Your ride today....

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Supersuperleeds

Legendary Member
Location
Leicester
Yesterday was my attempt to break my record of 220 miles for the longest distance I have ridden. It was the Oasts & Coasts 300KM Audax in Kent.
It meant an early start at 4.30am as it was a 15 mile cycle to the start in Meopham. It was raining when I got up and after munching on brekkie it abated somewhat to fine drizzle by the time I had left. Meeting up with @Trickedem & @frank9755 the first part of the route was some Kent lanes I know all too very well, including backing up on myself from my route in to the start. It wasn't cold, far from it, but there was a heavy mist and sometimes drizzle to contend with. Zip up the windcheater, unzip the windcheater and repeat. By the time we had got to the Ashdown Forest the mist came down really heavy and the climb to the summit not helped by heavier rain which made for very interesting descent into Uckfield for the first control. By the time myself and Tim got to Battle at 70 miles in, the rain and mist had disappeared and whilst having brekkie we could see the sun coming out. Things were looking up
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From Battle we turned east and with the fantastic tailwind was pushed along the marshes at a fantastic rate of knots. We were averaging a 19/20mph average over a 30 mile stretch without even trying. Times like these don't come along often but when they do, you make the most of it. it's bloody fantastic and more then makes up for the not so nice weather on the first leg of the ride. It's what makes riding a bike so enjoyable.
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But there's always a sting in the tail and that sting is the climb of Capel Le Fur and up and around Dover Castle. Boy oh Boy they were tough, made even tougher by now having 120 miles in my legs.

Dover Castle - You can see by the flag at how windy it was up there.
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From Dover it was nice to give the legs a rest as we descended to sea level and followed the coast northwards. The seaside towns all passing buy in a blur. Walmer, Deal and Sandwich. Through Minster to Burchington turning west into the headwind cycling along the seawall all the way to Reculver. A horrid headwind making for tough going.

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On to Herne Bay where a control at Mackaris Ice Cream Parlour meant glorious milkshakes and sticky cake type things all round. And so to the last leg home. From Whitstable to Hollingbourne. A route I know only to well from doing it so many times on the SMRbtH. But this did mean traversing Seasalter and the Graveny Marshes. A road so hideously boring and dull. I think having had to ride it so often and usually with a soul destroying headwind. So it was a case of head down and just get to the junction for Faversham and from Faversham to Hollingbourne a really nice 15 miles of rolling Kent lanes making for some really nice cycling. By now it was getting dark and by the time we hit the Hollingbourne Info control it was full on darkness. Thank gawd for Tim's dynamo lighting which had more lumens then a WWII searchlight. A godsend in the country lanes with all the potential pothole hazards.
It didn't take long to get to the last info control, local knowledge being a wonderful thing meaning there was no hanging about. By this time raindrops started to fall and slowly got heavier. Of course with rain comes grit sticking to tyres, grit sticking to tyres meant one thing.. a puncture. 10 miles from the end...how very annoying. We were lucky to find a little shelter to be able to change the tube out of the rain. I couldn't find the cause of the puncture so had to hope that the tube held for the rest of the ride. And it did. We got back to the Meopham control at 10.15pm. 15 minutes later then I envisaged due to that damn puncture. Plenty of food was on offer and I tried my very best to eat every cheese roll that was placed on the table.

45 minutes later I was back out on the road to ride the 15 miles home. The rain had stopped and it was still quite mild. So didn't rush and just took it easy through the country lanes. Some for the 3rd time today. I got home just a little after 12 midnight. A long day indeed.

So.. 217 miles for the day. I wanted to top 220 as that was my previous longest ride record. But you know what? I had such a brilliant time that I really wasn't bothered about beating it. I just pootled home knowing I had just ridden one of the very best cycling routes I have ever done.

It's the Oasts and Coasts Audax. I will be signing up again next year and so should you.

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Cracking ride :notworthy: Is the 13,000 calories in the graphics the amount you took in eating the cheese rolls :laugh:
 
Having had 2 days off the bike because my back was hurting too much, this morning's sunshine was enough to make me chance a ride with the option to bale if needed (yeh, right...)
I very quickly established that despite the glorious sunshine (:sun:) it was exceptionally chilly (:cold:) and I was seriously wishing I had worn anything in the way of gloves, which I had not!
My OH also decided to join me for a ride, so any hills we encountered had the usual hill repeats for him much to the bemusement of one or two other cyclists we met along the way. We also ran into or should that me cycled into the route of a major cycle event - I have to confess I have no idea what it was but we were about 10 minutes before the peloton was due through first time around (OK found this "Cheshire Classic Women’s Road Race"), so we quickly scarpered going down the route the wrong way! ^_^


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Visibility is good today after yesterday's rain.

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From there we got to see a lapwing displaying in a field not far from us, which confused a number of cyclists who passed us because they couldn't fathom out why we were stopped and staring at a field. :wacko: Oh well, their loss. It was great to see and hear it calling and displaying. It has been a whilst since we last saw one that closely. We used to get them where we lived in Surrey and could watch them to our heart's content. Now we get quite excited when we see them.

Luckily by now the sunshine was making inroads on the chilly wind and life had warmed up a touch. By the time I got to the end of the route, I really needed to have removed another layer.
At the bottom of a nasty narrow climb, I had to stop for 2 horses. My OH had managed to pass them on his road bike, but my trike was a touch too much for them despite both the riders recognising me and knowing last time their horses had been fine. Today they were showing all the twitchiness and warning signs that trying to pass them on a 6 foot wide road with steep embankments and me going uphill wasn't going to happen. They did apologise for stopping me at the bottom of a steep hill which was nice, but unnecessary of them.

A slightly slower ride today (16.7 miles), but I still managed an average of 8.1mph. https://www.strava.com/activities/292827579
I'm not out again until Wednesday now, and if the weather is reasonable, I'm going to try for a 20 miler!
 

howdenbiker

Senior Member
Location
East Yorkshire
Did 61.7 miles today which equals 99.7km, how annoying!! Did a circuit north against the freezing headwinds (even saw frost on some cars) to Stamford Bridge then back to Pocklington taking in a mini circuit to Millington woods and home. Saw buzzards, curlew, a herd of roe deer. Stopped off at Breighton airfield for a couple of pics, didn't think much of the passenger seat on the biplane! The jet is the gate mascot for the airfield russian Aero L-29 Delfin.
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Glow worm

Legendary Member
Location
Near Newmarket
Just a short one here this afternoon out on the fen. 14 or so miles.

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Swaffham Bulbeck Lode in the gloom.

It did gradually get brighter though still chilly. I was not in the mood for dealing with traffic, so chose the quietest possible routes.

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One of my favourite quiet tracks. The soil is almost black out here.

After Upware, I dived down another track and saw my first two cuckoos of summer. They were close enough to hear the 'bubbling' sound of the female. It was a cracking day bird wise with my first UK redstart and heard a 'booming' bittern- only my second ever and a first around here. Then 3 late fieldfares. Not often you see cuckoos and fieldfares on the same day.

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Wicken Lode.

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One of my favourite spots for a brew.

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On the home straight a bridge in Swaffham Bulbeck. Disappointingly my occasional thigh muscle pain returned during the ride spoiling it somewhat. It can leave me grounded for up to 2 weeks. I managed to ride through it so I'm hoping it was just a twinge.
 

NorthernDave

Never used Über Member
After yesterdays heroics, and with initially leaden legs I just did a steady 17.82 miles this morning.
Gloriously sunny, but a lot cooler than it looked and with a stiff breeze to slow me down on a couple of quick sections, for a change I headed out to Thorner, up the hill and on to Bramham and then straight up Paradise Way (no Town Hill today...) and onto NCN R66 down to Aberford and through Parlington Woods. Not fancying the climbs to Garforth and then Thorpe Park, I headed across the bridleway on Garforth Golf Club (what's all that about - a load of blokes out in ridiculous clothes on a Sunday morning?) and down to Barnbow Lane where instead of taking the easy option and turning left, I turned right and climbed the bridleway up the hill, joining Bog lane and eventually emerging at the Coronation Tree in Scholes. A quick blast up Main Street and then down Wood Lane and local roads to home.

After a brew I got the bike on the stand for a wipe down and cleaned &lubed the chain while the sun was shining. By this point things had warmed up considerably, so I put Phil Collins No Jacket Required on while I worked... :sun:
 

MikeW-71

Veteran
Location
Carlisle
Commuting today, but taking the long way back to give the Brooks another test. Bit breezy out there, as I found out when I turned back into the wind at Warwick Bridge :ohmy:

The sunshine was nice though :smile:

Still liking the saddle, I think I have it a bit too much up at the front, so I've altered that and we'll give it another test before I have to take it back to the shop.
 

Spartak

Powered by M&M's
Location
Bristolian
Great ride today on the White Horse Challenge Sportif in aid of Water Aid.

Starting in Shrivenham it took in some of the biggest hills in the area inc. Broad Hinton, Cherhill, Ramsbury & Uffingham.
The climb of Uffingham - Dragon Hill was timed ! I managed to do it in 6 mins 30 secs.

I managed the whole 90 miles in just under 6 hours !

https://www.strava.com/activities/292870639

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Archeress

Veteran
Location
Bristol
Not much cycling recently as my partner and I had to make our way to Falkirk for a funeral. Got out today though with the cycle club for a novice level ride. The day was dry but chilly, requiring a base layer under my cycling top. We made our way out through Winterbourne, Frampton Cotterell and Coalpit Heath heading for the acorn cafe at Westerleigh. It is a good cafe with good food options.I had a couple of poached eggs on toast. The cafe also has a few resident birds too. Low point of the ride was the bloke sat in his car at the entrance of the cafe fiddling with his sat nav. It looked like he had pulled off the road rather than leaving the cafe as he was parked parallell to the road. We as a club decided to go round him rather than wait for him, the road outside the cafe being rather busy we had to wait for a gap to pull out as we were going straight over. As it was my turn to go, the nobber decided to lean on the horn of his car, not just once, but three times in a row. I stopped, fixed him with a stare while some of the other club members commented negatively in loud voices. In my own time, I pulled out, and as soon as I was away, there was the noise of a car being pulled away very quickly, along with lots of wheel spin. The remainder of the ride was uneventful, with the pleasant surprise of the first bridge east of Bristol Parkway now being open for cyclists after being replaced in preparation of the electrification of the rail line.

The club enjoying breakfast.
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The cafes wildlife.
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Ride is here: https://www.strava.com/activities/292813233

Hugs
Archeress x
 

Rustybucket

Veteran
Location
South Coast
too tired for a full report.

Wiggle Ups & Downs 100mile sportive
A really well organised ride today & really enjoyed it! - I stupidly decided to do the below on my Silver steel CDF = (Heavy bike) - very tough up the hills. I wanted to complete it in 6 hours 30 mins - but it took me just under 7 hours.
Very nice countryside & country roads. KILLER HILLS - 100miles
https://www.strava.com/activities/292918462
 
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Saluki

World class procrastinator
After a busy day yesterday with no real chance to go out on the bikes, we got out this evening for a quick 9.24 miles. We headed off to Bowthorpe, then Colney, up the hill to the hospital complex (I offered to leave hubster there, ready for dialysis tomorrow at 7am. He gave me a look) then past the hospital to where the new estate meets the A11 and along the cycle path to Cringleford, and then down the hill to Bluebell Lane and along there for a wee bit.
Then we decided on a little detour and rode up Southpark ave, along the ring road for a couple of hundred yards and back to Bluebell via The Avenues. Then home.
A steady 44 minutes riding then back to finish moving the Axolotl tank to it's new position. I've decorated behind where the old fish tank was. We decided to ride when we did, to give the paint a chance to dry.

If I can do 12.4 miles between now and midnight on Thursday, I shall have broken 200 for the month. I know that's not much but it's only April and I'm not normally this fit at this time of the year. Work starts properly in May :smile:
 

vernon

Harder than Ronnie Pickering
Location
Meanwood, Leeds
After a lot of faffing I finally got out to do a fifty six mile loop on my Flying Gate through Wetherby, Tadcaster, Cawood, Selby, and Garforth. I'd not cycled most of the roads on the loop for several years and I saw places through a fresh set of eyes. Despite being a sunny day it was decidedly chilly and I never got to remove my wind stopper layer for the entire ride. The homeward leg was harder because of a cold headwind but nevertheless I'm pretty happy with my 11.5 mph average speed rounding off my first 100 miles week for ages.

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Tardis at Wetherby police station.

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John Smith's brewery, Tadcaster

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The remains of 15th century Cawood Castle

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Selby Abbey

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Thatched cottage at Monk Fryston. Thatched building are quite rare up north.
 

Katherine

Guru
Moderator
Location
Manchester
36 miles in the beautiful sunshine and cold winds. I didn't get more than a bit warm with 2 layers on, very glad of the full gloves too.
More energy today, so I did my East Lancs path route with all the extra loops and diversions. It's lovely to see how much everything is greening up. I can barely see through the hedges now.
This field is at my turn around point at Haydock, by the junction with the M6.

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