In praise of the pootle

[ChrisEyles]

In the spirit of this thread I pootled up a new lane that I'd never pootled before. When the ground is a bit drier I shall pootle beyond the end of the lane onto the bridle path that is there. Was a bit too muddy this morning though, so I pootled back to the main lane, and continued my original pootle.

I had to make that call on one of the bridleways on my last pootle (though it would have been fun on a MTB!). Summer pootling is even better than in the winter

 

[Deleted member 1258]

I agree with you there abiut the ice.
Fortunately this morning it was just 'crunchy' frost rather than actual ice so care was required but it was pretty safe really.

At times this morning I was dealing with sheet ice, even with the main roads that were supposed to be treated and clear it was slippery, a couple of times I got out of the saddle to climb a rise and just spun up the back wheel, had to back off a bit quick and sit down to avoid throwing it down the road.

 

[JPBoothy]

At times this morning I was dealing with sheet ice, even with the main roads that were supposed to be treated and clear it was slippery, a couple of times I got out of the saddle to climb a rise and just spun up the back wheel, had to back off a bit quick and sit down to avoid throwing it down the road.

Yes, I found that as soon as my speed picked-up in the areas dried out by the sun, I would turn a corner into the shade and a find myself back in the frost/ice. It's not just the traffic cyclists have to watch out for is it!

 

[Deleted member 1258]

Yes, I found that as soon as my speed picked-up in the areas dried out by the sun, I would turn a corner into the shade and a find myself back in the frost/ice. It's not just the traffic cyclists have to watch out for is it!

Our rides can get a bit technical on mornings like this morning.

 

[Andrew Br]

There is a strava bit descending The Cat and Fiddle into Macclesfield. On the route is Peak View cafe (excellent btw). I'm sure @Andrew Br once told me he had the slowest descent recorded as he'd spent ages in the cafe without turning his Garmin off.

Alas no longer, someone's "beaten" me:- https://www.strava.com/segments/6977079

Perhaps I'll have a second (or third) coffee next time I'm there.

 

[roadrash]

another vote for pootler and proud

 

[Kajjal]

After years of charging round like a mad man trying to beat times I just enjoy the scenery now, you have to ask what I was wasting my time on before

After turning into Stravaman I just thought this is daft and stopped it.

 

[JPBoothy]

[QUOTE 5109322, member: 43827"]I hope to pootle around Majorca this year.

My cousin has an apartment in Puerto Pollensa which I can have for a week in late summer. I have no intention of joining the people on "training camps" but intend to do four or five days of no more than 40 miles each day on his old hardtail mtb. Plenty of sights to see and stop for an hour or two.

I will get in a lot of dedicated pootling as training throughout the summer in the UK, possibly using Strava to make sure I don't improve my performance.[/QUOTE]
Pootling in the sun with lovely cafes/bars to ensure that you don't dehydrate or let your sugars get low (always thinking healthy ) is my idea of fun. Enjoy yourself and don't be tempted to chase the lycra racing snakes.

 

[Cassette]

I pootle during my weekend rides of around 40 to 50kms round trip. Terrain is varied. Usually a half day ride. It's during the weekdays where I do one or two HIITs or jog to maintain my fitness.

 

[RoMeR]

I've bimbled for around 10 years now and really enjoy it, especially during warmer weather. It's just another word for pootling.

 

[Brandane]

I was never fast, but following on from my recent diagnosis of being asthmatic, pootling will be the way forward. Certainly until I find out what they can do for me on the meds front.
I was out yesterday for my first post diagnosis ride. Average speed 11 point something... on a flat route. And on an e-bike set on level 2 of 3 for the whole ride! .
But at least I was out on a bike....

 

[sevenfourate]

Yea - I’m an unashamed Pootler.

If I had to sum up why I cycle it would be:

‘To see some sights and capture some photos I otherwise wouldn’t have found by car or on foot”.

I do record my miles. But pretty much take no notice of pace, Strava segment records, calories burnt etc. The only thing I do keep an eye on is distance - as anything much over 40 miles starts to impact other activities / that or the next day with tiredness / stiffness etc.

It’s just lovely to be out in the fresh air, seeing new sights, finding new Tracks and watching the World go by. At your own pace 😉

 

[wafter]

I think this is probably where most of us find our pleasure - despite the marketeers selling us false gods of speed, lightness, distance - numbers to be chased, boxes to be ticked... most of us legitimately get our enjoyment from simply being outside on the bike.

Yes, I've derived reward in the past from achieving higher speeds, covering greater distances.. however behind that one feeling of achievement is the fact that I've enjoyed that ride just for the experience.

While it may be an age / physical decline thing I can't remember the last time I went out with the sole aim of going fast, the road bike has been sold and I've very much settled into getting my pleasure from necessary utility rides to the shops or work, or simply going out for the sake of it with no particular goals in mind.

 

[simongt]

While it may be an age / physical decline thing I can't remember the last time I went out with the sole aim of going fast, the road bike has been sold and I've very much settled into getting my pleasure from necessary utility rides to the shops or work, or simply going out for the sake of it with no particular goals in mind.

Agree entirely Wafter.
The pleasure of cycling 'from a certain age' is that you no longer feel the need to set goals for yourself.
Going out on the bike, whether simply to the shops or out for a pootle for the morning / afternoon / day is a real pleasure. You go where you please, stop when you please and change direction or destination when you please.
If I'm out for the day, I usually have a destination in mind, but how I get there is often decided as I'm going along depending on what or who I see.

 

[wafter]

Agree entirely Wafter.
The pleasure of cycling 'from a certain age' is that you no longer feel the need to set goals for yourself.
Going out on the bike, whether simply to the shops or out for a pootle for the morning / afternoon / day is a real pleasure. You go where you please, stop when you please and change direction or destination when you please.
If I'm out for the day, I usually have a destination in mind, but how I get there is often decided as I'm going along depending on what or who I see.

Absolutely - just being out is a pleasure in itself; even better as it's unhindered by a lot of the crap people acccept they're going to have to endure when driving - traffic, parking issues etc; and if you can do it off road you avoid all the dickheads too