Your ride today....
- Thread starter gbb
- Start date
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Clear skies today and I definitely needed to ride a bike. Both bikes are looking very dusty, very unusual. Not as if I keep them super clean, just the roads have been dry around here for so long. Anyway, it is time for another coat of dust on the fixed.
I had done some route planning, sounds posh, dunnit? The first bit, early on Bank Holiday Monday I thought the towpath would be quiet. Cob, pen and at least half a dozen cygnets spread across the width of the towpath just by Office Lock put paid to that idea. No need to disturb them, about turn and ride through town. Cardigan Road to Headingley, then up the Otley Road.
It is only just seven thirty and there are a lot of other riders out. Going up to the Ring Road there was one in front travelling about the same speed as me. Three passed me in that distance, and maybe six or eight were going the other way, then things quietened. One more quick rider in Bramhope, another at the Dyneley Arms lights. Twiddled as fast as I could down Pool Bank, on the other bike I freewheel faster than that.
The good old A659 took me to Otley from there, quick munch and then ride out on the Leeds Road. Many more riders, both directions, and I even passed a couple myself. Back through Bramhope and turn left to ascend Kings Road. Down the side of the park and then up to Five Lane Ends and turn left. The first left or the more acute one. The signpost may say Eccup or Weardley. Or both. It could be a mile to the sharp right turn onto Village Road, Eccup. Which was the busiest I have ever seen it, two pedestrians! And me.
The road from here to the dam wall at the reservoir is signed as a bridleway, first time I have noticed the sign. Anyway, it was busy with walkers and bike riders until the south end of the wall. One other cyclist and me were the only ones using the road all the way to the A61. Turn right onto that and ride towards Leeds. Turn onto Street Lane to pass those fancy gates again, down to town and back across the Aire at Crown Point. Not far now, thirty two miles and almost 1700 feet of up before the day becomes warm. Something to smile about.
The ride from above,
And if you look sideways . . .
I had done some route planning, sounds posh, dunnit? The first bit, early on Bank Holiday Monday I thought the towpath would be quiet. Cob, pen and at least half a dozen cygnets spread across the width of the towpath just by Office Lock put paid to that idea. No need to disturb them, about turn and ride through town. Cardigan Road to Headingley, then up the Otley Road.
It is only just seven thirty and there are a lot of other riders out. Going up to the Ring Road there was one in front travelling about the same speed as me. Three passed me in that distance, and maybe six or eight were going the other way, then things quietened. One more quick rider in Bramhope, another at the Dyneley Arms lights. Twiddled as fast as I could down Pool Bank, on the other bike I freewheel faster than that.
The good old A659 took me to Otley from there, quick munch and then ride out on the Leeds Road. Many more riders, both directions, and I even passed a couple myself. Back through Bramhope and turn left to ascend Kings Road. Down the side of the park and then up to Five Lane Ends and turn left. The first left or the more acute one. The signpost may say Eccup or Weardley. Or both. It could be a mile to the sharp right turn onto Village Road, Eccup. Which was the busiest I have ever seen it, two pedestrians! And me.
The road from here to the dam wall at the reservoir is signed as a bridleway, first time I have noticed the sign. Anyway, it was busy with walkers and bike riders until the south end of the wall. One other cyclist and me were the only ones using the road all the way to the A61. Turn right onto that and ride towards Leeds. Turn onto Street Lane to pass those fancy gates again, down to town and back across the Aire at Crown Point. Not far now, thirty two miles and almost 1700 feet of up before the day becomes warm. Something to smile about.
The ride from above,
And if you look sideways . . .
twentysix by twentyfive
Clinging on tightly
- Location
- Over the Hill
Wow - no rain in Wales is really "a thing".
Nice photos. Where are they taken?
It's probably because us English haven't taken it with usWow - no rain in Wales is really "a thing".
Lovely place though, please let us back in
welsh dragon
Thanks but no thanks. I think I'll pass.
Great ride today In pleasant weather with light winds. Did one of my favourite routes to Dentdale and Barbondale. Lovely 50 miler with 1200m of climbing. Quite a lot of riders out, lots of motorbikes and a few more cars than has been the case. Dentdale is always quiet and the biggest event was the sheep movements I had to follow. Avoided the villages as much as possible.
Below are the River Lune upstream from Kirby Lonsdale. Today’s corona cafe stop in Dentdale and then the amazing decent down Barbondale.
Below are the River Lune upstream from Kirby Lonsdale. Today’s corona cafe stop in Dentdale and then the amazing decent down Barbondale.
welsh dragon
Thanks but no thanks. I think I'll pass.
Wow - no rain in Wales is really "a thing".
It is def a thing especially when the Englandshire people are not around.
ruffers
Veteran
- Location
- bury, lancs
stunning views, well done on a great write up
EltonFrog
Legendary Member
The Fragrant MrsP and I cycled to Oxenford today, Oxford to you, the original name of the city of spires is over a thousand years old, before bridges over the River Thames (Isis), the Saxons drove their cattle across the river via a ford. Anyway we rode our bikes via another ancient town, Abingdon had a coffee and a ciabatta in the almost deserted market square a quick visit to Oxford Castle & Prison and road home via Cumnor Hill, back to Abingdon again, over the Thames twice via Culham, as mentioned in Jerome K Jerome’s Three Men in a Boat then home via Sutton Courtney behind Didcot power station . 35.03 miles today on the road bike.
Newly surfaced path near the Thames.
The entrance of Westgate Shopping Centre, usually rammed on a day like today.
Oxford Castle Motte, one of William the Conqueror’s barons, Robert D’oilley enslaved 200 Saxons to build this in 1074, it took them six months to build, then there was a wooden tower on top. In the background is the Saxon Tower, the oldest secular tower in the country.
The old Didcot cooling towers could have been seen from here.
Newly surfaced path near the Thames.
The entrance of Westgate Shopping Centre, usually rammed on a day like today.
Oxford Castle Motte, one of William the Conqueror’s barons, Robert D’oilley enslaved 200 Saxons to build this in 1074, it took them six months to build, then there was a wooden tower on top. In the background is the Saxon Tower, the oldest secular tower in the country.
The old Didcot cooling towers could have been seen from here.
Poacher
Gravitationally challenged member
- Location
- Nottingham
Just a short pootle today to explore the quieter roads and byways of West Bridgford and beyond.
No computer on this bike, but somewhere between 20-25km travelled.
To the South of West Bridgford was a small village, now entirely engulfed by suburbia, which used to be known as South Bridgford.
Its inhabitants consider themselves rather more genteel than those of West Bridgford, who in turn are more genteel than the vast majority of Nottinghamians, so to distinguish their village from the expanding estates they renamed their haven after the forgotten Walton family member, Ed.
Result of an illicit liaison between John Boy and Erin, Ed was born horribly malformed and blind. The rest of the family kept him in the attic, where he was fed a bucket of raw fish heads and cooked chicken entrails every three days by Grandma while Ben and Jason kept him at bay with pitchforks. When the feed day fell on a Sunday, his diet was supplemented with crusts from apple pie, pumpkin pie or whatever other sweet treat was in season. Mercifully, the unfortunate lad passed away before reaching adolescence. Nobody ever said "Goodnight" to him, nor even mentioned him in any episode. This is his only commemoration.
Just South of the current Trent Bridge are two preserved archways of the mediaeval Hethbeth Bridge, remarkably still in use until 1872 when the new Trent Bridge was built. The carriageway looks to be no more than about 5 metres wide!
No computer on this bike, but somewhere between 20-25km travelled.
To the South of West Bridgford was a small village, now entirely engulfed by suburbia, which used to be known as South Bridgford.
Its inhabitants consider themselves rather more genteel than those of West Bridgford, who in turn are more genteel than the vast majority of Nottinghamians, so to distinguish their village from the expanding estates they renamed their haven after the forgotten Walton family member, Ed.
Result of an illicit liaison between John Boy and Erin, Ed was born horribly malformed and blind. The rest of the family kept him in the attic, where he was fed a bucket of raw fish heads and cooked chicken entrails every three days by Grandma while Ben and Jason kept him at bay with pitchforks. When the feed day fell on a Sunday, his diet was supplemented with crusts from apple pie, pumpkin pie or whatever other sweet treat was in season. Mercifully, the unfortunate lad passed away before reaching adolescence. Nobody ever said "Goodnight" to him, nor even mentioned him in any episode. This is his only commemoration.
Just South of the current Trent Bridge are two preserved archways of the mediaeval Hethbeth Bridge, remarkably still in use until 1872 when the new Trent Bridge was built. The carriageway looks to be no more than about 5 metres wide!
Donger
Convoi Exceptionnel
- Location
- Quedgeley, Glos.
Since the lockdown rules were relaxed, I have abandoned my self-imposed ten mile radius and started to throw in the odd 30+miler ride with the odd hill thrown in. I was starting to worry whether I'd be capable of climbing some of the tougher hills around here once lockdown ends. Today I set off with only a vague notion of which hill to tackle, and I really didn't make my mind up until the last possible minute. At Brookthorpe I hung a left instead of doing the long slog up to Edge via Horsepools Hill. That left either Nut Hill, Fiddler's Hill or Upton Hill as my options. When I got to Upton St Leonards, a stream of cyclists and a couple of horses in front of me all turned left, so that made my mind up and I went straight on. Upton Hill it was. This was really diving in at the deep end, as it is both long and steep. A bit of a beast that we have tended to avoid on our club rides for the last few years, and that I'd only ever climbed twice before. I slogged my way up it at an agonisingly slow 3.5mph, but happily got to the top in one go. I think it was between 2 and 3 miles of climbing, so pleased with that. After passing Painswick Beacon, I was happy to pull over to the side for a drink and a rest in the cool shade of Painswick Woods:
The descent down into Painswick on smooth new tarmac was a delight, and I eventually pulled up and walked my bike in to the beautiful churchyard in the middle of the village:
This is one of my favourite places around here. Whichever way you come it involves a climb, so it is nice to be able to stop and take a while to look around instead of flying through in a blur on a club ride:
Once back down in Stroud, I decided I had another climb in my legs despite having being beasted on Upton Hill, so I hung a left and climbed up to Slad for my second time in a week. The light conditions were not ideal, so my pictures of the Slad Valley were over-exposed. I did get this shot though ... of the sort of house I would happily buy if I won the lottery. It has fantastic views across the Slad Valley:
It was plain sailing back down into Stroud and out to Eastington and Frampton after that, before using my usual lanes to get home. Even considering that it is a bank holiday, I really couldn't believe how many people had driven out to Frampton to go for walks and bike rides or just to lie around on the village green and cricket pitch. Traffic was backing up in every direction as it tried to pass the cars parked all the way down the village green. This little donkey and cart caused quite a queue, though I heard the driver give him a giddy up that got him trotting:
As I left Frampton, I had to wait for 12 cars to go by before pulling out onto the main road. As I crossed the canal bridge, I could see a further line of parked cars stretched away into the distance along the Arlingham Road. I have never seen so much traffic in Frampton. The roads had been nice and quiet elsewhere, and I ended up doing 36.4 miles ... my longest lockdown ride so far. With two big hills thrown in. Happy with that.
Enjoy your rides everyone. Cheers, Donger.
The descent down into Painswick on smooth new tarmac was a delight, and I eventually pulled up and walked my bike in to the beautiful churchyard in the middle of the village:
This is one of my favourite places around here. Whichever way you come it involves a climb, so it is nice to be able to stop and take a while to look around instead of flying through in a blur on a club ride:
Once back down in Stroud, I decided I had another climb in my legs despite having being beasted on Upton Hill, so I hung a left and climbed up to Slad for my second time in a week. The light conditions were not ideal, so my pictures of the Slad Valley were over-exposed. I did get this shot though ... of the sort of house I would happily buy if I won the lottery. It has fantastic views across the Slad Valley:
It was plain sailing back down into Stroud and out to Eastington and Frampton after that, before using my usual lanes to get home. Even considering that it is a bank holiday, I really couldn't believe how many people had driven out to Frampton to go for walks and bike rides or just to lie around on the village green and cricket pitch. Traffic was backing up in every direction as it tried to pass the cars parked all the way down the village green. This little donkey and cart caused quite a queue, though I heard the driver give him a giddy up that got him trotting:
As I left Frampton, I had to wait for 12 cars to go by before pulling out onto the main road. As I crossed the canal bridge, I could see a further line of parked cars stretched away into the distance along the Arlingham Road. I have never seen so much traffic in Frampton. The roads had been nice and quiet elsewhere, and I ended up doing 36.4 miles ... my longest lockdown ride so far. With two big hills thrown in. Happy with that.
Enjoy your rides everyone. Cheers, Donger.
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Dave 123
Legendary Member
- Location
- Cambridgeshire alps
A cracking ride today. Down to Bridgend and the up, along the coast to Battisborough. I then made my way to Ermington and Ivybridge before climbing up to Harford. Then it was down to Cornwood.
I then rode to Wotter, Cadover Bridge (like Blackpool seafront) and on to Sheepstor. A loop around Burrator before a stop at Yelverton for a sandwich. Lots of cyclists here.
Back across the moor to Cadover, then Plympton, Yealmpton and back to Newton Ferrers.
52 lovely, hilly, sunny miles without too much headwinds!
https://www.strava.com/activities/3508839385
I then rode to Wotter, Cadover Bridge (like Blackpool seafront) and on to Sheepstor. A loop around Burrator before a stop at Yelverton for a sandwich. Lots of cyclists here.
Back across the moor to Cadover, then Plympton, Yealmpton and back to Newton Ferrers.
52 lovely, hilly, sunny miles without too much headwinds!
https://www.strava.com/activities/3508839385
Racing roadkill
Guru
I went for a short ride today, as the weather forecasters seemed to believe the wind would drop off by the afternoon.
The wind was still blowing on the outward bit. I stopped at another cafe that was open for take aways, then made my way home. The wind dropped off completely just as I got to a straight, flat, long stretch of smooth tarmac on the return.
Crikey that was a real eye opener, I opened the taps to about 350-400 Watts, and promptly found myself closing in on the cars some way in front of me. So I backed off, before I picked up their draught and it ended badly. It is an astonishingly fast machine when the wind conditions don’t make keeping it pointing straight ahead difficult. All in all a fabulous day for a ride, and things are feeling a bit more ‘normal’ in the world now, with the cafes re opening for take aways. There was a funny incident at Eling on my return leg. Hundreds of people had crammed themselves onto the banks of the river by the tide mill, so the constabulary appeared and told them to bugger off, which they duly did. There were cars streaming out of the car parks and side roads.
The wind was still blowing on the outward bit. I stopped at another cafe that was open for take aways, then made my way home. The wind dropped off completely just as I got to a straight, flat, long stretch of smooth tarmac on the return.
Crikey that was a real eye opener, I opened the taps to about 350-400 Watts, and promptly found myself closing in on the cars some way in front of me. So I backed off, before I picked up their draught and it ended badly
. It is an astonishingly fast machine when the wind conditions don’t make keeping it pointing straight ahead difficult. All in all a fabulous day for a ride, and things are feeling a bit more ‘normal’ in the world now, with the cafes re opening for take aways. There was a funny incident at Eling on my return leg. Hundreds of people had crammed themselves onto the banks of the river by the tide mill, so the constabulary appeared and told them to bugger off, which they duly did. There were cars streaming out of the car parks and side roads.roubaixtuesday
self serving virtue signaller
A simply perfect day à velo:
Metric century (by 300 metres!) on the tandem in the Cheshire lanes, all three children on their bikes too, lunch at a beautiful spot by the Shropshire Union canal, sunshine all day long, no problem whatsoever with social distancing. Now beer in hand in the garden. Bliss.
Metric century (by 300 metres!) on the tandem in the Cheshire lanes, all three children on their bikes too, lunch at a beautiful spot by the Shropshire Union canal, sunshine all day long, no problem whatsoever with social distancing. Now beer in hand in the garden. Bliss.
