Your ride today....

[Jenkins]

Nothing special - no photos, no coffee & cake stops, just a straight forward metric 100 and a bit. The difference being that it was in bright sunshine and lighter winds compared to last week's commutes from hell! Also thank you to all the drivers today for giving me plenty of space and holding back in the twisty bits.

https://www.strava.com/activities/600681307

I've got the whole week of so the bike may be loaded into the car so I can get a couple of laps of Rutland Water in later in the week.

p.s. If Ben Knights and Pete T are on here - thanks for the recent kudos, but it's not really necessary

 

[Elybazza61]

Bit late but a quick report on yesterdays TOC Gran Fondo;

Brilliant weather and a good ride,only flagging right at the end mostly due to drinking a huge mouthful of the quick etixx mix I made up at the middle stop;took a gulp and got an un-mixed bit which made me retch and burp.

Other than that though it was a fine ride,bit hairy at the start with a few peeps obviously gunning for a qualifying time and on the other hand people dawdling in groups not really paying attention;our club group got fragmented so it was mostly a solo run for me when I wasn't in a mixed group.Once it all cleared out though got in a good rythym,made a fair bit of progress on the second half finding myself passing plenty of bunches when the wind kicked in;all those winter rides in 20mph+ winds obviously paying off,was a few bods taking a nice tow but was comfortable with my pace so let them be.Did have a nice switch about with one guy in particular so that helped break the ride up.

Got some help at the end as joined up with club member Ferenc(also on a Ridley!,well he is Belgian)and we rolled along together until my drinking moment.

Had to make two un-sheduled stops with my tail pack coming undone,so in the end I stuffed it in a pocket.

Chip time in the end was 4:12:23 with the Garmin recording 4:05:44 at an average of 33kmh(20mph).

https://www.strava.com/activities/599743686

So some pics;

Long line of riders at the start.

Some pics from the start pen;

And a club group shot(I'm second from left at the back);

 

[Elybazza61]

Yesterday was a little recovery ride with the better half who is deffo in need of some longer rides now I think as she's doing these 20kers in her stride now;

https://www.strava.com/activities/600295655

And today a steady roll in to work on a lovely morning,first of the year sans mudguards on the Planet X;

https://www.strava.com/activities/601226470

An a bike against a wall shot;

 

[PeteXXX]

@CharlieB Was that you! I'm so glad you were relatively unharmed. It could easily have been much worse! You seemed to be being well looked after by the ambulance crew though.
As I said, the same thing happened there on last year's ride. I've contacted both Bike Events and BHF about this and await their response. I'll let you know what their replies are (or not, as the case may be.)

 

[rugby bloke]

Spent all day itching to get out on the bike after a weekend of domestic duties. In the end did the "Olney Loop" - 33 miles, which is the longest evening ride I have done, so definitely improving. Lovely weather, loads of riders out, mixture of road bikes and mtb.

This always feels like a lumpy ride to me - 1,153 ft of climbing over 33 miles - 35 ft / mile. I would be interested to see how this compares with other riders, especially those living in "hilly" rather than "rolling" landscapes.

http://www.strava.com/activities/600844194

 

[Paulus]

Yesterday evening me and my mate went out for a pootle through Potters Bar, Essendon, around the lanes via Wild Hill, Brookmans Park, South Mimms, Ridge and back to Barnet with a stop at the Black Horse for a pint of refreshment. 23 miles in total.

 

[CharlieB]

@CharlieB Was that you! I'm so glad you were relatively unharmed. It could easily have been much worse! You seemed to be being well looked after by the ambulance crew though.
As I said, the same thing happened there on last year's ride. I've contacted both Bike Events and BHF about this and await their response. I'll let you know what their replies are (or not, as the case may be.)

I wasn't the one who was ambulanced, fortunately.
But thank you for the thought, @PeteXXX.
Good ride, though, wasn't it?

 

[PeteXXX]

I wasn't the one who was ambulanced, fortunately.
But thank you for the thought, @PeteXXX.
Good ride, though, wasn't it?

Yep, a mate and I really enjoyed it. We finished in about 6hrs 20.
The accident I saw was at about 2 o'clock. If that wasn't you, then there were further problems at that place!

 

[CharlieB]

Yep, a mate and I really enjoyed it. We finished in about 6hrs 20.
The accident I saw was at about 2 o'clock. If that wasn't you, then there were further problems at that place!

Exactly so. I came off at about quarter to three. So that's at least two people this year.
My time was 6:01.

 

[mybike]

Exactly so. I came off at about quarter to three. So that's at least two people this year.
My time was 6:01.

Sounds like it's a problem with the road, maybe the council should become involved.

 

[SteveF]

Back to work tomorrow after a few days off, was going to pop to the gym but had been for a run yesterday so decided to do a relaxed meander on the bike, a 50k loop via Rainham Marshes ensued... https://www.strava.com/activities/601379988

I was on the road bike but decided to go along the Mardyke path to cut out some of the urban roads, wasn't quite a straightforward as I'd hoped with a large chunk of oak tree in the way:

Wasn't to much of a issue, shouldered the bike and braved the stinging nettles...

One I got to the Marshes and the Estuary was quite surprised at just how calm the Thames was, very mill pond like:

Nice to be out in lovely weather.....

 

[GrumpyGregry]

The usual 2.3km... Zzzzzzzzz

 

[cosmicbike]

Another extended ride in this morning. Yesterdays commute to and from work ended up at just over 21 miles instead of the usual 16, so getting towards the 25 miles/day needed to hit the Strava 1250km a month trophy, on my radar hopefully this year.
Lovely this morning, just right for shorts and s/s jersey. Looking at tonights forecast I may get a bit damp on the ride home..

 

[Old jon]

OK, I am a failure at tree shade mapping. For the second day in a row I have worn a sunhat, and needed it. For today, one of the routes I often ride, although variations also appear. Thirty three and a half miles in total, beginning with a navigation of Holbeck to point me and the bike in the direction of Crown Point Bridge. It is a lot more fun if me and the bike are pointing in the same direction of course. Regent Street, Roseville and Roundhay Roads take me all the way to the Oakwood Clock, followed by the climb up Boot Hill. Turn left after crossing the Ring Road, just after the Wellington pub, and keep on to Shadwell, turning left at the main street to go on to Slaid Hill. Turn right there and Wike Ridge awaits. The surface is pretty good, and there is a lot of swift downhill to enjoy, and the odd bit of open country to see.



More open stuff after East Keswick and along to Collingham, where I stayed on the A 58 to Wetherby for a sandwich break away from traffic. Out of Wetherby and along to Bramham, using West Woods Road eventually. By the A 1 bridge, turn right to go to Thorner. Sometimes, in this direction, the road is a bit of a pig to ride, today was one of those. At the other side of Thorner, Sandhills seemed an easy proposition today. Turn right onto Skeltons Lane, Red Hall Lane to follow and back on the A 58 for that massive grin Boot Hill generates on the descent. Oakwood Clock and the trip across town, well, I have to get home somehow.

@rugby bloke , since you asked, 33.5 miles, 1368 feet of climbing which is about 40 feet per mile. I would say that is a bit below average for me, nope, just checked with my last ten rides on Garmin, average is 1332 feet. Biggest to date is 1751 feet climbed in 30 miles, least is 1076 feet in 30.

 

[derrick]

Little spin out today, First one since Sundays Cambridge Grand Fondo.Got to keep them legs spinning, still a little breazy but most of the ride was in bright sunshine,then about 5 miles from home the heavens opened, No wet weather gear just made a mad dash for home. Lovely peaceful ride, Apart from 5 miles into the ride i realized i had come out without a bottle of drink, i had to pop into a bike shop in Waltham Cross for a new one, The lady in the shop rinsed out the new bottle filled it with water and away i went.
https://www.strava.com/activities/601560519