Your ride today.... (part 1)

[totallyfixed]

Ah, TF: it's called "working unsociable hours" You're right, scary!

Ah! heaps of apologies, I would think many of us forget that not everyone is able to rise at leisure on Sundays [when I say rise at leisure for us that is 0730 so we can ride] and I doff my cycling cap to you. [cue helmet thread].

 

[gbb]

Just commuting mileage today, the forecast last night suggested the wind was low, cloud but no rain. WRONG....
Sore throat and a tad of a virus made this mornings 7.5 mile leg hard work despite taking it steady.
Winds stayed low throughout the day but the clouds built, and about 3pm the rain started, albeit light. But non stop....you soon get wet, and i did at 5pm. Steady rain, first time in ages ive worn full waterproofs, so not too wet although everything in the back of the car was, once i got back to it and slung everything in.

 

[potsy]

Yesterdays ride (commute) included a nice little off road section, even better once the rain stopped

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

Today was the first chance I'd had to get out for a ride since last weekend.

I started off going into Shrewsbury and riding through The Quarry then followed the riverside path past the weir and out towards Uffington. Upton Magna was next before turning towards Atcham then going cross country to Condover and back over Lyth Hill.

Here are a few pics:

Looking autumnal in The Quarry

Victoria Avenue

The River Severn is high - almost up to the path.

White water at the weir.

Upton Magna

The impressive gateway to Attingham Park

The two bridges at Atcham.

The Mytton & Mermaid at Atcham.

Remnants of the northern section of the Severn Valley Railway.

Today's stat's are 21.31 miles at 12 miles per hour.

 

[Get In The Van]

What kind of witchcraft is this? Blue skies? no rain? be gone with you

 

[Ian H]

Rode a pleasant 48km with my other half today, to deal with her IT induction at the college (spent 30 mins reading while she attended to that), then lunch at Otterton and home via lanes. Mostly pleasant sunny weather, though it got rather dark at one point and threatened rain.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

Fantastic pictures @Rickshaw Phil!

 

[Hacienda71]

66.6 miles with 400BHP and Sport Monkey over the Snake Pass to Hathersage then back over Winnats Pass which at 1:3 at its steepest is not my idea of fun. Sport Monkey rode it on a SS which was going quite well until Winnats bit back with a vengence .

Just for @Potsy I took an arty photo.

 

[endoman]

Winnats is on one of our club runs, lovely scenary but a tough climb, I've now done it a few times, and can do it seated all the way in easiest gear. The descent from the other side down Mam Nik into Edale and the valley rode to Hope are excellent, hardly any traffic and plenty cafes in Hope to choose from. Lots of nice roads around Hathersage, lucky to live near enough to ride them every week.

 

[Hacienda71]

I hadn't ridden up it for twenty years last time when I was at Uni in Sheffield. Made a change from further South where I normally ride now, around the Cat and The Goyt Valley. Winnats hasn't got any easier.

 

[jayonabike]

Not so much 'Your ride today' but more 'Your rides this week'
I had the week off & MrsJ said ''make the most of it and ride your bike as much as you want'' so I did!

Monday - 62 miles
Over the Chiltern Hills & into the Vale of Aylesbury, then up Ivinghoe Beacon & home via Redbourn
Tuesday - 31 miles
It was far to windy to cycle during the day, so met up with a mate for a night ride after dinner. Through Berkhamsted town into the dark country lanes of Hertfordshire. Lots of nocturnal wildlife.
Wednesday - 40 miles
Rode my St.Albans/Harpenden loop, then met another friend en-route and cycled to the cafe at Dunstable Downs for a coffee.
Thursday - 52 miles
My 3 counties ride, Herts, Beds & Bucks (probably my Favourite loop) Had to make a detour to the bike shop where I bought the Enigma as the headset was creaking while going up hills. Popped into the bakers a few doors down for a coffee & cream doughnut while it was sorted out.
Friday - 30 miles
After lunch with the Mrs before she went to work I had a couple of hours before my Son was home from school so it was only a short ride, an extended version of my St.Albans/Harpenden loop.
Today - 60 miles
An early morning fairly hilly ride in & around the Ashridge estate, Ivinghoe, then into the Vale of Aylesbury before back into the hills on the way home.

A great week on the bike, I'm hoping to get out tomorrow afternoon as well. Not bad milage seeing as I had to be home by 3.30 when my Son was home from school. I love autumn cycling, its the best time of year to be on the bike for me
This is what weeks off work in October are for...

 

[gavgav]

Not been out for 6 weeks on the bike (illness, bad weather, etc, etc) and so took the opportunity on a lovely Autumn day to get out again. Did 17 miles around the countryside east of Shrewsbury (Uffington, Upton Magna, Rodington Heath, Walcot, Withington). Didn't feel too bad considering it had been so long since I went out. Managed to average 10.8mph. Also came across this just before Rodington Heath........

Managed to get through, unlike a chap in a Mini who took one look and turned around rather quickly. There is going to be some serious flooding this winter if the rain carries on like it currently is

 

[coffeejo]

34 miles pootling round the gentler edges of the Quantocks. A chilly start but lots of all day.

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

It was really nice out today and I was feeling energetic so I opted for another Long Mynd ride.

It was a different route this time. I went round the other side of Lyth Hill to start and headed for Longden Common and Pulverbatch before climbing over Cothercott Hill and descending into Ratlinghope (say Ratchup if you want to pass yourself off as a local). Here I gave in to temptation and sampled a pint of Three Tuns XXX (I don't usually stop for beer on my rides unless I'm with a group.)

Although the beer was nice it's not the same drinking when you're on your own. Having said that though, if I hadn't stopped I'd have missed the sight of a pair of Red Kites circling over the pub and being mobbed by crows. I tried to get a picture but it hasn't really come out.

After the pub I wobbled in the direction of Wentnor, where I started climbing again. I didn't go into the village this time but turned towards the Prolley Moor where I judged there would be an easier route to Asterton. I judged correctly as the road drops down from Wentnor then is fairly level to Asterton.

This sign had me concerned for a moment :

Finally the moment had come... I was going to tackle Asterton Bank. This climb is often rated as one of the ten toughest climbs in the country so I knew it wasn't going to be easy. This was the big test for the new gearing I fitted in August!

I must admit that I tried to go at the hill too fast at the start and had to stop for a breather, followed by a second one to remove my fleece. After that I got into a rhythm and was able to plod slowly up. I did have to stop 3 more times but the difference was that now it was to allow cars past rather than being out of puff. The biggest problem was keeping the front wheel on the ground. On the steepest bits it just wouldn't stay down!

Who's a happy bunny?

After all the energetic bit, the remaining climb up to Pole Bank seemed comparitively easy.

I decided to head back via the Burway as I haven't been that way for a while. I like riding this way but it is definitely not suitable for those with vertigo.

After getting down to Church Stretton I felt surprisingly fresh (not like last time) so extended my route back via Acton Burnell to give a few more miles on the speedo.

The trip was marred slightly travelling through Bayston Hill where a jerk driving a red Escort van (he has my sympathy for that) leaned on his horn as he came past me and told me I should "be riding on the side of the road". Idiot!

Todays stats are 38.45 miles travelled. 11mph average speed (okay on such a hilly route) and a top speed of 31 mph.

A full set of photo's is here and they are all captioned as usual.

 

[derrick]

60 + miles today 38 with Danny in the morning nice ride around the other side of Epping, 23 miles with the other half this afternoon, one of her better rides, she has been suffering a bit lately colds and flu, so it was good to see her getting back into it, she has finally found a saddle she is comfatable on.