Your ride today....

[Gravity Aided]

12.5 miles today, going west for a change, as the wind was not all that strong. I crossed Interstate 39 and climbed the ridges to my west, then returned past the dairy farm and cheese shop. A goodly number of cyclists out there today, but not many taking the climb as the weather was warm, and some thunderheads were forming. I figured they would turkey (grow taller and thinner, then dissipate) and so they did.
85F
29C
Winds W9, variable SW 9
Relative humidity 46%
Barometer 30.06
Fair
High probability of a roll stuffed with homemade BBQ.

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

It seemed to be a bit of a struggle first thing this morning but I eventually got my act together and headed out into a chill North wind and grey skies. I had a long drawn out increase in altitude to achieve and into that wind made it tougher. Eventually I crested out at Leysters and took to unfamiliar lanes to circle around Leominster on quiet lanes for the Black and White villages. Eardisland is superb and the sun had come out too. I took the lane along the River Arrow to Pembridge where some refreshments were in the plan.

I added a loop to an old one which took me through some brand new lanes to Kinnersley where the church and castle were superb. Then on to Weobley to get back to the old route and the climb which gets steep at the top and crests at the Golf Club with superb views over Herefordshire. Now I had to jink around Hereford to avoid the worst of the main roads and traffic. From Withington I opted for the run back by Burley Gate and Bishop's Frome. The climb to Acton Green revealed that my legs were tiring now but I kept on along the Leigh Brook to keep my average speed where it had settled some time ago.

Nicely endorphined now after my longest ride of 2016 (98 miles and 5,500 feet of climbing). What's not to like?

 

[Katherine]

I wanted to get my legs going faster on longer rides so I did a route that I've done recently. The idea was that I wouldn't get tempted to stop for photos and admire the view etc. I had a lovely 50 mile ride to the Anderton Boat Lift in the sunshine. I did admire all the glorious views and pretty villages but I didn't stop, (even at Great Budworth which is stunningly beautiful) . I had a great ride in the morning and struggled a bit in the wind this afternoon. I used the Cadishead Way to get to the Warburton Bridge then cycled through Lymm, High Legh, Arley Green, Great Budworth, Comberbach. I had lunch outside the visitor centre at the boat lift then as I was about to get ready to leave I got distracted by the boat lift about to move so of course I stayed a bit longer to watch. Hmm.

At the bottom from the river Weaver

One boat going up and one coming down

At the top by the canal

On the way home I went around Anderton a bit more then back through Comberbach and Great Budworth but then I went through Dunham to get back to the Warburton Bridge, Glazebury, Culcheth and Glazebrook, Leigh then straight down the East Lancs Road cycle path.

The part of the route that I used the ride with gps app, said my average speed was 14.8 mph but strava gave the whole day as 12.6. Happy with that.

 

[iandg]

Not a holiday here, but took some leave and drove down to Harris for a short ride to sort out out some control details for up-coming audax events.

https://www.strava.com/activities/592976539

 

[Elybazza61]

I led a small group from my cycle club in Cambridge on a bank-holiday special down to the Smoke today. 10 of us left at 8 am., and rode through the modest hills of northern Essex through Clavering and Much Hadham, before getting to Roydon about 2 hours later, where we stopped at the quirky little Roydon Lock House café on the canal - not at all easy to find if you're not on the towpath, but friendly and a nice location.
We continued then towards Epping Forest where we passed High Beach, and took the barely-surfaced Fairmead Road before joining the A104 again. One of our number then took over and led us to the Olympic Park. I had little idea what to expect and was struck by the vastness of the site, and it was well worth seeing. We followed then the blue-painted CS2 through Bow and Whitechapel to Aldgate, where we turned north to Old Street and lunch at Look Mum No Hands, which served good food and was as bike-friendly as you'd hope. Why do so many people seem to go there without bikes?
After lunch we had a spin down the Embankment on the impressive new East-West superhighway, dodging the occasional pedestrian but marvelling at the car-free space we'd been given on this prime corridor. Then up Piccadilly to Hyde Park, where after skirting round the Serpentine we headed back through the West End towards Liverpool Street and a train home. I'd thought of riding back, but 50 miles into the wind at this time would have done nothing to enhance my enjoyment of the day.
A good time was had by all. I always enjoy riding through London (well I don't have to commute there) but it was new to some of our group, and I could see it becoming a regular 'special' ride in future.

a very rough map of the route
View attachment 130115

Cambridge hits Whitehall, and lunch stop in Old Street
View attachment 130116 View attachment 130117

If you're doing another one of these runs let us know as could be up for it if available.

 

[Elybazza61]

Just a short hop from Waterbeach this morning;'twas a bit damp,,,,

https://www.strava.com/activities/593700036

 

[robjh]

If you're doing another one of these runs let us know as could be up for it if available.

It was billed as a club run - if I say a very large cycling club in Cambridge you can probably work out which one - but we are very welcoming of visiting riders and you'd be more than welcome. I was thinking of it as an annual event so it'll probably be a while until the next one, but if I remember then I'll PM you.
In fact if you look on the website for the said club, you'll see the blurb for last Sunday's ride, though I haven't yet loaded the photos up*.

* although for a preview see here

 

[cosmicbike]

Nice to hear a few folk made the most of the Bank Holiday. I cycled to work and back, and it was tough in the wind getting to work. It was even harder this morning, but I just couldn't bring myself to drive in..

 

[Banjo]

A tad under 50 miles for me today ... the return visit of Caerphilly CC to Gloucestershire after our visit to Wales on the last bank holiday. We threw in a bit of the very best that our area has to offer, some Severnside villages, a Stroud valley or two, a couple of proper climbs, some open Cotswold scenery and some lovely woods, with a great four mile long descent through Buckholt Woods, and down Nut Hill. Everyone seemed to enjoy it, and we had glorious sunshine all the way round.
My jinx with the canal bridges struck again, but it gave us a while to take a breather and a few photos.
View attachment 130069
An inspired choice of cafe stop saw us take another breather in a Yurt (called the "Jolly Nice Cafe") after the big long climb out of Chalford. Jolly nice it was too.
View attachment 130071
Funnily enough I was there yesterday, too, and came across the absolute doppelganger of @Banjo! Sorry if it was you, Banjo. Didn't want to make a twonk of myself by asking!
It was widely agreed that we will make this Kingsway/Caerphilly thing a regular event in future as both rides have gone down so well. Enjoy the bank holiday everyone. I'm off to watch the cheese rolling on Cooper's Hill tomorrow..... now there's a truly lunatic event for real headbangers. Cheers, Donger.

Sounds like a great ride @Donger But defo wasn't me.
Must have been some other athlete with film star looks . :-)

 

[Old jon]

By ‘eck, that wind were thin. It seemed like a good idea to ride into the teeth of that wind on the way out in the hope of gaining something from it on the return journey, so I re rode a favourite ride.

Start with the Holbeck meander, around there the wind blows wherever, out on Great Wilson Street and left to Crown Point Bridge, straight past the bus station to Regent Street. The climb to the Oakwood Clock combined weather, terrain and architecture to funnel the wind very efficiently, straight in my face. The joys . . .

Boot Hill not too bad this time, turn left by the pub and head for Shadwell. A lot of that road is pretty exposed, and felt it this morning. Through Shadwell to Slaid Hill



and turn right for Wike and East Keswick, followed by Collingham. Leave Collingham by Wattle Syke, take the Bramham exit from the roundabout and at the end of West Woods Road turn right for Thorner. After leaving the village up Sandhills, turn right on Skeltons Lane, which sets me up to complete 31.2 miles with a pretty good descent and an easy wander across Leeds and back to my front door.

 

[Glow worm]

Had a week away in Spain last week so was looking forward to getting back in the saddle, especially after the bike had a thorough going over by my LBS while I was away.

Yesterday I rode to Ely, then took the train to Kings Lynn, and then rode to Snettisham to visit a friend, followed by the final 12 miles to my parents house near Wells (40 miles in total).

Today it's been really grim here in north Norfolk- about 2 inches of rain this morning. It cleared up a bit this afternoon so I just went for a quick 5 miler near Holkham.

Grim. This lane near North Creake was covered in sand and muck washed off the fields - was about 6 inches deep in places I reckon- my poor brand new chain! I'd just passed two fellows removing a fallen tree blocking a lane. Summer eh?!

More water further along. Managed to ride through that.

Return trip home tomorrow, with short train trip between Kings Lynn and Ely. Looking forward to a tailwind for once.

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

Just catching up a bit. @gavgav has already done a pretty good write up of our bank holiday ride on the previous page, so I'll just add a selection of my photos from the trip:

At our first drink stop near Leebotwood.

Taking it steady up the Folly Bank climb (also known as Corkscrew Hill and Bufton's Bank for those on Strava).

Plaish Hall.

Action shot of Doug.

On the way to Wroxeter.

Blossom at Viroconium.

A pause by the weir in Shrewsbury.

For today it was back to the commute. Very little to report really other than it's pretty blustery out which made for some nice fast riding in places and a struggle to keep moving in others. Despite the wind it was lovely out in the warmth and sunshine and I'm glad I was on the bike rather than stuck in a car.

I may have agreed to buy N+1 during the day. Not sure whether that was a good idea.

A few views from this morning:

 

[Elybazza61]

Nippy commute in today via A10 and the Cam cyclepath aided by a brisk Northerly.Bit drizzly but a nice temp for a ride in.

Nice and quiet on the A10 with only a solitary white van man making a big deal of overtaking out of Streatham.

https://www.strava.com/activities/594756528

 

[Elybazza61]

It was billed as a club run - if I say a very large cycling club in Cambridge you can probably work out which one - but we are very welcoming of visiting riders and you'd be more than welcome. I was thinking of it as an annual event so it'll probably be a while until the next one, but if I remember then I'll PM you.
In fact if you look on the website for the said club, you'll see the blurb for last Sunday's ride, though I haven't yet loaded the photos up*.

* although for a preview see here

Thanks for that;will bookmark the club page and keep an eye out for any rides I like the look of and am free for.

 

[Old jon]

Very similar to yesterday, the draughty stuff, and from Office Lock to Viaduct Road what do canals do? They funnel the wind straight at you. I was black lacquered before I even started to ride up Cardigan Road. As ever, it will be better on the return journey I kept telling myself. By the time I reached the Ring Road at Lawnswood the prospect of riding all the way around the roundabout was very tempting. Resisted that, ‘cos I had thought to have another torture session up Pool Bank. So onto Otley along the A 660, as I was huffing and puffing through Bramhope a few spots of rain started falling, the view into the valley as I approached the Dyneley Arms looked well washed. It did not last, by the time I had negotiated the roundabout at the end of the Otley bypass all was clear again. Stopped at Wharfe Meadows for something to eat, and a rest, and set off back. I got as far as Chevin Cycles before I realised the bike was taking me up Leeds Road. Silly bike, I want to ride up Pool Bank I almost said. There is a tiny back street, Side Copse, just behind the bike shop which gets back to the Pool road so that is what I did.

Pool Bank beat me proper this time. I stopped twice on the way up, lack of motivation or muscle I guess. Ah well, keep on keeping on. Back on the A 660 to Headingley, the Kirkstall sidestep and the towpath back to Holbeck then home, 30.4 miles ridden, breezy but fair weather, pretty good.



I should not be surprised, but every time I plug in the Garmin, here be the map. Wonderful.