Rutland Red Kite Ride

[ColinJ]

Can I borrow some more northerners Colin?

Gotcha!

Don't make me feel guilty though - I'm looking out of the window and thinking "I should go out, but ..."!

 

[totallyfixed]

Well that was a great ride!, not what we had planned but really enjoyable, will write it up later this evening together with pics.

 

[ColinJ]

Looking forward to it! (I'm, afraid that without anybody any riding partners to motivate me here, I just stayed indoors in the warm.)

 

[potsy]

Looking forward to it! (I'm, afraid that without anybody any riding partners to motivate me here, I just stayed indoors in the warm.)

I nipped out to check the new gear cable was working OK, it does help to have a reason, especially if it's going to be a solo ride.

 

[ColinJ]

I nipped out to check the new gear cable was working OK, it does help to have a reason, especially if it's going to be a solo ride.

I've got at least two good reasons to ride more - I'm fat and I'm unfit - it's motivation that I'm struggling with!

I must try and get at least a couple of short rides in before next weekend's Mini-Northwest Passage audax or I'll be struggling! I don't want to ride on Friday because I'll be resting for Saturday, and I'm busy tomorrow so Tuesday and Thursday might be good days to get out. Ooh - the forecasts are for a balmy 7°C!

 

[totallyfixed]

No takers for this one so decided to make up another route with a stop at Wymondham [the Windmill cafe]. 3.2C when we left at 11am so positively warm, however still a lot of snow around but a tad better than the -12C the night before! Helen's hands thawed out at about 11 miles where we met another rider so he had to feature in the first pic


As you can see a fair bit of snow still and ponds and lakes frozen


Unfortunately the roads in this area began to get tricky


Then more tricky, no we haven't nipped across the channel


The next pic ended up on the cutting room floor, the road got worse and Helen had to walk for a few hundred metres and I was told in no uncertain terms not to publish a picture of her walking!
Fortunately the roads were fine after this but still a ride to remember, We saw more than 20 Red Kites, too many to count, 7 Buzzards, 3 of which were close encounters, 5 Kestrels and 1 Sparrowhawk.
Distance covered was exactly 50 miles with 594m of climb. All in all a cracking ride and a pity no one else was there to share it. Looking forward to next weeks Audax.

 

[Deleted member 1258]

Looks like fun and an interesting ride, at least you managed to get out, I haven't done a Sunday ride for three weeks now. I'm still recovering from the lurgy, still got a cough that sounds like a sea lion begging for fish, so common sense had to prevail this morning and though I got up in time I stayed home.

 

[fossyant]

Brave, I wouldn't get my road bikes out in that. Was cautious today , we've got ice about, but not like that.

 

[ColinJ]

Yes - brave, but I wouldn't risk it either. I gave up on icy rides after 3 crashes on ice in a single hour one New Year's Day!

 

[Angel-Diva]

The pictures are lovely, snow makes everywhere look so pretty but if Helen walked a bit then there would have been no hope for me!!

 

[Vikeonabike]

Riding out to the Windmill form Bourne tomorrow.. May not have been able to make it to any of TF's rides, but catching up. Went to Whitwell @Rutland Water today. Would be better with a few chums to ride with though!