Your ride today....

[theloafer]

rode what i think is now my fav loop.. over towards barny way 35 miles, not that many cyclists out today. (must be back at work) Whorlton bridge still closed to traffic which helps thinning out the cars .had a quick scone+jam at the coffee stop in Eppleby. where i could see that the weather was getting ready to change, so headed home and got back in time before the rain arrived
https://www.strava.com/activities/3936114376

 

[wafter]

Nice work folks - some particularly cracking rides / routes / photos over the past few days

Sadly I can't compete as the weather, my health and subsequently my mojo have been at a particularly low ebb recently... however I did manage to get out a bit yesterday.

I'd half-planned to go out for a thrash on the road bike but rotted on the sofa until early afternoon when I eventually forced myself to go out for a zero-expectation waft on the CdF. Reluctantly leaving in uncharacteristic-of-late baking sun I headed cross-country SW to Wooton, then back into Boar's Hill up my benchmark foxcombe hill. Inspired by the Pantani documentary I watched recently (and conditioned a bit more to low cadence thanks to the limitations of my 10sp Raleigh hack) I took the whole hill seated; grinding away and pulling hard against the bars while aiming for a steady pace throughout... being rewarded with a personal 2nd best time up the steep bit; I think probably because I didn't shaft myself on the runup.

This got my HR up to around 90% of max and afterwards I felt a little less lethargic, detached and disassociated than when I'd set off. I hooked a right into the shady calm of Bagley wood and promptly got lost, but that was OK as the ambience was fantastic and I always had the GPS to aid my egress as necessary. I spent maybe the next hour gingerly picky my way along the forest trails; encountering a bloke and his blackberry-loving bulldog, as well as lots of slippery mud that once more highlighted the shortcomings of my slick tyres.

I passed numerous high-seats and I can certainly think of worse places to while away a few hours waiting for a few months' worth of free-range dinners to turn up. It felt like an absolute privelege to be in such beautiful, tranquil surroundings

I finally found my way out of the woods on the same path I'd taken previously out cross-country towards Sunningwell, stopping to pick a few succulent blackberries on the way.

I carried on down through Abingdon then back along NCN5; planning on paying a visit to Radley lakes but (just like last time) this was torpedoed by significant amounts of water falling from the sky, so I headed straight back again - thankfully in the absence of punctures and horrendous insect bites this time.

As much as I've (righly, IMO) praised the SKS Longboards on the bike in the past, this time I finally found their limit; getting my feet (somewhat unsurprisingly) drenched when passing through deepish (20-25mm plus) standing water at speed; I think because you're travelling fast enough for your feet to pass through the water that's displaced upwards and sideways by the wheel. Not really the fault of the mudguards then, unless you're happy to have something akin to a snow plow lashed behind the front wheel..

I headed back along the tow path; nearly coming to grief when I failed to clip in starting off over a cattle grid having stopped to let another cyclist through; instinctively putting my foot down and finding nothing but hole The now-improving weather had still evidently put some off and the tow path was relatively quiet; leading to a few PBs although again I wasn't trying massively. As much as I want to think that I've mystically gained some additional fitness despite my recent period of slackness, my body measurements and weight tell a different story and I guess I maybe just had a tailwind on this occasion.

Once home the bike was thorougly covered in crap, to the point where I really ought to give it a wash now. It had a good run in the dry after getting wet though so I hope it's air-dried a fair bit and nothing's gone rusty as it's stood in the kitchen.

No big numbers today; around 21.5 miles at 12.1mph and about 117bpm.



After getting home and having a shower I cracked out the Raleigh and cycled to see some mates on the other side of town, with a bit of an overshoot / detour to find some reasonably priced beer; witnessing a glorious sunset en-route. After a few hours chewing the fat and ill-advisedly sinking a four pack I headed back; mournfully trundling past the deserted club that on previous Tuesdays has hosted the local goth night of which I'm very fond..

Once most of the way home I realised how much I was enjoying being out in the warm, still evening air so thrashed around the city for a bit longer; spotting some nocturnal wildlife on the way.

I finally got home at about half one, thoroughly knackered and about 18 miles down but feeling good for seeing people and my float around the city. Sadly thanks to the beer (more specifically my apparant intolerance towards it) I didn't feel so hot today


It's miserable outside again now, but the temperature's good and the light drizzle fairly cooling I imagine, so I might venture out for another float on the shed after I've had some dinner as I've always enjoyed just cruising around the city and its outskirts

EDIT: Did go out again last night on the Raleigh, by the time I'd got my gear together the "light cooling drizzle" had become fairly heavy but I pressed on and within half a mile I was pretty soaked

After about 4-5 miles the rain stopped, I continued out the other side of town and around a bit for a total of about 17 miles. I was "almost" dry when I got back, felt a lot better for getting out and had an uncharacteristically good night's kip afterwards - which was very welcome!

 

[gavgav]

Yesterday's ride:

As per my earlier post, the afternoon was rather frustrating with a few very heavy showers but it cleared up later on and I got the knockabout bike out for an evening ride. The Oaks, Pulverbatch, Wilderley, Dudgeley route is pleasant on a sunny summer evening so I went for that, climbing over Lyth HIll to start with. The drainage wants looking at again on the hill and there were a few large puddles to splash through. I decided to descend Lyth Hill using Green Lane which is a rough bridleway and this proved to be interesting after the rain due to mud and a couple of patches of rock being slippy.

The wind had died down quite a bit so Long Lane was nice and easy, as was the climb to Oaks. Climbing round the edge of Broom Hill I noticed shower cloud bubbling up and some rain came down around the Pulverbatch area but fortunately I was able to keep ahead of the worst of it and between Wilderley and Smethcott I could see that it was going in a different direction to me.

After Dudgeley there was low hanging mist forming in the Stretton valley which gave quite an atmospheric look in places. The A49 was completely clear when I came to cross it then I had a light tailwind and the gradient helping so enjoyed a nice brisk ride to Longnor and Ryton as the sun set and dusk fell. It stayed warm despite the sun going down so the conditions were really nice for cycling.

Moving on after a drink/photo stop at Ryton I got a good cruising speed up past the quarry when there was a scrabbling of claws on tarmac, a thump against my front wheel followed by a fair old jolt as the back wheel hit something. I regret to report the demise of a rabbit.

Getting going again I cruised along at a decent speed through Condover and up to the A49, which was very quiet. It didn't stop a driver in a small van making a rather close pass in the face of the only other vehicle on the road.

26.1 miles at 12 mph average. For the most part, a great ride in pretty good weather but I do feel bad about having killed a small furry creature.

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Looking towards the Stretton hills from the top of Lyth Hill.

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Headed down Green Lane towards Exford's Green.

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At the top of the climb out of Wrentnall.

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A naughty shower sneaking up behind me between Pulverbatch and Wilderley.

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A couple of shots of the mist forming in the valley not far from All Stretton.

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Views from my last drink stop near Ryton.

I was supposed to go for a ride with Paul, but after the 2 afternoon monsoons, we decided to give it a miss with more showers forecast......which of course didn’t come! Was concerned about the state of the lanes, more than anything, following the incessant monsoons over the past week. My lawn now squelches under foot again, for the first time since February, which pretty much says it all

 

[C R]

Short evening spin today, as it had stopped raining. The roads were surprisingly dry after the deluge that fell this morning, except for a section of one of the lanes in Besford, which had a small brook running along it, and I had to pick my line carefully. A bit windy in places, but mostly dry, just a bit of drizzle here and there.

 

[wafter]

Awoke feeling uncharactistically not-horrible with sunlight streaming through the window, so I knew what I had to do..

Ended up doing a pseudo egg-run; same route on no breakfast but this time with no collection stops as the stocks are still healthy

Essentially out to Didcot through Abingdon and back along NCN5 for most of the way.. really nice weather; sun but a coolish breeze as the Autumnal overtones get stronger... saw a few unhatched conkers on the floor and bizarrely at one point loads of little beetles seemingly migrating out of the fields across the cycle track near Didcot.

Unsurprisingly loads of people about; most happy, friendly, accommodating and good-humoured. Of course there was the odd inattentive muppet - todays crown being taken by the two teenage girls who ran across the road in front of me in Abingdon; causing me to brake and swerve for the sake of saving five seconds on their journey

Before setting off I'd intended to explore a stretch of the Thames Path just outside Culham, however upon reaching it the reality was that it was really just a bit of rough, muddy singletrack that was really tough going on my slicks so after a few hundred yards the mission was aborted and I got back on the road..

I'd initially planned to head out north today but since the wind was heading in that direction thought better of it and went the opposite direction so the wind was at my back on the way home. It was predictably tough heading out and I put in more effort than I'd have considered fourthcoming considering I'd not eaten for 12hrs and have been fairly active on the bike(s) over the past few days.

By the time I was 20 miles in I was feeling hungry; this progressing to proper emptyness before abating when my stomach evidently accepted it wasn't going to get its own way for a while

In total I managed 37 miles and a paltry 500ft at 14.5mph and 137bpm; about 50% of this being in zone 3 and most of the rest being below... so not a massive exertion although both Polar and Strava seem to think it was significant. My muscles were certainly feeling it towards the end and now post-shower I'm saturated with that warm glow that usually results from a fair effort.

I've burned about a day's worth of energy (c. 1700kcal) and so far have only topped up with about 500kcal's worth of eggs on hippie-toast, although I can feel a second helping coming on


EDIT: No time for a 2nd helping of eggs as I got sidetracked and ended up late to meet a mate in town. Cracked out the Raleigh, lashed the rattling rear guard up with a length of old innertube (for fear of it eventually fatiging and falling off sans brake-bridge mount) and got on my way.

Spent a few hours chewing the fat over a few beers sat in uni parks... Panier came in useful during a supplies run to the shop and once dark and ejected from the park we went our separate ways; after which I spent some time rolling round the city as it was such a nice night.

Oh yeah, the railings outside parks and pubs played host to some excellent old skool steel, with most having at least a couple of interesting old ferrous-framed road bikes lashed to them. I spotted a Raleigh Randonneur outside whatever the pub is in Marston - great to see this old metal still in use

A very pleasant, cycle-centric day

 

[bluenotebob]

Another blustery day – but dry .. and no more thunderstorms in the forecast thankfully.

I headed NW with no real idea of where I was going but I had at least a couple of hours to meander around the countryside, breathe in some fresh Atlantic air, and take some photos.

I was N of Kerminy before I thought of heading into the triangle of land that lies S of Ménéac – bordered by three fast roads but full of quiet undulating lanes and gentle farmland, with occasional copses of oak and chestnut, and the ubiquitous wind turbines. I’d explored this area extensively on my bike in 2018, less so last year – and I think that it’s the first time that I’ve been here this year.

Out through Vieuville, Perqué and le Hingray. On to Quénogé then up the lane to Landual. A great view of Ménéac church from here. Onto the D793 and into Ménéac. I treated myself to the 4km descent E of Ménéac – it doesn’t drop that much .. probably only around 80m in 4km .. but it is all downhill and I feel 15-years old again cycling down it.

Off at la Cotinaie, past the chapelle at la Riaye, into Brignac then R uphill and into la Corbinais. L here and I was being blown all over the road as I descended to la Ville és Moreux. Onto the D184 and S through Evriguet and down into Guilliers. Out on the D16 where I managed to reach 46.2kph yesterday (a new record for that stretch of road) then through Esquiniac, over la Suais, down through le Faux to Ville Geffray and then home via St Brieuc-de-Mauron.

An enjoyable 55km ride but it was good to get home and finally get out of that wind.

Part of the wind farm W of le Hingray

The quiet road that leads to Landual

Ménéac church viewed from the S

The centre of Ménéac

 

[Donger]

Watch out, @C R. We are headed your way on Sunday. Kingsway CC has a long ride planned that takes in Bredon Hill, Pershore, Croome Park and Upton on Severn. A nice part of the world you have there. I reckon it will be about 74 miles for me, but I have rashly claimed that I may just have another 100 miler in me before I turn 60, so if I'm not absolutely dropping off the bike by the time I get home, I've said I'll head off to Arlingham and back to bring up the three figures. Hindsight definitely not necessary to see that I may live to regret saying that.

 

[C R]

Watch out, @C R. We are headed your way on Sunday. Kingsway CC has a long ride planned that takes in Bredon Hill, Pershore, Croome Park and Upton on Severn. A nice part of the world you have there. I reckon it will be about 74 miles for me, but I have rashly claimed that I may just have another 100 miler in me before I turn 60, so if I'm not absolutely dropping off the bike by the time I get home, I've said I'll head off to Arlingham and back to bring up the three figures. Hindsight definitely not necessary to see that I may live to regret saying that.

Do you guys know what time you'll be around? I am trying to decide my route for Sunday, so maybe I can make it intersect with yours in time and space.

 

[Mike_P]

Bananas, need some Bananas. Might as well make it a worthwhile outing, so the same evening route initially on the ebike as Tuesdays to Morrisons and another second quicker up Knapping Hill, but a second slower on Gardeners Arms Climb. In between TTLs at a staggered crossroads lead to Shanks's Pony proving far quicker. Aside from those climbs the outbound ride was largely done with the assist off as the battery was a touch low.
Down the A59 to Knaresborough and along Waterside and Abbey Road, for once not that crowded by pedestrians resulting in a new fast time along Waterside. Another set of TTLs encountered and Shanks's Pony again but the TTLs went green so quickly back on the bike once the last car had passed, and into Lidl where a lot more than the bananas were bought including single malt that fell off the shelf into my basket whilst waiting in the till queue
Returned straight through Knaresborough on the A59 with new PRs on the climb of York Road, decent down to the river and the climb away. Retraced the outbound route thereafter bar taking a route to avoid the staggered crossroads TTLs. 14.28 miles 931ft up

 

[Donger]

Do you guys know what time you'll be around? I am trying to decide my route for Sunday, so maybe I can make it intersect with yours in time and space.

Best guess would be about 12.00 at the cafe at Croome Park, give or take half an hour. Maybe we'll bump into each other there or on the way to Upton. (I'll be the huge guy at the back!)

 

[itboffin]

6500ft in 55 miles around Exmoor and damn it’s hilly everywhere there and windy, 40-45 mph across the top, very challenging not just the climbing mostly the traffic, so much car traffic, too much car traffic. The only nice almost traffic free climb was a toll road so maybe that’s the answer.

 

[C R]

Best guess would be about 12.00 at the cafe at Croome Park, give or take half an hour. Maybe we'll bump into each other there or on the way to Upton. (I'll be the huge guy at the back!)

I am likely to have finished the ride by then, tend to go out early to have some family time afterwards, we'll see ... Good luck with the ton in any case.

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

I met John B who had decided to change the plan as the wind strength was rather strong. 40 mph stuff. So we headed for the hedges and woods. That worked well and we were well sheltered as we headed south. We looped around and got a little assistance in places but hedges and hills kept us safe. We finished off climbing The Wyche. Shelter was taken at the summit as a deluge was blown through. So just a wet road descent left to return home. 52 smiles

 

[wafter]

Paid the price for daring to drink three whole beers last night and have had a pretty horrible unproductive and achey day languishing inside. By about half six I'd had enough so went out for a mental health ride round town on the Raleigh.

Sadly it seems that all the muppets I avoided on my last ride were waiting until this one. Thankfully I experienced nothing particuarly dangerous but just selfish / stupid / inconsiderate behaviour - the guy who just stood and watched his young daughter wonder in front of me after I'd slowed right down in anticipation of just such an event (rewarded with an unimpressed look as I passed); the old bloke who failed to give way to me pulling out of a petrol station (stared down through his window as I overtook), the tosser who decided to stop in the middle of the Cowley road to talk to his mate (irritation vocalised) or the taxi driver who overtook me, only to brake going over a speed bump moments later (overtaken).

So it turned into a bit of an angry thrash but I feel much better for it as usual. Unfortunately after about 100 miles the new chain on the bike appears to be slipping a bit; no apparent means of adding tension to the derailleur although a few links do look a touch stiff (probably after it got wet) so I'll take it off and give it another waxing before I start looking at new freewheels..


EDIT (i): Thanks guys; not fishing for sympathy, just telling it how it is. I appreciate the outlet and support though

EDIT (ii): Forgot to mention that I rode past the old Zoology building, which is pretty much now just a pile of rubble Also saw Radiohead's Thom Yorke jogging past at the time - I don't think he likes jogging

 

[Mike_P]

The south-west wind had dropped sufficently for the ebike to do battle in a generally south-east direction so no fast times and annoyingly as I descended showground hill the gate was across the road so had to use the narrow gap to its side. After for once a non too heavy rucksack of shopping acquired in Sainsbury (avoided the flour for once) I decided to avoid the gate and head back north west up the A661 and two overlappng ebike KOMs acquired, although with an average gradient of 1% hardly taxing; the longer one being due to pedal power as the speed exceeded the assist maximum. 9.1 miles 579ft up