Your ride today....

[Mike_P]

Couple of tweaks to the Defy for todays ride; replaced the too small Lezyne saddle bag with the spare, an expanding Lidl one. Reason was I decided the spare inner tube would be better in a concealed saddle bag than the exposed to the sun in the mesh topped top tube box it was in, which also meant that got removed. Also the Go Pro had been rattling so I slipped a thin piece of card in the mount
A mid-morning departure initially on the reverse of yesterdays route as far as Wormald Green on the A61; new PRs gained on the Ripley bypass and a further on the climb away from the A61 west towards Markington. From there went north-west along NCN67 on Westerns Lane to its junction with NCN688, The Way of the Roses, along Watergate Road/How Hill Road. Headed west on that NCN, which includes the 6.2% average climb of the west end of Watergate Road – with a 12-34 cassette on it posed no problems unlike the cyclist I had almost caught up with who was zig zagging across the road and it ultimately became a interesting balance of staying socially distanced and not stalling on the climb.

Continued west on the 2.7 mile drag, with another PR, of Carless House Lane. There is one welcome brief decent about halfway where it makes a change to see an eastbound cyclist having to pedal

There were many cyclists along the route and towards the western end of Carless House Lane I socially distanced from one I had caught up with – in normal times it would have been tempting to ride alongside and in the conversation suggest at an opportune moment he raised his saddle as his riding motion was very bandy legged Then around Brimham Rocks.

The usual parked cars at every possible opportunity were absent and the car park entrance coned off; another PR beyond that. Left the NCN to head down to Ripley which in the undulating terrain means the odd climb; the 4.5% avg climb of Spring House Wood being knocked off with another PR and thereafter what seemed to be a horse road blockage averted itself as their riders turned them onto a bridleway.

Wind was favourable for change heading south west from Killinghall and a full minute quicker than on Thursday for the 1.09 miles. 24.79 miles @14.4mph avg, 1788ft climbed – those stats were once again made awkward by the Strava mobile app updating once again and the authorised connection of the Wahoo having to be reset before it would upload.

 

[DCBassman]

A shorter ride today, usual NCN 27, out to the Leg O'Mutton ramp and back, simply to ensure mileage in double figures.
11.03 miles, 9.9mph avg, 762ft gain.

 

[Spiderweb]

It was great to get out today, I’ve been so busy at work that cycling has taken a bit of a back seat in recent weeks.
A gentle spin in the sun, just over 52 miles with an average of 14.3 mph.

 

[gavgav]

Out again to make the most of the stunning weather, before the Arctic blast arrives tomorrow. It felt like proper Summer today, even warmer and sunnier than yesterday.

I meandered through Sutton Farm estate, to avoid the roadworks on the main road and then joined Wenlock Rd, out to Betton Abbots, Cantlop, Pitchford, Acton Burnell, Frodesley and Longnor. With hardly a breath of wind, it was perfect conditions and traffic was much quieter today, than yesterday.

I paused for water at Longnor and then enjoyed completely quiet lanes to Ryton and Dorrington, where crossing the A49 was easy, due to the traffic lights for the roadworks. I then took the lane from Netley, to the A49, which is still as horrific a surface, as ever, but someone has done some home repairs in the biggest craters, with some stone, which probably helps cars, but doesn’t do much for a racing bike on thin wheels......

Brief traffic free section on the A49, before heading through Stapleton, Exfords Green, Annscroft, Hook-a-Gate, Meole Brace and home.

22.98 miles at 13.7mph avg. I must admit I could feel the legs a bit, today, following all of the recent cycling and so a few rest days might be in order now.

 

[Gunk]

My son and I got out this afternoon on the mountain bikes, just a nice 12 mile gentle ride along the Thames, though Oxford. Far too many people around, but still very nice to get out in the glorious weather.

 

[colly]

Fed up with sitting in the garden reading and watching the bloody rats taking th p***, a short spin out was called for just to stretch the legs.
Local roads and Roundhay Park including a climb of Elemete Lane just to add interest. Quite a lot of people in the park but seeing as it's a big place no one was within 25 meters of me. No electronic stuff but I have plotted it on RWGPS

7.3miles and 550 ft Fixed wheel.

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/32583937

 

[Mr Celine]

Late write up of Friday's ride. While lockdown still holds I have some unfinished main road business. The objective was the B6368 which is certainly never a busy road (and it's not clear why it's even classified) but it's only accessible via busy main roads at either end. It also has some nice hills.
First photo stop was for a pic of Dere Street. Above the back wheel in the dip between the two plantations rising from left to right can be seen some linear crop marks which turn 90 degrees before running parallel to the edge of the plantation on the right, up to the horizon at the middle of the biggest gap between wind turbines -

... the view is looking towards Rome.
Shortly after this point the road takes the line of Dere Street, but only for about 337 roman feet. (106 ells or 100 metres. Other measurements are available). Next picture is from that part of the route, looking north over the Firth of Forth to Fife. What appear to be a row of white dashes are actually empty moored cruise ships.

After a steep descent it's back to climbing again, on the A68 up Soutra Hill. I stopped briefly for another photo. It being VE day a photo of some white cliffs seemed appropriate. To the right of centre of this photo is the conical hill of Berwick Law and further to the right of that is the small white blob of the Bass Rock. The white cliffs of Dover are made of chalk, the white cliffs of the Bass are actually granite covered in shite, or guano if you prefer.

I turned off the A68 on to the A697, which on a normal Friday afternoon would be full of sales reps speeding back south but today was empty, as was the A6089 towards Kelso. I turned for home into a stiff headwind. One more photo stop, at Greenknowe Tower, the only sort of safe accommodation in these parts in the sixteenth century.

Briefly back on the A68. I am of course exceptionally grateful to the NHS and believe we should all stay safe. Preferably by not overtaking across double white lines on a blind bend where oncoming traffic, if using the overtaking lane, is very fast.

I'm going about 20mph there BTW.

The map of my perambulations -

54.7 miles @ 16.1 mph, 851.3m up.

 

[wafter]

Today, the return journey to Oxford!

I decided to give the canal a crack as I'm a boring sod and appreciate that any experience that might broaden my horizons should probably be taken.

Essential tasks mostly complete, I rode to the next village and joined the tow path. This being a generous term for what was essentially a stretch of rough, grassed-over singletrack next to the canal. Just a mile in my front wheel crashed down into an unseen hole (hidden by the grass) and the sinking feeling in my stomach was instantly validated by glancing down to see my tyre was almost completely flat, with air audibly pishing out of it

I got down to it, flipping the bike over and electing to repair the tube rather than replace it with my spare as I wanted to keep a known-good one in case anything went wrong further down the line. Following 18 minutes of faffing, two patches and an ominous, knowing warning about thorns further down the canal from a passing walker, I was on my way again. Chalk one up to the "should have gone tubeless" argument..

This first part of the journey wasn't particularly fun; slow (I reckon around 6-7mph), mentally and physically tiring and uncomfortable - partially as I'd whacked a load of air into both tyres in an effort to guard against further pinch flats. I did pass a solitary lock-keeper's cottage I've often eyed from atop a distant local hill on various walks, so it was interesting to find myself right next to it instead.

Things got more "interesting" as I got to the next village on the route and the tow path basically disappeared, turning into a roughly-defined track through a cow field. It was still rough, more technical and had some fair undulations, but I was grateful for the additional space.

As I continued the surfaces became sporadically-different but gradually improved. Rough patches persisted but were interspersed with the occasional flat, smoothish gravelly section; upon which I took the opportunity to crank up the speed a bit - mindful of how painfully slow it had been so far.

I had to shout ahead to encourage various dog walkers, joggers and families to GTFO of my way, some were more swift in doing so than others but all were obliging and good-natured (well, some of the dogs were a pain; especially the yappy little sod who really didn't like me returning his accusatory barks in kind). I had to abandon my "gestures only" communication as more often than not I didn't have the balls to take my hands off the rapidly oscilating bars, so smiled as I passed and furnished my gratitude verbally once past in the hope of inhailing less of their breath.

I saw quite a few other cyclists too; all of whom were on MTBs as evidently they all knew better than to attempt this route on a trumped-up road bike...

The scenery was fantastic in places, with the odd shady spot and what looked like a nice walkway on the other side of the canal near Tackley.. although unfortunately I was usually paying too much attention to the ground directly in front of me to appreciate my wider environment, which was a shame.. but better than getting another flat or ending up in the canal!

The quality of the route really improved once I passed Enslow; with the provision of a proper, surfaced, reasonably smooth path. This coupled with the wide, meandering canal, expansive fields and really nice deep, immersive techno mix I was listening to really perked the ride up. I took a few pictures along the way but the only one that really turned out OK was this one - at the bridge outside Shipton-on-Cherwell:

At this point I knew I'd got the back of the journey broken; a pleasing outcome from my initial concerns about abandoning the tow path at the next available opportunity to continue on-road in preference to four hours of knackering, bone-jarring crawling..

I continued through Thrupp and past Kidlington, passing many boat-dwellers; who seem to have a penchant for small dogs and Black & Decker workmates. I passed one tattooed bloke who was hard at it, fashioning something with a serious looking rope-driven saw (the correct name of which escapes me). Surfaces continued to change but were managable, my journey now punctuated by the increasingly frequent aroma of BBQs and weed..

Out the other side of Kidlington I hit a diversion on the tow path and broke away down the national cycle route to Wolvercote; emerging onto the blissfully smooth tarmac - a very, very welcome transition! I carried on into town on the Woodstock road and had a bit of a mooch about as I didn't quite feel like home and was enjoying the speed and comfort of the tarmac.

I ended up riding along the high street again and with a bit of a tail wind (I think) I had another crack at my favourite new Strava segment; setting another PB thanks to the minimal traffic. A few more PBs rolled in on the way home; helping me to feel utterly spent by the time I got back. My back aches and I suspect so will my arms, neck and shoulders tomorrow. My face and neck are cooked (despite using sun tan cream), my legs are a little tired and I think I've probably got vibration-white-finger too

While glad I did the ride for the experience it's not something I'd care to repeat in a hurry; at least not from as far out. The stretch out to Enslow from Oxford was nice enough and could be integrated into a more road-based route in future, though.

All in all I managed a shade under 30 miles at 12.2mph and 123bpm, although the latter is skewed low by my GPS unit's unsanctioned decision to keep recording while I repaired my puncture. Again another mostly-zone-2 effort so hopefully that should promote a bit more fat burning. This ride brings me up to 145 miles for the week and about 220 for the month

 

[AndreaJ]

Another hot sunny day with no wind so I thought I would get a longer ride in. A variation of a well used plan, started towards The Moatshed before turning to Northwood, Waterloo, Edstaston, on to Wem, over the railway line and past the cricket club to Aston, Barkers Green, briefly back to Wem, Tilley, Myddle, Burlton, Colemere, past Colemere on the sailing club side where the car park for the mere itself was all closed up, onto Lyneal, Welshampton, Newton, down a new lane between Blakemere and Newtonmere, back to Lyneal, Hampton Bank, Bettisfield, Northwood back towards home . When I got the end of our lane it looked like it would be just short of 50km which seemed a shame so carried on for a short distance before turning back and heading home. Back down to normal pre lock down numbers of people walking about most of the time now but still some extra cyclists out. Saw a police van out as well which is never seen round here. 32.21 miles @15.9mph.

 

[C R]

Loop around Wadborough with daughter 2. I will be struggling to keep up with her in no time.

 

[Jenkins]

The only plan for today's ride was to do something different than the same road routes that I seem to have done for a few weeks so the decision was to use the Bootzipper 29er and go off road for a fair bit.

This started with the gravel track that runs down to the back of Felixstowe Docks - having to stop to let 4 adult deer cross the track part way - then parallel for a bit before going back up to connect with another track and then on to Felixstowe seafront. Up the Sea Road and through the Spa Gardens where some odd types were out for a stroll

then part of my regular commute and another gravel bridleway into Falkenham and the road to Newbourne and up to Waldringfield Road where there's a bridleway that runs parallel to the main road which I tried out for the first time - it's quite narrow and fairly fast, but bloody good fun in the current dry conditions. I was going to head sraight into Waldringfield, but a couple in front of me turned off onto a farm track which turned out to be signposted as another bridleway so I folllowed them. There followed a regular run along (a different) Waldringfield Road and a cut through on a restricted byway to Martlesham.

In Martlesham village itself I got a bit lost - the joys of not having a mapped ride for an area I don't normally go to - and had to double back on myself before I finally found the heathland area

and some tracks that finally came out on Dobbs Lane. Off here there's a long, wide & fast bridleway (Longstrops) that runs for over a mile to the Foxhall area and the woodland & heathland of Rushmere St. Andrew where I had no idea where I was and had fun riding around (very slowly due to the amount of walkers & iother cyclists) eventually ending up coming out just by Ipswich hospital.
Heading home from there, I made a late decision to add in the woods around the back of the Trimleys and ended up having been out for just over 3.5 hours in what may be the last of the good weather for a few days.

https://www.strava.com/activities/3424554117

 

[skudupnorth]

Managed a couple of none commuting rides this past few days including a nice evening ride.
my first one which was a nice 20 mile loop down the Bridgewater canal to the Trafford Centre across the ship canal and down the A-57 which has a fantastic shared path.
Rode as far as Irlam locks and then headed back to Astley across Astley Moss which is not the smoothest of roads but still rideable on 23’s fitted to my Boardman fixie

 

[13 rider]

Woke this morning and thought where the sunshine gone ? Distinctly grey and blowy checked the weather app is not going to improve . Anyway a ride was called for to keep my run of consecutive days going (798) . My self imposed target for a ride is 10 miles . After grabbing my Autumn jacket out the wardrobe and finding my full fingered gloves . It was out into the wind ,proper headwind heading to Cropston out to Swithland to Rothley then a lovely tailwind home . 11 miles done and another day ticked off I was surprised at the number of riders out thought I be the only one daft enough to be out

 

[EltonFrog]

We were supposed to be talking part in the Dulux London Revolution this weekend but that was Covid cancelled, so yesterday I went for a 11.5 mile run, such lovely weather. In contrast today feels we’ve gone from May weather to October weather in about eight hours! Anyway I was planning a long ride today but as the weather is so sh!t The Fragrant MrsP and I just popped out to the little Sainsbury’s for some grub. 6.5 very grey and windy miles.

 

[Gunk]

Good for you, we thought about it and decided to give it a miss today, we even lit the fire!