Your ride today....

[fossyant]

A very muddy 11 miles.

Dropped the bike within the first mile - went down an overgrown track, which turned out to be a mud bog, and hit some wood in the mud which bounced the bike one way, so I went the other, landed on my feet and had a laugh - good job as the postie was delivering to houses near by. Carried on the track, and turned onto farm lanes which have been named the 'Alan Newton Way' - after a famous local cyclist. Poor bloke, the council has done nothing other than put up some signs, the surface is certainly not overly suitable for a hybrid !! It's supposed to be a traffic free route from Marple to Stockport - god help you if you have a hybrid and it's wet and muddy.

Crossed over the Goyt and climbed into Marple and decided to see where a lane went, dead end, but the path I found didn't look big enough for a bike, so I turned round and joined the canal for the return ride home. I nearly ending up in the drink, avoiding a big puddle. The towpath was a mess near Romiley, and you can just jink onto some paving by the canal edge to miss the worst of it, but get it wrong like I did, the back end slid off into the murky depths of the puddle, sending the bike sideways. Managed to stay on, but the walkers must have heard the scrabbling the tyres made.

Absolutely filthy by the time I got home.

I've found my Dark Peak MTB maps I'd bought some years ago, so I'll give them a whirl later the week.

 

[Racing roadkill]

Do you think I really need more speed near the top, however it will be hard to do this or get out of the saddle and go for it! Also should I loosen my clips to try and make a quick getaway if I start to fall off?

I regularly ride up Portsdown hill. It depends on which direction you are climbing it from. If you're coming from the Portsmouth side and going up James Callaghan drive, you don't have time to build up speed, you'll have to stand up, if you can't spin it in the lowest gear. If you're coming from the Boarhunt / Wickham direction, your best bet is to pick the speed up as much as possible, before you reach the farm entrance ( on the right ) because it gets steep after that point. If you're going route 1 ( up the side of the hill ) from Southwick, that road gets painfully steep, very quickly, and you'll probably have to stand up, if you can't spin up on the lowest gear. If you're coming from the Knowle Village direction, it's just a case of spinning up it, as that's the least harsh way up I.M.E.

 

[NorthernDave]

Another super-short ride - but not as short as Sunday...

The hybrid needs a bit of fettling, so I rode it down to the shop to pick the road bike up after the new spoke and wheel truing had been done. Left the hybrid with them and rode the road bike back home. That was weird, after riding the hybrid down there, getting on the road bike felt like I was perched way too high for a minute or two.
The easterly bit of the Cycle-not-so-Super-Highway and back. Although I did set a PB back up the hill - maybe it was because I knew Mrs ND had the tea on?

3.6 miles (does 5.8km sound better?) in 19m 51s at an average of 10.7 mph, with 265ft climbed. A mid-week ride I wouldn't have done otherwise, and all the better for it. I really must start making an effort to get out mid-week while its still light.

 

[biggs682]

Another ride on the wrong bike tonight went for the Simo with no guards whilst the old Pollard with guards fitted stayed in the dry garage !

24 damp miles tonight with 3 others out past Riseley and Paternall from the A6 side of Rushden as normal mainly flat roads so little climbing as per norm around here

 

[JohnnyRoyal]

I regularly ride up Portsdown hill. It depends on which direction you are climbing it from. If you're coming from the Portsmouth side and going up James Callaghan drive, you don't have time to build up speed, you'll have to stand up, if you can't spin it in the lowest gear. If you're coming from the Boarhunt / Wickham direction, your best bet is to pick the speed up as much as possible, before you reach the farm entrance ( on the right ) because it gets steep after that point. If you're going route 1 ( up the side of the hill ) from Southwick, that road gets painfully steep, very quickly, and you'll probably have to stand up, if you can't spin up on the lowest gear. If you're coming from the Knowle Village direction, it's just a case of spinning up it, as that's the least harsh way up I.M.E.

Thanks for the advice.
I was rode down the hill. At the back of ARE Portsdown, the old name! The got to the roundabout and took the first left and up the hill to James Callaghan drive. I am ok the other ways.
I will take your advice and give it another damm good go!!

 

[Jenkins]

Just a simple 13 mile bottle bank and shopping run in the morning then 33 mile round trip to drop my nephew's birthday card off in the afternoon. The last couple of miles of the afternoon trip turned into a replay of Sunday's TdF finish in Andorra (but without the mountain)

 

[Stonechat]

View attachment 134691 I have been on rest days for the last two days so have been on a couple of rides.
Yesterday I did a 31 miler to Southampton Airport and back. It was windy and hilly but enjoyed the ride and pleased that I completed it in 1hr 55mins.
Today I went on a shorter ride of only 12.5 miles, 47 mins. I did this ride to try and climb a couple of hills that I could not make on my hybrid.
So I set off on my new Giant Defy Disc, which I have had for about 3 weeks now and love it. I got to the bottom of the first climb and off I went. They are not long but are steep at the end. Got near the end and went to the bottom gear and my giant and legs did me proud! Very pleased at that point.
Quick ride along and down Portsdown Hill, near Portsmouth, and to the bottom of the next climb. Started off well but near the top I came to a stop!!!!
I was in the lowest gear but I had to make a descion of stopping or carrying on and come to a stand still and not unclip in time and fall over!!!
So I stopped which I was disappointed about. I will have to come back and try again.
Do you think I really need more speed near the top, however it will be hard to do this or get out of the saddle and go for it! Also should I loosen my clips to try and make a quick getaway if I start to fall off?

I will let you know when I complete it!

Happy riding to everyone

John

Get out of the saddle. Only stop if you really can't carry on.
Keep doing hills to build strength and power

 

[Stonechat]

Went out, first objective was some intervals, these were hard, 8 minutes hard, two minutes recovery.
Managed 4 of these.

A bit knackered after this so a bit easier for a while, gradually wounnd it up again

Went over then to Chbham and did a normalish loop (for me)

Forecast was dry, but last three miles was some rain, seemed to be colder, probably a cold front, cold quite chiily and damp

Still a goood session, feel I have to push myself a bit on these session to keep improving.

36.19 miles @ 17.0 mph, good speed considering recovery periods (between and after intervals)
751 feet climbed
https://www.strava.com/activities/639459584

 

[Old jon]

A re ride of a very familiar collection of roads today, with a little detour to miss enthusiastic road gravelling. The ride through Holbeck this morning pointed me all the way through Hunslet. Climb up again to John O’ Gaunts.

A bit more on the man, he had Leicester Castle, Pontefract Castle and a hunting lodge in Rothwell, amongst many other, too many other, possessions, including the Manor of Leeds. After his death in 1399 this was all divided around his dependents, and there were many. He married three times and fathered loads of kids. Enough.

From there to Swillington, over the crest and down to Garforth. Climb Garforth Cliff and carry on to Sherburn in Elmet, once in the village, turn left on Sir John’s Lane and follow that to Lotherton Gates.



Aberford, Barwick and Scholes and along the A 64 for a few hundred yards, turn right onto Thorner Lane and half way along Skelton’s Lane and then I remember the gravel! OK, left onto Coal Road, a bit of Seacroft to reach North Parkway, the Wyke Beck Way to Wetherby Road, thanks @NorthernDave , Oakwood Clock and reach home thirty five and a half miles after leaving it. Enough breeze to stay cool, enough sun to remind me its summer. Wonderful.

And a bit of cartography to finish with,

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

Sara P is back from her French visit so we met Mrs 26 (who chopped some miles off with the car), Jules H and Margaret P-R in Upton. The Jinney Ring at Hanbury was the call. We took the southerly approach to Drakes Broughton and Pinvin where Sara headed home. We then took an Easterly run by Rous Lench to jink about in a northerly fashion. Dark clouds were gathering and on came the rain. We got a bit damp over the several hundreds of yards we needed to get to the cafe.

We took our time indoors while showers passed by. Eventually we headed out to find dry roads not far away. The plan was to take in the manually operated level crossing at Oddingley. It was being worked on and closed when we got there. Margaret suggested we take to the canal path. So we did to take us to Tibberton and back on route at Crowle. The signs of fatigue were apparent in Mrs 26's pace on the up slopes now. But we continued to make good progress. Mrs 26 picked up the car while Jules and Margaret headed home. I rode back on my own by the standard route from Upton. Lovely day out today for sure. 71 miles today.

 

[Dave 123]

A reverse of my Monday night Bourn loop this evening, this time on the new tandem. The sky was a lot less interesting this evening

The clouds kept their contents to themselves!

 

[Brandane]

View attachment 134309

Total Ascent 1274m

The weather man was wrong - it was 'only' 28° when I got home

Looks like a nice ride that. I see you circled around Oradour sur Glane; I went there once when visiting friends who lived in Confolens. What a sobering place to visit. For those who haven't been there, it's a small town which was destroyed by the Nazis in 1944 and the residents killed irrespective of age or gender. It has been preserved in its post destruction state as a memorial.

Back to today's ride, which was a 25 mile circuit around Kilwinning, Barassie, Troon, and Prestwick.
There were some blokes out hitting wee white balls about, with sticks. They were practicing for the Open Championship, which ironically is closed unless you part with £80 minimum for the privilege of getting in to watch. The cycle path between Troon and Prestwick runs alongside parts of the course. This is the 10th green:

Mercedes supply the fleet of courtesy cars. This was the parking and car wash area for them.

Don't know who this car is for. The yellow jersey holder?

 

[rugby bloke]

With the bike back from the tender care of someone who actually knows what they are doing it was time to test it out. It has to be said I had not appreciated quite how badly I had maintained it over the last year, it felt like a different bike. Note to self - learn how to maintain a bike properly.

After Monday's gentle bimmbling about and escaping quite lightly from preseason training at the rugby club last night , it was time to visit Dr Pain's House of Correction and really get the heart rate up. All was going fine until I caught up a tractor towing a trailer of what could be best described as "Organic Matter". Not being too sure of what field it was going to turn into I hung back to get the full benefit of the country smells. A real novelty, its rare that I catch another cyclist, let alone something with an internal combustion engine.

Things settled down after this, apart from bring reminded of the saying "be careful what you wish for". I had been wishing to ride in the sunshine for a change. This wish was granted, meaning I had to stare into a setting sun for a fair proportion of the ride. Being completely blinded at times was somewhat off-putting.

All in all an excellent evening, things coming along very nicely for RideLondon.

https://www.strava.com/activities/639962971

 

[Gravity Aided]

7.2 miles today, very warm and humid, now with round 2 of thunderstorms approaching. I saw few people beside the older gent I usually see out on his bike at the same time as I. He is now sporting a mustache. I was pretty slow, as 30C and 67% humidity will do for me, but the Fuji did a fine job. I saw a turtle.
86F
30C
Winds S 15
Relative humidity 67%
Barometer 29.85
Sunshine, then cloudy as storm system approached.

 

[Levo-Lon]

I've just completed my longest bike ride ever. .not a lot by road rider standards but a bloody good ride for me.
I've found that dispite several seat tweaks on my ride plus copious chamois cream the charge spoon seat made me sore...pity ..
Windy in places but a really lovely few hrs on my RT58..