Your ride today....

[Dave 123]

A shorter ride today. Up the hill out of Wells, then a left turn onto NCN1. It was a car free track through the woods. I was slightly worried about the large bits of flint everywhere, waiting for a tyre to be sliced open... It never happened though. We did hit a big patch of sand which made the bike slew sideways for a moment.

Back on the road, along quiet lanes until we dropped down to the coast at Morston Quay. We stopped at the National Trust shack for a brew with a view over the marsh

Out of Morston and a long slogger up the hill before turning back toward the coast at Blakeney. We stopped, Jo had a bacon butty, I had cockles! They were great.

We made our way back up the hill until the village of Langham. More flint houses

Beyond Langham there was a ploughing match going on. The smaller machines were nearest the road, the larger ones off in the distance

Good clean fun for every day country folk!

On through Cockthorpe, all 2 houses and down a long hill. At the bottom it was a sharp left for another climb up. We chased a pheasant up the hill for a good half mile before he worked out going through the hedge was a good idea.

Back to Warham for the second time today and a roll down into Wells where we stopped on the quay for fish & chips. It was nice in the sun, watching the kids crabbing off the sea wall

A short ride back to the cottage, quick change and back to the real world...

https://www.strava.com/activities/724400105

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

Day 1 Elgoibar

3 am and I climbed into Richard’s car. Breakfast at the airport while we waited filled some time. We retrieved our bikes at Bilbao after the plane had landed slightly early. It seemed an age to rebuild the bits and then once underway sort out all the rattles and rubbings caused by refitted mudguards and saddlebags. Out on the road it was hot so it was good to have a steady ride on the flat. A cycle event was underway. Roads were closed to traffic but they let us ride through. We took a turn which took us up a long climb. At the top there was a little lane which looked inviting so we headed along that. Indeed lanesy riding is the best. At Astebarra a café looked inviting. I opted for some lemon beer. Now that was very refreshing so it would have been rude not to have seconds. Stella Radler was the brew. The sandwich went down well too.

We were now into the foothills in the Basque country. Up we climbed to drop away and then another climb. We always keept things steady in the heat. My front tyre decided the heat was too much so a stop was indicated on this next descent. Fixed and repumped we had one last (but the easiest) climb before we descended into the valley for the Hotel. Being a Sunday an evening meal looked to be very scarce. I found a fruit shop and made do with a big fruity dessert. 43 miles and over 5000 feet climbed today.

 

[cosmicbike]

A simple commute in to work for me this morning, in the rain that @Stonechat dodged later. Really quite a nice ride in, despite it being wet. Saturday & Sunday morning rides into the airport are the best commuting days, it's just that bit quieter until you get to the perimeter where it becomes business as usual.

 

[Bariton]

Beginning my third week as a cyclist I decided to take advantage of the remaining good weather and try to extend my distance to 30 mile. The weather looked good as I prepared my scrambled eggs on toast, only for the sky to turn black and pour down before I finished eating. I waited for the heavy rain to stop before setting out on the 15 mile ride to Glasson Dock only to ride into rain so heavy it became difficult to see. As I approached Glasson the rain stopped and the sun came out so I stopped for a coffee and Eccles cake. The return journey had the wind behind me and I fairly sped along. I was worried that I may just fall short of the 30 mile target I had set myself, so a left turn took me to the port of Heysham, once again into the wind. Stopped for a chat with an elderly cyclist on a sea front bench, then sped all the way home with the wind behind me once again. Covered 33.25 miles in 3 hours 15 mins.

 

[NorthernDave]

Yesterdays ride (again), please forgive my tardiness.

A first for me, joining @nickyboy on his group ride to the seaside.
The forecast was good and a tailwind was promised for at least part of the journey so I took the Pro Carbon, but added a tribag for additional Haribo carrying capacity.

I was the first to arrive at the Cross Gates meeting point, with most of the group heading up from Leeds via Pegasus Hill (which warmed them up nicely), so I had a quick spin up and back down Manston Lane to warm my legs up and was joined shortly afterwards by @mike3121 who'd got the train to Cross Gates.

Bang on time at 10am the rest of the group arrived over the bridge and after quick introductions we were off on our way, destination Cawood for the first coffee stop.

As this is all over familiar ground for me I stuck with the lead group, even taking a turn on the front for a bit (although I suspect this was due to others pacing themselves!) . We seemed to arrive at Mrs B's Lakeside cafe at about the 20 mile mark (for me, for those doing the full ride about 27) in no time at all. Although we lost someone here (middleagedcyclist?) and a couple of others nearly missed the turning.

The weather was grand so after ordering we sat outside and enjoyed the refreshments, before getting back underway leaving a cafe bereft of anything resembling cake behind us.
The next section of the ride took us over the swing bridge at Cawood and on through Stillingfleet and to the A19 for a brief dash up the busy road before turning back onto quieter lanes through Weldrake and Elvington, before stopping the traffic to get out onto the A1079 for a brief run down to the turning for Stamford Bridge.

After a quick regroup we were over the bridge and back into the countryside for the lumpy bit of the ride, but with the wind mainly at our backs we made great time through Buttercrambe and Eddlethorpe then the sneaky climb up before the descent into Malton hitting 43.9mph and getting stung by a wasp at the same time!
Next stop was the tea rooms in Malton, where we were made to feel very welcome and pretty much filled the place and where @Julia9054 and her hubby joined us. After cake (I think we demolished their cake stocks too), I nipped into Boots for something for the sting and then it was time to mount up and head off.

The ride had been really good up to this point and although I was starting to tire a bit @nickyboy really excelled himself with the route over with this last section. A brief main road ride out of town and then we were onto near deserted country lanes for mile after mile, pretty much all of it with the wind at our backs meaning that we were able to fly along.

Eventually reached West Ayton where I'd managed to get between two groups and went slightly off route (not sure if I didn't hear the Garmin, or if it didn't beep for the turn ) but I was soon back on track and the route headed into the woods for a final loop round before entering Scarborough. Unfortunately Garmin lost the GPS signal under the trees so I went wrong again and headed about half a mile in the wrong direction (all downhill), so it was all uphill to get back on track.
Skirting Scarborough town centre before dropping down onto Valley Road to the seafront

and recreating the TdY along the South Shore, Marine Drive (bumpy!) and the sprint along Royal Albert Drive, before the short climb up to North Bay Fisheries where the speedier members of the group were waiting.

Not only a great ride, but fantastic timekeeping too as there was just time for some of the best fish n chips I've ever tasted before heading up the hill to the station for my train home.

A truly excellent ride, with some great people and a thoroughly enjoyable day out.
Pretty much ideal cycling weather (average temp was 18.6 degrees C) and the sort of tailwind that you can only usually dream about.

Thanks again to @nickyboy for organising a near perfect ride out on what must be the ultimate cycling route between Leeds and Scarborough and to everyone else who took part for being such good company.
Here's to doing it all again next year?

79.86 miles (128.5km) in a moving time of 5h 9m (if only I hadn't gone off course, twice...) with 2,903ft climbed.
We were all sworn to secrecy about the average speed...

 

[13 rider]

Got a huge monkey off my back today. Debut imperial century (which had been on my "to do" list for the last two years) now done and dusted. It wasn't pretty to watch, but I got through it.

I was due to be doing it with my audaxing buddy, @jembullo, but he was struck down by illness at the very last minute, which was a real shame. I'd had a couple of offers from @Frazzle and @Dark46 to accompany me on the Sunday instead, but the weather forecast looked much better for today, and I was keen to go ahead with it. Quite apart from anything else, I was running out of time to get my Cyclechat Metric Century-a-Month ride in for September.

Set off from Minchinhampton Common (Glos) and headed off to Cirencester, Fairford & Lechlade before doing a big slingshot around Faringdon (Vale of White Horse, Oxfordshire) and back via Cricklade, Malmesbury and Sherston (North Wiltshire) and Tetbury and Avening (Glos).

If this link works, you will see my basic rookie mistake in scheduling a big hill in the last couple of miles back to where I left my car on the common. Ouch!:
https://www.strava.com/routes/6571622
Didn't manage to follow the planned route exactly, as I'd been a bit lazy preparing my map as I'd planned to let my riding buddy's Garmin do the work. Where I added distance through getting slightly lost, I took off a bit with a shortcut to compensate, and vice versa. Worked out quite well in the end, as I finished on 101.9 miles.

Set off at a decent place and stopped for my first (and only) café stop in Shrivenham at the 57 mile mark after about 4 hrs 40 mins. It came as a bit of a shock when I then got up to leave the pub and found I had come down with "café legs". It also became clear that my return route was not as flat as the outward route, and was being buffeted by some quite strong headwinds at times. I started to ache and suffer, and took the same time to do the remaining 45 miles as I had for the first 57. I know that to some of you, 9 hrs 20 mins is not a great time for a 102 mile ride, but I'm just glad to have got round.

Although it was a real shame I didn't have a riding buddy today, in a strange way it feels like more of a personal achievement, having had to motivate myself and set my own pace, find my own way and battle through on my own. Sometimes I think you get more of a sense of achievement and satisfaction when you have done it all yourself. Jem had already done JOGLE, so had nothing to prove on that score. Having said that, I hope @jembullo is soon up and about and able to come out on the audax next week. It certainly does help to have a bit of encouragement.

Sorry there are no photos ... the system is not letting me download them at the moment. I had taken one of the wonderfully named "Freke Arms" at Highworth, which was once again responsible for planting an annoying earworm that lasted for the next 40 miles ... "Ah, Freke Out! dit diddly dit, Le Freke, c'est chic!" .... etc .

I have absolutely no idea how I am going to get up the stairs tonight. Cheers, Donger.

Well done that man

 

[toffee]

Well haven't posted in here for a while so I thought our second ride of over 100 miles was a good one to restart. Did it yesterday but too tired to post anything.

Set off in very windy conditions at 7.45 and made good progress till we got to St Neots at 48 miles where we had lunch. The return home was lot harder as it was more exposed and we had to ride into the wind for the last quarter of the ride. Also the worst hills were in in this part as well.

Just over the 100 miles at 101 miles but completed in a lot faster time than last year, so fitness just be improving.

Despite the wind we both enjoyed the ride even though it was the worst one we have done for nobber driver's.

Derek

 

[Racing roadkill]

https://www.strava.com/activities/7...-4F23-9109-3636C37F0DC9?hl=en-GB&v=1474822387

The last ever Skyride Local from Southampton today. Test Valley villages and views. 66 miles, it was billed as 'challenging' It was. We all got back in one piece ( no idea how ). That's that then. HSBC are the sponsors now. It hasn't got the same ring to it somehow.

The assembled posse at Stockbridge.

Myself and the two other Ride leaders ( like a crap version of the three amigos).

 

[Buck]

Following on from @NorthernDave 's great write up, I was also one of the riders on yesterday's Leeds to Scarborough outing.

It was a cool start in Leeds and certainly didn't feel like the promised warm weather whilst we waited for everyone's trains to arrive and the group to come together.

Sure enough we were off not long after 9 and we were well led out of Leeds on the tricky route of side streets and cycle lanes by Nickyboy. (I'd put the route into my Garmin but when we set off I couldn't load the map for some reason - human error I think as I'd not used maps on the 520 much before) Thankfully the group was easy to keep with and there were no incidents as we crossed many side streets and roundabouts and surprisingly no p*nctures on the cycle paths which had lots of glass and debris in them

Around 5 miles in we took a turn North and headed up the short hill into Temple Newsam, passing lots of people who were taking part in the Memory Walk for Dementia. Out of Temple Newsam and we headed into Crossgates arriving at the planned time of 10:00am to meet @NorthernDave and @mike3121.

From here we had a nice ride out of the built up/residential areas to Barwick-in-Elmet and Aberford before we took a left under the A1(M) and then North with the benefit of the Southerly wind pushing us onto Towton and then a short stretch on the A170 before a right turn took us back onto country roads and another nice stretch into Cawood and a nice coffee at Mrs B's Lakeside Cafe although they did seem a little overwhelmed with our presence despite nick phoning them previously to confirm they'd be OK etc.

At this point we'd lost one of our riders who missed the turning (thankfully we regrouped at Malton so we knew he was OK!)

Refuelled and not too settled in the chairs enjoying the sun we set off again. This time through the picturesque villages of Stillingfleet and Escrick then onto Sheldrake, Elvington and Kexby before arriving in the thriving town of Stamford Bridge having covered around 42 miles so roughly half way.

The wind continued to be at our backs and the sun was in the sky as we headed NE towards Malton with lots of motorbikes seeming to want to break the land speed record (as well as the sound barrier!!) on the way. A couple of cheeky climbs just outside got the heart rate up and then a nice descent into Malton at around 54 miles distance.

We met up with @Julia9054 and husband as well as re-meeting with @middleagecyclist who had been recharging his batteries waiting for us to arrive. After a decent stop at the cafe where we consumed lots of carbs and sugar we then set off for the final third of the ride. After a short stretch on the A169 we turned right towards Marishes and a lovely 8 or so miles of country lane with barely a car in sight!

A brief stint on the busy A170 saw us taking a left and heading North at West Ayton into a lovely wooded albeit car busy stretch of lanes.

As we came to the T junction of the the Scalby Road I was sure I had missed a turning so foolishly turned left (the lead group were ahead of me and out of sight and had turned right ) After a two mile slog north and not seeing anyone else, I was convinced I had dropped a clanger (I mentioned my Garmin map not working didn't I?) I turned around and was punished by the strong Southerly then decided that I would take a short cut through the centre of town as I had probably lost 25-30 mins with my error!

I met up with the gang at the fish n chip shop to cheers/laughs/clapping I'd made it but did feel a bit of a fool - never mind I consoled myself with a rather nice fish n chips before myself and Kestevan headed up to the pub (that short climb after the food stop felt like hard work !!) A few pints of rehydrating fluid whilst others from the days ride filtered in all showered and refreshed and a short wait for our lift home gave us chance to talk about the great day we'd all had and look forward to the next.

My longest ride to date and a nice way to achieve it too.

https://www.relive.cc/view/723446035

85.3 miles with 2,566 ft of climb, averaging 15.0 mph

https://www.strava.com/activities/723446035

 

[Katherine]

(my first post on this thread...)

A bit of a weird one today!

Hadn’t been out for a week or so - legs were feeling a bit tired for some reason. But a mile from the start, I turned onto the farm road that is my usual “test hill” - about a mile and a quarter, maybe a 200 ft climb overall. It’s nothing special, but lets me gauge my own progress. Felt pretty good, and came within 4 seconds of my personal best - could probably have beat it by quite a bit if traffic at the junction at the bottom hadn’t prevented me from getting a “rolling start”.

Pootled on for a few miles more, following the coast at at a gentle pace, then decided to tackle a hill. 2 miles, 800 ft, strava cat3 climb. I’ve struggled up it a couple of times before, although never without stopping.

Got a quarter of the way up, and my legs basically stopped working :-) So turned round and headed home!

20 mile round trip, great start, big disappointment in the middle, and a reasonable run (into the wind) home.

I guess I need to prepare a bit better for next time.

(and next time I need to take some photos - the view over the Clyde was spectacular!)

Great report, looking forward to the next one (with or without photos).

 

[Gravity Aided]

Today I cycled into the city centre for my boss' admission/licensing service as a Lay Minister in the CofE. It is a most impressive building and the choir & organ were fantastic.
Then a quick 4 miles along the Portway to the celebration, then 9 miles home to Winterbourne. On my new TCR which was very nice, smooth, light, fast etc.

How nice, a service for lay ministry. I seem to recall them just hanging my license at the entry to the church. At current parish, I don't even think they are posted.

 

[Gravity Aided]

Well Done, @Donger . I shall have to do another, since it's been a long time since I did an Imperial.

 

[Gravity Aided]

10 miles this day. I had planned more, but was delayed by a picturesque prairie thunderstorm. Warm and humid still after, but will cool off overnight and put us into 60's and 70's F next week, instead of mid to upper 80's as we have had. Cooler weather will now be the norm. I saw no other cyclists, but I did see a Great Blue Heron, many geese, and a beaver. I hated to remove the stock white saddle from my Trek 600, as it was original from 1985, (a Concor), but it was not as comfortable as a leather saddle I have, so the change was made. Decent speed despite wet roads.
84F
29C
Winds W 14,G18
Relative humidity 57%
Barometer 29.95 and falling
A few clouds

 

[Arjimlad]

How nice, a service for lay ministry. I seem to recall them just hanging my license at the entry to the church. At current parish, I don't even think they are posted.

The Bishop of Swindon presided. It was a right proper occasion rather like a graduation ceremony with added music & prayer. Completely fitting.

 

[jembullo]

Got a huge monkey off my back today. Debut imperial century (which had been on my "to do" list for the last two years) now done and dusted. It wasn't pretty to watch, but I got through it.

I was due to be doing it with my audaxing buddy, @jembullo, but he was struck down by illness at the very last minute, which was a real shame. I'd had a couple of offers from @Frazzle and @Dark46 to accompany me on the Sunday instead, but the weather forecast looked much better for today, and I was keen to go ahead with it. Quite apart from anything else, I was running out of time to get my Cyclechat Metric Century-a-Month ride in for September.

Set off from Minchinhampton Common (Glos) and headed off to Cirencester, Fairford & Lechlade before doing a big slingshot around Faringdon (Vale of White Horse, Oxfordshire) and back via Cricklade, Malmesbury and Sherston (North Wiltshire) and Tetbury and Avening (Glos).

If this link works, you will see my basic rookie mistake in scheduling a big hill in the last couple of miles back to where I left my car on the common. Ouch!:
https://www.strava.com/routes/6571622
Didn't manage to follow the planned route exactly, as I'd been a bit lazy preparing my map as I'd planned to let my riding buddy's Garmin do the work. Where I added distance through getting slightly lost, I took off a bit with a shortcut to compensate, and vice versa. Worked out quite well in the end, as I finished on 101.9 miles.

Set off at a decent place and stopped for my first (and only) café stop in Shrivenham at the 57 mile mark after about 4 hrs 40 mins. It came as a bit of a shock when I then got up to leave the pub and found I had come down with "café legs". It also became clear that my return route was not as flat as the outward route, and was being buffeted by some quite strong headwinds at times. I started to ache and suffer, and took the same time to do the remaining 45 miles as I had for the first 57. I know that to some of you, 9 hrs 20 mins is not a great time for a 102 mile ride, but I'm just glad to have got round.

Although it was a real shame I didn't have a riding buddy today, in a strange way it feels like more of a personal achievement, having had to motivate myself and set my own pace, find my own way and battle through on my own. Sometimes I think you get more of a sense of achievement and satisfaction when you have done it all yourself. Jem had already done JOGLE, so had nothing to prove on that score. Having said that, I hope @jembullo is soon up and about and able to come out on the audax next week. It certainly does help to have a bit of encouragement.

Sorry there are no photos ... the system is not letting me download them at the moment. I had taken one of the wonderfully named "Freke Arms" at Highworth, which was once again responsible for planting an annoying earworm that lasted for the next 40 miles ... "Ah, Freke Out! dit diddly dit, Le Freke, c'est chic!" .... etc .

I have absolutely no idea how I am going to get up the stairs tonight. Cheers, Donger.

Well done my Audax buddy. So sorry I had to bail on you at the last minute, there was no other choice. Top effort though and I hope you didn't need to be craned out of bed this morning!