Your ride today....

[Deleted member 1258]

Its been a beautiful day for a bike ride. I've done an extended loop to Hatton Locks this morning, Out early this morning in summer tights a base layer, a short sleeved top and a summer long sleeved jersey, it was a bit chilly at first and I wore gloves for the first hour, but it warmed up nicely as the morning wore on, that stiff breeze is still there but its warmed up a bit now. My normal loop out to Hockley Heath but instead of turning into the lane by the church I carried on and turned into Cut Throat lane, rode into Earlswood past the Craft Center and the Plant center and on through Tanworth in arden and turned into Pig Trot Lane to pick up my usual route through Lowsonford and past Hatton Country World and onto Hatton Locks. When I came out to ride home it had warmed up and I was overdressed, lots of people about in shorts and short sleeves. I followed my usual route back through Lowsonford past the Punch Bowl through Chadwick End, Balsall Common and on into Coventry. A lovely morning out on the bike in the sunshine, I did 62 miles and ran out of legs crossing Coventry at the end of the ride but enjoyed myself.

 

[gavgav]

Ride 3 of our holidays and we kept up the tradition of putting the bikes on the roof of the car and driving to an area where we could experience new roads.

Today's destination was Rydal Water and the once in a lifetime (possibly) chance to climb up Dunmail Raise on closed roads with no traffic. The A591 has been closed between Grasmere and Keswick, since Storm Desmond hit in the Winter, with it re-opening next week. Open to cyclists though

We parked up and joined the road to Grasmere, riding through the busy village and then back out onto the closed A591 for the ascent up Dunmail Raise. There was finally sunshine and warmth in the air, so after a brief stop to lose a layer we wound our way up the 600ft climb, arriving at the top for photo stop.

We then joined the new asphalt cycle path, that only opened last week and will mean not having to mix it with traffic on the twisty dual carriageway section, descending nicely to Thirlmere Lake, where, with the wind behind us we cruised nicely along the shore line, up to the dam, where this view was snapped.

We popped back out onto the main road for a short section, to add a loop back round to the damn, and we turned into the wind which made it slower going back in the direction we had come from.

We passed a trio of cyclists along the way and after arriving back at the climb we had a friendly chat with the one chap, from Staveley, before beginning the short but steep climb back up the path. Just as it started to flatten out, I came across the National Park Ranger (who had been working on laying the path) and 2 guests, and they stopped me to get my views on the path, which were all positive. One of the 2 guests has a cousin who lives about half a mile from me!! (Small world)

Next was the fun bit, the mile descent down Dunmail Raise, shortly after a Hawk flew over at what seemed like a height we could touch it at! The descent was tempered by being straight into the wind but still reached 33mph which was fun

We then passed back through Grasmere and back to the car, where the pay machine had broken .

Brilliant ride of 21.9 miles with 2460ft of climbing

 

[Alex H]

The weatherman promised lots of today with the temp up to 24°C by 16:00. So, I was quite surprised to see lots of cyclists (public holiday today - Ascension) in longs and rain tops. Did they know something I didn't ? (shorts and jersey). I'm happy to say they were wrong

Down the hill to St Junien, then along the Vienne to St Brice and up the other side of the valley to the old Limoges road.

Unfortunately when I arrived at la Barre, I saw a car with it's flashers on, situated in what appeared to be the wrong side of the road, in the junction on the left to go to Veyrac (at the 20 marker on the route below). Two other cars, which had passed me earlier were also parked nearby. Lying on the ground was a cyclist, being attended to by a woman (assuming from a nearby house) and someone else. The oddly parked car had a smashed windscreen and it's driver (I assume) was standing nearby. The guy on the floor was moving, but hitting the windscreen could not have done him any good. For the rest of the day I've been trying to understand how it happened, but it's just one of those things, I guess.

So, (sorry pendants ) on to Isle, now a suburb of Limoges.

and a break at the 12th century Église Saint-Martin d'Isle, where there was a christening taking place.

My bike in the foreground and a nice electric jobby secured to the bench at the back.

From Isle, it was downhill to the Vienne and then West to Aixe-sur-Vienne. A little way along spotted this stunning Wisteria

Here is the weir and old mill at the bridge where the N21 crosses the river.

A slight diversion after the town, as I couldn't find the cemetery. I have a little project going , photographing historic monuments in the area for French Wikipedia, the cemetery here containing a chapel from the 13th century.

Anyway, after I found it, the gates appeared to be locked, but a chap in a house opposite told me to push harder .

On my way a little while later, I decided to stop for lunch in Séreilhac at the plan d'eau. Stopped at a bench by the side of the water to find that the frog's were doing their Spring thing and making the loudest noise you could think possible for such tiny animals.

Seem to have caught a UFO in my picture as well

The bluebells are very prolific this year - they seem to be everywhere.

Limousin cows doing what they do best

Home via Cognac-la-Forêt - 83km in just under 4 hours

Route (with climbing )

 

[Elswick Cotterpin]

Down the hill to St Junien, then along the Vienne to St Brice and up the other side of the valley to the old Limoges road.

Always enjoy your reports and photographs.

 

[Elswick Cotterpin]

Had an awesome ride this morning, seventeen miles, sunshine, bit of a breeze, lambs, cowslips, bluebells; a Mary Poppins ride, 'practically perfect in every way', and I didn't take a single photograph so you'll either have to use your imaginations or, even better, have an awesome ride of your own.

 

[Racing roadkill]

https://www.strava.com/activities/566437477

It was a lovely day today, so I went to Winchester to get some new cleat covers ( the old ones wore out ), then went for a bit of a jolly.

Water lane in the glorious sunshine.

Very pretty.

The other way.

View from St Catherine's.

All in all, a very nice day.

 

[Dark46]

Yesterdays Eastgate ride didn't start very well as after about 2 miles from the pub I had a rear flat. It turns had I had run over a no8 screw!

Only my second puncture on a Eastgate ride. I was all fingers and thumbs and it seemed like a age before I was up and running again. @Frazzle , Rich W , Wayne and a couple of others stayed behind to give me a hand. Which is always appreciated as it's a pain trying to rush these things lol.

The others in the group said that they would wait at the Pilot before setting off into the countryside lanes.

So I tried upping the pace to catch the others so they wouldn't have to wait too long, but my legs were having none of it.

Sometimes I wonder about some people , when you nearly overtake a motorcycle on a roundabout! Either he'd not long passed his test or it was a new bike to him. Even though it was a 98 T plate.

Well so much for waiting at the Pilot as there was noone there. So we carried on.

I tried as much as possible to stay with there who waited with me, but as soon as there was any sort of incline I dropped back . Oh well old age recovery creeping in.

From the edge of Frampton to Arlingham I spotted the mighty @Donger coming the other way! ( Have to try and get him to join Eastgate! ) we acknowledged each other and carried on our merry ways.

I got to the end of the culdesac and turned round and headed back up the hill slowly.

After getting to the first pub there were a group of people including @Frazzle drying sort out someone's bike which was making funny noises after only a month.

So it was back towards the river Severn
And it was while alongside I got a second wind and went for it along a well known segment on strava (it turns out I got a PB there).

After getting back to the finishing point
I realised the average speed I had was 15.8 MPH. I was really pleased with that especially after the way my legs felt lol. But I was really worried about loosing that on the way home as I normally trundle home.

@Frazzle said it's funny how fast I was going when I wanted to keep my average up lol. Mind you it didn't help when I was past by a MTB close to home. Not good that it was a MTB but also wuth no lights on in the dark. I didn't like it lol and set off after him regardless of aching legs.

Well I got him by tipping inside him on the roundabout and kept him behind until saying my to @Frazzle and Wayne.

 

[gbb]

Work commitments, a head cold etc meant almost 2 weeks off the bike...but the sun is shining....how could you resist ?
20 miles after work, 19 degrees, a mix of quiet countryside roads and rush hour town traffic....magic

 

[Stevec047]

Having been stuck in the office all day and not seeing much of the beautiful sunshine I packed my stuff up and left bang on time got home and jumped out on the bike for a bit of a blast around the local villages nice 7.4 mile ride and a couple of pb's beaten on route.

Check out my 7.4 mi Ride on Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/566514416

That makes 44.2 miles this week adding in the 4 miles done on the turbo the past couple of evenings and I already have a planned 23miles ride on Sunday with the lbs guys with a possible repeat of tonight's ride tomorrow so here goes the biggest milage in a week I have ever done. Safe to say the bug has really kicked in and I am hooked to cycling like a class a drug.

 

[NorthernDave]

An unexpected gap in the schedule late afternoon, so it was out on the hybrid again for a near re-run of yesterdays ride. That's 5 rides in 5 days

Day 4 / Ride 4 - will the madness ever stop? (Well, probably tomorrow looking at what I've got on, but let's see...)

Having been out for the day in the glorious sunshine, I had an hour or so to kill before tea.
Did I fancy having a barbecue for tea? Did I want to pop out for an hour on the bike while Mrs ND got it sorted? What do you think..?

So, quick change and out on the hybrid. It was great to get out, even better at not having to layer up - even the fingerless gloves made their first appearance of the year.
Nothing too fancy - I was expecting plenty of traffic as we neared the rush hour, so I planned to stay off road as much as I could. So, a quick spin down to Cross Gates, up to Austhorpe to pick up NCN R66 through Thorp Park and the deserted bridleway section down to Garforth, where I stopped mid-way for a couple of photos:
View attachment 127197 View attachment 127198
Back on the bike and down onto the tarmac for the run up to Barwick Rd, then a quick left and left again under the railway bridge and the climb back up to the riding school. Onto the bridleway and down under the M1 bridge and the mainly down hill run to Manston Lane, where two lovely ladies held the gate open for me so I didn't have to stop.
A special mention for the wind today - it was warm, it was sunny, but it was still blooming windy. Plus it was that special type of cycling wind where it seems to be in your face whichever direction you're going...
Anyhow, up into Pendas Fields, down to Barwick Rd, then a quick loop around Manston to add a bit more mileage and up to home, with a final loop around the block to plus the mileage into double figures.

10.2 miles (16.41 km) in 53m 4s at an average of 11.5 mph and with 531 ft climbed. Not bad at all for a bonus ride.
View attachment 127209

Then another quick change and the barbecue was ready for the burgers to hit the grill. And a selection of beers from the excellent Wold Top Brewery http://www.woldtopbrewery.co.uk nicely chilled to wash it down (I can recommend the Hello Velo) . Does life get any better..?

The main difference was a slightly altered route through Cross Gates to avoid a busy road as it was approaching rush hour and there was no need for a lap of honour round the block to push the mileage into double figures tonight.
The really good news is that I've set a PB (taking 59 seconds off! ) and am currently the fastest person on earth over one 1.7 mile course.
It won't last, but I'm having that while I can!

10.10 miles (16.25km) in 45m 41s at an average of 13.3mph, with 439ft climbed. Sorry, no photos today

Still blooming windy though!

 

[Dave 123]

Mrs Dave started the day in Poland where she's been working for a day or 2. She spent the afternoon asleep in the sun in the garden, so once home from work I dragged her out on the tandem.
Around to Caldecote on the smooth new Tarmac and down the hill past the old church. Next was Kingston, this old church less than a mile from the last one.
Around to the Eversdens, this being half the ride I did last night.
I think people were happy to be out, nods, smiles, hellos.

We rode with a bloke from our village for a mile or 2, "what's it like to ride?" He asked...
"We'll swap over if you like" said I
He chickened out!
On to Haslingfield then toward Barton. I stopped to irrigate the hedge, then took these 2 pics

NASA

A Clanger

A Clanger eating a biscuit.

In Barton we rode through the park past the bowling green where a match was going on. We got a big wave and a shout of "lovely job!", it's so funny the reaction you get on a tandem.

Back up to Hardwick via Comberton and Toft getting to within 10' of a hare in a field.

We didn't go straight home, we stopped at the shop as we'd only come out for some milk!

17 miles.

https://www.strava.com/activities/566529318

 

[Tin Pot]

Got out with a couple of buddies for an easy ride with the sun going down despite my wobbly crank

 

[EltonFrog]

The fragrant Mrs P rode to work this morning so I went to meet her at work this afternoon then rode back with her, no time for photos, rode via Streatly, Pangbourne, Tilehurst, Reading and Winnersh and back a slightly different route, a quick stop at the CoOp in Pangbourne for a snack then home.

I don't know how my Mrs does it, a 22 mile commute to work, a full days graft the a 26 mile trip back, I'm in awe of her.

Any way here's the map. 48 and a bit miles.

 

[Glow worm]

The fragrant Mrs P rode to work this morning so I went to meet her at work this afternoon then rode back with her, no time for photos, rode via Streatly, Pangbourne, Tilehurst, Reading and Winnersh and back a slightly different route, a quick stop at the CoOp in Pangbourne for a snack then home.

I don't know how my Mrs does it, a 22 mile commute to work, a full days graft the a 26 mile trip back, I'm in awe of it.

Any way here's the map. 48 and a bit miles.

View attachment 127337

Blimey- no one told me they've moved Dorchester to Oxfordshire!

 

[EltonFrog]

That be Dorchester on Thames, 'tis a pretty place.