Your ride today....

[Dave 123]

An evening ride timed to perfection to get the setting sun.

I then headed east on the coast road…

Just as I saw the moon a hare popped into the lane, saw me and went back the way it came. He sat in the field and we watched the moon rising together.

Just coming into Battisborough I put my front light on…. And it instantly turned off!

The 6 miles home holding my phone ready to put the torch on for approaching cars. It was seamless…… kind of!

I nearly inhaled a couple of bats that came very close to my face for a good look. They soon flew off!

14.5 spectacular miles. Some illuminated, some illuminating!

https://www.strava.com/activities/12444827547

 

[Alex321]

Needed cheering up today so did my favourite ride from Dowlais to Brecon via Talybont. 45 miles through lovely hills and valleys, plus a bimble along the canal path.

I lived fairly near Dowlais up until 2020, but was hardly cycling then. Only really got back into with Covid, and by that time we had moved South.

I haven't been that far North on the bike since. That's a fair old climb you'll have done before coming down to the Talybont Reservoir in your first photo.

 

[Rusty Nails]

I lived fairly near Dowlais up until 2020, but was hardly cycling then. Only really got back into with Covid, and by that time we had moved South.

I haven't been that far North on the bike since. That's a fair old climb you'll have done before coming down to the Talybont Reservoir in your first photo.

A few short climbs around Pontsticill, but then I chickened out by taking the longer, less steep, route up towards the Neuadd reservoir and nipping across on the gravel track to Torpantau.

Scared myself sh*tless coming down the Glyn, it's so steep and winding.

 

[Witzend]

56.6miles; 504m of ascent - A modest distance by many people's standards; and, given the terrain where I'm currently staying is pretty flat, not a significant amount of climbing. The average speed was definitely nothing to write home about, either - but it's a milestone nonetheless:

This is the first time I've managed to cycle 200miles in a week for almost 2yrs since illness in Nov. 2022. Prior to that, I was regularly doing it, year round, including a continuous spell from May 2019 to Feb. 2021 which was only interrupted by lockdown restrictions.
I've been doing 100mpw since April, but decided to try to double it this week, and did it with 3 days to spare.

Not fishing for sympathy or praise, but it would be great if it gave someone enough of a nudge to get back on their bike this weekend.

 

[Alex321]

A few short climbs around Pontsticill, but then I chickened out by taking the longer, less steep, route up towards the Neuadd reservoir and nipping across on the gravel track to Torpantau.

Scared myself sh*tless coming down the Glyn, it's so steep and winding.

Didn't think of the gravel up there, even though the very few times I did ride when I lived there, I would take the gravel track above the Ponsticill reservoir. I was thinking of the climb on the road that goes up past the end of the mountain railway. Though I think it's worse in the other direction.

 

[Dave 123]

Friday afternoon, so I finished early and went out on my mountain bike.

Approaching Preston bridleway I stopped to see my friends in the field

Up the hill to Battisborough and then around the coast road to the tea house.

All the way around the coast path to Noss

Then the slog home up Bridgend hill.

A tickle over 15 miles.

https://www.strava.com/activities/12459879122

 

[cyberknight]

Led the group 2 club ride today with a mixed group with abilities ranging from a pensioner who could drop anyone and a chap who hates hills so it was fun keeping it altogether .
Took the winter bike as it had forecast rain so i wanted mudgaurds and took a windproof plus spare gloves just in case , of course this meant it was sunny
31 miles to the cafe at sudbury courtyard then another 23 back with everyone taking a turn at the front and the slower group only beat us back by a few mins even though we had done another 15 miles than them.

 

[geocycle]

We are at that point of the year where I feel I must take advantage of every decent day to get outside. Headed north east into a strong headwind wearing two pairs of gloves, buff and waterproof to counter the early morning chill. First stop was Kirby Lonsdale to raid the excellent bakery to help balance the saddlebag. With provisions acquired I continued into the wind to Sedbergh where the public school boys were enjoying their £15k per term sports facilities. I browsed the market and ate a pasty in the high street. I’d had enough of the wind so rather than east to Dentdale I headed north to the Howgills and then picked my way through the hills of the Lune Valley, crossing a stationary M6 and the west coast mainline before finding my way to Oxenholme, near Kendal. By this stage it was really warm so I was down to shorts and tea shirt! Familiar roads took me home through Milnthorpe and hightide along the Kent estuary. 105 km with 1460m of climbing.

Pictures are of typical busy roads near Sedbergh, Lune Valley and Howgills, bridge over the Lune and view upstream.

 

[Dave 123]

After a spot of cooking and walking on the moors I nipped out for a Battisborough loop.

Breezy and warm.

I love the view of Holbeton-

I also like a cow photo, this is from the moors

https://www.strava.com/activities/12468151235

 

[Cavalol]

Grueller today. Not a good idea to attempt the Great Orm when you're on the end of 50 odd miles in the saddle, fat and unfit. It was still brilliant though.

I was meeting my mate at a point on the route that was about equidistant for us both. I mucked about with things before leaving, so stupidly rode quickly to the meeting point.

The weather was spot on, dull/overcast most of the way, but the lack of sun meant we were quite cool which was ideal. Got nice and bright somewhere around Colwyn Bay and for a short burst we could see round the coast to the Little Orme.

Pit stop near Greenfield (I think) to a nice cafe for a cheeky toasted sandwich and a tea, then carried on. I'm no good at hills, so we skipped the climb to Holywell and carried on on the coast road, riding the pavements where we could as the road is horrible due to the surface and the traffic. We actually thought we'd found a dead body further on. 'It' was lying on the pavement, face down and motionless. We came to a stop and the 'body' put his face up out of a grid as we asked if he was ok. Frightened the life out of us, it was funny though and he was grateful we'd stopped in case he had been ill and not just checking his water supply 🤣

Onwards through the coastal path, a golf club and a caravan park or two. Loads of lovely birds, possibly some very friendly oyster catchers, lots of gulls and a great turn out of cormorants.

It was great to see the Orme in the distance, really kept us going and a target in sight.

My mate is much younger than me (about half my age) and asked if I wanted to ride up the Great Orme or wait at the bottom for him. I decided to try it and he asked to ride on ahead and meet me at the top. I stopped a few times, but not too much, and was made up to have started it. Turns out I took the left fork for the summit and he took the right for Marine Drive (?) and ended up at a different cafe from me! I found the left turn up to the summit a massive struggle and ended up pushing my bike for maybe 1/2-3/4s of a mile, but I'm still happy I rode what I did. Some very kind people walking down were cheering me on which really meant a lot. A dop of human kindness does make the world go round.

Oh, I did push 99% of the Little Orme too. Coming down was great fun though.

Met some nice people along the way, including two Londoners who taken the ferry to Ireland, road across and back, got a ferry to Holyhead and were riding to Chester (with a nights camping on the way) for the train home tomorrow. Proper nice blokes.

One slight mechanical issue, some daft old bat driving on the wrong side of the road in a caravan park made me not concentrate on the speed ramp and my seat tilted upwards. Tried to get it back but my Allen key was too short to get much bite, so big shout out to Bike Hub in Rhyl for kindly lending me the proper Allen key and tuning my mate's gears in. A great bike shop, very impressed.

Train home afterwards, been a long but brilliant day.

 

[Donger]

A bit of a weather window today, so I nipped out and got in a 50km ride. Dry and with only a gentle breeze, so ideal conditions. And the bike had only recently been serviced, so it was running beautifully. The river had breached its banks but gone back down again, so there were a few big puddles in the road. At one point, I had a hairy moment descending from Overton to the Arlingham Road when I came across a whole flock of pheasants in the road. One of them nearly got flattened, I got to test the brakes pretty rigorously and the rest of the flock took flight just in time. On the way back I came across one of the few signs that there had been a storm going on for days. Hey @Rickshaw Phil, anyone up your way missing a landing stage? One has just washed up in Epney:

50.8km (31.6 miles) today. Loved it. Now for some more rain.

 

[8mph]

A scenic ride on good but fast roads. It's been a hot day with more climbing than anticipated. By the end of the ride I was getting annoyed with the other road users and, despite the rave reviews, not feeling too comfy on the Niner rlt. On a more positive note, this was my longest ride since spraining my MCL last December and the knee feels good.

 

[geocycle]

The promise of a dry morning lured me out despite having not quite shaken off a cold. I decided a shortish but lumpy ride might fit the bill so I headed to Bowland. Did the big climb up past Jubilee tower in the sunshine then descended to the Trough of Bowland road. Lovely as ever, especially with autumn sunshine and purple heathers. Over the trough I stopped to inspect a lime kiln I‘d passed lots of times but never looked closely at. It’s a bit unusual as its gritstone country but there is a quarry above where limestone might outcrop, another time I’ll have a walk up. I followed my nose along the Hodder and over the Wild Boar park to Chipping. Fortified by a bacon sandwich I pootled home only to get caught in a shower a few miles from the house. Nevermind, a lovely ride, 70 km with 1230m of climbing.

Pictures are of the lime kiln and the view back toward the Trough.

 

[Rusty Nails]

My early morning ride was nothing special other than it was the first time in a long while that I've worn a long-sleeve jersey...and was still cold.

Here we go....

 

[sevenfourate]

My early morning ride was nothing special other than it was the first time in a long while that I've worn a long-sleeve jersey...and was still cold.

Here we go....

Chilly starts here in Suffolk too now…..

I’m riding early - for a couple of hours - tomorrow. After walking the dog early (Freezing); then being out slightly later when the sun was out (Fairly much roasting) I can’t quite get my head around what’s coming out of the wardrobe yet !!