Your ride today....

[DiddlyDodds]

Set off today for a spin around Saddleworth moors with a 15mph head wind on the way out, but not to worry as it would be a tail wind on the way back, sadly i could not make the most of this as after 15miles i realised i had not put my phone in my back pocket , thinking about this it then dawned on my i had also forgot , money , spare tube and pump , in fact i had set of with just myself and the bike.

Not to worry i wont get a puncture, not had one for a couple of years now , so at 20 miles the back tyre cant be sliding about can it , oh yes a slow puncture, and 10 more miles over the moors to go.

After a slow crawl for two miles through the lanes to the main road, a lad stopped and between us we worked out how to use the pump he had carried for two years but never used.

Off again with approx 60 psi in, up Blackstone Edge to the ice cream van (ive only ever met @dan_bo once and my memory is not the best but passed him or his double going the other way) , sadly no time to stop as the pressure was going down too fast , so on a 50mph decent it seemed odd going down at around 10mph leaning over the bars and front wheel trying to keep the weight off the back wheel.

At the foot of the hill again down to 10 psi , i then saw my ex next door neighbour out for a walk and pressed ganged him into find a bike pump in his garage so giving me that precious 50psi and thus getting me the last 2 miles home.

At home i checked the tyre and it was a sliver of glass embedded in the tyre that was the culprit.

Next trip i will be making sure i have a pump with me, what the hell i might even cellotape my track pump onto the frame.

 

[dan_bo]

Set off today for a spin around Saddleworth moors with a 15mph head wind on the way out, but not to worry as it would be a tail wind on the way back, sadly i could not make the most of this as after 15miles i realised i had not put my phone in my back pocket , thinking about this it then dawned on my i had also forgot , money , spare tube and pump , in fact i had set of with just myself and the bike.

Not to worry i wont get a puncture, not had one for a couple of years now , so at 20 miles the back tyre cant be sliding about can it , oh yes a slow puncture, and 10 more miles over the moors to go.

After a slow crawl for two miles through the lanes to the main road, a lad stopped and between us we worked out how to use the pump he had carried for two years but never used.

Off again with approx 60 psi in, up Blackstone Edge to the ice cream van (ive only ever met @dan_bo once and my memory is not the best but passed him or his double going the other way) , sadly no time to stop as the pressure was going down too fast , so on a 50mph decent it seemed odd going down at around 10mph leaning over the bars and front wheel trying to keep the weight off the back wheel.

At the foot of the hill again down to 10 psi , i then saw my ex next door neighbour out for a walk and pressed ganged him into find a bike pump in his garage so giving me that precious 50psi and thus getting me the last 2 miles home.

At home i checked the tyre and it was a sliver of glass embedded in the tyre that was the culprit.

Next trip i will be making sure i have a pump with me, what the hell i might even cellotape my track pump onto the frame.

Yep was me. Well spotted chief.

 

[Mike_P]

30.4 mile today and found another NCN67 oddity. In the first photo below NCN67 crosses from left to right (from Ripley towards Markington and then north to join NCN688) while the road is the shorter way from Ripley and which continuing along this road the Way of the Roses NCN688 is reached; following this eastwards the junction with NCN67 is reached - once again having covered a shorter distance and less climbing.

The highlight of this part of NCN688 is Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal. The Abbey itself is relatively secluded from view but there are plenty of other buildings free to see. First encountered are the buildings related to the West Gate along with Fountains Hall sneeking into picture on the right

The route then climbs 15+% in part according to Starva which at least is better than the 39% its route planner come up with.
Entering the Park St Marys Church comes into view (the leaning tower is a oddity of the picture and is not the case in reality) along with another building

The East Gate frames the vista which continues with Ripon Cathedral visible in the distance

Turning north through the village of Studley Roger, NCN688 joins the B6265 for the ride into Ripon. This cross featuring at the junction, while the second photo is in Ripon showing the Cathedral in the distance and two other cyclists, the first I had seen since passing through Ripley

I carried straight on the traffic lights, NCN688 turns left and climbs uphill to the Market Place and then comes back downhill, pretty pointless unless you happed to need something from Boots etc. Exiting Ripon it crosses the bypass by a flat crossing, no traffic lights nor a subway in complete contrast to the way NCN67 crosses main roads further to the south. Did wonder how safe a cyclist would be if they only got half way across

Passing through Littlethorpe St Michaels Church is a prominent feature

I left NCN688 in the village of Bishop Monkton and headed home via Burton Leonard, where The Royal Oak is pictured below, and Knaresborough.

 

[Glow worm]

Just a quick 9 mile circuit around the fen here today before the rain arrived.

One of my favourite farm tracks. The weather front was approaching from behind and the first clouds were appearing above.

Most of the harvest is over hereabouts, though I did pass a few busy combines busting a gut to get the last of the grain in before the showers. It will be sugar beet next, which, with all the mud they leave, will mean a dirty bike.

Managed to get home just as the first spots of rain were falling, followed by a tropical downpour as I put my feet up indoors with a cuppa.

 

[Cyclist33]

First bit of exercise for 9 days, had a virus which kept me in bed most of last week - so thought I'd do a 50Km ish exploratory ride of the Cheshire plains - didn't start too well as found my satnav to be 0% charged! So using the map - and getting lost long the way....
111Km - Northenden - Wilmslow - Alderley Edge - Goostrey - Sweetenham - Hulme Walfield - Marton - Goostrey (via way I came as I got a bit lost!) - Marthall - Morley Green - Wilmslow - Styal - Gatley - Northenden
Encountering a ford somewhere near Sweetenham, having a puncture somewhere south of Jodrell Bank and getting lost on the way back in Wilmslow (like how!!). Nice ride but must say although the first 70Km was ok the last 40Km was hard work. Still not 100% but there you go......

Swettenham Ford is my favourite place in Cheshire!

 

[Berk on a Bike]

Today I revisited a route I did back in June, into Holmfirth and out again up the Manchester road then on to Meltham and Blackmoorfoot reservoir, mainly to have a proper go at the climbs. There was evidence early on of the damage done by Saturday's weather - a tree down on the NCN path and debris liberally scattered on the roads. The sunlight felt a bit autumnal, bright but watery. It didn't feel like a Sunday morning in August!
Enjoyed the ride more this time out. Bested my times up those hills (perhaps abetted by the easterly wind ) and felt good but under no illusion I'd had a work out.

46.7 miles containing 2,430 ft of gain at an average speed of 14.4 mph. Hope you all enjoyed your rides today.

 

[Gravity Aided]

7.3 miles on the Raleigh Sport today, a bicycle that encourages you to enjoy the ride itself, above all else. So I did.
77F
25C
Winds W 16, G23
50% relative humidity
29.95 barometric pressure
Wonderful weather for late summer around here. I saw many folk out on bicycles, but they all seemed to be working pretty hard at it.

 

[ColinJ]

Entering the Park St Marys Church comes into view (the leaning tower is a oddity of the picture and is not the case in reality) along with another building

When I saw that I thought it was the church at Chesterfield, the spire of which actually DOES look something like that!

 

[Kevoffthetee]

I went out with a few of the fast lads yesterday for a gentle run and I'm feeling it today.

I usually go out with the development group and do around 35-40mile averaging 13-14mph and 2000ft of climbing, but not yesterday. Since they said it was going to be gentle I pedalled the 8 mile to the meeting point and got 500ft climbing. They then proceeded to drag me for 35 mile and averaging 21mph with 1900+ft of climbing. Around a mile from the coffee stop one of the lads had a nasty fall after tapping his brake around a damp corner, cracking his new Kask helmet in the process.

We trundled to the coffee stop and made sure he was ok and having a slab of cake. We operate a military "leave no man behind" and had a leisurely ride to the original meeting point where we made sure he had a lift home. I then used up every last ounce of energy to make it home to,end up with 59 mile with 2900ft climbing and averaging 16mph even after slowing down.

I'm still knackered

 

[MikeW-71]

Nothing big to report, but after some redecorating yesterday, I rode over to my parents (into a 20mph wind) for the afternoon. Coming back was with a glorious wind assist, and a menacing black cloud chasing me all the way. I beat it home, and 5 minutes later there was a biblical downpour and thunderstorm

Commuting today on the Revolt in much gentler winds, lovely cycling weather really even if the sun wasn't out. Felt good and strong, so had a push on some of my favourite segments, which gave some pleasing results for this bike. Went round to Great Corby and walked over the railway bridge to Wetheral and then home.

20 miles today
http://www.strava.com/activities/376510857

 

[cosmicbike]

8.4 very wet miles this morning, best get used to it going by the forecast.

 

[xzenonuk]

39 miles done today just got back a wee while ago, queensferry to just past preston pans

average of 8.7 mph on the rockrider 540, starting to get fitness back i think

 

[Biscuit]

It's been about a year and a half since I got rid of my car. Interesting experience. I'm often asked why ride. Many reasons, and well, today another example came to mind.

I took the short route through the town along my commute rather than go round the bypass.

As I cut through one of the squares in town I see the street cleaner, 'Ahwight Bah ?' ( Best Suffolk accent ) He says..always with the a brief weather report, usually more accurate than the BBC phone app. 'Looks like rain later Bah!'. After a quick 'Morning' from me I carry on, past the library where the old guy sits on the bench outside. All his worldly belongings piled on top of a fold out bicycle perched by the side. Another smile and wave through familiarity rather than any real contact.
Waiting at the lights, I'm passed by a couple walking in the opposite direction. As I look at them coming toward me, there's an exchange of good mornings, smiles and 'Sunny Day isn't it?'

Now, gotta ask yourself - shut inside a tin box on the bypass, I'd probably be thinking about how to overtake the next hold up, and swearing at the guy who brought his tractor out in the rush hour.

 

[hedder2212]

Nice DRY leisurely 15 mile ride to where Ill be working soon this morning (big internet retailer) for my induction.
Just got in from doing the same 15 miles in the pouring rain, took me more time than I thought and im SOAKED. bike coped well on its first longer ride. Im nackered, grabbing a hot bath, a hot chocolate and going to bed. Looks like the motorbike will have to come out for the new commute.

 

[Garry A]

Open the curtains, blue skies, sun.
Bike time!
Decided to head to Carron bridge, a place I had only driven past on my way to walk up the wee hill Meikle binn. No reason other than other cyclists reckon its a nice run.
I only started busier on road cycling 2 months back when I got my Defy and today tackled my busiest sections yet. Pedaled through Larbert, Stenhousemuir, Denny and Fankerton. After Denny everything seemed to be uphill and into the wind and progress was slow. Got to my destination and turned back..... downhill with a tailwind fast is good until you hit crappy road surfaces.
27 miles in 2 hours
https://www.strava.com/activities/377073649