Your ride today....

[ColinJ]

Wind still had a real bite to it . Came across a cyclist who had stopped for a puncture and had just finished struggling when I got to him he looked frozen 🥶 poor chap .

That is what has been putting me off doing longer rides at the moment!

I got a puncture shortly before sunset a few weeks back and only just managed to fix it and get home before it got dark and really cold.

 

[sevenfourate]

That is what has been putting me off doing longer rides at the moment!

I got a puncture shortly before sunset a few weeks back and only just managed to fix it and get home before it got dark and really cold.

Right ! One of my riding buddies got a flat right up the sea-front here in Lowestoft recently. Right at the very end of a 2-hour ride; and probably within way less than 2 miles of home.

My hands were already cold. But even watching him faff around with skewers, tool-kits, levers etc was painful. I think i'd have struggled more than he did. Or maybe the fact i was pretty much just standing in the cold / wind around watching - made it worse for me than him in some ways.

Either way - not one of lifes best experiences......

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

Sunday: First ride of the month as I've been off on a trip to Canada. An easyish one seemed like a good idea to get the legs back into it, so I went for the longer Acton Burnell loop.

I headed over Lyth Hill as usual to avoid the temporary lights and quickly found that I needed the extra layer that I'd brought along. It genuinely felt colder than it had been in Toronto despite the fact it had been below freezing with snow on the ground there. I found I was riding into an easterly wind so I decided to go round the loop clockwise so as to have it helping me along later on. This also meant that at Berrington I unexpectedly met @gavgav who was nearing the end of a 50 mile ride. We stopped to chat but he didn't want to stop too long and have his legs start to stiffen up.

I decided to risk the A458, which wasn't too busy. There were lots of visitors at Cound church and the flag of the day was the St. Georges Cross.

Having climbed through Harnage, I picked up the hoped-for tailwind which helped me along the straight to Cound Moor and onwards to Acton Burnell and Frodesley. I caught a couple of horse riders at Longnor who appreciated the ding of the bell I gave to warn of my approach. I got along alright back to Condover and decided to risk taking the flatter (and faster) way back, finding that the queue on the main road wasn't too bad now.

25.1 miles at 12.4 mph average. Good to get back on the bike after a couple of weeks off and the distance was just enough this time. It was nice to see a reasonable number of other cyclists out too.

Snow drops at Cound.......

.... and the crocuses are popping up at Concord College.

 

[The_Weekend_Report_Guy]

Day 2 with David!

Today we did a loop we call El Tivoli, a ride that has a bit of everything.

The best parts are the views when you climb out of the beach.

Here are some pics.

All these under a warm sun! 20s today!

And to finish a beer, coffee and some tapas!

Tomorrow will be the Queen stage!!

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

Yesterday (Tuesday): I need to build the legs up again as I haven't done my challenge ride for the month yet, so this needed to be a longer one. Before starting off though it was necessary to swap pedals as the bearings have failed on the new ones I bought in November (not overly impressed with that).

I thought I'd do my orbit round the town which I was expecting to be in the region of 35 miles. Within a mile I realised that the pedal change meant my saddle height was wrong again so a small adjustment was made. On Roman Road another rider caught me and we chatted for a short while - he was from Wrexham and doing a metric century - in case there is any chance you are on here. After a while I realised I wasn't going to keep up with his pace so I let him go ahead. He pulled away steadily and I lost sight of him after the climb at Bicton.

I seemed to have a tailwind so the pace was fairly good to Little Ness but I noticed the difference once I reached Baschurch and was riding into it. That wind was bitterly cold again which didn't help progress through Yeaton, Old Woods and Merrington. Here I decided to head for Harmer Hill, which would have been nice riding if the weather had been a bit better. In Harmer Hill my legs gave some warning twinges again and I realised the saddle was still a bit low.

Plex Lane was a plod as I made my way to Hadnall then Astley. The climbs of Ebury and Haughmond Hills went alright but not quick and I enjoyed the descent into Upton Magna. I found a fairly long queue on the approach to Atcham and felt a bit smug filtering past. One of the vehicles that overtook me just before the queue didn't come past again until I was at Cross Houses.

My legs cramped up properly at Cronkhill, which was frustrating and showed I still haven't got the saddle height right - another small adjustment seemed to help but the damage was already done and I had to be careful for the remaining few miles. Lyons Lane was quite busy as the evening rush got under way. I thought the flatter way back would be easier on the legs but after Condover I could see across the fields that the A49 was grinding to a halt. I reluctantly turned towards Little Lyth instead - the legs weren't happy with the climb and it didn't help having to stop frequently for the drivers who were rat-running along that lane.

A fraction under 38 miles at 12.3 mph average. Glad I got out but it wasn't quite the ride I'd hoped it would be on this occasion.

A pause at Yeaton with some nice fresh tarmac on the road I'm about to take.

One of the houses I like at Harmer Hill.

Misty view to the Wrekin near Upton Magna.

Atmospheric along Lyons Lane. Not far to go now.

 

[sevenfourate]

Very small. But very ‘significant’ ride. The first true ride on the new Gravel ride set-up, with all my new parts, mudguards etc on. Really enjoyed the riding position, tyre choice, road feel etc 😁

Only bad news is on was on the way back from the local bike shop where we couldn’t sort a front Caliper / piston sticking issue (New Shimano GRX replacement item ordered)…..☹️

Can’t wait to get this single gremlin sorted and start enjoying it this Sumner now 😍

 

[bluenotebob]

That's a nice-looking bike @sevenfourate .. I hope you get the brake problem sorted soon and get out and enjoy some long rides.

Let us know when the bike's done its first 1000km.

 

[sevenfourate]

That's a nice-looking bike @sevenfourate .. I hope you get the brake problem sorted soon and get out and enjoy some long rides.

Let us know when the bike's done its first 1000km.

Thankyou very much.

Now planning a first real ride-out Fakenham (Norfolk) way - which apparently is a 4 hour ride once there - passing over / through the bare minimum of roads.

Sounds like bliss !

 

[chriswoody]

Another lovely day today for a ride. It was -4 when I set out north and into the forest, there's still small patches of snow around and the ground is frozen.

I make good progress along some great trails and enjoy the solitude and sun beaming down.

I stop for a while to eat something and take some time to explore a small stream that's partially iced up with the cold temperatures.

Moving on the trails are fast and enjoyable rising and falling under the canopy until we come out onto the Hiede as two Buzzards swoop and dive overhead.

I pause for a half frozen flapjack and then continue to ride before I get too cold. Fast gravel roads soon give way to a short country road before I turn off back into a quiet section of forest. Again forestry workers have been here and the path is churned up. The frozen ground is really hard to navigate as I rattle between the deep ruts in the ground. The forest itself is different here and less open than before, the sunlight arcs down through the trees.

I alight onto frozen gravel roads and pause for another flapjack on the shore of a small lake, the temperature has risen to 3 degrees and the sun even has some warmth to it.

Back on the bike and a brace of fine gravel roads brings me first East then South as I start to head back towards home. It's great to be on the gravel bike as I speed along through the forest until eventually I arrive at the broken bridge. Some daft fool tried to drive over this last year and it's never been repaired. The authorities have tried to barricade it off, but the barricades were swiftly moved and folk carried on using it as normal. Hopefully it doesn't get ripped out in the near future, because it would cause me a long diversion.

I've entered the last forest section now and after a while a gorgeous bit of single track awaits as I hurtle downhill.

Not long after I'm into the last kilometres before swinging back into my house with tired legs for a welcome coffee. Overall 50 km today through some lovely trails under some lovely sunshine.

 

[The_Weekend_Report_Guy]

Day 3 with David!

Last day on the bike before he heads back to Scotland.

Downhills to start, flats to continue, a climb and rolling terrain under the warm sun of Malaga.

From Coin (where I live) to Caminito del Rey and back.

108 km with 1300 meters of fun!

Here are some pics:

Hi! This is me! 🫣

Turn around point, that up there is the famous Caminito del Rey. Check it out something to do with the family when you come this way.

All I can say is thanks to David for trusting me with his cycling needs. It was some awesome weather for him! 250 km in 3 days with 3000+ of climbing!

See you next time!

 

[Marchrider]

That is what has been putting me off doing longer rides at the moment!

I got a puncture shortly before sunset a few weeks back and only just managed to fix it and get home before it got dark and really cold.

punctures are depressing at anytime, but they can be soul destroying in the winter - I got one first ride of the year, below freezing and windy, it was one of those beam me up scotty' moments, I just stood there staring at it in disbelief, hoping I was just imagining it all

 

[ColinJ]

punctures are depressing at anytime, but they can be soul destroying in the winter - I got one first ride of the year, below freezing and windy, it was one of those beam me up scotty' moments, I just stood there staring at it in disbelief, hoping I was just imagining it all

My winter bike is out of action for the time being so I have lost the benefit of its more puncture resistant tyres and ample mudguards. I must make sure that it is sorted out soon.