Tiny rides of 2023
- Thread starter Hebe
- Start date
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a.twiddler
Veteran
22/7/25
Tiny ride today.
A twirl round the block on the Linear.
I’d recently cleaned up the transmission on the Linear but not had a chance to road test it since. As it wasn’t raining I went for a twirl before tea.
Not having ridden it for a few weeks it felt scarily strange getting aboard but once rolling the comfortable familiarity flooded back. Downhill and left from the gate I regained my mojo. eventually following the road to the left as it levelled. Before long I was able to experimentally work my way up and down the gears as the road gradually rose and eased before rising more steeply again. It levelled for a while before I came to a T junction with a main road. Just a B road, but it was quite busy.
I turned left between knots of traffic and rolled along comfortably. As usual, vehicles were reluctant to overtake but when they did they gave me plenty of room. Past the post office, left opposite a pub, then pedalling lazily past a school. As I came close to my back gate I felt like going further, so carried on down the road.
After a quarter of a mile I turned into an estate road on the left, left again, and got on to a path behind the houses. Left again, straight across a road, and was between tall garden fences. A small park appeared on the left, then it was between fences again. The path opened out on to a road, and as I approached an electric motorbike appeared from the footpath opposite with two young boys on board. One of them said, “That’s mad!”. I said,”Not as mad as riding that with no licence, tax or insurance!” They carried on the way I’d just come, (no numberplate either) and I turned right then left into an estate road. This came to an end with a bollarded access to the B road I’d used earlier.
I went left, then turned opposite the pub. It didn’t take long to get to my back gate.
That had been a very pleasant interlude.
Distance 3.04 miles. Max speed 18.1 mph. Average 8mph. According to Garmin.
Ascent 81 ft. According to Bikehike.
Tiny ride today.
A twirl round the block on the Linear.
I’d recently cleaned up the transmission on the Linear but not had a chance to road test it since. As it wasn’t raining I went for a twirl before tea.
Not having ridden it for a few weeks it felt scarily strange getting aboard but once rolling the comfortable familiarity flooded back. Downhill and left from the gate I regained my mojo. eventually following the road to the left as it levelled. Before long I was able to experimentally work my way up and down the gears as the road gradually rose and eased before rising more steeply again. It levelled for a while before I came to a T junction with a main road. Just a B road, but it was quite busy.
I turned left between knots of traffic and rolled along comfortably. As usual, vehicles were reluctant to overtake but when they did they gave me plenty of room. Past the post office, left opposite a pub, then pedalling lazily past a school. As I came close to my back gate I felt like going further, so carried on down the road.
After a quarter of a mile I turned into an estate road on the left, left again, and got on to a path behind the houses. Left again, straight across a road, and was between tall garden fences. A small park appeared on the left, then it was between fences again. The path opened out on to a road, and as I approached an electric motorbike appeared from the footpath opposite with two young boys on board. One of them said, “That’s mad!”. I said,”Not as mad as riding that with no licence, tax or insurance!” They carried on the way I’d just come, (no numberplate either) and I turned right then left into an estate road. This came to an end with a bollarded access to the B road I’d used earlier.
I went left, then turned opposite the pub. It didn’t take long to get to my back gate.
That had been a very pleasant interlude.
Distance 3.04 miles. Max speed 18.1 mph. Average 8mph. According to Garmin.
Ascent 81 ft. According to Bikehike.
Elswick Cotterpin
Veteran
- Location
- South Wales
Nice, slow, sunny, aimless kind of meander this morning. Eight miles, maybe, I don't keep track. Not entirely aimless, I wanted to drop off a prescription at the doctors surgery. After that I rode through the grounds of Caldicot Castle, always enjoyable, although I often wish it was a longer ride, it takes maybe ten minutes end to end, and that's going slow.
From the castle grounds I took a fairly recently opened cycle/walking trail, which is also a fairly short ride but its flat and smooth, used to be a railway line to the former Admiralty site/depot, whatever you call it at Dinham, Caerwent.
Rode along the river bank then, almost in the shadow of the Prince of Wales bridge, up to Sudbrook where I planted myself on a riverside bench and didn't move for thirty minutes or so. Lots of memories there, my grandparents used to live nearby, my grandfather worked in the pumping station that keeps the water out of the Severn Tunnel, back in the days when they still used Cornish beam engines.
I was out about two hours! Two hours for an eight mile ride, but it was that kind of a morning, nowhere special to go and nothing special to do when I got there. My kind of ride. I was riding my Carrera Inter City something-something from Halfords and it occurred to me a small wheel folder somehow kind of lends itself to gentle meandering. I enjoyed it so much I may have to do it again tomorrow.
From the castle grounds I took a fairly recently opened cycle/walking trail, which is also a fairly short ride but its flat and smooth, used to be a railway line to the former Admiralty site/depot, whatever you call it at Dinham, Caerwent.
Rode along the river bank then, almost in the shadow of the Prince of Wales bridge, up to Sudbrook where I planted myself on a riverside bench and didn't move for thirty minutes or so. Lots of memories there, my grandparents used to live nearby, my grandfather worked in the pumping station that keeps the water out of the Severn Tunnel, back in the days when they still used Cornish beam engines.
I was out about two hours! Two hours for an eight mile ride, but it was that kind of a morning, nowhere special to go and nothing special to do when I got there. My kind of ride. I was riding my Carrera Inter City something-something from Halfords and it occurred to me a small wheel folder somehow kind of lends itself to gentle meandering. I enjoyed it so much I may have to do it again tomorrow.
a.twiddler
Veteran
27/7/25
Tiny ride today.
Trip to Town Centre on the Linear
Just a quick trip to the town centre to drop off a prescription. Cloudy, a bit breezy but quite mild, so off I went towards Swanlow Lane and the uphill traffic lights. Straight through on Swanlow Lane, some traffic about though as usual they gave me plenty of room.
I soon arrived at the A54 roundabout, round to the right and downhill on a dual carriageway. I took the right hand lane to filter right at the town centre lights. I soon came to the turn off for the surgery and turned into the empty car park. Ever since the Covid lockdown there has been a row of drop off boxes near the entrance, one for each practice. I was able to ride up to them without dismounting, double check then drop off my script then push back, turn round and head off across the car park again.
The access road is bumpy and potholed. Some of the potholes have been temporarily filled in with gravel. As I was heading for an adjacent supermarket the front wheel skittered sideways a little then resumed its course before I could respond. The LWB set up is quite confidence inspiring in that respect.
I locked the bike to a pillar and nipped in for some items since I was there. Out again, I unlocked and set off.
As I crossed the car park a woman said to her child, “Look at that Des, isn’t it ace!” and I suppose it is. I smiled in acknowledgement and headed for the road. I turned on to a path alongside it and was soon at the town centre lights again.
I turned left up the long hill to Over roundabout. Near the top was a car parked completely on the pavement with its hazard lights flashing, but it had gone by the time I reached the spot where it had been.
I turned left at the top into Swanlow Lane and rolled steadily on to the Townfields road lights. I had to stop here but soon got up speed downhill. I went straight on up the other side of the dip, past a post office and carried on in the direction of Church Minshull. Not much further along I turned right into a lane which curved round and downhill and after a mile or so brought me to my back gate.
I went in and parked the bike against the shed. I hadn’t taken any pictures while I was out so I took one of the Linear here. It’s acquired some reflective chevrons since I last posted a picture of it.
Distance 4.46 miles. Max Speed 24.2 mph. Average speed 8.7 mph. According to Garmin.
Ascent 130ft. According to Bikehike
Tiny ride today.
Trip to Town Centre on the Linear
Just a quick trip to the town centre to drop off a prescription. Cloudy, a bit breezy but quite mild, so off I went towards Swanlow Lane and the uphill traffic lights. Straight through on Swanlow Lane, some traffic about though as usual they gave me plenty of room.
I soon arrived at the A54 roundabout, round to the right and downhill on a dual carriageway. I took the right hand lane to filter right at the town centre lights. I soon came to the turn off for the surgery and turned into the empty car park. Ever since the Covid lockdown there has been a row of drop off boxes near the entrance, one for each practice. I was able to ride up to them without dismounting, double check then drop off my script then push back, turn round and head off across the car park again.
The access road is bumpy and potholed. Some of the potholes have been temporarily filled in with gravel. As I was heading for an adjacent supermarket the front wheel skittered sideways a little then resumed its course before I could respond. The LWB set up is quite confidence inspiring in that respect.
I locked the bike to a pillar and nipped in for some items since I was there. Out again, I unlocked and set off.
As I crossed the car park a woman said to her child, “Look at that Des, isn’t it ace!” and I suppose it is. I smiled in acknowledgement and headed for the road. I turned on to a path alongside it and was soon at the town centre lights again.
I turned left up the long hill to Over roundabout. Near the top was a car parked completely on the pavement with its hazard lights flashing, but it had gone by the time I reached the spot where it had been.
I turned left at the top into Swanlow Lane and rolled steadily on to the Townfields road lights. I had to stop here but soon got up speed downhill. I went straight on up the other side of the dip, past a post office and carried on in the direction of Church Minshull. Not much further along I turned right into a lane which curved round and downhill and after a mile or so brought me to my back gate.
I went in and parked the bike against the shed. I hadn’t taken any pictures while I was out so I took one of the Linear here. It’s acquired some reflective chevrons since I last posted a picture of it.
Distance 4.46 miles. Max Speed 24.2 mph. Average speed 8.7 mph. According to Garmin.
Ascent 130ft. According to Bikehike
All uphill
Still rolling along
- Location
- Somerset
Out with Ms AU this morning. Me on my new ebike, she on her folder.
Coffee was bought and we sat by the river having a chat when a Dutch couple cycled by commenting on how lovely the riverside is.
We cycled out along the river Tone for another mile then turned and headed home after admiring swans with their cygnets.
About 4 miles in all.
Coffee was bought and we sat by the river having a chat when a Dutch couple cycled by commenting on how lovely the riverside is.
We cycled out along the river Tone for another mile then turned and headed home after admiring swans with their cygnets.
About 4 miles in all.
Elswick Cotterpin
Veteran
- Location
- South Wales
Had another enjoyable pootle on the folder this morning, ninety minutes at a slow speed. Was overcast and pretty humid but at my speeds it doesn't really matter.
Called in Caldicot Castle on my way home, nice place, free entry, small coffee shop/snacks etc. Seating in the castle grounds, lots of people there today, families, some bring their own picnic hampers. Free parking, toilets, etc. Very popular in the warmer weather, it's open Tuesday to Sunday, eleven until four.
Called in Caldicot Castle on my way home, nice place, free entry, small coffee shop/snacks etc. Seating in the castle grounds, lots of people there today, families, some bring their own picnic hampers. Free parking, toilets, etc. Very popular in the warmer weather, it's open Tuesday to Sunday, eleven until four.
All uphill
Still rolling along
- Location
- Somerset
This morning I felt the need to get out, so I jumped on the Genesis. I tootled past County Hall, through Vivary Park, being cleared up after the flower show, and into Trinity and the always welcoming Eastside Canteen for a coffee. After a chat and a browse of Positive News magazine I was ready for the return trip.
About 3 miles, lots of smiles and a coffee.
About 3 miles, lots of smiles and a coffee.
a.twiddler
Veteran
31/7/25
Tiny ride Today
Doughnut Run on the Linear
A message from Mrs T to get some mini doughnuts for the grandsprog for tomorrow. A nice morning, so off I went on the Linear. Today’s destination involved hardly any climbing for a change. Once I’d cleared the uphill traffic lights that was about it. Onward down Swanlow Lane to a mini summit and then into the traffic queue for the A54 roundabout. It was very slow going to even to get on to the roundabout and I was tempted to hop the kerb on the left and use the pedestrian crossing as I was going straight ahead, but traffic started moving so I carried on. I had to wait at a red light, then away.
It didn’t take long to get to the requisite minimarket. Lock the bike, in and out as usual. Unlock and with no more ado, hit the road. I had the bonus of a following wind on the way back to the A54 roundabout where I only had a short wait to find a gap so I could get across. Sailing along with the breeze, I had the brief disappointment of a stop at the Townfields Road light then downhill in top, giving it the beans to be able to get up the other side. Soon afterwards I was outside the local post office. I locked up, dived in, and found a lady showing interest in the bike when I came out. “Did you make it yourself? What is the advantage of the length?” I answered some questions before she went on her way and I continued in the direction of Church Minshull.
After a mile or so I turned right into a lane, with no traffic behind and oncoming vehicles a long way ahead. A rider on a large horse was approaching the turning. The horse seemed a bit unsettled to see me so I said “hello” and went slowly past. I followed the lane which went downhill and curved round until after a brief uphill I arrived at my back gate.
Distance 3.68 miles. Max speed 23.1 mph. Average 8.6 mph. According to Garmin.
Ascent 52 ft. According to Bikehike.
Tiny ride Today
Doughnut Run on the Linear
A message from Mrs T to get some mini doughnuts for the grandsprog for tomorrow. A nice morning, so off I went on the Linear. Today’s destination involved hardly any climbing for a change. Once I’d cleared the uphill traffic lights that was about it. Onward down Swanlow Lane to a mini summit and then into the traffic queue for the A54 roundabout. It was very slow going to even to get on to the roundabout and I was tempted to hop the kerb on the left and use the pedestrian crossing as I was going straight ahead, but traffic started moving so I carried on. I had to wait at a red light, then away.
It didn’t take long to get to the requisite minimarket. Lock the bike, in and out as usual. Unlock and with no more ado, hit the road. I had the bonus of a following wind on the way back to the A54 roundabout where I only had a short wait to find a gap so I could get across. Sailing along with the breeze, I had the brief disappointment of a stop at the Townfields Road light then downhill in top, giving it the beans to be able to get up the other side. Soon afterwards I was outside the local post office. I locked up, dived in, and found a lady showing interest in the bike when I came out. “Did you make it yourself? What is the advantage of the length?” I answered some questions before she went on her way and I continued in the direction of Church Minshull.
After a mile or so I turned right into a lane, with no traffic behind and oncoming vehicles a long way ahead. A rider on a large horse was approaching the turning. The horse seemed a bit unsettled to see me so I said “hello” and went slowly past. I followed the lane which went downhill and curved round until after a brief uphill I arrived at my back gate.
Distance 3.68 miles. Max speed 23.1 mph. Average 8.6 mph. According to Garmin.
Ascent 52 ft. According to Bikehike.
Last edited:
a.twiddler
Veteran
5/8/25
Tiny Ride Today
Chicken Run on the Linear.
Mrs T said to me, “if you are going to the Town Centre today, can you call into ALDI and get me a chicken?” I decided to just go since the weather was mild, though windy, and having not been out on a bike for a few days, it was good timing.
I entered the garage, and there was the resplendent length of the Linear. It didn’t have the even more resplendent length of the Rans Stratus XP, but it was ready to go, while the Rans was not. However, sufficient to the day was the length thereof, and the Linear passed out through the door.
I leaned the Linear on the fence while I got my gear together.
Then I opened the back gate. It flew open with a gust of wind so I decided to just sit on my cap rather than get it blown off further down the road. My neighbour was just coming out of her back gate too. She said, “It’s a bit windy today”. I replied. “Yes, but I should have a tailwind on the way back”.
She set off on foot while I set off shortly afterwards.
The wind was behind me here so I was able to roll along with little effort. On to Swanlow Lane, straight on through the lights with the wind in my face but surprisingly little extra effort needed to keep going at the usual pace. Not much delay at the A54 roundabout as I took the right hand exit to go downhill on the dual carriageway to the town centre.
As I carved my way to the rightmost lane to turn at the town centre lights a couple of youths on the opposite pavement shouted “Hey!”and gave me a thumbs up. I waited at the cyclists’ advance stop line for the green then headed smartly to the supermarket. I leaned the bike against a stack of compost bags, got off and wheeled the bike to lean it against a glass wall by the entrance. I retrieved the cap from the seat, locked up and went in.
After some choosing, I plucked a chicken from the display, checked out and went to unlock the bike. I got on, but as soon as I got going the wind whipped my cap off. I rode round in a circle to where a passer by had picked it up. He handed it to me and I said, “I’m going to have to sit on this on the way back!”
Out I went through the car park, left towards the town centre lights, then left on to the uphill cycle path and on to the pavement where it ended. Uphill against the wind I went, a bit breathless by the time I turned left on to Swanlow Lane at the top. I was gratified to find the wind behind me from then on, rolling easily until I stopped at the Townfields Road lights. Then a good push downhill to gain momentum for my uphill turn off.
Then, the downhill dawdle to my back gate.
Distance 3.18 miles. Max speed 25.5 mph. Average 7.9 mph. According to Garmin.
Ascent 100ft. According to Bikehike.
Tiny Ride Today
Chicken Run on the Linear.
Mrs T said to me, “if you are going to the Town Centre today, can you call into ALDI and get me a chicken?” I decided to just go since the weather was mild, though windy, and having not been out on a bike for a few days, it was good timing.
I entered the garage, and there was the resplendent length of the Linear. It didn’t have the even more resplendent length of the Rans Stratus XP, but it was ready to go, while the Rans was not. However, sufficient to the day was the length thereof, and the Linear passed out through the door.
I leaned the Linear on the fence while I got my gear together.
Then I opened the back gate. It flew open with a gust of wind so I decided to just sit on my cap rather than get it blown off further down the road. My neighbour was just coming out of her back gate too. She said, “It’s a bit windy today”. I replied. “Yes, but I should have a tailwind on the way back”.
She set off on foot while I set off shortly afterwards.
The wind was behind me here so I was able to roll along with little effort. On to Swanlow Lane, straight on through the lights with the wind in my face but surprisingly little extra effort needed to keep going at the usual pace. Not much delay at the A54 roundabout as I took the right hand exit to go downhill on the dual carriageway to the town centre.
As I carved my way to the rightmost lane to turn at the town centre lights a couple of youths on the opposite pavement shouted “Hey!”and gave me a thumbs up. I waited at the cyclists’ advance stop line for the green then headed smartly to the supermarket. I leaned the bike against a stack of compost bags, got off and wheeled the bike to lean it against a glass wall by the entrance. I retrieved the cap from the seat, locked up and went in.
After some choosing, I plucked a chicken from the display, checked out and went to unlock the bike. I got on, but as soon as I got going the wind whipped my cap off. I rode round in a circle to where a passer by had picked it up. He handed it to me and I said, “I’m going to have to sit on this on the way back!”
Out I went through the car park, left towards the town centre lights, then left on to the uphill cycle path and on to the pavement where it ended. Uphill against the wind I went, a bit breathless by the time I turned left on to Swanlow Lane at the top. I was gratified to find the wind behind me from then on, rolling easily until I stopped at the Townfields Road lights. Then a good push downhill to gain momentum for my uphill turn off.
Then, the downhill dawdle to my back gate.
Distance 3.18 miles. Max speed 25.5 mph. Average 7.9 mph. According to Garmin.
Ascent 100ft. According to Bikehike.
