Your ride today....

[gavgav]

A very short 2.65 miles, to ride the Cube up to @Rickshaw Phil for its annual service and fitting of new Sprockets, that Phil kindly got me for my Birthday

I’m suffering with the annual May bout of Man Flu, which doesn’t want to let go and so it was good to try to clear the tubes a bit with some fresh air.

I also met their lovely new puppy, Idris

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

Lovely sunny day. So out around the north of the hills to turn west at Pegs Farm and over the Munsley lump. At Pixley I climbed to the very top of The Marcles. Thence I took the Canwood run for Woolhope but looped around the village before taking to the valley. For a change I headed for the southern crossing of The Marcles before dropping to Much Marcle and the standard run back. Nice brisk one today. 57 smiles

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

Yesterday's ride, busy day so posting late.

Set the alarm for an early rise as usual, though I was feeling lazy and thought maybe I would skip the ride today. Alas, the sunshine under the curtain was becconning me, so I kicked the blanket and got a move on.

The forecast was for a chilly start but warming up quickly, which made for a tricky wardrobe choice. I decided to wear tights and shorts, with a long sleeve top but no jacket.

Out around twenty to seven, in glorious sunshine, it was cold in the shade, but in the sunshine it was rather nice already. Plan was to go to Witley Court, so headed out through town, past the cathedral, over the bridge and towards Hallow. The roads are always quiet at this time of the day, so the riding is easy.

At Hallow turned left for Sinton Green, enjoying the views of the countryside. Between Sinton Green and Ockeridge there's a bit of a climb, not too hard, but a slog nonetheless for me, but the view at the top is great, orchards in the foreground, with the trees in bloom and the north side of the Malverns as the background.
View attachment 466295
Last time I was this way it was autumn, and it looked very different.

I also discovered that the axis of polarisation in my cycling glasses is perpendicular to the polariser of my phone's screen in landscape mode.

Onward was a right and then an immediate left for Little Witley, where I joined the Tenbury road for a short stretch, and then left for Witley Court. The road here is a potholed mess, and progress needs to be careful, but the sight at the top is worth it.
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View attachment 466299
I had a bit of a rest while I had my fruit bar, and then set off towards Great Witley. The two big potholes that were like lakes in the autumn have now been filled in with rubble, which presents its own challenges. Near the end of the lane a car coming the other way pulled in at the passing place to let me through, and then it was a left on the main road to Great Witley.

At Great Witley was a left again towards Martley, and the only lump of the day, which I took steady. I seem to be getting better at going up hills, if not faster, as I wasn't particularly out of breath when I reached the top. I spun out going down the other side, and reached a top speed of 33mph. I was having so much fun with the downhill that I missed the turn for Ockeridge, and had to double back. The lane that goes to Ockeridge has a couple of short, sharp lumps, and one of them always catches me out, I sort of think that it should be easier, but I always end struggling to the top.

Next turn was right for Wichenford, and in Wichenford a right in Venn Lane. This lane had just undergone the loose gravel dressing procedure, and there was a lot of loose gravel at the turn. Even though I entered quite slowly, the gravel was so deep that it caught my wheels and I ended having an unscheduled dismount event as I ended up hitting the kerb with my front wheel. Luckily I managed to jump off and remain on my feet, so no damage to me or the bike. Even more luckily, I don't think any one saw my inelegant dismount. Needless to say, I rode the rest of the lane really carefully.

From here the next destination was Upper Broadheath, past Elgar's Birthplace Museum and on to the A44. Past a few cyclists here, all looking in very good spirits. This is a fairly flat section of the route, and made reasonably fast progress. To pad up the distance to the half century I took the right at the roundabout towards Bransford, and stopped by the bridge for a rest and some more sustenance. The temperature was now creeping up, and I was starting to feel just slightly overdressed, good job I didn't wear my jacket.

The final section was going up Station Rd towards Powick, and then the cycle path along the southern link road. Have I ever mentioned how much I hate this cycle path? It is very badly surfaced, and it is just wide enough for one person or one bike. The only slight redeeming quality are the views of the Cathedral to the left, but as the trees are now full of leaf that is hidden at this time of the year.

Anyhow, got home in one piece, having enjoyed a great ride in great weather, and another metric half in the bag. This time last year my longest ride ever had been just around 20 miles, now anything less than thirty doesn't feel like a proper ride, .

The map
View attachment 466310

Lovely ride. When at Witley Court it's worth going into the church and looking up. Also cafe just there too

 

[Reynard]

Was such a lovely sunny (if somewhat breezy) afternoon, and it would've been rude not to go for a ride...

I'm planning a repeat of my totally nuts trip down to Hampshire tail end of July, so figured it would be a good idea to start developing some hill legs before I went this time. So, in the company of Wiggy #2, the Chartres, I took myself off to Witcham.

So out via Downham Common and up through Downham. Stopped off at a friend's house to pop a magazine through her letter box before riding along the undulations of The Hythe. At Red Caps, it's the drop down the hill and the run to Way Head. The road there really hasn't improved over the winter, cracking and pot-holed, but it's definitely easier to negotiate on a hybrid rather than a road bike.

Past the spot where I crashed in November, and now, with dry roads, it's easy to see how and why. The left side of the road between Way Head and Coveney has subsided nearly a foot, and there's an inch wide crack right in the crown of the road. I'd been cycling on the crown of the road to avoid the subsidence, and I hadn't seen the crack under a layer of mud...

From there, it's the climb into Coveney, then a ride along the ridge of high ground (with some amazing views of Ely Cathedral across the fens) and the rolling stretch of road that takes me to Wardy Hill. The road from Wardy hill then creeps ever upwards as you head towards Witcham, with a final steep ramp as you enter the village.

I stopped outside St Martins for a breather, a banana and some haribo before doing an about turn and heading back home the way I came. A further brief stop in Coveney was required to put my gilet on as by then the temperature had started to dip a little. Saw four other cyclists on the way home, including a very friendly chap riding a nice 80s-ish Bianchi.

Nineteen very enjoyable if lumpy (well, what passes for lumpy around here) miles.

 

[Dave 123]

Mrs Dave was a bit tired after yesterday so we just had a lazy spin down to Alcudia old town for a coffee, then back through the lanes. A 20 mile ride.

Very nice too

https://www.strava.com/activities/2366658214

 

[pjd57]

Lovely day for a trip to the Kelpies

 

[Mike_P]

Two evening rides so far this week– yesterday headed west on the A59 It is shut once again at Kex Gill, Cote du Blubberhouses, until Friday at least so somewhat devoid of HGVs and the general volume of traffic that uses this Trans-Pennine route, the largest vehicle that passed was a shortish milk tanker. Previously I had only travelled in the downhill, opposite, direction but having noted a couple of nasty potholes last week, when passing along by car, the uphill version seemed the safer option Somewhat lumpy with the downhill bits only partly negating the sharp uphill bits so whilst it’s a fast run the other way this was a mixture of fast sections and slower slogs. Turned off to Swinsty reservoir and rounding the bend on the climb away passed through road closed signs and immediately struck a patch of relatively recently laid tarmac that was only 99% set Nevertheless managed my best time on the climb. Then along Penny Pot Lane, nominally closed until the end of June, but it turned out it was open as far as Jubilee Roundabout and was the section beyond on the UCI circuit that is closed – road surface completely removed in part and cyclist requested to dismount and use the pavement. As I could see the pavement was clear the need to dismount I figured did not apply 15.22 miles 950ft climbed 13mph average

This evening the climb of Cornwall Road etc and looping round to Beckwithshaw, where I had hoped given TdY had passed through something might have been done with the road surface but sadly not with depressions all over the place A couple of other cyclists obviously adopted the pros attitude and just shot across them but they did then give me a couple of targets to pace and recorded a PRs on the climb of Norwood Lane and onto Norwood itself. Then pass the end of the now fully resurfaced, and reopened road up from Swinsty reservoir and back home along Penny Pot as per Monday. 16.33 miles 975ft climbed 13.6 mph average

 

[C R]

Lovely ride. When at Witley Court it's worth going into the church and looking up. Also cafe just there too

Witley is great, we go there often with the children, but haven't been into the church, will check it out next time. We have sampled the delights of the cafe several times too, unfortunately, my rides tend to be too early for most cafes to be open.

BTW, could I borrow on your knowledge of the area? Is it possible to cross the Avon from Strensham to Eckington via the lock, or is that private property? I haven't been that way, but was wondering as it would open different route possibilities.

 

[Reynard]

Needed to stretch the legs a bit after yesterday, so decided to spend an hour and a bit in the company of Wiggy #1, the Rouen.

Nothing uber special, just a run to Littleport via Downham Common, Black Bank and Parsons Lane. Dropped off the parental unit's prescription at the quack, then scooted off via Main Street and Victoria Street to the river. Stopped on the bridge for a few minutes to watch the world go by as it was such a lovely and warm (if blustery) afternoon.

From there, it's a left turn to ride along Branch Bank to Sandhill Bridge - not the nicest part of the ride. The road is narrow, the surface is breaking up, cars whizz by at a fair old lick (I had a close pass there today) and it's a steady grind up to the top of the hill.

A short zip along the A10 and a left turn into Camel Road to ride past the big garden centre and the rec ground / sports centre and then back into Littleport proper. Saw loads of kids on bikes down there today, but how the heck they can pedal with the saddles set so low, I shall never know!

Then it's the Wisbech Road, past the Co-op, cross the roundabout, and back down Black Bank to retrace my wheel tracks towards home.

Twelve sunny miles in the sunshine.

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

Witley is great, we go there often with the children, but haven't been into the church, will check it out next time. We have sampled the delights of the cafe several times too, unfortunately, my rides tend to be too early for most cafes to be open.

BTW, could I borrow on your knowledge of the area? Is it possible to cross the Avon from Strensham to Eckington via the lock, or is that private property? I haven't been that way, but was wondering as it would open different route possibilities.

Deffo worth a look in the church

Yes - Strensham to Eckington via the lock is a public footpath. Best to wheel your bike. The lock keepers on the island can be a bit of a problem tho'. They seem to want to discourage use of the footpath perhaps under orders from their navigation authority employers. They are not allowed to do this of course and you should not take any notice of them - just stick to the footpath which appears to go through the garden and does. I've crossed many times without problems tho'. You can check the actual route of the right of way on the Worcester Council web site I think. I did once myself but forget the actual methodology I used. Enjoy - it's a fun bit of stuff and avoids that busy bit of road over Eckington Bridge and via Defford

 

[C R]

Deffo worth a look in the church

Yes - Strensham to Eckington via the lock is a public footpath. Best to wheel your bike. The lock keepers on the island can be a bit of a problem tho'. They seem to want to discourage use of the footpath perhaps under orders from their navigation authority employers. They are not allowed to do this of course and you should not take any notice of them - just stick to the footpath which appears to go through the garden and does. I've crossed many times without problems tho'. You can check the actual route of the right of way on the Worcester Council web site I think. I did once myself but forget the actual methodology I used. Enjoy - it's a fun bit of stuff and avoids that busy bit of road over Eckington Bridge and via Defford

Thanks, that's great to know. I had looked at the right of way maps and google satellite images, and I thought it should be possible to cross, but the garden was the bit I wasn't sure. Will try soon and report back.

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

Thanks, that's great to know. I had looked at the right of way maps and google satellite images, and I thought it should be possible to cross, but the garden was the bit I wasn't sure. Will try soon and report back.

I think the bit the Lock Keepers don't like you using is the swing bridge. That is actually the right of way according to the definitive map. I've usually used the lock to cross but the bridge was in place on one occasion and I crossed with no problems. Have fun

 

[Denis99]

Trip to The Big Apple yesterday, this has recently been declared a listed building . Has a history dating back to the early days when the Mumbles was just a local attraction, before mass car travel.

 

[Threevok]

Trip to The Big Apple yesterday, this has recently been declared a listed building . Has a history dating back to the early days when the Mumbles was just a local attraction, before mass car travel.

View attachment 466590

Not been to that for years. I think about 40 years

 

[Dave 123]

I’m no longer an Ebike virgin!

Mrs Dave took the day off, so my brother Keith rode my bike and I rode Mrs Dave’s Ebike. It was good fun!
I didn’t use the engine until the real climb began, but once I did I could feel the advantage instantly. I then decided to use the second level..... it was good! The hill slackened off a touch, but to get back to level one you had to go through level 3...... oh that was brilliant!
The only trouble was that one back in level 1 it felt like someone was pulling me backwards!

So my view on this bike is- if you struggle on hills, it’s great. But it’s so heavy that on the flat, or a slight decent you can feel the weight of the battery slowing you down.

So the climb up to Lluc was fun, I was still putting in 100% battery or not.
The decent down to Caimari was sweet. Hairpin after hairpin...

Then it was a headwind through the valley. We stopped at Tolos for a beer before heading home.

Almost 50 miles.

https://www.strava.com/activities/2369337059