Andy in Germany
Guru
- Location
- Rottenburg am Neckar
Return journey. River still pretty high.
Your ride today....
- Thread starter gbb
- Start date
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Return journey. River still pretty high.
theloafer
Legendary Member
- Location
- newton aycliffe
its been 3 week's since i was last out ,but i woke to the sun in the sky and forecast of poss 4 hours before the rain/snow was due plan was to head to the coast,... but not my usual way as that would be very wet + muddy used part a route from Komoot and ncn14 which i have been wanting to try over to Greatham near to Billingham . strange thing once i picked up the said route most of it i had ridden before way back in the late 80`s.. failed to reach the coast as the sun went walkabouts the very cold and blustery north wind arrived and i thought the predicted rain/snow was arriving early so i turned and headed for home sharpish.. nothing to do with the old legs feeling jellyish .... lol
still made it to 45 miles https://www.strava.com/activities/8713437981
still made it to 45 miles https://www.strava.com/activities/8713437981
Andy in Germany
Guru
- Location
- Rottenburg am Neckar
Going in to work...
There was steam coming off the river.
On the way back. The river hasn't gone down all day, so there must have been a shedload of water falling on the Black Forest this week.
There was steam coming off the river.
On the way back. The river hasn't gone down all day, so there must have been a shedload of water falling on the Black Forest this week.
Bright sunshine punctuated by clouds today, so decided to go out for a lunchtime loop.
For once I chose the direction correctly, so had a headwind out along the sheltered part, and a tailwind back along the exposed part, what more could I ask for? Great to be out.
For once I chose the direction correctly, so had a headwind out along the sheltered part, and a tailwind back along the exposed part, what more could I ask for? Great to be out.
gavgav
Legendary Member
My ride yesterday. I had a day off work and started the day with a short ride, before I headed off to Birmingham and a brilliant gig by The Lathums. They’re destined for big things.
A very mild morning, but a stiff southerly wind, which helped blow me along to Reabrook and Heathgates. A nice policeman let me across the road at Sundorne, where I joined the old canal path to Uffington.
I saw a horse and cart on the road to Upton Magna and then saw the Radio Shropshire Rickshaw challenge, for Comic Relief, which had paused at the primary school, with the kids cheering loudly.
I turned into the wind to Berwick Wharf and Atcham, were I paused on the old bridge to take some photos of the River Severn, which is in flood again. It’s dropped from where it was on Thursday, but still plenty of water about. A chap cycling towards me asked which was I was going, as he said it’s flooded along there, rideable but probably with wet feet. Thankfully it was only Chilton lane that was still under water and the Cross Houses road, despite the road closed signs being out, was actually clear.
I did see a couple of cars that had chanced it through the closure. I joined the quiet lanes to Berrington and King Street next, with the wind behind me and it blew me along nicely to Betton Abbots.
16.26 miles at 12.3mph avg speed.
A very mild morning, but a stiff southerly wind, which helped blow me along to Reabrook and Heathgates. A nice policeman let me across the road at Sundorne, where I joined the old canal path to Uffington.
I saw a horse and cart on the road to Upton Magna and then saw the Radio Shropshire Rickshaw challenge, for Comic Relief, which had paused at the primary school, with the kids cheering loudly.
I turned into the wind to Berwick Wharf and Atcham, were I paused on the old bridge to take some photos of the River Severn, which is in flood again. It’s dropped from where it was on Thursday, but still plenty of water about. A chap cycling towards me asked which was I was going, as he said it’s flooded along there, rideable but probably with wet feet. Thankfully it was only Chilton lane that was still under water and the Cross Houses road, despite the road closed signs being out, was actually clear.
I did see a couple of cars that had chanced it through the closure. I joined the quiet lanes to Berrington and King Street next, with the wind behind me and it blew me along nicely to Betton Abbots.
16.26 miles at 12.3mph avg speed.
Dave 123
Legendary Member
- Location
- Cambridgeshire alps
I had every intention of going to Dartmoor today, but it was as black as your hat up there, whereas at home it was bright blue sky.
So a variation on the local lanes, bridleways and coast path.
Lots of skylarks and Chiffchaff calling.
18.18 miles.
https://www.strava.com/activities/8735013849
So a variation on the local lanes, bridleways and coast path.
Lots of skylarks and Chiffchaff calling.
18.18 miles.
https://www.strava.com/activities/8735013849
Much of the west of Britain has a climate favourable to temperate rainforest and today epitomised the sort of conditions that such trees would love, if we had not felled them in the Neolithic. Nevertheless, the relative warm still, showery day was conducive to a bike ride to Dent. Headed out through Burton in Lonsdale and up the thrice gated Kingsdale. Encountered the usual level of roadside nudity typical of caving country but otherwise was only sheep, curlew, lapwing and meadow pipet for company. The long climb took me to the col leading into Dentdale from which the road drops vertically toward another gate, perfectly located to catch an out of control cyclist. Into Dent with its cobbles and tea shop offering Wensleydale and fruit cake. A heavy shower prolonged my stay before climbing back out of the dale up Gawthrop. Next was the cyclists nirvana of Barbondale, a fast single track road descending alongside a stream with dippers and grey Wagtail. Overall, 86 km with 1200m of climbing.
pictures are of Kingsdale, Dentdale and Barbondale.
pictures are of Kingsdale, Dentdale and Barbondale.
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- Location
- Shrewsbury, Shropshire
My bikes haven't turned a wheel since I came back from the Lake District at the start of March so I aimed to rectify that today.
The intention was to ride round my regular route taking in Acton Burnell, Cressage, Walcot and Upton Magna. The legs felt strong at the start after the couple of weeks break but I soon found I'd started off a bit too quick and with what appeared to be a brisk headwind I couldn't keep up the pace I'd started with.
Pausing at Ryton I found that in fact the wind was really light and it is the lack of recent riding I was actually feeling. I didn't press on as hard on the way to Longnor and started to recover a bit. I was a bit quicker on the way to Acton Burnell, apart from up the hill at Frodesley then started to rethink the route after passing Cound Moor and decided I'd go for a shorter version instead and turned off towards Harnage.
Flag of the day at Cound was the St. Georges Cross, then shortly after that I came across an escaped horse and donkey wandering through the village. I helped to turn them back in the direction of their field and with that done a couple of householders said they would manage to get them back where they belonged so I carried on. The A458 was quite quiet so I followed that to Cross Houses before turning off to Berrington. I thought a change from my usual routine would be good so I headed for Weeping Cross then Meole Brace to return home.
23.5 miles at 12.7 mph average. Good to get out on what felt like a proper Spring day but harder work than expected. A handful of cyclists out but I thought I might have seen more.
The intention was to ride round my regular route taking in Acton Burnell, Cressage, Walcot and Upton Magna. The legs felt strong at the start after the couple of weeks break but I soon found I'd started off a bit too quick and with what appeared to be a brisk headwind I couldn't keep up the pace I'd started with.
Pausing at Ryton I found that in fact the wind was really light and it is the lack of recent riding I was actually feeling. I didn't press on as hard on the way to Longnor and started to recover a bit. I was a bit quicker on the way to Acton Burnell, apart from up the hill at Frodesley then started to rethink the route after passing Cound Moor and decided I'd go for a shorter version instead and turned off towards Harnage.
Flag of the day at Cound was the St. Georges Cross, then shortly after that I came across an escaped horse and donkey wandering through the village. I helped to turn them back in the direction of their field and with that done a couple of householders said they would manage to get them back where they belonged so I carried on. The A458 was quite quiet so I followed that to Cross Houses before turning off to Berrington. I thought a change from my usual routine would be good so I headed for Weeping Cross then Meole Brace to return home.
23.5 miles at 12.7 mph average. Good to get out on what felt like a proper Spring day but harder work than expected. A handful of cyclists out but I thought I might have seen more.
Jameshow
Veteran
Definitely on my years rides list!
I've not been out for too long; something increasingly painfully obvious by my degrading mental health after a somewhat unproductive and stressful week.
The promised ride had failed to materialise over successive days for a number of reasons, however yesterday I was finally freed from my abject maliase by warm air and a glint of sun after recovering the Fuji from the shed for a bit of work.
I'm a bit sick of utility rides but resolved to make this recreational outing as versatile as possible, so left the pannier bags on the bike with the lock in one side and shonkily-bagged camera in the other. Wind was a mild south-westerly, so I headed out west; as usual with no particular plan.
As soon as I was out it felt great, and at the next village took a little detour north down a significant gravel hill that's usually attacked in the other direction at the end of a ride - think this one tops out at about 12% grad a bit further down...
Looping back south through the village I took some thankfully very quiet lanes to a gated road. No traffic here other than horses and the odd sheep, although the multiple gates are a bit of a pain to negotiate..
A discarded relic from a global event that now seems a lifetime ago..
Onward, and by the time I'd reached the top of another significant local hill it'd started to rain..
Thankfully the rain didn't last for long and I quickly dried off in the warm air. Passing through a decidely Cotswoldy village that's not really in the Cotswolds:
... complete with stocks and stream. Bet this isn't a cheap place to live..
At this point I realised I was fairly close to Woodstock which is a reasonably worthy destination for the sake of it, so figured I'd press on South and make an afternoon of it. Stupidly I followed the signs which inevitably led me into the town on the main A-road - far less pleasant than the almost deserted little rural routes; and complete with a maybe 1:5 close-pass ratio
Once in town I cicled a few times before parking the bike in-view across the road from a familiar pub and popping in for some sustainance..
The critical window table was reserved but nobody whinged and I was gone before its rightful claimants showed.
I chose a different route back, beginning with a usually lovely 3-ish mile cycle track heading north. This used to be an integral part of my route home from Oxford when I was car-less during Covid. The last time I rode this would have been nearly three years ago, blasting along it on the CdF during the bone-dry summer. Converely this time it was traversed very slowly thanks to the slippery, claggy mud and the Fuji's semi-slick tyres. Thankfully I managed to remain upright
Once out the other end it was back onto gloriously quiet backroads; that I guess only carry traffic to the smattering of little villages in the area. I did get rained on again; heavier this time but I think I just caught the last of a northerly weatherfront as I was heading west, so I didn't have to suffer the rain for too long.
Improvised comfort break No.3..
Unfortunately that's the pic limit hit for this post.. I continued back much the way I'd come, stopping at the village co-op for a couple of bottles of beer and some reduced noodles and chicken; which were all consumed when home (amongst many other things that shouldn't have been).
This was a great ride as it once more blurred the lines between a purely leisure outing (which typically would involve no luggage or stopping) and a utility ride (which would have had a clear purpose and destination from the start). I'm glad I took the lock and bags as they allowed a lot more flexibility; even if they (and the camera) did add a fair bit of mass to the back.
As usual this was an utterly transformative outing and I felt fantastic when I got back; if utterly knackered. While not huge on the grand scheme of things this was the largest I've done for a while at a bit over 33 miles and around 1800ft at a leisurely 10.5mph or so and a slightly less sedate 137bpm for 2100Kcal burned. While the numbers aren't big I'm feeling it today and both Strava and Polar reckoned it was fairly exerting - probably due to the hills and all the extra mass being carried (both on the bike and myself
).
While I love nice things I continue to really appreciate the Fuji's useability thanks to the fact it's a bit tatty and not worth a lot; meaning I'm less precious while using it and am less anxious about locking it up - unlike the Genesis which has never been left unattended in public. This "battered and worthless in the eyes of most" credibility also extends to my ancient but faithful DSLR dragged along to the ride, as well as the rider..
The area out south-west of the village seems to be the sweet spot for nice quiet roads as well as places potentially worthy of a little excursion to a predetermined situation for the sake of it. I'm not too familiar with this area historically so it carries fewer negative connotations for me too. I think this is where I'll be looking to ride more as the weather improves, and maybe even look to push out as far as the odd day trip to Oxford if I can improve my fitness.
The promised ride had failed to materialise over successive days for a number of reasons, however yesterday I was finally freed from my abject maliase by warm air and a glint of sun after recovering the Fuji from the shed for a bit of work.
I'm a bit sick of utility rides but resolved to make this recreational outing as versatile as possible, so left the pannier bags on the bike with the lock in one side and shonkily-bagged camera in the other. Wind was a mild south-westerly, so I headed out west; as usual with no particular plan.
As soon as I was out it felt great, and at the next village took a little detour north down a significant gravel hill that's usually attacked in the other direction at the end of a ride - think this one tops out at about 12% grad a bit further down...
Looping back south through the village I took some thankfully very quiet lanes to a gated road. No traffic here other than horses and the odd sheep, although the multiple gates are a bit of a pain to negotiate..
A discarded relic from a global event that now seems a lifetime ago..
Onward, and by the time I'd reached the top of another significant local hill it'd started to rain..
Thankfully the rain didn't last for long and I quickly dried off in the warm air. Passing through a decidely Cotswoldy village that's not really in the Cotswolds:
... complete with stocks and stream. Bet this isn't a cheap place to live..
At this point I realised I was fairly close to Woodstock which is a reasonably worthy destination for the sake of it, so figured I'd press on South and make an afternoon of it. Stupidly I followed the signs which inevitably led me into the town on the main A-road - far less pleasant than the almost deserted little rural routes; and complete with a maybe 1:5 close-pass ratio
Once in town I cicled a few times before parking the bike in-view across the road from a familiar pub and popping in for some sustainance..
The critical window table was reserved but nobody whinged and I was gone before its rightful claimants showed.
I chose a different route back, beginning with a usually lovely 3-ish mile cycle track heading north. This used to be an integral part of my route home from Oxford when I was car-less during Covid. The last time I rode this would have been nearly three years ago, blasting along it on the CdF during the bone-dry summer. Converely this time it was traversed very slowly thanks to the slippery, claggy mud and the Fuji's semi-slick tyres. Thankfully I managed to remain upright
Once out the other end it was back onto gloriously quiet backroads; that I guess only carry traffic to the smattering of little villages in the area. I did get rained on again; heavier this time but I think I just caught the last of a northerly weatherfront as I was heading west, so I didn't have to suffer the rain for too long.
Improvised comfort break No.3..
Unfortunately that's the pic limit hit for this post.. I continued back much the way I'd come, stopping at the village co-op for a couple of bottles of beer and some reduced noodles and chicken; which were all consumed when home (amongst many other things that shouldn't have been).
This was a great ride as it once more blurred the lines between a purely leisure outing (which typically would involve no luggage or stopping) and a utility ride (which would have had a clear purpose and destination from the start). I'm glad I took the lock and bags as they allowed a lot more flexibility; even if they (and the camera) did add a fair bit of mass to the back.
As usual this was an utterly transformative outing and I felt fantastic when I got back; if utterly knackered. While not huge on the grand scheme of things this was the largest I've done for a while at a bit over 33 miles and around 1800ft at a leisurely 10.5mph or so and a slightly less sedate 137bpm for 2100Kcal burned. While the numbers aren't big I'm feeling it today and both Strava and Polar reckoned it was fairly exerting - probably due to the hills and all the extra mass being carried (both on the bike and myself
).While I love nice things I continue to really appreciate the Fuji's useability thanks to the fact it's a bit tatty and not worth a lot; meaning I'm less precious while using it and am less anxious about locking it up - unlike the Genesis which has never been left unattended in public. This "battered and worthless in the eyes of most" credibility also extends to my ancient but faithful DSLR dragged along to the ride, as well as the rider..
The area out south-west of the village seems to be the sweet spot for nice quiet roads as well as places potentially worthy of a little excursion to a predetermined situation for the sake of it. I'm not too familiar with this area historically so it carries fewer negative connotations for me too. I think this is where I'll be looking to ride more as the weather improves, and maybe even look to push out as far as the odd day trip to Oxford if I can improve my fitness.
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Dave 123
Legendary Member
- Location
- Cambridgeshire alps
13 miles around flowery local lanes. The best bird seen was a sparrowhawk.
https://www.strava.com/activities/8741961183
https://www.strava.com/activities/8741961183
Ian H
Ancient randonneur
I bagged the last room in Tewkesbury for this weekend (Cheltenham Cup gin & trilby people being in town). Got up at 4:30 Saturday morning, dragged the bike out of the car and rode to the start of Mark's Rough Diamond 300. Plenty of friendly faces there. Mark did warn that the hall might not be available for the finish.
We set off at 6. I had to divert back to the hotel cos I'd forgotten something, so was riding on my own for a while. I gradually caught a few riders. The forecast rain didn't really materialise and it got quite warm as the day drew on. There was a brief shower just to remind us we'd crossed into Wales. At Talybont the cafe - a place I've often visited walking or cycling - was doing good business.
I'd picked up with riders going about my pace, so we made good progress towards Chepstow. A brief stop on the edge of the town for food and we pressed on over the bridge and towards Slimbridge, the final control.
The temperature had dropped, so it was back on with the winter clothing. Then, as we navigated the canal-side route towards Gloucester, the rain started properly. The route through the town was a bewildering connection of paths and lanes through bollards and over kerbs, but we eventually hit the A38, the rain still coming down, and we stormed our way back to Tewkesbury.
Mark was collecting cards in a field near the hall, where the cars were parked. There was a tractor standing by to haul cars out of the mud. I handed in my card and rode back to the hotel. Job done.
Dai following me somewhere along the Usk.
313km in total
We set off at 6. I had to divert back to the hotel cos I'd forgotten something, so was riding on my own for a while. I gradually caught a few riders. The forecast rain didn't really materialise and it got quite warm as the day drew on. There was a brief shower just to remind us we'd crossed into Wales. At Talybont the cafe - a place I've often visited walking or cycling - was doing good business.
I'd picked up with riders going about my pace, so we made good progress towards Chepstow. A brief stop on the edge of the town for food and we pressed on over the bridge and towards Slimbridge, the final control.
The temperature had dropped, so it was back on with the winter clothing. Then, as we navigated the canal-side route towards Gloucester, the rain started properly. The route through the town was a bewildering connection of paths and lanes through bollards and over kerbs, but we eventually hit the A38, the rain still coming down, and we stormed our way back to Tewkesbury.
Mark was collecting cards in a field near the hall, where the cars were parked. There was a tractor standing by to haul cars out of the mud. I handed in my card and rode back to the hotel. Job done.
Dai following me somewhere along the Usk.
313km in total
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HLaB
Marie Attoinette Fan
A steady gravel bike ride for me this morning on the way to the cafe I could tell that my strong mate was itching to smash it. We were joined at the cafe by another mate and he needed to get back for Mother's Day. So I used that as excuse to let him go. Just having a look at his Strava which has a number of cups including:
There's no way I could have stayed with that, it was a more leisurely ride closer to 8 mins for me today.
The full route was Peterborough to Elton, where I met folk for a ride to the Fineshade mtb centre/ cafe. Some of the trails though were still totally flooded. Then a leisurely ride to Nassington, where two of my my mates live then up to Wansford where the other lives. It was warming up nicely so I went a tad further on a solo ride. Bearing in mind how bad sections of trail were I cut down to the unflooded section of the Elton Bridleway we took this morning and came back by bridleways that are usually ok. Over a road to Haddon which had been severed by the A605 and is now an overgrown bridleway. Under the A1(M) and the bridleway south of Hampton (the one my mate got his 2nd on. Another bridleway to Standground and the east side of Peterborough before following the south riverbank back in to town.
It finally feels like Spring has Sprung 🤞
There's no way I could have stayed with that, it was a more leisurely ride closer to 8 mins for me today.
The full route was Peterborough to Elton, where I met folk for a ride to the Fineshade mtb centre/ cafe. Some of the trails though were still totally flooded. Then a leisurely ride to Nassington, where two of my my mates live then up to Wansford where the other lives. It was warming up nicely so I went a tad further on a solo ride. Bearing in mind how bad sections of trail were I cut down to the unflooded section of the Elton Bridleway we took this morning and came back by bridleways that are usually ok. Over a road to Haddon which had been severed by the A605 and is now an overgrown bridleway. Under the A1(M) and the bridleway south of Hampton (the one my mate got his 2nd on. Another bridleway to Standground and the east side of Peterborough before following the south riverbank back in to town.
It finally feels like Spring has Sprung 🤞
cyberknight
As long as I breathe, I attack.
- Location
- Land of confusion
well done , more than me as i didnt get out this weekend as i was offered weekend work and given cost of living i couldnt turn down 12 hours overtime over sat/sun but it meant by the time i got the house jobs done i didnt have the time or inclination to ride .
