Your ride today....

[Racing roadkill]

Well after months of thinking about it I bought myself a Quella ss/fixed this week and as the planets seem to have all aligned the weather has improved since I bought it on Thursday . So I finally managed to get out and do a nice 19 miles today. I was surprised how little I missed gears although the route wasn't very hilly. I have to say the bike rides very smooth and very quiet and bull horn bars are so comfy.
The weather's looking good for the rest of the week so looking forward to getting out and putting in the miles.
View attachment 84785

Gotta love the Quella. I'm going to get another signature one soon.

 

[Accy cyclist]

I was about to set off on a ride yesterday when the sun came out. Seeing as we've been starved of warm sunshine for 6 months i skived off and took my dog on a 2 hour walk. However when i got back i managed 20 miles. The traffic had slightly died down and most of the fair weather wobblers had completed their first rides since September so the cycle lanes were safe(ish).

 

[Gravity Aided]

4.5 miles, as I didn't wish to leave Mrs. GA alone, having to get up and let dogs out, etc. Beagles like to go in and out of the house a lot, and Mrs. GA's knee has been acting up a bit lately. A good fast run, though. A PB on a hill near my home, and an overall of about 26 minutes. That's not too bad for me on a mountain bike. Lovely weather, in the 60's F or upper teens C, and a bit windy as well. Sunny days in April are hard to come by, or I would have made it a rest and fettling day.

 

[Flick of the Elbow]

Yesterday a thoroughly enjoyable 56 miles on the tandem, sunshine and blue skies all the way. Long Dalmahoy Road to Kirknewton and Mid Calder, off road to Muireston, then the lanes through Woolfords Cottages and Auchengray to the foot of the Lang Whang where we turned right to Carnwath. Intending to visit the Apple Pie Bakery but the stack of bikes outside told us that it was standing room only, so settled for sandwiches from the Co-op instead, finding a reasonably warm bench in a wee community garden just out of the village. Sun was warm but the breeze still a bit chilly. Looped back to the Lang Whang by Hagrid's Cottage and with a tailwind headed home on it as far as Glenbrook Road, completing our ride up Harlaw Road and offroad past Clubbiedean and Torduff reservoirs. Back just after 2 giving us time to watch Flanders.

 

[david k]

Some great photos

I did 15 miles with my son Saturday, nice bypass ride, then 27 miles yesterday partly down a trail, both on my new cyclocross which is working well, just considering changing the nobly tires

 

[Geoff Crowther]

Not actually today, but last week.
Went up to t'Lakes for Chrissie & Kim to walk the Cumbria Way. The weather was appalling, but me 'n' Hamish managed to fit in some mountain biking twixt the storms.

Rode up from Seascale to Wasdale.

A really nice, entertaining ride from Coniston, through Tilbertthwaite to Little Langdale & back.

And a brilliant route from Keswick round t'back o'Skiddaw on the best day o' the week.

That last un's probably the best mtb ride I've done. A great route along tracks I've walked in the past. Highly recommended.

Chrissie & Kim got flooded off a camp site in Stonethwaite. Ended up in the, rather nice, 4 star, Scafell Hotel for the night. But they completed the route in six days of foul weather (except for that one day we were ridin' round Skiddaw). Good on 'em!

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

Well done...........


(Can't post smilies on the tablet otherwise you would have got the big grin one)

Yes you can. you just have to type in the code for them instead, so just have to remember that whistle surrounded by colons will give you and D with a : in front will give you , ) with a semi colon in front gives you etc. See here.... https://www.cyclechat.net/help/smilies you need to type in the text bit...

 

[cosmicbike]

Up and out early for me today, wanted to avoid the Bank Holiday madness so out the door at 8. Forecast was for overcast and feeling chilly, so I went out in longs and long sleeves. First time out on the new Planet-X RT-58 today, and the ride entailed a few stops to tweak the saddle position. Started out really quite cold, but by the time I'd gotten 5 miles under the belt I was a bit more comfy. Few new roads for me today out through Windlesham and South Ascot, including a couple of surprise hills. Sorry no pics as I just wanted to crack on, but 35 miles with glorious sunshine for the last 15. Happy to report the RT-58 is really quite comfy, not sold on the saddle yet but I'll give it a few hundred miles before I change it..

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

I got feeling shattered this morning with the no energy in the legs feeling. Yesterday had wiped me out what with the longer ride and a walk in the evening (we always walk in the evening and if I don't ride in the morning, I walk in the morning as well...physio have told me that the only way I am going to get back on my feet is to fight, so I shall go down fighting as always! ) and I ummed about not even going on a ride today but given the route I had many bale out options and decided to go and try. I also opted for company which was a touch selfish because it meant my OH could not go and play in the mud around Delamere Forest on his mountain bike, but I needed to play it safe with the way I was feeling.

One look outside confirmed the need to stay warm today, so waterproof trousers went on as well as my waterproof hi-viz top and they were to stay on the entire time!



It was to be like that more or less all of the ride.
My OH has adopted the policy of cycling all of the hills twice. He claimed it was to stay warm I think he really means I am just slooooooowwwwwwww.....



Going up (yes his light was on, its just every photo I took managed to get it in the off phase of the flash! ) Oh and there is another hill beyond that car as well... (there is an oncoming car in that photo honest!)


Coming back to find me


Going back up again....


Coming back to find me again.... Oh and the observant amongst you will have spotted that there is a white Magnolia starting to open in the background in this photo as well...
Shortly after this photo, a pedestrian walking down the left hand side of the road actually went into the road to go around me I was that slow up the hill!

Anyhow - not quite yesterday's route and probably not the one I will do tomorrow, both of the roads we stayed on are 'rat runs' sadly and given my normal cycling time is rush hour, I shall probably try to plan another route for tomorrow using smaller quieter roads, but it was fun whilst it lasted.

Only the 1 idiot today, but he did apologise. I had a long down hill followed by a right hand bend and at the bottom of the hill the road drops to single lane passed some houses so cars can't overtake, even when on a 2 wheeled bike. Just after the bend I need to turn right, so I am indicating and using the uphill to loose my speed and I'm over on the right hand side of my lane, up against the central white line and despite my indicating (hi-viz jacket) the car behind overtakes me . He got an up turned palm and a WTF jester from me (but not 2 fingers or anything like that) as I had to pull my arm in and move back left, jam the brakes on and wait for him to finish overtaking me before trying again to turn right. He did apologise with his hazard lights afterwards. I had thought a right arm out parallel to the ground (irrespective of the hi-viz) indicated I wanted to turn right, not to mention my road positioning and plenty of notice, but there we go. I am finding these 'wing mirrors' quite useful even if they vibrate something chronic at speed!

So 15.1 miles done, 2 hours, so I qualify for that Strava Adventure Challenge badge (), the same average time as yesterday but with a touch more climbing and nearly a mile further and I felt considerably better when I stopped than yesterday thankfully! https://www.strava.com/activities/280137466 Still fighting, but need a new route for tomorrow.

 

[Psycolist]

To every one posting over the B/H weekend, some breath taking views and great photography and wonderful reports.Thank you.

 

[cosmicbike]

I got feeling shattered this morning with the no energy in the legs feeling. Yesterday had wiped me out what with the longer ride and a walk in the evening (we always walk in the evening and if I don't ride in the morning, I walk in the morning as well...physio have told me that the only way I am going to get back on my feet is to fight, so I shall go down fighting as always! ) and I ummed about not even going on a ride today but given the route I had many bale out options and decided to go and try. I also opted for company which was a touch selfish because it meant my OH could not go and play in the mud around Delamere Forest on his mountain bike, but I needed to play it safe with the way I was feeling.

One look outside confirmed the need to stay warm today, so waterproof trousers went on as well as my waterproof hi-viz top and they were to stay on the entire time!

View attachment 84850

It was to be like that more or less all of the ride.
My OH has adopted the policy of cycling all of the hills twice. He claimed it was to stay warm I think he really means I am just slooooooowwwwwwww.....

View attachment 84851

Going up (yes his light was on, its just every photo I took managed to get it in the off phase of the flash! ) Oh and there is another hill beyond that car as well... (there is an oncoming car in that photo honest!)

View attachment 84852
Coming back to find me

View attachment 84853
Going back up again....

View attachment 84854
Coming back to find me again.... Oh and the observant amongst you will have spotted that there is a white Magnolia starting to open in the background in this photo as well...
Shortly after this photo, a pedestrian walking down the left hand side of the road actually went into the road to go around me I was that slow up the hill!

Anyhow - not quite yesterday's route and probably not the one I will do tomorrow, both of the roads we stayed on are 'rat runs' sadly and given my normal cycling time is rush hour, I shall probably try to plan another route for tomorrow using smaller quieter roads, but it was fun whilst it lasted.

Only the 1 idiot today, but he did apologise. I had a long down hill followed by a right hand bend and at the bottom of the hill the road drops to single lane passed some houses so cars can't overtake, even when on a 2 wheeled bike. Just after the bend I need to turn right, so I am indicating and using the uphill to loose my speed and I'm over on the right hand side of my lane, up against the central white line and despite my indicating (hi-viz jacket) the car behind overtakes me . He got an up turned palm and a WTF jester from me (but not 2 fingers or anything like that) as I had to pull my arm in and move back left, jam the brakes on and wait for him to finish overtaking me before trying again to turn right. He did apologise with his hazard lights afterwards. I had thought a right arm out parallel to the ground (irrespective of the hi-viz) indicated I wanted to turn right, not to mention my road positioning and plenty of notice, but there we go. I am finding these 'wing mirrors' quite useful even if they vibrate something chronic at speed!

So 15.1 miles done, 2 hours, so I qualify for that Strava Adventure Challenge badge (), the same average time as yesterday but with a touch more climbing and nearly a mile further and I felt considerably better when I stopped than yesterday thankfully! https://www.strava.com/activities/280137466 Still fighting, but need a new route for tomorrow.

Nice to see you on the roads, save getting that nice trike all mucky

 

[Saluki]

I really need to get out on a decent ride. @SatNavSaysStraightOn is putting me to shame and starting to make me feel really guilty for not getting out and doing something.

A quick 5 miler, in the miserable drizzle today. Just down to the hospital to meet Hubster. We have obligations today - delivering a fish tank to Lowestoft is on of them. I'm going to ring @StickBouncer and see if he will come out to play. It's nice to have a bit of company while riding.

5.05 miles, 24 minutes on Eric the CX bike.
I overtook an older couple on their hybrids just before the UEA while I took my usual route to Eaton and down though the new estate and round to the back of the UEA to where I meet Hubster. They obviously nipped across the campus as I saw them coming towards me as I approached the meeting point. I was thinking to myself 'wow, I did 3 miles in the time it took them to ride 1'. Then I thought 'actually, well done on them for getting out there and doing something they like whatever their age'. I am normally the one being overtaken by the younger and fitter. I hope that I am still riding at their age, as they were considerably 'older'.

 

[Diggs]

We didn't want to go out today, I thought we'd just spend some time together*



*Don't try this at home (with a bike that isn't completely new and clean)
No bedclothes were harmed in the making of this image.
We did in fact go out, after initial fettling for a quick test ride

 

[mooseracer]

17 miles with my good lady this morning. Perfect spring weather and lovely to be out.

 

[BSRU]

Eventually, once the fog had lifted, got out for a 104km ride with 1000m of going up. Plotted the route so the last 40km was with any tailwind, even though it was pretty light winds.
Crossed the path of two sportives this morning, one at about 9.30 in Cirencester, due to RideWithGPS trying to send me down a one way street and I was slowly trying to navigate myself around Cirencester in order to join back up with my route.
The second one at about 11 as I cycled towards Fairford, which "seemed" more friendlier than the earlier one.

A nice morning once the fog had gone.

RideWithGPS routed me onto this which was just about roadworthy but had to be ridden very carefully.

The benefit of riding up 2 1km climbs both with an average gradient of over 10% which were next to each other with a little decent in between for a rest.

Now recovering with some mugs of tea and home made Easter fairy cakes.