Your ride today.... (part 1)
- Thread starter gbb
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totallyfixed
Veteran
- Location
- The only county without a McDonalds
We still have roads here with ice and snow on them, however cabin fever is setting in so the sensible thing to do was to get out on the fixed, 23mm slick tyres, fingerless gloves, 2 layers on top, longs and foot covers [and no helmet]. It reached 3C so toasty warm. We had walked into town earlier and the pavements are still covered in snow, no slush at all.
A few pics from the ride,
You had to keep the bike perfectly vertical, the fun bits were when I had to put the boot down to get up the other side of the numerous dips in the road.
2 miles to go with an interesting 30mph descent into Oakham, all completed with a grin as wide as Rutland Water.
Hugely enjoyable and had the roads mostly to myself, loads of wheelspin and two wheeled skids, like being a kid again.
A few pics from the ride,
You had to keep the bike perfectly vertical, the fun bits were when I had to put the boot down to get up the other side of the numerous dips in the road.
2 miles to go with an interesting 30mph descent into Oakham, all completed with a grin as wide as Rutland Water.
Hugely enjoyable and had the roads mostly to myself, loads of wheelspin and two wheeled skids, like being a kid again.
Billy Wizz
Über Member
- Location
- North Wales
That is a nice bike, off the shelf or a few home mods,??
I worked in the Falkland Islands and currently work with a few Argentinians,a bit of trivia really nice folk.
Donger
Convoi Exceptionnel
- Location
- Quedgeley, Glos.
My last ride of 2014 today. Still needed 20.3 to hit my target of 2,400 miles, and ended up doing 20.6 in the end. 
Didn't start too well, even though I left it as late as possible before setting out on my usual route to Frampton on Severn. Even at 2.30pm and +7 degrees C, there was still plenty of ice and slush around, particularly down by the river at Stonebench.
A nasty mixture of water, slush, mud and sheet ice on the lanes made life interesting:
After picking my way through that lot, and being overtaken only inches away by a few cars who made absolutely no allowance for the conditions, I decided to head for the A38 instead to get my miles in before sunset. By the time I hit the main road, I had gingerly done a paltry 4 miles in half an hour, so I was glad to get onto the grippy cycle lane on the main A38 and start shifting it. Made my way to the war memorial crossroads at Frocester via a couple of small hills at Whitminster and Eastington before needing to turn around to race home before it got dark.
For once I didn't have time to take on my training climb up Frocester Hill . You can see the road climbing up relentlessly behind the tythe barn in this shot:
I will be no stranger to that hill next year, as I get ready for taking on a couple of Alps in September. I imagine the Kingsway CC will take it on a few times, too.
Anyway, Happy New Year everyone. Who knows, I might bump into a few of you out on the road next year (though hopefully not literally).
Cheers, Donger.
Didn't start too well, even though I left it as late as possible before setting out on my usual route to Frampton on Severn. Even at 2.30pm and +7 degrees C, there was still plenty of ice and slush around, particularly down by the river at Stonebench.
After picking my way through that lot, and being overtaken only inches away by a few cars who made absolutely no allowance for the conditions, I decided to head for the A38 instead to get my miles in before sunset. By the time I hit the main road, I had gingerly done a paltry 4 miles in half an hour, so I was glad to get onto the grippy cycle lane on the main A38 and start shifting it. Made my way to the war memorial crossroads at Frocester via a couple of small hills at Whitminster and Eastington before needing to turn around to race home before it got dark.
For once I didn't have time to take on my training climb up Frocester Hill . You can see the road climbing up relentlessly behind the tythe barn in this shot:
Anyway, Happy New Year everyone. Who knows, I might bump into a few of you out on the road next year (though hopefully not literally).
Cheers, Donger.
Colin_P
Guru
You mad people that are going out on the ice on roadies, how do you do it? It has been bad enough on my Hybrid on fairly grippy gravel but odd moments were had on iced over puddles.
With balls that big it must hurt when you get on the saddle?
I know I've just been rude but someone had to say it. Hats off, caps doffed and all that, you are nutters!
With balls that big it must hurt when you get on the saddle?
I know I've just been rude but someone had to say it. Hats off, caps doffed and all that, you are nutters!
arranandy
Legendary Member
A cheeky wee metric century today, 101.8km to be exact. The longest ride I've done this month. Headed out through Ashgill, Kirkmuirhill and Lesmahagow before heading back through Strathaven and doing a loop round the perimeter of EK before heading home.
About 4-5C for most of the ride so quite a bit milder than the previous days. The main roads were fine but there was still a few icey patches on the minor roads and lanes. Quite a few roadies out today taking advantage of the conditions.
Hoping to get out tomorrow for my last ride of 2014
About 4-5C for most of the ride so quite a bit milder than the previous days. The main roads were fine but there was still a few icey patches on the minor roads and lanes. Quite a few roadies out today taking advantage of the conditions.
Hoping to get out tomorrow for my last ride of 2014
Spartak
Powered by M&M's
- Location
- Bristolian
Quick 17 mile round trip to Barnstaple to buy a Garmin 200 for the missus. Dropped in to Weatherspoons for cake and coffee on the way back.
Stopped off in the Barnstaple 'spoons last May whilst waiting for a train after cycling from Clovelly
arranandy
Legendary Member
Not long back from my last bike ride of 2014. Just out for a couple of hours up to East Kilbride and I was planning to be out a bit longer but the weather has taken a turun for the worse and it really is a bit dreich out there now. However it was good to get out and get some fresh air. Even popped into one of my local car showrooms on the way home to look at a car I'm thinking of getting some time next year. Turned out the salesman I talked to did a bit of cycling as well but he did admit to just being a fair weather rider.
Probably won't get out tomorrow as the forecast is for gale force winds and very heavy rain.
This morning's ride
http://app.strava.com/activities/234862702
Probably won't get out tomorrow as the forecast is for gale force winds and very heavy rain.
This morning's ride
http://app.strava.com/activities/234862702
Jon George
Mamil and couldn't care less
- Location
- Suffolk an' Good
Dropped 15 psi from front and back and popped out for a gentle 12 miler to get some serotonin and other natural goody drugs back in the system. Had the brakes on down a hill into Playford I normally canter along and was over-taken by another cyclist. He stayed up, but with the conditions and the state of that particular stretch of torn-up road, I thought he was taking a dreadful risk as the road has a sharp, blind bend at the bottom.
As the more astute of you may have noticed, the pictures I generally post in Your Ride Today tend to be portrait, rather than the landscape format 'expected' for scenery, but then, we do have an awful lot of sky to go around in Suffolk and it seems a shame not to share it. Here's another couple and a Happy New Year to you all.
Some sheep. I couldn't help it - I muttered 'mint sauce, mint sauce' as I pressed the shutter.
A frozen field out near Tuddenham St Martin.
As the more astute of you may have noticed, the pictures I generally post in Your Ride Today tend to be portrait, rather than the landscape format 'expected' for scenery, but then, we do have an awful lot of sky to go around in Suffolk and it seems a shame not to share it.
Here's another couple and a Happy New Year to you all.Some sheep. I couldn't help it - I muttered 'mint sauce, mint sauce' as I pressed the shutter.
A frozen field out near Tuddenham St Martin.
Flick of the Elbow
Guru
- Location
- Edinburgh
Just managed an hour or so into West Lothian, strong south westerly and spitting with rain but not too bad, glad I made the effort.
chewa
plus je vois les hommes, plus j'admire les chiens
-4 on road today. We did go out, but just couldnt get fingers warm even with under gloves and sealskinz so as there was freezing fog too, gave up and went home. I spent the afternoon stripping my lawnmower engine down to evict a mouse family!
Bonne reveillon and a Happy New Year to all!
Bonne reveillon and a Happy New Year to all!
Spartak
Powered by M&M's
- Location
- Bristolian
Short ride out on my MTB this afternoon.
Along part of the Dramway path quite icy & muddy in places but good fun.
Its a great stretch which runs alongside the Avon ring road ( Shortwood side ).
Rejoined the Railway path at Siston Common & continued on it until I reached Lyde Green & took a picture of the lake near the Folly pub.
http://www.strava.com/activities/234904154
Along part of the Dramway path quite icy & muddy in places but good fun.
Its a great stretch which runs alongside the Avon ring road ( Shortwood side ).
Rejoined the Railway path at Siston Common & continued on it until I reached Lyde Green & took a picture of the lake near the Folly pub.
http://www.strava.com/activities/234904154
- Location
- Shrewsbury, Shropshire
Just a short one to finish off the year, heading out over Lyth Hill to Condover, then out to Longnor, Acton Burnell, Cound Moor, Cound and Pitchford before returning to Condover and heading home.
It was windier than I expected which meant it was a bit of a push out to Longnor but was nice for the return trip once I got past Pitchford. Although it's much milder today I was surprised to find ice still on some of the roads.
There were only a few other cyclists around - I passed three in the first mile and only three more for the rest of the trip.
23 miles today at 12.7 mph average. The snow studs do require a bit more effort even when pumped up hard like they were today, but they don't do badly I think.
Crossing over Lyth Hill. It hasn't come out in the photo but there are only small patches of snow left on the Stretton hills.
Acton Burnell.
No sign of snow on the Wrekin but the puddle in front of me is still frozen despite it being about 6c out.
It was windier than I expected which meant it was a bit of a push out to Longnor but was nice for the return trip once I got past Pitchford. Although it's much milder today I was surprised to find ice still on some of the roads.
There were only a few other cyclists around - I passed three in the first mile and only three more for the rest of the trip.
23 miles today at 12.7 mph average. The snow studs do require a bit more effort even when pumped up hard like they were today, but they don't do badly I think.
Crossing over Lyth Hill. It hasn't come out in the photo but there are only small patches of snow left on the Stretton hills.
Acton Burnell.
No sign of snow on the Wrekin but the puddle in front of me is still frozen despite it being about 6c out.
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