Your ride today....

[cyberknight]

Sigma sports ride with guest speaker Manon Lloyd
Went with another rider who is my local to me in his car as i was over 50 miles to the start near Rutland Water , we got there around 9 am in time for free coffee and cake before a Qand A session with Manon lloyd , after that we split into 2 groups and i opted for the faster 38 mile route in the hope of hanging in the bunch
The slow group started off 1st with Manon joining them and we set of maybe 10 mins later so when we caught them she switch to our group .( dont forget to start the garmin as i missed 4 miles before i noticed ! )
I had a Team Z jersey on so i got the nickname lemond only to find out one of the other riders was an ex pro who rode with the team in the day !
I got a bit carried away on hills so toward the end i got dropped near the end but still got around after dialling back the pace on hills but still got an average of 18 mph .

 

[sevenfourate]

Very short loop to my LBS today:

Where after admiring Lowestoft's Graffiti on the way 😉

I controlled my excitement long enough to order my first ever pair of Carbon Wheels….. 😳

Then I borrowed an Allen Key and fitted the new inner bars ends (Aimed at reducing effective bar width) to the Carrera.

And LOVED the journey home. I felt like a proper racer 😁

 

[Mburton1993]

Bangor again, but better.

Headwind weren't as bad, avoided the coastal paths (and people).

Not as hot today too and mostly cloudy, much appreciated.

But it got nice by camp time, and I got a good spot.

Would've preferred finishing 5 seconds sooner though.

 

[HLaB]

A bit of a slow start from me this morning, only 15mph for the 7.5miles out to meet my mates. The next 29miles round to Oundle were rapid though (19.9mph) mainly led by my mate freshly back from winning the UK masters TT champs last Saturday and setting a PB for a 50miles TT on the Sunday Although he was on an all road type of bike and left the road at points to do gravel sectors. By the end of the 50 miles group ride we were still 19.5mph; my legs actually felt better with the two hydration stops.

 

[ColinJ]

Temperatures here had dropped about 15 degrees C in 2 days (from 30-35 C to 15-20 C) which made the idea of vigorous cycling much more appealing, so I made the effort to do a decent hilly ride with my pal Bill today.

My route included more busy roads than usual and we didn't really enjoy the traffic on those. The quieter country roads were as nice as usual though.

For a change we headed out of the local area, through Littleborough to Milnrow, then to Newhey. We climbed the A640 (Huddersfield Rd) over to Denshaw, and then up to Buckstones where took a quick break. The water level in March Haigh reservoir below us was low, reflecting the minimal rainfall in recent months.

We normally turn left down the B6114 from the car park at the summit but I wanted to get 80+ km in for my ride to qualify for my Lunacy Challenge, so we continued down the A640 for nearly another 5km and then turned left to ride round Scammonden Water.

There is a hard climb back up at Deanhead, to join the B6114. We encountered a car coming the other way on the first steep ramp. The driver stopped for us but didn't leave a lot of space. As I grunted my way past the car, the driver leaned out and said "You've got bigger balls than me, mate, riding up that!" I had not been expecting that so I didn't have a witty response lined up and just chuckled instead...

The gradient eased for a short while and I caught up with Bill who had stopped to pick some blackberries. I joined him and we chatted for a few minutes while we feasted on the fruit. Then we got back on our bikes and tackled the next ramp.

My phone rang! In times gone by I would have ignored it but I now wear a smartwatch which connects to my phone so I can take calls on the move. I saw that it was another friend. I answered...

Pal: "Hiya!"

Me (desperately gasping for breath): "Er, hi, can I call you back later?"

Pal: "Why, where are you?"

Me: "I am halfway up a very steep hill, riding one-handed, and talking to you via the watch on my left wrist. I will be home by 3 pm."

Pal (laughing): "Oh, okay then!"

We continued on our way, turning back left at Ringstone Edge, then descending to Booth Wood reservoir. A short stint up the A672 took us to the right turn for Booth Wood. From there we went to Baitings reservoir which had a really low water level.

Here, Bill is checking the original lane and bridge, usually submerged, but now exposed.

We added another loop round the local lanes after crossing the A58, then got onto the B6138 above Cragg Vale and headed up towards Blackstone Edge. I needed a quick pee stop so I pulled over at what I suspect is an old quarry site on the left. I headed away from the road a bit and was peeing away when I detected a bit of a strange smell. Actually, a lot of a strange smell. A really bad smell. A totally horrible smell! I turned back towards the road and discovered a decomposing sheep body there right in front of me. I have no idea how I had managed to walk straight past without noticing it a couple of minutes earlier!

The rest of the ride was uneventful - up to Blackstone Edge, down to Littleborough, back to Todmorden.

Not a bad effort - 81 km/1,425 m ascent (50 miles/4,675 ft).

 

[sevenfourate]

Hard work today 😟 I knew it was going to be from the minute I wheeled the bike out. ‘Funny’ isn’t it……

That’s not to say I didn’t enjoy it though ! And as it will be my last ride for August (*Flying to California with the Family until early September on Tuesday) I wanted to get one last decent ride in before then.

4 miles up the road; and a mist clad Church at Somerleyton:

Monument, also celebrating Somerleyton being the Birthplace of the Hovercraft (Look ontop):

Sun slowly dragging its way up over the Suffolk Countryside:

The River Yare and Holiday craft moored up at Great Yarmouth:

On the Yarmouth / Caister Border. With Wind Turbines aplenty at the rear of the shot:

More water ! The Inner Harbour and some of the ‘Offshore’ related businesses……

Twas an effort today. Probably also the fact I cracked on fairly for me too.

 

[PeteXXX]

Early start, still dark, to meet up for some balloon chasing with @biggs682 this morning 🎈

Meeting up on Racecourse, we headed south through the town centre, following the dtift of the Cornetto balloon and ended up by BeckettsPark where the rest of them floated over before drifting in different directions on the thermals..
We went last year and had a totally balloon free ride 😂
This year? Perfect conditions and at least 21 😎

Only 10 miles for me but lots more for Biggs as he rode from Wellingborough.

 

[sevenfourate]

Early start, still dark, to meet up for some balloon chasing with @biggs682 this morning 🎈

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Meeting up on Racecourse, we headed south through the town centre, following the dtift of the Cornetto balloon and ended up by BeckettsPark where the rest of them floated over before drifting in different directions on the thermals..
We went last year and had a totally balloon free ride 😂
This year? Perfect conditions and at least 21 😎

Only 10 miles for me but lots more for Biggs as he rode from Wellingborough.

Looks fun you two ! 4th pic down is ACE 👌

 

[Binky]

Hard work today 😟 I knew it was going to be from the minute I wheeled the bike out. ‘Funny’ isn’t it……

That’s not to say I didn’t enjoy it though ! And as it will be my last ride for August (*Flying to California with the Family until early September on Tuesday) I wanted to get one last decent ride in before then.

4 miles up the road; and a mist clad Church at Somerleyton:

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Monument, also celebrating Somerleyton being the Birthplace of the Hovercraft (Look ontop):

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Sun slowly dragging its way up over the Suffolk Countryside:

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The River Yare and Holiday craft moored up at Great Yarmouth:

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On the Yarmouth / Caister Border. With Wind Turbines aplenty at the rear of the shot:

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More water ! The Inner Harbour and some of the ‘Offshore’ related businesses……

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Twas an effort today. Probably also the fact I cracked on fairly for me too.

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How do I phrase this without sounding patronising(!). That's a very good pace for that style of bike, that is not in any way aerodynamic. It was a flat route but 17.6mph average decent going.

 

[sevenfourate]

How do I phrase this without sounding patronising(!). That's a very good pace for that style of bike, that is not in any way aerodynamic. It was a flat route but 17.6mph average decent going.

Ha ! A 6’3 / 16st lump ontop probably doesn’t help either 😜 Thankyou. I think 🤣

 

[biggs682]

33 miles for me chasing balloons with @PeteXXX

Great start to the day last couple of balloons were in Grendon with one still in the air and heading Bozeat way.