Your ride today....
- Thread starter gbb
- Start date
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Dave 123
Legendary Member
- Location
- Cambridgeshire alps
Just 16 miles this morning on my road bike. I’m still feeling unfit after my enforced Christmas layoff.
In the narrow lanes there were a couple of prickish, impatient and ignorant drivers that raised my blood pressure a touch!
Not much to report really!
https://www.strava.com/activities/13447731930
In the narrow lanes there were a couple of prickish, impatient and ignorant drivers that raised my blood pressure a touch!
Not much to report really!
https://www.strava.com/activities/13447731930
A short weather window beckoned me out for a ride. I headed out toward what turned out to be the one big climb of the day up Littledale. I was surprised by the residual ice in the verges although fortunately not on the roads. I was less surprised by the strong SE wind which stopped me in my tracks at the top of the valley. I rerouted to cut out the Jubilee tower route that would have been very exposed, instead I headed into the wind as far as Scorton then doubled back through Cockerham. Fields full of Geese, Starlings, Curlew and Lapwing. Home before the wind really picked up and the rain arrived. 55 km with 610 m of climbing.
Picture at the top of Littledale.
Picture at the top of Littledale.
- Location
- Shrewsbury, Shropshire
Yesterday: Post storm Eowyn the roads were wet and there had been an overnight frost so I didn't venture out until the afternoon. I fancied some hills so thought that heading down to Dudgeley then round via Wilderley, Pulverbatch and Oaks would be good as I haven't ridden it in that direction for a while.
Starting off I could tell that my adjustments of the previous ride hadn't really had the desired effect. I stopped for another tweak after just a mile and although I'd intended to use the main road I decided to ride over Lyth Hill instead as I thought a quieter road would be preferable for assessing what the difference was.
A little busy on the A49 but I got across alright and progress felt fairly good through Condover to Ryton. Ryton to Longnor was muddy given the overnight rain and, after pausing for another adjustment, the old Roman Road was worse still. A few potholes seem to have developed in the last few weeks too. Hollyhurst wasn't too bad and my next crossing of the A49 was much quieter than the first. I unexpectedly found ice on the road on the approach to the next junction - must be pretty sheltered just here.
The undulating section through Dudgeley and onward to Leebotwood was mostly quiet and pleasant to ride. The second adjustment seemed to feel good on the climb to Smethcott, although it did encourage me to push a bit hard on a couple of the steeper bits when I'd have been better off spinning in the next gear down - something that will come as I get more used to it I'm sure.
Reaching Smethcott I was feeling good and enjoying the sunshine, so decided to carry on climbing to Picklescott, which wasn't part of the original plan. This went pretty well but of course the only vehicle I met had to be on one of the narrowest bits of the road. The descent was enjoyable too but I was a bit more wary than usual as I knew there could be spots on the way down that were sheltered enough for ice to remain. Fortunately those spots were obvious due to how much colder it felt and although there was some ice it was only in the verges. I did unexpectedly encounter a flood part way down the hill but it wasn't deep enough to get my feet wet.
I passed through Wilderley and Pulverbatch without incident then turned towards Wrentnall and Oaks before descending to Plealey on roads I had mostly to myself. The wind wasn't in quite the right direction to help much on the way to Exford's Green but I got along fairly well and at Hunger Hill I found the A49 to be nice and quiet so I turned towards Condover for a second time and took the flatter way back home with the wind helping me along.
30.4 miles at 11.8 mph average. Strava says 1974 feet of climbing. I needed that after not getting out for the rest of the week. A reasonable number of cyclists out and about this time - I don't always see that many on this route in the summer, so it was nice to see them enjoying the gap in the weather.
View to Caer Caradoc from Hollyhurst.
....and a similar one from Dudgeley.
Part way up the climb to PIcklescott.
A couple from Picklescott.
Just past the summit of Pease Lane and about to descend to Wilderley.
Starting off I could tell that my adjustments of the previous ride hadn't really had the desired effect. I stopped for another tweak after just a mile and although I'd intended to use the main road I decided to ride over Lyth Hill instead as I thought a quieter road would be preferable for assessing what the difference was.
A little busy on the A49 but I got across alright and progress felt fairly good through Condover to Ryton. Ryton to Longnor was muddy given the overnight rain and, after pausing for another adjustment, the old Roman Road was worse still. A few potholes seem to have developed in the last few weeks too. Hollyhurst wasn't too bad and my next crossing of the A49 was much quieter than the first. I unexpectedly found ice on the road on the approach to the next junction - must be pretty sheltered just here.
The undulating section through Dudgeley and onward to Leebotwood was mostly quiet and pleasant to ride. The second adjustment seemed to feel good on the climb to Smethcott, although it did encourage me to push a bit hard on a couple of the steeper bits when I'd have been better off spinning in the next gear down - something that will come as I get more used to it I'm sure.
Reaching Smethcott I was feeling good and enjoying the sunshine, so decided to carry on climbing to Picklescott, which wasn't part of the original plan. This went pretty well but of course the only vehicle I met had to be on one of the narrowest bits of the road. The descent was enjoyable too but I was a bit more wary than usual as I knew there could be spots on the way down that were sheltered enough for ice to remain. Fortunately those spots were obvious due to how much colder it felt and although there was some ice it was only in the verges. I did unexpectedly encounter a flood part way down the hill but it wasn't deep enough to get my feet wet.
I passed through Wilderley and Pulverbatch without incident then turned towards Wrentnall and Oaks before descending to Plealey on roads I had mostly to myself. The wind wasn't in quite the right direction to help much on the way to Exford's Green but I got along fairly well and at Hunger Hill I found the A49 to be nice and quiet so I turned towards Condover for a second time and took the flatter way back home with the wind helping me along.
30.4 miles at 11.8 mph average. Strava says 1974 feet of climbing. I needed that after not getting out for the rest of the week. A reasonable number of cyclists out and about this time - I don't always see that many on this route in the summer, so it was nice to see them enjoying the gap in the weather.
View to Caer Caradoc from Hollyhurst.
....and a similar one from Dudgeley.
Part way up the climb to PIcklescott.
A couple from Picklescott.
Marchrider
Senior Member
were you going to go down there on that clean bike
Marchrider
Senior Member
Today was just brutal, 0° when I set off. +1c when i got back nearly 4 hours later, and it was fairly windy. Headed down into Northumberland, started at Branxton (Flodden) Milfield Wooler Chatton Kyloe Duddo Etal
quite a lot of climbing in the first 5 miles, the roads just got icier and icier, it was a bit crunchy and then tends to be OK to ride on
a bit of brightness in the distance
The Milfield plane was gale force winds, its always windy there, even on a still day - wondering if that cloud building over the Cheviots is the rain that is forecast to arrive this evening, hope its not 4 hours early
and there is zero warmth in that sun
its following me and catching me up
it never did rain, just got darker for a while, a long ride on cold wet roads -
46.9 miles in total
YTD 550 miles / Day 26 * 365 = 7729 / target 6500 miles = 19% ahead
quite a lot of climbing in the first 5 miles, the roads just got icier and icier, it was a bit crunchy and then tends to be OK to ride on
a bit of brightness in the distance
The Milfield plane was gale force winds, its always windy there, even on a still day - wondering if that cloud building over the Cheviots is the rain that is forecast to arrive this evening, hope its not 4 hours early
and there is zero warmth in that sun
its following me and catching me up
it never did rain, just got darker for a while, a long ride on cold wet roads -
46.9 miles in total
YTD 550 miles / Day 26 * 365 = 7729 / target 6500 miles = 19% ahead
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The conditions your prepared to ride in continue to amaze me ,there's no way I'd ride roads like that , As long as you keep it upright all credit to you
Marchrider
Senior Member
a bit like invoking the puncture fairy to answer that
I did get too cocky on it a few years back, it is amazing how quickly you hit the deck.
Conrad_K
unindicted co-conspirator
- Location
- Little Rock, Arkansas
Supposed to be 60F and sunny later this week. I'm hoping it's true. I didn't get any riding done in mid-November due to rain, then hospital and recovery with the doc forbidding bicycling for six weeks, and after that, snow, sleet, freezing rain, or well-below-freezing temperatures.
Though it was originally just for exercise, I found that I *like* bicycling, and I rather miss it.
Though it was originally just for exercise, I found that I *like* bicycling, and I rather miss it.
