Your ride today....

[nickyboy]

Day 4........

In the same manner as the ride to Messina (ride there, train back) we rode south to Siracusa...or Syracruse if you prefer. Folk were getting a bit knackered so this was only 55 miles and pretty flat. It was only 27 degrees, hooray!

We set off and the route south was almost completely flat for the first 10 miles. I found that I hadn't changed gear since leaving the apartment so I decided to up the novelty value of the ride and try to do it all without changing gear; a sort of Siracusa Single Speed challenge. Luckily I was in what I think was about 50-19 so I was in with a chance. SS riding takes some getting used to! There were a few decent climbs (maybe 2km @ 5%) and keeping the cadence up was tough. Going along the flat I got passed by an old guy on a moped. He was only doing about 19-20mph so I latched on the back. He kept looking round to see this manic cyclist a metre or so behind him. Got a 4 mile draft out of him which was great

The route to Siracusa is a bit industrial in places as it is the main area for the importation of oil into Italy. There are huge refineries dotted along the coast but the roads are quiet and it made for an interesting spectacle. Siracusa itself is a fine, ancient city. We headed for Isla D'Ortigia which is the cute, touristy island reached by bridge from the city proper. A circumnavigation of that (only about 3 miles), stop for another beer in another café and then back to the train station. All in all a pretty easy day.

I should say that over those four rides I had probably drunk about 18 litres of water which gives you an idea of how challenging it was. Set off with two litres each day. But by lunchtime that had gone....find a shop. Buy a two litre bottle. Refill both bottles....and all that would go too in the course of the afternoon. And that doesn't allow for those lovely lunchtime beers too

Here's a little stop off on an incredibly quiet rural road which stretches into the distance with Etna looming (as always). If you look closely there's something flying in the sky. It's actually a wasp....not a UFO that had flown out of Etna's crater as we first suspected

And here's a rather pretty fountain on Isla D'Ortigia

Day 5 was a flattish 55 mile ride with no great things to photograph or report on. So that's it. In all we did a shade over 300 miles and about 18,000ft of climbing in 5 days. Lovely experience and a good place to be based for a slightly different cycling holiday. And of course the food and wine were excellent. If anyone's interested in the area PM me and I'll try to help

 

[PeteXXX]

Can I get away with "Yesterday's Ride" ?

50km loop from Wendover, through Halton, up Aston Hill (!), Chesham, Gt Missenden, Prestwood, Dunsmore (who put THAT hill there?) and back to Wendover. I'd post a Strava link but the figures are too embarrassing.

I nearly always post 'Yesterdays Ride'.... In fact I'm abut to do it again.

 

[PeteXXX]

Or even two day ago!
My granddaughter had asked to go on a bike ride on Sunday morning, after staying over on Saturday night. I said that we could do Pitsford Reservoir, as it's fairly flat and a pleasant 7 or 8 miles round.
The weather was quite good, but with a bit of a breeze blowing across the water.
As I knew a mate was off as well, I txt him to see if he wanted to meet up for a sedate mile or so. Yep, he was up for it, so planned a meet at the top dam wall at 11:00 that he fitted into his longer loupe.
Sure enough, on the dot of 11:00, he turned up just as I was taking the bikes of the top of the car.After a chat for a few minutes, we set off down the waterside trail.
As expected on a decent Sunday morning, it was very busy there. I'd said to Faith that I'd get in front of her at the blind bends in case anyone came blasting round (as they sometimes do!) but for the rest of the time, she could take the lead.

One of the quieter parts, after my mate had headed off homewards, after 3 miles, from the cafe. He couldn't take the pace, I reckon!

Bless her, her legs were aching a bit by the time we got to 6 miles, but she did well, and after a stop or two for a rest and a snack, we finished up back at the car on 7 miles.
As we were sitting on one of the benches, I pointed out the distance we'd ridden as we could see most of the Res from there. She was well impressed with herself (so was I!)

Spotting the ice cream van in the car park a bit further up the road, we pedalled a few hundred yards more to get one.

Happy days....

https://www.strava.com/activities/410727610

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

Another "yesterday's ride" poster here as well...

I'll let the pictures talk for most of the ride. The weather was great, we met up with Blue again (the rescue boxer some people we 'know' have adopted after their last one died) and this time he was a lot less afraid of us and we were able to say hello and let him sniff us. He's not yet at the stage of letting us stroke him, but is no longer afraid of us.

Empty roads

Wonderful native woodland (as this patch is - the forestry commission is in the process of harvesting the non-native timber from the Loch Rannoch area and is replanting it with native timber trees (mostly pine) but when the cut down the woodland, they are now leaving native trees standing which is a huge improvement on the past!). We stopped here to put extra layers on. It was getting quite cold despite it being only 3pm in the afternoon!

This rainbow was visible over the mountains to the north for the entire time we cycled along the south shore. Luckily it stayed put for the entire time and we never had the rain or the clouds that it conveyed.

Still there!

You know what is coming next... well my OH does anyhow and had stopped even before I had reached the photo opportunity but by now the temperature was dropping right off and winter kit (back at the holiday home) was the order of the day!

I just love the colours in this tree but sadly the little camera was struggling to capture them sufficiently well.

Back at the holiday home and the afternoon light was stunning (and stunningly cold as well... that chain of mine can wait until tomorrow for its oil! ) And @User9609 they are Jacob's Sheep.

Shiehallion looking good, but it is chilly out now.

No bike maintenance tonight, its too cold, But just in case you are wondering what you are looking at, this is the earth shadow from last night. It is when you see 'sunset like' colours in the east rather than the west and it is the earth's shadow cast upon the atmosphere and last night it was very visible here in Loch Rannoch. The shadow is the blue area at the bottom of the picture (in the sky) and it rises rather than falls as the sun sets. Ironically it actually needs pollution (dust particles) in the atmosphere for the shadow to be cast on, so is an indication of poorer air quality rather than better air quality - but that is somewhere to the east of us (potentially thousands of miles away?)...

And so another 23 miles is ticked off in my fastest time this holiday...
https://www.strava.com/activities/412058862

We might just do something different today (assuming the dense fog burns off that is!)

 

[biggs682]

Another pre work 13 miles nice with a bit of a breeze and even a tail wind at times. Bike went well new brake pads helped with the stopping
Would have loved a longer ride but work was looming.

 

[Postmanhat]

From Sunday. No pics as forgot to charge the phone. And the garmin gremlins did their worst halfway round, so will have to use the medium of strava segments

14 miles up to Crich to watch my first hill climb event. Was surprised to see someone I vaguely knew from work slogging their way up. "Go on Ian!" I encouraged, and got a quizzical look in return. Checking the startlist later, realised this was the third colleague in as many months had been calling the wrong name. Is there a word for this condition?

A few miles over the moor, then a fairly grim grind up an A road https://www.strava.com/segments/714304. Just about worth it for some sweeping views of Chesterfield's environs and the descent into Holymoorside. https://www.strava.com/segments/4645969 followed and the easiest Cat 3 I'd ever done. Pretty pleased with myself till I got back out onto the moor and clocked the wind was behind me

Was really looking forward to going down Beeley Hill on my new tyres , till a Land Rover pulled out in front, dawdled down for 200 yards, then turned off again. Spent the next few miles nursing my anger in preparation for Bank Road in Matlock https://www.strava.com/segments/2228122. This in on my ticklist for 100/200 greatest climbs, and that was about the only thing that got me to the top, as it's a residential street with only concerned looking pedestrians as scenery. Very fit people combine this with the Riber Road climb, and both are part of Matlock CC's hill climb next Sunday. I crossed the road to a bench for a stunning view of the castle.

Quick descent then https://www.strava.com/segments/5226562. Was a job to find a rideable surface at times, but more gorgeousness at the top. Down to Cromford for the final ascent https://www.strava.com/segments/1472586 and 14 flattish miles home

Plotting it on strava comes up with 57 miles and 6000ft elevation. Easily the best/stupidest ratio so far on a 40+ miler. Hopefully sufficient prep for a couple of ticklist-inspired sufferfests this week

 

[Racing roadkill]

https://www.strava.com/activities/412119879

30.5 miles today.

The weather was more variable today, still nice up at Fareham though.

 

[cosmicbike]

I'm a little out of date on here, simply put my rides are not very exciting. I have ridden every day, but invariably take in the same route (or a variation of it) time after time, and there's only so many times pedalling to the 2 local High Streets can be!
The miles are ticking along though, and I'm hoping for reasonable weather tomorrow. Plan to put the bike in the car and head 4 miles up the road to do a lap of Windsor Great Park, change of scenery at last.

 

[Brandane]

Today was a great opportunity to go and do my 100 km ride for the CC 2015 metric challenge. No work, fine weather, and no other commitments to spoil the day! I was up and out of the house for 9am; still quite chilly - but let's not be too fussy, this IS October after all. This is the best spell of weather we have had for a long time, the last 2 summers included.
I got my climbing in early by heading north over the Brisbane Glen to Loch Thom, source of water for the town of Greenock below. Even if soap sales are low, they do drink the stuff when there's no "Buckie" available . Only kidding @Bobby Mhor .

Loch Thom:

From Loch Thom, I went east on a Land Rover track past another 2 reservoirs, and this track takes you out on the back road from Greenock to Kilmacolm - once upon a time Kilmacolm had the highest concentration of millionaires in Scotland, apparently. There are still some very grand houses around.
From Kilmacolm, the Sustrans track along an old railway line takes you all the way to Johnstone and then Lochwinnoch. A welcoming flat cycle after the Brisbane Glen!

Breakfast at The Junction café in Lochwinnoch; highly recommended!

Lochwinnoch is only 14 miles from home, but in order to get the miles in, I continued south to Kilwinning, and then up the coast road to West Kilbride. From there I diverted for a stretch of off roading along the beach at Portencross, which takes you out at Hunterston nuclear power station. From there it is a pleasant 5 miles along the coast to Largs. Strava.

Phone camera stayed in my saddle pack until I reached the coast (above pics I cheated and stole from the net, sorry! Other people always take better photos than I do). Here are some real ones from today....

Clyde coast with Arran in the distance....

Almost home.....

 

[Goonerobes]

I beginning to think that the farmer who told me it's going to be a hard winter was right as I found it decidedly chilly for this afternoons little sortie around part of the forest & some local lanes, but at least its dry & a new windproof jacket & full finger gloves kept me quite toasty.

Just 30 gentle(ish) miles with the usual selection of wildlife playing chicken with the roads plus some new arrivals munching on the abundance of acorns.

https://www.strava.com/activities/412196710

 

[PatrickPending]

Another my ride on Sunday, going to the north and east of Leicester - taking in some new routes - great cycling roung there, and back via Peatlin Parva where I saw the Vulcan bomber fly over.
120Km Blaby - Wigston - Newton Harcourt - Ingarsby - South Croxton - Marefield - Owston - Somerby - Braunston - Launde - Allexton - Eyebrook Reservoir - Drayton - Slawaston - Cranoe - Goadby -Carlton Curlieu - Kibworth Harcourt - Fleckney - Arnesby - Peatling Magna - Blaby
I think I'll make a point of doing more exploratory rides - 13 years cycling in Leicestershire/Rutland and still discovering new routes! Photo taken at Launde.

 

[gavgav]

A quick ride around Shrewsbury, after work.

Followed the cycle paths to Sundorne, then through Castlefields and along the towpath by the River Severn, into the Quarry.

Up through Copthorne and Radbrook, Nobold and Meole Brace, where a woman started to pull out from a junction to my left, but just as I was about to perform an emergency stop she looked again, must have seen my lights and stopped abruptly with a raise of her hand to apologise.

Took the old railway bed paths into Sutton Farm, to avoid the roadworks and home with 13.0 miles done.

Getting properly dark out there before 7pm now, but the lights did their job.

 

[Spartak]

Had two meetings & a hospital appt. today so used the bike to avoid traffic & parking charges !!

Only took 27 mins to get from Emersons Green to Victoria St. in Central Bristol !

Then rode along the River Avon to Portbury Dock in very warm autumnal sunshine.

Then back to Southmead hospital for an ultrasound - btw I'm NOT pregnant ..... but had my hernia confirmed ;-)

Got a rear wheel p#nct#re a mile from home so just managed to get home without fixing it on the roadside.

Over 50 kms for the day & zero petrol used & zero parking fees paid.

 

[Bobby Mhor]

Luckily I knew @Brandane was heading into Mhor territory so I decided to escape to the Highlands(well almost)..(I didn't really know)


Dropped down to sea level and headed east through Langbank, up Hatton Brae and made my way up to the Erskine Bridge.

I hadn't decided the route after coming off the bridge but as it was a sunny day, I headed west along Route 7.
I passed through @Mad Doug Biker territory (avoiding garages in case I met him), a steady run up the path alongside the River Leven until I reached Balloch.

Home?
nope I thought I'll travel up Route 7 for a wee bit and ten miles later after passing through Croftamie en route, passing over a tin bridge then soon I sat in the square at Drymen.
I saw a sign for The Shire en route and not a Hobbit in sight.

Do I reverse?

Nope, I headed down the A811, a hairy ride at times, everyone trying to bomb down the road.
I rejoined Route 7 and cycled through the country park at Balloch.

A reverse run down the banks of the Leven which was busy with cyclists
Reaching Erskine Bridge, I thought I better decide the way home so it was off across to Houston, Bridge of Weir and on to Route 75 to one mile form home.
A long soak to ease these weary old bones and now with a chilled cider.

70 mile run, no bad for an almost pensioner
(and no @Brandane)

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

It seems like everyone had a stunning day yesterday and it was no different here in the Highlands either (so this a 2 parter... I took too many photos again ), except that we started off at dawn with the fog rolling in and a decision to make on how long to leave our ride before we set out in it. We left around 11am just as colour was starting to show in the fog and within a mile had cycled out of the fog. It was bitterly cold and very definitely winter kit territory today.

The loch was stunningly beautiful with the fog on it and I was cursing being on crutches and not being able to clamber down to the loch shore to get the pictures I wanted. I had to send my OH down twice on one occasion, he just doesn't see pictures the way I do, but I managed to get what I was after in the end.

Where the fog started to burn off...

Decision time - cycle ride or go back to the cottage and get the big camera and the car and have a photography day? It was a close call I have to say...

The autumn colours and the last of the fog. Time to whimper and make the decision.

It's a bike ride day. The other end of the loch is just looking so tempting and I know Rannoch Moor will be stunningly beautiful today.

My view from the road and the last of the fog...

My OH was sent down to the loch shore for an attempt at a picture or two

Second attempt! And he has almost captured what I was after

Around the corner and Blue was out waiting for us today and instead of running away, he ran towards me playfully, full of excitement and happy to see me. He even repeatedly allowed me to stroke him which is fantastic. I was in return duly slobbered all over. Sadly it was time to leave and face the climb up onto the Moor which actually surprised me. I found myself in 4th gear for the steepest part and 8th and 9th gear on other sections, far higher and easier than I was expecting!

Lunch was taken earlier than anticipated. The plan had been to have it at the station café with a cup of coffee, but photos and Blue had taken their toll on our time and we stopped and pulled up off the road on a track, sitting eating our soup and sourdough bread in glorious sunshine trying to work out why I had left the suncream at home (not even in the holiday cottage, but at home!) I had already caught the sun. Coffee was taken at Rannoch Station café again sitting out in the wonderful sunshine.

But it was time to leave and time to head off the Moor, enjoying the downhill. Only there were photos to be taken and then there was a yell. My heart sank - not another fairy visit for my OH surely? No. He had apparently decided that today's route was not long enough and left his gloves at the café. He would go back and catch me up. No arguments, I can get some photos in and enjoy the moor which I love so much.

Sadly it is almost impossible not to have these old power lines in the picture and that grass hides a lethal bog that you don't venture onto...

Just before my OH realises he has left his gloves behind. It was that warm that it took a long time for him to realise.

I just liked the reflection of Schiehallion.

Part 2 shortly...