Your ride today....

[Pduk]

Went for my weekly mid week after work ride round my local reservoir, it's just over a 4 mile circular so I do laps. Picked up a puncture after lap 1 new inner tube fitted and normal service resumed.
Was so windy and very little cover so average pace was slightly down.
Still it was a lovely evening for it, and just over 20 miles logged.

 

[Chislenko]

A very easy ride today in beautiful sunshine. Only 23 miles and I managed to fit a coffee stop into such a short distance but a very pleasurable no pressure ride.

Right leg is still knackered but the new electric bike is helping greatly.

Must admit I have found it hard to even get on the bike the last few months but have enjoyed this last week. Have now made all my rides private on Strava and muted all my followers so all I get is my rides, see how many miles covered etc with no external pressure to compete against xy and z.

A far more enjoyable way to cycle. (Spoken like an old bloke🙂)

The new e-bike

 

[Binky]

41 miles 2700ft climbing. Saw this couple coming the other way with dog aboard, quite cute.

 

[Cavalol]

Got up too late to do the planned route to Fairbourne today, so went over Barmouth railway bridge again, then went left at the end to find the Arthog Bog. A local lady kindly showed me the way, she said 'blink and you'll miss it' and wasn't wrong! Headed to the road, checked the time and decided to head back to the bridge. Then I checked out what looks like possibly an old quarry on the right, so took a ride down the rocky road. I ended up in a small forest somewhere near Arthog, then pushed the bike up the steep wooded hill to the top, got back on and rode it down/around until I ended up by the bridge again and rode over it back to Barmouth. Not too many people about, couple of chaps who looked like they were on a cycling holiday and one other person cycling. I'll come back on a hybrid next time and go a lot further. I must say

though, the old £15 Elswick 'Turbo 12' was surprisingly good off road, even on rocky paths etc. I didn't half miss modern gears and brakes though!

 

[geocycle]

Day one of a cycling adventure in Barnard Castle. I took the Spa elan with my newish Carradice cambria saddlebag. It extends from a standard 9L day bag to 17L in longflap mode and I was impressed it swallowed all my stuff for a short break in an air b and b. The outrun took me through Ingleton to Ribblehead where I watched a freight train cross the viaduct. After Newby Head I stopped in Hawes at the Stage 1 cafe and bike shop for lunch. Next was the big climb of the day up Buttertubs, I’d been a bit apprehensive but it wasn’t too bad. Great views, especially looking into Swaledale. I headed up valley through Keld where the meadows still haven’t been cut and looked superb. Next was Stonedale with some steep pitches leading to the iconic Tan Hill pub. It’s got very popular with motorhomes and I didn’t stop long. That was the high point of the ride and I headed down to Teesdale via the Sleightholme moor path. I’ve not done this for 20 years and it’s got quite rough but just bout ok with care on the elan. A strong tailwind took me to Barney. 105 km with 1800 m of climbing.

Pictures of view from Buttertubs, limestone Swaledale, the gritstone moorland around Tan Hill and the start of Sleightholme moor road.

 

[a.twiddler]

3/7/25
A Pootle round some local Lanes on the Rans.

I’d been trying to get organised to set off early one day this week to do a 50 or 60 miler, maybe more but with one thing and another it didn’t happen. Today I just went for a ride “round the block”.

There were road works outside the back gate so I walked the bike downhill to the left on the pavement before getting on to the road and riding through some cones. A couple of cycle tourists came the other way, and a couple more once I got going.

Before long I was at Darnhall bridge lights wondering if I was going to have to stop but the lights turned green before I reached them so I was able to change up and charge through them. Getting up the other side seemed easy, and I was soon on the road to Wettenhall.

Once I’d gone down the dip to Bankside Brook, up again and turned right to cross it again on Long Lane there was a long gradual climb to Alpraham. Here I turned right into Alpraham Lane, through Back Lane and Winterford Lane.

After a few ups and downs (and pulling in to allow oncoming cars to pass in the narrow lane) I came to Eaton. Right on the road to Cotebrook and sooner than expected I came to the A49. Traffic was fierce here. I’d reached the A49 at the wrong point so I got my map out to check. The blast from the passing traffic threatened to snatch it out of my hands.

If I doubled back and took a turn off I could miss the A49 altogether which was a pleasant thought so I turned round and went back. The left turn for Beech Lane soon appeared. I was a little lost for a while. Then the turning for Brownhills Road appeared on the right and it all fell into place. I was a bit closer to home than I’d expected. I pulled right into the hedge a bit further on to allow a tractor with a wide spiky bit of machinery behind it to get past, then pushed steadily on.

In Rushton Lane I photographed a cottage with a detached chimney which I’d passed many times but never got a photo of.

Then the old brick walls of Oulton Park.

Rushton Lane, Dogmore Lane, left on to Hickhurst Lane. The day was heating up but at this point I had a following wind.

I stopped to photograph a bare pole which once held some direction signs. It still had a footpath sign pointing away from the road. Alongside it was a stile.

On I went. Hickhurst Lane met Winsford Road where I turned left, end on to Hall Lane. I heard a helicopter sound from the right and an autogiro flew from right to left and curved round out of sight. There is a small airfield in a farm nearby and it looks like it dropped down and landed. I had my camera out and managed to take a picture in its general direction. On looking at it later, it showed up as a speck. I zoomed in and there was something visible. I hoped I could make it a decent picture on the computer.

A sporty cyclist zoomed past and said “hi”. Most of the cyclists I’d seen today were travelling much more slowly. Too blooming hot!

I was soon at Darnhall bridge in time for an obliging green light to let me through. Taking it easy after the climb out, I took my time to get to my back gate. The road works were still ongoing so I hopped on the pavement to get there.

Distance 17.22 miles. Max speed 25.5 mph. Average 9.2 mph. According to Garmin.
Ascent 418 ft. According to Bikehike.

 

[HLaB]

Spinning a lot better tonight when it wasn't blowing a gale and I got 7h sleep.
I managed to drag the two folk I was riding with up Warmington Hill for PRs for them 👍

 

[C R]

More or less the same circuit as on Tuesday, but with a lot less wind, so a whole five minutes quicker. It is nice being back on the bike enjoying the views of the local lanes.

 

[Cavalol]

La

You've just taken me back 40-odd years in time, we lived up the estuary in Dolgellau for a few years until end of my first year at Ysgol Y Gader secondary school (which I've googled after typing and it was closed down in '17).

I think it was '84 when we went to Fairbourne beach to find a hard upper crust of sand due to the heat. Not been back to the area since around '90 and I'd dearly love to see how it's all changed and to do some cycling in those wonderful hills.

Arthog (close to Fairbourne) has at least one climb in Simon Warren's top UK climbs list, up to near Cregennan Lake.
Cader Rd from Dolgellau approaches Cregennan Lake on a longer, more gradual climb.
Fron Serth in Dolgellau is a rampy climb heading towards...
Bwlch Y Groes from the steep south side
Along with Mawddach Trail along the estruary.
etc.

Last time visited the area (3 years ago, iirc) someone in Fairbourne told us that they (government? local council? local authority?) had done a survey or something and that they literally can't fight the tide any longer and that Fairbourne would eventually be swallowed by the sea. Seems a real shame as its a nice place, and even getting that little train along the coast to meet the ferry to Barmouth is a real pleasure.

 

[geocycle]

Windy! Day 2 of my short break in the north Pennines was defined by a ridiculous westerly, more typical for October than July. Nevertheless, I headed out from Barnard Castle and up Teesdale. It’s really stunning and a great place to ride. The wind was tolerable early morning and I enjoyed the gentle gradients untilLangdon Beck. Shortly after I started the first big climb over to Weardale. This was definitely wind assisted and felt easier than it should be. The descent was very steep and I was hanging on to the brakes. I made my way up Weardale and into Cumbria. The climb over black hill was very sketchy, I was close to pushing because of the cross winds. The descent to Nenthead was character building. A flapjack from the village stop restored equilibrium but that was shattered again by a very tough climb out of the village with gradients well over 20% and a viscous headwind.i was extremely pleased to connect with the Alston road and the climb up into Teesdale. It’s a significant point dividing the North and Irish Sea. The descent down Teesdale is stunning although I had to really concentrate because of the cross tailwind. After a brief pause at High Force I was not tempted by £3.95 to see the waterfall, especially as the cafe was shut. I made it back to Barnard Castle just as the rain came. 100.3 km with 1947 m of climbing.

Pictures were limited by the weather but here is some typical scenery.

 

[Mburton1993]

Another 175 miler, without the detour this time. The weekend forecast looked rubbish.

There's a 3ish mile stretch between Shrewsbury and Dorrington that was quite tricky, it was narrow and I think every lorry in the country was on that bit of road this morning. Saw a nice pub though:

Got a very nice tail wind on the return again.

A good ride.

 

[sevenfourate]

New route, new sights, new tarmac. Same old Deer, dopey pigeons and of course tens of rabbits to avoid. Standard stuff if you’re out proper early doors on Country roads……..

And I’m enjoying my cycling - after a bit of a lull. But when you’ve got multiple interests: that’s standard stuff too 😁

Oulton Broad pre-sunrise @circa 4.15am

Barnby Church, Suffolk:

North Cove Church, complete with Thatched roof:

Beccles Quay in Suffolk:

Biggest most colourful Hare (?) I’ve ever seen:

The impressive, imposing and very grand St Michael’s in Beccles. This is its stand alone / free standing 100+ foot Bell Tower:

The lowdown:

 

[wafter]

A very slow, tired 10ish miles round the fields near the homestead on the Ragley yesterday; partially just to get out of the hot house into the cool evening air, partially to continue my riding streak which currently stands at 21 consecutive days

Nothing hugely remarkable; the ride began with an unpleasant altercation with a speeding van driver as I tried to cross the road - whereby they actually came to a dead stop after passing me; hurling abuse from the open window for daring to air my dissatisfaction at them coming into the village on a blind bend at likely double the prescribed speed.. thankfully they remained in their vehicle after they were curtly and very aggressively reminded of the speed limit; as I rode in the opposite direction leaving traffic accumulating behind them.

Into the gloriously dickhead-devoid countryside to startle a few rabbits and muntjac while passing a few other folk on foot also out enjoying the evening.

Had fun on a single-carriageway gated road - rolling down a hilly bit towards a relatively gentle if poorly-sighted right hander. There's minimal traffic here but it pays to be cautious and for once I used my brain a bit; mulling over the need to scrub off a bit of speed. Positioned to the hard left for visibilty and potential egress I reminded myself that the brakes were very good on this bike as I continued to roll unimpeded... bloody good job as a kid came smashing round the corner in a golf. He hit the brakes (if not very quickly) I braked hard and dropped off the road onto a bit of sunken / bare verge; the bike handling it admirably. No harm done and were were probably both going a bit quicker than we should have been.

Finally I looped back into the village via a narrow, deserted path running uphill through a wheat field. Was making good progress until a massive crater brought me to a stop; it taking maybe five or six attempts to get going again on the loose, steep grad - failing to get enough momentum to continue and repeatedly slipping off the back of the saddle until I'd finally found the right gear and some traction.

As usual nice to get out and I continue to love the Ragley

 

[geocycle]

Day three of my cycling break in the north Pennines. After yesterday’s storms I apprehensively opened the curtains and was pleasantly surprised with sunshine. The forecast suggested I stick to the east and a strong SW wind was blowing that had to be negotiated. With all that in mind I decided on a shorter, flatter ride to Richmond. It was a lovely contrast with the last two days of rugged uplands, and rough pasture was replaced with wheat fields. The only hitch on the outward section was having to detour around the closed Whorlton suspension bridge and a slightly nervy crossing of the A66. I passed through wonderful stone villages to Richmond which serviced me with coffee and scone. The return was harder with more sections into the strong warm wind. 68 km with 950 m of climbing.

Pictures of the lowlands lead to the north York moors and the lovely River Tees.

 

[HLaB]

Crawled the 7.7miles out to the group ride meet. It was a ridiculous head wind an blood wasnt flowing in my ankles or feet yet (D@m chemo). The meet was just one person though, everyone else was on holiday or TT'ing. Thankfully the feet woke up for the next 29.5miles to the cafe; even though most of that was headwind it was 19.1mph. We then met another mate for ☕️ and 🍰 after which the next 17miles were more relaxed; being mainly tailwind though it was still 19mph.