Your ride today....

[Dave 123]

A ride from Nattor to Princetown via Ditsworthy Warren. As I was approaching Princetown I could see the curtains of rain falling away to the south west…. I picked up the pace….

From the moor there are 2 gates that have to be opened and closed, and that’s what slowed me down!

I got drenched!

I attempted to dry out in the Fox Tor cafe with a bacon butty and two flat whites.
I wasn’t quite dry!

I set off in the drizzle and eventually bits of warm sun poked through! And in the last mile it piddled down again!

https://www.strava.com/activities/9461668068

 

[ExBrit]

Night ride to beat the heat (103F on the drive to start). Riding on Bromptons because my son-in-law dislocated his shoulder three weeks ago and the Brompton has a more upright riding position. Arrived at café 10 minutes after they closed but they made food for us anyway. Gave them a massive tip. Saw the nightly firework display at Disneyland near the end of the ride. 40 miles. Son-in-law's shoulder is good.

View: https://ridewithgps.com/trips/128172189

 

[HLaB]

Out to Elton to meet some mates for a gravel bike ride today. We fancied something different but the route we wanted to do was in the opposite direction of another mate who was running late. So we had the intention of looping round by new routes they turned out to be muddier and less clear than expected so by the time we got through we just went to the usual cafe at Fineshade (it does have good cakes). A bit annoyingly I managed to mess up my bicep with a bramble or something. Its cleaned up OK with wound disifectant and hasn't got worse but it looked a mess. Also a bit annoying we got a bit wet on the run in, the 40% chance of a light shower at noon, turned out to be a 100% chance of a heavy one 🌨️🌧️🌧️🌧️🌧️

My Mates bike:

My Puny Bicep

 

[Jameshow]

Usual 40 miler today between early and late showers. Detour off usual route up lothersdale for even more pain!

 

[Donger]

For the start of our holiday in Northumberland, I got out good and early to do a decent reccie ride around the immediate area around Longframlington, where we are staying. Weather forecast said 20mph winds with gusts of 40-50mph (eek!). Looking at the forecast for the rest of the week, I decided to suck it and see. To thoroughly mix the metaphor, you can only play the cards you have been dealt. No knowing how much cycling I'll be able to get in, so I made sure I started with at least a 24 miler. Firstly an anti-clockwise loop from Longframlington, up onto the moors, down past Cragside and into Rothbury, then a return along the beautiful Coquetdale valley. The idea was to minimise the amount of cycling directly into the wind that would have been needed if I'd ridden out to the coast and back. Once back in Longframlington I set off on a clockwise loop out to Swarland and back. A few pictures ...









Lots of climbing, some of it quite steep, and some serious headwinds to contend with at times. The climb up onto the moors South Westwards towards Rothbury was particularly brutal into a headwind and with four or five false summits to destroy the soul. But I made it and had enough energy for three or four more smaller climbs, arriving back in Longframlington on about 14 miles before setting off on my second part of a figure of eight ride.There were some distant views of the North Sea to be had from Old Swarland, but I was too busy wiping the sweat out of my eyes by then, and I didn't take any pictures on the way back to Longframlington as I was grinding my way grimly uphill into a stiff wind and stuck in bloody-minded forward progress mode. Ended up doing 23.8 miles in all ... very little of it flat. Loved the scenery, the wildlife (what little of it poked their heads up out of the bushes in that hooley of a wind) and was really glad to get that ride in, breaking new ground. Loved it. Forget those Garthings, here is my old fart's old school ride record:

Tomorrow I'll get out early again, but will drive out to the coast to start a much flatter ride to spare my old legs. Hopefully I'll get it done before the forecasted rain sweeps in.

 

[lazybloke]

Headed out yesterday morning with no plan of where to go. Was on a time limit so opted for a local loop in the Surrey Hills. Or preferably in the flatter river valleys.

Initially felt very strong, but think I was enjoying gusts of a tailwind. Went through villages towards the Surrey/Sussex borders, until I was on a tiny lane and pulled over to let a car past. The car stopped, window down, and the voice of a posh Scottish woman said the road was blocked by a fallen tree. Not really a problem on a bike, so I carried on right to end of the road; no hint of a tree!


Reached the southern tip of my loop and stopped to look at a map of my choices back home. I was by a sign warning of a cycling event , and at that moment a group shot past down the hill, carbon wheels and frames thrumming like a swarm of bees. In the opposite direction, two tandems wound their way up the hill. Which cyclists were in the event?

Turned north , and saw Leith Hill and it's tower looming against the sky; decided I'd wind slowly up there next, but first I went past one of my favourite pubs. Saw a set of concrete steps outside that I'd never noticed before, apparently for mounting two-wheeled horses.

Now the steepest climb of the day. Not too long, but ramping up to 20%. Leaves or some other tree detritus caused my back wheel to slip when I was up out of the saddle, and I came to a sudden halt, as did the van behind me. I stepped to the side, but the van kept spinning his wheels - took him 4 attempts to get going again; not enough weight on the FWD wheels.

I took a photo to "accurately" capture the steepness.

Went through the village of Coldharbour and down the hill into Dorking. The descent is probably good for 50mph, but you need nerves of steel and a reckless attitude. I freewheeled most of it until I past a junction, then went 'full bore' but almost immediately backed off - it was terrifying! Slightly disappointed only to get up to 43-44mph.

Through Dorking and up the other side to a viewpoint for an ice cream, sat on a log and had a few spoonfulls, thinking it tasted a bit weird. Had a sudden worrying thought I was tucking into a doggy ice cream, but - phew - it was just vegan.
I enjoy vegan food when it's not masquerading as non-vegan food; this ice cream was an acquired taste.

Off again, into a stiff headwind, and felt very tired. Headed home early.

But a lovely ride, and there were cyclists everywhere.
43 miles

 

[Jameshow]

Headed out yesterday morning with no plan of where to go. Was on a time limit so opted for a local loop in the Surrey Hills. Or preferably in the flatter river valleys.

Initially felt very strong, but think I was enjoying gusts of a tailwind. Went through villages towards the Surrey/Sussex borders, until I was on a tiny lane and pulled over to let a car past. The car stopped, window down, and the voice of a posh Scottish woman said the road was blocked by a fallen tree. Not really a problem on a bike, so I carried on right to end of the road; no hint of a tree!


Reached the southern tip of my loop and stopped to look at a map of my choices back home. I was by a sign warning of a cycling event , and at that moment a group shot past down the hill, carbon wheels and frames thrumming like a swarm of bees. In the opposite direction, two tandems wound their way up the hill. Which cyclists were in the event?

Turned north , and saw Leith Hill and it's tower looming against the sky; decided I'd wind slowly up there next, but first I went past one of my favourite pubs. Saw a set of concrete steps outside that I'd never noticed before, apparently for mounting two-wheeled horses.
View attachment 699079

Now the steepest climb of the day. Not too long, but ramping up to 20%. Leaves or some other tree detritus caused my back wheel to slip when I was up out of the saddle, and I came to a sudden halt, as did the van behind me. I stepped to the side, but the van kept spinning his wheels - took him 4 attempts to get going again; not enough weight on the FWD wheels.

I took a photo to "accurately" capture the steepness.


View attachment 699077

Went through the village of Coldharbour and down the hill into Dorking. The descent is probably good for 50mph, but you need nerves of steel and a reckless attitude. I freewheeled most of it until I past a junction, then went 'full bore' but almost immediately backed off - it was terrifying! Slightly disappointed only to get up to 43-44mph.
View attachment 699080


Through Dorking and up the other side to a viewpoint for an ice cream, sat on a log and had a few spoonfulls, thinking it tasted a bit weird. Had a sudden worrying thought I was tucking into a doggy ice cream, but - phew - it was just vegan.
I enjoy vegan food when it's not masquerading as non-vegan food; this ice cream was an acquired taste.

Off again, into a stiff headwind, and felt very tired. Headed home early.

But a lovely ride, and there were cyclists everywhere.
43 miles

That's odd hardly any cyclists out in Yorkshire!!

 

[lazybloke]

That's odd hardly any cyclists out in Yorkshire!!

Yeah, my wife was up near Sheffield for a long weekend and had quite an experience with the weather.
It was unexepctedly dry down here, just brief light showers on SAturday. Completely dry on Sunday.

 

[Donger]

Up and out at silly o'clock again this morning to avoid the rain (which never really came). After yesterday's exertions in the hills and the wind, I opted to take a short drive out to the seaside to take on a gentler pootle along the Northumberland coast. We found a great parking place yesterday, by the weir on the River Coquet between Amble and Warkworth and right by the NCN1 cycle path, so that was where I headed.

The low morning sun made for a great view of Warkworth Castle.

From there I made my way across Amble/Warkworth Marina and into Amble. There all signage for NCN1 was either missing or inaccurate, but I enjoyed my little detours up a couple of dead end lanes with views of the harbour, the beach and Coquet Island.

The cycleway itself is a bit of a mixed bag of surfaces. On my steel touring bike with bomb-proof tyres I felt quite confident, but stretches of potholed tarmac were interspersed regularly with gravel/stone chipping sections. Mostly sheltered from sea winds by a line of sand dunes, the path does offer regular sea views too.

On the way out (Southwards) it wasn't always easy to see exactly where you were on a map, but eventually I met a recognisable road at a point that I could identify as the centre of Druridge Bay. Although highly enjoyable, it had been quite slow progress, and I was off the bottom of the map sheet that I had printed off for the ride, but I reckoned I needed to made quicker progress on the way back. When I got back to the Druridge Bay Country Park car park, I recognised that I must be at Ladyburn Lake, so I picked out an inland route back crossing the A1 at Hadston and making my way directly to Warkworth via Togston, completely by-passing Amble. After a couple of miles of extremely quiet, newly tarmaced road I came out at Warkworth Cricket Club, which had quite a backdrop.

Just had time to climb the very short hill into Warkworth to get a close-up of the castle ...

... before the short descent back to the riverside cycle path and my car. What an exceptional little ride. Just the 17.6 miles in total, but in beautiful weather, with spectacular scenery and mostly pan flat. Absolutely loved it. I'll probably start another ride from the same place some time this week and head Northwards up the coast towards Alnmouth and Boulmer. Loving Northumberland.

 

[GuyBoden]

Met Office forecast was for thunder, lightning and torrential rain around Delamere.

They were correct, apart from hail stone, yes, I got very wet.

 

[Gwylan]

i dont usually do rides on a saturday but the club was short of ride leaders as its holiday season so i stood up and led the "faster " group which was a mixed bag of bikes because the weather was chancy ranging from full on aero road bikes to knobbly gravel bikes and different abilities .
the route was planned so we could turn for home early if the rain came in , thankfully we only got the odd passing shower and managed the full distance and i managed to bag another metric century . 14 for the year so far with another one planned tomorrow
View attachment 697991

View attachment 697989

Gone are the days of jam sandwiches and a tin can of tea.

 

[Gwylan]

Well, wandered into York. Advice was don't take your bikes.

We did, but reduced to multi locking to a municipal bike park point.
Bikes not nicked, but the alarm was set off. Suggests someone might have had a look.

 

[Mike_P]

Well, wandered into York. Advice was don't take your bikes.

We did, but reduced to multi locking to a municipal bike park point.
Bikes not nicked, but the alarm was set off. Suggests someone might have had a look.

View attachment 699158

Or maybe someone moving their bike caught it.

 

[gavgav]

Yesterday evenings ride, with a rare sunny and fairly warm evening, in recent weeks, so I binned off the supermarket shop and got out for another short ride, but built up a bit to 12.92 miles and the ankle felt the best it has done yet, since getting back on the bike after the injury. Averaged 12.1 mph and so the speed is also improving.

I followed the old canal path to Reabrook, encountering 3 teenagers on bikes, who wanted to know if I fancied a race. No thanks!

I then took the cycle paths up to Heathgates, encountering a police car parked blocking one of them, on Telford Way, with lights flashing but no one in it. The road had been closed in the morning, due to a “police incident” and so I assume due to that.

I then went down through Castlefields and along the river towpath, to the Quarry. Encountered a few without brain cells on the towpath, who had lost the use of eyes and ears apparently, or perhaps were tired of life and fancied stepping into my path without looking.

The main thoroughfare in the Quarry was still closed off, for the dismantling of the stage from Saturday’s concert, so had to loop up and down to Porthill bridge.

Next was the climb up to Copthorne and back onto cycle paths to Shelton, then through Bowbrook, Nobold, Meole and home.

Enjoyed that

 

[Donger]

Yesterday's ride. I parked up at Warkworth weir again, but this time headed off northwards along the Northumberland coast along NCN1. Up past the castle, then through Warkworth on the main road for a few hundred yards. It was very quiet at 6.45am (and wasn't exactly busy when I came back a few hours later).

I then had a choice of river crossings, so of course I chose the old bridge over the Coquet.

Pretty much immediately after this, the NCN route crosses the main road and climbs a short but steep little ramp to get you away from the road and onto the coastal path. I took this route only because I wasn't sure exactly where else I could join the path, which runs alongside the main A1068 but on the other side of a hedge and along the edge of a wheat field. I have to say the first few hundred yards are a disgrace. A pot-holed, broken tarmac track full of puddles, requiring slalom skills to get through. I was glad I wasn't riding anything with expensive carbon rims and skinny tyres. Once the path narrowed and settled into its course between the hedge and a wheat field the surface improved considerably into a decent cinder/gravel path and I could start to enjoy the sea views across the fields all the way to Alnmouth.

The previous day's coastal path southwards from Warkworth was what I would describe as pan flat. Heading northwards, it is a very gently undulating route ... still ideal for family group rides as far as Alnmouth. The path finally drops down into the marshes and emerges onto a fairly quiet road opposite Alnmouth Croquet club. It does the job of keeping you away from the A road. I detoured into Alnmouth for one lap of the village before climbing up past the golf club, from where there are views down over the Coquet towards Lesbury that reward you for making the effort on this short but steep climb.

The minor roads out to Boulmer were so quiet that I had them to myself, and I was able to enjoy the birdsong and a few hare sightings on the way. When I got to Boulmer, I was sorely tempted to carry on as far as Craster, but the apocalyptic weather forecast and the march of time forced a re-think. I made time to stand in the sand on the beach, taking in the views before turning for home.

The return journey was a straight re-trace, except that I skipped the tour of Alnmouth and I found a little riverside cut-through in Warkworth that kept me away from the main road. Just the 16.9 miles this time. Turned out the weather wasn't that bad after all, so I felt a bit cheated turning back when I did. Another lovely Northumberland ride, though. A rest day today, as we venture into Scotland by car.