Your ride today.... (part 1)

[Glow worm]

Sauntered home about 60 miles from central London today. First off through the Swiss Cottage death thing then Hampstead (blimey that's some hill), then on through Finchley, Barnet and Potters Bar.

I'm saying nothing about my views on London, but was I ever glad to get back onto familiar country like this...

There's some bloody big hills north of potters bar too which I wasn't prepared for and they were hard work on a fully loaded bike.

Loads of cyclist about which was great- all very friendly having a go at the hills. With more speed than I.

After a while, I hit Cromer (Hertfordshire version) no sign of a pier here though..

Then on towards Royston. My map said I was at 168m altitude- a measure that means nothing to me, I reckon it's about 500 feet in English...

Then train to Cambridge and 10 or so miles home. Absolutely knackered, hills are not good for a flatlander like me!

 

[Shut Up Legs]

I rode from where I live to Kinglake and back this morning. Kinglake is a mountain northeast of Melbourne, peaking at about 660m (2165ft). I live at 160m (525ft), and there are numerous rolling hills between here and there. It was an 88km (54.5ml) round trip, with about 1900m (6235ft) of climbing. I left home just before 7am, and 10km later crossed over Melbourne's Yarra River:

Further on, the sun started rising over the hills to the east of me (my right-hand side, as I was heading roughly north):

After lots of rolling hills, some of them steep, and passing through towns with odd names (e.g. there's one actually called Kangaroo Ground), I began the main ascent, which is fairly gentle, about 5% grade all the way up, with lots of this:

The view from the top, looking south towards Melbourne, is quite the panorama:

Here's my pride and joy #2, the Specialized Roubaix Expert SL4 road bike that I rode today (#1 is the Vivente tourer/commuter):

For the last 30km of the trip home, it rained fairly constantly, so my bike and I were pretty wet when I got home, but it didn't spoil the ride at all! Although, the Garmin Edge 800 GPS bike computer got a bit confused when the rain started, and began insisting I was travelling downhill when in fact I was climbing . Moisture in the barometric altimeter's sensor holes, I think. I got home just before 12pm, so a morning well-spent.

Sorry, forgot to mention: for those of you unfamiliar with Melbourne, this is the route I took:

 

[EltonFrog]

I was supposed to go on the FNRTTC last night, but had to pull out for work reasons, then this morning the job I was supposed to today cancelled after all! So the enemy and I took the road bikes out to our new to us three hill challenge. Sulham Hill, Whitchurch Hill and Streatley Hill, which according to the Guardian is one of the top ten cycle climbs.

From the Garidian:

Streatley Hill is an infamous climb in this region, and a recent inclusion in the professional Tour of Britain only strengthened its status as a classic. It rises from the idyllic villages of Streatley and Goring, and as soon as you leave the A329 that bisects them, this unforgiving stretch of road begins to climb. It is steep to the first bend, a slight left, then steeper still for a short section that takes you to the next slight left-hander, where the gradient increases slightly once more. Apart from numerous sunken iron drainage grilles close to the gutter, the surface is good, almost smooth in places. Passing a driveway on the left you reach the final push and the hardest sector. As the road bends right you can picture the summit but have to work very hard to reach it as the road banks left, topping out just past a National Trust car park. Take care here as this is a busy spot with cars turning to enter and exit the car park.
Where Follow the Thames heading north west from Reading along the A329. As the road reaches Streatley, take the first and only left turn on to the narrow B4009 and start to climb.
Length 0.98km
Height gain 130m
Approx climb time 5½mins


Anyway we did all three hills all of which were complete and utter bastards but Streatley was the Elvis of Bastards…feck me! I’m glad we stopped at the café for a cuppa and hot cross bun at the café in Goring first, though the legs were burning after the rest. However we were rewarded with about 5 miles worth of downhill on the way back which was ACE.


21.51 miles in all, on another beautiful morning, lots of riders out today too, I do like looking at other peoples bikes.

 

[EltonFrog]

Its strange seeing all those place names on that map which are very familiar to me, and a lot of people but are on another continent.

 

[Shut Up Legs]

Its strange seeing all those place names on that map which are very familiar to me, and a lot of people but are on another continent.

What? You have a Kangaroo Ground in Britain, too? Fancy that...

Actually, I also forgot to mention that I saw a kangaroo, oddly enough not that far from Kangaroo Ground. It was roughly 5ft tall, but hopped away before I could take a photo. It's weird, seeing an animal that large hopping: its leg muscles must be really strong!

 

[Supersuperleeds]

Just an 11 mile pootle today with the missus and number 2 son.

 

[BSRU]

Went for bank holiday ride this morning, starting at 5am, absolutely freezing when I set off.
Managed 162.5km with 1550m of going up in 6hrs 15min, very pleasing as I could have gone on for a lot longer.
Not a incident free ride, firstly my course guided me to a dirt track, had to double back and workout a new route.
Then my course routed me to a virtual dead end, doubled back again. Then managed to miss my turn, ending up on the busy A350 to Salisbury, not a very pleasant experience and al my own fault for ignoring my Garmin which told me I was on the wrong road.
Garmin speed/distance sensor battery packed at about half way, so had to rely on the inaccurate GPS distance meaning cycling more than the 162.5km stated.
Then my zip on my bib 3/4's broke, cannot be replaced as Campag do not make them any more.
Took too much food and drink, loads spare when I arrived home.

But apart from that, an excellent jaunt and feeling very good, now time for a bath and then off to a Chinese buffet to stuff my face

 

[jayonabike]

Rather than "your ride today" its more of a "your rides this week" as I have been in Norfolk for a week on holiday with the family and took a bike with me. Now although the inhabitants of Norfolk have 6 fingers and 6 toes on each arm and leg, they don't have very good 3G and the wifi is as slow as an asthmatic blowing up a balloon. Thats why I'm telling you about the last week now I'm back home.
As it was a family holiday I didn't want to take the P and be out all day every day but 2 or 3 rides was a healthy balance. The first ride was on the 2nd day and in the afternoon. I had plotted a few routes before we left and had them loaded on the Garmin. So first up was a little 30 miler around little Norfolk villages and quiet deserted country lanes before dinner.

And flat, oh so flat and with no wind I was bombing along at an average speed of 18mph which was not bad as I had just eaten a huge steak pie and chips for lunch!

I wanted to do a nice Sunday ride and had plotted a 60+ miler along the twisty coast road to Cromer & back along the faster A road. I set out early as I wanted to be back by lunchtime and the road was empty of cars but a few fellow cyclists were out and about. I had a strong head wind blowing in from the sea for the 30 miles all the way to Cromer and welcomed the coffee stop at the cafe on the cliff tops.
The route back was fast thanks to the tail wind & smooth A road tarmac, I was flying along chasing down every cyclist I saw. I was back in the caravan by 12 and it was the first 100km ride in the bag for April.

The last ride was a couple of day later after we had been out for the day. 40 miles around the Norfolk Broads and small villages. I thought being out on the roads between 4.30 & 6.30 I might see a bit of commuting traffic, but it was no different to any other time of day although I did see 4 tractors.

So that was my last week on the bike, only a few rides but really nice to be cycling in a different part of the country whilst on holiday with the family.

 

[BSRU]

Just remembered my front light tried to fall off after 70km but I managed to catch it, lights needed at 5am

 

[cyberknight]

quick 23 miler, i was on a run for a record time untill some guy in a micra left hooked me on a mini roundabout then started mothing off when i did the arm raise why?
He stopped , overtook then parked up and jumped out the car being a total turnip and would not calm down , luckily the following driver stopped and got out the car , it being a women might have helped and told him to calm down and go away .Turns out shes a cyclist so knows what we face .

Nkob of the day, deep breath , move on
http://www.strava.com/activities/131525893

 

[Saluki]

Now although the inhabitants of Norfolk have 6 fingers and 6 toes on each arm and leg,

Now now. Play nicely.

 

[EltonFrog]

After our Three Hill Ride this morning, the enemy went to meet her mum and sister for Easter lunch, so I thought I’d take the MTB out again, ‘cos I needed some sundry items from Pedal On in Tadley that I am sure are of no interest to the good folk reading this. I rode up the track through to Theale then on to the K&A canal again to Aldermaston then on to Tadley made my retail purchases (a little Easter present for the enemy since you’re asking, can’t say what it is ‘cos she might read this post). I also bought me’sen a Gilet, although it was a nice day it was a bit ’taters out and I was cold, and I bought some gel pads for the roady handle bars, then I rode back more or less the same way.

Lots of folk out and about on the canal today, cyclists of all shapes and sizes, lots of boats going up down, like they do and peds with dogs. Why the feck don’t peds look where they are going and when you say “passing on your left” do they side step to the left? Feckin’ divvy sods. Anyway it was lovely ride out, spoke to some nice people on the boats; I love going up and down that Canal.

 

[Rob3rt]

10 mile TT this morning!

I prepared very well, warmed up, felt great, my legs felt amazing, I knew I was going to ride well, then I realised I had screwed up my timing and confused myself re the start location in relation to the HQ thinking it was as close as the one used last time, it was much further though queue a mad dash to get to the start, arrived on the line right at the last second to be met with the holder pulling my warmup top off me and the timekeeper saying "Go", no time to be held up for a proper start etc, I then confusingly said "Did you say go?", "yes, GO!", I fumbled away from the line panicking, failing to clip in and basically being right plank! Once going though, absolutely caned it, hit the turn with a 30.4 mph average, railed it round the turn (quite surprised by how I got round there, I am usually rubbish at corners etc) and then got back on my aero bars reminding myself to be as aero as possible knowing that most other riders had been moaning about the hard headwind on the way back. Really pushed hard on the way back, was nearly being sick by mile 8 but kept it down and was going fast, there was definitely a headwind but I kept aero and kept pushing as hard as possible! Crossed the line with 19:59 (30 mph average, the magic milestone) on my Garmin according to my button pushing however due to my doofusness arriving late to the start without time to be held up for a proper start, my hesitation and with the messy start my official time was 20:11! Oops!

At least I got to the start in time and didn't get a late start penalty and it is still a massive PB! Plus I put out a power PB of ~390W for the 20 minute effort!

As coach says, it's done now, time to rest up and recover ready for tomorrow Association Championship 25TT!

 

[Saluki]

Just back from a short ride 6.33 mile ride. Just little local roads, one hill over a bridge which is a bit out of breath making. I didn't want to go too far today as I need to get some guitar practice in today before my lesson at half 7. Only out 28 and a bit minutes.

 

[EltonFrog]

10 mile TT this morning!

I prepared very well, warmed up, felt great, my legs felt amazing, I knew I was going to ride well, then I realised I had screwed up my timing and confused myself re the start location in relation to the HQ thinking it was as close as the one used last time, it was much further though queue a mad dash to get to the start, arrived on the line right at the last second to be met with the holder pulling my warmup top off me and the timekeeper saying "Go", no time to be held up for a proper start etc, I then confusingly said "Did you say go?", "yes, GO!", I fumbled away from the line panicking, failing to clip in and basically being right plank! Once going though, absolutely caned it, hit the turn with a 30.4 mph average, railed it round the turn (quite surprised by how I got round there, I am usually rubbish at corners etc) and then got back on my aero bars reminding myself to be as aero as possible knowing that most other riders had been moaning about the hard headwind on the way back. Really pushed hard on the way back, was nearly being sick by mile 8 but kept it down and was going fast, there was definitely a headwind but I kept aero and kept pushing as hard as possible! Crossed the line with 19:59 (30 mph average, the magic milestone) on my Garmin according to my button pushing however due to my doofusness arriving late to the start without time to be held up for a proper start, my hesitation and with the messy start my official time was 20:11! Oops!

At least I got to the start in time and didn't get a late start penalty and it is still a massive PB! Plus I put out a power PB of ~390W for the 20 minute effort!

Fair play to you though! 30mph average, I'm lucky to get that going down a hill.