Your ride today....

[derrick]

Sunday was a birthday ride for one of the guys in the club, So we did a 60 mile ride for his 60th birthday, Over 30 riders turned up Sunday morning, so we split into three groups, Weather was about perfect not to hot not to much wind and the company was great, Started of a nice easy pace on the way there,After about an hour in the cafe it was time to make our way back to the pub for a birthday drinkies.



It felt like everybody wanted to get back to the pub quickly, the 30 miles back flew by, then very soon we all had a beer in our hands.

A good day was had by all.

 

[Spartak]

I'm presently halfway thru a DIY x GPS Audax !

Having breakfast in Coffee #1 in Monmouth !

View attachment 89768
View attachment 89769

Finished my ride ......

From Monmouth I took the Wye Valley road back to Chepstow via Tintern.

103 kms in total with 1200 metres of climbing 8-|

 

[cosmicbike]

Woke early today, and gave up on the concept of sleep 0620hrs. My Planet-X RT-58 is feeling neglected I think, not used it much since buying a couple of months back, so decided to take it out for a spin. Had one of my usual routes in mind, but upon reaching Shepperton the dreaded 'cycle event' signs were out, and I found myself mixing with a TT event. I wanted to avoid, so ended up in new territory out Hersham & Esher way, before aiming for home via Weybridge. A mile from home and 22 miles done, I talked myself into for the metric 50. Haribo's duly devoured, and off up Egham hill before a loop around Virginia Water and home. Sorry no photo's today, just wanted to get the miles in, 31.7 of them today.

 

[mooseracer]

First ride in over a month as my hip has taken a serious downturn. A huge 1.9 miles

Hopefully the first step in 're-recovering'.

 

[Gravity Aided]

Best wishes with your rerecovery.

 

[Supersuperleeds]

Couldn't decide where to ride to today or how far, so I decided to ride into the wind until I'd had enough. Ended up at Atherstone before turning around and retracing my route back home. 53 miles in total, a cloudy and cool ride with few other riders out and about.

https://www.strava.com/activities/311350124

 

[13 rider]

Woke up this morning with legs that felt like lead for some reason. Having arranged to meet some mates for a ride it was out with the bike hoping the ride off lead legs .After just setting off got a text from the one definite rider and he couldn't make it due to family issues .Still had to go to meeting points as two possibles .From Anstey through Cropston ,Rothley to meeting point in Cossington .Set on bench waiting for ten minutes letting legs recover . Not unsurprisingly no one turned up ( I have no friends) .In a way I was quite glad because now I could ride a my nice steady pace instead of keeping pace with the faster riders which was a relief for my legs .So after the rest its straight onto the climb of Humble Lane which has its own strava segment , so attack hit the bottom of the a 20mph in the big ring and charged up all the way in the big ring and shattered my Pb reached the top and realised this had not done my legs any good. So now a nice steady ride through Ratcliffe on the Wreake ,Thrussington and Hoby where I turned for Ragdale which involves a climb up then a drop down into the village and then the climb out .this climbing used to do just after I got my bike and took newbie mates with me I must have been mad the climb is a b#@%r .Any made it up its a steep start and turns into a drag for quite a distance halfway up I did realise why I stopped doing this climb .Turned left at the junction and headed for Burton on the Wolds which should be a lovely fast steady decent but a headwind put paid to that .Through Burton into Barrow on soar .quick look at milage and realise a metric half century was doable.So on to Quorn turned to Woodhouse and headed for Swithland through the village and stopped at the reservoir for a rest .

Bad timing for photo just missed the steam train crossing the bridge in the back ground on the Great Central Railway.
Back home via Rothley and Cropston 35.2 miles done at an average of 13.7 mph not bad on lead legs
Back home with feet up coffee and cake legs still feel leaden but glad I got out even if it was a bit chilly mind you its a bank holiday what did I expect sunshine ?
​

 

[Dark46]

Sundays ride with the KCC was a good turnout with 10 people turn along for the ride. 5 of us in our newly arrived kit.

The ride was a nice mixture of inclines and flat sections which mafe for a great ride.

We started off going up over Horsepools, then we went right and went through Randwick woods. From the woods we went down into Stroud and up Selsley hill and peeled off right to the Stanleys. From The Stanleys it was across the bottom of Frocester towards Cam. It was along here that Donger and I saw a Crow drop a goose egg on the road to get at the click inside. Wish I had a motion camera for that.

From there it was up the A38 till we turned off for Frampton, then along to Arlingham.

This is where it started to rain and I had no proofs or anything. We then did the Arlingham loop
before heading to Elmore and Longley.
After a little extra I got the ride to just over 40 miles as there was no way I was going to end up with a 37.8 mile ride.

 

[gavgav]

First ride in over a month as my hip has taken a serious downturn. A huge 1.9 miles

Hopefully the first step in 're-recovering'.

Sorry to hear about the hip not playing ball, but good to see you are out again

 

[gavgav]

I'd had no adverse reactions from my ride on Saturday and had been feeling much better over the weekend, so took the opportunity to get my metric half century ride in for May, thankfully, as didn't think I would be able to with the recent virus.

I decided to use the lanes that i frequently rode on when living at my Brothers house, but hadn't been on since moving out in February. It was sunny as I set off, but that soon disappeared (well it is a Bank Holiday!) and it was cool enough for trousers and wind proof jacket.

Initial destination was Harlescott and then Uffington, using the old canal path where it was interesting to see they have whitewashed the underpass and are painting a mural of Shrewsbury in graffiti style .

Continued to Upton Magna and then through Withington and Isombridge. I paused for a nose blow and chocolate bar, next to a small grassed area at the farm and noticed this old plough for the 1st time.

And also rather bizarrely this mirror on a postwhich doesn't appear to be reflecting any roads at the nearby junction!

I pressed on to Longdon on Tern, passing the initial footings that have gone in where they are rebuilding the Tayleur Arms pub that burnt down last year

I then took Sugden Lane to Rodington and then onto Roden, Poynton, Bings Heath, Ebury Hill and back round to Upton Magna.

I completed a figure of eight from there by taking a different way home to Atcham and Betton Abbots.

A much more enjoyable ride than Saturday, with my energy levels returning and hopefully seen the back of the virus

33.8 miles

 

[Hill Wimp]

Only a short 12 miles from Deal to Sandwich just to get out on such a beautiful day but i made it leisurely out through the back lanes and a return along the seafront.

 

[Archeress]

This is a write up of the last 3 days riding. My cycle club had planned a camping trip to the Forest of Dean. My partner and I set out from Bristol to the campsite where our club were going to be camping. The campsite we used was Rushmere Farm near Coleford, run by a lovely but eccentric woman called Margaret. We had an area reserved for the club at one end of the campsite with the new shower block just across the field we were in. Altogether there were 11 of us camping and by noon on Saturday we were all at the site and were set up.

After a spot of lunch we all set off on our bikes for the mountain biking centre at Cannop where we were to do the family trail. The route there took us down an enormous hill at high speed. Once at the centre 2 of our number decided they just wanted to enjoy the sun while the remainder of us rode the family trail and played on the skills sections. Regrettably I felt ill part way round, first feeling light headed and then feeling very cold, goosebumping everywhere despite the very warm conditions. This spoilt the ride a little for me. After ice creams by the lake, we were back at the centre and picked up our two companions. Leaving the centre we had to climb the same steep hill we had come down, only about 3 of our number making it up without stopping.

Saturday evening saw us walking the shortish distance to The Gamekeepers pub where we enjoyed a fantastic plentiful evening meal and for some of us cold lagers and beer. After walking back to the campsite we set up the fire pit and tried to set a fire, however some of the wood was rather green and wouldn't burn! When we got some fire, marshmallows were toasted and more drinks consumed.

Sunday morning arrived and our club chairman set to with a folding barbeque and camp stove to cook up a prodigious amount of sausages, bacon, eggs and mushrooms (whilst I provided all with hot coffee from an insulated cafetiere from Thermos) before we all decided what we were going to do. Some of the club were going back to the mountain biking centre to do the blue and then the red routes. Because of my health the day before I decided to stick with what I knew best and got the road bike out. Also because of what happened the day before the club chairman who was leading the road ride decided to do a shorter route, with a first stop at the mountain biking centre via a different route before then heading over to Clearwater Caves. Fortunately we only had a couple of short rain showers before we left the campsite so we all stayed dry for the whole day.

We arrived back at the campsite in the early afternoon and after a rest we decided to ask the owner of the campsite if there was any wood we could have for that evening. We were pointed toward a nearby wood so 4 of us walked into the woods to forage for seasoned deadwood. Some of the pieces we came back with were rather large so the club chairman and secretary set to with a hand powered chain saw to cut them into smaller pieces.

The mountain bikers came back quite late and after showering we all walked into Coleford to the Balti Hut indian restaurant which had a deal on Sunday evening for a starter, main, side and coffee or ice cream all for 9.95. Again cold lagers and cider were drunk, before we all headed back to the campsite to sit around the fire.

This morning broke and the club chairman again cooked breakfast and I provided coffee, before we all broke camp to come home. The original plan was for a group of about 5 of us to cycle back, but unfortunately the chairmans wife had come down with a migraine so the both of them dropped out and drove home, so after waving my partner off in the car, I set off for home with two others. We headed for Chepstow, passing though St Briavels. Arriving in Chepstow we were stopped by a group of 3 riders that had set out from Bristol this morning without a pump and were in need of one. After our good deed for the day, we headed into Coffee #1 for refreshment.

After refreshment we headed out of Chepstow to cycle over the first Severn Crossing. I had not done this before and was my main reason for cycling home. It is club tradition to stop in the middle of the bride and get off the bikes. I was surpised at the vibration in the bridge and the amount it moved. Once over the bridge we headed for Tockington and Almondsbury before arriving back home.

Ride day 1: https://www.strava.com/activities/311488651
Ride day 2: https://www.strava.com/activities/311488609
Ride home: https://www.strava.com/activities/311488743

Hugs
Archeress x

 

[booze and cake]

I’m up in Wales for the bank holiday and had a great ride yesterday. I always bring a bike and plan a ride when I’m here. However my visits are too infrequent for me to maintain any semblance of hill climbing prowess, that and my fondness for booze and cake. So if I was going to suffer I thought I’d at least reward myself by seeking out the longest (un-ridden by me) descents I could find in the area. I managed to find two 7 mile descents, which I think is about as good as you can get in this country.

Unfortunately unless you’ve got a helicopter, team bus or very supportive spouse, in order to ride some amazing descents you’ve got to cycle up first. First off it was ride over to Abermule, and from there I’d climb 1300ft to the top of Kerry forest which usually features as a stage in UK round of the World Rally Championship. The climb starts gently enough up through the dingle on the B4368, Wales looks so lush and green at the moment.

I took a wrong turn and did a short extra loop with some extra climbing at Goetre, sob there’s enough hills today already! The climb out from Sarn to the top of Kerry forest is a typical brutish Welsh climb. There are no European style switchbacks softening the gradient, this is just the first ramp, where I shed my socks, the rest of me is clothed, honest!

What then follows is over 2 miles of gradients changing from 7-14%, and the most demoralising of climbs, as at least 5 times you think you’re at the summit, only to crest a peak and discover another summit. Very draining climb but finally reached the top at 1600ft, rubbish pic does’nt do justice to the views but everything around is now below me.

Nice sweeping descent down to the Anchor before another energy sapping 3-4 mile climb to the top

Now the reward, the 1st 7 mile descent to Newtown. This is normally ridden in the other direction on the Tour of Britain. Steeper at the top on a quiet road it then shallows as it joins the main road. I took the lane and attacked all the way down, holding some good speed through tight corners, I flew into Newtown grinning from ear to ear. A quick food stop in Newtown then along the back road, through Aberhafesp to Caersws. I was pretty knackered by now so had a cold lager at the Red Lion in Trefeglwys that could so easily have turned into more, but another session of climbing beckoned.
All nice and gentle on the roll to Llawryglyn

…but shortly after there’s a savage hill that quickly takes you from lush green valley floor to above the trees with only the sheep and a stiff breeze for company.

Quick descent to Staylittle then 4 miles of climbing on the epic mountain road to Machynlleth. This is one of my favourite parts of Wales.The view never ceases to impress

This seems high enough but there’s still 2 miles of climbing after this and the road tops out at just under 1700ft

My legs are really feeling it now, at 85kg I’m more suited to descending than climbing so its time to cash in the altitude chips for the 2nd 7 mile descent. This one is a different beast altogether and seems like a proper Alpine mountain pass.The first few miles of the descent has instantly catapulted into the best roads I’ve ever ridden category, fast quiet roads with good line of sight, good surface and some great corners, an amazing buzz. It is really remote up here though so careful as this is not the place to crash (is anywhere?). It really is a must ride bit of road that if you are in the area with a bike.

At Machynlleth I have a reality check, my late start, super slow climbing and photo stops have put me behind and I’m worried I’m not going to get back in time. It’s also chilly at nights and I’m only in short sleeve jersey, so I take the sensible option and cut the route short and decide to stick to A470. I had desperately wanted to avoid this road, especially on a sunny bank holiday, but I got lucky, the good weather keeping everyone on the coast. So I crawled back to Carno with very little traffic, where I turned off for the last ridiculous climb of the day, it hits about 25% which is more than my shredded legs and my smallest 36-25 gear can manage so I unashamedly walk up most of it.

Thankfully it’s so steep the walk is short. The descent from here is another of my favourites and like a best kept secret. Apart from a 0.5 mile climb 2/3rds of the way down, from the top it descends 8.5 miles to Llanfair Caereinion. I’ve done it a few times and not seen single car. Two wheeled bliss. My parents turn off is before that so that can wait for another time. I arrive back about 8pm, where my Mum, like the legend she is has made a huge curry to put the icing on top of what was an amazing day cycling. When the weather is this good and the riding is better, happy days, Wales I love you. Tagged @subaqua for the pics.
http://ridewithgps.com/trips/4753728

 

[subaqua]

oh wow. the mountain road to Mach. am very very jealous

 

[theloafer]

got back from shopping ..and thought get cycling kit on and go went o noe of my fav local runs (2 café`s on route) GT stainton to bishopton and on to redmarshal down to Wynyard woodland park ..just past Thorpe Thewles ..had tea and cake at the station café ...then headed along the old railway line to the A689 to pick up the NCN1 route to Sedgefield ..(my 2 café stop)...but it was chocker so kept on as I had spare food in barbag

just leaving Sedgefield there was a cricket match in progress so stopped had had a snack while watching the gentle art of leather on willow (not that exciting) ... back past the racecourse and back to GT stainton and the reverse of my route.... but then detoured to Aycliffe village via a bridleway which I found had been trimmed back either side up over the M1 through the village on to the industrial estate where I was still feeling fine (legs not complaining).. so altered route again and joined the great aycllffe walk as this brings me back almost traffic free... just need to watch out for the dog walkers. .. I stopped in one of the wooded section as all I could hear was birds lots of them all singing there little heads off ..(just made you want to stop and listen).....a slow ride but on I really enjoyed and got in 34 miles https://connect.garmin.com/activity/784761148

Wynyard cycle route

this is the NCN1 CYCLE ROUTE along side to A689 to sedgefield

a funny old game

bridleway to aycliffe village

the M1

other end of the bridleway