Your ride today....

[Edwardoka]

After a couple of days off the bike because of a wedding (and a subsequent hangover) went for a bimble today. Luckily I was in a coffee shop when the massive downpour landed but after it passed I decided to take myself to the Belladrome to grind out some steady miles to make a dent in my challenge deficit (I'm 96km behind schedule as I type this).

Within a couple of minutes of me arriving at the track, some youngins started to show up. Turns out that there's a Monday night coaching session and I couldn't have felt more out of place, an obese man approaching his fifth decade. It wasn't helped by their dreadful lane discipline - got overtaken up the inside by the youngins several times and they were all over the track - nor was it helped by the return of the hyper fit folk on TT bikes that I mentioned in a previous installment. As a result, I never came close to hitting a rhythm at all and gave up after a few laps and went to find some entertainment elsewhere. Took a turn up the punchy Queen's Park climb (https://www.strava.com/segments/2029835) where a woman walking her dog gave me a few kind words of encouragement to which I could only gasp "it's steeper than it looks!".

Honestly not feeling it at all, lots of niggling pains from old injuries, think a cold is coming on, and my rear hub started making terminal-sounding grindies - presumably from the downpour.

All in, 23 miles at 13.3mph, with 766 feet of climbing. Where did you go, mojo??

 

[pjd57]

I joined a couple of guys I only knew through a football forum for the start of a charity ride they're doing.
Their mantra was " training is cheating " and neither has been on a bike in years.
I cycled with them from Lambhill Stables, who generously loaned them bikes; to Auchinstarry , along the Forth and Clyde canal.
Headed home, then back out for a couple of local chores.

32 miles in total.
The guys managed 72 miles before stopping in East Lothian.
They're heading for Newcastle.

 

[Edwardoka]

I joined a couple of guys I only knew through a football forum for the start of a charity ride they're doing.
Their mantra was " training is cheating " and neither has been on a bike in years.
I cycled with them from Lambhill Stables, who generously loaned them bikes; to Auchinstarry , along the Forth and Clyde canal.
Headed home, then back out for a couple of local chores.

32 miles in total.
The guys managed 72 miles before stopping in East Lothian.
They're heading for Newcastle.

72 miles without training??? Never mind legs or cardio, their rear ends will be in absolute tatters.

Edit to add: Good luck to them, and I absolutely mean it. I hope they've not compromised their epic endeavour by not taking saddle sores into account.

 

[Heltor Chasca]

View: https://youtu.be/K6VZecw-ELU


Mendip MAAAdness AAA Audax is a 117km randonnėe with over 1700 meters elevation. Although relatively short in distance, it is not short of ascents. Among many, it takes in Dundry Beacon, Blagdon Climb and a 7km climb out of the Somerset Levels from Wells back onto the Mendips. Treats include a descent through Cheddar Gorge and a short rest on the Levels.

So what’s with all the AAAs? Well: They stand for Audax Altitude Award

Audax UK awards points for all this climbing through a complex calculation based on a ratio of distance : elevation. Even the altitude goblins of Audax UK find it hard to explain so I’ll leave you to pick it apart: http://www.aukweb.net/results/aaa/

https://www.audax.uk/about-audax/event-types/do-it-yourself-diy-events/

This is my first attempt at providing narration or commentary with a video. Good skills for an introvert! These are early days and I’m on a steep learning curve so please provide constructive criticism and if you are pleased with the video, do ‘LIKE’ and ‘SUBSCRIBE’. Thanks for watching.

 

[gavgav]

No cycling for a while as I’ve broken my finger in 2 places, playing cricket Will be reading this thread to keep my brain full of cycling loveliness!!

 

[Grant Fondo]

No phone pump repair kit or water bottle with me on yesterdays ride...so no pics! Out for a blat on new bike...cobbly canal paths and rougher stuff which i was struggling with on road bike.. What a laugh, and will the road bike see the light of day again?

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

Not the best of images, but riding along the towpath of the Aire & Calder Navigation Canal, at about 22:30 last night
Photographs taken with an iphone 4s


My usual route is subject to a full road-closure for water-main works & the consequent reconstruction of a banking that the road runs on




Front lights, taken maybe 200yards ahead of this Geograph pic
(vegetation has grown back to some extent now, & it's not a 'cinder-track' anymore)
https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2142770

Main light, in use here (on low-beam), a 'MagicShine MJ858

Further along, this was the rearward view
Here the 'tow-path' is a road, as it services some semi-permanent moorings & the Lock-Keepers house
One of the rear-lights was on a 'pulse' setting, but it wasn't doing so, meaning it was not at optimum charge
(both main rears put on charge, when I got home)

I was heading in the same direction as the GeoGraph photo is taken (map & comments below)
https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/509906
(on the way home, when checking for traffic, road-signs were reflecting 'full/bright' red at over 100yards)


This is where I left Ferry Lane, crossing that bridge (L > R), then joining the tow-path in the same direction as the chap is walking
https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/5701955

LOTS of Bats about



I was going to ride back through NewLands Woods, but decided against it
It's not that I can't get through/don't know the way, but if there's a low-hanging branch, that's in shadow.....
If I fall off, due to the branch, there's a sloping banking, then a 15 foot drop into the River Calder!
(I have run through there, at night, with a head-torch though)

I may ride in that way, at dinner-time, for a change?
(both taken on a homeward ride)


NB;
I have this to send for repair, still
(R8)
​

 

[pjd57]

72 miles without training??? Never mind legs or cardio, their rear ends will be in absolute tatters.

Edit to add: Good luck to them, and I absolutely mean it. I hope they've not compromised their epic endeavour by not taking saddle sores into account.

Going by their on line reports last night , yes they are suffering, I'll be interested to see how they get on today.

 

[jongooligan]

I joined a couple of guys I only knew through a football forum for the start of a charity ride they're doing.
Their mantra was " training is cheating " and neither has been on a bike in years.
I cycled with them from Lambhill Stables, who generously loaned them bikes; to Auchinstarry , along the Forth and Clyde canal.
Headed home, then back out for a couple of local chores.

32 miles in total.
The guys managed 72 miles before stopping in East Lothian.
They're heading for Newcastle.

Once did a charidee ride from Knottingley to Scarborough (about 70 miles) with some blokes like that. One renowed tight fisted git had turned up on a BSO wearing jeans. He absolutely refused to spend any money on bike maintenance or specialist clothing. Fair play to him, he got to Scarborough.

Where he threw his bike into the sea and vowed never to ride again.

 

[Reynard]

No cycling for a while as I’ve broken my finger in 2 places, playing cricket Will be reading this thread to keep my brain full of cycling loveliness!!

Can't "like", but mend quickly xxx

 

[Old jon]

Bright again, how wonderful! Not had a ride since Friday last but today is the day to cure that. Wheel out the geared bike and head off on a route that my subconscious popped into my head.

Not strictly accurate of course, I have been intending to do this ride for a while but other stuff intrudes now and then. A bit of Holbeck first, it is the easy way to Office Lock and the canal towpath. Ride along to the usual spot to leave, cross the river and start the climb up Cardigan Road. It is a rare day that Headingley is quiet, today was not rare at all. A left turn at the end of North Lane provides the chance to ride up to Lawnswood, and once across the Ring Road another left gives a further test of stamina as the road, and this rider, continues uphill to the water tower at Cookridge. Keep on though, the downhill starts soon. And shortly after the next left turn it is back in the low gears again. Cross the Bradford to Harrogate road, heading for the top of the Chevin, a quick and interesting descent into Otley, one I have not ridden in some time. Loads of fun! Now for the popped bit, cross the river and turn right onto Farnley Lane. No surprise, this is uphill. But the other side is not . . .

After the end of the video, the road crosses the River Washburn. The third river today and the only crossing with a bridge house. Probably called that ‘cos it is next to the bridge. Anyway, turn right here and ride to a different junction with the Bradford / Harrogate road to turn right yet again, heading for Pool in Wharfedale, given its Sunday name to let you know the River Wharfe is about to be crossed again. The direct way back is up Pool Bank, a bit steep and long for today. Turn right and ride the very familiar road back to Otley, where a couple of left turns point me up the Leeds Road for a hill I can ride up.

This is odd. All morning there have been lots of folk on bikes. It is Tuesday, a working day for many, and I have seen more riders than would be expected on a Saturday. Couples and single riders, no big groups. On minor roads, roads where I rarely see anyone. Such quiet roads that I am rarely passed, not that I have any speed, just that the roads are little used. So, Leeds Road out of Otley and three cyclists pass me before the bypass roundabout is reached. Four or five more before I reached the top. And lots going the other way, as has been the case all morning. Good to see.

Still travelling homewards though, through Bramhope and straight on at the roundabout at the end of the village, the A 660 all the way until Headingley is reached again. Still lots of other cyclists about, and after the right turn to Kirkstall and the return to the towpath, that had extra added riders also. The towpath is a good warm down, if that is the correct term, and if I need such a thing. Whizz through a bit of Hunslet, up the last short rise and home with a grin after thirty four miles, and a disappointing two feet less than 1800 of climbing. Such a good ride though!

Ups and Downs, and round and rounds

 

[13 rider]

No cycling for a while as I’ve broken my finger in 2 places, playing cricket Will be reading this thread to keep my brain full of cycling loveliness!!

Ouch . Heal quickly @gavgav

 

[Donger]

Hope you didn't drop the catch, @gavgav . Wishing you back on the bike ASAP. Cheers, Donger.

 

[gavroche]

Lovely day today and after finishing the kitchen cupboard doors for my stepdaughter which I will fit tomorrow, I went for a 26 miles ride with the intention of showing you some photos of the beautiful countryside here in North Wales.
With that in mind, I took my favourite pocket camera and went. When I stopped to take the first picture, the bloody thing wouldn't turn on as the battery was dead flat!! Needless to say, it is now on charge and you will have to wait until next time I ride or next time I am in the mood to take pictures.
I enjoyed my two hour ride and the scenery that came with it.

 

[Reynard]

Another ride today - about 12 miles in total plus about three miles on foot - once again in the company of Wiggy #2, the Chartres, to investigate other spots where I know there are filberts in the hedgerows.

So off via Downham Common and California and onto the Ely Road. Orwell Pit drew a blank - that hedge has been cut back so hard that you can see right through it. An about face was called for and I retraced my wheel tracks along Brick Kiln Lane. There I make a swing for Bield Drove heading to Chettisham Meadows and Wood Fen.

Bield Drove is gravel, just about passable on a hybrid, but then that peters out and becomes a rutted grass track. So it's off the bike and wheeling it along for about a mile and a half. This would be great on a hardtail, but I don't have one... Yet...

It's a fair while since I was down there, and some of the bushes I remember picking from in years past have been cut down. The remaining ones had been well picked over except for the top and bottom branches - it's an area very popular with dog walkers. I did pick some as I'd taken the trouble to get down there. But I won't be going back as the nuts are small and not of any particular quality.

So I made my way back to my favourite spot and stripped what I could reach, filling another pannier.

And then I rode home.