Oldbloke
Guru
- Location
- Mayenne, France
44 kms in a blistering 37c this morning on my new Roubaix. So hot the tarmac was melting, I'm still "glowing" with sweat 90 minutes after getting back!
Your ride today....
- Thread starter gbb
- Start date
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I like Skol
A Minging Manc...
- Location
- Sunny Ashton-under-Lyne
Even your bike looks like it is on fire! I like those colours.
derrick
The Glue that binds us together.
- Location
- On the edge of London
Little ride out to Redbourn this morning, Four of us set of at 9-30 from Enfield, Nice ride in the sun, lovely country lanes some of the time, Just a nice little pootle. I did enjoy the beer at the end and a nice bit of banter.
https://www.strava.com/activities/1045544152
https://www.strava.com/activities/1045544152
Oldbloke
Guru
- Location
- Mayenne, France
Thanks, the hi-viz colours appealed after my last black bike!
Nomadski
I Like Bikes
- Location
- LBS, Usually
Waited till 8 for a ride, still hot though the late time has its advantage with a small amount of traffic. Went Hampton, Whitton, round the back of Twickenham Stadium over to Brentford, Kew and Richmond and up the hill...
View attachment 358042
And into Richmond Park at dusk which was lovely. Late strollers, some bike commuters, no cars, deer watching amused from places of shade, heavenly.
Anyway back via Surbiton, 20 miles in 1:15 and 30c
View attachment 358043
Richmond Park is very lovely at any time of day, cycling heaven!
Miss it.
Simontm
Veteran
Unfortunately I am going to sound like a driver in a traffic jam but it's a lot lovelier with fewer bikes
Mrs M
Guru
- Location
- Aberdeenshire
Smart bike
Oldbloke
Guru
- Location
- Mayenne, France
- Location
- Egham
Really nice commute in this morning, relatively cool at 0530hrs. Didn't feel too bad on the way home either, though the nasty headwind seems to have returned..
Popped out late afternoon when it felt cooler and managed just over 20 miles on the mountain bike. I left home, and went through the town and up to the Monsal trail. There were only a few out at that time, probably because it was still very warm. The railway tunnels were nice and cool.
Up with the lark this morning.. well, just before 06:00, to get a few miles in before it got hot, and my list of chores was given to me..
I thought a lap of Pitsford Res would be nice before it got busy. On my first lap, I saw only one other person, a lady cyclist, who passed by in the opposite direction with a cheery 'good morning' and a wave..
After a quick stop at the old barn, I headed round for another half circuit.
A field adjacent to the main trail was, obviously, weedkiller free
Feeling peckish by this time, I hoped the Breadline, in Brixworth, would be open.
Yep, open, for a bacon & brie panini and a coffee. Sorted
Needing to be back home by 09:30, I had an hour and a half left to ride. A visit to the ancient Saxon church took me a bit off-route, but I like the place, and it's a nice quiet road to the Brampton Valley for an easy route back to town.
I had to take a further diversion in Kings Heath where the local constabulary had taped of the recreation ground in order to escort some of the travelling community to pastures new.
With the roads getting busier through town as it was just before 08:45, I almost managed to flat-spot my rear tyre as someone in an old Volvo pulled out in front of me (safe ish, had he/she kept going) but then stopped to perform a U-Turn (brown trousers). Still, it was a Volvo, the self proclaimed safest car on the roads. That's probably why I didn't bounce off it
Anyways, onwards and upwards.. and a quiet off road ride on cycle paths towards home, where I arrived at 09:20, just in time for No.1 grandson to help me brush and hose the dust of the bike..
He's too young to demand pocket money for helping yet. Slave labour
A long playing record ride, being 33 ⅓ miles, before it got too warm.
https://www.strava.com/activities/1045329898
I thought a lap of Pitsford Res would be nice before it got busy. On my first lap, I saw only one other person, a lady cyclist, who passed by in the opposite direction with a cheery 'good morning' and a wave..
After a quick stop at the old barn, I headed round for another half circuit.
A field adjacent to the main trail was, obviously, weedkiller free
Feeling peckish by this time, I hoped the Breadline, in Brixworth, would be open.
Yep, open, for a bacon & brie panini and a coffee. Sorted
Needing to be back home by 09:30, I had an hour and a half left to ride. A visit to the ancient Saxon church took me a bit off-route, but I like the place, and it's a nice quiet road to the Brampton Valley for an easy route back to town.
I had to take a further diversion in Kings Heath where the local constabulary had taped of the recreation ground in order to escort some of the travelling community to pastures new.
With the roads getting busier through town as it was just before 08:45, I almost managed to flat-spot my rear tyre as someone in an old Volvo pulled out in front of me (safe ish, had he/she kept going) but then stopped to perform a U-Turn (brown trousers). Still, it was a Volvo, the self proclaimed safest car on the roads. That's probably why I didn't bounce off it
Anyways, onwards and upwards.. and a quiet off road ride on cycle paths towards home, where I arrived at 09:20, just in time for No.1 grandson to help me brush and hose the dust of the bike..
He's too young to demand pocket money for helping yet. Slave labour
A long playing record ride, being 33 ⅓ miles, before it got too warm.
https://www.strava.com/activities/1045329898
Dave 123
Legendary Member
- Location
- Cambridgeshire alps
I took my mountain bike out tonight across the fields to Caldecote, then Kingston. I carried on along the road to Little Eversden then took the bridleway up to the top of the Wimpole ridge.
I then gave it welly down the hill to the farm, I saw 32 mph on my garmin, not sure how my fillings stayed in!
At the end of the drive I stopped to see the shire horses. I felt a bit bad as I spooked them a bit.
A quick meander through the estate. The longhorn cattle hiding in the long grass!
I went back up the same hill n then round the back of the woodland belts and back to Kingston across the fields, a lad and dad came the other way.
Coming along the back of Hardwick wood a big old hare loped into the trees ahead of me. Up from here I stopped to see the Herefords
It was a nice warm ride, a few animals and lots of cereals
19 miles. Bird of the evening... whitethroat, or was it the bullfinch?
https://www.strava.com/activities/1046210580
I then gave it welly down the hill to the farm, I saw 32 mph on my garmin, not sure how my fillings stayed in!
At the end of the drive I stopped to see the shire horses. I felt a bit bad as I spooked them a bit.
A quick meander through the estate. The longhorn cattle hiding in the long grass!
I went back up the same hill n then round the back of the woodland belts and back to Kingston across the fields, a lad and dad came the other way.
Coming along the back of Hardwick wood a big old hare loped into the trees ahead of me. Up from here I stopped to see the Herefords
It was a nice warm ride, a few animals and lots of cereals
19 miles. Bird of the evening... whitethroat, or was it the bullfinch?
https://www.strava.com/activities/1046210580
DCLane
Found in the Yorkshire hills ...
- Location
- Dewsbury, West Yorkshire
Today I went to Spurn Head - totalling 200+ miles: https://www.strava.com/activities/1046167924
At 5am 9 of us set off from Dewsbury, picking two up part-way there. With stops at Howden, Spurn Head and Beverley it was a cloudy but dry day. This ride was being used for several purposes; by me as LEL practice, five riders are doing a charity London-to-Leeds ride next week, two have a long audax in a week and a few came along just for the ride.
Basically it was fast, very fast for a 200+ imperial at over 18mph average, with absolutely no issues apart from a few close passes. The café in Howden experienced mass panic when 11 riders rolled in, as did the café in Beverley - both of which took their time and increased the non-moving time. Otherwise it was a lovely day - and we had 3 riders arrive with 20 to go to bring us home.
I got back in enough time to meet my 12yo who was riding the Wakefield BKat cycle circuit as practice and get a few laps in before riding home.
At 5am 9 of us set off from Dewsbury, picking two up part-way there. With stops at Howden, Spurn Head and Beverley it was a cloudy but dry day. This ride was being used for several purposes; by me as LEL practice, five riders are doing a charity London-to-Leeds ride next week, two have a long audax in a week and a few came along just for the ride.
Basically it was fast, very fast for a 200+ imperial at over 18mph average, with absolutely no issues apart from a few close passes. The café in Howden experienced mass panic when 11 riders rolled in, as did the café in Beverley - both of which took their time and increased the non-moving time. Otherwise it was a lovely day - and we had 3 riders arrive with 20 to go to bring us home.
I got back in enough time to meet my 12yo who was riding the Wakefield BKat cycle circuit as practice and get a few laps in before riding home.
Ian H
Ancient randonneur
Saturday's ride, which actually started on Friday evening, was dedicated to helping a friend (I shall call her Mrs B) achieve her first ever 400k. An old friend of ours, PJ, who has had serious health problems, turned up, and we set off at 2230. Very soon we passed someone who had face-planted the road and was being looked after (embarrassingly I didn't realise it was another friend).
We settled down to a steady pace, four of us (including another 400 virgin) chugging along. Dawn broke and we were grateful for the warmth of the sun. But it got warmer, and then hotter, and we forgot about being grateful.
Still, the pace was sufficient and we sailed along in a cloud of sweaty optimism. We got to Chepstow for 230k—over halfway and in reasonable time. The next stage was short and easterly. Our speed dropped and we were grinding along with mounting doubt.
JD, controlling at the cafe, reassured us that we were in plenty of time compared to some riders the previous year, though we were last on the road.
Off we went southwards and the pace did not pick up. Mrs B was getting tired; our other novice had shot off, worried about finishing in time. The three of us made a ragged gruppetto, one then another stopping to pee or peel off a layer, then regrouping.
At the final control things looked less rosy. We were tight for time. Mrs B urged me to press on and finish within the time-limit (27hrs). PJ, less fit after illness, was content to plod along. I calculated that I could hang around for a few more miles and still make it, so I stuck with them, grinding out tired kilometres.
The next section involved some busy A roads, and Mrs B was weaving a little, so I sat behind and further out. We got nearly to Glastonbury, about 50k from the finish, when she announced that she couldn't continue, being too tired. I sprinted into the town and found the nearest thing to energy drinks that were available at gone 10 in the evening (Coke & Dr Pepper from a take-away, if you wish to know) and took them back.
They were both content to stop and rest for a while; I had 50k to go and a little over 2hrs in hand, so I said goodbye, took her car-keys, and left.
There was one stonking hill just before the finish, so I had to make allowances for that. Upping the pace significantly, after many hours of plodding, brought new and interesting aches. Over the Levels I maintained a good speed. Into Taunton Saturday-night revellers got in the way, but that was a brief interlude.
I turned off into the dark again and followed the lane that rose and fell until the last hill proper arrived. I ground my way up it, feeling suddenly rather weary. It seemed interminable, a couple of lights high in the sky signalling the top. The top was a cross-roads and I checked the time: 12mins left. I time-trialled the last winding lane to the pub finish.
One window was lit. The door was still open. J and the owners were sitting chatting. They seemed surprised to see me, checked the time, and announced I was a minute inside the cut-off. So card stamped, a drink and some food consumed, then I had to find Mrs B's car in the pitch black and find PJ and her.
I drove slowly (unfamiliar car, tired driver) back along the route, worrying about missing them in the one-way sections, and was just leaving the town when... there they were.
We piled the bikes in the back and drove to the pub, which was now in complete darkness. We got PJ's bike out and he wandered off to find his tent. I fumbled around in the darkness and found my bike, and we set off for home.
Mrs B managed 388k within the time and is already looking for a suitable event for her second attempt. I get to add a new record to my palmares: my longest ever 400k at 26hr 59min..
We settled down to a steady pace, four of us (including another 400 virgin) chugging along. Dawn broke and we were grateful for the warmth of the sun. But it got warmer, and then hotter, and we forgot about being grateful.
Still, the pace was sufficient and we sailed along in a cloud of sweaty optimism. We got to Chepstow for 230k—over halfway and in reasonable time. The next stage was short and easterly. Our speed dropped and we were grinding along with mounting doubt.
JD, controlling at the cafe, reassured us that we were in plenty of time compared to some riders the previous year, though we were last on the road.
Off we went southwards and the pace did not pick up. Mrs B was getting tired; our other novice had shot off, worried about finishing in time. The three of us made a ragged gruppetto, one then another stopping to pee or peel off a layer, then regrouping.
At the final control things looked less rosy. We were tight for time. Mrs B urged me to press on and finish within the time-limit (27hrs). PJ, less fit after illness, was content to plod along. I calculated that I could hang around for a few more miles and still make it, so I stuck with them, grinding out tired kilometres.
The next section involved some busy A roads, and Mrs B was weaving a little, so I sat behind and further out. We got nearly to Glastonbury, about 50k from the finish, when she announced that she couldn't continue, being too tired. I sprinted into the town and found the nearest thing to energy drinks that were available at gone 10 in the evening (Coke & Dr Pepper from a take-away, if you wish to know) and took them back.
They were both content to stop and rest for a while; I had 50k to go and a little over 2hrs in hand, so I said goodbye, took her car-keys, and left.
There was one stonking hill just before the finish, so I had to make allowances for that. Upping the pace significantly, after many hours of plodding, brought new and interesting aches. Over the Levels I maintained a good speed. Into Taunton Saturday-night revellers got in the way, but that was a brief interlude.
I turned off into the dark again and followed the lane that rose and fell until the last hill proper arrived. I ground my way up it, feeling suddenly rather weary. It seemed interminable, a couple of lights high in the sky signalling the top. The top was a cross-roads and I checked the time: 12mins left. I time-trialled the last winding lane to the pub finish.
One window was lit. The door was still open. J and the owners were sitting chatting. They seemed surprised to see me, checked the time, and announced I was a minute inside the cut-off. So card stamped, a drink and some food consumed, then I had to find Mrs B's car in the pitch black and find PJ and her.
I drove slowly (unfamiliar car, tired driver) back along the route, worrying about missing them in the one-way sections, and was just leaving the town when... there they were.
We piled the bikes in the back and drove to the pub, which was now in complete darkness. We got PJ's bike out and he wandered off to find his tent. I fumbled around in the darkness and found my bike, and we set off for home.
Mrs B managed 388k within the time and is already looking for a suitable event for her second attempt. I get to add a new record to my palmares: my longest ever 400k at 26hr 59min..
