Your ride today....

[Oldbloke]

At last a dry sunny day, went out at midday in howling westerly winds to do some hills and try out my new Aliante saddle.

After 35 kms the wind seemed to be getting stronger, so looped around the Fougeres forest road, looking forward to a helpful tailwind to get me back home.

All went well until around 20 kms from home, got over a long climb to find a strong southeasterly waiting to buffet me the rest of the ride. This odd phenomena seems to occur quite often, must be the lie of the land that causes it.

Longest ride this year at 70 kms, fastest descent at 62 kph, closest pass from some halfwit on an empty road. Just over 3 hours so must be getting fitter at last!

 

[Oldbloke]

Went on a club run with @MickeyBlueEyes but i cut it short , due to the wind i had lost all feeling in my hands and feet by about 20 miles so i was dropped .Headed home as i was pretty miserable .The curse of poor circulation and arthritis

I use Tiger Balm on my hands before riding, seems to help my arthritic hands a lot.

 

[hondated]

Another cycling adventure today, strong wind, flooded lanes, wet feet and another puncture, and all for charity. I rode the Guy Salmon/Coventry Road Club charity ride for the NSPCC today, rode the long route and with riding to and from the event clocked up 67 miles, my longest ride this year. It had been stormy here yesterday, strong wind and heavy rain, and that had washed the muck and rubbish out the hedges and off the trees, I punctured in Holly Lane Balsall Common on the way out and as I rode round the route I saw a few people with punctures, there was also a lot of surface water about, the lane I was worried about, Preston Lane had almost dried out by the time I got there but a section of Firs Lane, just past the old church was flooded, it was a bit deep and I had wet feet for the rest of the way round, it also was deep in Exhall a bit further on. A well organized and supported ride I had a stream of riders pass me as I pootled round on my fixed and I had company for the last part of the ride, he passed me as I climbed a hill in Lapworth St and I caught up a bit further on and we rode together to the finish. Another hard morning out on the bike but it was fun.

View attachment 118241

Well done Dave Not a great to do it. As for me I went out at about 6am for a 10 miler. Just built my Dawes Audux frame up so I am doing fine adjustments to it and at one point it was blowing a gale and raining and I suddenly couldn't get a gear. Thankfully staying calm I fiddled the levers after the chain had come off and managed to get it back on a chain ring without having to stop.
Apart from that even with a strong head wind for most of the way I still enjoyed it. I think we must all be mad us cyclists. Oh yes and because we got some roads down here that are badly rutted when I got back home I discovered I had lost a rear light, damn.
Theres definitely something nice about riding a bike in darkness.

 

[hondated]

Plan for today was Febs 100 km so route planned and out at 0900 . Set off heading up the Wreake valley Anstey ,Cropston ,Rothley ,Cossington ,Ratcliffe on the Wreake ,Thrussington ,Hoby and Asfordby knew I had a tailwind but surprised to clock 18 miles in the first hour .Bit of climbing now up in Saxelby and into Grimston and another climb out of the village .Out along the top of Old Dalby and into Willoughby on the Wolds ,East Leake ,West Leake and Sutton Bonnington .2 hours in so a quick rest on a bench at the university campus .34 miles done quick snack and back on the bike .Kingston on soar Kegworth and another bout of climbing out of Kegworth to Long Whatton ,Diseworth ,Belton ,Shepshed ,Turned onto Charley rd and into the headwind so a steady grind back to beacon crossroads where A distance check and new route planned as original would have been short . So up Beacon hill the easy way and the nice fast decent into Quorn . There was a running event on and they were crossing the road halfway down Thanks to the Marshall who stopped a runner stepping out as I approached at 40 mph made me twitch a bit .Into Woodhouse ,then Quorn then took my commute route home . As I stopped at a junction a couple of lads shot off up the path to my right and just heard a crash and they were both on the floor. Quick scoot over and the younger one was crying holding his knee but no blood thankfully untangled the bikes and checked the lad out I think he was just in shock . Thankfully a couple of other people stopped including the lads neighbour so he got a lift home staff at the village hall stored the lads bike. So I rode with the other lad home he was about 13 and when I got there the other lads mum was waiting and confirmed he was ok might have a bruised knee but he didn't even graze his hand . Got thanked for helping out .but what else you supposed to do ?.So after the excitement Its time to get home so Mountsorrel, Rothley ,Cropston quick detour too add another mile then home .62.6 miles done at 15.5 mph 2186 feet of climbing . Got a bit cold today didn't bother with overshoes as its not going to rain . But didn't take into account the amount of rain over night so riding at time on roads that look like rivers is a recipe for wet feet !!. and only put on fingerless glooves another mistake so by the time I got home I had cold feet and hands lovely .Loads of riders out today again mostly heading the other way to me but had a cheeky draft of two females riders riding two abreast as I headed for Asfordby I did repay the favour though .

Well done and I am glad to read that the lad was basically ok. You showed the real cycling spirit there.

 

[derrick]

Belated happy birthday, nice looking cake

It tasted as good as it looked.

 

[ianrauk]

Out of the door at 7am this morning to meet @rb58 at Pollhill. Today's ride was a blast down to Rye and Camber sands (and back). Checking out all the weather apps, today's weather wasn't meant to be that bad. Mostly sunny, no rain and a bit of wind. We got some sun, we got some rain and we got some wind... more bloody wind then you could shake a mini pump at.. at times the wind was brutal. the route is a fairly flattish one once you get over the Downs, but the wind made things far more harder then it should have been.

The Kentish flatlands...

Just outside of Rye we were hit by a short deluge. And boy was the rain cold. Luckily it disappeared just as quick as it appeared. Not enough to get us soaked.

We got to Camber Sands in good time. Rolled into the car park where the cafe's are to find the whole car park covered in a ton of sand blown from the dunes. From the car park you can't see the sea.. but you could hear it. The roaring of the waves was immense.

Camber Sands angry waves from the left

Camber Sands angry waves from the right

After a fairly decent Egg, 2 sausages and chips, and a nice mug o' tea.. it was time to head back.
Heading east from Camber to Lydd we enjoyed the mother of all tailwinds. We were averaging in the 20's without even trying. Pure cycling bliss. It didn't last long though.. it never does. It lasted for 7 glorious miles. We then had to turn north which meant we had the winds at our left side. The winds also seemed to be getting stronger as the day went on. At one point whilst following Mr @rb58, he was leaning at a 40degree angle due to the wind....completely nuts.
The further into the trip home, the stronger the wind seemed to be. It was hard work. Head down and keep spinning the pedals. Quite demoralising at times. But one just get's on with it.

At Yalding I decided I needed a rest. I was 95 miles into the ride and it was surely needed. And where better then The George pub. I grabbed a pint of Doom Bar and munched on the cheese and Jam sarnies that I had stashed (these were leftovers from Little H's 6th birthday bash yesterday).

Very dirty bike and a not a John Smiths.

It was very good timing. As I was drinking and munching. Another cloudburst hit. So just sat under the porch and let it pass. Luckily it only lasted five or so minutes. Once finished, it was time to knock out the last 25 miles to home. The route is one I have done many times before over the years.
Quite undulating but easy enough.

Gratuitous pic of the Victorian Folly, Hadlow Tower.

However the blasted winds had picked up even more. Making things tough going and I hadn't even reached the climbs over the Downs yet which were another 10 miles away. So I gritted my teeth and got on with it. My thighs were really starting to feel tired now, even though I was spinning away. this was tough. I climbed the first main climb, up into and out of Plaxtol, up into Ivy Hatch. Followed by a glorious 3 mile descent into Seal and a little further into Sevenoaks. I still had another 6 miles to go including the climb up to Pollhill. A thigh buster at the best of times, let alone in these very testing conditions.

Shamefully instead of turning right for Pollhill, I turned left for Sevenoaks and the train station. The wind had finally done me in. I just couldn't face that long climb. I had 113 miles on the clock anyway and will need to save something for the commute tomorrow. So a train to home it was.

So anyway..113 miles for the day.. in fairly tough conditions. February's Imperial Century challenge ride in the bag. And as a bonus, got myself a new Eddington Number.

 

[Stonechat]

Club outing today
Windy outward leg - we went up Staple Hill and round to West Horsley for coffee and snack

Following from last week's bad record of 3 punctures, had one on the outward, followed by a pinch puncture and another puncture on the way home
Ham and Brie panini was good refuelling.

Leg home was rather easier though the speed was not pushed on too much

46.5 miles @ a meagre 14.4 mph
1946 feet climbed (Don't understand how this was more that Friday's with it's three hills)

The plus was there was no rain, although a fair amount of wind

https://www.strava.com/activities/488049908

 

[Jon George]

I had planned to get up reasonably early for a long stint in the saddle, but the neighbours bathing their kids at half-past midnight put the kibosh on a good night's sleep and so I only did 23 miles out to West of Ipswich after a lie-in. I may have to start a thread about whether its better to begin grinding into a headwind on the out leg and take the tailwind back in, or vice versa, because battling the wind going out of Ipswich seemed to take some of the enjoyment out of today's ride.
I did, however, re-scalp a rider coming down a hill outside Hintlesham - though doing 40mph and noticing the patches of damp, the road sign indicating a slippery road and remembering the corner I was fast approaching had an inverse camber made for a few interesting seconds.

This overlooking Alton Reservoir.

 

[Gravity Aided]

8.3 miles this day, Only 2 other riders and a few runners, including one sans any apparel except shorts. Brilliant weather for this time of year, but anything that is not below zero Fahrenheit and cloudy is considered a godsend, let alone all that snow.
45F
7C
Winds W15 G25
Relative Humidity 65%
Barometer 29.81 in.
Cloudy Bright.
With the exception of about1" snow forecast tonight and tomorrow, cold and dry forecast with temperatures moderating next week.

 

[MickeyBlueEyes]

My first Club Run today, thanks to @cyberknight for the introduction. Nice ride, good company and a nice cafe stop thrown in for good measure. Was great fun winding it up on the 2nd half after the cafe, somewhere in the region of a 22/23mph or so average I think it was. Certainly interesting spanking that out on the heavy Winter Beast. Definitely looking forward to more trips out with those guys.

 

[Elybazza61]

Solo run yesterday as the other half is still under the weather and didn't feel up to it.

Left under nice blue skies and encountered the remnants of the club run on their way back;first section was all headwind so slow progress until getting to Haddenham and heading North-ish caught a the wind in a more favourable direction.
Got over the junction at Witcham toll fairly quick and carried on through the villages of Witcham,Wardy Hill and Coveney;goal for the day was to meet the 150k weekly total so trurned off before Little Downham and headed out to Pymoor for a loop back down to Little Downham and then home.

Nice to keep the km's up(still 600 still behind the 12,000 schedule though) and despite the wind a nice ride with only one smattering of rain.

https://www.strava.com/activities/488126884

 

[PeteXXX]

Yesterdays ride...
was quite breezy, especially around Pitsford Reservoir! I should have ridden down the eastern side as it's a bit more sheltered.
Still, it's only about 3 or 4 miles, so nothing drastic.

I think my lens was covered in wind blown spume for this pic

Into the cafe for a cheeky ice cream before heading back home. Bloomin' flake nearly got taken away!!!

Still, a nice 16 miles before having to go to w*rk.. Booooo

https://www.strava.com/activities/487919195

 

[Mrs M]

Nice fresh day today and sunny.
Went to the older end of town at Downies. Lovely views and so peaceful.
Met some playful bull calves and a farm cat looking for wildlife. Saw some cute ponies but couldn't stop as was on a roll to get up a hill. Apologies for my finger being in some pics, took them with iPod and it's afa small.

 

[cosmicbike]

An extended utility ride this morning. Didn't start well as the cable lock I take as a 'secondary' for the front wheel had seized, so I had to take a much more chunky alternative, so the panniers were already weighed down with this and a D lock before I filled them to the brim with shopping. Extended out to Halfords to get new lock, and then on to have a cuppa with my Sister in law and niece. All good so far as had wind behind me. Getting back home was fun? Not sure that's the word, perhaps hard going but at times exciting whilst attempting to remain upright would be better
Apparently I was supposed to be decorating this morning, I figure a ride was a much better use of my time

 

[Mrs M]

Did a wee bit of scrambling also this morning, discovered the Marathon Plus tyres aren't very good for this, managed to stay upright though (just) .
Haven't managed a wheelie yet on Gloria, may be too dangerous!