Mireystock
SIip-slidin' down Big Pig...
Which bit of the 'shire are you from then ?
Your ride today....
- Thread starter gbb
- Start date
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Goonerobes
Its okay to be white
- Location
- Wiltshire
The New Forest was cycling central today as the Wiggle sportive was in town so I plotted my route out across to Wiltshire without bumping into the hordes & my route home going in the opposite direction to them.
A chilly start & showers were forecast so overshoes & gillet were the order of the day as I made my way across the forest & against the wind to Ipsley before my well trodden route through Cranbourne to Sixpenny Handley where the rain started to fall. I sheltered under a tree for a while thinking it would pass & when it eased I carried on to my one & only real hill of the day, a 2.5 mile 500ft climb at Tollard Royal, which is fairly straight forward even into the wind. However, I hadn't bargained on it raining all the way up & by the time I'd got & over I was rather damp to say the least.
Lunch was taken at the bottom of the hill & stopping may not have been my best idea as my now wet feet & hands were beginning to get cold so I cracked on on the puddle filled country lanes at a bit of a pace to try & warm up & dry out a bit. Coombe Blissett & Rockbourne came & went & I was soon back to Fordingbridge where the hundreds of sportive riders were soldiering on in the opposite direction looking decidedly dry as were the forest roads!! Doh!
75.5 miles & my longest this year to date. Still enjoyable despite the rain but not too many photos today I'm afraid as I wanted to get home before trench foot set in!
https://www.strava.com/activities/540126846
Englands second smallest church....
A chilly start & showers were forecast so overshoes & gillet were the order of the day as I made my way across the forest & against the wind to Ipsley before my well trodden route through Cranbourne to Sixpenny Handley where the rain started to fall. I sheltered under a tree for a while thinking it would pass & when it eased I carried on to my one & only real hill of the day, a 2.5 mile 500ft climb at Tollard Royal, which is fairly straight forward even into the wind. However, I hadn't bargained on it raining all the way up & by the time I'd got & over I was rather damp to say the least.
Lunch was taken at the bottom of the hill & stopping may not have been my best idea as my now wet feet & hands were beginning to get cold so I cracked on on the puddle filled country lanes at a bit of a pace to try & warm up & dry out a bit. Coombe Blissett & Rockbourne came & went & I was soon back to Fordingbridge where the hundreds of sportive riders were soldiering on in the opposite direction looking decidedly dry as were the forest roads!! Doh!
75.5 miles & my longest this year to date. Still enjoyable despite the rain but not too many photos today I'm afraid as I wanted to get home before trench foot set in!
https://www.strava.com/activities/540126846
Englands second smallest church....
- Location
- Egham
After a very steady commute home last night, I felt much better this morning. Forecast said heavy rain at 0600hrs, so figured I'd be in the van, but no sign of rain as I ate my breakfast. Biking gear on, stepped out the door. Raining
. Could not be bothered, and didn't have time, to go back in and get the wet weather gear on so a wet commute for me today. Lucky enough to have a very good drying room at work so all should be dry for the journey home in a couple of hours. Got a couple of days off next week so hoping to have a bit of sunshine and a leisurely metric 50 all being well.
. Could not be bothered, and didn't have time, to go back in and get the wet weather gear on so a wet commute for me today. Lucky enough to have a very good drying room at work so all should be dry for the journey home in a couple of hours. Got a couple of days off next week so hoping to have a bit of sunshine and a leisurely metric 50 all being well.
guitarpete247
Just about surviving
- Location
- Leicestershire
I went out planning to do about 20 but it was looking a bit black. I cut route short and was hit by hail storm. 1/2 mile from home it stopped so I added a little loop to get mileage up to 12.
Last edited:
NorthernDave
Never used Über Member
- Location
- The real Northern Powerhouse
Woke up early intending to get out before showers forecast for the middle part of the day.
I don't know what went wrong, but I just couldn't get started this morning. It took me an age to get ready even though all my cycling gear was to hand and I faffed about for ages getting ready.
Eventually out of the door and up the street on the road bike, got half a mile from home and realised I hadn't got my pump with me.
Hmmm...I did have a CO2 canister and adapter, but no pump...given how the morning had gone so far, I messaged Mrs ND that I was coming back for the pump.
Back home, pump fitted and about to set off again, only for the reflector to come adrift from the right side pedal. Removed and given to Mrs ND for safe keeping and set off again. At this point it was 1 mile travelled, distance from home - nil.
Anyhow, up to Coal Road and for a bit of variation I'd decided to head for Otley. There was method in my madness as the wind was from the west, which meant a run to Otley would see it largely behind me on the return leg.
That said, it felt like blooming hard work up Coal Rd and the drag up the hill in Shadwell. Right at the lights at Slaid Hill, then left and along "Millionaires Row" (Wigton Lane) to Alwoodley Gates, straight across Harrogate Rd and carried on up Alwoodley Lane. Apparently this is where much of the money is in Leeds. I guess the extensions, additions and design of many of the houses does prove that money doesn't buy taste. I won't be rushing to move up here if I drop the Lotto.
Eventually made it to King Lane and a right turn down the hill past the golf course and then right up the side of Golden Acre Park on Arthington Lane.
Rather than head to Otley via the traditional route, I carried on to Black Hill Lane to tackle the mighty Black Hill in reverse.
Regular readers may recall trying to ride up this hill has damn near killed me twice, so I thought I'd have the pleasure of descending it.
'Pleasure' is perhaps the wrong word. You reach the brow of the hill and it's like riding off the edge of a cliff (see the elevation profile below)! If anything it looks steeper going down rather than climbing it. Add to the mix a damp road, a bit of mud from the quarry / farm and the 90 degree bend half way down and I spent the whole descent on the brakes and clinging on for dear life.
Anyhow, down the hill and still alive, I turned left on the road into Arthington, then carried on to Pool-in-Wharfedale.
Here, instead of heading straight up the valley to Otley, I was inspired by a report from @Old jon earlier this week and headed over the river and turned left onto the B6161 towards Leathley. Down past the farm and the layby, then left over the single track bridge across the River Washburn, where I had the first close pass of the day from a couple of Cal Crutchlow wannabees on their motorbikes.
The long climb up Farnley Park beckoned - I've driven this road a hundred times when we used to go walking in the Washburn Valley, but it seemed quite a bit steeper and longer today for some reason
. Anyhow, on with the task in hand I was at the top soon enough. You do get to see a lot more of the scenery on a bike though.
Straight on to Farnley Lane and eventually the rapid descent down into Newall and Otley where I stopped for a drink and 5 minutes by the weir at Wharfemeadows Park .
Refreshed and back on the bike, over the bridge into Otley proper and I toyed with the idea of stopping at Weegmans for a pie, but decided not to as I couldn't be bothered with the faff of finding somewhere to secure the bike, taking all the easily nickable stuff off and putting it back on etc, so carried straight on at the lights, following the road round past Chevin Cycles and started the climb up to the A660 and the drag up to the traffic lights at Pool Bank.
To be honest, this is the first time I've cycled this way and I've always avoided it as it's such a long continuous climb (over 2.5 miles), but I didn't find it too bad once I'd got into a rhythm. I was passed by another cyclist quite early on which spurred me on to drop down it a gear and put a bit more effort in and although I couldn't stay with him I was quite pleased with myself by the time I got to the top.
The traffic lights were red when I got to them, which gave me a well earned breather and then on towards Bramhope. Another too close pass from an Arla tanker driver after the S-bends, but a nice fast descent all the way down to the Kings Road roundabout was enough to put a smile on my face, before the sharp climb up to Arthington Lane past the quarry.
Back onto King Lane and the series of climbs up to Alwoodley Lane where I stopped for a quick drink and to swap water bottles round as the first one was empty now, then a reverse of the outbound route to Coal Rd. I realised I was going to come up short of the 50 km mark if I headed straight for home, so I added on a couple of loops on roads I don't normally use (I now know why I don't ride on one of these roads as the surface is rougher than a rough thing - won't be going down there again)
. A quick final loop around the block and on to home - feeling a darn sight better about the day than I had when I set off.
32.23 miles (51.8 km) in 2 hrs 26 mins at an average of 13.2 mph with 1,942 ft climbed (inc five Cat 5 climbs, which is another first for me). Max speed 31.8 mph, although I'm sure I could have gone a lot faster down Black Hill if it wasn't wet, muddy and I wasn't such a coward...
Pleased I stuck with it and got out there after such a rubbish start to the day.
I don't know what went wrong, but I just couldn't get started this morning. It took me an age to get ready even though all my cycling gear was to hand and I faffed about for ages getting ready.
Eventually out of the door and up the street on the road bike, got half a mile from home and realised I hadn't got my pump with me.
Hmmm...I did have a CO2 canister and adapter, but no pump...given how the morning had gone so far, I messaged Mrs ND that I was coming back for the pump.
Back home, pump fitted and about to set off again, only for the reflector to come adrift from the right side pedal. Removed and given to Mrs ND for safe keeping and set off again. At this point it was 1 mile travelled, distance from home - nil.
Anyhow, up to Coal Road and for a bit of variation I'd decided to head for Otley. There was method in my madness as the wind was from the west, which meant a run to Otley would see it largely behind me on the return leg.
That said, it felt like blooming hard work up Coal Rd and the drag up the hill in Shadwell. Right at the lights at Slaid Hill, then left and along "Millionaires Row" (Wigton Lane) to Alwoodley Gates, straight across Harrogate Rd and carried on up Alwoodley Lane. Apparently this is where much of the money is in Leeds. I guess the extensions, additions and design of many of the houses does prove that money doesn't buy taste. I won't be rushing to move up here if I drop the Lotto.
Eventually made it to King Lane and a right turn down the hill past the golf course and then right up the side of Golden Acre Park on Arthington Lane.
Rather than head to Otley via the traditional route, I carried on to Black Hill Lane to tackle the mighty Black Hill in reverse.
Regular readers may recall trying to ride up this hill has damn near killed me twice, so I thought I'd have the pleasure of descending it.
'Pleasure' is perhaps the wrong word. You reach the brow of the hill and it's like riding off the edge of a cliff (see the elevation profile below)! If anything it looks steeper going down rather than climbing it. Add to the mix a damp road, a bit of mud from the quarry / farm and the 90 degree bend half way down and I spent the whole descent on the brakes and clinging on for dear life.
Anyhow, down the hill and still alive, I turned left on the road into Arthington, then carried on to Pool-in-Wharfedale.
Here, instead of heading straight up the valley to Otley, I was inspired by a report from @Old jon earlier this week and headed over the river and turned left onto the B6161 towards Leathley. Down past the farm and the layby, then left over the single track bridge across the River Washburn, where I had the first close pass of the day from a couple of Cal Crutchlow wannabees on their motorbikes.
The long climb up Farnley Park beckoned - I've driven this road a hundred times when we used to go walking in the Washburn Valley, but it seemed quite a bit steeper and longer today for some reason
. Anyhow, on with the task in hand I was at the top soon enough. You do get to see a lot more of the scenery on a bike though.Straight on to Farnley Lane and eventually the rapid descent down into Newall and Otley where I stopped for a drink and 5 minutes by the weir at Wharfemeadows Park .
Refreshed and back on the bike, over the bridge into Otley proper and I toyed with the idea of stopping at Weegmans for a pie, but decided not to as I couldn't be bothered with the faff of finding somewhere to secure the bike, taking all the easily nickable stuff off and putting it back on etc, so carried straight on at the lights, following the road round past Chevin Cycles and started the climb up to the A660 and the drag up to the traffic lights at Pool Bank.
To be honest, this is the first time I've cycled this way and I've always avoided it as it's such a long continuous climb (over 2.5 miles), but I didn't find it too bad once I'd got into a rhythm. I was passed by another cyclist quite early on which spurred me on to drop down it a gear and put a bit more effort in and although I couldn't stay with him I was quite pleased with myself by the time I got to the top.
The traffic lights were red when I got to them, which gave me a well earned breather and then on towards Bramhope. Another too close pass from an Arla tanker driver after the S-bends, but a nice fast descent all the way down to the Kings Road roundabout was enough to put a smile on my face, before the sharp climb up to Arthington Lane past the quarry.
Back onto King Lane and the series of climbs up to Alwoodley Lane where I stopped for a quick drink and to swap water bottles round as the first one was empty now, then a reverse of the outbound route to Coal Rd. I realised I was going to come up short of the 50 km mark if I headed straight for home, so I added on a couple of loops on roads I don't normally use (I now know why I don't ride on one of these roads as the surface is rougher than a rough thing - won't be going down there again)
. A quick final loop around the block and on to home - feeling a darn sight better about the day than I had when I set off.32.23 miles (51.8 km) in 2 hrs 26 mins at an average of 13.2 mph with 1,942 ft climbed (inc five Cat 5 climbs, which is another first for me). Max speed 31.8 mph, although I'm sure I could have gone a lot faster down Black Hill if it wasn't wet, muddy and I wasn't such a coward...
Pleased I stuck with it and got out there after such a rubbish start to the day.
Last edited:
mybike
Grumblin at Garmin on the Granny Gear
- Location
- Not 'emel 'empstead
I should have mentioned that as I neared home I felt as if I'd grown a bit or the bike had shrunk, yep the saddle had slipped down.
I was in two minds about this ride, maybe I shouldn't have, but I did as it was such a beautiful day to ride around Arran. 
Having been invited by some other CCers, I rocked up at Ardrossan in plenty of time for the ferry, shortly followed by the others to make our band of 6.
For those that don't know, going clockwise around the island involves a steep climb out of Brodick that you tackle from a cold start. This is not particularly pleasant, but it soon becomes shallower... and longer. Alarm bells were ringing already, I was not exactly feeling sprightly. But we're here now... it'll be fine once you get warmed up! Right?
Not really. As we made our way around the south, things were not improving much. Hmmm, I guess the hills are going to be rather slow today. And so they were, but I was getting up them, so I just resigned myself to this and looked forward to the Cafe stop at Machrie Bay
After the Cafe, it's really flat for a while and we had a tailwind, so we could try and get warmed up again, but there's a sting in the tail in the form of a rather savage little lump that is a nasty shock to the system after you've been bowling along in a high gear for a couple of miles, to suddenly have to climb a 15% ramp.
Ouch. Was that the legs wanting to cramp up? Yes, yes it was.
By the time we started the big climb out of Lochranza, I was feeling really bad. This was gonna hurt, and Ross and Ed were no better off. We had an hour to get to the ferry for the earlier crossing. We struggled up the climb with multiple stops, I managed to enjoy the fast descent off the other side, then it was into the wind down the east side. It was soon clear that Ross and I were completely spent, but dragged ourselves the last few miles in our little rings, spinning small gears.
We made it before the ferry
Whilst waiting with the horde of cyclists, I began feeling rather unwell. I had to sit down before I fell down, felt really unsteady, then began shivering. Well, that just ends the day brilliantly doesn't it
No energy left, I had hit the wall.
Someone handed me a drink, and someone else fed me a mars bar, remarking that I was looking really pale, but a few minutes later I was at least better enough to walk to the ferry, find that I could barely climb the stairs to the restaurant, and eat.
What a lovely day though!
https://www.strava.com/activities/540486177/overview
Having been invited by some other CCers, I rocked up at Ardrossan in plenty of time for the ferry, shortly followed by the others to make our band of 6.
For those that don't know, going clockwise around the island involves a steep climb out of Brodick that you tackle from a cold start. This is not particularly pleasant, but it soon becomes shallower... and longer. Alarm bells were ringing already, I was not exactly feeling sprightly. But we're here now... it'll be fine once you get warmed up! Right?
Not really. As we made our way around the south, things were not improving much. Hmmm, I guess the hills are going to be rather slow today. And so they were, but I was getting up them, so I just resigned myself to this and looked forward to the Cafe stop at Machrie Bay
After the Cafe, it's really flat for a while and we had a tailwind, so we could try and get warmed up again, but there's a sting in the tail in the form of a rather savage little lump that is a nasty shock to the system after you've been bowling along in a high gear for a couple of miles, to suddenly have to climb a 15% ramp.
Ouch. Was that the legs wanting to cramp up? Yes, yes it was.
By the time we started the big climb out of Lochranza, I was feeling really bad. This was gonna hurt, and Ross and Ed were no better off. We had an hour to get to the ferry for the earlier crossing. We struggled up the climb with multiple stops, I managed to enjoy the fast descent off the other side, then it was into the wind down the east side. It was soon clear that Ross and I were completely spent, but dragged ourselves the last few miles in our little rings, spinning small gears.
We made it before the ferry
Whilst waiting with the horde of cyclists, I began feeling rather unwell. I had to sit down before I fell down, felt really unsteady, then began shivering. Well, that just ends the day brilliantly doesn't it
No energy left, I had hit the wall.Someone handed me a drink, and someone else fed me a mars bar, remarking that I was looking really pale, but a few minutes later I was at least better enough to walk to the ferry, find that I could barely climb the stairs to the restaurant, and eat.
What a lovely day though!
https://www.strava.com/activities/540486177/overview
DCLane
Found in the Yorkshire hills ...
- Location
- Dewsbury, West Yorkshire
My youngest wasn't up for racing this morning but wanted a decent ride at speed to keep working on his fitness. However I'd got a TT later - so we joined the Saturday morning club run. Cue a mile in and the 11 year-old's dropped the club riders and gone off ahead. All OK except a chain problem (new chain needed now for him). 36 miles done ... so that's me warmed up then!
Then we drove to Brotherton for my TT - there I rode the V910 course in my club's 10TT. I thought I'd done 27:21 last year so wasn't happy with 26:35 given this time it was on the Principia TT2 light.
However ... looking on Strava it was 31:40 last year so I'm over 5 minutes faster.
That's the first time the Principia has been used in a TT since the build over Christmas (and the first time it's been usable since 2008) so not bad for a first go. The route was almost clear and for the first time on a TT I didn't get cramp; I've moved the saddle a bit lower. The only problem was I went too fast and too deep into a roundabout meaning a bail-out left at speed!
My youngest sat on the 2nd out/last back roundabout shouting encouragement to everyone taking part, with a watchful eye from a couple of club members.
Some work to do on my pacing but I wasn't sure how the bike would perform; handling's been difficult at speed but today was fine. Maybe I'm just getting used to a proper TT bike? I'm back on the course on the 29th of May for another 10 so we'll see how it goes then.
Then we drove to Brotherton for my TT - there I rode the V910 course in my club's 10TT. I thought I'd done 27:21 last year so wasn't happy with 26:35 given this time it was on the Principia TT2 light.
However ... looking on Strava it was 31:40 last year so I'm over 5 minutes faster.
That's the first time the Principia has been used in a TT since the build over Christmas (and the first time it's been usable since 2008) so not bad for a first go. The route was almost clear and for the first time on a TT I didn't get cramp; I've moved the saddle a bit lower. The only problem was I went too fast and too deep into a roundabout meaning a bail-out left at speed!
My youngest sat on the 2nd out/last back roundabout shouting encouragement to everyone taking part, with a watchful eye from a couple of club members.
Some work to do on my pacing but I wasn't sure how the bike would perform; handling's been difficult at speed but today was fine. Maybe I'm just getting used to a proper TT bike? I'm back on the course on the 29th of May for another 10 so we'll see how it goes then.
Last edited:
Billy Wizz
Veteran
- Location
- North Wales
What a morning,
Stonechat
Guru
- Location
- Staines, Middlesex
Well I've done just one TT = a 25 - And plan to do a 10 or twoMy youngest wasn't up for racing this morning but wanted a decent ride at speed to keep working on his fitness. However I'd got a TT later - so we joined the Saturday morning club run. Cue a mile in and the 11 year-old's dropped the club riders and gone off ahead. All OK except a chain problem (new chain needed now for him). 36 miles done ... so that's me warmed up then!
Then we drove to Brotherton for my TT - there I rode the V910 course in my club's 10TT. I thought I'd done 27:21 last year so wasn't happy with 26:35 given this time it was on the Principia TT2 light.
However ... looking on Strava it was 31:40 last year so I'm over 5 minutes faster.
That's the first time the Principia has been used in a TT since the build over Christmas (and the first time it's been usable since 2008) so not bad for a first go. The route was almost clear and for the first time on a TT I didn't get cramp; I've moved the saddle a bit lower. The only problem was I went too fast and too deep into a roundabout meaning a bail-out left at speed!
My youngest sat on the 2nd out/last back roundabout shouting encouragement to everyone taking part, with a watchful eye from a couple of club members.
Some work to do on my pacing but I wasn't sure how the bike would perform; handling's been difficult at speed but today was fine. Maybe I'm just getting used to a proper TT bike? I'm back on the course on the 29th of May for another 10 so we'll see how it goes then.
Seems to be hard when the course is not exactly flat
- Location
- Egham
Weather is a bit odd at the moment. Cycled in to work in the rain yesterday morning with temperature about 10 C, and home into a chilly wind. This morning there was ice on the cars and 1 C. Now the suns out and forecast 12C for the ride home. Clothing nightmare
Anyway, on the commute in today my Boardman CX became the bike with the highest mileage, reaching 2,333 miles so just pipping the Trek 1.2. Not bad given I only bought it Feb/March last year, whilst I've had the Trek since mid Summer 2013. Maybe that's telling me something and I should thin the fleet a little
Anyway, on the commute in today my Boardman CX became the bike with the highest mileage, reaching 2,333 miles so just pipping the Trek 1.2. Not bad given I only bought it Feb/March last year, whilst I've had the Trek since mid Summer 2013. Maybe that's telling me something and I should thin the fleet a little
twentysix by twentyfive
Clinging on tightly
- Location
- Over the Hill
Not Gloucs but Worcs. Malvern. I get down to the Forest quite often. I seem to have spent quite a lot of my time over recent weeks and months heading down into Gloucestershire. Which bit of the Forest are you from?
Firestorm
Veteran
- Location
- Southend on Sea
Managed my first 25 miler for almost 30 years..beautiful morning , loads of cyclists out on the seafront and groups out on the back lanes.
(26 miles in a smidge over 2 hours, so hardly epic, but its a start)
(26 miles in a smidge over 2 hours, so hardly epic, but its a start)
Billy Wizz
Veteran
- Location
- North Wales
Weather is a bit odd at the moment. Cycled in to work in the rain yesterday morning with temperature about 10 C, and home into a chilly wind. This morning there was ice on the cars and 1 C. Now the suns out and forecast 12C for the ride home. Clothing nightmare
Anyway, on the commute in today my Boardman CX became the bike with the highest mileage, reaching 2,333 miles so just pipping the Trek 1.2. Not bad given I only bought it Feb/March last year, whilst I've had the Trek since mid Summer 2013. Maybe that's telling me something and I should thin the fleet a little
Thin the fleet, ? as long as you have the space never enough.
I have a boardman hybrid I haven't touched in over a year it's a great bike just not in favour at the moment.
- Location
- Egham
Yeah, my bad. Can't have been thinking straight
