Your ride today....

[13 rider]

Up early this morning to get a 50km ride in and start 2017 half century challenge . White over with frost when I got up . Hung around impatiently till 1030 . Out the doors roads ok . Anstey ,Cropston ,Rothley ,Cossington .A rider of a yellow trike passed in the other direction that's the second time I've seen him but both times travelling in the other direction so no chance to chat. .Into Sileby where I took my short cut through the estate . Turned left at a junction and the bike goes all twitchy manage to get it straight can see the road glistening so slowly rolling a stop and bang I'm on the deck sliding gracefully along the tarmac.Thankfully no damage to the bike my body cushioned the bike well and just a bang on the elbow for me .Really struggled to stand up it was just sheet ice . Thanks to the car driver who came my rescue and nearly went for a comedy tumble !.So walked a hundred yards and back on the bike taking it steady now. Made out of Sileby and up to Paudy lane roads now we'll thawed as there in the sun .Left at the junction heading for Burton on the Wolds . Had thought about changing route and not going down narrow lane , but as the roads are ok stupidly stuck to my original plan . The first part of narrow lane was fine however the second downhill bit was in the shade and still white over managed to scrub most of my speed off but a couple of hundred yards where but dare not brake made it through upright somehow. Right stick to the main roads now .Wymeswold ,Hoton ,Barrow ,Quorn ,Mountsorrel .Got passed by a rider just before Rothley Station .Quick chat at the junction as he headed off I thought he looked just like @broady ( please tell me it wasn't you). Cropston and Anstey home with 32.6 miles in the bag so target met . Should have waited until this afternoon but I was too impatient for my own good lesson learned

 

[Gravity Aided]

New Years' Day ride was seven miles, pretty much all alone, although I saw one fellow on a Salsa Fat Bike and rode along with a fellow on a Willier. Those were the only two others I saw, outside of about a half-dozen dozy pedestrians wandering along. Beautiful cool day, some sunshine and very warm(ish) for January.
40F 4C
Winds NE6
Relative humidity 51%
Barometer 30.08
Mostly cloudy

 

[Dave 123]

I took my mountain bike out this morning. I rolled past the car, frozen to the drive, out onto the road, the ice sizzling under my tyres.

What I'd forgotten to factor in was that it had rained all day yesterday, and once I went off road it was soupy, poopy and gloopy. In more places than one I was struggling for some traction. At one point I nearly ended up in the bottom of a 4' deep ditch!

Out on to the road, down to Caldecote. I had my brakes on, just taking the speed down a touch. The road was shaded, and I didn't fancy a spill. In Kingston I took the Wimpole way, again it was 8" deep mud in parts.

Through the woods at the top of Wimpole and out through the field. I made a slight detour to the left to see the view rolling down into Cambridge.
The white thing in the picture is a telescope at the Mullard observatory.

I doubled back and made my way down the soaking hill to the drive at Wimpole. I tried to keep the speed down as I slithered and slipped, there were people around, I didn't need a public humiliation off today!

When I rode through here at 8am the other day it was perfect, today at 11am it was rammed with cars and people. I had thought about stopping for a brew, but couldn't face the crowds.

Out through the Arrington gate, along through the village, then on to Croydon.
From here you're left with a standing start on a 10% hill, unusual for Cambs. I had about 6 million gears to spare.

Another bridle way took me through some nice wooded areas and hedgerows until I ended up back at the A1198, or Ermine Street. A mile on here until jumping off at the Red House, back toward Bourn. It was a swamp through this bit, I must have travelled a fair old way laterally, literally! I just about held on.

I did the last 4 miles on the road as I'd had enough of slithering about.

The pressure washer came out once I was home!

https://www.strava.com/activities/818606830

 

[Osprey]

An 8am early start to get my half century challenge underway. Very frosty, - 2c but thankfully the roads were free from ice and the merino wool base layers did their job nicely. Decided on an easier 50 mile route along the Carmarthenshire estuary along the NCN route 4 which hugs the coastline to Ferryside and back. No wind and cloudless sky's made for a pleasant morning out.

https://www.strava.com/activities/818555474

View of Towy estuary and Llanstephen from Ferryside.

 

[The Bystander]

Didn't enjoy much of that ride as there was far more frost and ice on the road than I was comfortable with. But apart from making it a rather tense time and momentarily losing traction on a hill, I managed to stay on the bike.

The route took me to Harrington on frosty roads and then to Kelmarsh on roads that were increasingly icy. I considered aborting the ride but felt sure the bright sunshine from a clear sky would warm things up soon enough.

Continuing to the Clipston crossroads and on to Sibbertoft I encountered more ice and considered aborting again but by then I was approaching the halfway mark so pressed on.

At Wellford I lost the cross/head wind (just a breeze really but cold enough to make itself noticeable) and started on the return leg via Naseby, Haselbech and back to Kelmarsh from where I retraced my route to home.

Not the most relaxed ride but glad I didn't abort as that's my first 50km of the year in the bag.

 

[bruce1530]

Disappointing ride today. I’m still recovering from an injury, so was going to try a gentle trip up the coast to Largs. From home, that’s about 25 miles round trip, and almost completely flat. I was quite confident before I left off - thinking things like “If it goes OK, I could do an extra loop at the end and get a 50k in...

Didn’t really feel comfortable on the ride out - thigh muscles still a bit sore, and a headwind. Never mind, it’ll be a tailwind on the way back. Plodded on - probably my slowest time ever on the first bit of that route. And the bike didn’t feel right - the gear changing wasn’t as sharp as it should have been. Maybe there was some damage in the accident that I hadn’t noticed?

Half way to Largs, the legs felt a bit better. I was passed by a couple of cyclists, and that gave me the incentive to get moving a bit faster.

Approaching Largs, decided to come off the main road at the Marina, cross the railway line and onto the coast path into Largs. I was going over the little humpback bridge at the railway line when my chain snapped.

And I didn’t have a chain tool with me.

Just at that point, my luck changed slightly. I was on top of the railway bridge, and a train went underneath! I had assumed that there were no trains running today in Scotland, but there was a service on that line!

So a mile’s “walk of shame" to the station, and a train journey home.

Met another cyclist on the train who had a chain tool, but I didn’t have time to use it - I was getting off a couple of stops later.

So just 11.5 miles on the bike, a mile pushing it to the station, and a mile pushing it home!

On a more positive note, I’ve just spent the afternoon cleaning and checking over the bike, and I think I’ve found the problems. The chain was in poor condition probably because the bike had been put in the garage wet and salty after my accident a month ago. I had lubed the chain a few days later, but it was still a bit stiff. And my rear mech was a bit wobbly - the hanger bolts needed tightened.

 

[nickyboy]

Now I don't mind the cold at all. But blimey...that was freezing

Zero degrees when I left home, over the Snake Pass to the Ladybower reservoir, turn around and straight back home. It was minus 2 on the tops. I was actually pretty warm climbing the Snake from Glossop with a slight tailwind in the sunshine. The problem is you start sweating, get a bit damp, then you fly down the other side in the shade and no matter how hard you try, you can't keep warm

Almost managed to come off. There is a tight bend near the bottom of the descent back into Glossop and it has a manhole cover on it. I've been round that bend a hundred times and managed to avoid the metalwork. Not today for some reason. Just caught the edge of it, front wheel went sideways but thankfully regained traction. At least it took my mind off the cold

45km with about 850m of climbing. Hardly any other cyclists out in the Peaks so feeling very virtuous....and cold. Did I mention the cold?

 

[broady]

@13 rider
I wasn't out today, but am hoping for a nice ride tomorrow if the weather is ok

 

[13 rider]

@13 rider
I wasn't out today, but am hoping for a nice ride tomorrow if the weather is ok

I thought in wasn't you but you do have a double out there did strava flyby and found out it wasn't you

 

[Elybazza61]

1st rides of 2017 today after yesterday's washout.

Good 50k bash at a high tempo to start the year;a loop going through Haddenham,Earith and Cottenham.Left it until early afternoon and kept to main and well used roads(and a short hop on the busway).

https://www.strava.com/activities/818815679

Earlier did a short shopping trip in Ely were we got some Seville oranges to make this years 1st batch of marmalade;

https://www.strava.com/activities/818814040

 

[Racing roadkill]

https://www.relive.cc/view/818689566

First 57Km's of the year today.

Up to Fareham.

Home via Brewdog.

A nice day for a ride as well.

 

[iandg]

First proper ride out of the year (I rode all of 4.2km to work and back yesterday). 32km around the Achmor loop from Stornoway

https://www.strava.com/activities/818539978

Headwind out along the Pentland Road (looking back towards Stornoway)

Pentland Road

more headwind on the single track 'A858'

and climbing the 'revenge of the real deal'

A rest (and gratuitous selfie) at the top before the last headwind stretch to Achmor

Great views to Harris

Main road and a tail wind home and the last pic before the rain came down to join me for the final 8km home.

All the best for..............

 

[CanucksTraveller]

I got to ride out with my social group for the first time in months after a text 2 days ago announcing that some of them were back from travelling. It made such a nice change to have some company!

A quick solo 4 miles from Hitchin up to Baldock to get to the meeting point, and then all 7 of us set off out on a loop through Hertfordshire, passing through Sandon, Therfield, skirting Royston, and then up to Abbington Piggots where we stopped for a pint. The return route took us through Steeple Morden and Ashwell, before a farewell pint at the Orange Tree in Baldock. The final 4 miles were once again solo as I just about beat the sunset to get home.
It only reached about 2 degrees all day and there were isolated patches of ice in the shade, but thankfully no mishaps. Very nippy toes however, despite overshoes!

35 miles in total, which in metric is 53.5km; So the first 50 of the year is in the bag for the half century challenge!

Therfield Village Green:

On the way to Abbington Piggotts:

The Pig and Abbott pub at Abbington Piggotts:

Houses in Ashwell:

A stack of bikes at the finish:

Inside the Orange Tree pub in Baldock, with the town's now defunct brewery sign:

 

[NorthernDave]

After yesterdays abandoned attempt at a metric half, I was up early this morning with an eye on maybe having another go at it.
But it was white over with a heavy frost and walking the dog round the block soon persuaded me that taking the road bike out on this wasn't going to be a good idea.
Got bored of waiting for a thaw by 11am, so set off on the Road Comp but soon found it was still slippery everywhere the gritters hadn't been.
Coal Road and Red Hall Lane were OK, as was the A58, but Whin Moor Lane was still white over. Steady does it, then the turn down Hobberly Lane towards Shadwell and with a car coming up the hill I touched the rear brake and immediately felt the back wheel starting to step out, so quickly off the brake and balance regained. The car driver just motored through despite it being a single track road and them having 4 big fat grippy tyres...
Anyhow, gingerly on into Shadwell and down the hill before the climb up to the A58 and across onto Carr Lane.
This wasn't too bad and I was finding it a darn sight easier than yesterday, so carried on just being wary on corners and any shadowy bits all the way to Thorner, then onto Milner Lane for the climb onto the ridge. Passed two cyclists heading the other way just before the dip, said hello but was blanked and as I rounded the corner found Farmer Giles in his tractor doing a bit of hedge hacking with bits flying everywhere - nice of my fellow cyclists to warn me . He had the decency to stop hacking when he saw me, but the road was littered in pointy detritus and as I climbed the hill, I found his mate at the top in another tractor doing the same...
Through a load more debris and onto the ridge, but they'd clearly been working their way down the hedgerow as the trail of sharpened destruction carried on for a fair way. Worth noting if you're heading out that way (@Old jon and one or two others sometimes use this route).
At least the sun had made it onto the road here meaning there was minimal ice. On to Rigton Green and then round onto Bramham Lane, which turned out to be a mistake. I reported yesterday that the road was a bit muddy - well today it was covered in ice too, so it was a very gentle and slow ride along there today as there wasn't really any alternative route. A couple of times things got a bit twitchy (and not just the bike ) but I eventually climbed back onto Thorner Lane unscathed.
From there, very steadily through the dip and on to Bramham where I stopped for a drink and a photo:

I told you it was muddy, didn't I? I think this is as muddy as I've ever got one of the road bikes! (Although not as muddy as @Dave 123 's bike in his report further up the thread):

After the icy "fun" up to this point, I made a conscious decision to stick to roads that were likely to have been gritted for the rest of the ride.
So back in the saddle and headed south down the hill and up the other side and on to Paradise Way, staying on the road as there was no way I was risking the parallel cycle path which was still white over in places.
Down to Bramham cross roads and round the roundabout and straight on towards Aberford, enjoying the mainly downhill run, but not so much the freezing cold.
In the village I decided enough was enough and it was time to head for home rather than add (probably) another hours riding on to get a metric half, so that will have to wait for another day.
Right onto Cattle Lane and the roller coaster up and down to the bridge at Cock Beck (very steady on the descent down to there today), before the climb up into and through Barwick which continues nearly all the way to Scholes, before the welcome descent down Leeds Road (into the wind), being treated to two unnecessarily close passes before turning up onto local roads for the last mile or so up to home.

20.53 miles (33.03km) in 1h 45m at an understandably steady average of 11.7mph with 1,213ft climbed.
Mr Garmin tells me that the average temperature was a near tropical 2.0°C, but it certainly didn't feel that warm.

Anyhow, it's another ride done and (largely) enjoyed and that's what it's all about.
I'm not going to worry about the slow speed today given the circumstances as on a couple of extended downhill stretches where I'd normally be pushing on I was barely going above walking pace.

Oh, and finally - here's a map:

 

[Reynard]

First ride of the year for me. Had intended on a long (!) one this morning, but the depressingly empty state of the log bins meant that I spent the morning sawing and splitting logs. Am on solid fuel heating, no mains gas out here in the boonies, so it's one of those things that has to be done.

In the end opted for my usual seven mile loop at tea time instead. Was soooooo cold out though the wind had dropped from earlier, so glad that I put on an extra layer beyond what I normally would have. But it's highlighted the inadequacies of my gloves. Must get warmer ones. Roads weren't too bad, dry mostly, but with some nasty iced-over puddles in places.

Went from my place via O Furlong and Pymoor Lane to Pymoor, then a left turn onto the B1411, over the bridge and past Adventurer's Drove and the Corkers Crisps place (smells amazing when they're frying). After that, up Mill Hill - short but rather nasty, onto High Road and into Downham proper. Fortunately no suicidal pedestrians on Main Street this time as the chippy was shut. Then down the hill on the Ely Road, left into Cowbridge Hall, Brick Kiln Lane, followed by a right onto California and then back home - 45 mins all told.

Was hard work tonight as my get-up-and-go had already got up and left, but other than Wednesday's forthcoming commute, it was the only real chance for getting out this week, so had to take advantage of it. On the flip side, the night sky was amazing, with Venus bright below the crescent moon and Mars above.