Your ride today....

[Jon George]

I think if it had not been for @ColinJ putting up the half-century challenge last year to encourage others to increase their rides, I would not have pushed on today to gain another point for March. Damn you, sir. Damn you.
A great day to be out - even though it was a tad windy - and my 50 km turned into a bit of a Photograph Churches Trip.

I give you All Saints at Waldringfield:-

St Ethelbert's at Falkenham:-

And a view from its churchyard down to The Deben.

And finally, St Mary at Bucklesham. I liked how the sun was picking out the flint work.

 

[cosmicbike]

More commuting yesterday and in the early hours of today. Getting in to the Airport last night was tough going, loads of traffic and a serious headwind saw my longest ever commute time of near 50 minutes for the 8.8 mile route
On the plus side the ride home at 0300hrs was better, though the wind had swung a bit so not all in my favour, home in under 30 minutes
A couple of very worrying noises from the BB on the Boardman CX Team on the way home, so pulled all that apart this afternoon, right down to individual ball bearings (not entirely on purpose...). Now rebuilt with fresh grease and spinning nicely. Other than a smudge of grease its the first time I've touched it in 5500 miles so can't complain, and I finally got to use the Park Tool BB30 which I bought over a year ago. Also fitted new rear brake pads, again first set since new so pretty good life.

 

[derrick]

Nice easy 14 miles just to check out new bike, All perfect looking forward to the weekend club ride and possible Sunday ride with mates. It's going to be a good year.
https://www.strava.com/activities/912543853

 

[Dave 123]

Nice easy 14 miles just to check out new bike, All perfect looking forward to the weekend club ride and possible Sunday ride with mates. It's going to be a good year.
https://www.strava.com/activities/912543853

Picture?

 

[derrick]

Picture?

 

[Dave 123]

View attachment 343867

Nice. And a chequerboard finish line!

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

Sunny again today but that North wind seems to be stuck and that's keeping the temperature down. I had the wind at my back on the way out so that eased yesterday's legs in. On the up to Redmarley there was the odd wild daff that had gone over. Looks like they may have peaked now. At Brand Green the wood was carpeted with wonderful wood anemones. Looked like snow. On down to Highleadon I was still being assisted. I tacked by Murrell's End and climbed to Woolridge but forgot to check out the view. On down to the Hams and now I had that wind to contend with. I spotted some Wigeon and a Pintail on the flood waters but carried on battling north. Eventually I reached the shelter of the Brotheridge Green lanes but then emerged for the final push north to Guarlford. The pressure came off for the final couple of miles as I rolled in. 44 smiles today.

 

[Racing roadkill]

https://www.relive.cc/view/912729556

Just over 100 miles up to Newbury and back today.

The weather was a bit cack.

So I had a coffee and some chocolate cheesecake.

And a beer.

The weather improved in the afternoon.

Almost summer like.

About 102 miles done, and a fair few hills.

.

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

Commuting miles as usual but I've had a cracking couple of days to finish off the week:

Yesterday I was slightly late getting out of the house so no scenic detours, just the main road to Condover. The wind seemed to be helping and I made good time so did extend the ride slightly through the village then again later going to Cross Houses on my way to Atcham. This bit was against the wind but I still seemed to make decent time and got to work about my usual time.

The wind became quite strong and gusty through the day but was a north-easterly which would give me a good tailwind almost the whole way back. I wanted to be home promptly so took the short route along the main road which was surprisingly quiet and made for a good run cruising along at up to 25mph. With wind assistance the hills flattened out a bit and the whole ride felt easy. 22 miles at 14.7mph for the round trip which is my fastest of the year so far.

Today I went for the extended ride in which again was very pleasant. I had wind assistance most of the way to Cressage and a bit of a panic as I'd completely forgotten the road closure here. I took a chance, carried on and fortunately was allowed through the section they were working on. It is water main work going on and it looks like they are going to deal with the row of sunken manhole covers which always make the descent into the village "interesting".

Turning into the wind I found it wasn't as strong as I'd feared so I continued to make reasonable progress. I made a point of being friendly to the two "old dears" walking their dogs at Eyton who make a point of obstructing the road as much as possible. I know they can hear my bell perfectly well but the road is theirs and none shall pass (it was amusing seeing them use the same tactic on a delivery van one morning a few weeks ago).

By the afternoon it was sunny and fairly warm. I had an easterly wind to help out again and did a slightly extended ride home taking in Lyth Hill to avoid the main roads as much as possible (traffic has been rather bad with a few incidents according to the reports this afternoon)

Little to report en-route and it was another easy and fairly swift ride bringing me up to 30.1 miles for the day at 14 mph average which I'm very happy with since it includes the climb over Lyth Hill.
No photos again as I was enjoying the too much.

 

[wait4me]

On holiday staying at Litton Mill Derbyshire. Did a very leisurely 10 miles on Monsal trail. Some of the tunnels (although lights were on) w

ere quite dark. I nearly had a head on with a prat on a mountain bike with no lights on. I put my front light on in each tunnel and after the close call I looked at every bike I passed not 1 bloody front light and many looked "serious cyclists". As I'm from Lincolnshire the hills were a shock.

 

[Stonechat]

Cycled over to Chertsey where I dropped off the Felt for servicing. Needs new rear mech, and collected shiny new Kona Roadhouse,

This will be my ride in poorer weather, steel frame, Ultegra, disc brakes etc.
Gave a spin round some familiar roads.
A bit chilly and windy.

Bike feels nice and responsive, not as light as carbon fibre, but not heavy, very light a firm Mavic wheels

Ride on the bike
https://www.strava.com/activities/912387468

Ride over there
https://www.strava.com/activities/912387468

 

[Osprey]

Nice and sunny today though a breezy 17mph North Westerly wind. Set off at 8.30 amidst the commuter traffic leaving the Gower. Not very relaxing so maybe I should of set off a bit later. Picking up the NCN route 4 through Clyne valley and Swansea bay was more relaxing and peaceful. At Swansea maritime quarter, I headed Northerly up the NCN 43 into the face of the wind following the River Tawe through Llansamlet and Clydach, then along the Swansea and Clydach Canal to Pontardawe. At Ystalyfera, it was back onto the meandering A4067 both climbing and into the head wind through Abercraf to Craig y Nos. At this point the wind was too energy sapping to make the climb upto Cray reservoir so reluctantly decided to retrace my steps back. Still the ride back with a tail wind was nice. An enjoyable 67 miles (109km) which qualifies for my March metric century ride and Strava Gran Fondo.

Pen y Cae, Swansea Valley. Who can spot the sleeping giant?

Craig y Nos. Swansea Valley

 

[Glow worm]

https://www.relive.cc/view/912729556

Just over 100 miles up to Newbury and back today.


View attachment 343886
And a beer.



.

That's one serious looking helmet- looks like you're preparing for a meteorite strike!

 

[Glow worm]

A day off work today here and out along familiar haunts around the Wicken Fen area

One of my lovely quiet bridleways. I know it's flat as hell but I like it !

A new sign has popped up by Reach Lode bridge, a National Trust thing and very nice it is too. This is pretty much my local patch in a nutshell.

Swaffham Bulbeck Lode in the sunshine. Chiffchaffs singing all over the place now, spring definitely arrived here in the flatlands.

 

[Racing roadkill]

That's one serious looking helmet- looks like you're preparing for a meteorite strike!

It's an old lid now, it's hard to find them currently ( they've been superceded, and the new version isn't as good ), but it's brilliant. Seriously comfy, and it's taken a few hits from road debris ( which probably means I should replace it). I'm getting round to replacing it.