HLaB
Marie Attoinette Fan
My usual group ride today, a slow ride out to the meet, then a circuitous route to the cafe at Oundle, then another circuitous route to the pub, before 12miles solo wobble 🍻
Your ride today....
- Thread starter gbb
- Start date
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chriswoody
Legendary Member
- Location
- Northern Germany
With the Autumn Equinox on Monday, the weather decided to produce one last glorious summers day today, with the thermometer hitting 30℃. I decided to to find some time to head north and have a pottle through the forest. I start with a short ride on country lanes before crossing the glider school and heading into the forest.
It's been a funny year weather wise and after a wet few months in June and July, we've been under drought conditions since. The trees are showing signs of stress and the forest floor is dry and dusty. Heading further north towards Wildech and the sandy soil provides some really demanding riding and I'm glad of my 19 inch low gear to get me through.
The trail soon firms up though and good gravel roads lead me onwards to the first of the heathland. A couple of weeks ago this area was a vibrant purple, but even though the colours are a little more muted today it's still a beautiful scene. A quick stop for a break and I head onwards to the memorial to the devastating 1975 forest fire, above Anglebecksteich, a sobering reminder of the current high fire risk at the moment.
I turn off now onto a firm gravel road that provides really fast riding between the stands of pine and birch. The forest slowly gets denser and darker. I pause a little while and remember the wolf pack that live here and the wolf tracks that I've seen in the past. I decide not to linger too long and soon I'm passing out into more open trails.
I'm passing through a nature reserve now and need to stop and open several gates to continue riding through.
As I reach Reberallah I join the small road behind a mountain biker, I ride behind him for the 100m towards the right turn that I will take, Then as we both turn in he angrily turns around and has a go at me asking me what my problem is. Completely dumbfounded I tell him I have no clue what he's talking about, I decided rather than get confrontational, I bid him good day, drop down a few gears and speed off back into the forest. A very odd and strange encounter the like of which I've never had before. Soon I'm back into my happy place speeding along under the trees and then the last kilometres to home arrive.
The last stretch is on quiet roads and the summer sun is beating down. It's a shame that there are no cafes where I ride, I would have loved to stop for an ice cold Radler or Ice Cream, but I'm soon home and can at least cool down with a cold drink there. Overall 46.5 km today and with the forecast for temperatures to tumble tomorrow, it was lovely to get my last summer ride in of the year.
It's been a funny year weather wise and after a wet few months in June and July, we've been under drought conditions since. The trees are showing signs of stress and the forest floor is dry and dusty. Heading further north towards Wildech and the sandy soil provides some really demanding riding and I'm glad of my 19 inch low gear to get me through.
The trail soon firms up though and good gravel roads lead me onwards to the first of the heathland. A couple of weeks ago this area was a vibrant purple, but even though the colours are a little more muted today it's still a beautiful scene. A quick stop for a break and I head onwards to the memorial to the devastating 1975 forest fire, above Anglebecksteich, a sobering reminder of the current high fire risk at the moment.
I turn off now onto a firm gravel road that provides really fast riding between the stands of pine and birch. The forest slowly gets denser and darker. I pause a little while and remember the wolf pack that live here and the wolf tracks that I've seen in the past. I decide not to linger too long and soon I'm passing out into more open trails.
I'm passing through a nature reserve now and need to stop and open several gates to continue riding through.
As I reach Reberallah I join the small road behind a mountain biker, I ride behind him for the 100m towards the right turn that I will take, Then as we both turn in he angrily turns around and has a go at me asking me what my problem is. Completely dumbfounded I tell him I have no clue what he's talking about, I decided rather than get confrontational, I bid him good day, drop down a few gears and speed off back into the forest. A very odd and strange encounter the like of which I've never had before. Soon I'm back into my happy place speeding along under the trees and then the last kilometres to home arrive.
The last stretch is on quiet roads and the summer sun is beating down. It's a shame that there are no cafes where I ride, I would have loved to stop for an ice cold Radler or Ice Cream, but I'm soon home and can at least cool down with a cold drink there. Overall 46.5 km today and with the forecast for temperatures to tumble tomorrow, it was lovely to get my last summer ride in of the year.
lazybloke
Ginger biscuits and cheddar
- Location
- Leafy Surrey
Been really busy visiting my father-in-law in hospital over the summer, but things are starting to settle down having just moved him into a care home. Yesterday was a rare opportunity to go out on the bike, so joined Shadow and Tim on a tour of Sussex vineyards.
Had I planned better, I wouldn't have been so hungover, and would have used a faster bike. It was a real struggle to maintain a decent speed, and I had to put the hammer down just to get to the 20 miles to the meeting point, and I'd clearly gone too far into the red.
Met Shadow & Tim at Horsham Station, then headed off for Ditching at a speed that was difficult me me to maintain, Fine on the flat, but the hills were increasingly challenging. I was starting to feel really quite dreadful with the hangover and tiredness. The first tastings (Court GArdens vineyard, Ditchling) helped with the hangover, and a hefty lunch sorted out my hunger..
Continued to struggle all the way over to Nutbourne for our last tasting at Ambriel vineyard; that last hill was a la pied.
Finished our tastings, and I was starting to feel the effects of the booze; so of course we next stopped at the pub for a pint!
Then a quick ride to Pulborough and trains home.
A really lovely day exploring the Sussex countryside on lovely lanes ; many familiar, others not so. Would have enjoyed them more on my road bike.
Total distance was 74 miles, at an average speed of 13.7 mph, which would be poor on my Allez, but might be my fastest ever ride on the Croix de Fer; no wonder I'm knackered.
Peak speed was over 45mph!
Many thanks to @Shadow for organising.
Had I planned better, I wouldn't have been so hungover, and would have used a faster bike. It was a real struggle to maintain a decent speed, and I had to put the hammer down just to get to the 20 miles to the meeting point, and I'd clearly gone too far into the red.
Met Shadow & Tim at Horsham Station, then headed off for Ditching at a speed that was difficult me me to maintain, Fine on the flat, but the hills were increasingly challenging. I was starting to feel really quite dreadful with the hangover and tiredness. The first tastings (Court GArdens vineyard, Ditchling) helped with the hangover, and a hefty lunch sorted out my hunger..
Continued to struggle all the way over to Nutbourne for our last tasting at Ambriel vineyard; that last hill was a la pied.
Finished our tastings, and I was starting to feel the effects of the booze; so of course we next stopped at the pub for a pint!
Then a quick ride to Pulborough and trains home.
A really lovely day exploring the Sussex countryside on lovely lanes ; many familiar, others not so. Would have enjoyed them more on my road bike.
Total distance was 74 miles, at an average speed of 13.7 mph, which would be poor on my Allez, but might be my fastest ever ride on the Croix de Fer; no wonder I'm knackered.
Peak speed was over 45mph!
Many thanks to @Shadow for organising.
The day after the storm. Yesterday was very wet with a lot of localised flooding. Today that water had mainly made its way into the rivers but there was a lot still on the roads. I made my way northwards to Burton in Kendal and skirted Milnthorpe in an attempt to reach Natland near Kendal. My first attempt was thwarted as repairs were ongoing on the railway bridge so I followed the diversion. Unfortunately, this led to a minor road that went under the railway further along that was full of water. There was no way I could attempt to ride this flood so I retreated and took an alternative route through Sedgwick to Natland. I then headed west and the climb up Scout Scar. This afforded great views from Helsington Church across the flooded Lyth Valley. Lunch was had at Levens shop which is very bike friendly and then I crossed the Heversham marshes to Arnside, Silverdale and back home. 86 km with 890 m of climbing.
Pictures of River Kent in flood, Lythe valley and coast at Silverdale.
Pictures of River Kent in flood, Lythe valley and coast at Silverdale.
HLaB
Marie Attoinette Fan
There wasn't enough out today to form 3 groups (of different ability) so we formed 1 group. I suggested with the strong wind we went north west and inland to plenty of cafe stops, but hey ho I was overuled and we went to the flat Fens. On hindsight with me wind breaking it meant we mostly stayed together. Apart from my mate on an e'bike. He was really enjoying himself too but felt his knee go again and turned back.
I was expecting the middle group riders to ask for a coffee stop but there really isn't much in the Fens except for bad drivers and they were enjoying the draft, so I had to wait until I got home for my coffee stop.
I was expecting the middle group riders to ask for a coffee stop but there really isn't much in the Fens except for bad drivers and they were enjoying the draft, so I had to wait until I got home for my coffee stop.
Spiderweb
Not So Special One
- Location
- North Yorkshire
Ride via The Solar System Way to Bosun’s in Bishopthorpe for brunch with friends Martin & Gaynor then 36 miles solo, great ride and a beautiful day.
70.7 miles with an average of 14.1 mph.
£38 earned for The Marmalade Trust, my works supported charity👍
70.7 miles with an average of 14.1 mph.
£38 earned for The Marmalade Trust, my works supported charity👍
FrankCrank
Old layabout
Wot - no deep fried battered mars bar?
HLaB
Marie Attoinette Fan
Do you get them in Fenland or anywhere outside the west coast of Scotland? (Thankfully for my heart, I'm from the East).
FrankCrank
Old layabout
I only know them as a Scottish delicacy - gotta be better than fried scorpions and crickets and whatnot you can get over this way,
HLaB
Marie Attoinette Fan
Nah, its just the media playing a stereotype as usual. I don't think I actually saw any growing up on the east coast. It more of a central west coast thing and correlates well to one of the highest rates of heart disease etc in the UK.
HLaB
Marie Attoinette Fan
It was time for my annual HGV medical in Milton Keynes.
I used to ride all the way there & back but now I drive half way & ride the rest..
About 16 miles with a chilly start but a bit warmer once I was heading back, passed as fit to drive a 44 tonne tfark for another year.
I used to ride all the way there & back but now I drive half way & ride the rest..
About 16 miles with a chilly start but a bit warmer once I was heading back, passed as fit to drive a 44 tonne tfark for another year.
roubaixtuesday
self serving virtue signaller
Couldn't resist a cheeky extension on the way home, surprisingly featuring a PB on this bad boy.
https://strava.app.link/n0YskiG8TWb — Charity lane steep bit
https://strava.app.link/n0YskiG8TWb — Charity lane steep bit
Absolute belter of a ride today...
Drove to Machynlleth, the idea being to get the train to Barmouth and ide back via Tonfanau, Tywyn and Aberdyfi. We were pushing it a bit for time, but would have made the train. Unfortunately, the car park at the station was out of use and as nice as the fella there was, he waffled on for ages, so we we parked down the road, bombed it up to the station and asked the lady what platform our train was. 'That's it there, it's going' (or something like that) as we watched it disappear from the station
They're every two hours from there, so it was a toss up between riding to Aberystwyth and back (I think maybe 25 mile round trip?) or just going the opposite way to the one we planned, and that was the one we chose. It was a good decision, had the wind behind us as we set off and it made the hills so much easier. I'm very unfit, so the first climb out of Machynlleth was tough and I stopped a couple of times as my asthma was fairly bad.
Once we'd set our own pace though, it was brilliant and I got up most of the hills without a rest and actually enjoyed them. Aberdyfi as nice as ever, quick break there and we were starting to warm up a bit now. On to Tywyn and we also had a bit of a stop there. After that, we missed some of the quieter roads around Tonfanau because of the way we came in, but saw some bits I hadn't before including the bridge. I'd also like to have gone to the gates of the dis-used quarry for a quick photo (I used to call there in a job I had many years ago) but we'd skirted that being a little further down. It was nice to see the railway station there (it seems a very random place to have one) and the old army barracks/shooting range (I assume that's what they were). The day had started off very cold (three t-shirts and a thin coat cold!) but we got warmed up after a while.
A very, very enjoyable ride and it only leaves us one last leg (Oswestry and home) of riding from Barmouth to Chester albeit over a few weeks or more, just doing one bit at a time.
Oh, to cap it all the train journey from Barmouth to Machynlleth was awesome.
Drove to Machynlleth, the idea being to get the train to Barmouth and ide back via Tonfanau, Tywyn and Aberdyfi. We were pushing it a bit for time, but would have made the train. Unfortunately, the car park at the station was out of use and as nice as the fella there was, he waffled on for ages, so we we parked down the road, bombed it up to the station and asked the lady what platform our train was. 'That's it there, it's going' (or something like that) as we watched it disappear from the station
They're every two hours from there, so it was a toss up between riding to Aberystwyth and back (I think maybe 25 mile round trip?) or just going the opposite way to the one we planned, and that was the one we chose. It was a good decision, had the wind behind us as we set off and it made the hills so much easier. I'm very unfit, so the first climb out of Machynlleth was tough and I stopped a couple of times as my asthma was fairly bad.
Once we'd set our own pace though, it was brilliant and I got up most of the hills without a rest and actually enjoyed them. Aberdyfi as nice as ever, quick break there and we were starting to warm up a bit now. On to Tywyn and we also had a bit of a stop there. After that, we missed some of the quieter roads around Tonfanau because of the way we came in, but saw some bits I hadn't before including the bridge. I'd also like to have gone to the gates of the dis-used quarry for a quick photo (I used to call there in a job I had many years ago) but we'd skirted that being a little further down. It was nice to see the railway station there (it seems a very random place to have one) and the old army barracks/shooting range (I assume that's what they were). The day had started off very cold (three t-shirts and a thin coat cold!) but we got warmed up after a while.
A very, very enjoyable ride and it only leaves us one last leg (Oswestry and home) of riding from Barmouth to Chester albeit over a few weeks or more, just doing one bit at a time.
Oh, to cap it all the train journey from Barmouth to Machynlleth was awesome.
- Location
- Shrewsbury, Shropshire
As is often the case I have a bit of catching up to do. There was the C2C as already mentioned by @gavgav earlier in the thread. I'll write a bit on that in the Travelogues section in a little while. (Edit: now done: https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/whitehaven-to-tynemouth-c2c-aug-sept-2025.306221/ ) The rest of the month has been a bit of a disaster cycling wise due to work, weather and other commitments. I didn't get my first non-commuting ride in until the 16th. I hadn't expected to be able to get out but a short window of opportunity presented so I took it. My regular loop to Condover, Upton Magna, Uffington and into the town centre fitted the bill time-wise so I got the Hawk out and did that.
I was lucky to get a good gap to join the A49 as it got quite busy once I was on it. There was a bit of traffic while heading to Condover too, so it was nice once through the village to join a quieter Lyons Lane and also pick up a tailwind which helped me along to Berrington, Cross Houses, and Atcham. Here I got a gap in the traffic fairly quickly and, resisting the temptation of riding through Attingham Park, made good progress to Upton Magna with what I knew would be the last of the tailwind for the trip.
It wasn't too bad on the way to Uffington and the old canal path is fairly sheltered by trees so it wasn't until Sydney Avenue that I really felt the effects of the headwind properly. After heavy rain in the preceding couple of days, the river was almost level with the towpath at Castlefields. I went along it for a short way but there were quite a lot of people out walking so I thought I'd climb up St. Mary's Water Lane and go round the town centre. Got a "Fair play to you" comment from a passer by on the climb.
All was good through the centre apart from one driver who apparently didn't like a cyclist being in front, even though I was happily keeping up with the traffic in front.
I saw my brother at work - he was busy so didn't spot me, then headed through The Quarry and into Coleham over Greyfriars Bridge. by now it was school kicking out time and I'd forgotten that Greyfriars Road gets closed for this so it was an alternative route to cut across to Belle Vue Road. I didn't forget about the roadworks taking place on Hereford Road though and made sure of taking a detour through Meole Brace to avoid those. Busy by the primary school and there were a few kids on bikes but not enough of them to cause a hold up.
20.7 miles at 13.5 mph average. Good to get out and I hadn't realised how much I'd needed a ride that wasn't a commute.
I was lucky to get a good gap to join the A49 as it got quite busy once I was on it. There was a bit of traffic while heading to Condover too, so it was nice once through the village to join a quieter Lyons Lane and also pick up a tailwind which helped me along to Berrington, Cross Houses, and Atcham. Here I got a gap in the traffic fairly quickly and, resisting the temptation of riding through Attingham Park, made good progress to Upton Magna with what I knew would be the last of the tailwind for the trip.
It wasn't too bad on the way to Uffington and the old canal path is fairly sheltered by trees so it wasn't until Sydney Avenue that I really felt the effects of the headwind properly. After heavy rain in the preceding couple of days, the river was almost level with the towpath at Castlefields. I went along it for a short way but there were quite a lot of people out walking so I thought I'd climb up St. Mary's Water Lane and go round the town centre. Got a "Fair play to you" comment from a passer by on the climb.
All was good through the centre apart from one driver who apparently didn't like a cyclist being in front, even though I was happily keeping up with the traffic in front.I saw my brother at work - he was busy so didn't spot me, then headed through The Quarry and into Coleham over Greyfriars Bridge. by now it was school kicking out time and I'd forgotten that Greyfriars Road gets closed for this so it was an alternative route to cut across to Belle Vue Road. I didn't forget about the roadworks taking place on Hereford Road though and made sure of taking a detour through Meole Brace to avoid those. Busy by the primary school and there were a few kids on bikes but not enough of them to cause a hold up.
20.7 miles at 13.5 mph average. Good to get out and I hadn't realised how much I'd needed a ride that wasn't a commute.
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