Is the photo of your bike in black and white so we can't see the dirt on it mines filthy.I think it's been over 2 years since I last saw @jayonabike due to his illness, but he's better now so I thought I should get my arse into gear and get myself up to Hemel for a ride, meeting up with Jay, John and Dave.
I left home this morning at 6.45am to a fine drizzle, but it was mild. It rained the whole way up to Euston station where I got the train. Meeting Jay & chums in Apsley it was still raining but it didn't last long. It proved to be a thoroughly enjoyable day and ride. Even the rain at first and the mucky country lanes didn't spoil it. Jay chose and absolute cracker of a route. Rolling country lanes with some great views. A fair few thigh busting climbs and some awesome descents (51.1mph max) I do really love the cycling in that part of the country.
Back to Kings Langley where I got a train back to Euston and where I knocked out the miles to home to make up the imperial century.
Mucky bike is now clean again, thank gawd for mudguards
It's really good to see Jay back on the bike and enjoying his cycling. It's like he's never been away. He can still cycle like a demon. Cheers mate.
So scores on the doors.
Century # 29 for the year, Century #226 over all and the 83rd century month in a row. It also brings up the 10'000 cycling mile for 2017
View attachment 376499
View attachment 376500
View attachment 376501
Your ride today....
- Thread starter gbb
- Start date
Page may contain affiliate links. Please see terms for details.
As @Supersuperleeds mentioned in his post last minute decision to do the planned ride and home late from work so rookie mistake was not fitting mud guards . Spent the evening getting the plotted route by @tallliman on to my wahoo just as back up . But turned out I was the one with the correct route .
Tough ride in drizzle early doors then a headwind and dragging @Supersuperleeds round for most of it although he took the odd turn on the front just to get out of my spray
October's Imperial ton done 115.9 miles my 3rd longest ride . Thanks for @Supersuperleeds for organising the ride even if I still had to lead .With the weather I wouldn't have gone for such a big ride without the commitment of meeting @Supersuperleeds . Bonus of over 80 new veloviewer squares 
Tough ride in drizzle early doors then a headwind and dragging @Supersuperleeds round for most of it although he took the odd turn on the front just to get out of my spray
October's Imperial ton done 115.9 miles my 3rd longest ride . Thanks for @Supersuperleeds for organising the ride even if I still had to lead .With the weather I wouldn't have gone for such a big ride without the commitment of meeting @Supersuperleeds . Bonus of over 80 new veloviewer squares 
Hope you liked the route! I love the stop at Fradley, the only place I know that serves Squones!
Supersuperleeds
Legendary Member
- Location
- Leicester
The route was great, apart from I didn't put it on my gps
Fradley will definitely be visited again.
The route was fine but next time can you check there's not a running event on the cycle path in Derby it was a bit busy around there as they got ready for the start .Is there 2 cafes at fradley we used the one near the caravan park
Jon George
Mamil and couldn't care less
- Location
- Suffolk an' Good
Woke up late this morning and decided, on a whim, to try for a qualifying 50km ride today. I had intended to do two loops of the 15 mile route I have been doing this week, but got to Kirton and, on impulse, decided to push on and get to Felixstowe to make the ride less 'boring'.
I was rewarded with this wicker family on the refurbished prom, and with a glorious tailwind heading down to the golf club turn before Old Felixstowe that pushed my top speed towards 30mph with hardily any effort. Go impulses!
(Pic includes Jay - a character from my latest book.)
I was rewarded with this wicker family on the refurbished prom, and with a glorious tailwind heading down to the golf club turn before Old Felixstowe that pushed my top speed towards 30mph with hardily any effort. Go impulses!
(Pic includes Jay - a character from my latest book.)
Oh Yeah, seem to remember being told there was another one. I've been to this one: https://m.facebook.com/FradleyCanalsideCafe/?locale2=en_GB
Wasn't aware of the running event I'm afraid!
Supersuperleeds
Legendary Member
- Location
- Leicester
We went to the other one.
Saluki
World class procrastinator
- Location
- ...Norwich over the water.
I decided on a little half an hour pootle this afternoon. It stopped raining so I went out on Eric the CX and after 15 minutes, forgot to turn round and just kept going to Woodhall Spa and then decided to pop along the Water Rail Trail to Southray, because that would be nice. At Southray I just carried on to Bardney, along the rough trail there and then headed right and followed the road towards Minting. From there, I picked up the route of one of my favourite rides and followed it until the headwind got the better of me and the rain started making things just plain miserable.
I was glad to get home but I had energy left in my legs and would have carried on a bit had the weather held off a bit. Riding cold and miserable with sore knees is not my idea of fun any longer. Must be an age thing.
A nice 52km done so I am a happy thing.
I was glad to get home but I had energy left in my legs and would have carried on a bit had the weather held off a bit. Riding cold and miserable with sore knees is not my idea of fun any longer. Must be an age thing.
A nice 52km done so I am a happy thing.
twentysix by twentyfive
Clinging on tightly
- Location
- Over the Hill
Time for an Audax. I haven't ridden one for an age. The Falling Leaves from Winchcombe is one I haven't tried and it starts not far away. So I drove over and checked in. The route was an excellent one taking in some little lanes. The first 20 miles were fairly tough with many ups and downs. The lanes were quite sketchy as there had been recent rain and mud dragged out from the fields was making descending tricky. Slippy fallen leaves were also making things worse. I had rear wheel spin on some of the ups. As we headed east the ups got less. I got chatting with another rider and we were so engaged we missed a turn. Map out we sorted things to get back on route and stop at Bibury for refreshments.
Underway after beans on toast the route turned northwards for the Barringtons and Rissingtons. I recognised the lanes as the route I took to visit #2 daughter back in July when Mrs 26 and I rode the other way. The last control was at the start of an off road section through Guiting Woods. In for a penny I took to this on my 23x700c's. No worries as I rode with another rider on wider tyres. It's all about bike control really. Not long after we climbed upward along the Cotswold edge to the summit of Soudley Hill. Just one last sketchy steep descent back into Winchcombe took us to event HQ, a Ride Validation, Tea and Cake. Superb route which I'm sure I'll do again. Next time I hope the roads are dry and the sky is blue. Grey skies don't show the autumn colours off so well. 65 smiles.
Underway after beans on toast the route turned northwards for the Barringtons and Rissingtons. I recognised the lanes as the route I took to visit #2 daughter back in July when Mrs 26 and I rode the other way. The last control was at the start of an off road section through Guiting Woods. In for a penny I took to this on my 23x700c's. No worries as I rode with another rider on wider tyres. It's all about bike control really. Not long after we climbed upward along the Cotswold edge to the summit of Soudley Hill. Just one last sketchy steep descent back into Winchcombe took us to event HQ, a Ride Validation, Tea and Cake. Superb route which I'm sure I'll do again. Next time I hope the roads are dry and the sky is blue. Grey skies don't show the autumn colours off so well. 65 smiles.
Supersuperleeds
Legendary Member
- Location
- Leicester
Donger
Convoi Exceptionnel
- Location
- Quedgeley, Glos.
Too tired to write much, but three targets met today, so I'm feeling good.
1. Metric Century a Month Challenge ride done (65.3 miles/105.1km ride).
2. First sportive done (Cotswold Autumn Classic from Cirencester) and stayed ahead of the dreaded broom wagon.
3. My 50th ride of 50 miles or more completed, giving me an Eddington Number of 50 at last.
Thanks to my good buddy Rich, who opted to see me round the course instead of going off with the group of intermediates from our club, who were doing it a lot faster than me. This was the route .... which contained at least four long, tough climbs:
As you can see, the weather was dull/drizzly, but there was a bumper turnout, with a car park full of riders at the Cirencester College. Several groups of 50 riders were started at regular intervals, and we were in one of the earlier groups, catching sight of our clubmates behind us (though not for long, as they passed us before we were out of town).
I snaffled up a prodigious number of fig rolls at the feed station at Poulton, as well as re-filling my bidon.
Made it round in about 6 hours 14. Slightly disappointed not to beat 6 hours, but there really were some beasts of hills, and at least I got round before the broom wagon caught us. I shall sleep well tonight. Cheers, Donger.
1. Metric Century a Month Challenge ride done (65.3 miles/105.1km ride).
2. First sportive done (Cotswold Autumn Classic from Cirencester) and stayed ahead of the dreaded broom wagon.
3. My 50th ride of 50 miles or more completed, giving me an Eddington Number of 50 at last.
Thanks to my good buddy Rich, who opted to see me round the course instead of going off with the group of intermediates from our club, who were doing it a lot faster than me. This was the route .... which contained at least four long, tough climbs:
As you can see, the weather was dull/drizzly, but there was a bumper turnout, with a car park full of riders at the Cirencester College. Several groups of 50 riders were started at regular intervals, and we were in one of the earlier groups, catching sight of our clubmates behind us (though not for long, as they passed us before we were out of town).
I snaffled up a prodigious number of fig rolls at the feed station at Poulton, as well as re-filling my bidon.
Made it round in about 6 hours 14. Slightly disappointed not to beat 6 hours, but there really were some beasts of hills, and at least I got round before the broom wagon caught us. I shall sleep well tonight. Cheers, Donger.
Last edited:
Glow worm
Legendary Member
- Location
- Near Newmarket
Riding back from north Norfolk today- the plan: 23 mile ride from the Wells area to Kings Lynn station, train to Ely then 15 mile ride home. The reality, got to KL station and no trains. Bus replacement. No bikes allowed on buses. I may have sworn at this point.
So, no option but to just point the bike south and start pedalling across the bleak fens. Through Watlington, Downham, the unmissable Ten Mile Bank, Littleport, Ely and Wicken. A brutal headwind all the way, barely managed 9mph for much of it. Finally home by 6, instead of 3. So my usual 38 miler became a 71 miler- at least my October mileage is off to a good start.
So, no option but to just point the bike south and start pedalling across the bleak fens. Through Watlington, Downham, the unmissable Ten Mile Bank, Littleport, Ely and Wicken. A brutal headwind all the way, barely managed 9mph for much of it. Finally home by 6, instead of 3. So my usual 38 miler became a 71 miler- at least my October mileage is off to a good start.
derrick
The Glue that binds us together.
- Location
- On the edge of London
Nice ride out this morning with a mate, i needed to be back by 12am as my daughter was taking my other half and myself to lunch.
we managed to get 42 miles in before we reached the pub at about 11-20, A couple of pints and i was home at 12-30, a quick shower then of to the restraint, had a lovely meal, nice to catch up with the grandchildren. A great way to spend a Sunday. Had a couple of light showers nothing major,
https://www.strava.com/activities/1210166166
we managed to get 42 miles in before we reached the pub at about 11-20, A couple of pints and i was home at 12-30, a quick shower then of to the restraint, had a lovely meal, nice to catch up with the grandchildren. A great way to spend a Sunday. Had a couple of light showers nothing major,
https://www.strava.com/activities/1210166166
