flake99please
We all scream for ice cream
- Location
- Edinburgh
I managed to squeeze in a 30 miler between finishing work and meeting Son after school. Sunny intervals with one minor shower that caught me about halfway through the route.
https://www.komoot.com/tour/826203599
fire crew in training from Lancaster at the tees barrage
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Today's ride was "character building"- starting out well and ending in a bit of frustration.
After finishing a busy shift at work this morning I got home and took advantage of the nice weather and a free day.
I headed south down the Princes Highway towards my happy place, Bald Hill. The road off the hwy is smooth and winding so I was able to hit just under 70km/h on the way down, about the only time my dimensions come in handy on a bike.
This area is where Lawrence Hargrave, a British born inventor and engineer conducted his pioneering work on flight in the late 1800's that helped lead to the development of the aeroplane. The road through Royal National Park that leads to the hill is named after him.
The area is now famous as the best hang gliding and para gliding spot in Australia and when the wind is right it's an amazing place to be.
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Photos don't do it justice, the view down the coastline is epic.
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Towards the middle of the photo is "Seacliff Bridge", a bridge built to replace a cliff hugging road that was closed as rock falls rendered it too dangerous to use.
This bridge has now been used by just about every car brand sold here in their advertising, and it's a tourist attraction in it's own right.
While I admired the view I grabbed a quick snack ready for the climb home.
My bike of choice was my 1987 Clamont, the right bike for this ride- great handling and light for climbing, with the Fulcrum Zero wheels on it now it tips the scales at just over 8kg.
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All went well until on a downhill stretch at 60km/h I hit some debris and my rear tyre suffered a cut and a rapid deflation- my swearing game lifted a notch as I managed to stay on while the bike wagged it's tail.
I changed the tube after inspecting the damage and pumped it up then realised my pump was struggling. A quick look confirmed the O ring was split. Damn.
I managed to get enough air in to keep the rim off the road and limped home for the next 20km.
As I said earlier, character building.
In the end I got home slowly but safe and in one piece, total distance 57km.
I stopped in the Cobbles cafe when I rode up to Earl Sterndale as I was early lovely little cafe . I did Axe edge from Buxton really enjoyed itWoke to rain but it passed, so we decided to go ahead with the planned ride.
Flat Cheshire lanes to start with then the climb of Gun Hill from Rushton Spencer, taking the back lanes through Heaton first to avoid the rat run.
Then up through Thorncliffe to Morridge. A beast of a climb, very long with steep sections but not consistent. The only relief was watching the effortless soaring of a buzzard using the wind to float low whilst hunting.
Summit attained at 460m or so, and rest and recuperation were necessitated before continuing. The views from here are stunning, with Ramshaw Rocks and the Roaches close up, but stretching all the way to the Long Mynd and various Welsh ranges I couldn't name too the far horizon:
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Our original plan was Hartington, but that seemed a little too challenging at this point with lunch urgently required, so we descended the lanes to Longnor with stunning views of the Peak before us.
Appetites assuaged with jacket spuds at the Cobbles cafe, the long climb to Flash Bar awaited, which wasn't as brutal as I expected, thankfully.
Now over Axe Edge and down the Cat, an experience not enhanced by the total farkwit who overtook us whilst we were signaling right to descend to Lamaload.
The lonely Lamaload road and a final climb up Deadman's Hill opened more fabulous views over Manchester and to Kinder Scout, and a rapid descent home.
58 miles, 1500m climbing. A bit jiggered now!