Your ride today....

[theloafer]

planned a ride today a round trip to Durham. ... as the weather on wed is not great. found a diff route in and out of darlo (mostly cycle paths all the way to Longnewton . over to Thorpe thewles had a coffee and steak bake at wynyard cafe .feed a little friend lol ..off down to pick up NCN1 which where it all went pear shape lol at Shotting the NCN1 was diverted so like a good cyclist i followed ,saw to more then no more by now the Garmin was bleeping crazy so turned it off and just kept going till i found a road i knew . which ended up as the A690 , no problems am still alive .dropped into Durham up to nevilles cross and was back on track came back via the Deerness valley railway then to high grange up through Witton park Tindale Crescent Shildon and back down the cycle path home 72 smiles my longest ride this year legs are goosed

https://www.strava.com/activities/6828388451

 

[theloafer]

a little ride out to Hamsterly to keep the old legs in ride mode .. before the rain comes...dam it arrived early . dropped down into Bishop Auckland and headed to the Auckland way cycle path to take me into Spennymoor to call in and see pete and the gorgeous JuJulie Tallentiremake a grand cup of coffee ) and to get out of the rain. ... it had not stopped when i headed for home so it was head down and bottom up

and did not get to wet thanks to my Gore bike wear

got 38 miles in lets see what tomorrow brings...liking this no working thing

https://www.strava.com/activities/6833361440

 

[cwskas]

Late again, but last Monday I decided I was going to try for 70 miles even though the winds were forecast from about 190 degrees at 18 kts gusting to mid 20s. I plotted a route that was north for about 30 miles, then more or less east for 10-12 miles, the remainder being mostly into the wind. The wind was forecast to slowly shift around to the north, so I thought that might work out to my advantage. Other than that the weather was going to be very nice.

I had not ridden enough so far this year to try such a long ride, but figured if I just took enough breaks I could handle it. The last 15 miles or so was really hard and I considered several times calling my wife to bail me out. I need some new riding shoes and that was becoming very clear as pain in my feet below the cleat was the prime issue.

I managed to finish 64 miles and called it quits. A very enjoyable ride despite my overconfidence in my readiness.

64 miles, 5h37m, moving and 6h48m total time, 2,431 ft of climb. 11.4 mph average, 41.3 mph max going back into town.

An attempt at a drive ride by video using my phone. I should have used the wide angle lens, I had the phone as far as away as fences would allow!

 

[13 rider]

Late again, but last Monday I decided I was going to try for 70 miles even though the winds were forecast from about 190 degrees at 18 kts gusting to mid 20s. I plotted a route that was north for about 30 miles, then more or less east for 10-12 miles, the remainder being mostly into the wind. The wind was forecast to slowly shift around to the north, so I thought that might work out to my advantage. Other than that the weather was going to be very nice.

I had not ridden enough so far this year to try such a long ride, but figured if I just took enough breaks I could handle it. The last 15 miles or so was really hard and I considered several times calling my wife to bail me out. I need some new riding shoes and that was becoming very clear as pain in my feet below the cleat was the prime issue.

I managed to finish 64 miles and called it quits. A very enjoyable ride despite my overconfidence in my readiness.

64 miles, 5h37m, moving and 6h48m total time, 2,431 ft of climb. 11.4 mph average, 41.3 mph max going back into town.

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An attempt at a drive ride by video using my phone. I should have used the wide angle lens, I had the phone as far as away as fences would allow!

If you use European Kms that's a century ride 100 and bit kms sounds more impressive

 

[Old jon]

The simplest thing can cut a ride short. I was told a parcel would be delivered, last Tuesday, after eleven a.m. Out of bed at a lot too early, pedal the Spa away, still lots too soon. Five miles into the ride, a text from the couriers showed up on the garthing. Parcel now being delivered between eight thirty and nine thirty. I did not (quite) say oh dear, but did turn around to return home.

Today, no expected anything. But I did have afternoon stuff to do, some of it bike related. No more early though, let’s have a gentle short ride instead. The Spa again, after the rain yesterday I did expect some mud and the tyres on that bike do have a tread pattern.

Around a bit of Holbeck to start with, and to the Armouries next. Down the riverside path, averagely busy this morning, and to Skelton Grange bridge. There is some work going on there, hidden behind sheeting of some sort, possibly to limit the spread of dust. Descending the stairway on the downstream side was a bit of a faff, more so than usual ‘cos the Spa is maybe three kilograms heavier than my other bikes.

And maybe my upper body strength needs a bit of looking after. No worry, no more stairs to anywhere today. Back across the canal at Fishponds Lock, and down that way past all the waterfowl.



Stay on the canalside after Woodlesford, finding the mud a bit more slithery than it might have been, and it is not far to Lemonroyd Marina. A bit more mixed surface riding from there, back across the river and start the ride through St Aidan’s RSPB. All the way to the cafe which looks tiny at the side of the drag line excavator. If you can see it at all in the photographs.

The Spa, and a bit of pond

Spa and excavator

All the way from the USA

And the mud even reached the headstock badge

Back on tarmac now, up to Swillington where a left turn eventually takes me across my outward track and to Station Lane in Woodlesford. Up to Holmsley Lane and then a right turn to John o’ Gaunts, and it is nearly all downhill from there to home. Which was a relief. Not the usual squiggle through Hunslet, but still a squiggle, then a slightly different way to my front door. Only nineteen miles, and just over a thousand feet of the upward stuff. Well enough for a smile, a most enjoyable pedal out.

Inevitably, the squiggly bits

and not much up and down

 

[GuyBoden]

I rode to Manchester along the Bridgewater canal path today, it's mostly tarmac from Dunham.

Here's the Engels statue in first street, Manchester.

Here's the Epping walk bridge in Hulme, Manchester, made famous by Joy Division in the late 1970's.
I had a cycle around Hulme, it has totally changed since I knew it in the early 1980's. The notorious Crescents are long gone.

Here's the Joy Division photo from the same location in 1979 by Kevin Cummins.

 

[KnittyNorah]

I had a very unambitious ride today - first to my favourite cafe for toast and coffee, and a nice sit-down and read of a rather interesting and thought-provoking book about the Great Silence after the end of the Great War - then on to the U3A's monthly meeting and AGM where,despite there being a cycling group as one of the interest groups, I was the only person to arrive by bike. As it's a folder I get to take it inside the church where the AGM was held but I only put it behind a screen where the wheelbarrow, gardening tools and the traffic cones which read 'funeral' are stored, so it doesn't get onto sacred ground or anything! Back along the canal, the wild plum and sloes are in full bloom and in sheltered spots, hawthorn leaves are greening.
The ducks are pairing off - with several polyamorous groupings! - and the lone swan who lost his/her mate last year is swimming backwards and forwards along his/her territory, looking beautiful, preening and awaiting a new love ...
Male blackbirds are everywhere chasing rivals and potential rivals and passing an overgrown-with-ivy area, I saw flashes of flight from something tiny - probably wrens scouting for nesting spots.
No pics as I dropped my camera and although it still appears to be working fine , I only seem to have half a display on the screen, so I've left it with a camera shop to be looked at; if it can be repaired it will be and if not, then I'll just have to learn to live with it until I can buy a new one.

 

[theloafer]

well forecast was good for today so up and out again..

.over my bowl of porridge i had altered my route 3 times but settled on the old daro 50 miler and i had not been to Northallerton in a while and my fav cafe stop for a sausage Sarine

.was a great day and my 4th ride this week ...bliss 74 smiles
https://www.strava.com/activities/6839587574

spotted at the cafe stop .. looks smart ...so wanted to give it a spin

 

[Donger]

Another 22 miles today .... in lycra shorts and short-sleeved top for the first time this year. Gorgeous sunny weather in Gloucestershire. Another plod around the usual local Severnside lanes, so I thought I'd take a few slightly different pictures from those I've posted before. The first five are all taken around Frampton-on-Severn, which isn't actually on the Severn at all, as it is separated from the river by the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal. It is a great little village, with a couple of pubs, a church and one of the longest village greens in England, featuring a couple of duck ponds:

After a light oiling, the bike was rolling smoothly and silently, and on the way back from Frampton I had a great following wind. A pleasure to be out there. I stopped off at the riverbank in Epney on the way home. In this shot you can make out the distant Malvern Hills in the background:

My last stop was outside the gates to the local manor house , Elmore Court .... used these days as a chic wedding venue. I've always liked the white swan on the gate:

There's a nice little downhill freewheel to be had just after Elmore Court. Not long, but just enough to get you up from 0 to 25mph hardly turning a pedal. Always a nice way to finish a ride. It felt like Spring has really sprung now. Can't wait for this warmer weather to really set in.

 

[bagpuss]

^^^Lovely looking area for cycling ^^^ Just put it on my bucket list for a short break .

 

[KnittyNorah]

Nowhere special today - just bimbling around cyclepaths, tracks and lanes then to Lidl for a week's shopping and back (mainly) along the Guild Wheel. Butterflies!! Tortoiseshells and Red Admirals around the fairy lane, where the daffodils, crocuses, hyacinths and flowering cherries are in full bloom. Also in the woodland I think I saw a brimstone in the dappled sunlight. Seems very early for butterflies but I suppose they've hibernated successfully and the warmth has woken them up. Here's hoping it's a decent summer to give them a bit of help.

I'm very happy with the ease of loading and cycling with the luggage truss I had fitted and the matching Kanga rack at the front; I'd got so used to my basket on the handlebars that to see my wheel turning and my shopping still facing frontwards on the frame was a bit disorientating at first! My original front wire basket cable-tied onto the rear rack just fine, despite its height, so an order has now gone in for a proper rear basket. Having all the weight of my shopping on the frame and none of it elsewhere makes cycling considerably easier on my old legs, although even without the purchases, all the hardware makes the bike considerably heavier. It's all more-or-less removable if I'm just going out for 'pleasure' rather than using it for a week's shopping, though. The handy clip-on/off mount on the handlebars for the lightweight front wire basket will remain in place as the basket is a very useful thing for tossing a few lightweight 'day ride' items in and carrying into a cafe etc, when I don't need the carrying capacity of the Kanga rack. I am very pleased with the truss and the rack, despite its considerable expense.

Another lady of somewhat less-mature age than myself (maybe in her late 50s/early 60s)came alongside me as I was heading towards Lidl, and we rode alongside each other for a mile or so before she peeled off towards her home. I was very chuffed to find that I could still pedal and chat as I used to and I wasn't really holding her back noticeably. I recommended cycle.travel/map to her as she was bemoaning the difficulty of finding quiet, safe routes and the unpleasant task of getting oneself around or across busy junctions, when all you want is a nice afternoon's ride in the countryside ...

 

[Noodle Legs]

Another 50km today with a sunny loop over to Swadlincote and back. Still nursing a dicky back, I switched to the Trek so as to have a more upright position and touch wood no negative consequences from that. It was a risk worth taking as it was just too good not to go out when I have a long weekend off! Although I was taking it steady, the legs felt good and the pace was fairly quick, certainly quicker than I was used to these past few months- it’s gotta be the bike!
At Swad I thought I’d call in to see some colleagues who were installing a new substation and managed to get some light refreshment whilst I was there by getting the apprentice to make a cuppa! And he willingly provided some chocolate digestives to accompany said brew so all was very good indeed!
Setting off from there I headed back through the South Derbyshire lanes, picking up Rosliston and Netherseal before crossing back over t’ border into Leicestershire at Acresford. Slight headwind as I made my way into Measham and Heather, but nothing as brutal as from the previous days.
Back home, 32 sunny miles in the bag and 1500 ft of up.
The bib shorts also finally made their 2022 debut which was a good sign that spring is finally here!

 

[RoubaixCube]

My regular 15.5mile city crit. Not a single 'clipless moment' though the pedals werent exactly tensioned up to the extreme.

PlanetX MTB shoes -- Really impressed with the first ride. Little to no flex at all in the carbon sole which makes stomping on the pedals quite enjoyable. You will walk a like you've had a few too many drinks when you have them on but on the plus side, the treads are made of a hard rubber so they are great walking on slippery supermarket floors or tarmac/pavement.

My old Shimano XC-61's were very slippery on supermarket floors due to their hard plastic treads but they did sound like i was marching across a parade ground with them on (which was fun and im very easily amused)

Sadly, the rubber will eventually wear out and even though PlanetX says they are replaceable, you have to get them from FLR directly as they are the people who made the shoe for PlanetX and not available anywhere else. They cost $45 (inc shipping)

I will have to look and PX's cheaper shoe offerings when the time comes for a replacement.

Fully loaded for 60 notes is an excellent price for the shoe. The equivalent shoe from FLR which is the FLR F-95X or FLR F-95X II will set you back £160-190 (shipping not included)

 

[Donger]

^^^Lovely looking area for cycling ^^^ Just put it on my bucket list for a short break .

Message me if you ever do take a short break around here. I've ridden every inch of road for miles around and can list all the best places to ride, the best climbs and the best cafe stops.

 

[bagpuss]

I left suburbia (Derby) at 9.30am after my normal leisurely start to the day. Passing through Etwall and Egginton, here the Ukrainian flag fluttered proudly in the wind, and it made me realise how lucky I was to be awheel! Down the 'psychopath' into Stretton, which now forms the greater part of Burton-upon-Trent. Here I picked up Route 54, which includes the Kingfisher Trail. Finding my way into Tatenhill, I spooled down into Barton-under-Needwood, over the Trent into Walton, and down through Catton Park. Here the daffodils grew in clumps, looking like baby triffids along the side of the road.Down past the National Arboretum at Chetwynd (or Salter's Bridge), back over the Trent, and rejoining Route 54 at Alrewas and down Gorse Lane. Here the gorse was in full bloom. I followed Route 54 into Lichfield and a leisurely lunch ensued near the Cathedral. My return route, again by Route 54, and past the Curborough Sprint Course, where some pre-event practice was in progress. Quick cup of coffee at Fradley Junction, and I continued to follow Route 54 up to Barton-under-Needwood, Tatenhill, here I continued on to Anslow and spinning along the undulating lanes to Tutbury. The final part of my ride in delightful spring sunshine took me through Sutton-on-the-Hill, here I encountered 2 members of the Derby Mercury RC, a club I have just rejoined after 20 years away, and much chatter about bicycles ensued. The final miles of today took me through Radbourne Hollow and back into the suburbs of Derby. So, an inspiring day's ride in the cool spring air .

Oops I think I had issues with picture loading .Hence repeats ?!