DCBassman
Guru
- Location
- The lumpy far South West
Yup, they're good, I'll learn this lesson!
Your ride today....
- Thread starter gbb
- Start date
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Dave 123
Legendary Member
- Location
- Cambridgeshire alps
Heltor Chasca
Out-riding the Black Dog
HUGE kudos to you. Well done on a smashing ride. I would agree with almost every point of yours. Except Verity. I fell deeply in love and I can’t get her out of my mind. Smitten. Bowled over. Love sick. It’s agony.
Well done again. I bet even though it’s ‘only’ your second longest ride, I bet you it’s the one with the most elevation. Rest up now.
DCBassman
Guru
- Location
- The lumpy far South West
Thanks. There's no doubt that I bit off more than I could chew, but we live and learn.
Also a shout out to South Fork Racing in Braunton. Went in to get a 2nd water bottle, a piece of my plan that worked. I asked if I could fill it, and he nipped smartly to the back of the (extremely well stocked) shop and topped it off from large bottled water kept for that purpose.
And the guy was doing emergency puncture work on a pram wheel during all this, it had gone pop just as I arrived. Proper local shop.
Well done on the ride, a lovely area. A pity about that wrong turning - Woolacombe is a lovely town but there's no way out of it by bike that isn't tough and/or evil. The least awful way is the coast road to Mortehoe but that still has some big ramps, but is much quieter and less of a slog than the main road. Never did manage to get up Challacombe without getting off and pushing, despite trying probably a dozen times. 25%, single track, with cars coming the other way.
1) I remember liking Verity at the time but it turns out I only saw her from the good side, not the OH GOD THE HORROR side.
2) I know the exact spot you mean, it threw us when we were exploring on a family ride, I did a bit of scouting, we couldn't realistically ride on those roads with young kids. Decided it was easier to go to Ilfracombe instead (and went down the way you presumably came up).
Pale Rider
Legendary Member
Dunstall Castle was the scene of a shooting years ago involving my mother.
Travellers took up residence on the surrounding land which we called Dunstall Common, although strictly it's Croome Estate land.
Unfortunately the travellers' site soon became an eyesore - rubbish, scrap cars and the like.
The locals were not impressed. and as chairman of the parish council, it fell to my mother to lead the campaign to get the site cleared.
This led to several 'meetings' with the travellers on the common, which inevitably turned ugly.
Matters came to a head when one of the travellers discharged a shotgun towards the deputation of locals.
Fortunately, he didn't turn me into an orphan, and the shooting did finally motivate the coppers to do something.
A few days later, about half the West Mercia force turned up, tooled up and ready, accompanied by several bin wagons, tow trucks, and a good squad of labour from the council.
The travellers were evicted and the site cleared.
Thoughts then turned to how to prevent their return.
It was decided to dig a trench either side of the road to prevent vehicle access to the open ground.
The trench is still just about visible in your pic, although it's clearer in this earlier aerial pic ripped from the internet.
Basil.B
Guru
- Location
- Oxfordshire
Can't beat a crisp autumnal morning when the suns out.
Did my regular 25 mile loop this morning.
Did my regular 25 mile loop this morning.
Must have been unsettling. I did wonder about the ditches, as there aren't any ditches like that in any other of the fields in the area, as far as I can tell.
Interestingly, there was a large group of travelers with horses and horse drawn wagons camped on the grass around the turn for Grafton Flyford, off the A422, when I went past on the same ride on Sunday.
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Pale Rider
Legendary Member
The trenches would have been dug close to 50 years ago.
To be fair to the locals, I didn't detect much hostility to the travellers when they first arrived.
But regrettably the site soon became a mess, and perhaps of more concern, stuff started to go missing.
Someone nicked two metal gates from our farm, presumably to be sold as scrap - the first we knew of that was a phone call from a neighbour to say our stock was wandering down the lane.
There was a bit of scandal at the farm nearest to the castle and next to the motorway.
One of the couple who had it went to prison for fraud, I think in relation to a business they were running from the property.
In 'my' pic there's a straight driveway leading off the lane to the left.
That farm was occupied by members of the Rimell family - I mentioned previously the National Hunt trainer Fred Rimell had his stables at Kinnersley nearby.
fted33
Well-Known Member
- Location
- The western plains of Norfolk
Lunch time ride and a headwind all the way around.
derrick
The Glue that binds us together.
- Location
- On the edge of London
A windy ride to Cambridge for lunch. Three of us met in Hertford this morning at 9-30, had a nice ride there with a nice tailwind blowing us along, Stopped at the Copper Ketle for lunch, the food is good but a bit more expensive than the last time we where there, looks like it might be under new mangement. Will have to find somewhere cheaper next time, maybe the wetherspoons, Back on the bikes and straight into a headwind, was like that all the way home, was a hard ride.
https://www.strava.com/activities/1937825910
https://www.strava.com/activities/1937825910
Just a quick one today, spin up the road for some errands. Could tell the weather had turned by the cold air hitting my lungs and the white salt stripe on my tyres. Time to put the good bike away. Sleep well.
My excitement for the day came in the form of a fellow in the car park hurriedly trying to get out of his parking space and in the process reversing into a bollard right in front of me before driving off. Looked quite sheepish when I caught up to him and handed him his tail light...
My excitement for the day came in the form of a fellow in the car park hurriedly trying to get out of his parking space and in the process reversing into a bollard right in front of me before driving off. Looked quite sheepish when I caught up to him and handed him his tail light...
There is good, another bright day to enjoy on the bike. Still the one with gears because my fitness still lacks a bit. Or maybe my confidence, I dunno.
Actually, there was no lack of confidence this morning, at first. I had the idea to ride the direct route, rather than the Holbeck Triangle, just to see if turning right across four lanes of traffic was something I wanted to do. I did not want to. So I turned left onto Water Lane instead and found my way to the canal at Office Lock. Sort of average, left the canal at Viaduct Road, descended to Kirkstall Road and then ascended through Headingley and other areas another four miles or so to the water tower at Cookridge. That felt like a lot of going up this morning. The going up was rewarded afterwards with some great views over towards Wharfedale and easier riding along the road to Bramhope. Stopped for a munch there, just opposite the bakery. A delivery driver left the bakery, got into his van, which had a Hull address on it, and as he drove off he told me something uncomplimentary about me not wearing a helmet. I blew him a kiss. He did not respond.
After the right turn onto the A 660, along to the roundabout and turn left and up past the former quarry towards Arthington Road and then right to pass the eastern border of Golden Acre Park, then right again to cross Adel Dam. A bit more rising road, pass the church and eventually turn yet again right to rejoin the A 660 and ride back to Headingley, down again to Kirkstall and along the towpath in the direction of home. After leaving Water Lane and riding along Great Wilson Street I happily demonstrated ( to myself, no one else was watching ) that I could turn right across three lanes of traffic. This was to allow me to zig and zag through that corner of Hunslet and onwards towards my front door. One grin, one frozen left foot and a quarter short of twenty two miles for the morning. Great!
A map
Actually, there was no lack of confidence this morning, at first. I had the idea to ride the direct route, rather than the Holbeck Triangle, just to see if turning right across four lanes of traffic was something I wanted to do. I did not want to. So I turned left onto Water Lane instead and found my way to the canal at Office Lock. Sort of average, left the canal at Viaduct Road, descended to Kirkstall Road and then ascended through Headingley and other areas another four miles or so to the water tower at Cookridge. That felt like a lot of going up this morning. The going up was rewarded afterwards with some great views over towards Wharfedale and easier riding along the road to Bramhope. Stopped for a munch there, just opposite the bakery. A delivery driver left the bakery, got into his van, which had a Hull address on it, and as he drove off he told me something uncomplimentary about me not wearing a helmet. I blew him a kiss. He did not respond.
After the right turn onto the A 660, along to the roundabout and turn left and up past the former quarry towards Arthington Road and then right to pass the eastern border of Golden Acre Park, then right again to cross Adel Dam. A bit more rising road, pass the church and eventually turn yet again right to rejoin the A 660 and ride back to Headingley, down again to Kirkstall and along the towpath in the direction of home. After leaving Water Lane and riding along Great Wilson Street I happily demonstrated ( to myself, no one else was watching ) that I could turn right across three lanes of traffic. This was to allow me to zig and zag through that corner of Hunslet and onwards towards my front door. One grin, one frozen left foot and a quarter short of twenty two miles for the morning. Great!
A map
I thought a ride out in the Autumn sunshine would be just the job today. I've been off the bike a whole 9 days during which lovely sunny warm days have come and gone but I had other duties. Not all of which were onerous, but even so.
So today was the day.
Out for about 9.30, winter top, wooly hat, and gloves on because despite the sunshine it was cold. I had a plan to take in some roads I have never used. It was going to be hilly.
I had to dog leg through Moortown with lots of traffic due to road works on the ring road and I made for Shadwell and East Keswick. Over Linton Bridge and a left through Sicklinghall. Even out in the sticks there was resurfacing going on and diversion signs all over the place. I think some were repositioned by 'jokers'. The end result was I went down Kearby Cliff twice:
Had I been forced to climb it twice it wouldn't have been very amusing. I did have to clamber up Moor Lane, AKA Barrowby Hill, though.
Pressing on it was along to the A61 and a short but noisy climb up to Dunkeswick Lane and North Rigton. Where there is a church St John the Evangelist:
From the far side of the church the graveyard has great views over Wharfedale. ( not that's much use to the residents mind you ).
On and up again past Almcliff Crag which often features in pics:
On through Stainburn to Leathley where I turned north off my usual roads and took a left up a small side road, Cinder lane and Pill White Lane.
Uphill and across farms and through gates and eventually meeting the top end of the climb up from Linley reservoir. (or Ree-zer-voy as a bloke I once worked with pronounced the word)
Climbing up from Leathley I had the sun on my back pretty much all the way and by the time I got to the top of Norwood Bank I was wet through with sweat.
On the fast run down towards Bland Hill and Swinsty Reservoir I got cold. Very cold. I stopped at Swinsty to get a couple of pics:
As you can see the levels are well down at Swinsty. As they are at Fewston which is just along the valley a bit:
The spilway from Fewston into Swinsty Looks like it's not going to be needed for some time yet:
I took some pics of the church in Fewston which is very pretty but no room on here to post them. I'll do it another time when I'm out that way. It crossed my mind that when the curch was built the reservoirs would not have been there. All there would have been is a valley with the River Washburn running through it.
The climb up from the reservoir to the road across the moor did nothing to warm me up, I was cold. The sun had gone in and I was still damp, wetter than an otters pocket in fact. The road to Otley didn't look all that inviting:
But having no option I plodded on and ground my way the 6 miles or so across the moor and finally dropped down the fast decent into Otley. Which made me even colder. I needed a bite to eat so grabbed something from a shop and sat in the riverside park watching the ducks.
I had cut the ride short because I was cold and so instead of making for Ilkley I took the road home.
I got in 5 hours or so after I had set off and I was bloody pleased to back. Nevertheless it was a good day out.
54 miles and 4700 ft of up.
View: https://ridewithgps.com/trips/29180612
So today was the day.
Out for about 9.30, winter top, wooly hat, and gloves on because despite the sunshine it was cold. I had a plan to take in some roads I have never used. It was going to be hilly.
I had to dog leg through Moortown with lots of traffic due to road works on the ring road and I made for Shadwell and East Keswick. Over Linton Bridge and a left through Sicklinghall. Even out in the sticks there was resurfacing going on and diversion signs all over the place. I think some were repositioned by 'jokers'. The end result was I went down Kearby Cliff twice:
Had I been forced to climb it twice it wouldn't have been very amusing. I did have to clamber up Moor Lane, AKA Barrowby Hill, though.
Pressing on it was along to the A61 and a short but noisy climb up to Dunkeswick Lane and North Rigton. Where there is a church St John the Evangelist:
From the far side of the church the graveyard has great views over Wharfedale. ( not that's much use to the residents mind you ).
On and up again past Almcliff Crag which often features in pics:
On through Stainburn to Leathley where I turned north off my usual roads and took a left up a small side road, Cinder lane and Pill White Lane.
Uphill and across farms and through gates and eventually meeting the top end of the climb up from Linley reservoir. (or Ree-zer-voy as a bloke I once worked with pronounced the word)
Climbing up from Leathley I had the sun on my back pretty much all the way and by the time I got to the top of Norwood Bank I was wet through with sweat.
On the fast run down towards Bland Hill and Swinsty Reservoir I got cold. Very cold. I stopped at Swinsty to get a couple of pics:
As you can see the levels are well down at Swinsty. As they are at Fewston which is just along the valley a bit:
The spilway from Fewston into Swinsty Looks like it's not going to be needed for some time yet:
I took some pics of the church in Fewston which is very pretty but no room on here to post them. I'll do it another time when I'm out that way. It crossed my mind that when the curch was built the reservoirs would not have been there. All there would have been is a valley with the River Washburn running through it.
The climb up from the reservoir to the road across the moor did nothing to warm me up, I was cold. The sun had gone in and I was still damp, wetter than an otters pocket in fact. The road to Otley didn't look all that inviting:
But having no option I plodded on and ground my way the 6 miles or so across the moor and finally dropped down the fast decent into Otley. Which made me even colder. I needed a bite to eat so grabbed something from a shop and sat in the riverside park watching the ducks.
I had cut the ride short because I was cold and so instead of making for Ilkley I took the road home.
I got in 5 hours or so after I had set off and I was bloody pleased to back. Nevertheless it was a good day out.
54 miles and 4700 ft of up.
View: https://ridewithgps.com/trips/29180612
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