Your ride today....

[Aravis]

Here's a photo from my ride today, looking back towards Blaisdon Hall, west of Gloucester:

I finally managed a proper test with my daughter's underutilised Dawes Horizon. The bike runs perfectly, emphasising perhaps how clapped out my Raleigh had become. But although it's comfortably within limits, I'm never going to be able to relax with the saddle set so high above the frame. So I won't be repeating the experiment and the task of replacing my "retired" Raleigh suddenly becomes much more urgent.

Not wishing to stray too far from home on a first run with an eBay bike, I did one of my loopy ones - south first, then west, finally north:

After 116.2 windy miles I felt much less fatigued than of late. Strava thinks I didn't put in as much effort today as on other recent rides, so perhaps that's the reason. But Strava doesn't know how windy it was, so maybe it was the steel frame after all. Anybody's guess really!

 

[iandg]

Thursday not today, but I've been busy since. Had 4 days leave from work and Thursday threw in the dream forecast with sun combined with wind speed and temperature in single figures. 'Siezed the day' and completed my first 100 miler since September 2015. Out from Stornoway to Ardroil beach then back up the west side to Barvas calling at Uig Community Shop for Coffee and Callanish Visitor Centre for lunch. With the last 20 km across the relentless drag of Barvas Moor.

View: https://www.strava.com/activities/911353565/embed/622c71a42a1fe190b374456a043090a4178a604a

 

[cosmicbike]

Out at 8 this morning as jobs on this afternoon. Needed to get my metric half ride in for March, and was rather hoping the wind had died down. It hadn't Not to worry, I headed out on one of my usual circuits around Windsor Great Park and off into Ascot before coming home via Chobham. A nice ride, lovely in the sunshine as I was approaching home. 37.3 miles done, and managed to average over 16mph which I'm quite pleased with given the seemingly 360 degree headwind.

 

[Racing roadkill]

https://www.relive.cc/view/913445457

I went to get some bits that had been taken back to the depot today ( bearing press and new headset bearings)

Huge box

Not much in it

Nice ride though

 

[gavgav]

The sort of morning that reminds why me why I love cycling so much.

An overnight frost and with temperatures at a cold 2c when I set out, but glorious sunshine meant blissful conditions.

Went through Bayston Hill, up Lyth Hill, down to Exfords Green and then passed a number of runners who were in an event of some sort, as I reached Stapleton and Gonsal.

Crossed the A49 and continued on to Ryton and Longnor. Still a lot of water and mud on that lane. A chap overtook me and had a quick chat, where he remarked he was struggling a bit today, still going much faster than me!

Stopped for a chocolate bar at Longnor and then turned North to Frodesley, where I encountered the one knob of the ride. One of the local farmers in his Land Rover, towing a spreader, who was so desperate to overtake me on a narrow section, that he hadn't spotted the big tractor coming the other way, filling the whole road and so he cut me up, skidded to a stop in the mud just in front of me and I almost stuffed him up the back end.

The downhill section to Acton Burnell was nice, even though it was into the breeze and I made good progress onto Pitchford, Cantlop and home.

Gave the bike a good wash down, due to the mud from recent rides.

21.4 miles

 

[derrick]

Nice easy club ride in the sun. Was nice to just follow today 13 of us set of at 9-00 this morning, the sun shone on us most of the way round, My other half managed to hit a pot hole on the last stretch and punctured her rear wheel. A couple of guys behind her, one stopped and fixed the puncture the other guy carried on and let us know what happened, i rode back a mile or so then i saw them coming so spun round and rode with her to the pub, Had a nice beer on the terrace before coming home. Anothe r really good club ride. As for the new bike it rides soooooooooo nice.
https://www.strava.com/activities/913690989

 

[bruce1530]

Lovely morning today here in the west of Scotland - bright and sunny, with breeze from the west.. So I abandoned the goretex boots and the big gloves for the first time this year. Still stuck with long tights rather than risking shorts!

Headed out from Saltcoats, towards Kilwinning via NCN73.

From there, up towards Benslie, Torranyard, then Stewarton.

After Stewarton, it was a fairly hilly section initially along a farm road, which eventually took me to the A77 . Followed the A77 cycle path until the Eaglesham moor road.

Lots of cyclists on the roads around that section.

Then there was an uphill climb of about 3 miles until I reached the visitor centre at Whitelee wind farm.

Coffee and a bacon roll - £2.50

then back on the bike, and home by the same route. The breeze was in my face on the way back, but it was downhill!

By the time I got home, I was wishing I’d worn a lighter jacket.

70km in total.

 

[LarryDuff]

What a pleasure to be finally be out in the sunshine and a wee bit of heat. Did a nice 45 miles in the Dromara hills.
Amazing to think it was snowing on Tuesday.

 

[13 rider]

After a morning painting mum's new downstairs loo I could see the sunshine and desperate to get out . Quick lunch and out in shorts and short sleeved top . My new Cycle chat one ( thanks @ianrauk ) was a bit chilly to start as straight onto a fast descent but then warmed up just right .Anstey ,Cropston ,Rothley ,Sileby and onto Seagrave up to the A46 a busy dual carriageway way to cross normally do early Sunday morning and it's not that busy but 1300 on a Saturday it's properly busy long wait for gaps to safely get across but then rewarded with a quick descent into Thrussington at the bridge at the river the farmer had stopped the traffic as he moved his herd of cows all 270 of them across the road so a far wait several other riders joined the queue so past the time chatting away . Finally got going again slightly cow patted road for a hundred yards but not to bad . Rearsby ,East Goscote ,Ratcliffe on the Wreake and back to Cossington ,Turned right at the lights and went through Mountsorrel onto Quorn then back home via Woodhouse ,Swithland ,Rothley ,Cropston and home . Coming into Anstey checked my time at 31.13 miles done in 1.43.13 at an average of 18mph my quickest 50 km to date are you quicker in shorts ? .The uphill section to home took the overall average back down to 17.3 mph but well happy with that . Absolutely loads of riders out today all enjoying the sunshine

 

[The_Weekend_Report_Guy]

I been member of this site for over a year and this is the first time I see this

I will be back after my next ride..

P

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

Yesterdays adventure, first since new years day

 

[PaulB]

https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/1638898710 I hate this time of year! Today, when I was pulling up hills, I was wearing too many warm clothes but on the downhills, I wasn't wearing enough warm clothes!

 

[NorthernDave]

What's this? A dry, sunny day? Must be time to get the Pro Carbon out of hibernation then...

For a change, and because I haven't been there on the bike yet this year, I headed north and west aiming for Otley.
The 'best' bike felt fantastic after a winter slogging away and grinding out the miles on the alu bike - it's just a shame it has to rely on the same power source as all my bikes
Coal Road, Red Hall Lane, the A58, Whin Moor Lane and into Shadwell, barely seeing a soul. Still cold from overnight, with frost visible in the fields, but today was off to a cracker with the sun rising and blue skies overhead. Left in Shadwell and up the hill, then down the other side and the climb up to Slaid Hill lights, then a right and left onto Wigton Lane, eventually crossing the A61 and the climb up Alwoodley Lane to reach King Lane. Right again and down the hill, taking it steady under the trees and on to Five Lane Ends where it was straight(ish) across and down to Arthington Road and the drag up past Golden Acre Park.
Left onto Kings Road and down the hill, where a motorist just had to get past (my speed 29mph in a 30 mph limit, so I was hardly holding him up... ) and then round the roundabout and onto the A660 which would take me almost all the way to my destination. First the climb up through Bramhope, before the gentle descent to the lights at the Dynley Arms, then the fast descent down into Otley
Through Otley, past Chevin Cycles where they were setting up outside for some sort of event, and over the river taking a right into Farnley Lane and stopping by the weir at Wharfemeadows Park for a break and some pics:

Back on the bike and the climb through Newall and up the hill towards Farnley. A combination of the higher gearing on this bike and my lack of fitness made it a slow climb and I got passed by a few riders but I ground it out and eventually reached the top.
And of course what goes up must come down and the descent down the other side made it all worth while, topping out at just under 40mph and catching all but one of the riders who'd passed me on the way up
Over the River Washburn Bridge and along the valley bottom to the A658 and right over the River Wharfe (again) into Pool-in-Wharfedale.
Not fancying tackling Black Hill, Creskeld Lane or Pool Bank with my general laziness, I turned right and headed back to Otley along the valley bottom road, before cutting through the town and climbing back the way I'd come up the side of the Chevin on the A660.
It was hard work today, but I stuck at it and climbed all the way back to the Dynley Arms in the big ring, so that's something at least.
From there it was a straight forward reversal of the outbound route almost all the way home - same route but different views and of course all the downs become ups, and vice versa.

34.35 miles (55.28km) in 2h 31m at an average of 13.6mph, with 1,709ft climbed which I'll take all day long - great to get back out on the Pro Carbon too as I'd almost forgotten how good it is to ride.

It's another metric half in the bag and every mile counts ahead of next weekends imperial century at the Wiggle Vale Vélo...

 

[Dave 123]

Our last day in Mallorca, just a short visit this time.
It was a bit chilly first thing after yesterday and the epic afternoon rain.
The sun was out and we headed in the direction of Arta. We had a stop by the coast for tea and cake

Bizarre statues!

On we went toward Arta and the road started to undulate. Mrs Dave isn't good at this. After a while we pulled in. We decided to head for Petra. I'd not been on this road before, and little did I know that we were in for a good few miles of full on headwind on a never ending straight hill. I sat at the front like a good husband!
I also mended a puncture for her too!
From Petra we went to Ariany and stopped for food. Pamboli, Mallorquin peasant food. Perfect!
On to Muro and then Sa Pobla before returning through the marsh with a nice tail wind. A big German fella with looooong legs cruised by us. I stayed with Jo until the last bend over the bridge, I spied Herr Long Legs off in the distance 'right, pass him by the power station!' I thought. I did too. It was childish, but great fun!

Back to Tolos for a celebratory drink, Jo's first metric century.
She had a Xorigeur gin, I had a beer. I asked for the bill.... we didn't have enough money! Her gin was big, but it was €8.40!!!
We are going back tonight to pay our debts! Lord help me if she ever does an imperial century!

https://www.strava.com/activities/914072084

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

I joined Steve E in the Green and then John G and Julian H at Upton. Sunshine was abundant but that wind was cold and tough going. My legs sent huge complaining messages. I was off the back almost all of the time. It was a fairly standard run out apart from (have I mentioned) that wind. John was very generous at the cafe as only he parted with cash. Thanks John.

After a fine old chat we climbed back on the saddle. My legs complained again on the ride up Holloway but seemed to have resigned themselves to pedalling after that. We looped by the level crossing at Wadborough still battling that wind. John and Jules peeled off for Worcester while Steve and I took the wind assistance south for Upton but still had the northerly hindrance back from there.

Tough ride for me with tired and painful legs. I did ride them in a bit but they do now need a bit of TLC. 43 smiles on this one