Your ride today....

[EltonFrog]

Happy Birthday @gavgav .

A utility ride today in the Whyte hybrid into town and for some shopping and to the bank. I rode along the 544 cycle path and on the way out didn't see a soul in 3 miles .

On the way back a staffy stopped in front of me for a jimmy riddle bloody, awkward sod.

It was nice out today but it's got a lot cooler.

About 7 miles.

 

[The_Weekend_Report_Guy]

Well today I was a man on a mission.... TT sort of thing.. 86 km long and 1700 meters of elevation gain by the end... My previous best time around this Strava segment was 3:55.... Today? 3:36 With dropping the chain and a flat in there... No pictures.. As you can imagine I was busy..

https://www.strava.com/activities/940222929#22974595845 so 3:36 and 24 km/h... #iamhappy

 

[derrick]

A little ride out with Dom today, Leigh on Sea for a change, great ride out nice breakfast when we got there, the ride back was a bit hard, the garmin kept trying to send us back to Leigh on Sea, in the end we just headed north, got home in a round about way, ended with 113 miles by the time we got back to the pub, My other half and my boy where waiting for us, A couple of beers and a burger, What's not to like. Might have an early night tonight.
https://www.strava.com/activities/940634003

 

[Racing roadkill]

https://www.relive.cc/view/940414902

A little ride up to the museum of army flying at middle Wallop today.

The steepest part of the route. It's an eye watering 25% at its steepest ( the bit I had just climbed, behind me)

I stopped at the Apache cafe, and this turned up.

It's an Apache gunship.

The route home was very pretty.

Very pretty indeed.

67 miles covered, and a 'bow' from an Apache gunship, that's a good day out

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

A short commuting week for me this week:

Tuesday: I used the Galaxy and enjoyed a fast run in to work with a decent tailwind. I had enough time in hand to take the detour through Attingham Park again

The ride home was more difficult as the wind had strengthened and I was riding into it most of the way home. I made use of the drops at various points and it does make a difference against the wind meaning my overall average was a quite reasonable 14.6 mph.

Wednesday: The forecast was for it to be wet in the afternoon so I got the knockabout bike out. I have recently made a slight adjustment to the saddle on this one and coming back to it after a few days away it seems that I really have found a sweet spot in the set up as it feels almost as nice to ride as the other bikes. I went over Lyth Hill on the way out and got a good tailwind again after Condover, whizzing past another cyclist with ease. Having made good time, Attingham Park got another visit and I was still slightly early getting to work.

The forecast rain didn't arrive for the ride back but I was up against a blustery wind again. It wasn't quite as strong as yesterday so I didn't do too badly on this leg of the trip and surprised myself with a round trip average of 14 mph.

Today: Dry and less windy. The Galaxy had another run and I was up and about early enough to do the extended commute so headed through Condover, Cantlop and Pitchford to Acton Burnell then via Cound Moor towards Cressage making fast and easy progress. Unfortunately the closure of Shore Lane still seems to be in place (I thought they were supposed to have finished by now) so I took the detour where I spotted a hare which made it worthwhile.

With the schools off, the driving on the main roads seemed better than usual and I enjoyed the rest of the trip through Wroxeter to work.

It was an unusually quiet day at work and if there hadn't been the parcel arriving from France with some bits we needed for back-orders I'd have been twiddling my thumbs.

Heading home there was a headwind again but nothing like the last couple of days. I had a brief chat with another rider I caught at Upton Forge (he was out for a nice 10 miler) then pressed on. No queue at Atcham this evening for me to filter past (I've felt smug doing so the last couple of afternoons ) but a surprising amount of traffic down the lanes which hindered progress rather. I assumed there must have been an accident on one of the main roads but it doesn't appear that there was any problem.

I decided to extend the ride home a bit and went over Lyth Hill which obviously involves more climbing but minimizes the time spent on busy roads.

31.6 miles today at 14.6 mph average again - fairly happy with that with the extra climbing.

From this morning - The Galaxy at Viroconium (Wroxeter)

 

[iandg]

Title says it all - got myself absorbed in the 'ups and downs' and 'twists and turns' of the local trails and feeling better for it

https://www.relive.cc/view/940540077

 

[I like Skol]

Got back from my 1st cycle mini-tour last night. Took my two sons age 11 and 14 for a little tester to check out the feasibility of bigger, more involved tours in the future. Travelling from Ashton-under-Lyne on Tuesday headed for a campsite just outside Culcheth for our overnight stay and then on Wednesday slightly less mileage but a little hill at the end before reaching my wife's workplace where we would load the bikes onto the roof rack for a lift home to our own beds.

Day 1

From Ashton it was straight onto the Ashton Canal towards Manchester, gradually losing height as we passed along this well surfaced and often travelled route to the big smoke. My bike was like a tank as it had 4 panniers loaded with most of the gear we wanted to try and make the trip do-able but without yet heading out to buy any specialised equipment.
We stopped off at some of the notable landmarks along the way...

My favourite part of this stretch of canal is the passage under the Piccadilly area where the canal passes under/is built over by the towering buildings above. The narrow walkways and locks all occupy the gloomy space beneath where there are ALWAYS a small number of shady characters loitering suspiciously in the shadows, not really a place I would like my kids or wife to go unaccompanied!
Going underground......

Passing through the centre of Manchester along Canal Street and past Deansgate locks we decided to have a little breather outside a bar in Castlefield while the sun was shining, before continuing on the Bridgewater Canal out to Broadheath, near Altrincham, passing another famous stadium along the way.

From Broadheath we then diverted on to the Trans-Pennine Trail past Dunham Massey, leaving the trail just before Rush Green where we crossed the River Bollin on a lane that turned out to be little more than a farm track and deposited us in Warburton just before an unexpected toll bridge.
The Bollin crossing....

I would have taken a picture of the rather impressive Warburton toll bridge but it was rather busy and I was a little concerned for my two boys. After this we headed up Dam Lane and School lane past Risley Moss where I could swear we met @MossCommuter heading the other way looking fast and focused all in black! I shouted "Mossy" a couple of times as he disappeared into the distance but he either didn't hear or maybe recognised me and pretended not to hear
We crossed over the M62 and then crossed the large Birchwood landfill site via another rather bumpy and unsuitable path! It was here that our carton of milk gave up the ghost and started dripping out of the bottom of one of the panniers. Luckily by this point we were only a mile or two from our destination for the day and passed a local Sainsbury's in Culcheth so could restock the lost milk.
It was gloriously sunny when we pitched our tent for the night.

Dinner that evening was taken in the Italian restaurant in Culcheth which brought the days mileage upto 34 miles, not bad for day 1.

 

[robjh]

It was another nice early morning and I was out of the house shortly after 7 am. I did about 25 miles to Baldock first, and that was by far the most scenic part of the ride, following the top of the chalk escarpment that runs south-west from here. I went through Heydon, Great Chishill, Barkway and Reed, then meandered through Therfield to Sandon and Wallington, after which the road drops towards Baldock. A couple of miles before the latter I noticed a small blue bike sign, and a smooth-looking tarmac'd cyclepath leading off from the road, so I decided to try it, expecting a backway into town. It was a backway indeed, as it petered out in a stony bridleway, and I bumped over this and across grass into a housing estate where I made my way with difficulty back to the road I'd been on. More rubbish 'cycling infrastructure'
the start of the 'cycle path' ; and where it ended

Anyway, Baldock is a handsome old town and I had a morning coffee there, and then headed north, touching on Letchworth then on to Henlow and Biggleswade. The terrain here is flatter and less interesting, but I checked out a couple of cafés for possible future rides. After Biggleswade I turned north-east towards Cambridge and the wind was at last behind me. At first the roads just cross wide flat fields, but it gets a bit prettier around Orwell, and I diverted to take in Barrington Hill - a pimple by (say) Yorkshire standards but regarded as grimpeur material in Cambridge.
I met my old Dad in Cambridge for a coffee, looked briefly at stuff in Evans, then returned home by my regular route down the busway and DNA path. It was a nice half-day, and 75 miles in all.
near Great Chishill ; Letchworth Garden City houses

part of the travelling radio telescope, outside Cambridge

the route (rough sketch)

 

[Buck]

Well technically your ride (yester)to day

I got home from work last night at around 7:15pm and just after 7:30pm I was wheeling the bike out! I'd layered up as the sun was already starting to go down and the warmth was quickly going. The wind was a lot less than Tuesday night as well.

Up out of the village past the Black Bull and The Farmers Boy before realising that I hadn't set the Garmin going properly so after a quick talking to myself I continued up the hill (I am sure I'd have got a KOM on the first ascent as well )

I was glad that I'd put my leggings and jacket on as the wind definitely had a cool edge to it. The climb up Piper Wells soon warmed me up and then up the Haddingley drag. This time instead of turning left onto the Windmills I went straight on with the lights on the Holme Moss transmitter shining brightly as my beacon!

The legs felt a bit heavy but I can't have done too bad as I bagged a PR before I turned left up the short climb before the long sweeping descent past Winscar Reservoir, passing a couple of friendly cyclists heading up the hill.

At Dunford Bridge it was a left to tackle the Brookhill climb - relatively short but with between 10-16% climbing!

By now it was getting truly dark and as I headed through Carlecotes and to the junction with the main road I rechecked my rear light was working before heading up Flint Lane and past the Fox House pub. I was glad to turn off onto the quieter lanes as the road was unusually busy, effectively retracing my steps home, up the Hog Lane Chicane then down the Haddingley drag.

I took my usual right to ride behind the quarry then down the main road. Instead of turning left I decided to head straight down the main road which is now a 30MPH zone all of the way down. I was being a bit cautious but still appeared (according to Garmin/Strava) to record a speed of 36MPH on that section - Oops Heavy braking and left into the village before home and a nice hot shower

https://www.relive.cc/view/940827133

https://www.strava.com/activities/940827133

14.1 miles 1,381ft of climbing[/S]

 

[gaz71]

Ive just got back from my longest ride of the year so far.Went through Bushy park,lower Sunbry,Walton,Esher (even made it up the hill going into Esher which for an 18st lump on a heavy hybrid wasnt easy!)Surbiton,Kingston,back into Bushy park then home.Just over 30 miles in all and taken me to over 100 miles for the week.

 

[redvision95]

Haven't been riding much because I've not been feeling too good, but I had to go and deliver something I had sold online to Darlaston. 4.2 miles along the roadway, took me just over an hour which is a huge improvement over the time it had taken me last time to do it.
Coming back, I extended the ride. Went a mile down the road to get onto the canal towpaths where they have resurfaced them. Another 4 miles back along the towpaths.

A total of 9.2 miles. Not a huge distance but I'm trying. Hopefully, it will be a bit easier when I get my new bike that fits me.

 

[MossCommuter]

Got back from my 1st cycle mini-tour last night. Took my two sons age 11 and 14 for a little tester to check out the feasibility of bigger, more involved tours in the future. Travelling from Ashton-under-Lyne on Tuesday headed for a campsite just outside Culcheth for our overnight stay and then on Wednesday slightly less mileage but a little hill at the end before reaching my wife's workplace where we would load the bikes onto the roof rack for a lift home to our own beds.

Day 1
View attachment 347246
From Ashton it was straight onto the Ashton Canal towards Manchester, gradually losing height as we passed along this well surfaced and often travelled route to the big smoke. My bike was like a tank as it had 4 panniers loaded with most of the gear we wanted to try and make the trip do-able but without yet heading out to buy any specialised equipment.
We stopped off at some of the notable landmarks along the way...
View attachment 347248 View attachment 347250

My favourite part of this stretch of canal is the passage under the Piccadilly area where the canal passes under/is built over by the towering buildings above. The narrow walkways and locks all occupy the gloomy space beneath where there are ALWAYS a small number of shady characters loitering suspiciously in the shadows, not really a place I would like my kids or wife to go unaccompanied!
Going underground......
View attachment 347251

Passing through the centre of Manchester along Canal Street and past Deansgate locks we decided to have a little breather outside a bar in Castlefield while the sun was shining, before continuing on the Bridgewater Canal out to Broadheath, near Altrincham, passing another famous stadium along the way.
View attachment 347252

View attachment 347253

From Broadheath we then diverted on to the Trans-Pennine Trail past Dunham Massey, leaving the trail just before Rush Green where we crossed the River Bollin on a lane that turned out to be little more than a farm track and deposited us in Warburton just before an unexpected toll bridge.
The Bollin crossing....
View attachment 347287 View attachment 347288

I would have taken a picture of the rather impressive Warburton toll bridge but it was rather busy and I was a little concerned for my two boys. After this we headed up Dam Lane and School lane past Risley Moss where I could swear we met @MossCommuter heading the other way looking fast and focused all in black! I shouted "Mossy" a couple of times as he disappeared into the distance but he either didn't hear or maybe recognised me and pretended not to hear
We crossed over the M62 and then crossed the large Birchwood landfill site via another rather bumpy and unsuitable path! It was here that our carton of milk gave up the ghost and started dripping out of the bottom of one of the panniers. Luckily by this point we were only a mile or two from our destination for the day and passed a local Sainsbury's in Culcheth so could restock the lost milk.
It was gloriously sunny when we pitched our tent for the night.
View attachment 347293
Dinner that evening was taken in the Italian restaurant in Culcheth which brought the days mileage upto 34 miles, not bad for day 1.

Oh my!

Was that you?

I was heading home (pub actually). That's my usual commute over the moss, hence MossCommuter. I was on the hybrid which was playing up (main bicycle needed a chain)

Sorry I didn't realise it was you but you did look like a cheery bunch.

 

[Supersuperleeds]

I came up with a cunning plan to get a ride in today. I suggested to our lass that I take her to Nice Pies for tea and cake. It's a bit of of her range so I proposed I ride out there and she drives. Showed her were the cafe was on google maps and decided we would meet there at 11.

I set off at 9 and half a mile in it starts to rain so I stop and put on the rain jacket. Nice wind assisted ride to the cafe and as I shoulder check to turn right into the entrance the car coming up behind me is our lass, perfect timing.

Missus has coffee and a scone, I have tea and a piece of triple sponge cake. As we are finishing two other cyclists come in (I'll come back to these)

Our lass suggested she could take some pies home for tea, so tonight I have a choice of minced beef, chicken and ham, or steak and ale

As we leave I spot one of the bikes of the two cyclists briefly mentioned is an Audax from Spa Cycles (I've been looking at these since @vickster pointed them out to me) So I went back in and had a chat with them, conclusion being I need to find time to go up to Harrogate Ride home was into the wind so was a bit harder than the out leg, despite being downhill.

By the time I'd got home I'd done 55 miles, need to clean bike now ready for the CC forum ride on Sunday.

https://www.strava.com/activities/941666884

EDIT: The Leeds cycling jersey got its maiden outing as well. Very comfortable, so if it survives our lass washing it I might get another

 

[MossCommuter]

minced beef, chicken and ham, or steak and ale

Is that a choice? Sounds like starter, main and pudding to me

 

[The_Weekend_Report_Guy]

Easy ride out this AM after yesterdays hammer fest...
37 km..
500 meters elevation gained
24C average Temp...