Your ride today.... (part 1)

[welsh dragon]

Since i have not been out for a decent ride this year due to the weather, I thought that as it was not going to rain today and it was my day off a nice 25 mile potter would start the year off proper.

Planned a nice backroads route from Chard to the ridge that runs along the southern edge of the Somerset Levels, then to cut across the main Taunton to Chard / South Coast Road and follow the backl lanes around and back home.

Bit nippy 1st thing but set off in reasonable bright conditions and although the roads are still very wet and flooded in some places it wasn't to bad

Made it up to the ridge and looked down over the edge of the Levels.

Burrowbridge, the place shown on TV is roughly middle of the picture.

Roads are still gloopy

I then follows the road that runs along the top of the ridge, looking left is windy hill.

Whilst in front of me are the Blackdown hills, note the dryer road, much nicer to ride on.

Dinner anyone? guinea fowl wandering about.

Elevation

1500 foot total climbs

Route

Legs are a little bit weary and i really do need to get out more, but hopefully with spring getting closer the weather improving this will happen. The Cannondale 105 Disc is performing well, so just need sunshine and to lose a bit of weight to get back to doing the 40 milers that i like.

Exdellent photos as always. Many thanks

 

[ColinJ]

I like all of the reports from the past few days but I can't be bothered to go back through them to comment on individual posts, so just keep it up folks!

 

[Paspie]

Another short ride today, this time back from the LBS. TBH I didn't see the point of paying for a service, I can't detect any difference. As for the route: fairly unremarkable, though I did clear this rather scary looking roundabout.

I still feel unfit, and I still feel my bike is too heavy for road going (for those in the know, it's a Specialised Hardrock MTB from 2011). I'm starting to feel worried about my plans for 10, 20 and 30 mile trips.

 

[cosmicbike]

Another short ride today, this time back from the LBS. TBH I didn't see the point of paying for a service, I can't detect any difference. As for the route: fairly unremarkable, though I did clear this rather scary looking roundabout.

I still feel unfit, and I still feel my bike is too heavy for road going (for those in the know, it's a Specialised Hardrock MTB from 2011). I'm starting to feel worried about my plans for 10, 20 and 30 mile trips.

Have one of those at Heathrow, amazing how people get confused by more than 1 roundabout..

The rides will get easier, just take one step at a time and do what's comfortable.

 

[HLaB]

Just my ususal Tuesday night training ride last night I was going well in the chaingang for about 3/4 of the ride, then I put in too much effort sprinting up a hill and two secs later most folk past me. I recovered 10secs later but by that time i was dropped (me and another bloke). Towed him for about 5 miles (lap 5) then I took a more sedate ride into town.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/447459065

Just had a look at the training bit, of the ride and of the five times I've uploaded, its been my fastest :-)

 

[potsy]

This reminds me @potsy, My kids are wondering if you have bought that MTB yet? They are on holiday this week and wouldn't mind taking you to Clayton Vale at weekend for a beginners course

Do they have anything slightly less advanced?

 

[Puddles]

We went for a spin on the newly opened path that leads to the Country Park... tis nice, lovely surface, nice and wide, no more creeping past others you meet, but I still feel a little like they paved paradise

 

[I like Skol]

Do they have anything slightly less advanced?

They can fit you in on Friday if that's easier? The weather looks ok until well after lunch time. You will be fine, the youngest is nearly 8 and he will hold your hand and take the red runs if you don't fancy the black!

 

[Dangermouse]

I always enjoy seeing where others ride, some very nice pics, love the Strava one where half seems to be underwater, good touch, but I do wish everyone in affected areas well and hope everything is sorted quickly now we seem to be over the worst.

 

[mooseracer]

Took advantage of calm weather and the fact I didn't finish work until 05:00 this morning to get out for a couple of hours this afternoon. 30 miles done and 14 personal records on Strava - lack of sleep obviously makes me faster?

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

Over to my parents' home again, so just the usual ride... nice morning, though it started with rain and a flat tyre for my OH which I left him to sort out by himself (he's a grown lad now, honest!) and the day just got nicer. Cycling this am was easier than expected though I took it very easy because of recent asthma issues. Coming home again was surprisingly fast, don't know how or why but it was, even managed to overtake 2 other cyclists, something that is very rare for me.
Stopped for a photo on the way home... one of the local 'flashes' as they are known, but I liked the light... It now has its own flock of seagulls from the local tip that have taken up residence on one of the further patches of flood water out of the shot on the right.

Home surprisingly quickly and it was almost still light and stayed dry as well... http://www.strava.com/activities/114504098

Edit: I forgot to mention I saw my first daffodils (yes plural) in full flower today as well!

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

Another short ride today, this time back from the LBS. TBH I didn't see the point of paying for a service, I can't detect any difference. As for the route: fairly unremarkable, though I did clear this rather scary looking roundabout.

I still feel unfit, and I still feel my bike is too heavy for road going (for those in the know, it's a Specialised Hardrock MTB from 2011). I'm starting to feel worried about my plans for 10, 20 and 30 mile trips.

Bet the bike isn't as heavy as mine. Do you still have the knobbly tyres on? Some slicks or touring tyres will make it roll a lot easier.

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

It was and the wind wasn't too strong so I ventured out for my second metric century of the year.

The route this time was out to Montford Bridge, Great Ness, Pentre, Kinnerley, Knockin, Maesbury and Oswestry then across to Ellesmere and back via Lyneal, Loppington, Baschurch, and across to Montford Bridge again before heading home.

The Met Office says that it was a southerly or south westerly wind all day but it felt like I was working against it most of the trip. My speed on the way out certainly wasn't going to set any records as a result.

Round Pentre was quite a spectacle as the flooding is still quite prominent out there. The Melverley area is basically just a lake a couple of miles wide. No press coverage for the people who live in that area I notice.

Passing through Knockin I then headed north to Oswestry where a break for lunch by the ancient hill fort was called for. Heading on through Gobowen I joined the NCN to Ellesmere. I'm glad I didn't try this route at the weekend as it was unbelievably muddy even having a few extra days to dry out. A more noticeable thing though was the number of trees down in this area (the road had been cleared though). There were broken telephone lines draped in the hedgerows too. An unexpected road closure forced a detour - which turned out to be better than the waymarked route as it was much flatter.

I had a quick pause by The Mere at Ellesmere before carrying on to Welshampton and Lyneal where there were numerous small floods across the road - oh well, washed some of the mud off the bike at least.

At Loppington I was onto better roads, but was now riding against the wind properly and with over 40 miles covered was feeling it a bit in the legs. In places the speed was down to just 7 mph. I managed to just keep the pedals turning and made it to Baschurch, where I finished off the last of my water - slight misjudgement there.

Carrying on I was met with a second road closure at Leaton. This was due to water main works so should have been in the travel reports but I don't recall seeing it. This was most inconvenient as it meant a long detour whichever way I went. I chose to head for Montford Bridge.

I was really slow again for this stretch but again just kept turning the pedals, so it was nice when I finally reached the outskirts of Shrewsbury and the lumpy fianl section to get home. I was really annoyed by the road closure but it turned out it did me a favour - my mileage might not have got over the hoped for 100km if I'd headed straight home, but with the detour I didn't have to add on any extra loops to get the mileage I wanted.

63.1 miles today at 12.4 mph average. Not too bad really but I wish my legs agreed with me.

Near Nesscliffe - looking towards the Breiddens.

Near Pentre. The area round Melverley still has major flooding problems.

On the road to Knockin.

Crossing the Montgomery Canal at Maesbury Marsh.

The Navigation Inn - a well respected eatery in the area.

A little way up the road, the corrugated St. John The Baptist church at Maesbury (Fans of the Brother Cadfael books may know that Maesbury is where Hugh Beringar called home)

Between Gobowen and Ellesmere - a couple of the many fallen trees in this area as a result of the storm 1 week ago.

Having a break at The Mere, Ellesmere.

More signs of wind damage - a common sight on this ride.

Loppington - a pretty little village I don't think I've been to before.

 

[welsh dragon]

It was and the wind wasn't too strong so I ventured out for my second metric century of the year.

The route this time was out to Montford Bridge, Great Ness, Pentre, Kinnerley, Knockin, Maesbury and Oswestry then across to Ellesmere and back via Lyneal, Loppington, Baschurch, and across to Montford Bridge again before heading home.

The Met Office says that it was a southerly or south westerly wind all day but it felt like I was working against it most of the trip. My speed on the way out certainly wasn't going to set any records as a result.

Round Pentre was quite a spectacle as the flooding is still quite prominent out there. The Melverley area is basically just a lake a couple of miles wide. No press coverage for the people who live in that area I notice.

Passing through Knockin I then headed north to Oswestry where a break for lunch by the ancient hill fort was called for. Heading on through Gobowen I joined the NCN to Ellesmere. I'm glad I didn't try this route at the weekend as it was unbelievably muddy even having a few extra days to dry out. A more noticeable thing though was the number of trees down in this area (the road had been cleared though). There were broken telephone lines draped in the hedgerows too. An unexpected road closure forced a detour - which turned out to be better than the waymarked route as it was much flatter.

I had a quick pause by The Mere at Ellesmere before carrying on to Welshampton and Lyneal where there were numerous small floods across the road - oh well, washed some of the mud off the bike at least.

At Loppington I was onto better roads, but was now riding against the wind and with over 40 miles covered was feeling it a bit in the legs. In places the speed was down to just 7 mph. I managed to just keep the pedals turning and made it to Baschurch, where I finished off the last of my water - slight misjudgement there.

Carrying on I was met with a second road closure at Leaton. This was due to water main works so should have been in the travel reports but I don't recall seeing it. This was most inconvenient as it meant a long detour whichever way I went. I chose to head for Montford Bridge.

I was really slow again for this stretch but again just kept turning the pedals, so it was nice when I finally reached the outskirts of Shrewsbury and the lumpy fianl section to get home. I was really annoyed by the road closure but it turned out it did me a favour - my mileage might not have got over the hoped for 100km if I'd headed straight home, but with the detour I didn't have to add on any extra loops to get the mileage I wanted.

63.1 miles today at 12.4 mph average. Not too bad really but I wish my legs agreed with me.

View attachment 38451
Near Nesscliffe - looking towards the Breiddens.

View attachment 38452
Near Pentre. The area round Melverley still has major flooding problems.

View attachment 38453 On the road to Knockin.

View attachment 38454 Crossing the Montgomery Canal at Maesbury Marsh.

View attachment 38455 The Navigation Inn - a well respected eatery in the area.

View attachment 38456 A little way up the road, the corrugated St. John The Baptist church at Maesbury (Fans of the Brother Cadfael books may know that Maesbury is where Hugh Beringar called home)

View attachment 38457 Between Gobowen and Ellesmere - a couple of the many fallen trees in this area as a result of the storm 1 week ago.

View attachment 38458
Having a break at The Mere, Ellesmere.

View attachment 38459 More signs of wind damage - a common sight on this ride.

View attachment 38460 Loppington - a pretty little village I don't think I've been to before.

Another winner Phil.

 

[inkd]

Thanks @Peteaud , Lovely pics of my home county, If you rode through Barrington, shepton Beauchamp and on to Petherton you would be in my home village. Going up to Yeovil tomorrow visiting relatives. I do miss Somerset but on the other hand I have the new forest on my doorstep.
Sticking with the original thread, just a quick 8 miler down to the beach and back to test out my new bar tape and check rear mech shift.