Your ride today....

[Dirk]

Not far today........but all for a good cause.
Just a 10 mile return trip up the A361 from Braunton to the Ilfracombe Dogs Trust centre to drop off a carrier bag full of toys for the doggies.
Our pampered JR has far too many, so we had decided to thin them out a bit.
Took a bit of planning to sneak them out onto the bike without her noticing!
Very windy today - almost stopping us in our tracks a couple of times.

 

[i hate hills]

Thanks for taking the time out to do some overtime provide us with some nice weather haha. I'm almost 100% sure ill be swimming to work for the next few days the way the weather is though. P's I feel your pain weather was definitely against me today.

No probs . Happy to take one for the team.

 

[PeteXXX]

After a reasonable(ish) midnight finish last night, I was home and in my pit by 01:30 ready for the alarm @ 07:00 <yawn>
Three of us had plans to meet up for a road ride this morning, but one third of our trio pulled out due to the wind (terrestrial, not human).
Never mind, t'other chap and I met up at 09:00 at the aptly named Windhover Pub intending to do a few miles on or off road. He was on his Hardtail S-Works and I was riding my Canyon CX
It was, as we all know, quite a breezy day and not quite suited for cycling, but as it was my only full day off this week it had to be done.

A bit of a rainbow at the end of the track towards Pitsford as the rain started...
After the drop towards Chapel Brampton I noticed that he back wheel was washing out a bit and stopped under a bridge to check it out and pump it up a bit. No obvious thorns or anything, so I carried on to our meet.
As we didn't have to stick to the roads, we headed back towards Maidwell and thence onto bridleways towards Cottesbrooke.

.

Some of the trails were a tad muddy. This one wasn't quite so bad, but straight into a 30/40 mph wind it was hard going.
Eventually, due to time constraints, we ended back on our original route rather than the tarmac road through the grounds of Cottesbrooke House. Shame really, as it's a lovely rode to ride. Next time we'll do it though...
After a few miles back down the old railway track, we were back into Northampton town where we split up. I headed home along the riverside and added loupe around Sywell & Overstone as I had the time.

I ended up on 50 miles, which seemed a lot further due to the wind and the route we rode.

As an added bonus I got attacked by a hailstorm as I washed the bike down in the garden once I got home!

Who says we don't suffer for our sport?

https://www.strava.com/activities/276849029

 

[Spartak]

Early morning ride out today to see the sunrise over Slapton Sands 8-)

Ride along the coast road to Strete Gate then turned round & continued to Stokeham a right turn & a steady climb took me to the 13th century church at Sherford.

Then joined the 'main' road to the outskirts of Kingsbridge for a quick banana stop.

Back via Frogmore & the steep hill towards South Pool with more climbing involved to get back to Kellaton for breakfast.

35 kms with 600 metres of ascent !

https://www.strava.com/activities/277306777

 

[Dirk]

25 miles and 1700 feet of climbing today.
Out along the Old Barnstaple Road to Pilton. Then out along the Old Bideford Road to the Fremington turn. Back down to Fremington and onto Tarka Trail, back over Barnstaple new bridge and along to Braunton Marshes and home.
Blustery WNW wind was like hitting a brick wall at times.

 

[Elybazza61]

Long ride home today as I need to get some serious km's done before the spring saddle;went via what goes for hilly down here and is similar to the spring saddle terrain(actually some of it is part of the course although in a different direction).
Pretty pleased overall as the wind was nearly blowing me off on the way back but htfu'd and did some extra to get 100kms;legs ache but some cake this evening should help.

https://www.strava.com/activities/277476846

Oh and the helium with open paves is a match made in heaven and also the new Howies 3/4 bibs were good too.

Was going to stop and take some pics but was on a roll(excuse the pun) and didn't want to stop.

 

[mooseracer]

15 minutes on the turbo today - took it real steady just to get the legs accustomed again after breaking my hip in February, and to see how I managed clipping in/unclipping (ok'ish).
Hopefully the first step in getting out to do some 'proper' rides again very soon
(I did do 0.7 miles a few weeks ago but don't count that as it was mostly free-wheeling!)

 

[cosmicbike]

15 minutes on the turbo today - took it real steady just to get the legs accustomed again after breaking my hip in February, and to see how I managed clipping in/unclipping (ok'ish).
Hopefully the first step in getting out to do some 'proper' rides again very soon
(I did do 0.7 miles a few weeks ago but don't count that as it was mostly free-wheeling!)

Excellent news, nice to hear

 

[Donger]

28.4 quite blustery miles in 2 hours today. Thankfully, the breeze does seem to be dying down a bit at last. Headed off in a southerly loop via Whitminster, Eastington, Frocester and Cam. Back via Frampton on Severn and the lanes. Brought up 800 miles for the year so far - which is easily my best ever total by this date (by nearly 300 miles).

Only 5 months to go before my next attempt at the Alps, and I mean business this time. Flattish rides like today's don't do much to increase your stamina, but I'm determined to keep my legs moving and not to squander any of the gains from my bigger, tougher rides. I've lost a stone in weight so far this year, and I don't fancy putting it back on and having to lug it up any Alps.

 

[summerdays]

Just did a quick loop today and enjoyed the sense of just riding rather than commuting.

 

[Spartak]

15 minutes on the turbo today - took it real steady just to get the legs accustomed again after breaking my hip in February, and to see how I managed clipping in/unclipping (ok'ish).
Hopefully the first step in getting out to do some 'proper' rides again very soon
(I did do 0.7 miles a few weeks ago but don't count that as it was mostly free-wheeling!)

Well done @mooseracer
...... easy does it ;-)

 

[Gravity Aided]

11+ miles the distance today, just out and about, doing some exploring, including the gravel roads that lead to some gas well heads.

 

[SpaCyclist]

A 34 mile ride yesterday with some hills. I decided to set off quite early, hoping to avoid the forecast showers. it was bright when I started, but quite windy. Unfortunately the sun didn't last, and I soon encountered a sharp shower with a bit of hail on its leading edge. Ouch! After that the weather improved, and I had a good return leg with the wind behind me most of the way.

My route took in Wetherby, Kirkby Overblow and Weeton, then up Pool Bank. I attempted this last year, and had to stop part way up for a rest. I now have a new bike with a lower bottom gear, so I was able to get up to the top in one go and continue cycling on when I got there. I returned through Alwoodley, Shadwell, Thorner and Bramham. I enjoy these roads as there isn't too much traffic, even though they are on the Northern edge of Leeds.Also, having completed the climb up Pool bank, there is a general downhill trend to this part of the route.

Strava (https://www.strava.com/activities/277334751) shows 547m of climbing in 55.3 Km, and my legs know it this morning!

 

[PeteXXX]

A bit of a utilitarian ride today. I had to pop into town to collect my new glasses.
I locked the bike up to a sturdy lamppost and went into the shop and mentioned that I was there for my fitting appointment. The chap says, "Specsavers is two doors up the street, mate.. This is British Home Stores..!! " (the old one's are the best... )

Northampton town centre has sprung a few new wood statues.
As I was in town, I picked up a Wedding Anniversary card and a box of choccies from Thornton's for Mrs Pete as it's been 26 long years since we wed this Saturday.
When I went back to the bike, I noticed that the p*uncture fairy had struck the back tyre. I put some air in the tyre and rode the bike to a more suitable spot to repair the tube properly as there are benches provided there for such emergencies.

My old Single Speed Town & Tesco bike..
Tyre fixed, I carried on home via the Washlands where about 50 council chaps were clearing all the litter and rubbish from the sides of the road and bike paths. Never seen so many folk cleaning an area before! Good on 'em.
After a quick loop of Lings Woods, I was back home on 15 miles.
Off to w*rk soon.. Boooo

https://www.strava.com/activities/277860861

 

[nickyboy]

Lovely day up here in the Peak District so a quick shuffle of the work folder meant a proper ride today but maybe have to do a few hours work tomorrow. It's gonna rain so who cares?

Not going to disclose the route as there's a little photo quiz. Suffice to say it was long and hilly and my legs now feel like they are no longer attached to my body. The Peak District is locally split into "Dark Peak" and "White Peak". The reason is geology. Northish of Chapel en le Frith (so including Glossop) is Dark Peak. South of there is White Peak. You can see the demarcation in the dry stone walls. Around here they're quite dark millstone grit. In the White Peak they're pale limestone.

No major clues on where I went other than this photo to show the "White Peak" dry stone walls

So here's what I want to know. I rather foolishly rode up two hills that have featured in the National Hill Climb championship. One was a complete t**t, the other not too bad. But which hills are they?

Here's the easy one (both to name it and to climb it)

And here's the other rather *cough* trickier one. You can see the town I climbed from in the background

If you get them both I might buy you a pint if I ever meet you. Then again I might not. Clue for the second one is that it must be Dark Peak.....look at the colour of the walls

All in all a very good ride in the Dark/White Peak with some climbs I've never done before (including the two above). Counting down to beer o'clock