LarryDuff
Guru
- Location
- Hillsborough Co Down
Only got 10 miles this morning when I got my 3rd puncture in 3 rides. Couldn't be bothered to change it on the road so I phoned the wife to come and get me.
Your ride today....
- Thread starter gbb
- Start date
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Gravity Aided
Legendary Member
- Location
- Land of Lincoln
A like for the ride, not the puncture.
Dark46
Veteran
- Location
- Quedgeley, Gloucester
This a write up for last Wednesays ride as I`ve been having laptop issues. Well I`m thinking that I`m almost there.
@Frazzle came round and for a change I was ready to go when he got here.
For a change heading out of the estate we took the A38 out on to Secunda Way to avoid Britsol Road and the city taffic, saying that the traffic on Secunda way wasnt exactly quiet lol.
We got to the start point quitea lot earlier than last week and nothing had been set up. After signing in and findung out that our group was going to be consisting of 5 we where ready to roll. One of group was the owner of the club shop who set up the club at the start. That slightly worried me as I`ve never rode with him before.
The ride again went up the A38 out of Gloucester as last week but we stayed on the A38 until the Apperley turning.
I was told to get into the middle and shout if the pace ever got too much. The group in front was supposed to be quicker but we had to try hard not to pass them. We all could see Dave Ball leading was resisting to go past. I know if I was in front I would have passed as I am like that lol. But as well were supposed to be the chilled group it was best for us to stay behind. I think that it got a little too much with the group in front as after turning off the A38 towards Apperley the group in front turned off again to go through the village.
So from here its up Tirley hill and through to Staunton before making the straight ride to Gloucester. But for my this is where my gear trouble started as I went down on the crank for the hill everything was fine. But once up this hill and going back trhough the gears nothing was happening at the front. So from then on it was on the 50 tooth all the way home , even going up Hartbury hill.
In case you were wondering @Frazzle was mostley at the back making sure noone got left behind.
During the ride I was getting great advice from Dave Bull and Gru about climbing.
Yet again my garmin had froze during the ride and have had to add another section on Strava to put the millage right. I have now factory reset the Garmin hoping that it will not freeze 3 rides in a row.
When I got to Over roundabout I was sufffering with a bit of cramp in both legs and had to stop. I told Rhodri to can on as we were so close to the end of the ride.
https://www.strava.com/activities/860875161
https://www.relive.cc/view/860875161
I knew the grind up Hartpury hill was going to be a struggle but I got up , but my legs certainly felt as though they had been up a different hill lol.
@Frazzle came round and for a change I was ready to go when he got here.
For a change heading out of the estate we took the A38 out on to Secunda Way to avoid Britsol Road and the city taffic, saying that the traffic on Secunda way wasnt exactly quiet lol.
We got to the start point quitea lot earlier than last week and nothing had been set up. After signing in and findung out that our group was going to be consisting of 5 we where ready to roll. One of group was the owner of the club shop who set up the club at the start. That slightly worried me as I`ve never rode with him before.
The ride again went up the A38 out of Gloucester as last week but we stayed on the A38 until the Apperley turning.
I was told to get into the middle and shout if the pace ever got too much. The group in front was supposed to be quicker but we had to try hard not to pass them. We all could see Dave Ball leading was resisting to go past. I know if I was in front I would have passed as I am like that lol. But as well were supposed to be the chilled group it was best for us to stay behind. I think that it got a little too much with the group in front as after turning off the A38 towards Apperley the group in front turned off again to go through the village.
So from here its up Tirley hill and through to Staunton before making the straight ride to Gloucester. But for my this is where my gear trouble started as I went down on the crank for the hill everything was fine. But once up this hill and going back trhough the gears nothing was happening at the front. So from then on it was on the 50 tooth all the way home , even going up Hartbury hill.
In case you were wondering @Frazzle was mostley at the back making sure noone got left behind.
During the ride I was getting great advice from Dave Bull and Gru about climbing.
Yet again my garmin had froze during the ride and have had to add another section on Strava to put the millage right. I have now factory reset the Garmin hoping that it will not freeze 3 rides in a row.
When I got to Over roundabout I was sufffering with a bit of cramp in both legs and had to stop. I told Rhodri to can on as we were so close to the end of the ride.
https://www.strava.com/activities/860875161
https://www.relive.cc/view/860875161
I knew the grind up Hartpury hill was going to be a struggle but I got up , but my legs certainly felt as though they had been up a different hill lol.
Yes throughly miserable here . Got up this morning snowing and sleet just meh. Pottered about all morning looking out the window preying for a break in the weather . After lunch decide it wasn't getting any better . So out with the bike pass the neighbour as I'm walking out he says I'm bonkers and agree I'm completely bonkers .Decided on my hour climbing route of Pollybotts and Thornton . Out into drizzle and cold the first descent into Newtown froze my face but soon warmed up some climbing around Ulverscoft and onto Thornton turned towards home and into headwind that's cold oh the joy .Back home 14.1 miles in the bag and still enjoyed it I must be bonkers only saw 1 other nutter on a bike . Need another 15 miles tomorrow for a 100 mile week hope the forecast isn't right it looks terrible ?
Dave 123
Legendary Member
- Location
- Cambridgeshire alps
I'd kind of decided to go to Thetford with my MTB today but snow, procrastination, cold, apathy, yoga/circuits tired legs and a week of coughing up crap meant that by 1.30pm I'd done precisely nothing!
So for the second weekend my Trek 1.5 had a run out. I went down to Knapwell and then along to Elsworth. It was cold, gloomy and grim. The only plus point was that there was an absence of wind. 2 bikes came in the opposite direction out of the gloom, lights a twinkling.
From Cambourn I headed to Bourn. Sad looking bedraggled sheep stood forlornly in yellow grassed meadows. Down the hill past the Lalbagh curry house and into the village at just over 30mph. Luckily the person driving out of their drive saw my light!
Kestrels, buzzards and a great spotted woodpecker were the birds of the day.
Just over 18 sunny, warm Mediterranean miles
https://www.strava.com/activities/862624919
So for the second weekend my Trek 1.5 had a run out. I went down to Knapwell and then along to Elsworth. It was cold, gloomy and grim. The only plus point was that there was an absence of wind. 2 bikes came in the opposite direction out of the gloom, lights a twinkling.
From Cambourn I headed to Bourn. Sad looking bedraggled sheep stood forlornly in yellow grassed meadows. Down the hill past the Lalbagh curry house and into the village at just over 30mph. Luckily the person driving out of their drive saw my light!
Kestrels, buzzards and a great spotted woodpecker were the birds of the day.
Just over 18 sunny, warm Mediterranean miles
https://www.strava.com/activities/862624919
Racing roadkill
Guru
It was snowing today. So I got the bike out and went for a 55 mile ride
I stopped off for a "born to die" from Brewdog
A nice day, except for an incredibly close passing moron near Romsey. They actually made contact with my arm.
It was just a pity there was no traffic or lights to allow me to have a word with them about it.
https://www.relive.cc/view/862653211
I stopped off for a "born to die" from Brewdog
A nice day, except for an incredibly close passing moron near Romsey. They actually made contact with my arm.
It was just a pity there was no traffic or lights to allow me to have a word with them about it.https://www.relive.cc/view/862653211
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From home, followed the NCN73 to Kilwinning (more on that on another post!) then via farm roads to Stewarton. Back via same route, with an extra loop at the end to make up 50k.
As I came round a bend in the countryside, I noticed what appeared to be a pile of fly-tipped rubbish at the end of a farm road. When I got closer, I realised that it looked like asbestos sheets.
Asbestos cement sheets are probably the least dangerous form of asbestos, as long as they are not damaged. But these ones were lying at the edge of the road, and cars had obviously gone over them, breaking them up.
Phoned the local council to report some fly-tipped hazardous waste. When i returned past the same spot, about an hour later, they had coned off the area, presumably they are arranging proper disposal.
As I came round a bend in the countryside, I noticed what appeared to be a pile of fly-tipped rubbish at the end of a farm road. When I got closer, I realised that it looked like asbestos sheets.
Asbestos cement sheets are probably the least dangerous form of asbestos, as long as they are not damaged. But these ones were lying at the edge of the road, and cars had obviously gone over them, breaking them up.
Phoned the local council to report some fly-tipped hazardous waste. When i returned past the same spot, about an hour later, they had coned off the area, presumably they are arranging proper disposal.
- Location
- Manchester
I've really enjoyed catching up with this thread, as ever.
Some great stories of recovery, some new challenges and successes, wonderful pictures and inspiring ride reports.
Will try to contribute some more ride reports.
Some great stories of recovery, some new challenges and successes, wonderful pictures and inspiring ride reports.
Will try to contribute some more ride reports.
Gravity Aided
Legendary Member
- Location
- Land of Lincoln
Thanks for getting that done. Asbestos poses a great danger to the community, well done for spotting and reporting.
Gravity Aided
Legendary Member
- Location
- Land of Lincoln
10 .2 miles this day, many riders out there in the brilliant winter sunshine and wonderful weather. Much of the 4 inches of snow from Wednesday melted in the fifty degree warmth of yesterday, and today's conditions did the rest.
62F, 17C
Winds SE7
Relative humidity 67%
Barometer 29.83
Snow left only in the ditches.
62F, 17C
Winds SE7
Relative humidity 67%
Barometer 29.83
Snow left only in the ditches.
Donger
Convoi Exceptionnel
- Location
- Quedgeley, Glos.
Wow! What a fantastic ride today. Powered only by the mighty oat, I set off out with my long-distance cycling buddy, @jembullo to do a ride out into Herefordshire and back. This was to be my qualifying ride for the Metric Century a Month Challenge, and it was immediately obvious that it was going to be a tough one and it was already snowing when we set off from my house. It snowed for the first 20 miles, and it never seemed to get above a solitary, balmy degree all day. There were hills, too. Many hills. Steep son-of-a bitch-hills, tricky little hills, long gentle drag hills, irritating tougher-than-they-look hills. The lot. Over 1,200 metres of climbing. Even so, it was an absolute joy. The roads were spookily quiet, with hardly a car around, and there was great rolling countryside scenery everywhere.
Fortunately none of the snow was settling on the road, and there was only the occasional little dusting of it in the verges .... notably on the slopes of May Hill near Glasshouse and in some of the higher Herefordshire hills above about 600 feet. After a rest stop in a coffee shop/bakery (and a visit to a LBS to carry out minor running repairs) in Ross on Wye, we headed out through Hole-in-the-Wall and alongside the River Wye. Came across the peculiar sight of a pedestrian suspension bridge to nowhere. I once rode across it and ended up trudging through a muddy field for half a mile, taking 10 minutes to scrape off enough mud with a stick to be able to carry on my ride. Jem looked like he was going to rob a bank:
From there the route just got better and better. What a fantastic quiet little road alongside the Wye:
The next time we saw the river we were a few hundred feet above it, and this was a really hilly section of the route. We did a little detour for a few hundred yards when I caught sight of Brockhampton Church. My brother took me there once to show me around, and it really is a curiosity. Not only is it rare in being a thatched church, but it was also only built as recently as 1902, apparently in the arts and crafts style. If you go anywhere near the place in the summer you will be swamped by coaches full of Japanese tourists. They go mad for the place. Apparently English style weddings are de rigueur in Japan right now, and the most popular venue is a three quarter size reproduction of Brockhampton Church, constructed on the 21st floor of a tower block in Osaka! They flood over here to see the real thing:
Stopped off for a second break in a pub in Much Marcle, where a hot soup and a black coffee picked me up just when I needed it. Eventually got home very tired but happy ... after cutting the intended route short and making a beeline for Gloucester via Kempley and Newent when we left Much Marcle. This was the original 69 mile route:
I had to go past my own estate and nip down to the banks of the Severn at Stonebench to add one final mile to hit the metric century.
62.3 miles ridden today. Notably, after seeing a couple of commuter cyclists in the first few hundred metres, we never saw a single cyclist for the next hundred kilometres. This either means there are a whole lot of fairweather cyclists in Gloucester, or else I really am that stupid. Judging by some of the posts above, I fear it may be the latter. It was cold, and it had been snowing, but I always find you can wrap up warm and generate your own heat. This ride really was a gem, and I for one am really glad I did it.
Cheers, Donger.
Fortunately none of the snow was settling on the road, and there was only the occasional little dusting of it in the verges .... notably on the slopes of May Hill near Glasshouse and in some of the higher Herefordshire hills above about 600 feet. After a rest stop in a coffee shop/bakery (and a visit to a LBS to carry out minor running repairs) in Ross on Wye, we headed out through Hole-in-the-Wall and alongside the River Wye. Came across the peculiar sight of a pedestrian suspension bridge to nowhere. I once rode across it and ended up trudging through a muddy field for half a mile, taking 10 minutes to scrape off enough mud with a stick to be able to carry on my ride. Jem looked like he was going to rob a bank:
The next time we saw the river we were a few hundred feet above it, and this was a really hilly section of the route. We did a little detour for a few hundred yards when I caught sight of Brockhampton Church. My brother took me there once to show me around, and it really is a curiosity. Not only is it rare in being a thatched church, but it was also only built as recently as 1902, apparently in the arts and crafts style. If you go anywhere near the place in the summer you will be swamped by coaches full of Japanese tourists. They go mad for the place. Apparently English style weddings are de rigueur in Japan right now, and the most popular venue is a three quarter size reproduction of Brockhampton Church, constructed on the 21st floor of a tower block in Osaka! They flood over here to see the real thing:
I had to go past my own estate and nip down to the banks of the Severn at Stonebench to add one final mile to hit the metric century.
62.3 miles ridden today. Notably, after seeing a couple of commuter cyclists in the first few hundred metres, we never saw a single cyclist for the next hundred kilometres. This either means there are a whole lot of fairweather cyclists in Gloucester, or else I really am that stupid. Judging by some of the posts above, I fear it may be the latter. It was cold, and it had been snowing, but I always find you can wrap up warm and generate your own heat. This ride really was a gem, and I for one am really glad I did it.
Cheers, Donger.
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After Jan's ride I thought you choose a better day for Febs your certainly doing it the hard way . Credit to you .
Todays ride, posted today!
I've been a bit lax in this thread recently, apologies..
After finishing w*rk at a reasonable 00:30, I was up with the lark at about 8.. and fuelled by coffee and porage, I set out into a light dusting of snow for a pedal on my CX.
Deciding on keeping 'off road'as much as possible, I took my usual short cut through Church Farm to Overstone.
It was a bit frosty in the clearings..
And darker through the rhododendrons..
And a bit muddy where the crossing had defrosted..
But with more miles to cover as it warmed up to just above zero, I headed towards Pitsford Reservoir for a circuit or two. It wasn't too busy today, probably due to the sleet and freezing drizzle, but there were a couple of other folk out cycling and jogging.
I thought about stopping in Brixworth for a snack, but decided to press on to see if the newish Millers Yard cafe on the old railway line was actually open (I've passed by several times and found it shut). Pleasantly surprised, it was open and the owners were most welcoming and happy to have a chat while I defrosted.
And, sat in front of the fire, with a scone and a mug of proper coffee, I was set getting up for the last 18 miles home.
It was an enjoyable, but cold and sleety ride of 42 miles, that conclude with a bacon sarnie and a large glass of mulled wine
Just the job!!
https://www.strava.com/activities/862645207
I've been a bit lax in this thread recently, apologies..
After finishing w*rk at a reasonable 00:30, I was up with the lark at about 8.. and fuelled by coffee and porage, I set out into a light dusting of snow for a pedal on my CX.
Deciding on keeping 'off road'as much as possible, I took my usual short cut through Church Farm to Overstone.
It was a bit frosty in the clearings..
And darker through the rhododendrons..
And a bit muddy where the crossing had defrosted..
But with more miles to cover as it warmed up to just above zero, I headed towards Pitsford Reservoir for a circuit or two. It wasn't too busy today, probably due to the sleet and freezing drizzle, but there were a couple of other folk out cycling and jogging.
I thought about stopping in Brixworth for a snack, but decided to press on to see if the newish Millers Yard cafe on the old railway line was actually open (I've passed by several times and found it shut). Pleasantly surprised, it was open and the owners were most welcoming and happy to have a chat while I defrosted.
And, sat in front of the fire, with a scone and a mug of proper coffee, I was set getting up for the last 18 miles home.
It was an enjoyable, but cold and sleety ride of 42 miles, that conclude with a bacon sarnie and a large glass of mulled wine
Just the job!!
https://www.strava.com/activities/862645207
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Gareth C
Veteran
- Location
- North Pennines.
I’m writing this as sleet falls, and a promised weekend of biking in the snow has failed to materialize So I’ve spent the morning going through some GoPro footage from last weekend: Liz and I went up to Druridge Bay, and I took the chance to reccie the ride up the beach, planning for a springtime ride from Tynemouth to Berwick.
Plenty of people out walking on the beach, and pretty much straight after setting off a nice section of sandstone slabs to negotiate.
I’m going to enjoy riding this in full. If we’re not going to get a winter, bring on spring!
Plenty of people out walking on the beach, and pretty much straight after setting off a nice section of sandstone slabs to negotiate.
I’m going to enjoy riding this in full. If we’re not going to get a winter, bring on spring!
cyberknight
As long as I breathe, I attack.
- Location
- Land of confusion
I hope to go out later, this morning i am taking the kids to see ....
