Solstice ride

[ren531]

I did something I've been meaning to do for some years, I got up at 4.15am Sunday morning to ride out and see the sunrise , just a short local ride for an hour and a half, so glad I did, went over to Glasson Dock and out to Cockersands Abbey, perfectly empty roads and silence with just the distant call of Curlews and seabirds .
Watching the tide silently filling the estuary whilst sipping my flask of coffee and feeling the increasing warmth of the sun was so beautiful.
I used my 1953 Rudge roadster, just perfect for this.
Only on a bicycle could you quietly and silently ghost past houses and cause no disturbance and go unnoticed.

 

[PeteXXX]

Nice!!
Daughter & I (plus dogs) went for a Solstice walk around a local reservoir 🌅

 

[oxoman]

I did it last year at Wells next to sea, nice.

 

[ren531]

I did it last year at Wells next to sea, nice.

It's just the best time of day to be out and such a beautiful morning too.

 

[VinSumRox]

Ride to the Sun finish at Cramond at 0300

 

[ren531]

Ride to the Sun finish at Cramond at 0300

View attachment 812272

Yes I can really see the appeal of doing that now , just feel more thrilled to be alive somehow, amazing.

 

[sevenfourate]

I’m an early guy. I’ve probably seen getting toward 80 (?) or even 100 sunrises this year( either cycling or walking the dog 🤷‍♂️

Awful backdrop. But this was today’s sky yards from leaving the house…..

 

[newts]

Great to see a Rudge on it's travels 😃

 

[ren531]

Great to see a Rudge on it's travels 😃

It's pretty much my favourite bike, as long as it's not too hilly

 

[wafter]

Great work - love the bike

I awoke (not that) early, predictably shafted after countless nights of crap sleep. Got out the door at about ten to seven on the Ragley for a curt 10-mile loop across the fields and bridleways; starling a few dog walkers for good measure..

 

[ren531]

Great work - love the bike

I awoke (not that) early, predictably shafted after countless nights of crap sleep. Got out the door at about ten to seven on the Ragley for a curt 10-mile loop across the fields and bridleways; starling a few dog walkers for good measure..

I didn't think I ever get up early enough but happend to awake just at the right time and had to force myself to get out and up , wonderful time of day though, we loose the best part of the summer in bed.

 

[wafter]

I didn't think I ever get up early enough but happend to awake just at the right time and had to force myself to get out and up , wonderful time of day though, we loose the best part of the summer in bed.

Absolutely - I only did the same as lying in bed at six with the sunlight streaming through the window it became increasingly obvious that I wasn't going to get back to sleep and it seemed like a good way to honour the solstice, since I consistently miss it and really wanted to do something in Oxford; but got called back to the homestead to do boring tasks.

As you suggest summer mornings are glorious; I wish my circadian rhythm was more suited to enjoying them...


I do love your bike - while I already have too many, I have a tacit agreement with myself that I'd allow myself a Raleigh / Rudge / Humber roadster if I happened to stumble across a sufficiently nice one. I see yours has the (IMO) more desirable caliper brakes but not the full chain case which seems somewhat out of keeping with others I've seen..

 

[sevenfourate]

3rd Sunrise of the week for me. Never gets tiresome……

 

[ren531]

Absolutely - I only did the same as lying in bed at six with the sunlight streaming through the window it became increasingly obvious that I wasn't going to get back to sleep and it seemed like a good way to honour the solstice, since I consistently miss it and really wanted to do something in Oxford; but got called back to the homestead to do boring tasks.

As you suggest summer mornings are glorious; I wish my circadian rhythm was more suited to enjoying them...


I do love your bike - while I already have too many, I have a tacit agreement with myself that I'd allow myself a Raleigh / Rudge / Humber roadster if I happened to stumble across a sufficiently nice one. I see yours has the (IMO) more desirable caliper brakes but not the full chain case which seems somewhat out of keeping with others I've seen..

The Rudge was my first vintage bike a few years ago now and being clueless to what I was buying I found it far from original, it would of had a full chain case originally ,it has scuff marks on the R/H crank were it used to rub and a possible a 4 speed dynahub , bits of wiring left behind and a 4 speed trigger,so I restored it to closer to how it would have looked, but certainly not correct.
I did have an identical rod braked twin to this bike and the caliper one has more reliable and easier to set up brakes . I found rear wheel on the rod brakes one with a full chain case a complete nightmare to remove .

 

[wafter]

The Rudge was my first vintage bike a few years ago now and being clueless to what I was buying I found it far from original, it would of had a full chain case originally ,it has scuff marks on the R/H crank were it used to rub and a possible a 4 speed dynahub , bits of wiring left behind and a 4 speed trigger,so I restored it to closer to how it would have looked, but certainly not correct.
I did have an identical rod braked twin to this bike and the caliper one has more reliable and easier to set up brakes . I found rear wheel on the rod brakes one with a full chain case a complete nightmare to remove .

Thanks - that explains it then! Seems full chain cases (and in particular the "pie plate" crank cover) are difficult to come by in decent nick..

Looks great as it is although I do love the aesthetic of a full chain case and the chains must last forever when protected so well. I can see your point about removal though; as if these weren't already a bit of a nightmare to sort a puncture on due to the hub.

I've read similar about the rod brakes and while they look nice I too would rather go with calipers for an easy life. Fortunately this cuts down the available number of suitable bikes and reduces the likelihood of me "having" to buy one