Your ride today....

[twentysix by twentyfive]

Wed 12th

Innsbruck is an "interesting" landing. Narrow valley, mountains and turbulence. Bikes were assembled but our planned route was altered. Snow melt had torrents in the river and the road was flooded. We made it up to get away from town and eventually got onto our route. Pace was quite brisk making checking out the scenery more difficult. A shower dampened spirits briefly. Then we were on the ramp up the valley to basecamp at Au. Weather permitting the summit will be attempted tomorrow. 41 smiles and 2553 feet of up.

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

Thursday 13th

Au to Brunico. Big day in the mountains. Snow many metres deep on the Timmelsjoch at 2500 metres elevation. We all climbed that one. What a headwind on the final section tho'! 20 miles of descent took us from chilly to 35 C. So the second climb was hot. Quite a few got a lift to the top at about 2000 metres. No snow this time. Hunger and thirst meant a stop in the summit cafe. Another long descent left us with a 30 mile run along the valley. The cycle route was quite pleasant although we did have to use the main drag too. 103 smiles and over 13,000 feet of up.

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

Fri 14th

It started out hot today. The largish group set quite a pace down the first section of main road. We dodged on and off parts of a cycle route but the group split. I went off route but so had Swanners so we teamed up to get back on route. Just ahead Paul and Gus were spied. They had also gone off route but differently. The first climb turned out to be rather shorter than I thought. Swanners was struggling so he rolled at his own pace with back-up Phil nearby in the van. The descent took me back to the heat. I rode up the valley but made another nav mistake to turn left and ride uphill for a good way. My sat nav then returned to function properly requiring a return to the valley. Well that extra bit of climbing was on quite a nice road. Later I learned other's sat navs had similarly glitched sending them off route too (but in a different spot). The heat of the valley forced a stop for coffee, coke and ice cream. The valley was gradually climbing and a head wind wasn't helping. At the bottom of the second climb Dave M was waiting for a bike shop in Sciare to open with the back up car team. A gear hanger had snapped. He got it replaced eventually after an in stock item was hand modified. The climb to Passo Valpalora was tough. Hot and steep. I was grateful to spy a cafe at the top where a strong chill wind was blowing. Martyn H-W's group rolled up in dribs and drabs to join me. Refreshed we descended over the Passo Falzarego. The scenery was just amazing up there. We dropped more steeply into Cortina and the welcome sight of our hotel. 57 smiles and 8322 feet of up

 

[The_Weekend_Report_Guy]

The ascending trip to Pico Veleta trying to show you how the views change at different heights.

1000 meters, we started at around 500

A lake I found up there

No clue where the 1500 meters one went. Here is 1750 meters

2000 and I am pointing at where I had to go.

I was getting hungry here.. I think I ate my last cereal bar

Same spot different angle.

2500 and I was getting tired.. Oxigen please..!

Look what I found around 2750..

There is no more signs here.. close to 3000 for sure

And on my way down.. vest on.. windy but not that cold.

Hope you guys enjoyed it.

And yes I will try to stop by more often but since this became a job I am posting less. At least here. Will try to keep up.

Cheers!

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

Sat 15th

Today's ride took in two big climbs. The first started straight out of Cortina. I was tail end charlie on this one but I met up with Gordon and Rob for the last 3 miles. The group were at the top (Passo Giau) when I got there. Stunning scenery all around. We dropped off quite quickly to run up and down on the side of a valley before turning onto the second climb (Passo Falzarego). This one was quite a pleasant gradient which was just as well as my gear cable had pulled through and I lost my bottom three gears. Part way up Steve got the tool kit from the car so I sorted it out. Just as well as the last half mile was a bit steeper. Then down and more down back to Cortina. 40 smiles and 6710 feet of up.

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

Sun 16th

38 C today. Crazy hot. Most opted for the long route today. Two long steep climbs in the first half (Passo. A spoke broke and seized my rear wheel half way up the second climb. Back up Steve took me to the top where my wheel building skills with a spoke key got the wheel rotating again. I descended to be caught by Ade and Dan. So we teamed up for the rest of the day. The final climb wasn't too bad but hot. The Giro had been this way as witnessed by pink ribbons and banners. Paso Boldo is spectacular. The descent was down a narrow ravine with amazing engineering. All done during WW1. Reaching the plane it was a speedy run in to Treviso. Another GV tour complete. 103 smiles and 8030 feet of up.

 

[iandg]

Stressed with house sale and moving so not posted here for a while. The move south is complete and I'm now in a rent in Dumfries until we find somewhere to buy. Only been 2 weeks but the cycling here is so good Stornoway is already a distant memory. Rode out to join the Dumfries and Galloway Cycling UK (Wednesday Wheelers) group today - not a club run as such, a different cafe location every week where riders from all over the region meet up. This week was the cafe at the Barstobrick Equestrian Centre. I did an out and back from Dumfries via Shawhead, Kirkpatrick Durham, Old Bridge of Urr (getting an'O' for the ABC challenge) and Laurieston. Leek and Potato soup, Earl Grey tea, a bag of crisps and a mint aero chocolate slice before returning home along the same route in reverse.

 

[Mike_P]

What a glorious evening. Did the reverse run of the route taken through Tang last Friday, other than taking the nominally less steep route this way round to Swincliffe Top, as far as the crossing of the A59, once again without stopping, and then direct back along Penny Pot Lane. Nearly had a conflict with a pedestrian or rather a dog / dog lead. She was stood by the side of the road with four dogs and I approached thinking she had seen me; at almost the last moment she released the dog leads and walked into the road. I plodded past and heard an exclamation of shock from her at her actions
Subsequently northbound on the B6161 just before turning west; there was a noticeable westerly which the wind turbines at Knabbs Ridge acknowledged

Southbound on the B6451 with the climb up to the A59 approaching.

With the westerly was hoping for a possible PR along Penny Pot Lane but that was scuppered by a complete carriageway closure virtually at the end alongside the Army Barracks; still a signed cycle route along the pavement but a temporary sign telling cyclists to dismount

Route home through the country park was also hindered by of all things a cycle race

15.56 miles 984ft climbed Avg 12.2 mph

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

Yesterday's ride once again: An evening ride this time after the rain cleared up and it turned out to be by far the nicest part of the day. My route was over Lyth Hill to Plealey, Oaks, Pulverbatch, Wilderley, Smethcott, Dudgeley, Hollyhurst, Acton Burnell, Cantlop, Condover and back.

Not much traffic out at the start but the driving I encountered seemed to be rather manic. One driver seemed very keen to overtake me approaching Plealey but had to stop for a large tractor and a transit van coming the other way - I was small enough to slip past and didn't see the car again after that.

The hilly part of the ride was up next and was quite uneventful apart from disturbing a deer in one of the little wooded valleys after Wilderley. After Dudgeley I needed to cross the A49 (encountered a group of mountain bikers around here) and was onto the much flatter second half of the ride where I could maintain some speed.

I had intended to head back the most direct way but there was no rush and the evening was still nice so I headed through Acton Burnell, Cantlop and Condover before taking the flat route home as the roads were nice and quiet by this time. An extra bit was added round the village just to round up the mileage and I finished just as the sun was setting.

A very pleasant 30.3 miles at 12.9 mph average.

View from the top of Lyth Hill early in the ride.

At the top of the climb after Wrentnall looking back to Lyth Hill.

Drink stop with a view of Caer Caradoc.

Near to Acton Burnell I stopped to check a rattle on the bike and had this view. It was really peaceful just here with no human noises to be heard, just the birds and the lambs in a nearby field.

 

[LeetleGreyCells]

A 50km ride today out through Laughton-en-le-Morthen to Blythe and back through Worksop and by the airfield at Netherthorpe. Headwind most of the way along the loop and a small detour through the woods near Hodsock Priory as there was tree felling happening at the start of the bridleway. Good I was on the Fuji adventure bike.

 

[fossyant]

24 miles off road, but took the FS rather than the old rigid this time. Similar route, just extended the loop. It's amazing what a fair amount of wind can do to dry trails up - nothing like yesterday's slop, but I did avoid the last mile on the canal as that's very muddy, so nipped through the back streets. Warm, but mixture of sun, cloud and showers today - missed the showers fortunately.

 

[gavgav]

My first after work evening ride since the 23rd May, as finally we have a dry, sunny and warm evening! I’d forgotten what they look like. A strong Westerly breeze, but you can’t have everything. Also finally over my 3rd bout of Lurgy in the last 3 months, which ruined my riding plans on my week off.

Risked the Carbon, despite the recent floods and it was actually ok, with just sand and gravel, in places, where the flood debris was left, needing a bit of caution.

Headed down through Meole, having to use the multiple crossing points to get across the island, with the underpass still being closed by barriers, due to the river having been on it and it’s left thick mud as a gift.

Out onto the main road to Hook a Gate and Annscroft, before turning towards Exfords Green. Came up behind no less than 8 riders out together on horses, which necessitated a wide pass, but the horses all behaved themselves and I continued towards Stapleton. Dad is away and so no stop at his tonight, onto Ryton and Condover, then along Lyons Lane to Betton Abbots. It was along here that a large insect bounced off my helmet, or so I thought.......

There are roadworks and 4 way temporary traffic lights, causing chaos on the junction where my estate is, due to yet more house building and so I avoided the queues by nipping through the Sutton estate and then along the pavement for a very short section (naughty me!) and onto the shared use path that leads into my estate.

Got home, took my helmet off, only for a bee to drop out of it!! Clearly the large insect had hitched a ride inside it, not bounced off, but luckily hadn’t stung me!

14.9 miles at 12.8mph avg

 

[Dave 123]

A shortish ride on the tandem tonight.
My brother had given me a tip off that there were bee orchids in the grass verges in Cambourne. When we got there... they’d been mown this week.

In the longer grass there were some nice scabious and bees....

We had a small meander around Cambourne, but to no avail. We headed to Ellsworth, I fancied a pint.

Along the road to Ellsworth are 3 right angle bends. The verge on the first bend looked promising. We stopped and had a mooch. It took me about a minute...

Just how beautiful are they?

We rolled on down to Ellsworth feeling happy

The beer was good too!

15 miles. A bit cool, but a good evening.

https://www.strava.com/activities/2466612580

 

[Reynard]

Lovely @Dave 123

 

[Mr Celine]

Last night's ride. Same beautiful evening everyone else seems to have had. Pictures at the top of the Swire.

31.9 miles @ 15.7 mph. 612m up.