Your ride today....

[Cavalol]

A slightly different take on the commute, glad I came through town as I will never ever tire of seeing it. It's been a while since the Basso has been used, though too small for my size it's such a lovely bike that's it isn't a chore to ride it.

So a paltry 4-odd miler. No records set or attempted (though didn't half fly down Watergate Street!) at the golden hour of 5.35 according to the Eastgate clock.

 

[gavgav]

I was late finishing work this evening, but it was too sunny to not get out and so I did a short ride around Shrewsbury.

What was evident though, straight after immediately turning East, was the strength of that gusty wind again! It was soon a sidewind for a couple of miles and that was interesting 😬!

I followed my usual route, to Heathgates, along the river towpath to the Quarry, plenty of people out walking in the evening sun, Shelton, Bowbrook, Nobold and Meole.

Pedestrians seemed tired of life tonight, with a chap walking straight out into my path on the road, without looking, which was bad enough, but then closely followed by presumably his wife, very unsteady on a stick, who did exactly the same!! Well luckily the brakes work well on the bike 🤷‍♂️

The new primary school at Bowbrook is beginning to take shape now, but looks quite out of place amongst the modern houses at the moment.

12.76 miles at 12.0 mph avg

 

[Donger]

My ride yesterday. Managed to squeeze in a quick 21 miler down the lanes through the Severnside villages. Couldn't quite get a handle on where the wind was coming from until I turned tail to come home again and half the time I was grinding straight into the teeth of it. Weather a bit mixed but enjoyed it anyway. At Epney there was one of those moments where the clouds open up and the sunlight streams down like in one of those religious classic movies when God issues commandments. I call them Charlton Heston moments:

Today I've been working on the bike, stripping it down to give it a good clean, changing the chain and repainting some of the black parts where the paint has worn away. Off to the Yorkshire Dales soon.

 

[a.twiddler]

I can imagine someone under that shaft of glory looking up and saying, "Who, me? I am but a humble cyclist/shepherd/electrician/boilermaker's nut polisher/etc. I am not worthy, O Lord." And so another epic saga begins!

 

[dicko]

My ride today took me part way on Route 66 of the Derby cycle way. Despite the headwinds and the hilly bits the Cytronex E bike kit worked flawlessly made riding a pleasure.

 

[gavgav]

Another lovely sunny evening, but that keen wind was still there, perhaps a couple of mph less than yesterday, but I’d arranged a ride with my mate Paul. He’s got a “Time” Carbon bike on trial from a friend, to see whether he wants to buy it, so wanted a short ride as a test. I also decided it was dry enough to dig my carbon out of the shed for its end of hibernation 1st ride of the year. After this mornings frost it had warmed up nicely this afternoon to 16C and so I also braved shorts for the first time this year. With the upcoming forecast it’s likely to be the only time for at least the next 2 weeks…

Paul was late leaving work and so we changed plan and I rode up to his. I had the tailwind as far as there and I soon got used to being back on the Carbon, with it feeling so light and nice to ride in comparison to the Genesis.

I had a look around the bike at Paul’s and it looks very well specced, but probably 20 years old and it has the horrid toe clips on it. Paul didn’t get on with those at all and came close to falling off on a few occasions due to not being able to get his feet out, but also managed to ride out into the path of a car at a roundabout, rather than topple off, which “wasn’t his finest hour” he said when I then caught him up!!

We basically followed the reverse of my route yesterday. A circus has appeared in the Quarry since I rode through 24 hours ago and it was busy with people walking and running in the sun.

Not much else to report other than me having to take it steadier than I normally would on my Carbon, as Paul slowly got to grips with his. I think he’s tempted to buy it but he will be getting those pedals changed immediately he said.

12.95 miles at 11.4mph avg

 

[Jameshow]

Just 15miles bingley to steeton and back.
Exactly 1hr.

Nothing spectacular* but nice to ride.

Excexpt for a car had managed to end up on its side 100m into Baildon moor!! What the heck!!

 

[roubaixtuesday]

Lochy McLochface: a tour of the Trossachs from Doune.

Feat. Lochs Ard, Chon, Arklet, Lomond, Katrine, Achray and Venachar, all dominated by the towering still snow-flecked peak of Ben Lomond.

73 miles, 1500m climbing.

 

[Alba Zeus]

Nice 20 odd Miles today. Up over Bothwell to the Castle out to Rutherglen and back down through Blantyre into Strathclyde Park. Blowing a hoolie though

 

[CXRAndy]

I popped round to see my son at his place, fettled a bit of electrics, then shopping on my return.

I came across another rider who followed me up a side road into a strong headwind, I could hear he was gaining on me, pedalling like whizzing bee to get Infront.

He was blowing too wouldn't have lasted much longer. He could have just done 50 miles, but he was determined to show me.

I was on my ebike floating along in Z1, I didn't challenge him as he turned off into an estate.

 

[Oldhippy]

Glorious day, a two lunch ride. Loads of photos and lots of cyclists out and about. Even the lycra weekend warriors said hello!

 

[geocycle]

Very wet morning but lovely afternoon. Headed out after lunch for a tour of the Arnside and Silverdale AONB. Flowers in full spring mode now with a few daffodils hanging on, bluebells a week off their peak and a whif of ransome coming from the woodland. Arrived at high tide with the Kent estuary full of water and Arnside full of visitors. Was tempted by ice cream but flapjack seemed more substantial cycling fare. Headed back over Warton Crag. 64 km with 840 m of climbing, a pleasant afternoon.

Pictures are of the Arnside viaduct and view from Warton crag road.

 

[gavgav]

A nice sunny morning, so I headed out for a longer ride today. There was a cool breeze blowing from the South, but still pleasant in the sunshine, as I headed out through Betton Abbots, Pitchford and Acton Burnell, which all roads lead to

I then kept going South and began the steep climb up to Ruckley, for the first time in 8 years! Where does time go? It was a pull up past the castle and I paused at the top for a drink at the view

The section through Ruckley itself is very pleasant and feels very away from it all with just a couple of farms and houses. The climbing then ramps up again and it’s an even steeper pull up towards Lawley, before a nice descent down to Gretton and then I followed the lane to Wall under Heywood, which I’d not done for 6 years. There was a short section on the “B” road before turning towards Ticklerton and the lovely rolling countryside. There if a climb from there up to Hatton and on to Acton Scott, which is the site of my home cricket ground. It’s a very wet and sodden field at the moment, but our chairman was there trying to do what he could to the square. Our first 2 away games of the season have been cancelled due to waterlogged grounds.

I then climbed up to Ragdon and alongside Ragleth Hill, with some stunning views back to Wenlock Edge and to the hills.

The wind was now behind me and would continue all the way home, which was nice.

The descent to the main road is good fun, with a couple of hairpins and I then followed Hazler Road towards Church Stretton, with another good descent.

I crossed the A49 at the lights and went into the Town, looping around and out via the All Stretton road, then turning and heading over the railway line, crossing the A49 with surprising ease.

The lane to Longnor was quiet, plenty of water in both fords and then also along the lane to Ryton, with a couple of floods in the usual places.

The crossing of the A49, again, at Gonsal was not as easy as the others, but eventually there was a gap and I called in at Dad’s for an hour and a cup of tea and cake.

The legs were still feeling surprisingly fresh as I set back out to Exfords Green and Annscroft, where the Union Jack flag confirmed I’d have a tailwind along the main road to Hook a Gate and Nobold, which helped me cruise along nicely.

I went through Meole Village and could see I wouldn’t quite hit my desired 40 miles if I went the direct way home, so I continued to Reabrook, along the full sections of the old railway path and through Sutton Farm.

A thoroughly enjoyable ride of 40.57 miles, with 2502 ft of climbing at 11.5mph avg speed

 

[DCLane]

Yesterday was the 300km (315km in my case) Longtown Way Round audax. A tough day out with cold winds and rain. Made more difficult as I've been ill for the past fortnight and hardly touched the bike. No photos except in the café thread as it was cold and wet all day.

However, that's the second of four Paris-Brest-Paris qualifiers done.

 

[Ian H]

Last weekend was a 70 miler with various friends turning up along the way - a birthday celebration and the clue is in the distance.




Yesterday Richard organised a one of his breakfast rides, 70km - to a pub for breakfast, then a circuit to ride it off. It was a chilly start, but a climb over three chevrons warmed us up. After breakfast we continued via Hemyock to Westcott - We did stop for a quick beer there. Then back via Ashclyst Forest (more climbing and a roadside trig point) to finish just before the rain came properly on.