Your ride today....

[Goonerobes]

Todays excursion was as a result of looking back at last Mays rides when I made the trip up the Test Valley to the North Wessex Downs & made on note saying must do again, so it was to be the same ride with similar weather so a bit of a comparison test for the fitness level too.

Heading out briefly through the forest & then north I was again amazed & the number of cyclists out & had counted 17 going past in the opposite direction in the first 9 miles (at which point I got bored with counting) & possibly even outnumbering cars & the trend continued as I made my way up the Test Valley whilst everyone else seemed to be heading towards the New Forest.

Whilst it wasn't the hilliest route, with a few undulations & one gentle 5 mile climb, I had decided to drink more than my usual two 750ml bottles which would mean finding a shop. Now I didn't foresee this as a problem knowing that I would pass through a whole host of villages around the 40 mile mark, so having stopped for my snack at Vernham Dean & nearly finishing my second bottle I headed on through Upton, Hurstbourne Tarrant & Stoke without finding a single shop that was open & I was completely out of water before finally spotting, what turned out to be a community run, store at St Mary Bourne so minor crisis averted as the sun was now out & things were warming up somewhat!

The final 30 or so miles were on more familiar roads, through Leckford, Kings Somborne, Stonymarsh & Awbridge & only served to remind me as to why I enjoyed the route so much the first time, quiet roads, pretty villages & courteous drivers throughout the entire day.

78 very pleasant miles done half a mile an hour quicker than last year & with four less beats of the old ticker per minute too so I guess I must be getting fitter!

https://www.strava.com/activities/568330330

 

[mybike]

OK, so this is a few days old, Thursday to be precise. And what a glorious day it was. I wore a winter jersey, which was a bit too warm and the journey out was quite hard.

Compulsory photo. The change in the weather has made a noticeable difference at this pub.

A little way on from this I found the towpath flooded where it went under a bridge. Clearly the water was rather high.

On chatting to a boatman I learnt that he works in Watford and travels up and down the canal, using the railway to get to work. I've heard of others doing this, among them "The Narrowboat Lad"

The swan is still on it's nest, but partner wasn't around today.

Specially for @User14044 - we all know how he likes to identify the birds.

They'd been working on this lock the last time I came through. There was a rather rusty bike, sans wheels, on the bank and while I was tempted I couldn't figure out how to carry it.

A little further on is this field with donkeys in. it's the first time I've photographed them.

The sign says, "cyclists please dismount", I'd not even attempt to ride through there, even without knowing there were steps beyond.

Cow Roast marina. the bridge over the entrance has a nasty lip, I can barely walk over it safely, let alone ride.

Further along the canal rowing club was having some practice and training sessions, it made life a bit difficult, but the canal is to be shared and I just wish I could have been on the water too, I might have felt cooler. I got to the Tring station bridge but failed to reach my target of the next bridge. Thankfully the mud has dried up.

The start of the restricted byway. The rape is now competing with the railway gantry in the background.

As posted previously, I was sufficiently tired to be in need of a rest. I presume they're llama.

18.9 miles max 15 avg 7.0 mph. Year to date, 175.3 miles, Target 400 miles

 

[mark st1]

Awesome speed and I know some of those roads too

Thank you

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

7 out today including little me and Mrs 26. The shout was the Mayfly so we rounded by Alfrick Pound with Steve's agreement for the longer loop. Mrs 26 lead us out along the A44 at a good pace. Always a good idea, when there is no other alternative, to get the main road done as soon as possible. Around by Martley the consensus was to add in the extra loop by Sinton Green where my rear tyre went down. New tube fitted we were soon refreshing ourselves at the Mayfly cafe.

Cafe legs made themselves known as we rode back into the lanes for Broadheath. Then we dodged by Colletts Green where Mrs 26 opted to dawdle her way back. Jules headed home from Hawthorn Lane while Sara and the two Peters went back to Newland for a brake block change for Sara while Steve took the run into town by Townsend way. I'd just got the kettle on when Mrs 26 showed up. Her timing is immaculate for such things.

 

[NorthernDave]

Day 7, Ride 7 - well it would be a shame to waste this weather, wouldn't it? Plus today was my 150th recorded ride.

Out just after 8 into a slightly hazy and not too warm morning, although the sun was trying to burn through. I'd caught the sun on my arms and legs yesterday so it was a long sleeved top today, plus some Factor 20 from the back of the cupboard on my legs. Today, I would be mostly smelling of coconut...

Started out covering similar ground to yesterday - Scholes, Barwick, Garforth, Aberford (no setting the sign off today...), Lotherton Hall, Saxton, Barkston Ash and Ryther, where I turned right and headed for Cawood. I resisted the smell of bacon wafting from Mrs B's Lakeside Cafe and carried on into the village and over the swing bridge, then took another right to Kelfield and on to Riccall where I picked up NCN R65, the Solar Cycle. It's not the greatest surface in places for a road bike, but it is preferable to the A19. The usual selection of dog walkers, jogger, runners, walkers and even cyclists were out, but I made good progress to York, whre I stopped at the Askham Bar P&R to use the facilities and have 5 minutes for a couple of photos:

I call this one "The Loneliness of the Long Distance Cyclist"
With 50 km already in the bag at this point, I decided to go for it and try get a metric century to mark the occasion.
Out onto the not very inspiring A64 cycle path for a quick squirt down to the A1237 and over the roundabout to Askham Bryan and back onto country lanes.
From there it was a straightforward route through Askham Richard, Healaugh and Wighill, before passing the Thorp Arch Trading Estate to Walton where I took a left past the prison and down to Thorp Arch village. Then it was a right and back up to the main road and a speedy run down over the A1(M) and into Wetherby.
Down to the Wilderness car park and I treated myself to an ice cream and 5 minutes sat by the river in the sun:

Back on the bike and across the bridge for the climb up to Wattlesyke Roundabout, passing a group of female joggers who made comments about me and my Lycra shorts that were shallow, sexist and made me laugh
From there into Boston Spa and then on to Clifford and down the hill to Bramham, before heading back over the A1(M) and the long way round to Thorner via Thorner Lane and Milner Lane, where I did my good deed of the day. A lady cyclist on a touring bike was stood looking confused with a map in her hand - she wanted Bramham, so I pointed her in the direction I'd arrived from and got her back on track. It's no wonder people get confused though - there are at least 3 Thorner Lanes around Thorner for a start.
Down the hill into Thorner and through the village, but knowing I was likely to be short on miles if I headed straight for home, I turned right at the Mexborough Arms and took Carr Lane out to the A58 then down into Shadwell. I haven't ridden this way in years and had forgotten what a nice lane it is and how much of it is uphill - or was that my legs getting tired?
Back up to the A58 from Shadwell and up Coal Rd, then still needing miles, I turned onto Skeltons Lane and then Thorner Lane (a different one - see what I meant earlier?) up to York Rd for a life in your hands dash up the A64 and right to Scholes. I repeated the TdY sprint down Main Street and not one person came out and waved or cheered - there were loads out last weekend so I don't know what's happened there...
Right at the Coronation Tree and down Leeds Road and then up to home, with a final loop around the block to make sure.

63.18 miles (101.678 km) in 4 hrs 20 mins at an average of 14.6 mph, with 2,240 ft climbed. That's a great 150th ride - a new max distance, a new fastest 40 km and a new max elevation gain. Even better was that I felt I had a bit more in the tank - probably not enough to do a lap of honour though!

There were even more flies out than yesterday - and it's hard cycling with your mouth shut when your nose is running due to hayfever...

 

[Gareth C]

Les Trois Vallées (Tynedale, Weardale, Teesdale)
Today was a bit of an epic: just shy of 100 km, but with 2000 m of climbing on little training. However, as I’m due to ride the London Revolution next weekend, this was my last chance for a reasonable length ride.

Liz was running a workshop up at Horsely near the Roman Wall, so I went up with her in the car, and rode home from there.

Tynedale
Heading straight down to the river with no chance to warm up was cold. However, quickly it becomes beautiful, riding beside the Tyne, and even better because the recent floods have caused part of the road to fall into the river, so it’s closed to motor vehicles.

Crossing the River Tyne at Stocksfield
Crossing the river at Stocksfield, the lumpiness begins. Pre-planned was a “white road” on the OS map, which turned out to be unsurfaced. However, the bluebells were amazing!

Mmmm, bluebells
Crossing the A68 at Kiln Pit Hill gave a high level ride south of Slayley until a big descent into Blanchland (and a coffee stop).

Cafe stop in Blanchland
Weardale
The proper hills begin here, with a big climb over to Rookhope.

Chimneys from smelting visible from Hunstanworth Moor

Mining infrastructure at Rookhope
Rather than follow the valley road to Stanhope, I decided to tackle Scarsike Head, which I’d never ridden in this direction. The descent from there to Westgate was amazing, but I had to stop at the West Rigg Opencut lead seam.

From there it’s a short ride to the Chatterbox café in St Johns Chapel, for the second coffee stop and lunch.

Crossing the River Wear
Teesdale
Rather than climb over to Teesdale via the “normal” Chapel Fell route, I decided to take the more easterly Swinhope Head route. Again, I’d not ridden this section in this direction, but knew it was steep, had a gate on it, and was up-down-up, so some of the precious height gained has to be lost mid-route.

The River Tees
The benefit of this route is it brings you out nearer to Middleton-in-Teesdale, and I pushed on towards Eggleston. From there it’s a bit of climb (not too hard, but it’s late in the day), and before long Hamsterley is reached – almost home. A couple of smallish hills, a crossing back over the A68 and time to see the lambs dreaming, and I’m back home!

Lambs dreaming after a hard day in the field

 

[toffee]

Lovely day today. Went out on the reverse of one of our normal routes.

Loads of cyclists out this morning.

On phone so cannot post a map

www.strava.com/activities/568147931

Derek

 

[Gravity Aided]

Midwestern USA version 3.14 of the Vernon Levy Celebratory Ride. 7 miles as it was windy and I am fighting the hay fever and a busy day at w*rk this morning.
Lovely weather, but few cyclists due to the wind and intermittent thunderstorms. I had a great time, fine day for it, except for the wind from the North, which does run rather counter to most extended cycling options in my part of town, but my usual route was quite fine today.
73F
23C
WindsN14 G20+
Relative humidity 60%
Barometer 29,84
Cloudy, thunderstorms again, for later.

 

[biggs682]

A nice 23 miles earlier today but first ride in shorts for 2016 .

Took in Orlingbury , Isham where I saw a set of Rugby posts in a garden is this where @rugby bloke lives ?

Next up was Burton Latimer,Barton Seagrave , Cranford then cross over a quiet A14 .

Next up was the Addingtons then Irthlingborough before making my way home

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

As you'll have seen from @gavgav's reports I've been up in The Lakes for a break and despite the best efforts of illness and mixed weather we did get some riding in so slightly belatedly here are my write-ups:

Tuesday - The weather had dried up compared to the first couple of days but was still cold and windy so we set out for our usual easy start with a trip round Coniston Water. We followed the path down by the lake initially through the grounds of Coniston Hall then climbing up to Torver. As mentioned elsewhere on the site I've recently had to make extra holes for lacing up my Nidd saddle as it was spreading out too much and this has changed the riding set up so I needed a few stops to make adjustments. It took a bit of tweaking but I'm fairly happy with it now.

From Torver the road climbs up further until you reach the Land Rover dealer where there is a really nice descent to the lake shore at Oxen House Bay (which is the main reason we do the route this way round). The motorists behaved and the wind didn't hinder too badly so we enjoyed this bit of main road but were still glad to turn off onto the quieter road round the eastern side of the lake.

Not much to report from this leg of the trip other than the views are as fabulous as ever. At the head of the lake we turned back into the wind which was a bit of a slog. We'd hoped to stop at the Bluebird Cafe but all the outside seating was taken so settled on finding a bench further up the shore for a bit and I made hot chocolate when we returned to the house.

15 miles at 10.2 mph average.

Walking back from the pub on the first evening. It's the last day of April but still winter in Coniston.

A couple of days later and we get the first ride in. Following the lake shore path towards Torver.

Gav and Doug at the head of the lake. Still smiling before we turn back into the wind.

The view down the lake from the same spot with SY Gondola in the distance heading for the Waterhead pier

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

More Lake District riding.

Wednesday: Another cool and windy day. With eveyone having enjoyed yesterdays ride we decided to tackle something slightly more energetic for this one and went out to do a loop to Elterwater and up Great Langdale. We headed north out of Coniston (avoiding a flock of sheep being driven up the road then overtaking another rider on the flat bit) and climbed Hawkshead Hill making use of the longer but quieter road past Atkinson Ground.

Gav set a good pace up the hill and Doug didn't do too badly either given that he really hasn't ridden very much through the colder months. We got up to the junction with the main road without stops but here Gav said he was feeling light headed which worried me as there is plenty more hilly stuff to come on this ride. It passed after a drink and a bite of chocolate and he was happy to continue which we did. We did hold up a bus on the last bit of the climb but pulled over as soon as there was a hint of a verge and got a wave of thanks for it.

The descent the other side makes the climbing worthwhile and we soon found ourselves at The Drunken Duck where we'd planned to have lunch. As Gav mentions in his report, although we've always loved the huge doorsteps of sandwiches they do here, this time they felt overly pricy and overly pretentious so we supped our pints (Tag Lag for me ) and moved on. There was a little bit of discussion over one junction where either turning will do but the right hand takes you through Skelwith Fold where there is a great view of where we were headed.

Lunch was obtained at The Britannia in Elterwater where we didn't have to use Google to understand what was in the sandwiches.

From there we carried on up Great Langdale, which is as beautiful as ever. At the end of the valley Doug and Gav turned back while I headed onwards up the climb to Blea Tarn. I was just approaching the warning sign when a van coming the other way slowed and the driver said "Good luck mate" to me as he passed.

It's steep, but easily manageable with the low gears I've got so the summit didn't take long to reach and the scenery is worth it as always.

After another shouted comment from a walker ("Give us a lift") I dropped down the other side and headed along Little Langdale to the Three Shires Inn, getting there before Doug and Gav.

From here we followed the path through High Tilberthwaite and back down into Coniston where we dropped in again at the Bluebird Cafe and did find somewhere to sit in the sun this time.

22.3 miles at 9.2 mph average for the trip.

Probably just as well we only stopped for a drink. It was quite cold sat out in the wind.

Dropping down the hill at Skelwith Fold

Approaching Elterwater.

Lunch Stop.

Great Langdale

All the most fashionable signs are sporting moustaches this season.

The view from the top of the Blea Tarn climb.

Looking the other way at the tarn itself.

At The Three Shires.....here's Gav but Doug is lagging behind a little.

At High Tilberthwaite and heading back to Coniston.

There is more to come which I'll write up in a bit.

 

[mark st1]

A lovely but bloomin hot solo ride out today heading out through Maidenhead Clivden Burnham coming out at Beaconsfield then heading down one of the worst roads I've cycled on for a long time (Penn Road) bumps and pot holes galore heading up to Hazlemere then on to Cryers Hill which is an awesome drop managed to cool down going down there. Then decided to try and do the climb up to Naphill.and failed got most of the way up but my wrongly purchased 11/25 cassette beat me a new one on order ! Then headed down to West Wycombe and on up to Stokenchurch that was a bit of a drawn out climb up the A40. Then carried on round to Ibstone and got a couple of cracking pics




They dont really do the height of the valley justice and it looks much better in person. Followed the hills down to Fingest Skirmett and then on through to Henley was following another rider all that way but at a distance I overtook him on the Henley Road whether I upset him I don't know but he sucked my wheel the whole way I was blowing out my ass when he came past a few hundred yards from the roundabout he did thank me though so all was good. Took a gentle ride up to the Velolife cafe at WarrenRow for some much needed energy



The peanut butter cake is phenomenal !
Then cruised back through Knowl Hill and White Waltham to home with a nice breeze picking up. Tons of riders out today all nice and pleasant waves and good mornings a plenty. A smidge over 50 miles with 2069 ft of climbing in 2 hours 50 mins with a 17.7 avg.

https://www.strava.com/activities/569180140
Cheers
Mark.

 

[gaz71]

Ive just got back from a 22 mile ride through Hampton Court,esher,surbiton,kingston,hampton and bushy park.I know this isnt very far for most of you but im a big lump on a hybrid so im quite pleased with myself.I could of gone on but my butt was starting to ache.

 

[Billy Wizz]

I nice gentle 15 miles along The Thames, again.

I love this old dock and crane I bet this could tell a tale or two.

 

[Jon George]

46 miles out to Orford and back to Ipswich via Waldringfield (that's a bit of a detour.)

I was on the road by 7.30 and what surprised me was that I saw about 40 other riders during the course of my ride, but none were going my way!

Not too many details (about to head off to pub ), but here are some pics:-

This looking back down The Deben to Woodbridge.

This looking towards Orford castle and Orford church.

And a hint of bluebells in Rendlesham Forest.