- Location
- Egham
Nice pic
Your ride today....
- Thread starter gbb
- Start date
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NorthernDave
Never used Über Member
- Location
- The real Northern Powerhouse
Saturday's for miles, Sunday's for smiles (and if you believe that you'll believe anything 
), so it was out on the hybrid this morning for a familiar loop to stretch the legs and make the most of the big yellow circle in the sky.
Much better at getting sorted and out of the door than yesterday, up to the Ring Road using a short stretch of the Cycle not so Super Highway (CNSSH), then onto Limewood Approach and a swift downhill scoot through the northern extremities of Seacroft down to Wetherby Road and onto the Wyke Beck Way (WBW) just below Roundhay Park, where I passed another cyclist heading in the opposite direction - a first for this section, maybe word is getting out?
Through the woods and out onto Easterly Road, then the easy run down Arthurs Rein and across the beck onto Fearnville Fields, avoiding the pedestrians and dog walkers who seem to think they own the path...
Over South Parkway Approach and Foundry Lane and back over the beck and up onto Killingbeck Fields, passing a jogger (who gave me room) and another pedestrian (who didn't)
and the ascent to Killingbeck Office / Retail Park where the route is still diverted into the Office Park around the CNSSH works depot where they were working (on a Sunday - probably due to the fact it's now 4 months overdue and still nowhere near finished...).
Hit the traffic lights across York Rd just right and up into the Sutton Estate and over the railway line into Primrose Valley Park. Still a bit of broken glass about, but nowhere near as bad as last time. Then the fast descent down to the exit onto Lucy Avenue and then Selby Road, where I turned left up the hill in the cycle lane, missing out the WBW section through Halton Moor.
Up the hill to the lights, through the dangerous and poorly laid out cycle provision to turn right onto Temple Newsam Road before taking a short gravelly section of NCN R66 back across the golf course
and picking up the Temple Newsam Trail through the woods. A bit muddy given all the recent rain, but good fun as always.
Eventually the fun ended and it was back out onto the tarmac service road parallel to the M1 and up the hill, before plunging down the other side.
Any hopes of a run up to gain momentum for the killer Cat 5 climb back up into the park were dashed by another ignorant dog walker, who despite being aware I was approaching made no effort to bring her two dogs under control, forcing me to virtually stop to avoid squashing one of them. A hard slog up the hill followed, with the granny ring brought into use
then round and up to the hill overlooking the city for a drink and a photo:
Round the back of the house on some very muddy tracks, then along The Avenue to the Lodge and back onto NCN R66.
A mix of good / ignorant peds, then across the road and onto the cycleway through Colton, the eventually to School Lane and the slog up to the Ring Road.
Across there into Austhorpe, then down onto Thorp Park and then the bridleway section over the M1 and down to Garforth, where again progress was checked by non-sharers on the shared route.
Quickish run to Garforth on the tarmac, then left under the railway bridge and back on Nanny Goat Lane past the riding school and the fun descent on the bridleway under the M1 and out to Manston Lane, where I had a slight pause whilst a horse and rider negotiated the gate.
Back up past the Pet Hotel (or kennels, as they used to be called...) where it looks like prep work for the new dual carriageway might have started as they are drilling / excavating in one of the fields and have set up a small site office
Up onto Pendas Fields, a quick run down to Barwick Road, then my final numpty of the day who refused to let me turn right despite the fact he was having to stop for a pedestrian crossing and deliberately stopped short of the crossing, blocking my way. Then up to home!
16.5 miles (26.55km) in a steady 1 hr 32 mins at an average of 10.7 mph with 971 ft climbed.
I'll take that for a sunny Sunday morning, given the amount of numpties that were out. I might have to start getting out earlier to avoid them...
), so it was out on the hybrid this morning for a familiar loop to stretch the legs and make the most of the big yellow circle in the sky.Much better at getting sorted and out of the door than yesterday, up to the Ring Road using a short stretch of the Cycle not so Super Highway (CNSSH), then onto Limewood Approach and a swift downhill scoot through the northern extremities of Seacroft down to Wetherby Road and onto the Wyke Beck Way (WBW) just below Roundhay Park, where I passed another cyclist heading in the opposite direction - a first for this section, maybe word is getting out?
Through the woods and out onto Easterly Road, then the easy run down Arthurs Rein and across the beck onto Fearnville Fields, avoiding the pedestrians and dog walkers who seem to think they own the path...
Over South Parkway Approach and Foundry Lane and back over the beck and up onto Killingbeck Fields, passing a jogger (who gave me room) and another pedestrian (who didn't)
and the ascent to Killingbeck Office / Retail Park where the route is still diverted into the Office Park around the CNSSH works depot where they were working (on a Sunday - probably due to the fact it's now 4 months overdue and still nowhere near finished...).Hit the traffic lights across York Rd just right and up into the Sutton Estate and over the railway line into Primrose Valley Park. Still a bit of broken glass about, but nowhere near as bad as last time. Then the fast descent down to the exit onto Lucy Avenue and then Selby Road, where I turned left up the hill in the cycle lane, missing out the WBW section through Halton Moor.
Up the hill to the lights, through the dangerous and poorly laid out cycle provision to turn right onto Temple Newsam Road before taking a short gravelly section of NCN R66 back across the golf course
and picking up the Temple Newsam Trail through the woods. A bit muddy given all the recent rain, but good fun as always.Eventually the fun ended and it was back out onto the tarmac service road parallel to the M1 and up the hill, before plunging down the other side.
Any hopes of a run up to gain momentum for the killer Cat 5 climb back up into the park were dashed by another ignorant dog walker, who despite being aware I was approaching made no effort to bring her two dogs under control, forcing me to virtually stop to avoid squashing one of them. A hard slog up the hill followed, with the granny ring brought into use
then round and up to the hill overlooking the city for a drink and a photo:Round the back of the house on some very muddy tracks, then along The Avenue to the Lodge and back onto NCN R66.
A mix of good / ignorant peds, then across the road and onto the cycleway through Colton, the eventually to School Lane and the slog up to the Ring Road.
Across there into Austhorpe, then down onto Thorp Park and then the bridleway section over the M1 and down to Garforth, where again progress was checked by non-sharers on the shared route.
Quickish run to Garforth on the tarmac, then left under the railway bridge and back on Nanny Goat Lane past the riding school and the fun descent on the bridleway under the M1 and out to Manston Lane, where I had a slight pause whilst a horse and rider negotiated the gate.
Back up past the Pet Hotel (or kennels, as they used to be called...) where it looks like prep work for the new dual carriageway might have started as they are drilling / excavating in one of the fields and have set up a small site office
Up onto Pendas Fields, a quick run down to Barwick Road, then my final numpty of the day who refused to let me turn right despite the fact he was having to stop for a pedestrian crossing and deliberately stopped short of the crossing, blocking my way.
Then up to home!16.5 miles (26.55km) in a steady 1 hr 32 mins at an average of 10.7 mph with 971 ft climbed.
I'll take that for a sunny Sunday morning, given the amount of numpties that were out. I might have to start getting out earlier to avoid them...
dan_bo
How much does it cost to Oldham?
Was lovely. Have another one. Ellesmere Port inNice pic
gavroche
Getting old but not past it
- Location
- North Wales
Back on the bike after a 6 weeks off due to bad weather and other commitments. Only did 8 miles but it was a great feeling to be back on to wheels.
Several rides over the last few days to write up..
On Friday, I had a few hours before w*rk to meet up with a mate at Pitsford Res for a few miles.He'd wanted to be out at 07:00 ish, but due to my late finish, I said I'd see him at 10:00 on the dam wall.
As it was a lovely warmish day, shorts were in order. I reckon I'll need Photoshop to get some colour on these legs!!
I was a bit early at Pitsford, so I did a mile or so while I waited for my mate to turn up. He'd ridden to Mkt. Harborough and back and was only 2 minutes late arriving. Not bad, really, over 30 miles!
Nevertheless, he bought the coffees
After a chat for a while, I had to aim back home and get ready for w*rk so we only managed about 5 miles together. Nice to meet up though..
25 enjoyable miles in Springlike weather.
https://www.strava.com/activities/539091800
On Saturday morning, it was blood donoring time, so I rode the 3 miles each way on the old pub bike to give my 49th pint before having lunch and heading off to meet three friends at Harleston Firs for a fairly gentle ride around the trails there. I did take some rice crispie cakes with me, but they suffered a bit in the back pack were still edible!!
One of the bridges is a bit rickety, but rideable.
I must have hit this one a bit hard!
I was surprised to get a KOM and a couple of PB's on the wiggly bits in the Firs, but the KOM was a Strava hiccup, not my speed!
It was getting a bit cooler and rainy by the time I headed off, and when I reached home I was decidedly wet.
26 miles, starting dry and finishing wet.
https://www.strava.com/activities/540250814
On Friday, I had a few hours before w*rk to meet up with a mate at Pitsford Res for a few miles.He'd wanted to be out at 07:00 ish, but due to my late finish, I said I'd see him at 10:00 on the dam wall.
As it was a lovely warmish day, shorts were in order. I reckon I'll need Photoshop to get some colour on these legs!!
I was a bit early at Pitsford, so I did a mile or so while I waited for my mate to turn up. He'd ridden to Mkt. Harborough and back and was only 2 minutes late arriving. Not bad, really, over 30 miles!
Nevertheless, he bought the coffees After a chat for a while, I had to aim back home and get ready for w*rk
so we only managed about 5 miles together. Nice to meet up though..25 enjoyable miles in Springlike weather.
https://www.strava.com/activities/539091800
On Saturday morning, it was blood donoring time, so I rode the 3 miles each way on the old pub bike to give my 49th pint before having lunch and heading off to meet three friends at Harleston Firs for a fairly gentle ride around the trails there. I did take some rice crispie cakes with me, but they suffered a bit in the back pack were still edible!!
One of the bridges is a bit rickety, but rideable.
I must have hit this one a bit hard!
I was surprised to get a KOM and a couple of PB's on the wiggly bits in the Firs, but the KOM was a Strava hiccup, not my speed!
It was getting a bit cooler and rainy by the time I headed off, and when I reached home I was decidedly wet.
26 miles, starting dry and finishing wet.
https://www.strava.com/activities/540250814
Last edited:
mark st1
Plastic Manc
- Location
- Leafy Berkshire
Where abouts are you then sir ? And would yourself and @Stonechat as your both local ish be so kind as to look at my post in the Cycling Clubs room please ? Cheers
nickyboy
Norven Mankey
- Location
- You want hills? We got hills
Forecast was good...sunny, 8 degrees, easterlies. That wind direction is a rarity around here so give me a chance to take on probably the hardest of all Peak District climbs.....Winnats Pass
So with that forecast I was surprised to wake up to this
Snow on the tops..and that was where I was going. Plan was Snake Pass, Hope Valley, Winnats, Whaley Bridge, Marple, Glossop
Tough climb up the Snake into a strong headwind. Lots of snow on the top so no hanging around. What was interesting was I was passed up the Snake by a van with several road bikes on top. When I got to the top they were being unloaded and ridden around. A group seemed to have decided to drive to the top as the start to their ride. Cheating if you ask me. Got proper chilly on the run down to Ladybower reservoir.
Gazillions of cyclists in the Hope Valley....getting nervous as I got close to Winnats. 1.5km at 12% with about 0.8km at about 16%. Made it but it wasn't pretty
By then the snow had gone and I had a nice tailwind to Whaley Bridge
Nice surprise in Whaley. The "Ronde van Chinley" was on and my LBS had put on a feed station. I've spent so much on replacement Campagnolo stuff with them recently they let me have whatever I fancied.
Total ride was 46miles with 5,000ft of climbing. Cracked open a beer and slumped in the chair to watch Paris Roubaix
So with that forecast I was surprised to wake up to this
Snow on the tops..and that was where I was going. Plan was Snake Pass, Hope Valley, Winnats, Whaley Bridge, Marple, Glossop
Tough climb up the Snake into a strong headwind. Lots of snow on the top so no hanging around. What was interesting was I was passed up the Snake by a van with several road bikes on top. When I got to the top they were being unloaded and ridden around. A group seemed to have decided to drive to the top as the start to their ride. Cheating if you ask me. Got proper chilly on the run down to Ladybower reservoir.
Gazillions of cyclists in the Hope Valley....getting nervous as I got close to Winnats. 1.5km at 12% with about 0.8km at about 16%. Made it but it wasn't pretty
By then the snow had gone and I had a nice tailwind to Whaley Bridge
Nice surprise in Whaley. The "Ronde van Chinley" was on and my LBS had put on a feed station. I've spent so much on replacement Campagnolo stuff with them recently they let me have whatever I fancied.
Total ride was 46miles with 5,000ft of climbing. Cracked open a beer and slumped in the chair to watch Paris Roubaix
Last edited:
Julia9054
Guru
- Location
- Knaresborough
Up to Fountains Abbey and Ripon. Only 30 miles but decided to count cyclists. 97!
Oldfentiger
Veteran
- Location
- Pendle, Lancs
Set out just after lunch, up to Barley then the long pull up past Pendle. Down through Downham and Chatburn to Clitheroe.
Stopped at The Green Jersey for coffee and cake. Quite a few in there watching Paris Roubaix.
On to the A59 and left past Spring Wood. Read and Simonstone then left along the A6068 to Barrowford, where I had another coffee stop with some friends.
Up to Blacko then swoop down to Roughlee, past the Clarion cafe and home.
It all felt like really hard work today. However, looking at Strava - 28 miles @ 13.4mph average, which is about 1.5 mph more than I usually average in this hilly area.
Also no fewer than 28 PR's on the way round. So it felt like hard work cos I was going quicker than ever before!
https://www.strava.com/activities/541428744
Stopped at The Green Jersey for coffee and cake. Quite a few in there watching Paris Roubaix.
On to the A59 and left past Spring Wood. Read and Simonstone then left along the A6068 to Barrowford, where I had another coffee stop with some friends.
Up to Blacko then swoop down to Roughlee, past the Clarion cafe and home.
It all felt like really hard work today. However, looking at Strava - 28 miles @ 13.4mph average, which is about 1.5 mph more than I usually average in this hilly area.
Also no fewer than 28 PR's on the way round. So it felt like hard work cos I was going quicker than ever before!
https://www.strava.com/activities/541428744
- Location
- Egham
I'm in Egham. I've replied to your post with a couple of options also. Not one for a club myself at the moment, need to get my fitness sorted first
Racing roadkill
Guru
Disc brakes, Road bike
.
Dark46
Veteran
- Location
- Quedgeley, Gloucester
Well I went with @Donger and @Frazzle on Eastgate Cycle Clubs Paris-Roubiax ride.
I'm not going to run through every turn and village as the battery on my phone will not last that long lol.
I turned up late so I didn't make the photo call at the pub at the start so the camera is still ok.
I met up with them on the Over road on the way out of Gloucester. The route was planned as 100 km and I was determined to make this ride my longest to date.
The ride went To Pershore and back in a roundabout way. The worst thing about the day was the wind. It didn't matter what direction we were cycling in we had a head wind.
It was a very enjoyable ride with a coffee stop in Pershore. There were 3 offs with Clare falling off while at standstill. Then her husband Glen going over the bars while changing gear. Which I never witnessed, then Lloyd who got cramp 3/4 of the way Wainlode hill and fell off.
The ride officially end back at the Cider Tree with Flemish Stew and fries.
I did my longest ride to date with a 70.3 miles with an average speed of 14 MPH. This week I cracked 100 miles withe ride on Wednesday so I good week in all.
I'm not going to run through every turn and village as the battery on my phone will not last that long lol.
I turned up late so I didn't make the photo call at the pub at the start so the camera is still ok.
I met up with them on the Over road on the way out of Gloucester. The route was planned as 100 km and I was determined to make this ride my longest to date.
The ride went To Pershore and back in a roundabout way. The worst thing about the day was the wind. It didn't matter what direction we were cycling in we had a head wind.
It was a very enjoyable ride with a coffee stop in Pershore. There were 3 offs with Clare falling off while at standstill. Then her husband Glen going over the bars while changing gear. Which I never witnessed, then Lloyd who got cramp 3/4 of the way Wainlode hill and fell off.
The ride officially end back at the Cider Tree with Flemish Stew and fries.
I did my longest ride to date with a 70.3 miles with an average speed of 14 MPH. This week I cracked 100 miles withe ride on Wednesday so I good week in all.
Donger
Convoi Exceptionnel
- Location
- Quedgeley, Glos.
Had a nasty chest infection, and was hacking up a lung all week. That was OK though, as it turned out I had a spare one. Today was the day that Eastgate Cycle Club have their annual 100km "Rob Willmot Memorial Paris Roubaix" ride, and as most of my Kingsway CC Sunday ride mates are also Eastgate members, I was determined to start this one, even if I might not complete it. My bike was looking resplendent with its new mudguards, and I stuck the map holder on .... much to the amusement of many of the other riders. (Funny how many of them either ended up sneaking a look at the map or else complaining about their Garmins today):
Rode into Gloucester over the cobbled pedestrianized parts to add a bit of Paris-Roubaix flavour and met up at the Coach and Horses round the back of Kingsholm rugby stadium. The official ride got off to a bit of a late start as a photographer turned up from the Gloucestershire Citizen newspaper and insisted on herding us into the perfect shaped group before we could get away. I had already taken this shot in the beer garden before everyone got there:
Despite feeling a little rough, this year's ride was flat enough for me to get round OK. We stopped for coffee and cakes in Pershore and then headed back to Gloucester via a slingshot off Bredon Hill. Here is a shot of our little Grupetto at Kersoe near Elmley Castle in Worcestershire (@Frazzle and @Dark46 on the right):
Some sadist decided to include a climb of the vicious little Wainlodes Hill near Norton on the return route, somewhere around the 55 mile mark (which was 58 miles for me). Felt a bit of a heel as I only made it up Wainlodes by steering around a fallen rider in the road. He had cramped up and just flopped over sideways with a clatter and a groan. He said he was OK, and a couple of others had stopped at the top just a few metres away to see that he was alright, so I gritted my teeth, counted to 20, and kept grinding on past him. Made it!
On the way back through Sandhurst (the only place I had ever previously been attacked by dogs), I started to fall behind a little. Caught sight of Glen and @Dark46 disappearing into the distance with 3 terriers chasing just behind. Turns out they were not even aware they were being chased! Then it was my turn. As I got level with the 3 terriers, one of them curled his lips and started to lunge at me. Totally freaked him out by yelling "Gerrrtcha!" (Chas and Dave style) as loud as I could ... while passing under a nice echoing road bridge. Surprised myself by how loud I was, and ended up scaring a lady cyclist just in front of me, but the 3 dogs turned tail and legged it through a hedge at something close to warp speed. Result!
Got the 100km official ride done in 5 hours 20 mins (the fastest of my Metric Century a Month Challenge rides so far this year) and ended up doing 110.4km (68.6 miles). As I don't bother with Garmin or Strava, I always provide photo evidence of my Challenge rides, so here is this month's:
One long, hot bath later, and it's nice to have got that out of the way despite feeling under the weather. Very lucky with the sunny weather, even if the last 20 miles all seemed to be straight into a strong headwind.
Cheers, Donger.
Rode into Gloucester over the cobbled pedestrianized parts to add a bit of Paris-Roubaix flavour and met up at the Coach and Horses round the back of Kingsholm rugby stadium. The official ride got off to a bit of a late start as a photographer turned up from the Gloucestershire Citizen newspaper and insisted on herding us into the perfect shaped group before we could get away. I had already taken this shot in the beer garden before everyone got there:
Despite feeling a little rough, this year's ride was flat enough for me to get round OK. We stopped for coffee and cakes in Pershore and then headed back to Gloucester via a slingshot off Bredon Hill. Here is a shot of our little Grupetto at Kersoe near Elmley Castle in Worcestershire (@Frazzle and @Dark46 on the right):
On the way back through Sandhurst (the only place I had ever previously been attacked by dogs), I started to fall behind a little. Caught sight of Glen and @Dark46 disappearing into the distance with 3 terriers chasing just behind. Turns out they were not even aware they were being chased! Then it was my turn. As I got level with the 3 terriers, one of them curled his lips and started to lunge at me. Totally freaked him out by yelling "Gerrrtcha!" (Chas and Dave style) as loud as I could ... while passing under a nice echoing road bridge. Surprised myself by how loud I was, and ended up scaring a lady cyclist just in front of me, but the 3 dogs turned tail and legged it through a hedge at something close to warp speed. Result!
Got the 100km official ride done in 5 hours 20 mins (the fastest of my Metric Century a Month Challenge rides so far this year) and ended up doing 110.4km (68.6 miles). As I don't bother with Garmin or Strava, I always provide photo evidence of my Challenge rides, so here is this month's:
One long, hot bath later, and it's nice to have got that out of the way despite feeling under the weather. Very lucky with the sunny weather, even if the last 20 miles all seemed to be straight into a strong headwind.
Cheers, Donger.
Dave 123
Legendary Member
- Location
- Cambridgeshire alps
Centre of the known universe......
