Your ride today.... (part 1)

[welsh dragon]

Another 15.5 miles under my saddle.
The weather was to break later in the day so I decided I'd get in an early one.
I waited for the boy to get off to school and then I set off. The usual route via The Kelpies (I now shout 'Hi boys!' on my way through ) and onto the towpath, up to the Falkirk Wheel, where I had a cereal bar and a drink, before heading on up the hill to the top to catch the other canal towpath home.
I decided as the path was quiet, I'd stay on the bike and pedal up it. Usually I find pedestrians a good excuse to get off and walk but there were none about so early this morning.
Lowest gears, head down and plod up. I've found the trick for me is not to look too far ahead - I see the hill and panic!
As I was concentrating I passed another cyclist walking....thinking, those are familiar feet. Yip, my lad had given up and walked
I'm 50. He's 19. That made me feel good
I am getting fitter but I do worry about my calves and thighs starting to resemble those of a Russian shot-putter! Still, combined with the adrenalin rush if startled, they could probably take me to John 'O Groats.

Half way mark and the sun was still out. We rode side by side for part of the way as there was no-one about, and saw herons, swans, ducks and ducklings...the first I've seen this year (minus the ducklings I got to hold on a farm trip with my little grandsons last month lol).
Everything was looking so green and fresh and it really made for a wonderful ride. I could have kept going but I hadn't planned a route and I'm not one for unannounced diversions! It unsettles me.

I got home and decided Priscilla needed a wash as she hadn't had one after the last couple of rides as it's been dry.
So I'm outside, bent over the bike, busy with a bucket of water and the brush and I hear the water splashing about....turned around to see the dog with his head in my bucket, drinking the warm water!

I just need to lube the chain later and clean the disc brakes and she's good to go again.
I'm due to ride to Edinburgh on Saturday for Pedal on Parliament...it's a bit weather dependant for me and there's a huge obstacle in my way...if I manage it, I'll come back and let you know!

Excellent write up scotialass.

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

I got Doug out for another ride today and made it a hilly one; Condover, Longnor, over Folly Bank to Cardington, Hughley, Harley and back via Cound, Pitchford and Condover again.

For once the wind was light so the riding was easy and although it was a bit chilly after a bit of fog this morning we risked going for shorts, which proved to be a good move once we started climbing.

The pace at the start wasn't too bad and I was actually having to warn Doug not to press on too hard and save some energy for the climb. In the event he wound his way up without any trouble (last time I took him this way he needed to stop and rest part way) and by the top reckoned he could have kept on climbing. (I might hold him to that and take him up to Yell Bank on a future ride )

After a bite to eat at the top we dropped into Cardington and on to the road to Hughley. The earlier climb must have taken its toll a little as he wasn't very quick up the climbs on this section but we both enjoyed the fast sweeping downhills. This is a nice place to ride as the road is reasonably wide with good views of Wenlock Edge and there is practically no traffic on it most of the time - recommended for anyone visiting the area.

Next stop was Harley - it was actually a half mile detour off the route but I wanted to have a quick look. Harley's claim to fame is that it is one of the 53 Thankful Villages - parishes where all the men who went to fight in the Great War came home alive.

Moving on we headed to Cound where the terrain became a bit more lumpy again. Doug found his second wind around here and was heading up the hills better than I expected. By Condover he was starting to flag again but we still set a reasonable pace to the A49 junction where I nearly ran into the back of a car (there was a gap in the traffic, car starts to move off, I start to move off, find it hard work and look down to see what gear I'm in - "oh drat, I'm still in high range" - look up and find car hasn't gone after all , brake just in time to avoid an impact). I don't make a habit of this kind of thing - honest.

32.5 miles today at 11.7 mph average which Doug is really chuffed with as it was showing as about 10mph at Cardington and he thought it would stay that low for the rest of the trip.

Yours truly trying not to laugh. Caer Caradoc is the backdrop and we're about to start the Folly Bank climb

Doug, tired but happy after completing the climb.

En route to Hughley - nice wide empty roads.

The church at Harley.

Looking at the Wrekin on the way to Cound.

 

[welsh dragon]

Another excellent write up and photos @Rickshaw Phil

 

[potsy]

Little bimble around Tatton today while the weather was good, decided I would look out for any wildlife/animal shots just to prove it's not all urban grimness around here

 

[MikeG]

An otherwise very routine buzz (deliberately chosen) around the lumpy countryside of Suffolk this afternoon, justified during working hours by dropping in briefly on a couple of sites I am running, was enlivened by the old classic........a big buzzy something going straight down inside my jersey and buzzing around noisily against my skin. Amusing only in hindsight, the culprit turned out to be a bumblebee, which I eventually released unharmed, once I had got to the bottom of the steep, curving descent I was on and could bring the bike to a stop. 34 miles at 17.2 ave, and no stings

 

[Wayne Tully]

I worked from 7AM on Tuesday until 3.30PM yesterday so I took today off, took the MTB out for spin, did 50KM, it was quite hard TBH then I got home to realise I had averaged nearly 15MPH, no wonder I was finding it difficult pushing it that hard.

Nice ride though.

Coffee stop

 

[I like Skol]

I did a fantastic 50 miler today. Took the yellow bike, wore my yellow shirt and was bathed in yellow sunshine... glorious

Little brother came with me so the pace was a bit slower than my usual. I planned the route, he said upto 50 miles would be good and he didn't mind a few hills as long as it wasn't 50 miles of hills..... I got the 50 miles bit right
We set out from Ashton and headed over to Glossop before climbing to Crowden and an assault of the south face of Holme Moss. TBH I found the climb really easy today and just pottered up it. Still had to wait 10 minutes for my brother at the top. While I was waiting in the carpark at the summit about 20 cyclists must have gone past, some turning around at the top then heading back down the way they had come. It has definitely become a very popular destination recently for some reason?
Once he caught up we dropped down to Holmfirth. I overtook a car just before the hairpins at the bottom of Holme Moss as he was going a bit slow and would have ruined the corners for me . We then dropped gently all the way into Huddersfield town centre where we grabbed a quick supermarket butty from M&S before climbing out of town on the A640 for a trip over Scammonden Moor. This was really the reason for the entire loop as I wanted to ride the long sweeping corners as you drop down from Buckstones into Denshaw. It was lovely, the sun was beating down and there were very few cars on the road.

After this it was back onto familiar roads for the return to base, through Delph, Uppermill and Mossley. Total distance a little over 52.5 miles and my average speed a not too shabby 14.3mph (little Bro got 13.7 ave ). I could have gone a bit quicker but is was a pleasant change not to go balls-out for once and when I got home I felt like I could easily head off and do it all over again

 

[potsy]

I did a fantastic 50 miler today. Took the yellow bike, wore my yellow shirt and was bathed in yellow sunshine... glorious

Little brother came with me so the pace was a bit slower than my usual. I planned the route, he said upto 50 miles would be good and he didn't mind a few hills as long as it wasn't 50 miles of hills..... I got the 50 miles bit right
We set out from Ashton and headed over to Glossop before climbing to Crowden and an assault of the south face of Holme Moss. TBH I found the climb really easy today and just pottered up it. Still had to wait 10 minutes for my brother at the top. While I was waiting in the carpark at the summit about 20 cyclists must have gone past, some turning around at the top then heading back down the way they had come. It has definitely become a very popular destination recently for some reason?
Once he caught up we dropped down to Holmfirth. I overtook a car just before the hairpins at the bottom of Holme Moss as he was going a bit slow and would have ruined the corners for me . We then dropped gently all the way into Huddersfield town centre where we grabbed a quick supermarket butty from M&S before climbing out of town on the A640 for a trip over Scammonden Moor. This was really the reason for the entire loop as I wanted to ride the long sweeping corners as you drop down from Buckstones into Denshaw. It was lovely, the sun was beating down and there were very few cars on the road.

After this it was back onto familiar roads for the return to base, through Delph, Uppermill and Mossley. Total distance a little over 52.5 miles and my average speed a not too shabby 14.3mph (little Bro got 13.7 ave ). I could have gone a bit quicker but is was a pleasant change not to go balls-out for once and when I got home I felt like I could easily head off and do it all over again
View attachment 43320

Should have said, I would have come with you

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

Today was one of those rides that was more of a battle than it really needed to be, but it did get off to a good start (if you exclude having to fit the pannier rack to my new bike ).

3km from home, coming over a railway bridge and I spot a photo opportunity. Normally there is nothing around here that is worth taking - familiarity breeds contempt and all that... but today with the mist clearing and the sun trying hard to break through there was a just a chance... so turning the bike around and heading back up hill, I went off to find a picture or two.

2km down the road and on a rather nasty bend with a horrendous road surface and I spot another photo opp... Cue another U turn and back tracking....

There's no way of removing the electricity pylons from the scene so I just had to accept them, sadly!

Then life began to get interesting. Cue road works on a narrow, 2 lane road, a lorry with a crane digging in those road works - currently blocking the only lane available. Lorry too big & lane too small to even get through as a pedestrian. Now add 8 or 9 cars and learner to the situation. Initially the learner stayed put at the green traffic lights and waited til the 2nd sequence... but they could not see what I could... the oncoming cars had also done what the learner did next. Went through on the next green cycle and... so this lorry that is happily digging a hole in the ground is now completely surrounded. Cue cyclist turning around and finding another route - the first of the diversions for today.

I did eventually arrive at my parents' home some 45 minutes later than normal. I had cycled around 3 of the sets of road works - roads closed for resurfacing, no pavements/country lanes and clearly blocked and not viable even for cyclists, and through the 4th (I could see a man up a large crane working on power cables and by this point was at my wits end! - they were thanked thoroughly when I was allowed passed, my alternative would have been 'interesting' to say the least.)

Coming home again was somewhat easier made simple by the fact I forgot to turn off to avoid the 'main' road works and smiled sweetly at the guys manning the road closed sign - asking if needed could I bale to the canal and walk along that to get by the road works... thankfully that section of road has a pavement much further on and they just asked me to cycle along that when I finally got to the road repairs - and there is not a cyclist locally that will complain about this road being repaired! It is long overdue...

Tomorrow I shall plan a different route - and possible look up the road works to see what needs avoiding. Still it was a fast ride by my standards with a pannier and into a head wind, getting home in under 1hr 27 mins! Still getting on well with the new bike
http://www.strava.com/activities/133712031

 

[GrumpyGregry]

started well, ended with a bang, my hand on their roof, followed by a whimper, their pathetic apology.

picked myself up, dusted myself down, walked away, in fact walked all of 100 metres back home, and caught the train to work instead, had a very good lunch, so all good in the end.

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

started well, ended with a bang, my hand on their roof, followed by a whimper, their pathetic apology.

picked myself up, dusted myself down, walked away, in fact walked all of 100 metres back home, and caught the train to work instead, had a very good lunch, so all good in the end.

I've read the slightly longer version over in commuting. What is wrong with people?

 

[cosmicbike]

Spent my morning in a classroom, so after walking the dogs took the opportunity for a quick spin. Little bit overcast, but SWMBO reckoned it was shorts and short sleeved top weather, and she was spot on as usual. Took a slightly different route up to the Royal Landscape, legs warmed up really quick today and made the hills seem that bit easier. Looks like their might be a few games on at the polo club this weekend

Couple of loops of Deer Park and then a different route out for me, Dukes Lane out into Sunninghill before tracking the border of the park back to the A30. Managed to miss the school run traffic and rush hour, and had a really enjoyable 31 miles.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

I've read the slightly longer version over in commuting. What is wrong with people?

One in three of them can't see the invisible gorillas. She didn't expect to see a cyclist so she didn't see a cyclist.

 

[iandg]

143km from Stornoway to Scalpay and back

http://www.strava.com/activities/133715732

 

[Dave 123]

143km from Stornoway to Scalpay and back

http://www.strava.com/activities/133715732

I am so glad I went to work today instead of doing a bloody awful looking ride like that.......!