Your ride today....

[Goonerobes]

I'm not really one for Strava challenges but the monthly Grand Fondo ties in nicely with the metric ton a month challenge on here so a rare sunny Saturday seemed like a good opportunity to do this months, which now its summer goes up to 130km instead of the usual 100k.

The planned route was to start on well trodden roads across the New Forest & into Dorset via Fordingbridge & Cranborne before trying out some new roads deeper into Dorset than I'd previously been.

Once through Cranborne it was onto very quiet country lanes, passing Wimborne St Giles & Gussage All Saints & into the uncharted territory which turned out to be on more peaceful lanes & passing through some of the prettiest villages I think I've been through, Tarrent Rushton & Tarrent Keyneston to name but two.

Whilst not the hilliest of routes at a total of just 3200ft of climbing I hadn't factored in the fact that the first 40 miles or so were directly into the south-westerly breeze so at my half way lunch stop at the market town of Wimborne Minster I grateful for the rest.

The return route was a little flatter & the now tailwind was an added bonus as I made my way through Hinton Martell & Horton before picking up the more familiar roads of Alderholt & Ibsley back to forest & home.

81.6 miles in total & some cracking new roads to boot, its a shame that I have to go that far again to ride them!!

https://www.strava.com/activities/642718275

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

4 out today. Sara P, Jules H., Margaret P-R and me. Decisions, decisions. Where to? Eventually Fladbury got the thumbs up. So we took a fairly usual approach to the Northern flanks of Bredon Hill. Margaret decided to head home as she was feeling unwell. So now 3 rounded by the Combertons and crossed the main road by Bricklehampton and Cropthorne. The main road at Fladbury was chockablock with traffic but we made it across to spend a nice time in the Cafe.

Again we took the standard run up Hill Furze to loop for the old airfield and then the ford at Pinvin. At Wadborough Sara headed off for the busy busy Worcester main roads while Jules kept to the lanes until it was time for him to head back from Croome D'Abitot. As I rode up Kinnersley bank David B. appeared coming the other way. So I stopped for a catch up as I hadn't seen him for an age. At Upton the Blues Festival was well underway so some traffic required to be negotiated but not long after I was back in quiet lanes for the run back. Another lovely ride today with super company.

 

[JohnnyRoyal]

A different ride today! I first rode the 8 miles to Havant on my Boardman Hybrid. This was to meet my Debra at Halfords there. This was because she was getting a first new bike since she was a child, she is now nearing the upper reaches of her 40's!
She picked up her Victoria Pendleton Somerby hybrid bike, in red complete with basket! She was very excited!
We then rode the 9 miles back home along the cycle paths, she was not too keen on riding the road! However she loved every minute, even if She feels a bit stiff, and is looking forward to our next ride, which funny enough is around to our friends to have a BBQ!
We might to be going up the Alps next year but it is a start and something that we can both enjoy together!

 

[NorthernDave]

A different ride today! I first rode the 8 miles to Havant on my Boardman Hybrid. This was to meet my Debra at Halfords there. This was because she was getting a first new bike since she was a child, she is now nearing the upper reaches of her 40's!
She picked up her Victoria Pendleton Somerby hybrid bike, in red complete with basket! She was very excited!
We then rode the 9 miles back home along the cycle paths, she was not too keen on riding the road! However she loved every minute, even if She feels a bit stiff, and is looking forward to our next ride, which funny enough is around to our friends to have a BBQ!
We might to be going up the Alps next year but it is a start and something that we can both enjoy together!

Well done Debra!

 

[Elybazza61]

A couple from Friday;

Standard in and outs,A10 in and Twenty Pence out;nice 2nd overall on a A10 section and some proper sprints on the ride home(get those legs burning!)

https://www.strava.com/activities/641411335

https://www.strava.com/activities/641655579

Todays club ride has seen the end of the Schwalbe Pro Ones,lots of cuts appearing including a large gash in the front(glued) and the rear wearing down the centre.

Rode out of Ely and a big pop and sealant gushing out,carried on and the sealant stopped and then topped up the air at the leaving point of the ride.

Got to St Ives ok but it had gone down a fair bit and wouldn't hold pressure so fitted a tube which took all the time of the cafe stop so no coffee for me.

Bit of a bugger getting the tyre off,valve out(sharp tap with a Park tyre lever)and a struggle again getting it on;all done and pumped up was ok to get home.

Few miles out from home another member had a flat but after a bit he told us to carry on after a protracted few minutes ended up hacking it back with a guy who I since found out rides professionally on bike tours,sportives etc all over the world(and he's a fair bit younger).
Tried to relay with him but at 46kph and heart rate in threshold the legs cried enough and I let him go just as the road rises in to Haddenham(still pleased with the effort though!).

Back safely and the tyre and tube held up and a welcome coke and mars bar.

https://www.strava.com/activities/642587700

New tyres ordered so will give me plenty of time to fit and run in before ride London at the end of the month.

 

[Big Andy]

Did my first 50 miler today. Didn't set out to, had booked on a guided ride through the goskyride site. Was 13 miles, but I have a 10 mile ride to the meeting point, after the ride was feeling good so kept going.

 

[Racing roadkill]

View attachment 135071

had booked on a guided ride through the goskyride site.

Good man, if you let me know what the leaders names were, I'll tell them you enjoyed it.

 

[dfthe1]

My first ever sportive today. The Stratford Tempest -- 101 miles. So also my longest ride ever. Good fun, if a bit hilly in places.

My friend broke a spoke at mile 18. Checked it out and decided to carry on to the feed stop and mechanic at mile 20, with his wheel wobbling and brake rubbing. Except the feed stop never appeared. Turns out some prankster had removed a vital sign, meaning everyone bypassed the stop. The mobile mechanics were very busy, so we ended up carrying on to the second stop at mile 50. Got it all fixed though and made it to the end. I'm a little tired now.

 

[Alex H]

A quick tandem trip to Saint Cyr before it gets too hot. Gardening yesterday has left us a bit tired

25km in just over an hour, with 254m of climb and our 7th trip on the Pino .

 

[gavgav]

Been having a few gear shifting issues on the last 2 rides and so up early to spend a bit of time fettling them and giving the chain a clean and oil, before a short test ride. No time for a long ride as playing cricket this afternoon.

Warm and sunny but stupidly windy yet again.

Out through the estate, quick stop to adjust the gears slightly again and they were perfect after that , up to Heathgates, passing the Mid Shropshire Wheelers who were on a club ride, going much faster than me! Down to the river towpath and a real battle against the wind through the Quarry, where there were loads of people enjoying the sunshine, walking, cycling and rowing boats.

Over Porthill Bridge, through Radbrook, Meole and home, having done 10.3 miles

 

[derrick]

Nice ride out Saturday with the club, A nice size group set of 9am for a 50 mile ride through Essex, the puncture fairy visited one of the guy at about 3 miles in so not a good start. but we where soon rolling along again, decided to do Mott st as a few of the club had never been up there before, No problems for anyone this time, The rest of the ride was uneventful apart from one dumb blonde in a drop head audi, She started having a go at a couple of our riders,saying they should not be on the road But we soon put her in her place, She had to drive the next mile or so at 5 mph as there seemed to be 10 cyclist in her way. Some cyclist are so naughty.. A great club ride with a good bunch of guys and girls.
http://www.colvault.co.uk/cols/mottstreet.php

https://www.strava.com/activities/642603447#kudos

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

Just back from a bit of utility riding to get some gear outer cable. I decided to make a bit of a ride out of it so headed to Frankwell, over the Welsh Bridge and through the Quarry to the bike shop before returning through Belle Vue.

It's a bit breezier than I'd expected but a nice warm day so a pleasant 7 miles or so of trundling round.

 

[RedRider]

Well that was an adventure...

At one point I got so lost I ended up on the top level of a multi story car park but that's Runcorn for you.
Elsewhere, somewhere south of Northwich, I found myself slogging along the edge of a farmer's field in the lashing rain with nettles whipping my calves. But that's my sense of direction for you.
This is Friday's tale. It started with a ride to Euston Station for the 0907 to Liverpool, a well-packed longflap hanging onto the back of the saddle.
As planned and as it wasn't (yet) raining by the time we arrived in Crewe I got off with a goal to ride to Formby, a 60 mile route pre-plotted on the Garmin.
Getting out of Crewe was uneventful and made some good progress up until here:

A gentle rain began and made a lovely shushing onto the Weaver. Then it hardened. Then it got harder.
It beaded on the screen of my Garmin and it beaded on my glasses and it beaded on the screen of my phone when I tried to work out exactly where I was. I asked a mountain biker and set off on an off road route which I hadn't exactly planned upon.
To be continued...

 

[Diggs]

After rising a little later than expected, I grabbed a coffee and popped out for a 30 mile local loop, running into the London/Southend ride on a couple of occasions, although plenty of other cyclists about too

In fact should I feel the need for a £10 photo of my solo Sunday spin, I suspect that this was one of the photographers

Great to be out on a beautiful morning

 

[Alex H]

View attachment 135059

Looks really nice countryside, but I foolishly went onto Rightmove and checked out prices for Wimborne Minster