Your ride today.... (part 1)

[gbb]

59 miles touring style today...just a steady pace and enjoy the ride without busting a gut. Actually, i dont think i could have gone faster anyway, didnt seem to have any vim. But no problem, a nice ride, albeit a bit heavy legged against the moderate wind...
Stopped 10 to 15 miles in for breakfast, egg, bacon, beans, two toast and a mug of tea
Anyway, ventured into Rutland then Northamptonshire. I'd recommend you get off your normal circuit and explore a bit. This ride was the most interesting one i've had in ages. You realise just how many unused WW2 airbases there are dotted all over the place when you get into the countryside, places i didnt even know existed....like Spanhoe..home to the USAF Troop carrier Group

Then onto Deenethorpe airbase, home to the USAF 401st Bombardment Group...

Bearing in mind, i'd already passed Kings Cliffe airbase, home to another USAF squadron....and another base i cant remember the name of right now...

Then, just when you least expect it, you come upon a landmark you've seen many times from a distance...and there it is right in front of you...Harringworth Viaduct...

Absolutely massive, it looks about 3/4 mile long and maybe two houses high.

About 1/2 way in, i looked into the distance and saw what i've got to go back through . The photo doesnt do it justice...i'm quite high up, the land dips considerably into the distance, then rises again on the horizon Ive got to go back up there

Down and up some 11% hills, a mix of exilerating and bloody tiring.

Past Rockingham Raceway...didnt realise i was there...till i was there

Onward to a village called Gretton. Here i found the local stocks...for 5 people ? You realise when you look at it, they'd have to be knelt down while locked up...must have been incredibly uncomfortable..

On round the countryside to Oundle, stop for a coffe and one of the best homemade flapjacks i've ever had

Onwards and found a house selling eggs outside, with a nice twist...

I'd set out to do a bit more mileage, but the legs wouldnt have it comfortably today...so happy with what i'd got.

Oh yes, and 1300ft of climbing...get out of the Fens and peterborough, that was quite a shock !!!

 

[gbb]

Quick 15 mile ride across town this morning to get some new hinges for the back door...came back with the wrong ones
Spoiled by a UPS courier driver that overtook me in town...and immediately pulled left across me, forcing me to almost stop dead.
Pulled up behind him and called him a bloody idiot. He seemed to be hurt by this and threatened violence
Fist up and he said call me that again and i'll put you down
Various words passed back and forth, he said next time i see you i'll take you out....'you threatening me ?'
Took the number of his van and promptly phoned in a complaint to his depot. Just waiting for a no doubt useless result.

First time ever ive had 'you dont pay roadtax' thrown at me..
'Actually i do'...i just kept throwing back

I left it at that and said 'i hope i've spoiled your day' ..hoping he was getting embarrassed at being watched by the staff of the school he was delivering to.

Otherwise, all's well with the world

 

[gbb]

Part two of todays ride...
Done a bit of homework and calculated a local hill height etc...rode Morborne Hill which i now know is 14.5%
As hills go here, its steep, but only for a short stab. How the hell do people manage steeper and longer hills...i know really, its just keep doing them.

So a quick 14 miles, 29 total today. Blimey, i could do this holiday lark permanently. Its so nice to just go and not worry about the time.

 

[snakehips]

Lovely day , got in a 63 miler , Kingston , Sunbury , Walton , Esher , Kingston loop three times , then a couple of laps of Richmond Park as the icing on the cake.

Snake

 

[GrasB]

Nice ride though a little odd at times; just under 22mph down hill, turn a corner & then added about 1mph or so to that going up a 3 to 5% gradient.

Btw anyone here ride a high-end black 2000-2004 Marin ALP & going towards the A505 bridgefoot junction? I'm guessing about 14:00 ish.

 

[lazyfatgit]

First ride for a couple of weeks. 30mins out uphill into the wind, 20mins back.

 

[Keith Oates]

Took yet another 'new toy' out this morning and did a nice 46 KM blast. it's funny how you don't tire as quickly when riding a new bike!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[UKPhil]

Only 10 miles today, very windy at the coast and bl**dy Veloce shifter snapped!

 

[croyde]

Have to say thank you to the lady cyclist at Richmond Park this morning who's beautiful derriere convinced me to go for a second lap and up that hill.

Was going to offer to buy you a cup of tea when you stopped but didn't have the nerve.

Thanks anyway, nice to have a pace bike.

So 21 miles today on me hybrid with 26 ins wheels and a few more of those under my belt as well as a 60 miler to Brighton in my return to cycling one month ago after always having had a bike but never really using it.

Ditched the gym membership and now trying to cycle every other day as well as a bit of commuting thrown in.

Lovely day today.

 

[GrasB]

Good fun today, & did a planned DIY Barrington to Bourn TT in the middle, not a great time but the wind was in a bad direction.

 

[Lardyboy]

30 or so miles round the Gower today with Fairweather. Very blustery along through Penclawdd, Llanrhidian, Llanmadoc and Burry, but............ down over Cefn Bryn? 53.9 M.p.h.!!!!!!!!!!!
A new record.

 

[darkstar]

Same old trooping around Sefton park for about 30 od miles today until i got too bored, but i've just joined the Uni cycling squad so will be getting out on some more enjoyable and tougher rides from now on

 

[dellzeqq]

62 miles. Whatever. Pootling round North Surrey with the CTC, my new stick-thin old man thighs barely making contact with the lycra that, only a month ago would be stretched silly - no power in my bum and my arms adding nothing to the ride. But 62 miles is more than twice what I managed in a day all last week, and only about ten less than next Friday's FNRttC - so there is hope.

 

[Perfect Virgo]

(Yesterday,) one of my regular loops, 35 miles taking in shoreline, hills, countryside and suburban. Only 2 degrees Celsius but thankfully almost no wind for a change. Under Armour base layer, thin T-shirt and LS jersey on top - all needed. My feet were numb after the first 10 miles despite double layer socks with a plastic bag between. 17+ mph avge which is a best for me.

 

[croyde]

Brrrrrr!!!!

Is that the island with the bloody long bridge?