Your ride today....

[Mike_P]

It was dry and looking bright at lunchtime so nipped to the Co-Op on the ebike thinking crikey it is bright as in not being able to see the distance clearly. It was only as I locked the bike to a Sheffield stand and looked across the car park I realised I had my close/near mid distance laptop/ computer screen glasses on

 

[AndreaJ]

Another ride in the rain this morning and lots of water on the roads after heavy rain in the night. A shorter ride today starting to Wolverley turning to Loppington and through the village towards Burlton where I turn to English Frankton, Colemere, Lyneal past Newton mere and Kettle Mere back to Welshampton along the main road, turned by the school to Breadon Heath, along Rowe Lane to Hampton Bank over the canal to Northwood where the temporary traffic lights were stuck on red in both directions resulting in a long line of traffic coming in the other direction, made it through them, turned off in Northwood, along Ossage Lane and home.Wet and muddy again. 20.5 miles @15.3mph. While typing this our young collie has just caught a huge spider and was lying on the rug with its legs poking out of her mouth 😧, I have rescued the spider and relocated it outside.

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

I keep meaning to get down that way ,only 25 miles south of me , now I have a rack for the car it may happen nice part of the country

It is a great bit of the country for cycling. So many quiet places to ride and good scenery.

If only the weather would play ball. I wanted to get out this morning but had to do something else instead. Now I'm free it's

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

Nice afternoon after the threat of thunderstorms. I needed therapy so the tyres got some air put in them before I headed for the Castlemorton lanes. The wind was stronger than advertised but hedges are a super invention. I made good progress to the turn at Highleadon and began a brisk wind assisted run up the Hams after climbing up onto Woolridge. I had similar assistance through Longdon before the usual dodge to Hanley Swan and home. 47 smiles

 

[KingswayRider]

Solo spin yesterday morning. Another early start too, making the most of a holiday. Followed up my 75 mile Sunday spin that started at 7am to squeeze 35 miles in before the club ride start at 9am. I was up & out at 6.30am, sans breakfast, thinking a fasted ride would be a good idea. 41 miles later, with a steady 17.5mph average, I was less sure. Lovely morning though, misty start, cool, but not overly so & some good views along the Severn due to the mistiness - very atmospheric (no pun intended). Unfortunately you'll have to take my word for it...too busy cycling to stop for photo's.

 

[Andy in Germany]

Made it back from work before the weather caught up with me:

 

[Mike_P]

Not feeling that awake this evening so ebike to Morrisons the long way around as an attempt to wake up. Certainly seemed to do the trick as I knocked 5 secs off my ebike KOM that was tied with a QOM on Knapping Hill before a new PR on Gardeners Arms Climb on Bilton Lane. Further on the gate was back to normal, locked across the road so the handlebar shuffle needed through the anti motor bike barrier. Last time I went this way I only just got across the level crossing on Forest Lane before the barrier descended but no near misses tonight.

Morrisons was a bigger mess than normal due to an annoying mid change of store layout - still the milk was easy to find, look for the puddles of it on the floor Had finally worked out how to activate the "Morrisons Fiver" on the mobile app but the self service checkout then decided it wanted a coupon inserting Whilst waiting for someone to sort it out started packing the rucksack which only confused the till more. So glad to get out of the store eventually or rather too quick to get out as no sooner than I had set off than I realised I was rather light headed. A quick return and retrieved my helmet from the basket

Immediately thereafter managed, probably from being annoyed with myself, a KOM on Cote du Hookstone Chase removing one, and presumably not that one, La*ce Armstrong from that position One rather soggy T-shirt when I got home proving Ebikes are not always a leisurely ride. 10.6 miles with 632ft up.

 

[Glow worm]

A loop around the Holkham estate in north Norfolk here today.

Set off from North Creake then through Burnham Thorpe then onto Holkham .


The walled garden. My late Dad and I used To buy plants here when it was a nursery. The grapevine we bought in ‘79 still thrives in Mums North Creake garden,

This garden is spectacular and well worth a visit- lots of cyclists turning up despite the wheelbender cycle racks that I ignored.

On my way back, stopped for a quiet word with this fellow. He’s heard a lot of nonsense from me over the years poor sod. ( Lord Leicester- his son Tom who now runs Holkham is a top bloke.)

You get some good views of the place as you head up the hill heading south.

Around 12 miles in the bag here today.

 

[skudupnorth]

Took my Spa Steel Tourer our for a nice evening ride across Astley Moss, along the Manchester ship canal and back through Worsley along the Bridgewater way

 

[roubaixtuesday]

Failed search for damson trees yesterday on the mtb.

Expected to get completely soaked but nothing more than a 🌈

Shins a little tingly after some cycling through field knee high in brambles and nettles.

 

[Old jon]

Looked rather good for riding out there this morning. Eat and drink then take the fixed out on a route I had already done some thinking about.

From force of habit ride past the terracotta library, good to see it anytime, then to Water Lane. From there to the riverside track at the Armouries. It was only just past seven and not many folk were around. Keep riding downstream, cross the canal at Skelton Grange Bridge and keep on towards Woodlesford.

Which is reached after going over the canal at Fishponds Lock, onto a slightly busier path. There are boats moored along here. And then back to the tarmac, and head for Swillington. After the gentle pedalling that had gone before, the uphill along here was less than easy but by the time I could see Hook Moor wind farm the legs were used to it.

Keep going, around the northern side of Garforth, past that wind farm to the gates of Lotherton Hall where I turned left for Aberford. Autopilot took over, along Main Street and left onto Cattle Lane. This is a lumpy stretch of road to Barwick, I had originally thought to miss this bit but anyway a bit more uphill must be good. Or something.

To Scholes, then, a familiar ride indeed. Scurry along the A 64 and almost miss the end of Thorner Lane, there is all sorts of work going on around here, the junction does not look the same. Pedal to the A 58 and turn towards Leeds but instead of the twiddle down Boot Hill turn right along the Ring Road. Why? I have had 48 rides on the fixed so far this year and the average length of these rides is only 29 miles. I would like to have that average over thirty.

So, around the Ring Road to Moortown, along Street Lane to Oakwood and then down the hill into more or less the centre of town. Before crossing the Aire I pass a hotel outside which is an illuminated sign displaying the lowest price of their rooms. £39 today, the lowest I can remember seeing. Anyway, home with a grin after thirty three and a half miles. And 1400 feet upwards, almost all of that in the second half of the ride. Which was pretty good.

Tangled roads

and the steeper bits

 

[Littgull]

I had planned to ride my 11th imperial century of the calendar year today but the forecast last night was for a dry morning but a very wet afternoon. So I decided to just do an easy 42 mile local loop this morning instead. I was out the house and on my bike by 7.30 am. In the early days of the COVID lockdown I designed a circular route starting and finishing in my home village of Littleborough, Lancashire. The route takes in 6 large parks within Greater Manchester and includes some delightful tracks through them. A great ride for seeing the splendour of each season and never very far away from a train station should the worst happen and a mechanical problem occurs with the bike that can't be fixed on the spot.

The 6 parks are Alexandra Park (Oldham), Boggart Hole Clough (Blackley), Heaton Park (Manchester), Alkrington Woods Park (Middleton), Bowlee Community Park (Middleton) and Queens Park (Heywood).
The route between the parks is a mix of mainly very quiet urban and suburban roads. Very little on busy roads but just a few to cross. Apart from a very quiet half mile stretch near Mills Hill I deliberately avoided the Rochdale Canal towpath as it is busy with dog walkers and narrow in lots of parts which does not facilitate social distancing.

Following heavy rain yesterday, there were a few short parts of trails and bridleways that were very muddy for no more than 3 or 4 metres and part of the track through Bowlee Community Park was quite overgrown but passable. Therefore, bearing this in mind I would not recommend riding a road bike with slick narrow tyres.
I am looking forward to riding this route with my cycling chum @ColinJ once we can get back to normality and the COVID virus is beaten. I may develop this route to include a further 4 parks (possibly Bolton and Ramsbottom) thereby making it a 10 Parks route.
If anyone would like a copy of the gpx file for this ride just 'pm' me. For CC members who live near Rochdale, Oldham, Middleton, Heywood or North Manchester you would not have to cycle far to find the route.

Here are some pictures I took.

 

[ColinJ]

I am looking forward to riding this route with my cycling chum @ColinJ once we can get back to normality and the COVID virus is beaten. I may develop this route to include a further 4 parks (possibly Bolton and Ramsbottom) thereby making it a 10 Parks route.

There would be good, Brian, but it looks like it will have to be next year.

You specialise in those urban routes whereas I never look at towns and cities unless I absolutely have to, and then I am looking for ways to get out ASAP!

If you look at THIS POST you will see a road that I have been thinking would be good for us to do when we start cycling together again.

I am intending to PM you, but have been waiting for news from Devon, which is expected very soon!

PS Has your saddle slipped? I don't remember it pointing skywards before!

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

Yesterday's ride:

As per my earlier post, the afternoon was rather frustrating with a few very heavy showers but it cleared up later on and I got the knockabout bike out for an evening ride. The Oaks, Pulverbatch, Wilderley, Dudgeley route is pleasant on a sunny summer evening so I went for that, climbing over Lyth HIll to start with. The drainage wants looking at again on the hill and there were a few large puddles to splash through. I decided to descend Lyth Hill using Green Lane which is a rough bridleway and this proved to be interesting after the rain due to mud and a couple of patches of rock being slippy.

The wind had died down quite a bit so Long Lane was nice and easy, as was the climb to Oaks. Climbing round the edge of Broom Hill I noticed shower cloud bubbling up and some rain came down around the Pulverbatch area but fortunately I was able to keep ahead of the worst of it and between Wilderley and Smethcott I could see that it was going in a different direction to me.

After Dudgeley there was low hanging mist forming in the Stretton valley which gave quite an atmospheric look in places. The A49 was completely clear when I came to cross it then I had a light tailwind and the gradient helping so enjoyed a nice brisk ride to Longnor and Ryton as the sun set and dusk fell. It stayed warm despite the sun going down so the conditions were really nice for cycling.

Moving on after a drink/photo stop at Ryton I got a good cruising speed up past the quarry when there was a scrabbling of claws on tarmac, a thump against my front wheel followed by a fair old jolt as the back wheel hit something. I regret to report the demise of a rabbit.

Getting going again I cruised along at a decent speed through Condover and up to the A49, which was very quiet. It didn't stop a driver in a small van making a rather close pass in the face of the only other vehicle on the road.

26.1 miles at 12 mph average. For the most part, a great ride in pretty good weather but I do feel bad about having killed a small furry creature.

Looking towards the Stretton hills from the top of Lyth Hill.

Headed down Green Lane towards Exford's Green.

At the top of the climb out of Wrentnall.

A naughty shower sneaking up behind me between Pulverbatch and Wilderley.

A couple of shots of the mist forming in the valley not far from All Stretton.

Views from my last drink stop near Ryton.

 

[Littgull]

Ha ha, Colin (@ColinJ), yes my saddle is pointing upwards quite a bit. I fiddled around with it for ages a few months ago until I finally found that positioned facing up was the most comfortable position. Which is a bit odd as all my other bikes have the saddle much more 'level' and they are all comfortable too!

That Scammonden road looks very interesting. We will definitely ride that when things are back to normal. I've done a lot of riding (most of my century rides) around the flatlands of Cheshire this year. Very enjoyable too! My route out to Cheshire has often been via East Didsbury which is quite a pleasant route both 'out' and 'back'. It's the sort of 'east of Manchester' equivalent to what Walkden is for us on the west side for accessing Cheshire without having to ride through the centre of Manchester.

I'm intrigued about your impending news from Devon.