along Widdop Road past the reservoir to the summit above Thursden Pasture, then I u-turned and headed back to Slack. I turned right at Slack Top and climbed to Colden, carried on down to Jack Bridge, then climbed to Blackshaw Head. I had intended to turn left there down Badger Lane, for a quick return to Hebden Bridge, but I still had enough daylight left to add on another little loop, so I headed round to Great Rock and then climbed Eastwood road, turned right at the top and descended back the way I'd come - Blackshaw Head, Jack Bridge, climbed to Colden, then descended through Slack and down Draper Lane/Lee Wood Road, Heptonstall Road back to Hebden Bridge. 40 kms or 25 miles, with hills!
The profile:
Blake Dean from Widdop Road
Steep hairpinned climb past Blake Dean scout hostel
A chilly-looking Widdop Reservoir!
View from the reservoir in the direction of Colne.
View looking back towards the reservoir in the direction of Hebden Bridge, about 13 kms or 8 miles away.
The forecast is fog all day tomorrow and I have things to do next week which will stop me riding, so that's yer lot from me until mid-February!
The sun was late showing its face so I decided not to bother with my planned 56 km route and improvised a shorter one instead. It was nice out so I extended the ride a bit but then it got really cold as the sun was getting low in the sky so I headed for home and got back just before sunset.
The route: Up Heptonstall Road, then Lee Wood Road/Draper Lane to Slack. Along Widdop Road past the reservoir to the summit above Thursden Pasture, then I u-turned and headed back to Slack. I turned right at Slack Top and climbed to Colden, carried on down to Jack Bridge, then climbed to Blackshaw Head. I had intended to turn left there down Badger Lane, for a quick return to Hebden Bridge, but I still had enough daylight left to add on another little loop, so I headed round to Great Rock and then climbed Eastwood road, turned right at the top and descended back the way I'd come - Blackshaw Head, Jack Bridge, climbed to Colden, then descended through Slack and down Draper Lane/Lee Wood Road, Heptonstall Road back to Hebden Bridge. 40 kms or 25 miles, with hills!
The profile:
Blake Dean from Widdop Road
Steep hairpinned climb past Blake Dean scout hostel
A chilly-looking Widdop Reservoir!
View from the reservoir in the direction of Colne.
View looking back towards the reservoir in the direction of Hebden Bridge, about 13 kms or 8 miles away.
The forecast is fog all day tomorrow and I have things to do next week which will stop me riding, so that's yer lot from me until mid-February!
Soltydog
Legendary Member
- Location
- near Hornsea
Got my imperial century ride in early this month. Had a great ride today, just 3 club members out & only 2 of us after the cafe stop, but 101+ miles & 3600 ft of climbing, which is a lot for round here, it was a very enjoyable day. Apart from the icy roads at Kilham, which forced us to turn round & take the main road to Driffield. can highly recommend the club sandwich at cafe velo Beverley. It was very nice indeed & fueled another 50 miles very well 
https://www.strava.com/activities/251587943
https://www.strava.com/activities/251587943
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ColinJ
Puzzle game procrastinator!
- Location
- Todmorden - Yorks/Lancs border
Well done!Got my metric century ride in early this month. Had a great ride today, just 3 club members out & only 2 of us after the cafe stop, but 101+ miles & 3600 ft of climbing, which is a lot for round here, it was a very enjoyable day. Apart from the icy roads at kilham, which forced us to turn round & take the main road to Driffield. can higly recommend the club sandwich at cafe velo beverley. It was very nice indeed & fueled another 50 miles very well
https://www.strava.com/activities/251587943
An imperial century is a VERY generous metric century!
An 8.30 start with a heavy frost and a bitter cold northerly wind. Keeping to the main roads, I set off from Crofty trying to warm up but the wind chill was hampering all efforts. After about 5 miles of undulating road, I finally feel warm but now progress is slowed by the ice from the water flowing off the fields is frozen at the side of the roads. A tentative decent dropping into a valley before making the mistake of taking a lane running up the valley crossing between the North Gower to South Gower coast. Sheet ice and black ice make the next few miles slow progress with sections having to be walked. Finally back onto the main roads, sun shining drying the roads make for more relaxed cycling with a gentle climb towards the coast. At the top of the climb the Bristol Channel comes into view though the sea haze hides any views of the Devon coast. A long steep twisty decent into the village of Porteynon and the beach.
Back out of the bay up the same long winding hill. Avoiding the lanes, the long route back climbing over Cefn Bryn, then over Cilonen common into the face of the northerly wind. Through the villages of Three Crosses, Dunvant, Gowerton, Penclawdd and Crofty to home. Only 31miles but with 2100ft of climbing and the chilling northerly winds made it enough for the day.
Back out of the bay up the same long winding hill. Avoiding the lanes, the long route back climbing over Cefn Bryn, then over Cilonen common into the face of the northerly wind. Through the villages of Three Crosses, Dunvant, Gowerton, Penclawdd and Crofty to home. Only 31miles but with 2100ft of climbing and the chilling northerly winds made it enough for the day.
Soltydog
Legendary Member
- Location
- near Hornsea
Well done!
An imperial century is a VERY generous metric century!
I really should stay off the net when i've had a couple of shandies
- Location
- Cambridgeshire alps
A 9am start for me whilst Mrs Dave gAve my mum a lift to church. If my mum hadn't have been staying with us I may have done my Feb 100 today, but that would have been a bit naughty!
So I had a nice 37 mile loop out around Graveley and Gamlingay, fairly up and down for this neck of the woods. Nothing earth shattering,,plenty of people out. It almost felt spring like....
Toward the end of the ride I spooked a pair of buzzards that were sat in a big old oak tree. I think they were eyeing the dead rabbit on the road. There's nothing worse than a donkey in Lycra putting you off Sunday lunch!
So I had a nice 37 mile loop out around Graveley and Gamlingay, fairly up and down for this neck of the woods. Nothing earth shattering,,plenty of people out. It almost felt spring like....
Toward the end of the ride I spooked a pair of buzzards that were sat in a big old oak tree. I think they were eyeing the dead rabbit on the road. There's nothing worse than a donkey in Lycra putting you off Sunday lunch!
