- Location
- Shrewsbury, Shropshire
Yes, I'm quite lucky to have such a mix of scenery pretty much on my doorstep.
Your ride today....
- Thread starter gbb
- Start date
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- Location
- Shrewsbury, Shropshire
Another afternoon outing today, this time in the company of my brother. He wanted to do about 20 miles so I offered a choice of routes and he chose the hilliest of them.
It was sunny and not as cold as the last few days but by the time Doug and I were ready to go a brisk wind had sprung up. We headed over Lyth Hill at the start, spotting the unusual sight of an Urban Arrow bakfiets delivering to one of the houses. The rough track over the top has dried out a lot in the last few days so we could go round most of the muddiest bits.
Dropping down the other side of the hill the wind was a lot more noticable, especially as we were riding straight into it from Exford's Green. At Plealey we took a left and started the long climb up to Oaks. Doug didn't do too badly getting up here but did need a pause part way up. At Wrentnall the next steep climb takes us across the edge of Broom Hill. While stopped at the top a mountain biker coming the other way egged us on to keep going (alright for him - his was electric
)
By Pulverbatch we were both a little fed up with the cold wind so when I mentioned a couple of alternative routes to get back Doug didn't need much persuasion. We headed for Longden along the main road which is mostly a nice sweeping downhill with the wind behind us. It was still in a helpful direction through Exford's Green to Hunger Hill before climing back over Lyth Hill from the Little Lyth side.
18.4 miles at 10.2 mph average. A little shorter than intended but Doug seems to have enjoyed it.
Doug at the top of Lyth Hill on the way out. Clearer conditions than last time I was up here. It would have been nice without the cold wind.
It was sunny and not as cold as the last few days but by the time Doug and I were ready to go a brisk wind had sprung up. We headed over Lyth Hill at the start, spotting the unusual sight of an Urban Arrow bakfiets delivering to one of the houses. The rough track over the top has dried out a lot in the last few days so we could go round most of the muddiest bits.
Dropping down the other side of the hill the wind was a lot more noticable, especially as we were riding straight into it from Exford's Green. At Plealey we took a left and started the long climb up to Oaks. Doug didn't do too badly getting up here but did need a pause part way up. At Wrentnall the next steep climb takes us across the edge of Broom Hill. While stopped at the top a mountain biker coming the other way egged us on to keep going (alright for him - his was electric
)By Pulverbatch we were both a little fed up with the cold wind so when I mentioned a couple of alternative routes to get back Doug didn't need much persuasion. We headed for Longden along the main road which is mostly a nice sweeping downhill with the wind behind us. It was still in a helpful direction through Exford's Green to Hunger Hill before climing back over Lyth Hill from the Little Lyth side.
18.4 miles at 10.2 mph average. A little shorter than intended but Doug seems to have enjoyed it.
Doug at the top of Lyth Hill on the way out. Clearer conditions than last time I was up here. It would have been nice without the cold wind.
GuyBoden
Guru
- Location
- Warrington
I had a pleasant ride to the "Tree of Imagination" in lower Peover today, dry weather and bursts of subdued sunshine between the clouds. I'm waiting for tree called "The Den of Iniquity" to be build to balance things out.
AndreaJ
Veteran
It was a lovely sunny morning and definitely warmer so after the usual wait for the school run traffic to go I set off on one of my favourite routes.
Headed to Loppington, Nonely and Myddle turning off at the top of the bank down Lower Road to Merrington. Carried on to Old Woods and the quiet way to Baschurch via Eyton, a bit of a delay for some telegraph pole replacement works but soon got past and into Baschurch. I decided to go to Stanwardine , Bagley,Lee then past Whitemere and over the road to Colemere, going to Lyneal via the bumpy lane past the woods at Pikes End. Still trying to avoid my commuting route I turned back into Loppington where a check on distance meant taking the longer way home through Horton to avoid posting a 49km ride!
32.5 miles on a lovely sunny day, first snowdrops spotted as well, spring must be on its way.
Headed to Loppington, Nonely and Myddle turning off at the top of the bank down Lower Road to Merrington. Carried on to Old Woods and the quiet way to Baschurch via Eyton, a bit of a delay for some telegraph pole replacement works but soon got past and into Baschurch. I decided to go to Stanwardine , Bagley,Lee then past Whitemere and over the road to Colemere, going to Lyneal via the bumpy lane past the woods at Pikes End. Still trying to avoid my commuting route I turned back into Loppington where a check on distance meant taking the longer way home through Horton to avoid posting a 49km ride!
32.5 miles on a lovely sunny day, first snowdrops spotted as well, spring must be on its way.
Seventeen days without a ride! Better take a bike out and start pedalling. I chose the Spa this morning, probably influenced by the idea of riding almost northeast of here.
Down the main road to the middle of Jack Lane, not the middle really, the western half is more accurate. A right turn and the Beck of Hol is a bit further down the road. Don’t cross that, turn right again and aim for Crown Point Road. Which goes over Crown Point Bridge, on my way to Roundhay Road and the way to the Clock at Oakwood. After the left turn there the road keeps on rising for a distance. My legs did not take kindly to that, I mentally shortened the intended route for the morning.
And carried on, turning right onto Harrogate Road at Moortown. Another right turn, me and the bike are pointing towards Slaid Hill now. At the traffic lights there turn left onto Wike Ridge Lane but don’t stay on it long, Tarn Lane is the shortening of the way this morning. After a couple of crossroads this leads to the descent of Syke Lane, towards Scarcroft.
Straight over the A58, onto Thorner Lane, the first of the ride, and it does not go to Thorner. After a hefty climb, which convinced me that my legs had forgotten how to pedal uphill, up to the riding stables and turn right onto Milner Lane to whizzzz down there and into Thorner. Out of there, up Sandhills on the second Thorner Lane today. A right onto Skeltons Lane takes me back to the A58.
Downhill from there, bar one rise to the spare park gates that Roundhay leaves there. Into traffic again, all the way to my recrossing of the Aire on the same bridge as earlier. Twist and turn through that corner of Hunslet and then to home. Only twenty three miles, and about 980 feet of uphill. Must ride more, I do enjoy it. Better when fitter I suppose.
The topography
Down the main road to the middle of Jack Lane, not the middle really, the western half is more accurate. A right turn and the Beck of Hol is a bit further down the road. Don’t cross that, turn right again and aim for Crown Point Road. Which goes over Crown Point Bridge, on my way to Roundhay Road and the way to the Clock at Oakwood. After the left turn there the road keeps on rising for a distance. My legs did not take kindly to that, I mentally shortened the intended route for the morning.
And carried on, turning right onto Harrogate Road at Moortown. Another right turn, me and the bike are pointing towards Slaid Hill now. At the traffic lights there turn left onto Wike Ridge Lane but don’t stay on it long, Tarn Lane is the shortening of the way this morning. After a couple of crossroads this leads to the descent of Syke Lane, towards Scarcroft.
Straight over the A58, onto Thorner Lane, the first of the ride, and it does not go to Thorner. After a hefty climb, which convinced me that my legs had forgotten how to pedal uphill, up to the riding stables and turn right onto Milner Lane to whizzzz down there and into Thorner. Out of there, up Sandhills on the second Thorner Lane today. A right onto Skeltons Lane takes me back to the A58.
Downhill from there, bar one rise to the spare park gates that Roundhay leaves there. Into traffic again, all the way to my recrossing of the Aire on the same bridge as earlier. Twist and turn through that corner of Hunslet and then to home. Only twenty three miles, and about 980 feet of uphill. Must ride more, I do enjoy it. Better when fitter I suppose.
The topography
KnittyNorah
Über Member
- Location
- The Frozen North (of England)
For the past couple of months, I've only been on local rides - Guild Wheel, canal towpath, supermarket park paths etc generally flat or almost so, of up to about 6 or 7 miles, usually with with a break in the middle - but today, with darkness coming a bit later and sunshine promised for a good part of the day, I thought I'd be very brave and venture onto some of the local lanes. I worked out a nice little loopy sort of ride and completed it without any issue, despite the heavy shower that had obviously fallen - although it missed me. Just over 9 miles AND NOT FLAT! Ok, not exactly hilly either, but most of the route,apart from the first mile out and back, was actually what I would describe as 'rolling'. No long ascents or descents on these twisty little rural lanes, but it was all either one or the other and both outwards and back felt as if there was more ascents than descents. I certainly spent a lot more time doing them!
So I am very pleased with myself.
I'm going to work out an extension of this route for the next fully-fine day and in the meantime keep doing my little local routes on most days.
So I am very pleased with myself.
I'm going to work out an extension of this route for the next fully-fine day and in the meantime keep doing my little local routes on most days.
gavgav
Legendary Member
Out for this weeks evening ride with @Rickshaw Phil and Doug. I cycled up to meet them, this time, during which the temporary traffic lights, that have been acting as the crossing point for months due to the main lights being out, had been removed……:but the main lights are still not working 
We set off up Lyth Hill and continued up the rough track to the summit, but at least with the recent dry weather, the pools of water have gone and it’s just muddy in places. We paused at the top, looking at the various lights below and attempting some dark photos. 2 below didn’t turn out too bad, after switching the flash off and some lovely colourful skies.
As we descended down to Little Lyth, I became aware of a rubbing noise from the front wheel and assumed mud was caught up inside the guard, so gave it a few kicks, but despite bits falling out the noise was still there and worse on braking….Could be pads, so that needs looking at and sorting before the next ride.
The lanes to Exfords Green and Stapleton seemed busier than normal, but then quietened down to Gonsal, Ryton and Berriewood. The descent to Condover is always good fun, especially wind assisted like tonight, but the lane up to Cantlop was very and unusually busy, which continued along the road to Betton Abbots and to the point where we went our separate ways. We also got gritted by a spreader lorry near Betton
After getting home I gave the bike a good wash, as it was filthy after recent rides. I also found a report on the local newspaper Twitter page saying that the main A458 had been closed from nearby Cross Houses, due to a lorry having deposited its rubbish, with plastic and glass, over a 4 mile section! That explains the unusually busy traffic on some of the lanes tonight.
Still, an enjoyable 16.96 miles, at a leisurely 10.6mph avg.
We set off up Lyth Hill and continued up the rough track to the summit, but at least with the recent dry weather, the pools of water have gone and it’s just muddy in places. We paused at the top, looking at the various lights below and attempting some dark photos. 2 below didn’t turn out too bad, after switching the flash off and some lovely colourful skies.
As we descended down to Little Lyth, I became aware of a rubbing noise from the front wheel and assumed mud was caught up inside the guard, so gave it a few kicks, but despite bits falling out the noise was still there and worse on braking….Could be pads, so that needs looking at and sorting before the next ride.
The lanes to Exfords Green and Stapleton seemed busier than normal, but then quietened down to Gonsal, Ryton and Berriewood. The descent to Condover is always good fun, especially wind assisted like tonight, but the lane up to Cantlop was very and unusually busy, which continued along the road to Betton Abbots and to the point where we went our separate ways. We also got gritted by a spreader lorry near Betton
After getting home I gave the bike a good wash, as it was filthy after recent rides. I also found a report on the local newspaper Twitter page saying that the main A458 had been closed from nearby Cross Houses, due to a lorry having deposited its rubbish, with plastic and glass, over a 4 mile section! That explains the unusually busy traffic on some of the lanes tonight.
Still, an enjoyable 16.96 miles, at a leisurely 10.6mph avg.
Steady ride with David today . Following a bad cold I was determined not to over do it on the bike.
Flat loop from Derby around a small area of the Trent valley south of Nottingham.
Visited the Boat yard at Ratciffe on Soar which is a hive of activity refurbing narrow boats .
Into Kegworth to raid Oaklands bakery for coffee and cake . This is place I can recommend for CAKE !!
🧁🧁
Returning via the massive distribution hub Segro at East Midlands Airport .Cycle routes and paths abound .
Final quite B road via Weston on Trent and into Derby via the route of the fromer Derby canal .
Ratciffe boat yard bridge .^^^
Swarkstone locks bridge ^^^ Start of the former Derby cannal route .
There are plans to re open it . I cannot see it happening it my life time . Millons of ££££ needed . The whole of its lenght is filled in .
Flat loop from Derby around a small area of the Trent valley south of Nottingham.
Visited the Boat yard at Ratciffe on Soar which is a hive of activity refurbing narrow boats .
Into Kegworth to raid Oaklands bakery for coffee and cake . This is place I can recommend for CAKE !!
🧁🧁Returning via the massive distribution hub Segro at East Midlands Airport .Cycle routes and paths abound .
Final quite B road via Weston on Trent and into Derby via the route of the fromer Derby canal .
Ratciffe boat yard bridge .^^^
Swarkstone locks bridge ^^^ Start of the former Derby cannal route .
There are plans to re open it . I cannot see it happening it my life time . Millons of ££££ needed . The whole of its lenght is filled in .
KnittyNorah
Über Member
- Location
- The Frozen North (of England)
A flat 5 miles in light drizzle around parks, woodland and the canal today - the first time in a few months I've ridden on two consecutive days - and I'm still happy with the way my left leg and ankle are feeling. Aching a bit when I walk, but fine otherwise. No pain.
Came across lots and lots of very pleasant dogwalkers with nice dogs; some interesting breeds among them. All the 'usual' breeds of course, but also a Wire-haired Fox Terrier, a Basenji, a Leonberger, two Flat-coated Retrievers and a Portuguese Water Dog. Good job I memorised the Observer's Book of Dogs Breeds when I was about 12!
Came across lots and lots of very pleasant dogwalkers with nice dogs; some interesting breeds among them. All the 'usual' breeds of course, but also a Wire-haired Fox Terrier, a Basenji, a Leonberger, two Flat-coated Retrievers and a Portuguese Water Dog. Good job I memorised the Observer's Book of Dogs Breeds when I was about 12!
- Location
- Shrewsbury, Shropshire
A couple of rides to mention. Firstly there was the one with @gavgav which he has already written up. It was a pretty good ride on a cold but clear evening. The missing temporary traffic lights that he mentions were being replaced with some new ones when Doug and I passed them at the end of the trip.
16.7 miles recorded for me at the end and 10.9 mph average. My higher average speed may be to do with having to sprint after Gav and Doug as I'd got held up by traffic when they hadn't. I did grab a couple of snaps but Gav's are much better (despite me being in one of them.
)
Yesterday: I got out in the afternoon but didn't have as much time available as I'd hoped for so opted for a quick run round my Longnor, Acton Burnell, Harnage, Berrington route. I started off well but finding the road unexpectedly closed in Condover was an annoyance. It appeared to be completely fenced off so I headed round through Berriewood and Wheathall as an alternative.
I had a brisk wind to ride against to Longnor then a really nice tailwind through Frodesley to Acton Burnell then Cound Moor. The descent from Harnage started off fast but I had to slow for a chap and his dog about halfway down. Flag of the day at Cound was that of Australia.
At Cound Stank I thought I'd head towards the A458 which as Gav has mentioned had an issue the previous evening. One of Veolia's recycling lorries had managed to spill a reported 20 tonnes of glass and plastic shards on the length of road between Much Wenlock and Cross Houses - it had been cleared from the road but the verges are an absolute mess.
The road was a bit busier than I'd really have liked so I got off it at the first chance. Along this lane I had a friendly tractor driver pull off the road to allow me to pass.
Lyons Lane was a bit of a plod as I'd turned back into the wind but I did get boost on the way back to the main road after Condover.
25.7 miles at 13.2 mph average.
Looking towards the Stretton hills from Wheathall. Why are there so often power lines draped across good views?
16.7 miles recorded for me at the end and 10.9 mph average. My higher average speed may be to do with having to sprint after Gav and Doug as I'd got held up by traffic when they hadn't. I did grab a couple of snaps but Gav's are much better (despite me being in one of them.
)Yesterday: I got out in the afternoon but didn't have as much time available as I'd hoped for so opted for a quick run round my Longnor, Acton Burnell, Harnage, Berrington route. I started off well but finding the road unexpectedly closed in Condover was an annoyance. It appeared to be completely fenced off so I headed round through Berriewood and Wheathall as an alternative.
I had a brisk wind to ride against to Longnor then a really nice tailwind through Frodesley to Acton Burnell then Cound Moor.
The descent from Harnage started off fast but I had to slow for a chap and his dog about halfway down. Flag of the day at Cound was that of Australia.At Cound Stank I thought I'd head towards the A458 which as Gav has mentioned had an issue the previous evening. One of Veolia's recycling lorries had managed to spill a reported 20 tonnes of glass and plastic shards on the length of road between Much Wenlock and Cross Houses - it had been cleared from the road but the verges are an absolute mess.
The road was a bit busier than I'd really have liked so I got off it at the first chance. Along this lane I had a friendly tractor driver pull off the road to allow me to pass.Lyons Lane was a bit of a plod as I'd turned back into the wind but I did get boost on the way back to the main road after Condover.
25.7 miles at 13.2 mph average.
Looking towards the Stretton hills from Wheathall. Why are there so often power lines draped across good views?
Lanes from Derby to Uttoxeter to raid Greggs .Retraced to Dove ridge .Left here following the ridge to Marston Montgomery .Lovely views on both sides . Towards Roston continuing along the ridge .Over Darley Moor and picking up the line of the Roman rd to Derby .Long lane village to Over Burrows & Keleston rt Home
Noticed lots of Snow drops today which added further beauty to the ride .
^^^^Going to need a wider rim!!^^^
Noticed lots of Snow drops today which added further beauty to the ride .
^^^^Going to need a wider rim!!^^^
Spiderweb
Not So Special One
- Location
- North Yorkshire
Out on the cross bike today with David & Suzanne from our village. 23 fun filled miles around local tracks, trails & woods …. Great ride😁
Noodle Legs
Winging it
- Location
- Coalville, Leicestershire
Indulged in a spot of MTB around Hicks Lodge near Ashby de La Zouch today with the wife and the runt of the litter, wind non existent given yesterday’s gusts and non stop sunshine!
The thawing ground frost created claggy conditions in places but given the circumstances none of us cared! Mrs D was feeling a little saddle sore at the end but she bravely made her way round the green and more technical blue route. Good times!
The thawing ground frost created claggy conditions in places but given the circumstances none of us cared! Mrs D was feeling a little saddle sore at the end but she bravely made her way round the green and more technical blue route. Good times!
