Your ride today....
- Thread starter gbb
- Start date
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Blue skies and gentle breezes, but degrees were lacking. This was expected to be put right reasonably soon and I had a route I wanted to ride. Me and the Spa went.
It seems a long time back that Jack Lane was closed for road works, I almost missed it. The easy way into that bit of Holbeck, the way out was on Great Wilson Street. Up to Oakwood after passing the bus station, and turn left at the clock. That is a steep bit just after there, or it may be that I had not fully warmed up. Turn right just after passing the posh gates of Roundhay Park, another right takes me across the Ring Road for the climb up to Slaid Hill.
And the wonderful whizzy road along Wike Ridge to East Keswick. A clear morning, so the views to the right were rather wonderful too. Linton next after crossing the River Wharfe, and leave the village on Northgate Lane, it’s a bit of a shortcut to the Sicklinghall Road from Wetherby. Up that village too, there is none of it after the crest, and the road meanders along, scenery doing well, to Kirkby Overblow.
And beyond, to the A61. The Wharfe does not have many bridges, I have to reach the south side of the river and Harewood Bridge is conveniently on the A61. There is a dodgy right turn (oncoming traffic is a bit close before you can see it) shortly after crossing the bridge, the A659 yet again. Not far, the left turn to Weardley is next. And it goes up a bit.
First bit, through the village. Not bad. Sharp left bend, levels out for a while. Sharp right, after it starts climbing again, steeper now, and only a bit past halfway I ran out of lungs legs and gears. There’s a false crest three trees higher up, back on the bike there, again it levels off a bit. Until the final ramp, which went fine, if a bit slow. And then everything is easy again.
Past the New Inn, wonder if it will be open on Monday? And Eccup village on the left. Straight across at Five Lane Ends, then Adel and its dam lead to the A660 and the way home via Headingley and Kirkstall. Used the road into the town centre this time, rather than the towpath, followed by the wander around Hunslet before reaching my street. With a grin. 2365 feet, and it seems I can feel each one of them, and thirty six miles. It is so good to have some clear weather at last. And to ride in it.
Some scribblings . . .
It seems a long time back that Jack Lane was closed for road works, I almost missed it. The easy way into that bit of Holbeck, the way out was on Great Wilson Street. Up to Oakwood after passing the bus station, and turn left at the clock. That is a steep bit just after there, or it may be that I had not fully warmed up. Turn right just after passing the posh gates of Roundhay Park, another right takes me across the Ring Road for the climb up to Slaid Hill.
And the wonderful whizzy road along Wike Ridge to East Keswick. A clear morning, so the views to the right were rather wonderful too. Linton next after crossing the River Wharfe, and leave the village on Northgate Lane, it’s a bit of a shortcut to the Sicklinghall Road from Wetherby. Up that village too, there is none of it after the crest, and the road meanders along, scenery doing well, to Kirkby Overblow.
And beyond, to the A61. The Wharfe does not have many bridges, I have to reach the south side of the river and Harewood Bridge is conveniently on the A61. There is a dodgy right turn (oncoming traffic is a bit close before you can see it) shortly after crossing the bridge, the A659 yet again. Not far, the left turn to Weardley is next. And it goes up a bit.
First bit, through the village. Not bad. Sharp left bend, levels out for a while. Sharp right, after it starts climbing again, steeper now, and only a bit past halfway I ran out of lungs legs and gears. There’s a false crest three trees higher up, back on the bike there, again it levels off a bit. Until the final ramp, which went fine, if a bit slow. And then everything is easy again.
Past the New Inn, wonder if it will be open on Monday? And Eccup village on the left. Straight across at Five Lane Ends, then Adel and its dam lead to the A660 and the way home via Headingley and Kirkstall. Used the road into the town centre this time, rather than the towpath, followed by the wander around Hunslet before reaching my street. With a grin. 2365 feet, and it seems I can feel each one of them, and thirty six miles. It is so good to have some clear weather at last. And to ride in it.
Some scribblings . . .
Ian H
Ancient randonneur
The first actual event this year, (No) Breakfast in Bampton, a modest 100k run impeccably with regard to Covid precautions by Sarah.
I added another 40k by riding to & from the start. Didn't quite get to 100 miles, but still my longest ride since October. No photos, sorry.
I added another 40k by riding to & from the start. Didn't quite get to 100 miles, but still my longest ride since October. No photos, sorry.
roubaixtuesday
self serving virtue signaller
Once the morning's snow had stopped and the roads dried, took the tandem out for a 20 mile blast.
Averaged nearly 17mph, overtook a couple of startled roadies in Rapha, and managed to dodge the showers too.
Most invigorating if damn cold.
Before photo:
Averaged nearly 17mph, overtook a couple of startled roadies in Rapha, and managed to dodge the showers too.
Most invigorating if damn cold.
Before photo:
Lovely sunshine and light northerly so more third character AZ hunting this morning with Q skipped; ostensibly could have been a continuation of yesterdays ride and outbound north this time avoiding the TTLs by using a rarely used bit of the A61 before heading back to the normal route on the edge of Killinghall (or rather avoiding the rest of a climb) to join the A61 further on as normal. Through Wormald Green
and then east to Bishop Monkton. Actually missed the name sign on the road in so headed north on the road to Ripon for the photo.
Had a snack by the stream with what looked to a brand new bench to make use of.
Decided to change the sportscam battery – er, no spare batteries
Was totally certain I had picked two up so puzzled headed south to Burton Leonard, scrubbed the rest of the intended ride and then looped back to Wormald Green where there was no sign of them
South then on the A61 with a new PR on the climb from South Stainley and through the TTLs to find no sign of them at home
20.68 miles 1222ft climbed.
and then east to Bishop Monkton. Actually missed the name sign on the road in so headed north on the road to Ripon for the photo.
Had a snack by the stream with what looked to a brand new bench to make use of.
Decided to change the sportscam battery – er, no spare batteries
Was totally certain I had picked two up so puzzled headed south to Burton Leonard, scrubbed the rest of the intended ride and then looped back to Wormald Green where there was no sign of them South then on the A61 with a new PR on the climb from South Stainley and through the TTLs to find no sign of them at home 20.68 miles 1222ft climbed.
theloafer
Legendary Member
- Location
- newton aycliffe
almost the same ride as yesterday..as I started out with karon but i could tell her heart was not into it ,so returned home as she had no key with her. not many out today poss due to it been chilly. decided to call in to barny along the A67 just to add a few miles on to yesterdays total. out towards Whorlton and up the bank back to the A67 . which i were i noticed my bottle missing
,so back tracked to barny scaning to road i got to where i had it last ,outside the Teesdale tearooms asked them if it had been handed in .NO but then they give me a free bottle of water to see me home ..
.coffee and scone at Eppleby cafe again 
... but as it was really cold by now they were devoured speedly and was on my way .I got to Piecebridge then the snow started which made me get head down and rush for home 60 miles with the back and forth bits .(no pics)
Morning Ride | Ride | Strava
,so back tracked to barny scaning to road i got to where i had it last ,outside the Teesdale tearooms asked them if it had been handed in .NO but then they give me a free bottle of water to see me home .. .coffee and scone at Eppleby cafe again ... but as it was really cold by now they were devoured speedly and was on my way .I got to Piecebridge then the snow started which made me get head down and rush for home 60 miles with the back and forth bits .(no pics)Morning Ride | Ride | Strava
Richard A Thackeray
Legendary Member
Bike selected; CGR, as I was on woodland/sandy tracks/bridleways
Weather; cool, broken cloud-cover, slight breeze
Photographs from today; unless dated otherwise
Geograph used; to illustrate points not covered by my own images (& to give a map location)
Nothing much, just pottered about quite locally into the woods/fields of the NewLands Estate
(which historically has links to the Templars)
First link along NewLands Lane, past the allotments & over the railway bridge south-west of Normanton Station
Past the (old) brickworks chimney; now a phone mast https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3675566
Then passing the 'Pylon Pond'; https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3516021
Down NewLands Lane to the 'crossroads'
Turning left (due south) (s/p Goosehill)
View: https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=10212718177781605&set=a.10211878570791955
Past the ponds, with the intention of circling them to head back along the river bank
https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3520326
I just came back up this climb to the 'cross-roads'
Taken Monday 27th April 2020
Once past the boisterous, but friendly, Staffie being walked, it was straight over onto the Birkwood Road section
Or, as I have known it for a long time; 'The Miners Path', it's flagstoned further along, but a lot have been lifted & stolen
At the end of the NewLands boundary wall, it was a hairpin left into the woodland, over the collapsed stonework picking a route to avoid stopping/putting a foot down
Turning near this location
https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2762301
Then a meander through, what some call the 'Bluebell Woods'
Taken Monday 27th April 2020
And across to the top of 'Summer-House' as I call it (it may be on some form of MTB strava...)
https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2091017
Then to the top;
A steady controlled ride down, to note any particular points that may cause issues
My aim being to 'clean' it, riding back up, as a complete section, & not put a foot down/stop
There's two particular points
1. a rutted portion, where you have to go up onto the outer-edge, to avoid catching pedals in the rut/erosion
2. a sometimes wet section, possibly a spring is there??, it's been covered with varyingly sized rocks
I wasn't timing myself, plus I intended using the lowest gear I've needed anywhere yet; 34 x 21 (10-speed/12-28 cassette, so '4th')
Most of it was fine, the rut skirted by going onto the ridge, skimming the fence-line at the spring-site to keep going
Some wheelslip, at particularly dusty section, but coped with
Bugger
Less than 10 yards from the top, I go off-line, at another raised section, there's a small patch of greasy surface (possibly due to overnight rain, & very light snow), but it's enough to bring me to a halt
I decided not to try it again, but just head back down through the Bluebell Wood, rattling over the tree-roots, turning north (left) out of the woods, back onto The Miners Path
Turning right (east) past the supposed 'Plague Stone' (I think it's a gate-post, that had a head on it)
https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2034484
To the side of the Mushroom Farm (Altofts Lodge Farm), which is owned by the family of one of my oldest (in terms of time known; 50 years+) friends
https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2034500
Out onto Patience Lane, past the 1930's Doctors Surgery
Onto Station Road, over the railway bridge
Left onto King Edward Street, passing the ASDA, where the swimming baths, & a cinema once stood
The old baths
Not certain of the date, but I think 2004/2005?
It was one of three, that the town had; http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/47651
Both of the others still stand!
- The Empire is a house (we considered it, before buying this, but it's on a busy junction)
now flats, I believe; https://www.movehut.co.uk/property/406764-empire-house-29-wakefield-road-normanton-west-yorkshire/
- The Grand,, has been a sewing factory, a childrens fun/party venue
Then back home.................
More information on the Estate, here; https://www.stanleyhistoryonline.com/Newland-Estate.html
Weather; cool, broken cloud-cover, slight breeze
Photographs from today; unless dated otherwise
Geograph used; to illustrate points not covered by my own images (& to give a map location)
Nothing much, just pottered about quite locally into the woods/fields of the NewLands Estate
(which historically has links to the Templars)
First link along NewLands Lane, past the allotments & over the railway bridge south-west of Normanton Station
Past the (old) brickworks chimney; now a phone mast https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3675566
Then passing the 'Pylon Pond'; https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3516021
Down NewLands Lane to the 'crossroads'
Turning left (due south) (s/p Goosehill)
View: https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=10212718177781605&set=a.10211878570791955
Past the ponds, with the intention of circling them to head back along the river bank
https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3520326
I just came back up this climb to the 'cross-roads'
Taken Monday 27th April 2020
Once past the boisterous, but friendly, Staffie being walked, it was straight over onto the Birkwood Road section
Or, as I have known it for a long time; 'The Miners Path', it's flagstoned further along, but a lot have been lifted & stolen
At the end of the NewLands boundary wall, it was a hairpin left into the woodland, over the collapsed stonework picking a route to avoid stopping/putting a foot down
Turning near this location
https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2762301
Then a meander through, what some call the 'Bluebell Woods'
Taken Monday 27th April 2020
And across to the top of 'Summer-House' as I call it (it may be on some form of MTB strava...)
https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2091017
Then to the top;
A steady controlled ride down, to note any particular points that may cause issues
My aim being to 'clean' it, riding back up, as a complete section, & not put a foot down/stop
There's two particular points
1. a rutted portion, where you have to go up onto the outer-edge, to avoid catching pedals in the rut/erosion
2. a sometimes wet section, possibly a spring is there??, it's been covered with varyingly sized rocks
I wasn't timing myself, plus I intended using the lowest gear I've needed anywhere yet; 34 x 21 (10-speed/12-28 cassette, so '4th')
Most of it was fine, the rut skirted by going onto the ridge, skimming the fence-line at the spring-site to keep going
Some wheelslip, at particularly dusty section, but coped with
Bugger
Less than 10 yards from the top, I go off-line, at another raised section, there's a small patch of greasy surface (possibly due to overnight rain, & very light snow), but it's enough to bring me to a halt
I decided not to try it again, but just head back down through the Bluebell Wood, rattling over the tree-roots, turning north (left) out of the woods, back onto The Miners Path
Turning right (east) past the supposed 'Plague Stone' (I think it's a gate-post, that had a head on it)
https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2034484
To the side of the Mushroom Farm (Altofts Lodge Farm), which is owned by the family of one of my oldest (in terms of time known; 50 years+) friends
https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2034500
Out onto Patience Lane, past the 1930's Doctors Surgery
Onto Station Road, over the railway bridge
Left onto King Edward Street, passing the ASDA, where the swimming baths, & a cinema once stood
The old baths
Not certain of the date, but I think 2004/2005?
It was one of three, that the town had; http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/47651
Both of the others still stand!
- The Empire is a house (we considered it, before buying this, but it's on a busy junction)
now flats, I believe; https://www.movehut.co.uk/property/406764-empire-house-29-wakefield-road-normanton-west-yorkshire/
- The Grand,, has been a sewing factory, a childrens fun/party venue
Then back home.................
More information on the Estate, here; https://www.stanleyhistoryonline.com/Newland-Estate.html
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cyberknight
As long as I breathe, I attack.
- Location
- Land of confusion
test ride on the new build , steady club ride as we had a new rider
rockyroller
Guru
- Location
- 20 miles northwest of Boston, MA
as much as I wanted to get out early for a ride I had errands to run & tires to swap on 2 bikes. wound up also doing maintenance on all 3 bikes. brought the bike stand out of the basement to enjoy the weather & progressively brought more stuff out for the various tasks. so after it all, I had to make similar trips back inside to stow everything. had some lunch, coffee & a cat nap, then got out for an 11 miler on the MTB
the 2 patches, 1 on ea. tire are still doing fine. losing track of how old they are. a cpl years at least
still a kid inside I guess
the 2 patches, 1 on ea. tire are still doing fine. losing track of how old they are. a cpl years at least
still a kid inside I guess
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The photos while riding, were they taken by someone else or do you have some kind of rig to take them?
rockyroller
Guru
- Location
- 20 miles northwest of Boston, MA
yeah I strap a camera to my cat & chase it. lol, no just a bit sketchy riding 1 handed w/ a collapsable camera stick w/ a quick release. I try to only do it when other ppl aren't around to see me do it, cuz it's kinda bike-nerdy. the cam is sometimes set to a 5 sec time lapse, but more often, I just take video & look for an interesting frame to grab. I try to do it over terrain I won't fall on due to the 1 hand thing. like for the water here, I rode thru it first, then again w/ the camera, after I deemed it safe. except for that deep part, I only rolled thru that once, but I took the bridge on the first pass to look into it for obstacles
I use the same mount on several helmets, bike bars, the camera stick & a small tripod. so I can go out with 1-4 cameras, usually just 1, & move it from location to location depending on what might be interesting. including underwater. I'm really interested in what happens at ground level
mudflaps do work!
the cameras have a sensor which auto rotates the clip for editing later. the stills on timelapse have to be manually rotated
the tripod is good for ride-bys, you know, coming & going
View: https://youtu.be/AYjRG5qwefg
not to hijack the thread but the cam on a stick is goofy fun
View: https://youtu.be/e3Zvu4V5wYc
or dangerous situations
View: https://youtu.be/4sZsNAWxeT8
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The photos look great.
Spiderweb
Not So Special One
- Location
- North Yorkshire
Cold and windy this morning and even some snow in the air so back wearing long bibs, warm shoe covers and a few layers. Out with Martin & Gaynor for a shorter ride out to Naburn and a take out Coffee at the Lemon Tree in Tadcaster. Nearly 27 miles with an average of 14.5 mph.
Two odd hour ride round the lanes north west of Derby for me today .Lots off other riders out and about and some in shorts on a cold windy morning!!
Heavy hail on the way back home,glad i was well togged up. Roll on summer . No pictures to cold to take gloves off .
Heavy hail on the way back home,glad i was well togged up. Roll on summer . No pictures to cold to take gloves off .
Managed to get out for the first ride in about 10 days for various reasons. Very cold with frost on the cars but bright sunshine. Headed toward Ingleborough with an idea of either heading south through Bowland or skirting the Dales. The vehicles coming toward me covered in snow, salt on the roads and snow on the Bowland fells settled that debate. So off to Clapham where I found a nice location for my picnic near the falls where I watched grey wagtails, then across the old road to Ingleton. Fabulous views but perishing, pleased I had my winter longs, buff, under hat, merino layers and sunglasses! Nothing open in either village so finished the flask and headed home. Avoided hale showers. Pleasant 46 miles with 900m of up.
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