Your ride today....

[Salty seadog]

Looks quite a lot spread out like that I agree,

Anyway here goes(roughly left to right and top to bottom);

In the Kriega pack are glasses and contacts plus some medical stuff like tablets and nasal inhaler(I suffer with sinus headaches).
compact track style pump
Abus cafe lock
With a tubeless 'worm' tool next to it
spare tube
tiewraps
tubeless valve(removed from wheel)
Lezyne tyre levers(which clip to the container lower down)
co2 inflator
hand wipes with tyre boot,patches and spare KMC link hideing next to them
multi-tool
pouch to hold a some of these bits
Lezyne container which holds the boot,patches and tubeless 'worms'
And the Koolstop tyre lever*(https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/tools/koolstop-tyre-mate/)

This all lives in an Alpkit drybag which can be switched between my Alpkit gourdon rucksack or the panniers on the Trek.

On club rides and sportives I use a small tail pack and jersey pockets and have a much smaller Lezyne pump to use with the co2.

Didn't actually need this as the S-Ones come off the rim pretty easily with the Lezyne levers and to be honest I haven't used the tubeless repair stuff either as I just bung a tube in for convenience and sort a repair out later.

Many thanks, I suppose it's best to be prepared for most things if you need to get to work every day.

I think I'm prepared for most common probs. I stuff a Topeak saddle bag with a couple of tubes, 3 or 4 cable ties, Topeak 18+ multi tool, the same cafe lock as you (Abus), 2 of each 9, 10 and 11 speed quick links, (the bag hops between three bikes and the only kit change is two road tubes for one mtb tube when on that steed). Some self adhesive patches, three levers and a spare silicon rubber strap for my Leyzyne light bracket. Each bike has it's own frame mounted mini pump.

 

[Elybazza61]

Many thanks, I suppose it's best to be prepared for most things if you need to get to work every day.

I think I'm prepared for most common probs. I stuff a Topeak saddle bag with a couple of tubes, 3 or 4 cable ties, Topeak 18+ multi tool, the same cafe lock as you (Abus), 2 of each 9, 10 and 11 speed quick links, (the bag hops between three bikes and the only kit change is two road tubes for one mtb tube when on that steed). Some self adhesive patches, three levers and a spare silicon rubber strap for my Leyzyne light bracket. Each bike has it's own frame mounted mini pump.

It doesn't actually take up much room when it's all packed up,I can still get some spare gloves,light gilet and a cap in the drysack and still have room in the rucksack for food and even some clothes.

I'm actually looking to double up on some things so if I want to hop on either of the Ridleys I don't have to faff with moving things from another bike(been looking at a nice Silca seat bag for the Helium).

The lightest I ride is when I have the tubular wheelset on the Helium;spare tube strapped under the saddle with everything else in the jersey pockets,only in the nice weather though

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

A few degrees warmer than yesterday. so out this morning

Photographs from my files - not taken today

Into Castleford, baulked by the crossing-gates, on Albion Street
Down past the Crimea, & Lion pubs, Allinsons Mill
http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4912844

Over the River Aire, & the Canal (Aire & Calder)
Up Barnsdale Road ('Roman road'), climbing 'Mary Pannal'
http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1481296
Passing the old Ledston Luck Colliery; http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/65357

Crossing 'Peckfield Bar; roundabout (where the A63 intersects)

Before reaching the new roundabout with the M1 (as it is nowdays), just north of Garforth, it was a right-turn onto the old HookMoor Road
http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4919375

A right turn, under the old A1, then the M1, before the two co-join
The old 'Great North Road' (A1) carrying straight on ahead into Aberford

Past Lotherton Hall, drop down to the Crooked Billet, & Lead Chapel, then the climbing starts, & it's a lot harder than it ought to be


The memorial for the Battle of Towton passed. then into Towton itself
http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/311105

Through the village, past the 'Old London Road' (pre 'Tadcaster turnpike'?)
A right turn, down a long, lovely gently descending Raw Lane, into Ulleskelf
Shadowing the river (Wharfe) into Ryther
Hitting Cawood (a sleepy little town) from the north-west (just before the toll-bridge, over the Wharfe)

Then it was a south-west turn into the head-wind, not that strong, but enough!!
A long, flat, open road, that offers barely any shelter - barring Bishop Woods
(looking the OS map, the road doesn't get higher than 9 metres above sea-level, until Sherburn-in-Elmet bypass - barring 2 railway bridges)

Another drag, down the bypass, to rejoin the 'Tadcaster turn-pike' (A162) below South Milford
- there's another stretch here, that's now a footpath/bike-lane, with the name London Road (again, harking back to it being part of the routes that meet up with the 'GNR; at FerryBridge/Brotherton

A right turn, onto Lunnfields Lane, under the railway bridge at Burton Salmon, as I knew that Rawfield Lane was closed, a couple of miles further north (near the roundabout with A63)
A few sharp bends, & a little climb, then it was back across the old ''GNR' at Fairburn, back past the Ings, & rejoin the Barnsdale road, south of 'Mary Pannal'

Home, via Castleford

 

[PeteXXX]

Todays ride, posted today(again!) I'm getting good at this

My daughter decided, yesterday, that I should escort her, on her bike, into town for a couple of interviews she had to attend this morning. The reason being that I know the bike paths and quieter roads at 09:00.

We set off at a sedate pace, and occasionally, got into double figures. Still, we weren't in a rush, luckily.

The first stop was for about half an hour while I waited outside as she was in her interview

Once in town, we had to get the bikes to the third floor for her 2nd.interview. Her bike was stood on its end in the lift, but I carried mine up the stairs as it's a lot lighter.. The people there didn't seem to mind, and even made us a cuppa!

After she was finished, we descended to ground level and rode through the Market Square and down to the riverside for our pedal back home.

Luckily, we just got back before this lot closed in! (There she is, bottom left, bless her)

A leisurely 15 miles, but at least she made it, with promises of getting some padded shorts for next time
Still, she persevered and made it home in one piece, with aching legs and a bit of saddle soreness.

https://www.strava.com/activities/771328897

 

[gbb]

At risk of being a downer, this last year has been quite horrible, work uncertainty (I have job but suspect some serious erosion of terms and conditions soon as the company splits) and family difficulties (who doesn't have them once in a while )...so I know deep down I feel very flat and have done for a good while.
Tonight, finish work, it's raining, nothing to do or interest me, I mooch around....... look out the window, it's drying somewhat, I call out...
' I'm going out on the bike for half an hour, just to sweep the cobwebs away...stop this feeling sorry for myself'

7.5 miles, just into town and back, dark, slight mizzle once or twice....feel a thousand times better now .
So good I got my tools out and immediately did a job in the house she's been asking me to do for ages .

Let's call it a medicinal 7.5 miles ​

 

[cosmicbike]

Don't know who's legs I had on my commute this morning, but they weren't mine. Struggled along at 11.9mph up through the reservoirs and got passed by a chap on a squeaky hybrid Seem to have a constant headwind the past few weeks, and today was no better. On the plus side I didn't get wet, and after 4 miles my fingers warmed up.

 

[The Jogger]

Beautiful ride this morning, out along the Chichester canal to Bracklesham at Billy's on the Beach for a cream tea, then down to East Wittering for a look around and back to base, perfect for a ride.

 

[The Jogger]

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

The forecast for tomorrow isn't good so the Saturday crew decided on an early ride. Steve E., Sara P., Pete M. and me headed off for the Castlemorton lanes and Longdon Marsh. My legs were asking "what's going on?" and anything with an upslope needed some care. Heading for The Rampings my front tyre picked up a thorn. I didn't need that. Sorted we headed for the Hams to cross the river at Haw Bridge. Just a jink around Deerhurst and we had a Tewkesbury coffee in our sights.

Steve thought a return by Ripple would be good but changed his mind. Bushley and Queenhill got the nod. So my lack of fitness was exposed again on Bushley Bank. Pete kindly sat up to wait. Not far now and we were shaking hands at the finish. Lovely outing with my pals. Some things are beginning to get back to normal (whatever that is). 40 smiles in sunny if chilly weather.

 

[GuyBoden]

Beautiful Autumnal day on the Cheshire country lanes, a nice easy flat 50 miles, Swettenham and back. Good ride for older legs.....
https://osmaps.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/osmaps/route/894324/50miles-Arley-Plumley-Goostrey-Swettenham

 

[The Bystander]

Having clocked up my first metric half century at the end of September I've been thinking of entering the half century per month challenge for 2017. I promised myself that if I could manage to clock up a few more before the end of the year I'd give it a go.

I've surpassed my own expectations since then by clocking up one per week during October and I've just ridden my second for November. No doubt the onset of winter will wipe that smug grin off my face but so far so good.

After my previous somewhat wet and muddy effort I put the road bike away for the winter (or set it up on the turbo trainer for those inclement days where riding outside holds no appeal) so I'm on the hybrid 'till Spring. The downside is the drop in speed (not that I'm particularly quick on the road bike) : the upside is that I'm no longer obsessing about how fast I'm going, so I can think about exploring new, longer routes instead.

Today's route wasn't new as such. I'd ridden most of the roads at least once before but never strung together on the same ride. I set out to Old and then to Scaldwell and Brixworth. From there it was a drop down before the climb into Spratton. I'd ridden up here once before and the experience scarred me so it was with some trepidation that I approached the village. I feared I was going to struggle so it was on to the granny ring and the largest rear sprocket and then I employed a climbing technique akin to winching a dead weight up a flight of stairs.

It wasn't as bad as I feared, not quite a stroll in the park (that would have been much quicker) but I didn't suffer as much as the memory of the first ascent. After that effort I was completely "boiled in the bag", there was still a chill in the air when I set off but by now it was blue skies and zephyrs so the jacket was jettisoned.

I don't think that the bogey hill of Spratton was the biggest I climbed for the day but it was the biggest in my mind. Nothing over 10% for the route but it was close to enough for me.

I continued West to Teeton and then on to new to me roads to Ravensthorpe where I turned South to East Haddon and then East onto the return leg on the trip.

The run down from Holdenby and to Boughton station were a delight despite a couple of shocking overtakes, but they were the exception, mostly courteous and considerate drivers. From there I was back on familiar roads to Moulton, Holcot and Orlngbury where I turned North to home.

Not my longest ride but more climbing than I've done on a single ride.

52km / 32.5ml going along.

and 658m / 2,158ft going up (and down again but there’s no bragging rights there).

 

[Racing roadkill]

https://www.strava.com/activities/7...-4038-830B-93CAE003270C?hl=en-GB&v=1478878284

53 miles in some lovely bright weather today.

Down to the D-day museum in Southsea and back, with a stop off at the Royal armouries coffee shop en route.

Coffee and a lovely almond and raspberry slice, demolished with the Spork.

Massive balls.

View from the top of Portsdown hill.

A massive weapon at the D day museum in Southsea.

The Hovercraft about to crash, or land, I'm not sure.

Fountains and lighthouses.

A nice day for it.

 

[Old jon]

I wonder, is misplaced optimism a symptom of old age? Nah, I’ve had it all my life. So, this morning felt a lot warmer than the last few days have been, before I had even stuck my nose outdoors. Maybe the wind had dropped. I had already decided to aim roughly towards Otley, which means a cut through Holbeck, Office Lock to Viaduct Road along the towpath, across Kirkstall Road and the almost endless climb to Lawnswood Ring Road through Headingley. Of course I was warm! Just after crossing the Ring Road my left hand made a unilateral decision to indicate for a left turn and me, well, OK, it’s only a bit more hill. Then you reach the top, relief ‘cos of the downhill bit in front of you. And your temperature drops along with the road. I resisted turning off at the junction for Otley, just carried straight on to Bramhope, into the mist. This is when I decided that home would be good.



Straight home at that. I completed 21.2 miles by riding back along the A 660, the Kirkstall diversion and back along the towpath again. The following may horrify some cyclists, you may need to avert your eyes. As I was putting the bike away I noticed the tremendous amount of muck it was carrying, even on the outside of the mudguards. I cannot recall seeing it that dirty after one ride before. May clean it tomorrow.

Despite the video title, I never saw a horse all the ride.

 

[13 rider]

Generally pottered about all morning waiting to see if the rain was going to break about 2 ish as per weather app .Out the door at 1.45 into a very fine drizzle in gloomy conditions so lights on .Out up Newtown Linford and decided to due Pollybotts lane as I not been up it for some while . So up Ulverscoft lane and onto Pollybotts lane .hard work getting up it today lots of debris on the road out round the back of Markfield and on to Thornton down into Ratby and the conditions are being to clear so decided to do a few more miles . Groby back to Anstey and head round the back of Bradgate park and the final climb of warren hill again hard work at one point lost traction on some wet leaves grinding almost to a halt but kept upright and just about moving foward . Nice quick descent back into Newtown and home 22.7 miles in the bag do glad I got out really enjoyed it

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

Despite the video title, I never saw a horse all the ride.

Far better than mine today ('Harriers v Cyclists', up at Bingley)
The first 2 fields would have had Cows in, till about 2 hours before the start

It was messy.....................