Windle
Über Member
- Location
- Burnthouses
I think there's one up our way too, as well a Toronto, Quebec, Philadelphia and New York. Oh, and Washington of course.
Your ride today....
- Thread starter gbb
- Start date
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I think there's one up our way too, as well a Toronto, Quebec, Philadelphia and New York. Oh, and Washington of course.
Windle
Über Member
- Location
- Burnthouses
Seeing as it was a cracking sunny day I decided I had to get out for only my fourth ride of the year. Still plenty of crisp snow about as I headed into Cockfield.
It was a fully road ride as gravel is an aquatic sport at the moment. Through Cockfield and up the bank past our closed tip to Evenwood, through there to Evenwood Gate then down the back lane along part of the W2W national cycle network. Here, just before Hilton I encountered a pond with, worryingly, a car turning round at the other end
. I checked the level compared to the grassy edges and reckoned it would be passable by bike. It was, as long as dry feet weren't a requirement. Having to pedal most of the way through my feet were under water for most of it. What a d#ckhead 
.
No, matter, they weren't too cold despite it being barely above zero. Up the climb from Hilton to the junction with the delightfully surfaced A688 at the closed Sun Inn then left along there for a mile before turning right to head up Keverstone bank. Raby Estates have been doing a lot of tree felling in the wood opposite us and have laid a sort of haul road on the old grassy track that heads off from the first bend.
I'd love a ride up through there but theres no public access. Another mile with a few 10% sections (that I haven't ridden for ages) and I was back home for nearly 9 miles with 650 feet of climbing done. This kind of day reignites the enthusiasm for getting out. Roll on spring.
It was a fully road ride as gravel is an aquatic sport at the moment. Through Cockfield and up the bank past our closed tip to Evenwood, through there to Evenwood Gate then down the back lane along part of the W2W national cycle network. Here, just before Hilton I encountered a pond with, worryingly, a car turning round at the other end
. I checked the level compared to the grassy edges and reckoned it would be passable by bike. It was, as long as dry feet weren't a requirement. Having to pedal most of the way through my feet were under water for most of it. What a d#ckhead .No, matter, they weren't too cold despite it being barely above zero. Up the climb from Hilton to the junction with the delightfully surfaced A688 at the closed Sun Inn then left along there for a mile before turning right to head up Keverstone bank. Raby Estates have been doing a lot of tree felling in the wood opposite us and have laid a sort of haul road on the old grassy track that heads off from the first bend.
I'd love a ride up through there but theres no public access. Another mile with a few 10% sections (that I haven't ridden for ages) and I was back home for nearly 9 miles with 650 feet of climbing done. This kind of day reignites the enthusiasm for getting out. Roll on spring.
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Shearwater Missile
Veteran
- Location
- Stowmarket
After that cloudless start to the day by the time I went out for my jaunt it had of course clouded somewhat. Still, it was still brighter than of late and thankful to be out. A usual route and with the exception of one flood, it was pretty much dry roads. The flooded bit is about 3-4 inches deep, so nothing major. It`s when you go through floodwater that covers the bottom of the pedal stroke I don`t like.
The front wheel I trued after the off on Thursday is now super again. Shimano wheels may be a bit heavier than some but they are quite resilient. FLW ! It was the first time in nearly 5000 miles that I had to true it, it was nothing major but enough to annoy me. It`s funny that the new wheels I have bought in the past I have always had to true out of the box. After that they are fine, even after potholing.
So the ride today, 18.7 miles 15.5 mph ave 489ft climbing
The front wheel I trued after the off on Thursday is now super again. Shimano wheels may be a bit heavier than some but they are quite resilient. FLW ! It was the first time in nearly 5000 miles that I had to true it, it was nothing major but enough to annoy me. It`s funny that the new wheels I have bought in the past I have always had to true out of the box. After that they are fine, even after potholing.
So the ride today, 18.7 miles 15.5 mph ave 489ft climbing
Attachments
Wet and windy after yesterday’s frost and sunshine with the only comparison being a ‘feels like’ temperature of -1. Still I was on a mission to get in at least a 50 km ride for the monthly challenge. I had in mind a low level three rivers ride, with the first stop at Crook of Lune. I could see vestiges of snow on the hills so I’d made a good choice of route. The next 20 km were into a cold headwind which then turned to heavy rain as I approached Scorton. I headed into the Priory cafe to warm up. The return took me over the Wyre and Condor before picking up the Lune again. 52 km with 465 m of climbing.
Just the one picture of the Lune before the rain came.
Just the one picture of the Lune before the rain came.
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Elybazza61
Guru
Not really an outside ride day so hopped on the indoor trainer for a short warm up and then an endurance work out;
42.5kms in total.
42.5kms in total.
Despite the grimness outside and feeling knackered after an amount of walking and peopling over the past few days, I didn't want today to descend into one of those where I'd just festered inside all day.
As usual the rain radar data told a far more detailed story of what was going on than the "meh, you might get wet" general forcast and by about 15:00 both the rain and my washing machine had stopped, so out of excuses I smashed some more caffeine and pushed out on what would be the first proper leisure ride of the year, and probably the past nine months.
Out the opposite way to usual and almost straight onto relatively quiet country roads. I'd left in a fleece but soon had to stop to don the waterproof as the irritating drizzle turned into something more serious. Just in time for the sizeable Foxcombe hill. While in the past I used to use said hill to benchmark my (lack of) fitness with full-bore ascents to the top, today the lovely low gearing on the Fuji made a leisurely 5mph climb feel almost effortless.
Once I'd got to the top the rain had stopped and I'd begun boiling in the bag as the sweat and captured rainwater began to get excited, so the coat came off and before I'd had chance to get back on the bike was refitted as the rain began again in ernest
Stopped for a few crap photos of the Fuji with the view over the valley to the city (not that you'd know it given how tiny it is in the distance) before carrying on around the lanes and finally into town.
Wintery grey skies, sporadic rain and cold hands notwithstanding it was nice to get out in what felt much more like the Fuji's natural environment; just moseying along at a fairly constant speed with the odd nice lazy gear change. Again it wasn't all splendid however as ongoing large scale building work in the area was increasingly obvious; driving home how the green landscape is slowly being consumed by bland-beige debt-boxes
While the rural bit was refreshing as I don't think I really encountered any car w*nkers; the city streets were a different story getting undertaken by two dickheads on illegal ebikes, somewhat close-passed and regretfully ogled by some knobhead taxi driver, and played-chicken-with by some bellend bus driver who seemed to think it was my place to squeeze into the less-than-ideal gap he left on my side of the road as he pulled out around some parked cars.
Stopped for a bit at the covered market for a salted caramel cannoli (which was fantastic, if not something to be made a habit of) then it was home along the tow path - scoring some wet feet from my bow-wave as the water had risen compared to past days.
A mixed bag but nice to get out and another 20 miles under the belt; which was more than I was expecting.
As usual the rain radar data told a far more detailed story of what was going on than the "meh, you might get wet" general forcast and by about 15:00 both the rain and my washing machine had stopped, so out of excuses I smashed some more caffeine and pushed out on what would be the first proper leisure ride of the year, and probably the past nine months.
Out the opposite way to usual and almost straight onto relatively quiet country roads. I'd left in a fleece but soon had to stop to don the waterproof as the irritating drizzle turned into something more serious. Just in time for the sizeable Foxcombe hill. While in the past I used to use said hill to benchmark my (lack of) fitness with full-bore ascents to the top, today the lovely low gearing on the Fuji made a leisurely 5mph climb feel almost effortless.
Once I'd got to the top the rain had stopped and I'd begun boiling in the bag as the sweat and captured rainwater began to get excited, so the coat came off and before I'd had chance to get back on the bike was refitted as the rain began again in ernest
Stopped for a few crap photos of the Fuji with the view over the valley to the city (not that you'd know it given how tiny it is in the distance) before carrying on around the lanes and finally into town.
Wintery grey skies, sporadic rain and cold hands notwithstanding it was nice to get out in what felt much more like the Fuji's natural environment; just moseying along at a fairly constant speed with the odd nice lazy gear change. Again it wasn't all splendid however as ongoing large scale building work in the area was increasingly obvious; driving home how the green landscape is slowly being consumed by bland-beige debt-boxes
While the rural bit was refreshing as I don't think I really encountered any car w*nkers; the city streets were a different story getting undertaken by two dickheads on illegal ebikes, somewhat close-passed and regretfully ogled by some knobhead taxi driver, and played-chicken-with by some bellend bus driver who seemed to think it was my place to squeeze into the less-than-ideal gap he left on my side of the road as he pulled out around some parked cars.
Stopped for a bit at the covered market for a salted caramel cannoli (which was fantastic, if not something to be made a habit of) then it was home along the tow path - scoring some wet feet from my bow-wave as the water had risen compared to past days.
A mixed bag but nice to get out and another 20 miles under the belt; which was more than I was expecting.
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Shortish local ride today, once the late morning showers had passed.
Down to the charity shop with a rucksack of stuff for them..
Excellent news that Gallone's Ice Cream is Emporium is open all week due to the school holidays, so I treat myself to one!
Back home the longer way via the Brampton Valley Way..
Not too far but definitely nice to get a few miles in 👍
Down to the charity shop with a rucksack of stuff for them..
Excellent news that Gallone's Ice Cream is Emporium is open all week due to the school holidays, so I treat myself to one!
Back home the longer way via the Brampton Valley Way..
Not too far but definitely nice to get a few miles in 👍
VinSumRox
Über Member
- Location
- Scottish Borders
Sunny and chilly ride out along Yarrow Valley to Megget, turned back, coz of snow, via Innerleithen. 47m and 2300 ft.
Shearwater Missile
Veteran
- Location
- Stowmarket
Yesterdays ride was shortened to 11 miles, in what was quite a chilly 19mph wind. My legs and soul were just not up to it ! Still, it got my mileage to 400 for the year and it took my mind off the funeral I attended to day of a dear school mate who passed away last month, aged 67. It just makes you realise that whilst we are still here and able, to just get out and do what you can, whilst you can. I did have a few beers when I got back !
Edit. It`s times like these when cycling comes into it`s own.
Edit. It`s times like these when cycling comes into it`s own.
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Managed to sleep in for once today so the Fuji's utility express departed later than usual.
Unusually I headed straight into town as I wanted to catch the butchers before they shut, being unable to buy any provisions yesterday morning as I went straight to work on account of the weather and general roughness.
Food scored I meandered north for some stretches on the rings in an effort to take the edge off my knackered shoulder and generally aching corpse.
I went via Marston; the cycle path to which was convincingly flooded:
After a good chat with a random bloke whilst watching a few other folks make it through with varying degrees of success, plus a bit of mutual goading with another cyclist I gave it a go; getting away largely unscathed by short-stroking the pedals to prevent them going much below horizonal and by extension the waterline.
My fellow cyclist actually overtook me as he'd wisely pre-selected a higher gear before departing; something I was unable to address since the RD becomes useless when you're only doing 1/8 pedal strokes...
The view back the other way; enjoyed by the bold, having conquored the waters of chaos:
All that excitement out of the way I bothered a few charity shops in Summertown and hung myself from the rings / bars in the park in various orientations; which seems to have freed up my upper body somewhat and allowed a greater range of movement in my shoulder before it becomes painful.
Disaster struck when pestering another charity shop as I got distracted by a very nice recent-model Genesis Tour De Fer 30; stickered up as uni property (how the other half live!) and secured with an unfeasibly crap lock. In the 50yds between locking my bike up and entering the charity shop I'd managed to lose my gloves and despite asking around / retracing my steps they were nowhere to be found
I soldiered on; trying to accept that they'd gone thanks to a fleeting moment of inattentiveness. Whilst bothering the supermarket for some essentials I berated myself for my carelessness and mused on places they could have ended up that I'd not checked.
Essentials secured and hands rapidly freezing I went back for a second look afterwards (bumping into my neighbour from the homestead, which was nice if unexpected) and miraculously spotted that someone had evidently collected my gloves from the floor and placed them out of harms way.
Needless to say I'm very, very happy to have them back and eternally grateful to whoever's responsible
Finally moseyed home in a much better mood; even if I never made it to the usual furniture shop. I'm just glad to have made it home without the day being a net loss thanks to my stupidity.
Unusually I headed straight into town as I wanted to catch the butchers before they shut, being unable to buy any provisions yesterday morning as I went straight to work on account of the weather and general roughness.
Food scored I meandered north for some stretches on the rings in an effort to take the edge off my knackered shoulder and generally aching corpse.
I went via Marston; the cycle path to which was convincingly flooded:
After a good chat with a random bloke whilst watching a few other folks make it through with varying degrees of success, plus a bit of mutual goading with another cyclist I gave it a go; getting away largely unscathed by short-stroking the pedals to prevent them going much below horizonal and by extension the waterline.
My fellow cyclist actually overtook me as he'd wisely pre-selected a higher gear before departing; something I was unable to address since the RD becomes useless when you're only doing 1/8 pedal strokes...
The view back the other way; enjoyed by the bold, having conquored the waters of chaos:
All that excitement out of the way I bothered a few charity shops in Summertown and hung myself from the rings / bars in the park in various orientations; which seems to have freed up my upper body somewhat and allowed a greater range of movement in my shoulder before it becomes painful.
Disaster struck when pestering another charity shop as I got distracted by a very nice recent-model Genesis Tour De Fer 30; stickered up as uni property (how the other half live!) and secured with an unfeasibly crap lock. In the 50yds between locking my bike up and entering the charity shop I'd managed to lose my gloves and despite asking around / retracing my steps they were nowhere to be found
I soldiered on; trying to accept that they'd gone thanks to a fleeting moment of inattentiveness. Whilst bothering the supermarket for some essentials I berated myself for my carelessness and mused on places they could have ended up that I'd not checked.
Essentials secured and hands rapidly freezing I went back for a second look afterwards (bumping into my neighbour from the homestead, which was nice if unexpected) and miraculously spotted that someone had evidently collected my gloves from the floor and placed them out of harms way.
Needless to say I'm very, very happy to have them back and eternally grateful to whoever's responsible
Finally moseyed home in a much better mood; even if I never made it to the usual furniture shop. I'm just glad to have made it home without the day being a net loss thanks to my stupidity.
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ColinJ
Puzzle game procrastinator!
- Location
- Todmorden - Yorks/Lancs border
I am sorry for your loss!
I lost a good friend at the end of last year, aged 62. I have just been archiving her old text messages, emails, and photos. I kept stumbling across them and it was upsetting me, but I didn't want to delete them.
Shearwater Missile
Veteran
- Location
- Stowmarket
I know the feeling. I`ve been looking at old photos of when we were lads, oh how innocent we were ! My mate never did texts, the odd email maybe, he preferred the phone call.
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HLaB
Marie Attoinette Fan
My usual Saturday group ride today, although most folk were sick/ away, so it was only 2 of us out at the start. That wind was hard work and I would have been tempted to sit in at times but my mate had no guards and its been wet of late 
We met a few more folk at the cafe though 👍
Oh I forgot to say the Stoke Doyle Road into Oundle is closed again for them building a new housing estate. The last time the closure covered 7/8 of the road leaving a bike gap on the right only. Some idiot actually drove through with two wheels on the bank and the car up at circa 45deg. The work men whose heads were only inches from the other two wheels were going mad understandably. This time they closed the entire road and we had to scramble up the bank on the other side to the narrow elevated footway and walk. Lol, a audi 4x4 was stopped on the other side watching us and when he saw us come through thought they'd go for it. He would have had to turn round Then as we were passing the road closed sign another driver tried (its only be closed for a week)
Got out of the cafe to a flat though although I was able to ride on it for a bit. When I did eventually stop I decided to see if the sealant had sealed it and thankfully it had so we were only stopped for a minute as I used the electric pump.
We met a few more folk at the cafe though 👍Oh I forgot to say the Stoke Doyle Road into Oundle is closed again for them building a new housing estate. The last time the closure covered 7/8 of the road leaving a bike gap on the right only. Some idiot actually drove through with two wheels on the bank and the car up at circa 45deg. The work men whose heads were only inches from the other two wheels were going mad understandably. This time they closed the entire road and we had to scramble up the bank on the other side to the narrow elevated footway and walk. Lol, a audi 4x4 was stopped on the other side watching us and when he saw us come through thought they'd go for it. He would have had to turn round
Then as we were passing the road closed sign another driver tried (its only be closed for a week) Got out of the cafe to a flat though although I was able to ride on it for a bit. When I did eventually stop I decided to see if the sealant had sealed it and thankfully it had so we were only stopped for a minute as I used the electric pump.
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HLaB
Marie Attoinette Fan
Seeing as it was a cracking sunny day I decided I had to get out for only my fourth ride of the year. Still plenty of crisp snow about as I headed into Cockfield.
View attachment 800200
It was a fully road ride as gravel is an aquatic sport at the moment. Through Cockfield and up the bank past our closed tip to Evenwood, through there to Evenwood Gate then down the back lane along part of the W2W national cycle network. Here, just before Hilton I encountered a pond with, worryingly, a car turning round at the other end
View attachment 800201
No, matter, they weren't too cold despite it being barely above zero. Up the climb from Hilton to the junction with the delightfully surfaced A688 at the closed Sun Inn then left along there for a mile before turning right to head up Keverstone bank. Raby Estates have been doing a lot of tree felling in the wood opposite us and have laid a sort of haul road on the old grassy track that heads off from the first bend.
View attachment 800203
I'd love a ride up through there but theres no public access. Another mile with a few 10% sections (that I haven't ridden for ages) and I was back home for nearly 9 miles with 650 feet of climbing done. This kind of day reignites the enthusiasm for getting out. Roll on spring.
England needs to bring in the 'Right to Roam', where you can wonder across such estates as long as you close the gate behind you.
