Your ride today....

[ColinJ]

My most eventful ride last week: A ride of some extraordinary ups and downs, and one I'm never going to forget ...

.... before setting off back down the 655m descent with a feeling of euphoria .... which lasted for about 20 seconds..., Which was about how long it took me to realise that my brakes were not working. Squeezing the levers as hard as I could, and with my fingers going white, I finally managed to bring the bike to a halt several hundred metres further than I would have liked down an 11% stretch. It turned out that my front brake had actually spat out a brake pad, completely unnoticed by me, on the downhill section about 1km short of the col.

Brilliant - well done!

I once tried to get one too many rides out of a pair of brake blocks and wore them out on a fast, wet descent, leading to the same panic metal-on-metal braking and resulting in a trashed wheel, which cost a hell of a lot more than a pair of brake blocks to replace!

Had you by any chance got the type of brake blocks which slide into a cartidge, and accidentally put the cartridges on the wrong sides of the bike so the open slots were facing forwards?

 

[Donger]

Brilliant - well done!

I once tried to get one too many rides out of a pair of brake blocks and wore them out on a fast, wet descent, leading to the same panic metal-on-metal braking and resulting in a trashed wheel, which cost a hell of a lot more than a pair of brake blocks to replace!

Had you by any chance got the type of brake blocks which slide into a cartidge, and accidentally put the cartridges on the wrong sides of the bike so the open slots were facing forwards?

Not guilty ..... except of laziness. (LBS fitted them). Guess it was just a case of unusually hard wear, what with my weight and the terrain I'd ridden the previous day and all.

 

[PeteXXX]

Eschewing the chance of staying dry indoors, and in total disregard of the weather forecast, I set off on the CX to meet up with mate for a pedal this morning. For the first half, up to Market Harborough, we stayed dry, with the puddles from the overnight rain not as bad as we thought they might be.
Conveniently, I forgot to take any money, so I was treated to a nice cheeseburger and a mug of tea in Harborough...

Back down the Brampton Valley Way to get onto the hill up to Brixworth. It was a bit soggy in the tunnels today, with quite a few deep puddles to weave around.

By the time we got much further south, it was absolutely precipitating it down! My moist finger wouldn't operate the touch-screen on the phone so I missed this shot by a few feet

Never mind, eh..

By the time we reached Pitsford, via Brixworth and the western side on the Reservoir, the wind had dried us out a bit, but on queue, we heard the rumble of thunder and more low scudding black clouds to chase us homewards.

Not before I'd been bought a coffee though
My turn to buy next time, I reckon..

Once we were going our separate ways in Moulton Village, and saying our farewells, the heavens opened yet again, and we both had another soaking. Still, it washed the mud of the bikes I suppose.

Having just fitted new mudguards to the bike, I was impressed how well they coped with the downpours. No muck up the back, or front, and apart from where the rain ran down the inside of my jacket, I wasn't too wet, apart from the shoes that filled up. Still, it wasn't cold rain, eh!?

Back home, feeling cheated, as Strava stopped and uploaded my ride at 45 miles, when the day was a tad over 50.. Maybe it thought that my phone was filling up, and it's only waterproof for 30 minutes

https://www.strava.com/activities/392056598

 

[Spartak]

Picture from Saturdays Ronde Picardie Sportif .... taken at Ault.

 

[NorthernDave]

Two rides today - or do they class as one? You decide.

Plans to use my days annual leave for a bike ride were scuppered by having to take the dog to a specialist vet where he's been kept in for observation - the house seems horribly quiet tonight

The hybrid was at the shop getting a new tyre (long story), so I rode down there on the road bike which I was dropping off for a service. Joined up thinking you see
Rather than go straight there though I had a bit of a spin round first to get a few miles in and enjoy the grey, cold , weather...
Out through Cross Gates, down Manston Lane and back and then down the Cycle Super Highway for a bit (for more on that, see this: https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/bradford-cycle-lane.180322/page-5 )

6.35 miles in 25m 48s at an average of 14.8 mph.

Then after swapping the bikes over, I cycled back up the Cycle Super Highway (see above) on the hybrid and added a quick loop round the block to bump the mileage up:

2.1 miles in 13m 01s at an average of 9.7mph (well, it was virtually all uphill, including a Cat 5 climb according to MapMyRide... )

No great shakes, but at least i was out on the bike.

 

[PeteXXX]

Two rides today - or do they class as one? You decide.

Plans to use my days annual leave for a bike ride were scuppered by having to take the dog to a specialist vet where he's been kept in for observation - the house seems horribly quiet tonight

The hybrid was at the shop getting a new tyre (long story), so I rode down there on the road bike which I was dropping off for a service. Joined up thinking you see
Rather than go straight there though I had a bit of a spin round first to get a few miles in and enjoy the grey, cold , weather...
Out through Cross Gates, down Manston Lane and back and then down the Cycle Super Highway for a bit (for more on that, see this: https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/bradford-cycle-lane.180322/page-5 )

6.35 miles in 25m 48s at an average of 14.8 mph.

Then after swapping the bikes over, I cycled back up the Cycle Super Highway (see above) on the hybrid and added a quick loop round the block to bump the mileage up:

2.1 miles in 13m 01s at an average of 9.7mph (well, it was virtually all uphill, including a Cat 5 climb according to MapMyRide... )

No great shakes, but at least i was out on the bike.

Yep. One ride...

 

[Donger]

The last part (I promise!) of my trilogy of posts about my rides around Annecy last week:

After a stunningly scenic climb of the Cote de Puget on my first ride, and a dramatic climb and descent of the Col de la Forclaz in my second one, I was left with a bike with a nackered front wheel and only one brake. This ruled out any more climbing, but I was already happy with what I'd done so far. Anyway, how could I not be happy to spend the next three rides pootling back and forth on the wonderful lakeside cycle way?
It was actually rather nice to slow down, relax, take in the scenery and have the occasional chat. Met a guy from Cheshire (an occasional Cyclechatter) who had just spent a week in Bourg d'Oisans and had ridden up Alpe d'Huez, and made small talk with a few Dutch and French holidaymakers. My last three rides consisted of one more early start (pre-breakfast) ride and two late evening rides after busy days out driving in the Alps, dining out, and taking a lake cruise and a mountain railway ride. I enjoyed the rides as much as any of it.

Well, I've covered every inch of this track now, from the old town area of Annecy in the North, all the way along the West bank of the lake, and onwards down the valley to Ugine and back. What an absolute pleasure.

I started another thread about the path in the Touring and expedition forum, so I won't say too much more about it. But here are a few more photos:

In the old town area of Annecy:

Late evening ride. last of the sunshine just skimming the peaks of the mountains opposite:

Early morning mist rising from the lake:

The old railway tunnel at Duingt:

The chateau at Faverges (View towards the Sambuy ski station and the Col de Tamie):

Arriving back at the house after my last early morning ride:

I'm really going to miss that place. Definitely going back for a third time one day. All in all, 105.9 miles done in 5 rides during the week, all done in lovely sunny weather. Unforgettable, brilliant, highly recommended place and a fantastic cycle way. Back home and back down to earth with a huge bump now. Off to the LBS for a new front wheel and brake pad tomorrow.

Cheers, Donger.

 

[Saluki]

https://www.strava.com/activities/392320581

The rain stopped so we thought that we would do one last cake ride. Weather forecast horrendous for the rest of the week so plodding up a dirt track for 11.5 miles is not our idea of fun.
The Marriotts was as muddy and slippery as anything but we made it up to Whitwell in an hour and 3 minutes and had coffee cake and a cuppa. We had decided, that as it was so muddy, that we would come back by road so headed right out of the Station Cafe gates and up the never ending hill (It's not that bad, Hubster was just making a fuss) and into Reepham and then picked up the Norwich Road and went along it to Attlebridge.

At Attlebridge I asked him if he wanted to carry on or to bob across to the Fakenham Road from here. Hubster said to take the turning. I waited at the top of the little hill for him and said that the Station, as was (now a caravan club certified location site), was at the bottom of the hill and that we could go past and pick up the main road, or do about 15 mins on the Marriotts and then get back on the road at Freelands. He said that we could decide at the old station. I felt that it was a bit strange, but hadn't realised that Hubster didn't quite know where we were. We rode the 100 or so yards down the hill and I stopped and said 'which way do you want to go then?'. Hubster was all "Oooooh, this is where we are"

Hubster chose the Marriotts, so we rode along there until we got to Freelands Corner (Taverham) and then went back on the road to the Garden Centre then turned left and followed the cycle paths down to Drayon, where we got back on the Marriotts for the last couple of miles before getting back on the road for the climb back to our place. Hubster's legs were on a go slow for the last hour of the ride. Very frustrating it is too, when I'm freewheeling down hills and dabbing my brakes so that I don't overtake him. He'd have got home a lot faster if he hadn't hung on to his brakes going down perfectly nice hills that he has been down a gazillion times before.

24.4 miles in a whopping 2 hours 25 mins. 10.5 moving average

 

[HertzvanRental]

There us another thread running concerning "idiot behaviour" on sportives, but yesterday I rode the Southern Sportive, starting and finishing at Petersfield, in Hampshire.
Despite the dire weather warnings, there was only one sharp shower, about 5 miles from the finish, otherwise warm and pleasant. Confirmed that they have a few lumpy bits on the South Downs!!
As a bonus saw a full hunt in progress, hounds, horns-the lot! Also shed loads of classic sports cars that were involved in the Revival, at Goodwood. There was a few bobsworth of steel roaming the West Sussex countryside! Have to say that whilst I was never up front with the "speed whippets", I saw no instances of nobbish behaviour. Relaxed afterwards with two grandchildren, 5 & 3. I think the ride was less strenuous!!
72 miles, 4 3/4 hours-good fun.

 

[Nomadski]

@Donger superb trilogy of write ups and quite stunning photos, looks a lovely place to go out and ride.

With another flat view booked at 6.30pm I made my leave of the flat unfortunately in the midst of a right shower, requiring some last second change of gear and mudflaps on the bike. Made a pootle to Teddington then came back as the sun was disapearing around Richmond Park where apart from a couple cars making a last ditch for the vehicle gates before they closed was just inhabited by runners, cyclists and some very awesome deer.

On the way back to Wimbledon via Raynes Park I closed a gap and overtook a cyclist who then used my wheel for the remaining three quarters of a mile as a wind shield.

Quite wet, very windy but I got a PB up Dark Hill which was nice, and my average for the 24 miles was a decent 15mph even with the .2mph Strava tax.

https://www.strava.com/activities/392289665

 

[Stonechat]

@Donger superb trilogy of write ups and quite stunning photos, looks a lovely place to go out and ride.

a decent 15mph even with the .2mph Strava tax.

https://www.strava.com/activities/392289665

Know what you mean. I always use Garmin's average moving speed

 

[i hate hills]

Only managed a very sunny 6 miles this morning due to likeness of the yapping too much . Not much to report other than a farmer eyeing me up checking out his tatties . Yes mr farmer next ride out i'll have a bag with me and take home a boiling......try n catch me in your John Deere tractor thingy.......

 

[nickyboy]

Not guilty ..... except of laziness. (LBS fitted them). Guess it was just a case of unusually hard wear, what with my weight and the terrain I'd ridden the previous day and all.

Great effort @Donger
That training ride on the Snake Pass came in handy after all

 

[andytheflyer]

Simple Overton caff run again - trying out the new M&S cycling chinos on the recumbent. Very comfortable, feeling a bit sticky now so they will be better when it gets a bit cooler I suspect. Dunno how you get your hand into the side zip pocket though. Need to carry a small child about with me for that purpose. 22 miles.

 

[13 rider]

After a morning bike fettling playing hunt the annoying squeak which involved tighten every bolt and lubing every moving part . Time for a test ride . Set off from Anstey and the bike was in ninja stealth mode .Into Cropston ,Rothley then a game of strava segment chasing A segment were @Supersuperleeds had gone faster than me was attacked but the wind was all wrong so just equalled my pr still 3 seconds slower than @Supersuperleeds need to try again .Relaxed now through Swithland into Woodhouse Eaves and up Maplewell Rd climb I did this last week but my mobile didn't record on strava so needed to redo it first time on the roadie so beat the pr of the hybrid .Turned back past the golf course round the back of Bradgate park the back way into Cropston over the crossroads into Thurcaston right past the church and back to Anstey 15.3 miles done at 15.5 mph managed to complete the ride in between the showers in just started spitting on the last hill before home .The downside of the ride the squeak although much much quieter reappeared on the climb of Maplewell Rd but only there under pressure but I really have to listen for it