Andy in Germany
Guru
- Location
- Rottenburg am Neckar
It's tough, but I survive...
Your ride today....
- Thread starter gbb
- Start date
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It's tough, but I survive...
Had an ‘away day’ cancelled so profited from the diary gap this morning. Rode up to the Kent estuary at Sandside then along to Arnside and its excellent bakery. Cool but got home before the rain - remember that! 38 miles and 650m of climbing.
picture is from a tiny road above Sandside that I’ve never ridden before. Original plan was changed as road across Dallam Park was closed.
picture is from a tiny road above Sandside that I’ve never ridden before. Original plan was changed as road across Dallam Park was closed.
Andy in Germany
Guru
- Location
- Rottenburg am Neckar
If you want to do a house/job swap for a bit no problem. There are three bikes at your disposal in Chester
Funnily enough I spent a fair bit of my childhood near Chester, in Knutsford.
Mark Grant
Acting Captain of The St Annes Jombulance.
- Location
- Hanworth, Middx.
Today I went looking for some local gravel tracks. I went to Esher Common and Oxshot Woods, just meandering around and came upon Black Pond. We used to cycle here in the mid-late '70s in the summer to swim, the first time I've been here since.
One thing I realised today, we definitely came by the long route, or was it just our little legs!
One thing I realised today, we definitely came by the long route, or was it just our little legs!
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Spiderweb
Not So Special One
- Location
- North Yorkshire
An early afternoon finish at work so a ride with David & Suzanne from our village. Out to Naburn via Tadcaster, Wighill, Healaugh, Copmanthorpe & Acaster Malbis then wind assisted home via Stillingfleet, Cawood & Ulleskelf. 28.12 miles with an average of 16 mph.
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DCBassman
Guru
- Location
- The lumpy far South West
I desperately need to cycle somewhere this flat, so I can tell if I'm just terminally slow or terminally weedy...
Spiderweb
Not So Special One
- Location
- North Yorkshire
I love riding this flat route but if it’s windy it can be brutal!I desperately need to cycle somewhere this flat, so I can tell if I'm just terminally slow or terminally weedy...
- Location
- Shrewsbury, Shropshire
Taking my time catching up with CC again. I can't really add much to Gav's report on this one other than to say it was a nice day out on the bike and I think Ade's choice of bike is a good one. I hope he'll enjoy it and rack up plenty of miles.My Brother has bought himself a new bike, but he’s not really cycled much since I dragged him out for a few rides about 10 years ago, so @Rickshaw Phil and I cycled over to his place, today, to put the bike together and head out for a short test ride.
Phil and I set off at 10am, into the lovely sunshine, but a stiff easterly wind was blowing and that made it quite cool to start off with, as we were heading into it for a good proportion of the the ride over.
We headed out to Betton Abbots, Berrington, Cross Houses and Atcham, where we joined the main road to Attingham and then turned off towards Wroxeter, being pleasantly surprised to see they have finally (after about 3 years of emails to the council) completely resurfaced one of the worst “B” roads you will ever have seen. It got to the point that you had to drive on the wrong side of the road, to avoid the craters and channels, never mind how bad it was for cycling.
We paused at Wroxeter for some photos
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We took the loop around the NCN route, which I’ve not been down in probably 18 months, before climbing up and along to Eaton Constantine, then down to Garmston, on some new territory for me. We got overtaken at speed by a chap on a very nice aero bike, climbing up at Eaton and then again when descending to Leighton.
We joined the main road again there and it’s a pull out of the village. Good to see the pub being renovated, ready to re-open under the ownership of a village syndicate. There is a nice descent down to Buildwas, with good views over the river Severn, where we came across signs saying The Wharfage, in Ironbridge, was closed to traffic, but we headed that way anyway, hoping we could at least walk the bike through.
It was a very different landscape, heading to Ironbridge, with the bulk of the power station having been blown up and we arrived at The Wharfage to find signs saying cyclists dismount and use the foot way. Said path was busy with people enjoying the sun and so we walked the bikes along the traffic free road. I’m not really sure why there is a need to do so, with just a few obstacles where they are surveying to decide if they can install permanent flood barriers and plenty of room.
We paused to take a photo of the bridge and a lady cheerily remarked at Phil taking a picture of his bike, rather than the bridge. He was actually taking a picture of both
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We walked the bikes over the bridge and then joined the road towards Jackfield, where some proper climbing would start. We had to wait at the hairpin bend, for a Warburton’s lorry to make an absolute pigs ear of negotiating it. He was up on the kerb, had to stop and reverse and have another go at it, which wasn’t much better, when, if he’d taken a wider route, he would have got round in one
We climbed up to Broseley and decided to go up Dark Lane, which is properly steep with a gradient arrow. Just as we turned up there, 2 chaps on bikes jokingly shouted “you don’t want to go up there”
Dad joined us and we had lunch in the garden, before putting the new Holdsworth bike together. It’s very smart and pretty light with the carbon material. We then set out for a test ride, heading down to Coalport, which was into the wind, but a steep descent made a little tricky by recent surface dressing, meaning loose chippings. I crossed Coalport bridge, a little ahead of Ade and Phil, so paused to take a shot of them crossing the bridge
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We had a short section on the off road Silkin Way path, before rejoining the very busy road along Coalport High St, back towards the bottom end of Ironbridge. We then climbed back up to Broseley, the second time Phil and I had climbed up there today, but didn’t do Dark Lane again. This meant we had to negotiate the traffic lights on the steep climb and none of us could get through in time, before the lights changed at the other end. We arrived back at Ade’s and he seemed to have enjoyed the 6 mile loop, getting used to the bike, so hopefully he will get lots of use out of it and join us on more rides.
Phil and I then set out back home, via a different route. We firstly took the steep climb up to Benthall, then joining the normally quiet lane through Wyke, to Farley, but we met quite a few cars today. Upon reaching Farley there appeared to be a dog show on and so I’m guessing the traffic was from there.
We were then out onto the main road to Much Wenlock, which is yet another steep pull, before we joined more new territory for me, to the brilliantly named Homer and WigWig! It’s a steep descent, most of the way down, but then a climb back up towards Harley, where we crossed the A458 and headed for Harnage Grange, then Cound, pausing for a view to the Wrekin.
View attachment 585581
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From Cound it was hard going up the climbs to Eaton Mascott and Berrington, on tired legs, before retracing our initial steps through Betton and back to mine.
A thoroughly enjoyable day in the sunshine, which warmed up nicely in the afternoon, with 41.82 miles (my first 40 miler of the year) and 2966ft of climbing, meaning a slow 10.5mph avg speed
My tally for the day was 45.6 miles with 10.6 mph average at the end of it.
Drink stop at Longwood near Eaton Constantine.
The photo that got the comments from passers by.
The road to the beach at Wigwig. I got caught out by the sand that had been washed out of the fields, which brought me to an abrupt halt.
Another drink stop en-route to Harnage.
Donger
Convoi Exceptionnel
- Location
- Quedgeley, Glos.
I took one look out of the window and saw it was tanking down. 25 minutes before I was due to show up for a ride with @Dark46 and our mutual friend, Claire. If I hadn't agreed to meet up with them, there wasn't a cat in hell's chance that I was going out in that. A quick phone call confirmed it was still on, so out I went, rigged out in waterproofs and shoe covers.
As always seems to happen, as soon as I was wet, the rain didn't matter any more, and we actually had a great little social spin, totalling about 23 miles through the usual Severnside villages. It never quite stopped raining, but that never actually mattered. Here's a damp looking selfie by @Dark46, (taken on the waterfront at Epney) to cheer you up:
Great fun splashing in puddles. A pleasant change from getting sun burnt on my last two rides and good company as always.
Cheers.
As always seems to happen, as soon as I was wet, the rain didn't matter any more, and we actually had a great little social spin, totalling about 23 miles through the usual Severnside villages. It never quite stopped raining, but that never actually mattered. Here's a damp looking selfie by @Dark46, (taken on the waterfront at Epney) to cheer you up:
Great fun splashing in puddles. A pleasant change from getting sun burnt on my last two rides and good company as always.
Cheers.
Dark46
Veteran
- Location
- Quedgeley, Gloucester
There’s an encouraging amount of blue sky outdoors again, and a bit of breeze too. I was going to wear my lighter jacket, but taking the Jacko out of the shed was a cold task. Stick to winter weight jacket. And go.
Towards Slaid Hill to start with. This still involves wandering around Holbeck, and then deciding which uphill way to go there. All of which involve crossing the river, ‘cos I live south of that, and Slaid Hill is about as far north as Leeds reaches. From there, a short ride to Wike, turn left onto Forge Lane and ride to the A61. A right turn there and Harewood is next. And the next left after the bus stop leads to the bridleway down through the deer park to the A659. Quiet on the bridleway this morning.
Back to the A61 to cross the River Wharfe and ride up the road to the right turn for Kirkby Overblow. According to the map this is Swindon Lane. According to me this morning, this is where I first felt the wind. It had been in my face so far, I might have been riding one or two gears lower than usual. Become used to it, I suppose. But now it is a side wind, not too strong but keeping to a line was less easy. The closer to Kirkby Overblow, the more south pointing the road was, more of a tailwind soon. With that help, the road to Sicklinghall via Kearby with Netherby was a load of fun.
As was the road after Sicklinghall. This rises and falls a bit, and was quiet this morning as indeed all the ride was. The end of Northgate Lane is soon reached, turn right onto that to ride into Linton, looking good this morning.
The bridge at the end of the video is over the Wharfe. Collingham next and a bit of zig-zagging to reach School Lane. Along there to the bottom of Jewitt Lane. Up we go! I reckon that tailwind was helping a lot there. Some of the views from up here can be great, but this morning there were a lot of rainclouds travelling to somewhere else. Dry for me, but not for some. Through East Rigton, don’t blink, and along to Milner Lane, today all the way into Thorner. Almost forgot to turn right up Carr Lane.
Straight over the A58, down the dip and then up Shadwell Main Street. Keep on and Slaid Hill is reached, for the second time today. There is an advantage to six or seven miles of uphill at the start of a ride. The return has the same mileage downhill, of course. That, and the start of the first shower of the morning as I was putting Bob back in his shed, is a good reason for the grin on my mug. Two and a half thousand feet going up, and forty miles of riding too, made the grin wider.
Gar doing its thing . . .
Towards Slaid Hill to start with. This still involves wandering around Holbeck, and then deciding which uphill way to go there. All of which involve crossing the river, ‘cos I live south of that, and Slaid Hill is about as far north as Leeds reaches. From there, a short ride to Wike, turn left onto Forge Lane and ride to the A61. A right turn there and Harewood is next. And the next left after the bus stop leads to the bridleway down through the deer park to the A659. Quiet on the bridleway this morning.
Back to the A61 to cross the River Wharfe and ride up the road to the right turn for Kirkby Overblow. According to the map this is Swindon Lane. According to me this morning, this is where I first felt the wind. It had been in my face so far, I might have been riding one or two gears lower than usual. Become used to it, I suppose. But now it is a side wind, not too strong but keeping to a line was less easy. The closer to Kirkby Overblow, the more south pointing the road was, more of a tailwind soon. With that help, the road to Sicklinghall via Kearby with Netherby was a load of fun.
As was the road after Sicklinghall. This rises and falls a bit, and was quiet this morning as indeed all the ride was. The end of Northgate Lane is soon reached, turn right onto that to ride into Linton, looking good this morning.
The bridge at the end of the video is over the Wharfe. Collingham next and a bit of zig-zagging to reach School Lane. Along there to the bottom of Jewitt Lane. Up we go! I reckon that tailwind was helping a lot there. Some of the views from up here can be great, but this morning there were a lot of rainclouds travelling to somewhere else. Dry for me, but not for some. Through East Rigton, don’t blink, and along to Milner Lane, today all the way into Thorner. Almost forgot to turn right up Carr Lane.
Straight over the A58, down the dip and then up Shadwell Main Street. Keep on and Slaid Hill is reached, for the second time today. There is an advantage to six or seven miles of uphill at the start of a ride. The return has the same mileage downhill, of course. That, and the start of the first shower of the morning as I was putting Bob back in his shed, is a good reason for the grin on my mug. Two and a half thousand feet going up, and forty miles of riding too, made the grin wider.
Gar doing its thing . . .
DCBassman
Guru
- Location
- The lumpy far South West
Well, this turned into a very short ride indeed...
It was cold, very cold. Then, at three and a half miles, a small mechanical, a brake block came loose. Odd, they are one thing that's checked often. Whatever, in the few minutes it took to stop and fix it, I were bloomin' froze. So I made a vague attempt to reach five miles ridden (failed), and went home for a much-needed cup of tea.
Brrr!
It was cold, very cold. Then, at three and a half miles, a small mechanical, a brake block came loose. Odd, they are one thing that's checked often. Whatever, in the few minutes it took to stop and fix it, I were bloomin' froze. So I made a vague attempt to reach five miles ridden (failed), and went home for a much-needed cup of tea.
Brrr!
gavgav
Legendary Member
A ride yesterday evening, after work (actually being in the office for only the second time in 13 months!). I’d arranged to meet my mate Paul.
I set off in cool sunshine, with a keen North Easterly breeze, and some big black clouds looming to the south, which of course was the way we were going!
I met Paul at a local school and we then set off down the busy main road to Hook a Gate and Annscroft, where we turned into the wind and could see sheets of rain falling ahead……We went through Exfords Green and a car approached the junction from Hunger Hill direction, looked to the left and promptly pulled out directly in front of us, forcing us both to perform an emergency stop. She literally didn’t even look right and got some choice words off both of us. Closest I’ve been to ending up in the side of a car for a long while.
At Stapleton we ran into the first spots of rain, which, by the time we’d got to Gonsal, had turned into hailstones! Those things hurt. We paused at the Ryton junction, for me to don a waterproof, Paul hadn’t packed one and continued on towards Condover in a mixture of hail and heavy rain.
Moron number 2 was encountered by the narrow bridge into the village, as we had the temerity to go over the bridge (how dare we) with the Audiot screaming up behind us, reviving his engine and then storming past with wheelspin, despite us signalling to turn right, prat.
The rain stopped as we travelled along Lyons Lane and the sun came out, which started to dry us off as we headed through Betton Abbots and parted ways near my estate.
Good to have a chat to Paul and despite the weather an enjoyable 15.06 miles at 11.7mph avg
I set off in cool sunshine, with a keen North Easterly breeze, and some big black clouds looming to the south, which of course was the way we were going!
I met Paul at a local school and we then set off down the busy main road to Hook a Gate and Annscroft, where we turned into the wind and could see sheets of rain falling ahead……We went through Exfords Green and a car approached the junction from Hunger Hill direction, looked to the left and promptly pulled out directly in front of us, forcing us both to perform an emergency stop. She literally didn’t even look right and got some choice words off both of us. Closest I’ve been to ending up in the side of a car for a long while.
At Stapleton we ran into the first spots of rain, which, by the time we’d got to Gonsal, had turned into hailstones! Those things hurt. We paused at the Ryton junction, for me to don a waterproof, Paul hadn’t packed one and continued on towards Condover in a mixture of hail and heavy rain.
Moron number 2 was encountered by the narrow bridge into the village, as we had the temerity to go over the bridge (how dare we) with the Audiot screaming up behind us, reviving his engine and then storming past with wheelspin, despite us signalling to turn right, prat.
The rain stopped as we travelled along Lyons Lane and the sun came out, which started to dry us off as we headed through Betton Abbots and parted ways near my estate.
Good to have a chat to Paul and despite the weather an enjoyable 15.06 miles at 11.7mph avg
I have got behind with these ,so a bit of a catch up with my time spent a wheel.
Wednesay saw an easy ride along the river path through Derby .Then across the Trent valley to Burton ,all very easy going .Down to Tutbury passing the coffee machine!!
Back to Derby via Sutton on a much ridden route .
Thursday a usual run to Uttoxeter returning home via Rocester and then following the line of the Roman road {Long Lane } for the most part back to Derby
Out again in the evening on a chilly hilly one with mates . Starting from the village of Turnditch
Down to Windley and the river Ecclesborne ,then the long climb through Hazelwood,Shottle and topping out at Alport Heights at just over 1,000 feet asl
The remains of the day from Alport Heights .
Alport heights is part of the National Trust estate and on a clear day the views are wonderful . The distant Shropshire hills can be seen including the Wrekin,the Long Mynd & and the Clee hills . Some say that with binoculars Boston Stump {Lincolnshire} can also be seen ? Due to cloud and the day ending the view had lost some of its magic and it was dam cold!!
Lights on,for the descent back down to the Ecclesbourne valley . Finally back up to Cross o' th' hands and to the Tiger for a well earned pint.
Total climbing according to our ride techie was 1500 f in 13 miles .
Wednesay saw an easy ride along the river path through Derby .Then across the Trent valley to Burton ,all very easy going .Down to Tutbury passing the coffee machine!!
Back to Derby via Sutton on a much ridden route .
Thursday a usual run to Uttoxeter returning home via Rocester and then following the line of the Roman road {Long Lane } for the most part back to Derby
Out again in the evening on a chilly hilly one with mates . Starting from the village of Turnditch
Down to Windley and the river Ecclesborne ,then the long climb through Hazelwood,Shottle and topping out at Alport Heights at just over 1,000 feet asl
The remains of the day from Alport Heights .
Alport heights is part of the National Trust estate and on a clear day the views are wonderful . The distant Shropshire hills can be seen including the Wrekin,the Long Mynd & and the Clee hills . Some say that with binoculars Boston Stump {Lincolnshire} can also be seen ? Due to cloud and the day ending the view had lost some of its magic and it was dam cold!!
Lights on,for the descent back down to the Ecclesbourne valley . Finally back up to Cross o' th' hands and to the Tiger for a well earned pint.
Total climbing according to our ride techie was 1500 f in 13 miles .
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