Your ride today....

[Rickshaw Phil]

Yesterday: A ride with my brother. The day was dry but a little overcast and not as warm as last time I was out. I suggested one of my regular routes and about 24 miles, which Doug was happy with so we set off using a not too busy A49 heading for Condover. Doug was getting along pretty well into the headwind until I suggested that he took it a bit easier and save some energy for later in the ride. A more sociable pace was good and after adjustments on the last ride the bike does seem to be working quite well for him now - apart from the handlebar grips, which Doug was finding uncomfortable from as soon as Ryton.

We had a pause at Longnor then the tailwind helped on the climb to Frodesley and made for a nice quick descent into Acton Burnell. We started heading for Cound Moor but not far along this lane Doug asked to pull in for a bit and said he was finding the grips really hurting him. I tried an adjustment to see if that would help and we decided to cut the ride short so headed back to Acton Burnell and took the road to Pitchford and Cantlop instead.

The grips might be an issue but Doug did seem to be getting on better with the bike overall. I particularly notice that he doesn't seem to struggle with hills the same way, and at Condover was enthusiastic about taking the hillier way back. At the top of the climb Doug didn't think my adjustment had helped with the pressure on his hands so I put it back the way it was.

I had promised a pub stop on the ride, which we enjoyed with only a short distance left to go.

19.5 miles at 11.9 mph average. I've swapped the ergonomic handlebar grips back to the previous grips and bar ends so that the bike is useable for next time and have suggested some alternatives that he might like to try instead. It's a shame as they weren't cheap.

No photos this time.

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

Another chance to get out with Doug today. I made a few route suggestions but he fancied a short but fast ride so the short version of the Acton Burnell loop is the obvious choice for that. The day was cool but not cold with a surprisingly brisk wind from the south east, so going round the circuit clockwise seemed favourite as that should give us a long stretch with the wind behind us.

We had a good gap for getting out onto the A49 but then found the headwind and it didn't do us any favours. Within a couple of miles I was sure that this was not the day for setting fast times and that it wouldn't make any difference which way round we went. We aimed to enjoy the ride anyway and Doug did try to make the most of it. Lots of uneventful riding for the majority of the trip, which was pleasant. Plenty of mud on the roads which has undone the cleaning I did after the last trip.

Around Frodesley we met a few other cyclists - a little surprising since we met hardly anyone round the rest of the ride. We picked up the hoped for tailwind at Longnor but kept meeting obstacles on the way to Ryton which prevented us from making good use of it. The stretch into Condover did go quite well and it was good to have a rare direct tailwind on the run back to the A49. Once again we paused for a pub stop near the end.

Even though it wasn't the fast ride he'd hoped for, I can see that Doug is getting on better with the bike now. There are a couple of hills going this way round which he tends to find hard going on most rides but had no problem with today.

17.3 miles at 12.7 mph average. Strava says 717 feet of climbing. Before the end of the ride we passed some roadworks with the workers gathered round a hole and one of them on the phone. Something told me there was a problem and we passed them just in time to hear the immortal words "We've hit a gas service Guv". We could certainly tell they had once we got downwind.

The photos haven't come out brilliantly but I'll include them anyway:

 

[bluenotebob]

I’ve used Cadoret as a base for a few rides over the years – it’s handily located on the Nantes-to-Brest canal, between Josselin and Rohan, and only about 35 minutes in the van from home. But I’ve been trying to find somewhere else since September as Cadoret is just too far away from the new places I want to visit and the cycle trails that I intend to explore in what’s left of this year – and 2025.

I’d passed the aire de Boju a few times this year – in the summer months – and it’s always been packed. I passed it last Monday and there was only one car there so I decided I’d give it a try today. About an hour’s drive – not much fun in the mist but most people were driving carefully (apart from one muppet who’d decided he didn’t need his lights on).

Left the aire de Boju on Katie-Mae (my gravel bike) around 12 and headed towards Pontivy (about 18km away). Stopped off briefly at St Drédeno to take a couple of photos for the ‘ABC of Saints’ then continued down the canal into Pontivy.

Pontivy is a junction for cycle routes – the V8 which comes up from the south coast of Brittany and then heads up the rigole d’Hilvern (which I’ve been following northwards this year), Eurovelo #1 which descends on the Blavet river from lac Guerlédan and then heads east to Redon and Nantes, and the GR37 which isn’t strictly a cycle route – but it’s possible to do most of it on an MTB or gravel bike. The GR37 starts in Vitré and crosses the interior of Brittany east to west, finally hitting the coast in Finistère. I’ve done large chunks of this over the years but not beyond Pontivy.

My first target was to go down the Blavet on the V8 – just a continuation of the canal towpath that I’d followed from the aire de Boju – but a different canal (the canalised Blavet). I didn’t enjoy the stretch through Pontivy – too many people and too many cars – but I was out of Pontivy after 3 or 4km and it became more pleasant. First (minimum) objective was to get to the écluse de Signan – stopped there to eat a sausage roll, then carried on for another couple of kms to the charming chapelle du Gohazé. Enough V8 for one day so back into the urban sprawl briefly before picking up the GR37 and heading north-west. I’d only intended doing the first kilometre or so of this – just to make sure that I could follow the route out of Pontivy easily the next time I visited – but I stayed on it out to Stival and stopped to admire the church of St Meriadec.

Rather than return on the GR37, I blasted down the main ride for a couple of kilometres before re-entering Pontivy and picking up Eurovelo #1, going north on the Blavet. Running out of food and energy at this point but I managed to get 4km up the river to the écluse de Guernal. Decided that was enough exploring so picked up a quiet road that passes the Lycée du Gros Chêne (where my neighbour’s son is a student) before returning once again to the centre of Pontivy and then back onto the Nantes-to-Brest canal and back to Boju, my van (and my tobacco).

64km cycled in 4.5 hours. A satisfying day out on the bike with almost all of my intended targets reached.

Just after leaving the aire de Boju, on the ‘ladder’ of locks climbing towards Hilvern

The écluse de Signan on the canalised Blavet, south of Pontivy

The charming (and difficult to photograph) chapelle du Gohazé

Only another 55km on the V8 to Hennebont (not sure I’ll ever get there but I’ll have fun trying)

The church of St Meriadec at Stival

The écluse de Guernal, north of Pontivy

 

[Dave 123]

I made a mistake today by making my Warren ride towards the lowering sun.

The semi permanent winter puddle coming out of Newton Ferrers is here for the duration.

In other places I had to hope and pray that no thorns would get my tyres, but the hedges did need a trim!

At Battisborough I stopped at the gay pride bench to put my sunglasses on. Once on the coast path it was bloody blinding. It was a relief to turn inland and the cover of Passage Wood.

Just over 15 miles.

https://www.strava.com/activities/12742354642

 

[HLaB]

The usual Saturday group ride for me today to the Falcon pub in Fotheringhay.
After a stomach upset I wasn’t feeling my strongest though until we stopped at the cafe and I refuelled with a huge slice of carrot and walnut cake.





I decided to reset my computer for the ride home

It was a pretty mucky ride as I think the farmers are busy at this time of year and there was some dampness.

 

[Grant Fondo]

Short utility ride around Chester this morning, nippy but nice getting out.
Down by the canal near Telfords Warehouse.

 

[geocycle]

Got in a lovely clocks back ride. I woke up at BST and so had an extra hour of GMT to play with. The sun was shining on a cold autumnal morning so headed up to Ribblehead. Had a slight tailwind which was helpful as the first half of the ride was mainly uphill. The Lune was looking lovely and the birds were active as I road up to Ingleton. Highlight was a woodpecker crossing the road with its comical loopy flight. From Ingleton I climbed Oddies Lane to Twistleton Scar before the smooth single track to Chapel-Le-Dale. Onwards and upwards to Ribblehead and a coffee pondering the viaduct beneath Whernside. I descended Ribblesdale to lunch near Horton. After lunch it came cold and the wind picked up so I layered up again but could have done with a thermal base layer. I stopped at a bridge over the Ribble to chat with some photographers who had some great pictures of salmon leaping a small weir. The ride home was hard work into the wind and I was pleased to be back. 100.1 km with 950 m of climbing.

Pictures of the Lune, Twistleton Scar road and Ribblehead viaduct.

 

[HLaB]

Chalk and cheese compared to yesterday

A relaxed group ride for me down to Islip just outside of Thrapston. We came back by Oundle, the majority of the group went straight back to Yaxley but me and another mate went on round by Blathewyke and Kings Cliffe. He blew up there (metaphorically of course) and it was a bit of Z1 ride back but it was a beautiful day for some active recovery. Delightfully my hands only went numb once I think the jacket I was wearing give better protection of my wrist.

 

[All uphill]

Today I took advantage of the clock change to get an early train to Exeter, arriving at 0930. A guy at the station told me his father wanted him to give up the fags and take up cycling when he was 17. Now he's in his late 50s and very unwell and having bitter regrets.

From there I weaved my way between loads of runners and dog walkers to Topsham; I was in no hurry so it was fun. A quick cuppa and then on to Exmouth. It seemed as though a million other people had decided to go there in their cars. There was a long queue in front of a chippy before it even opened!

The ride back was more orderly - there were enough people on bikes to encourage walkers to stay on their side of the path and keep their dogs under control.

A lovely lady at Exeter station told me that she knew nothing about bikes, but if she bought one it would be like mine. I'll take that!

My conclusion from this ride, mostly on shared paths, is that those paths allowed thousands of people to get out and enjoy themselves, and that we could all get along safely and happily.

Fantastic.

 

[wafter]

Car is off the road awaiting an MOT so took the bike to run an errand a few villages across. Weather was nice but I'd probably not have ridden other than necessity (well, I could have got a lift but it would have meant an earlier start to accommodate my chauffeur).

More of a chill in the air but it was manageable and a crisp, bright day with plenty of autumn colours as the last of the leaves cling to the trees and the rest litter the ground.

Probably about 12-13 miles; nice to get out however it's raised some faults with the Fuji and further added to the growing mountain of stuff that never gets done..

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

Yesterday: Up a bit late and slightly hungover after an evening at the pub with a couple of friends. The morning was bright and sunny though so when @gavgav texted to see if I'd be up for a ride I jumped at the chance.

Gav has had a difficult week so he was eager to get some easy miles in and after meeting up at The Brooklands we headed round the old bypass in the direction of Montford Bridge and Baschurch. We went at a sociable pace, chatting about this and that, and it was all very pleasant. We were a bit cheeky, hopping off the bikes to walk round a set of four-way temporary lights that we hadn't realised were there and had got to the top of the next climb before the other traffic caught up again.

Not much to report on the way to Baschurch and apart from a slightly impatient driver on the way to Yeaton it was all good heading to Grafton. The road to Leaton is a popular rat run so even on a Sunday was fairly busy but no issues here. We then headed into Shrewsbury along the B5067, which I don't think I've ridden for about 10 years - it can be busy with pushy drivers but was fine this time.

Reaching town we found an unexpectedly large queue of traffic so made good use of the shared-use paths round to Smithfield Road and Victoria Quay. The Quarry was really busy with people out enjoying the sunshine so this was quite slow progress. After pausing to watch Sabrina turn by the English Bridge we headed over the bridge, along Abbey Foregate then tool a meandering way back towards Meole Brace.

It was great to get out in company and was a ride I think we both needed.

25.7 miles at 11.5 mph average. Strava claims 1132 feet of climbing.

We were too busy chatting for photos on this one so what I've got is a bit random.

Gav at a snack stop at Little Ness.

A couple taken at the English Bridge.

Not a great pic but we were there in time to see Sabrina do its turn before heading back up river.

 

[Psamathe]

Dark overcast day with light drizzle. Whilst aware clocks have changed it still seemed to be getting dark very early.

I generally only ride in daylight as being retired and recreational cycling, no point in extending into darkness. But today getting dark by 16:00!

Ian

 

[Poacher]

Just a short ride today in the part of the Vale of Belvoir N of the A52 and SE of the A46; Car Colston (with reputedly the largest village green in England), Little Green (always reminds me of that song by Joni Mitchell), Screveton, Hawksworth, Thoroton, Orston, Aslockton, Scarrington etc.

The only remaining thatched dovecote in Notts, in Thoroton

Victorian postbox set into a wall

Crazy Nick admiring the World's largest stack of horseshoes (allegedly), in Scarrington

 

[Donger]

Car Colston (with reputedly the largest village green in England),

How very dare you sir?! Any Gloucestershire yokel knows that'll be Frampton-on-Severn.

 

[sevenfourate]

10 and a bit miles of failing to be an adult on the 22” 🤣….all in the gorgeous Autumn sunshine. T shirt weather it was indeed ! Glorious………