A couple of rides to report on.
Friday: I've managed to get almost halfway through August without getting any rides in apart from a couple of short ones round the block following fettling. I was free for a nice afternoon though and I took the Raleigh out for the first proper run with its new handlebar, brake levers and shifters. The route was unimaginitive: Longnor - Acton Burnell - Harnage - Cross Houses - Condover, but familiar roads was what I needed to assess how it went.
From the start I was really happy with the feel of the bike. It's a little more stretched out than the Galaxy but still comfortable. The thing I wasn't expecting is that the handling has subtly changed to feel really stable and confidence inspiring. I never had any complaints about the handling before, it just feels better.
With a light tailwind I made good progress through Condover and Ryton, then got flagged down by another rider on the way to Longnor who had come down this lane without knowing where it went to. I was able to point him the right way and we ended up chatting for a while.
Moving on again I enjoyed the ride to Acton Burnell (it's usually possible to get some good cruising speeds up on this stretch). The recent storms had washed a lot of sand and gravel onto the roads and I nearly got caught out at Cound Moor by carrying a bit too much speed into a dip which had a good covering at the bottom which made me a little more wary on the way through Harnage and Cound, where I found the flag of Ecuador flying.
The A458 turned out to be less busy than anticpated so I stuck with it to Cross Houses before turning for Berrington. At the King Street crossroads another rider on a road bike headed my way - I thought I might keep up but he slowly strolled away into the distance.
24 miles this trip at 15.6 mph average. I'm very pleased with the changes made and hope it feels as good on longer rides.
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The new look Raleigh, taken near Harnage.
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Yesterday: I was busy so couldn't make the most of a dry morning but did head out after lunch to get some miles in. I would have used the Raleigh again but the forecast suggested that rain would come in towards the end of the ride so I thought I'd prefer to use the knockabout bike for this one.
It was a bit windier and coming from the north east so I thought that I'd go for my route to Condover, Longnor, Dudgeley, Wilderley, Pulverbatch and Longden as I'd have the wind helping to start with and the gradient helping offset the headwind on the way back.
The most recent saddle adjustments on the Hawk have made it nicer to ride than it has been for a long time and I made decent progress on the same roads that I started the previous ride on. After Longnor it was nice to turn right instead of left and carry on to Hollyhurst. I had a quiet gap to cross the A49 which was fortunate as only a few minutes later there was a steady stream of traffic in both directions and I'd have had a long wait.
I enjoyed the quiet lanes to Leebotwood then after seeing a couple of vehicles, had the climb to Smethcott and Wilderley pretty much to myself. The main road from Pulverbatch to Longden wasn't exactly busy either which always pleases me and I decided to stick with it a little longer through Annscroft before heading over Lyth Hill via Lyth Bank. At the summit there were lots of visitors but none of them were using the rough track so I didn't have to avoid anyone. A bit of extra distance finished the ride off nicely and I'm pleased with the improvement of this bike too.
25.5 miles at 12.9 mph average which is good on this hilly route.
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Drink stop at Hollyhurst.
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On the climb at Walkmills.
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The view of Lyth Hill from just after Smethcott.
. Unfortunately @Noodle Legs bailed due to needing to be home early and the weather . My plan for plenty of early miles was soon changed as it was raining so finally rolled out the door at 8.20 giving me nearly an hour and half before the meeting time . Rolled out into minor drizzle up through Newtown Linford up Sharpley hill and round into Woodhouse Eaves past a work colleague out running ( he tells me off when I say jogging 
). Just circling some local roads to add some miles . Just heading out of Rothley and recognised a rider coming in other way it was @Supersuperleeds a quick chat and were both heading in the same direction to the meeting point in Quorn . Got to the meeting point noone there so a quick loop and as we head towards the lights @tallliman was coming in the other direction . A quick chat and the 3 amigos ride again . Retracing some of my early loop it's Mountsorrel ,Barrow ,Hoton into Wymeswold . Nice pie cafe sits on a ridge so you always climb too it today's climb was to be Narrow lane a lovely road to descend but a steady climb up. Onto the ridge and it's a headwind thankfully @Supersuperleeds went on the front and picked the pace up as he dragged us to the cafe . The cafe was busy so a bit of a wait but gave us more chatting time . Back on the road a mile more of headwind then turn for home and we were treated to a tailwind back up the Wreake valley which is a rare event .Back to Cossington were we split @Supersuperleeds went left to home to complete a metric century .I went right with @tallliman to add some extra miles back to Mountsorrel were we parted . Back home to complete my metric ton 63 miles for me ,@tallliman banked 45 miles . I managed to stay mainly dry just a bit of drizzle as did @Supersuperleeds but @tallliman got caught it a sharp shower before the meeting point but considering the forecast we got away with it . Really nice to ride with company chatting away as the miles roll bye . Hopefully we won't have to wait so long for the next one
nice part of the country
