UKC

I'd fancied this route http://www.ukhillwalking.com/logbook/r/?i=163 for a while so on Friday we basically did it in reverse but starting from Garsdale and finishing at Gargrave so pulled in Mastiles Lane and Weets Top rather than the section leading over Sulber Nick to Wharfe & Feizor.

Some shots here: http://bobwightman.co.uk/bike/slideshow.php?s=pennine-bridleway .

Despite what the route card mentions, I think it's better N-S as the climbs are generally shorter and you get long downhills. We were about 6hrs steady riding time plus cake stops. The riding is generally easy technically, strong legs and good lungs being more useful.

Anyone else manage some good rides?

In reply to Bob:

Looks like you had a lovely day out, Bob.

In reply to Bob:

Glorious 50 miles over Attermire and Stainforth to Pen y Ghent on Friday, brutal(ish) chaingang Saturday, York and back the flat way Sunday, pootle up Wharfedale yesterday. 230 miles in the four days.

In reply to Bob:

Non - had the squits due to an over ripe salami sarnie.

Your ride sounds delightful. Oh well maybe this weekend.

Lee

In reply to andy:

Rode past Stuart C at Gargrave - he'd been to Bollywood Cottage for a meal I think.

Still undecided whether to join your brother's club ride next Sat.

In reply to Bob:

80 miles in the sun on Friday. Sheffield to Matlock and back via Curbar, Beeley Moor, Slack Hill, Riber Road, Bank Road and Rowsley Bar. Shattered by the end, nearly had a little cry when I took a wrong turn in Totley and ended up climbing a hill which turned out to be a dead end. More moral fortitude required.

70 miles in the sun (and the wind) yesterday around the North York Moors, including Rosedale Chimney, Blakey Bank and Carlton Bank.

Over 4km of uphill. My legs are glad of the rest today...

In reply to victim of mathematics:



Cripes. +1 kudos for doing those. Only every ridden up Rosedale Chimney on a MTB (we used to live close by and my road bike was oldie style - 54/42 with a 12-20 six speed block!)

In reply to Bob:

Friday: did 110k from Palma down the coast, then up the Puig de Randa, down via Santa Eugenia
Saturday: feeling a bit tired, went over to cafe at Port Adriano, 60k
Sunday: Went up into the Tramuntana mountains, did a route with two moderate climbs and a nice descent from the village of Galilea, 75k
Monday: Back into the mountains, did the Coll de Soller, then climbed up along the coast to Deia, Valdemossa and over the next col to Esporles, 80k.

Total of 325km and about 4000m of ascent. Very pleased with that.

In reply to Bob:

To be fair, Rosedale wasn't as bad as I was expecting. Although I did get a bit of a shock when the angle eased after the really steep bit and I tried to sit down only for my front wheel to start lifting. I think it was still about 20%, but it just seemed flat after what had come before!

In reply to Bob:

By eck - I miss the Dales. Neverthless a decent weekend down here.

50km warm up ride around Buis les Baronnies with guests on Saturday
Mont Ventoux from Bedoin Sunday - snowing on top.
Tour du Ventoux yesterday, 110km round the foot of the mountain.

E

In reply to victim of mathematics:

Mrs PB's in laws live on the northern edge of the moors. We did 105km out around Northallerton then down to Thirsk before heading northeast up to the moors. Had an unplanned assault on Boltby Bank, as we didn't know the terrain there very well, which was brutal, gradients must have been >25% in places. Took to walking about 2/3rds of the way up. I think I might have made it with a triple chain set but the on the double there was no way. Then the rollercoaster ride along the moors to Osmotherly, up past the reservoir before the descent into Swainby and a short run home. About 1400m of ascent, most of it in the final 35km. Great riding in the moors though.

In reply to victim of mathematics:

I know what you mean. I used to drive over it to work - the small earth bank on the left (presumably to stop people driving off the edge) is just enough to stop the sun hitting the road during the winter months. Park Rash (just outside Kettlewell) is similar - you do the steep bit then it "eases off" to about 18% for the next 400m! Legs were definitely burning after that

In reply to Enty:

Quite early for Ventoux to be open isn't it?

In reply to Bob:

North side still officially closed, dirty but rideable with care. Bedoin side been rideable for about a month but barriers officially raised this week.
Having said that there's fresh snow up there this morning.

E

In reply to Bob:

Hill avoidance route around the Surrey Hills on Sunday - the weather being rubbish seemed sufficient justification to cycle past most of the slippery steepnesses.

Picked up a waif and stray along the way, who did his fair share on the front.

Won the town line sprint for a change, having decided that I would only do my fair share of labour instead of towing everybody to within 50m of the line as I usually do. Somehow not as satisfying as busting a gut trying to drop them all, but an awful lot less painful.

In reply to Bob:


I did Park Rash a few weeks ago in foul weather. On the approach I persuaded myself that only the first ramp looked steep and that it eased as soon as you turned left. I was very unhappy indeed when I reached the first bend to discover those 2 horrendous little bends before it 'eases'. At least I had a bit of a tailwind to help make up for the rain.

In reply to Bob:

43 miles on the roads around Bradfield, trying out the new road bike on Friday (plus a nice lunch at the Strines), and a couple of shorter MTB runs around Wyming Brook and then Blacka yesterday.

In all cases it's wonderful how much good riding there is so close to Sheffield

Still not sure about this road biking lark, but at least the roads around Bradfield are quieter than the Peak. But with the MTB on Blacka you get the technical challenge as well as everything else.

In reply to Bob:

did my longest and toughest ride to date here in the Dominican Republic:
http://app.strava.com/activities/132393191

9 hours off-road riding, nearly 2500mts ascent and the temperature up to 39.5C in the sun at one point

In reply to Bob:

An 8 hour thing of mighty foulness in the lovely sunny Lake District on Saturday which left my shoulders aching from the amount of carrying involved, and the Borrowdale Bash of loveliness on Sunday. With such nice weather, who's complaining?

In reply to Chris the Tall:
I ought to do more MTB in the Peak, only really done Cut Gate, some bits around Hayfield and the Pennine Bridleway (long day - rear shock blew - got as far as Mossley http://www.peakdistrictcycleways.co.uk/cycle-route.php?route=PBW1 ). Oh, done Jacob's Ladder as well - needed one dab/portage at the drops near the top

In reply to Bob:

had a nice session at herne hill velodrome on Saturday, first time i've been for ages

In reply to Bob:

Did a fantastic 3 day off road circuit in the Cairngorms. Kingussie - Tomintoul via Rothiemurchus forest and Ryvoan pass, Tomintoul - Braemar via Glen Avon, Braemar - Blair Atholl via Glen Tilt. Unfortunately wasn't able to do the 4th day Blair Atholl to Kingussie to complete the loop as my other half had other commitments. Trails were bone dry and dusty, and it was wall to wall sunshine the whole trip. Frosty mornings turned into warm afternoons. Even saw an adder. River levels were manageable and was only ankle/knee deep for any river crossings. Mountain biking doesn't get any better than this.

40 miles on the road around L'enfer du nord Cheshire Good Friday (hear the Cheshire Plains roar!). Quick 20 miles looking for what hills we have Saturday. Then some bouldering Saturday evening and a decent run Sunday. Happy enough with that.

In reply to shantaram:

Puts jealous face on

How much hike-a-bike was there? I'm assuming this is the standard Cairngorms circuit that's in the Wild Trails book? We've done the lower part of Glen Tilt on the Beinn a Ghlo circuit (well worth doing - shots here http://bobwightman.co.uk/bike/slideshow.php?s=glentilt ) and have fancied doing more.

In reply to Bob:


Is that one dab coming down - not bad, but could do better - or one dab going up - in which case you are a god !

In reply to Chris the Tall:

Down - I'm a bit of a wuss when it comes to steps/drop-offs. Usual case of lots of walkers and dogs running round so ... (my excuse and I'm sticking to it!)

In reply to Bob:

Yep, that's the one. The Tour of Cairngorms in the Wild Trails guide book. The only section that wasn't bikeable was a small section on the stunning single track trail in the early reaches of Glen Tilt. The best quality biking was on the Kingussie to Tomintoul section.

In reply to psaunders:

Mallorca is amazing, isn't it? Was out a couple of weeks ago and loved it. The climb up to the Col de Soller might be the best thing I've ever ridden!

I did 85 miles on Friday. Keswick to Ulverston via Honister, Newlands, Whinlatter, Hardknott and Wrynose. Was so nice to be out on such a gorgeous day! Sunday was a 45 mile loop from Ulverston. Did Wrynose from the east then down the Duddon valley, Kiln Bank, Grizebeck and home over the Kirkby Moor. Yesterday I was feeling battered so just did a 7.5 mile leg stretcher. Fab weekend!

In reply to Bob:

To be fair that steep bit at the top is very intimidating at the best of times, add walkers and dogs to the equation and it's especially so.

But it's good reason to get back there and do it clean, it's one of the best descents in the peak

In reply to climbingpixie:

Yep, absolutely incredible. I need to go again soon! I found the climbs a lot easier than I was expecting, I guess they're never as steep as UK hills. I found the north coast road from Soller to Valldemossa was probably the best road I've ever ridden. Every sweeping corner reveals another staggering view. The coastal headwind wasn't that welcome, mind you!

In reply to Bob:
85 enjoyable miles around Oxfordshire on Saturday, spoilt only by some arse on Oxford ring road who saw fit to cut me up, pull over to give me a load of abuse for not using a cycle track I didn't know about (apparently behind a hedge on the other side of the ring road) and then cut me up again for good measure.

In reply to climbingpixie:

Same area as me! I meandered my way up the Honister on the hardtail on Saturday.

In reply to Bob:

Watched track racing Good Friday afternoon at Olympic velodrome - not quite the same atmosphere as at Herne HIll, and the weather was vengefully fine. Sunday and Monday I did shortish early-morning rides before the 4x4s came out in the Kent lanes. Happy to discover that Sunday's ride, (Ide hill both ways in the rain plus other bits and pieces) totted up to 1800 feet of ascent. Monday there were cuckoos in the woods on the North Downs and cake at Westerham. And another 1500 feet of up.

In reply to hedgepig:

1800ft pah! Last night's ride round Widdop had 2000' in 6 miles.

Just waiting for someone to mention that their ride had 5000ft in 2 miles...

In reply to Bob:

Was it raining?

rule 9
http://www.velominati.com/the-rules/

In reply to hedgepig:

A little bit.


(honest)


(really honest)

Actually I applied rule #5, got to the top of Gorple Gate and the weather relented in the face of such a manly onslaught.

In reply to Bob:

Good effort! Just back from some hill reps and only managed 1200' in 6.5 miles.

In reply to SteveRi:

Slight exaggeration - it was 564 metres (1850ft), the only bit of flat was going across Widdop dam! If you are on Strava - http://app.strava.com/activities/132728874

In reply to Bob:

Heck the internet's for exaggeration! Rode up there a couple of weeks ago on inappropriate bikes http://www.strava.com/activities/125144638 Just lovely.

In reply to Bob:

5226 feet of climbing in 17 miles if that's any good to you. That was my Saturday.

In reply to AlisonSmiles:


Really? Were you doing laps on Honister? There's 'only' 12500' of climbing in the Fred!

In reply to Bob:
Over the Long Mynd using the newly surfaced track to the summit. What was a footpath has become a minor road and an ugly scar on the landscape in the interests of 'access'.

In reply to Bob:

Having swapped the alps for Leicestershire to see the family for easter I managed 20 miles Friday, Sat and Sun. a ride with each brother and one with my dad. Good family times. Also not bad seeing as I tore cartilage in my knee 2 weeks ago.

In reply to Bob:

Innerleithen red XC run followed by a run down Make or Brake on my hardtail. Extremely good fun!

In reply to andy:

This thingy - http://www.strava.com/activities/132351020

In reply to Bob:

Wee cycle with the family on Fri am, left them at a beach then headed along the road to Duror and cycled through to Ballachullish (did the detour to James of the Glen Bothy) and then back on the cycle path to Kentallen to meet up with them again

http://www.glencoescotland.com/see-do/mountain-biking/glen-duror/

Sunday morning was a cheeky 30 mile road ride to stretch the legs

The sun makes a huge difference to enjoyment levels

In reply to AlisonSmiles: Ah - didn't realise it was off road - was wondering how you managed to do 8 ascents of Honister back to back...

In reply to Bob:

I'll be the first to resurrect this for this weekend:

1 hour crit round a cycle track in the rain. 100 Cat4 riders started and there were 5 riders from my club, we stayed well back from the mess that unfolded and finished low down the order. No idea where I actually finished but glad I wasn't part of the inevitable ten rider crash on lap 15 and that my bike and collar bone are still intact

In reply to woolsack:

150 mile 6000ft of hills ride that was supposed to be a 200. Was good fun but we just ran out of time.

In reply to woolsack:

I've had a cold, wet and windy ride in the Dales. Regretted not wearing my overshoes today! 66 miles and 6300ft of climb, starting and finishing at Kilnsey.

FWIW - if anyone's interested both Kilnsey and Malham are looking pretty dry!

vimeo.com/93076689

In reply to woolsack:

I've been slacking on the bike this year and havent been out at all, and have my first sportive next weekend (wiggle warrior in the wye valley), so did 40 miles saturday (2400ft ascent) over to marple, glossop, new mills; then 50 miles today (about 3500ft ascent up cat and fiddle and goyt valley etc.

I'm buggered!

In reply to woolsack:

My brother was out here (Barcelona) visiting as part of our training for the Etape Eryri we are doing in June. On Thursday we did 125km and 2800m of ascent, including one 'HC' climb, which was nice for my bro as it was the first time he had ever ridden up (and down!) a proper mountain.

Then friday an easier 76km ride with 1500m of climbing.

My bro introduced me to Strava while he was here, and I can see why it's so popular. I had a crack at getting a decent time on a short climb, and managed to get top 100 (out of 600+) which I was pleased with for a first effort. Interestingly, had I managed it in 10 seconds less (out of 6ish minutes) I would have got top 50. Motivation to go back!!

In reply to andy:

Great Dunn Fell looks pretty awesome. I've somehow not gotten round to riding it yet, despite going out twice with the intention of doing it.

I'm going to get in some last minute Lakes training next weekend with the hope that it might make the Fred slightly less painful but I fear it might be too late by now...

In reply to andy:

P.S. just watched your video - you definitely picked a much better day to be out than I did. The clag was so thick I could only see about 20 yards in front of me on the Coal Road today!

In reply to Bob:

A 303km / 188 mile audax on Saturday. First of this length this season. Got my 400km / 252 mile audax next month.

In reply to climbingpixie:


It got better as the day went on - Barbondale was breathtaking.

In reply to Orgsm:
Which one did you do? I was on the camb 300

In reply to andy:


What is that filmed on Andy to get the power/heartrate and road speed on the screen?

In reply to woolsack:
Garmin Virb (which has a GPS. etc built in) although you can use Garmin's free Virb Edit software and add your own GPS track to any video, but it's a bit fiddly getting them synced.

In reply to Bob:
Spent Saturday building up a new bike. Took it out for a hilly 60 mile spin this morning. It rides beautifully, although I was missing the granny ring on the big hills...

Quite tempted to give Great Dun Fell a go next weekend, looks ace

In reply to victim of mathematics:



There's a sportive up it next weekend, I think (4 May).

In reply to andy:
Your Stages PM behaving yet or still running it's batteries down?

Nice video btw, big day out

In reply to woolsack: bizarrely both have started working perfectly.

I do hope I didn't have a batch of dodgy batteries! Don't think so as they were from two lots, but it's weird that both bikes now seem fine.

In reply to andy:

Funny you say about batteries, one of the guys in the club has a Power2Max which has been faultless until he recently changed batteries and then a week or so after his has been playing up. They recommend a particular make 'Renata' for that and he wonders whether there are some clones swilling around on Ebay.
I ended up getting a Power2max with Rotor cranks and osymmetric rings secondhand which I am so far pleased with.
Maybe a Stages for my race bike though?

In reply to Bob:

Gran Fondo Conwy. Brutal headwind on the easy flatish sections followed by climbs.

In reply to Bob:

just back from a 136km, 2300mts ascent 7 hour ride…cold beer in hand

More Fred prep here- 50 miles over 4 keswick area passes yesterday, mountain biking tonight. Only hoping to survive the FW, but feel ok about it at the moment..... (Famous last words)

In reply to VS4b:


Green and Yellow. Starts at midnight after a curry. Don't eat too much curry!

In reply to Bob:

Not strictly the weekend but through the week did the Applecross loop clockwise and a circuit of Inchnadamph-Laxford Bridge-Lairg-Oykel Bridge and back to Inchnadamph.

Scourie to Lairg was all into a stiff wind, bloody hard work for that distance. Magic roads to cycle though.

In reply to Bob:

Took the lad out mountain biking at Cannock Chase. He was actually quite good. Doesn't surprise me.... he's my son after all!

In reply to woolsack:

Steady 100Km social ride up Wharfedale to Buckden on Saturday. Had an interruption when one of our group came a cropper after hitting a pot hole hidden by a puddle, fortunately a passing motorist had some wipes and a dressing.

Sunday we hit lucky and went down to Hebden Bridge and did a few hours mountain biking in the sunshine though it was a little windy, the trails were all dry. Coming back over Cock Hill we headed in to rain, it also looked rather dark up in the Dales.

In reply to Bob:

spent the weekend at Antur Stiniog

http://wayneshakell.smugmug.com/Sports/Antur-Stiniog-240414-Rider-Pho/i-Xw2...

then rode my 200mm downhill bike up Moel y Ci. It was a bit of an effort!

In reply to Bob:

94 mile ride, door to door, down to Arran, round and back - 3 pints in Brodick before the ferry back as well, great day

First time ridden that distance, hopefully be fine in my first sportive this Sat, 100 miles at Drumlanrig

A mighty 8 miles and 1100', never got more than a mile from home. Not a bad use of half an hour before dark

In reply to Bob:

40 miles around the Surrey Hills in a group of nine. Cycling through the bluebell woods, with twinkling streams and sunlight through the trees . It had been raining so everything was sparkling - smiles all round.

In reply to Bob:

Took my new cross bike out on Saturday on a route including "real" off road as opposed to tow paths. Learned with skinny tyres and no suspension picking a line is more important going downhill and going uphill, lifting the front wheel takes on more importance. 65K, 1400m climbing in the Peak District.

Sunday went out with a group of mates who declared themselves slow but kicked my arse. 26K on the MTB out of Hayfield.

In reply to sleavesley:

Conway grand fondo, was going to do the mawr 166k but chained snapped at the start line so by the time I faffed with that opted for the Canol which to be honest was a nice distance. Great day out

In reply to Bob:

Rode the Lakeland Loop, 70 miles & 7000 odd foot of ascent over Red Bank, Dunmail, Whinlatter, Cold Fell, Hardknott, Wrynose & Blea Tarn. Feeling it today!

In reply to Bob:

Tour of Pembrokeshire 108 mile route with my daughter - Bit of a disaster, wind was vicious, then we got involved helping with a nasty crash. A woman shot past us, out of control, on the descent to Newport; nearly took us both out, then crashed into another guy at the next bend leaving them spread over the road. Helped out as best we could phoning the ambulance then going back up the road to warn following riders whilst others looked after the casualties.
We carried on after the ambulance arrived and the road was clear but we'd lost a load of time and our hearts just weren't in it anymore and when I then punctured 10 miles later we decided to pack it in at the next timing station.

Great advert for helmets btw as the woman's was smashed in bits but by the time the ambulance arrived she was actually back on her feet and didn't seem too badly hurt; the guy she hit definitely came off worst whereas she was lucky she hit him otherwise she'd have gone into a wall at 30mph

In reply to Bob:

Attempt to recreate the Fred Whitton in the Surrey Hills on Sunday, last big day before the main event. 112 miles, 10,300 ft climbing. Some heavy rain to add to the realism. My bike now looks like I'd been mountain biking.

In reply to Bob:

Bwlch Groes from Dinas Mawddy

In reply to Bob:
65 miles in the Midlands. The highlight was falling in to a river. Well, riding carefully through a ford on a minor road I obviously hit a hidden pothole and slumped sideways into the murky depths... of about 6 inches. Fortunately, noone around to laugh and no injury.

In reply to Bob:

I had an easy 40km ride
Sadly it was preceded by a 10km run and followed by a 5km run

In reply to Richard Carter:

This weekend's highlight was the Bowderdale circuit in the Howgills. A brilliant section of singletrack. A bit of a brute of a climb to get to it though. Some shots here - http://bobwightman.co.uk/bike/slideshow.php?s=bowderdale

In reply to Bob: Ilkley CC Chaingang Saturday with ride down and back gave me 50 miles, with a brisk 23mph average for the middle 30 miles. Then a ride to Waddington for lunch and back yesterday was 50 miles. Then a different ride to Waddington for lunch today (including Nick o Pendle - love that climb) for another 50 miles.

In reply to Bob:
10 mile TT Friday evening and a 25 mile TT yesterday with a start time of 0643. Plenty of frost on the ground and bitterly cold first three miles down the ski slope start. 6 seconds faster than three weeks ago over the same course despite the cold air so must be getting better.

In reply to Bob:

75k accross Anglesey with a bit of an impromtu chain gang for the middle section, speed picking up after those winter miles :-/. Missed out on the Dyfi Enduro which a few mates did over the weekend

In reply to Bob:

Playing on my new road bike. A quick tour of the worst 5 hills that West Sheffield has to offer on Friday. Then 50 miles in the peak yesterday including Winnats, Monsal head and Curbar Gap.

Was feeling really good about beating my mates on all the climbs until I uploaded to Strava!

In reply to Bob:

Rode the Lancashire Lanes Sportive in aid of Marie Curie Cancer Care along with 16 other members of Southport CC. Nominally 75 miles but Strava said almost 79 miles with over 3000 ft of climbing. Thanks to the Liverpool Mercury CC for organising a great event.

In reply to Bob:

This weekend I took my mountain bike to Rum, and my friend Bill and I rode from Kinloch to the Mausoleum in Harris. We camped there and did the ridge from Ruinsival to Hallval. We got a soaking, so we rode back to Kinloch the next morning and dried out in the village hall until Ginty fixed up beds for us in a B & B... thanks Normski

Then we rode to Kilmory and back as an evening jaunt. And yesterday morning we walked up Barkeval, then caught the ferry back to Britain via Eigg.

Rum is amazing!

In reply to Chris the Tall:

Ha ha! I loaded my times on to Strava and wondered why I'd got such a poor time on the climb up to Winder - I'd stopped at the trig point waiting for my wife but the segment (http://www.strava.com/segments/1197291) finished five metres away at the summit cairn! It's a beast of a climb - steep grass.

In reply to Bob:

After caning myself for the last couple of weeks to try to catch up with the kilometre commitment I made for the Strava Specialised Challenge (1266km in 40 days), I did my final 45km ride on the cross bike on peak district canals on Saturday and never wanted to see the bike again. My fella, however, had other ideas and we headed for Machynlleth for the Dyfi endure he rode on Sunday. Took my bike, went out on the mountain roads of Mach for a gentle potter. Monday left the bike wheelless and neglected in a corner.

In reply to Bob:

Saturday was lovely 70 odd mile into Cheshire with a friend just to catch up, kept it easy with just the one climb and then a a lot of descent. with a lovely cafe stop at Walk Mill (great cake btw)

Monday was supposed to be a recovery/hangover spin but then we bumped into another club member and it turned into a 55 mile effort with far too much headwind. I felt horrible but it felt good at the end

In reply to Chris the Tall:

Sunday was spent trying out demo bikes - looking for a new hardtail and was undecided between 650b and 29er having never ridden either wheel size. Can't say that I can tell much difference between 26" and 650b so it's going to be the 29er.

90 minutes Sunday loosening up after a toughish fell race Sat. Still got a (downhill!) Strava cup. Not that I car about such things

In reply to Bob:

Saturday - 83 mile loop from Ulverston to Ambleside, up The Struggle and north to the A66. Spun along there for a while until turned off at Threlkeld and made my way down to Grasmere. Red Bank, Langdale and finished up with the Blea Tarn road (amazing climb btw - beautiful and undulating, and not so hard you can't enjoy it) before heading home.

Yesterday - brutal 57 miles over the Kirkby Moor, Kiln Bank, Birker Fell, Hardknott (not clean, had to stop and rest a couple of times), Wrynose and home to Ulverston via Woodland.

In total 140 miles and not far off 16,000ft of ascent. Legs feel knackered today!!

In reply to Bob:

On Saturday night I had dinner with Eros Poli.

E

In reply to Bob:

A good choice - if I could only have one bike it would be a 29er hardtail - go anywhere, do anything !

As for Strava - they definitely need signs up saying "Strava segment starts/ends here" (and here, and here...)

In reply to Enty:

Clang

In reply to Chris the Tall:


Which ones? There's plenty to choose from!

Jenkin Road, Blake Street, Hagg Hill, Lodge Lane, Rivelin Road, Blake Street, Conduit Hill, Langsett Avenue...

In reply to Bob:

Felt like death on a stick on Saturday, but perked up enough on Sunday to drive over to the Roaches and put in 70-odd miles over Gun Hill, Mow Cop (not nearly as bad as I was expecting), Swiss Hill in Alderley Edge (cobbles are hard work!), Pym Chair and Axe Edge. Officially resting now before the Fred next weekend. Eek.

In reply to Chris the Tall:

Don't care. My all time cycling hero

E

In reply to Enty:



I remember him winning a stage over Ventoux in the TdF; what year was that?

In reply to victim of mathematics:



Plus Highcliffe Road (High Storrs) and Hunter House Road. Oddly enough the latter wasn't as steep as I always thought it was

Was pretty pleased when Strava showed me third best on Blake Street, but closer examination shows its 3rd from 3, and one of those odd duplicate segments which miss out most riders, and I'm a long way off the best

In reply to Chris the Tall:

Ooh, not actually ridden up either of those. Will add them to my ever increasing list. I reckon Rivelin Road/Cliffe Road/Rangeley Road is a bit of an underappreciated gem/total bastard if you're into that sort of thing

There's some pretty fast hill climbers around these parts, so you have to be going some to get a (comparatively) decent time!

In reply to Bob:

Bad cold plus being hit by this year's hay fever so I went to a peninsular a bit SW of Helsinki figuring with the southwesterlies there wouldn't be so much pollen in air plus I would miss the rain and sleet that was inland. I found some pretty fun technical mountainbiking - it's pretty rough youtube.com/watch?v=u7zNLIRlyyg& so I only did about 20 kms in all and probably could have walked the distance in not much more time! But good to get out.

In reply to victim of mathematics:


Came down that way and suffered that horrible feeling of knowing you are wasting all that hard-won altitude too quickly ! Not to mention a slight issue with the left-hander and an on-coming car....

In reply to Chris the Tall:

It's beginning to look like a Cotic Solaris for me - a very nice frame. It wasn't one of the demo bikes (they were both Oranges) but had a quick play on one and it felt nice. Only problem I have with 29ers is the standover height, it's a little close for comfort for me

In reply to Hat Dude:


1994

http://www.velominati.com/racing/monsieur-mont-ventoux/

E

In reply to Hat Dude:


1994

http://www.velominati.com/racing/monsieur-mont-ventoux/

E

In reply to Enty:

inspiring article.

In reply to jethro kiernan:

One for the big guys! Love it!

E

In reply to Enty:

Going to keep that in mind next time I am grinding up the Pass

In reply to Enty:

youtube.com/watch?v=RxTnLaH3gVA&

In reply to Hat Dude:

Brings a tear to my eye that. How cool is he when he chucks his cap into the crowd?

E

In reply to Bob:

Got the road bike out this weekend for a sportive thingumywotsit with the Keswick Mountain Festival. Imagine, a road ride in the Lakes which doesn't take in any of the big passes. Just a little bit magical. Imagine, riding in the sunshine in a short sleeved jersey too. They said it could never happen ...

I've got so used to the cross bike now that I really missed the disc brakes and the slightly wider handlebars. Took me ages to remember how to stay in control out of saddle climbing and ages to re-adjust to brakes which take a bit more forethought. I have got lazy.

In reply to Bob:

Built my new road bike. Haven't ridden it, as needs a few finishing touches.

In reply to AlisonSmiles:

Did the Tour of the Peak on Sunday morning (after a great day climbing at Millstone on Saturday). A great weekend overall. I'm not much of a cyclist so just did the 'short' 60 mile version. Was an enjoyable event and I managed a clean ride up Winnats Pass, unlike many, which made me feel good about my otherwise very average performance Great weather, though a bit breezy up by the Cat and Fiddle on the home leg. I was hoping to climb in the afternoon but felt a bit exercised/sunshined out. I gained a great deal of respect for the folks that did the long route (110 miles) in not much longer than I did the 60! Impressive.

In reply to Bob:

Llandegla red on Friday in beautiful weather
Near Barmouth on Saturday in beautiful weather
Snowdon Ranger path Sunday AM early in a howling gale but at least it was dry.

Just cycling around town but the new pedals are lovely!
Much smoother and the annoying click has gone.

Tightened up seatpost/frame clamp and bolt that clamps saddle rails to seatpost but something still creaks

In reply to Bob:
Etape du Dales

For the second sportive in a row I had to pull out, this year seems cursed!

Riding through Dentdale, something started to go wrong with my right eye, it began to get really painful and the vision started to get really blurred. By the time I got to Ribblehead it was like looking through frosted glass and painful to keep open; I got as far as Stainforth by when it was agony and I pulled out. They called the medics on the radio and they thought I'd better go and get checked out as it could be a detached retina so I ended up in an ambulance to Airedale Hospital where they found I just had a bad scratch on my eyeball.Fortunately it's much better today.

Many thanks to my friends who sorted out picking me up from the Hospital, sorted out getting my bike back and then drove me to my daughter's in Sheffield; also to the marshals and St John's Ambulance who helped me.

In reply to Bob: A rather small turnout to the club ride, but still had a pleasant pootle over to Settle and back.

In reply to Bob:

Snowdonia Slateman Triathlon yesterday so 54k bookmarked by a swim and run, next week Festiniog 360 round the welsh mountains hopefully short sleeved tops and sunshine.

https://ffestiniog360.com/route

In reply to jethro kiernan:

How did it go Jethro ? The zig zag climbed looked grim ! I was shooting it for 220 - they're doing a feature on the event for the next issue.

In reply to Henry Iddon:

It was grim, I managed to "run" all the way up last year but cracked this year and walked ran, makes a surprising difference to your time

In reply to jethro kiernan:

As we cycled back from doing the Rangers path we looked across at you poor folks running those zigzags and felt much happier about carrying a 30+lb bike up Snowdon in 50+mph winds!

btw is there a clean up team that sweeps the roads after the event? The number of discarded gel wrappers was a disgrace.

In reply to Bob:

Drills at Cyclopark at Gravesend. Not exciting, but it does mean that everyone on a club ride has the same expectations and that people are more predictable/better trained. It does make for a rather stupid Strava scribble though

In reply to Bob:

After a week of feeling awful with hay fever and flu by saturday I was feeling a bit better so spent the afternoon cleaning and servicing my road bike and did a little 30 km circuit on it in the evening to check everything was running smoothly.

That evening I was looking at Strava and saw the Gran Fondo challenge to ride 130 kms, so Sunday decided to give it a go. I did a loop west of Helsinki, sort of picking the route from map as I went getting as far as a town called Lohja which when you drive through feels a respectable distance from Helsinki, so I was quite pleased to make it there. Then I just had to cycle home again! All in I had done 141 kms according to my bike computer or 139.6 according to Strava - not too shoddy. Not super fast, but its my first proper ride on the road bike this year. Managed to get slightly sunburnt which is always a novelty for Finland!

Strava now tells me I "won" the right to buy a special cycling jersey for my achievement - mine for just a very reasonable 109 USD!?!?

Completed the Skratch Labs challenge on Strava. 16hrs in 8 (7, i missed the first) days. Thought it sounded a total doddle when i signed up, but i felt quite fatigued over last couple of days.

Looking forward to a nice rest tonight.

In reply to TobyA:

You forgot the $20 shipping fee.

In reply to Double Knee Bar:

I didn't even look that far then!

In reply to TobyA:

Hehehe. I did the Spring Classics Challenge, and mostly based my decision on the fact that it was one of those challenges where you got to opt to buy a T-shirt rather than a jersey. Made it a lot more affordable 1266km later ...

I confess I have still never ever done a 130km ride to this day ... next weekend maybe.

In reply to Bob:

I got within 2 seconds of my 10 mile TT PB on Friday night so I was quite pleased with that. Another year older and all that

In reply to Bob:

Went out for a little 60km pootle in the sun on Sunday morning. Legs still felt heavy post-Fred, but it was a glorious day for it. Managed to ride up Highcliffe Road at the end, which went on for a bit longer than I was expecting, but I survived. Next mission is to work out how to get a bit faster on the flat - try harder maybe?

In reply to Bob:

Had my new bike built up on Friday, so despite a bad hay fever / chest infection going on, I did 40 miles on it on Saturday morning to test set up before ordering saddle and a couple of other adjustments.

Bike was great, engine was fine with lots of overtaking, until I got on Cragg Vale, which I coughed and struggled all the way up.

In reply to Bob:

Last week I registered for the Andorra "Volta als Ports", a very hilly sportive in the principality, in July:
http://www.voltaalsports.com/index.php/en/

It has over 3300m of climbing over 113km. I'd love to be able to make the Silver time of 5hr30.

As a little fitness trial, on Sunday I did 100km up and down and up and down again on my 'local' mountain, Montseny http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montseny_Massif , with a total of 3800m of climbing. So slightly less distance but more height gain than the Andorra sportive.

It took me 4h30m of riding time, which on paper puts me in good stead for the silver time in Andorra. But I had to stop for a sandwich after 3hrs (I absolutely had to, I was starving), so there's still some work to be done. I'm excited though!

In reply to Bob:

We had a really nice Sportive to the Norfolk coast and back on Sunday. First hundred miler for the brother in law, my third and only the second for Mrs D

First time ever I've got through two drinks bottles between feed stations and only the second time this year setting out with only T shirt and shorts.

In reply to GrahamD:

75 miles and 5000ft riding a charity ride on bits of the day one Tdf route. Was hard work but I got round in 6 hours inc stops so could have been worse.

In reply to Bob:

I did a lovely sunny 40 something miles around the Dales. It was wonderful to be out with friends in nice weather, and to be riding by choice instead of 'training'. I'd almost forgotten that I actually love riding my bike!

In reply to AlisonSmiles:
I'm (very) far from a super athlete and it was OK - I've ridden further on my own and on sportives in the past so knew I could do it fine, so it was just case of getting out and getting on with it. The nice weather makes doing it a lot easier. Go for it next weekend! Just plug along and I'm sure you'll do fine. I did stop once to eat my sandwiches which seemed a bit too tricky to unwrap whilst riding; then once when I finally found an open shop for an ice cream and a ltr of choccy milk (yum yum), then once more for a pee behind a bus stop, but after that the bench looked to inviting to not sit on for a couple of minutes and take my shoes off! Make sure you have lots of nibbles - I went through two sarnies, two bananas, two cereal bars, one energy gel and two litre bottle of water, which I refilled at about 90 kms so ended up drinking about 3.5 ltrs of water + the ltr of choccy milk; but then I'm a sweaty git when it gets warm!

In reply to Bob:

Sat night 40 miles
Sunday night 32 miles
Tonight 32 miles.

Chocolate.lots of.yum

In reply to Bob:

I'm working up to things as I'm new to proper road riding as opposed to riding a bike on the road just to get somewhere. I managed 55.3 miles with some pretty big hills and a combined ascent of 4400 ish feet, with most of the climbing concentrated on 4 drags of about a mile each. I also managed to cultivate some shocking sock tan lines. Annoyingly I got a massive bit of wire through the side of my back tyre on the way home so had to swap a tube and patch the tyre so the tube didn't bulge alarmingly out of the side.

In reply to Guy:

There is a clean up team, but gel wrappers seem to be the bane of these type of events

In reply to Bob:
Etape du Dales. Aggregate time for Fred and EdD pleasingly under 15hrs, ride time just a few seconds over 14hrs (did we really stop for an hour??). Brilliant week's riding. But now for a few shorter, less epic Sundays...

In reply to jethro kiernan:

I would never knowingly drop litter but I have found things like empty small plastic bags can get lost from jersey pockets worryingly easily. For me I have to remember not to put them in pockets with anything I take out reasonably regularly, so map, phone (for maps if paper one isn't detailed enough) or ipod.

One solution to gel wrappers offered here the other day was to shove them up the leg of your shorts, although Enty at least seemed to think that was perverted.

What do people think about banana skins? In Finland there roadside ditches full of murky water are the norm (for snow to be ploughed into in winter) and I'm happy to chuck them there to biodegrade out of of sight) but don't know if I would do so in the UK where they are more likely to hang around looking like litter.

In reply to TobyA:

a large number were accidental drops ( the give away was the fact that many were unopened) I have had accidental fumbles whilst out on the bike in the past, I did actualy do the shove the empty gel wrapper up the trisuit leg and it does do the job, wont be doing it with my cycling shorts though :-0

In reply to jethro kiernan:

I remember reading a report after the Dyfi Enduro which was scandalised because they found 20 wrappers (yes, mostly gels) on the route the next day. 1000 riders and just 20 wrappers didn't seem to suggest this was a massive attitude problem, more likely a mix of yes, a few with poor attitude but also those accidental fluttering off of packagings too. I hate it when I get home, check my pockets (I always try to get wrappers into zipped up pockets) and discover that I ate four bars but can only account for three wrappers. Doh. Cycling jerseys should have more zipped compartments!

In reply to jethro kiernan:

Good to know but you are right there seems to be a few who think they are "pro" and can just chuck their wrappers anywhere.

Good effort on your tri btw!

In reply to AlisonSmiles:

Same as you on the dropping wrappers issue. I had one blow away from me but there was no way I was going to chase it across 5 lanes of traffic to catch it. Accidents happen but in events I would like to see time penalties added for deliberately discarding wrappers.

There are specific bins on the Col du Telegraph which are angled for cyclists to throw their rubbish in. Brilliant idea.

In reply to Bob:

On Saturday the GTM King of the Mountains Sportive 100km. Start and finish at Grampian Transport Museum Alford. There's also a 25 mile and 100 mile version. All organised by Deeside Thistle CC. As you might expect from the name it is a bit hilly and goes through some lovely country on Donside and Deeside.

Thought there may have been others from UKC on it and a bit surprised that no one else has mentioned it so far.

Well worth doing.

In reply to TobyA:




Maybe because the residue from empty gel wrappers leaves an unfortunate stain on dark lycra when it dries

In reply to Bob:
sunday - col de la ramaz - col d'encrenaz - avoriaz then home via st jean d'aulps, la vernaz, valle du brevon and col de jambaz. 2800 mts ascent - 110km. Lovely trip. Saw just 5 bikes , where was everyone?
All cols clear but joux plane still shut as is the descent via montriond from avoriaz which is still snowed up at the top.

In reply to Bob:

Did 130miles around Yorkshire last Sunday, the weather has been AMAZING

In reply to manumartin:

Love the Encrenaz even though it was snowing down to 100m above the col when I did it.

In reply to Bob:

Hmm, this threads going well

Well this coming weekend I get my new bike - a Cotic Solaris hardtail - so it looks like a bit of MTB action coming up! Just got to pay the rest of the money

In reply to Bob:

I took a minute and twenty seconds off of my 10 mile TT PB last night. Need to keep a note of exactly what fuel I put in the tank yesterday, pasties and bananas featured. Quite a lot of other riders did PB's so some good air last night

In reply to woolsack:

Eighty seconds is a lot - unless your previous time was poor of course There's a local 10 mile TT tonight, was marshalling last week so might have a go tonight. PB on this course is 26:50

In reply to Bob:

Down to 22.41 and I never imagined I'd be down sub 23 minutes for a long time yet. It was won with 21.19
Different course tonight so I'll be pleased to go sub 24. Heavy rain is forecast but there maybe a window of opportunity

In reply to woolsack:

Good times those.

I might have a go tonight: I was two minutes quicker (moving time only, from 47mins to 45) on my commute this morning despite it being in to a headwind. Dream of sub 25, be pleased with sub 26.

In reply to Bob:

Missed my sub 24 by two seconds! Crappy night, rain had stopped by my start time but wet roads and a headwind back. PB on this course by 45 seconds though so not unhappy

In reply to woolsack:

Tough luck. I was 42 seconds down. I lost a minute in the first 3miles, 1m40 by the turn and picked up a minute by the end. Ah well, there's always next time.

In reply to Bob:

I did 20.4 over two days with my 6 year old daughter full report here

http://www.10mileseachway.blogspot.co.uk/

In reply to Bob:

It might not have been on the weekend, but did our first ride up the Col de Joux Plane yesterday... met the snowplough coming down with chains on on our way up in over 25deg heat!

In reply to aligibb:
Cool, is it clear from both sides, morzine and samoens?
I did ramaz from tanninges yesterday evening. it was incredibly windy on top at 8 pm!!
I will do joux plane on saturday morning, then head over to vacheresse as there is a cute little climb from there up to ubine.
thanks

In reply to manumartin:

Ubine and Refuge de Bise are on my to dos for next week! Yes theres about 1m of snow to cross on the descent to Morzine, that's all. that's a pretty big loop over to ubine and back, I have Sat pencilled for a ride too so may see you there.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=705333336175691&set=pcb.7053340...

photo from it.

In reply to aligibb:
Great ride today. Onnion, samoens, joux plane, morzine, col du corbier, vacheresse, refuge du bise, col du grand taillet, la forclaz, la vernaz, col du jambaz, onnion. 150km, 3400mts climbing!

In reply to manumartin:

Got a new hardtail MTB today - a Cotic Solaris. Very nice even if the weather round Swaledale wasn't. forgot to take my GPS with me so don't know how far I went.

I do like the look of Cotics but want full suss for my next bike. Getting old!

This is last Sundays ride
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=n076pZQAo-Q&feature=youtu.be

In reply to Bob:

Tonight .

Puncture on back ,then 15 mins later ,puncture on the back.

Job fu#ked .had to call for breakdown assistance ,or it was 15 mile call of shame in the twilight.

In reply to Guy:
Got a full suss, wanted something simpler. The staff were saying that the guy who built it was lusting after it! Ii think he's posted shots of it on Facebook, he's that taken with it.

It's 1x10 drive with an 11-40 block and 30T chainring, tubeless tyres, Reverb dropper post. Was an absolute blast to ride, giggling like mad on the descents.

In reply to manumartin:

A quickish 75 kms early this morning Nurmijärvi, Jokela, Hyvinkää, Järvenpää, Nurmijärvi. Blue sky, high 20s, birdsong, dandelions making the fields yellow, apple blossom everywhere.

In reply to manumartin:

you outdid me! 120km Chatel, bernex, Evian, Monthey, Val d'Illiez, morgins, Chatel, Beer and curry! not sure how much alt gain as don't have a garmin.

In reply to Bob:
After two tough weekends (Fred and EdD) enjoyed being able to say "sod it" with the wet weather yesterday, then today did a steady 40 miles over Langbar, Askwith Moor and Greenhow.

And spent yesterday finally editing footage from Fred and the Etape.

Fred vid (and no, I wasn't doing 27mph up Honister, nor was I putting out zero watts on the steepest bit of Hardknott!): vimeo.com/95914764

In reply to Bob:

Rode the Col de la Croix de Fer with DJ Tall Paul



E

In reply to andy:

Good vid, like the music too.

In reply to Bob:

Just back from a very wet weekend mtbing in Wales, which despite natures best efforts, and a few crashes in our group was a success. Stayed in a quiet campsite in ffarmers that has a pub with great food.

Had a uplift day at bike park wales on friday, with intermittent torrential rain, which made everything a bit spicier than normal. Its a great day out, and even in the rain, the routes were good and rode well. Did both the blues, which are fast and fun (and can bite when you over do it) and are probably more like a red at other trail centers. The reds are great, and more like a black at afan or coed y brenin. The black we did "enter the dragon" was very big, especially some of the kickers and burms, and a few big drops with obscured landings (which we bottled, but no we've seen it from the otherside isnt going to be a problem next time) Only downer on the day was 2 in our group hired bikes as they are in the market for new ones, and had a minor spill. On returning bikes, the mechanic spotted an almost imperceptible scrath on the for stantion on one of the bikes, and wanted to charge £320 for the damage until he was advised about the error of his ways. £65 hire charge is a lot in the first place, and minor accidental scuffs should be included. Fair enough if we had been sessioning jumps, but this was a minor slip on a wet track that they know this bike will be used on. I will go back, but wont hire their bikes.

The rest of the weekend was spent at Brechfa, which has pvoven to be the best centre ive visited in wales for xc routes. The Raven Trail (black) in attotious conditions was an absolute riot yesterday, we then did the green and blue derwen trail at night in the pissing rain which was brilliant fun, if a little slippery, and then the gorlech trail (red) this morning is the jewel in the crown, even in the wet its great, but bring your climbing legs. I ve done it 5 times now, only once in the dry...bloody welsh weather!

5 hour drive home, knackered now!

In reply to Bob:

Did a quick 40km on Friday in 30 degree heat. My mate set off like a bat out of hell and I thought "effing hell, this is going to hurt".

Luckily for me he must've gone onto the red cos I cruised past him after about 10km and he was sucking air through his arse. Classic hare and tortoise story.

Did a pleasant 50km yesterday (Saturday) cruising along at about 40km/hr and I said to my mate (another one - yes, I have two) we will pay for this.

10km/hr on the way back into the wind and he looks at me and says "yep".

In reply to Bob:

105 miles from Perth to Grantown over the ski centre roads. On reflection, easier n-s than s-n, but takes about the same time both way. Gave myself a day off Sunday.

In reply to Bob:

Col de la Ramaz

Thanks for the FRED video. Hardknott looks incredible. Fantastic effort to all of those who rode up it.

In reply to dmhigg:

Got that to look forward to on Sunday for 3 pistes sportive. How was the Lecht?

In reply to Bob: Unscheduled Bank Holiday chaingang from Ilkley this morning - 50 miles, with a speedy CG for the middle 30, averaging about 24mph whilst attempting to breathe through my arse.

Etape du Dales vid now edited - enjoy the comedy prat-fall whilst not paying attention in Garsdale: vimeo.com/96306242

In reply to Humphrey Jungle:


That 3 Pistes event looks great - bit of a faff from down here to get to, but awesome looking roads.

In reply to andy:

Excellent thanks for that.

I'm guessing your using Vector and Virb Elite? Thoughts on Vector?

In reply to Antigua: 2xVIRB Elite cameras, edited on Virb Edit to add the GPS data, and then Final Cut Pro for transitions, titles etc.

Not sure what Vector is?

I think Garmin have some work to do to get the GPS in the cameras sorted - the backward facing one doesn't seem to work sometimes, and as you can see from the Fred vid it seems to freeze sometimes. You can replace it with the track from your bike computer (I use an Edge) but that's a bit fiddly to get it synced properly sometimes.

In reply to andy:

As your showing power I thought you were using Garmin Vector pedals. So what are you using to capture power output?

I'm connecting/pairing (which is easy) an Edge 810 to my VIRB Elite so it records GPS from the 810 as you go along no sync'ing needed. Haven't had any dropout issues doing this.

Am looking into the possibility of doing the Fred Whitton next year looks like quite a challenge.

In reply to Antigua: Stages power meter, one on each bike - which after a few months of quirks is working perfectly.

Are you sure the Virb is picking up the 810's track? I thought if you wanted to replace the Virb's own GPS track you had to do it in Virb edit? The 810 doesn't have any way of pushing the .fit data outwards (if you see what I mean) to another device - it (and the VIRB) can receive ANT+ signals from HRM, power, cadence etc. But I think the GPS data you're seeing on your video is the one recorded by the Virb itself (it starts recording the moment you turn it on, not just when you're recording video). If you pair the Edge and the Virb I think it just means you can control the Virb from the Edge (unless there's a setting I've not found!).

In reply to andy:

It was not as bad as I expected...although my compact gearing was a bit of a struggle: there are only two proper steep bits, one before the zig zags, the other halfway up, and they're quite short. I found Glenshee harder, because it feels like you've been going uphill for ages before you get to Spittal.

In reply to Enty:

The only thing that stopped me crying as I neared the top of that lovely hill is that I know (from experience) I can't breathe properly when I'm crying. Took a lot of Man Up pills to get me to the cafe at the top. So I arrived with dignity intact (kind of, if nobody ever saw the Strava speed trace), only to see a young couple up there, her with her head properly hung over the handlebars having a proper old hissy fit while blokey made some attempts to somehow make it all better (not a chance).

In reply to:

Pleasant(!) exploration of hills in the Peak district, from Grenoside to Wortley then along Green Moor ridge and down to Lansett to enjoy some nice new TdF tarmac en route to Ladybower and a brew at Hathersage, back via Rininglow, Rivelin,Outibridge and more steep TdF tarmac back up to Grenoside. Most of it new to me. You've got lots of brutal (to me) climbs in the Peak! (and awesome views). I need to get a lighter frame! And when I've lost the weight I'll treat the bike to one too.

In reply to kevin stephens:

Tha doesn't need to lose weight surely lad?

Early start to get over to the Lakes to do a loop from Staveley over the Green Quarter to Longsleddale (longsley dale as Cath says!) then back over from Sadgill to Kentmere and over Garburn Pass before dropping down the 3 rivers descent back to Staveley. http://app.strava.com/activities/145818594

A good test for the new bike - it's an absolute blast. Some shots here - http://bobwightman.co.uk/bike/slideshow.php?s=kentmere

In reply to Bob: A pleasant pootle over Langbar and Barden Moor, cheering on some friends running Ilkley Trail Race, and:even getting a slightly speedy tow off a certain Scott Thwaites at one point. Good fun.

In reply to Bob: Nice pics Bob - but can you have a word with Cath about those shorts?

In reply to andy:

I'll ask her to take them off !

In reply to Bob:

Marginal gains again, a haircut at the weekend got me below 24 minutes on our club 10 TT course tonight, 23.57. Going to burn the candle at both ends with a Crit tomorrow night leading to an 80km road race Sunday morning

In reply to Bob:

Ffestiniog 360 102 km of lovely hilly welsh roads, well run little charity event, more like a big club run with 12 quid to charity. Improved on last years time

In reply to Bob:

Killer calf cramp on lap 13 or 16 of the crit so decided to pull out rather than jeopardize Sunday's race. Had been feeling quite strong up until then and taken more than my fair share on the front. Racing the day after a TT wasn't probably the best idea

In reply to woolsack:

Went for a 48Km mountain bike ride yesterday.

Was the sweeper on our club sportive (Le Petit Depart) today so 130Km without much pressure. Set off forty minutes later than planned so didn't pick up the back markers until the climb out of Hawes. A day of cracking weather in the Dales.

In reply to Bob:

Saddle sores. Pus.

In reply to Bob:

Did the Mont Ventoux Cinglé Challenge (all 3 ways up and down) in under 7 hours.

E

In reply to Enty:

Which way did you go? Malaucene Bedoin Sault? I want to do this in August from Buis

In reply to Bob:

I foolishly tried to follow a breakaway in an 80km Cat 3-4 road race and blew up very quickly and despite making emergency calls to my two empty legs I just had to watch the rest of the field disappear into the distance.
Well and truly dropped and disheartened at my utter stupidity, I took an early bath.
A wasted ride as up to that point I was sitting comfortably in the first third of the bunch.

Nothing now until a 100m TT in two weeks. I shouldn't manage to mess that up

In reply to Bob:

Shifter & cable on road bike broke midweek waiting to see if lbs can source a single shifter/internal workings.
Decided to go MTB on the Marin trail, got puncture and found out the seal on my bike pump had gone and was only able to partially inflate my spare inner resulting in a pinch flat not much further down the line
Big thanks to the team who lent me an inner tube and the use of their pump
Hopefully technical issues will be resolved by next weekend

In reply to Bob:

Just a short 35 km mainly off- and unsurfaced-road ride on Saturday afternoon on my CX bike. But after much staring at google maps I found not just one, but two(!) 'shortcuts' through the roadless area north of Helsinki airport where the proper road makes a big loop. One of the routes follows the airport security fence for some of it so its a cool ride if you are both a CXer and a plane spotter - with A340s, wheels down coming in at about 100 ft over your helmet.

After that I went to a local sandpit with bike tracks and jumps in it with my kids. Kid number 1 just received last week his new bike that was his birthday present, so kid #2 now has moved up to his brothers previous bike which has gears and even suspension! He has been a bit take it or leave it with cycling before but was the one who wanted to stay the longest going round and round this little dirt track so I think he might have caught the MTB bug!

In reply to Bob: Not much - long week at work last week so couldn't be arsed getting up early for chaingang, so ended up with a 25 mile pootle, then yesterday spent the entire day helping out at the same Sportive as Bob - seems to have been very well received by those who rode it.

I've always felt that if your club does something like this you ought to help out if you can, as it's a way of putting something back. It also really brought home to me how much goes into organising something like this - and reinforces my belief that turning up and riding sportives without paying isn't really right - lots of my club-mates do this regularly with the excuse "I didn't eat any food" - well of the entry fee probably less than a fiver covers food (we had a load of stuff provided very cheap by Torq, and the rest was pork pies, bananas and cake) - the cost is all the other stuff, as well as the hidden cost of a lot of people giving a lot of their time for nothing. Added to that is the fact that if everyone did it the police would probably stop a lot of events - 3,000 people didn't get into the Fred this year. If they all had the attitude of one of my clubmates (who didn't even enter) and rode the event and "didn't eat any food - I just filled my bottles with water" then that'd be the end of it.

And relax...

In reply to andy:
Sum total of litter on the sportive route: 1 gel wrapper (on the climb out of Settle). I may have missed anything that was thrown over a wall or hidden in vegetation but that was the only one I actually saw - being a sunny day they do shine and stand out. I'm assuming that things like McDonald's detritus wasn't due to any of the 500 or so riders on the sportive.

In reply to Bob:

Went up to Laggan for the first time and did the black then the red trails. The black is extremely technical but also extremely fun!

In reply to Bob:

130k in North Wales including Hope and Moel Arthur, hurt the legs but was fantastic, then a lovely club spin on sunday to the cafe and around

In reply to andy:



We've got the same thing with race and time trial marshalling and when it gets later in the season we've now reached the stage of having to stop some members from riding that always show up to ride but never volunteer to marshal. Provided everyone does two events marshalling it all works fine

In reply to woolsack:

Yep - our local TT is every week - we've established that 20+ of our members have ridden one, 5 have marshalled...

In reply to andy:

Well two of those are Mrs Bob and me - given my pathetic ride two weeks ago I might just stick to marshalling

To aldo56:

I've done the red at Laggan but not the black. In common with most trail centres I think you need to ride it a couple of times to know where the tricky sections are - having step-ups just round blind corners on a climb is sneaky.

In reply to Bob:
Agreed, it did catch a couple of us out and we definitely all dabbed quite a bit.

In reply to woolsack:


That's actually our club rule. Any events we organise you have to be prepared to marshall or provide a marshall in your place. If you don't you don't ride.

E

In reply to Bob:

86 mile ride with over 3000 ft of climbing -- out through The Trough of Bowland on the coat tails of the Southport 'A' Team. Fortunately the 'nutters' were all away on holiday, so it was a small but sensible group of 6 that set off. Needless to say I got dropped as soon as the climbing started, but they were pleasantly surprised that I was only 10 minutes behind them at the cafe stop. They took pity on this OAP for most of the way back, but I let them off the leash for the last 20 miles or so. They averaged about 17mph for the ride, whilst I managed a much more sedate 15.3mph!

In reply to andy:

The Southport CC thursday night 10 series attracts riders from a number of local clubs. SCC members compete for points through the season, and as we have a number limit of 50 riders for safety reasons on some (warm and fast) nights we have to turn members from other clubs away.

Whilst we do have some marshals who do not compete, it is a condition of entry that everyone ( not just SCC members) who rides has to volunteer to marshal for one event in every six.

All of the competitors seem happy to do so -- though by now some wish that they'd offered to marshal in the cold and windy early season events particularly if it's their turn to marshal, and it's a 'float night'!

In reply to woolsack:

Bedoin - summit - Malaucene - summit - Sault - summit - Bedoin - 138km, 4300m of ascent.

Obviously Malaucene is closer to Buis if you're riding out there. What date you thinking?

E

In reply to Bob:

My longest ever ride so far! 160km with 3500 metres of climbing - although I think Strava overestimates the altitude gain here in Spain due to a lack of resolution in the map altitude data.

6hr20m riding time, though food stops added an extra hour to the total time.

Nominally it was to give me an indication of how I would go for the Etape Eryri in two weeks time. In theory that event has less climbing, which is good news because the last 30km yesterday were utter hell and I wasn't enjoying myself one little bit

In reply to Enty:

We arrive the 16th so I miss the Le Poet hillclimb by a day

I was going to go from the 20th onwards, that's what I put on my online application. I'll fry!

In reply to Bob:

Chiltern 100 sportive yesterday - actually 110 miles.

In reply to LastBoyScout:

Failed attempt at the Tommmy Godwin challenge - mechanical caused us to cut the ride short so only managed 152miles. Still i did get to ride to the seaside from Cambridge.

In reply to VS4b:

3 Pistes Sportive in the sun

In reply to Bob:

I went out with the next faster group in my club for the first time. Back to being spat out at the back again on every hill. Still, it's happened before an dif I stick with it I'll get there. Half of it's my fault - my route choice!

In reply to Humphrey Jungle:


It was sunny wasn't it - made the views even more stunning, and I certainly took my time to make sure I appreciated them - great day though, 102.4 miles with 8,742ft of elevation I made it.

In reply to Bob:

Beinn Eighe (well most of it anyway) and Beinn Fhada. Lots of carrying but awesome descents.

In reply to Bob:

I fell orff on Saturday... =[

Only a few scrapes and bruises though. The helmet prevented what I imagine would have been a rather bad headache.

In reply to Bob:

Cycling through worryingly big clouds of midges.

Tonight was the worst.

Clothes are covered in them.they seem to turn to dust on impact.thank fu#k

In reply to Bob:

Just back from a week in west Ireland. It's a brilliant place for road cycling - good roads, very little traffic, stunning screnery, just enough hills to keep it honest and give you chance to stretch your calves now and then. Even had pretty good weather. Did a lovely 120 mile ride that took me all over Sligo.

Finished up yesterday by riding 17 miles of the Antrim Coast - a fantastic ride that only took 50 minutes due to a following wind ! Lovely seeing all the giro stuff - pink bikes, pink bunting, pink tractors, pink sheep - with the odd juxtaposition of riding past a heavily fortified police station.

In reply to Bob:

Stayed at home Saturday in anticipation of the apocalypse, which didn't really happen here so made up for it on Sunday by going out on the road to nail the flipping' Strava challenge I seem to have been failing at on a regular basis, the 130km thingy.

First time this year wearing fingerless mitts, and due to slight riding up of shorts hems first touch of sunburn of the summer!

Did the whole leisurely ride through the lanes of Cheshire wearing team kit (well, jersey and mitts), not caring what folk think about the pros and cons of showing your team allegiance on the bike. Proud to show my colours and love of Team Sky, and my excitement at the up and coming Tour de France.

In reply to Bob:

Final training ride before next weekends Tour de Yorkshire. A mere 55 mile to Chapel en le frith and a sprint back to get to the cinema to see Slaying the Badger

In reply to Bob:

Glentress red on sunday...
first time on my bike for months.

In reply to Bob:

100 miles charity ride for the up and under group, nice day cycle from crewe to Llangollen and back around great scenery and lots of friendly riders

In reply to Chris the Tall:

How was the weather? The chaps and I did a 50 miler from my house (wythenshawe) to the Cat and Fiddle and back

Worst rain I've ridden in. Soaked and freezing. Loved it.

In reply to ThunderCat:

Was that Saturday or Sunday ? Saturday was very wet - although the deluge stopped for the half hour I was doing a parkrun.
Sunday was glorious and it felt a shame to be in a cinema at 3.30 on such a lovely afternoon. But when we came out we realised we'd missed another deluge !

In reply to Chris the Tall:

Saturday. Couldn't actually see the Cat and Fiddle until we were right on top of it, the rain / fog was that bad. That would have been about 2/3pm

Course by the time we got back, the sun was out...

In reply to Bob:

15mile trip on bike with the sprog on the tag along. Then a 20mile bike ride from dundee to perth through a thunderstorm finishing with blazing sunshine! Ace.

In reply to ThunderCat:

Snuck out for a cheeky 90km through the lanes to Carsington. Need to clean the bike now as they were filthy after all the rain on Saturday.

In reply to Guy:

Wondering if the biking what did you do at the weekend ought to include a summary of the state of your bike and your plans for cleaning it! For what it's worth, I did some adventurous off road stretches on the road bike (pinch flatted indeed) and it is truly minging. Will clean it this week ...

In reply to AlisonSmiles:

It's always good to get a bit off the beaten track! The BeestonCC sportive tackles Bridle Lane near Ripley which is interesting It is all rideable but does involve picking a line to avoid the chopped up sections. Got to love a bit of challenge on a ride.

I did plough through a ford on my ride but it didn't touch the slurry that had welded itself to my frame in the heat.

In reply to Bob:

A late Friday night ride for some me time ended up with 50 miles somehow.
Then Sunday, with a brutal hangover I went out with the club and put a social 110 in around the Wirral/Deeside. It was nice and sunny which led to a longer than expected cafe stop.

Bangor to home on Wednesday, hope the weather cleans up

In reply to ThunderCat:

I was luckier - did Cat and Fiddle from Didsbury on Sunday via Brickworks, Kettleshulme, Pym Chair and Goyt valley then back by Lamaload res and Bollington, 80km and 1300m. Sunshine and nice breeze with lovely views . I'm getting in to this road biking lark

In reply to Paul Atkinson:

Love that road out of the Goyt Valley up to the Cat and Fiddle.

In reply to Bob:

60k through Snowdonia Waenfawr- Beddgelert-Pen y Pass-Llanberis
looking forward to next weekend stage 1 of the tour in yorkshire

In reply to Bob:

Spent Saturday morning attempting to stick with the fast lads in the Ilkley chaingang, then pottering back to Skipton with a mate who was riding stage 1 of the Tour in absolutely foul weather - then yesterday a surprisingly not-rainy ride down to some little lanes in the Forest of Bowland, then home via Waddington Fell and Barnoldswick.

In reply to Bob:

Day 4 on the bike here. Tour of Ventoux. It's 37 degrees, tan lines coming on nicely.

E

In reply to Guy:


I found that by accident...it's great isn't it.

In reply to ThunderCat:


And did you stop at the Peak View Café - best range of cakes I've ever seen !

In reply to Paul Atkinson:

You should try tacking on Winkle, Roaches, Longnor, Hollinsclough. These routes remind me why I prefer to live in these parts. The other stretch I tend to tack onto rides round here is the downhill direction through Wildboarclough. Beautiful valley, just enough slope to 'wizz' down without it getting nervous, but a bit of a climb out afterwards whichever way you're going.

In reply to Bob:

Chris - will have to try the cafe net time, haven't got the hang of refuelling on the bike yet so keep bonking on long rides. A nice cake and tea stop sounds like a good plan

Marek - will look in to those routes thanks - am very much exploring at the moment

P

In reply to Chris the Tall:


Don't know where that is?

We came in from Whaley Bridge, up through Fernilee (along High Road?) and then at the top, take a sharp right down into the Goyt Valley, then along to the cat and fiddle.

And then back again, because we were drenched and freezing, and about 40 bikers had arrived there just before we did.

In reply to ThunderCat:



It's on the plateau, maybe half a mile short of the pub if coming from the north, which I guess you where. Maybe in the rain you only had eyes for the pub!

And was the pub any good ? I went for a post-ride pint to find it shutting at 8pm - but the landlord had only just taken over and was a keen cyclist

In reply to Chris the Tall:

I was glad to only spend a few mins on the C&F road though - too narrow for 2 white vans to pass at 80 with a bike on the outside! Jobs a good un though to link the Goyt valley with the Stanley Arms road, especially if there's good cake to be had in the middle

In reply to Bob:

Awarded myself a day off today, so hatched a stupid plan to cycle to Lincoln (from Sheffield) on the basis that 1) it's flat 2) there's a hill I haven't cycled up in Lincoln and 3) it's only 110 miles

The way out was great, in glorious sunshine. The way back felt like quite hard work, then it started raining like the apocalypse might be on its way. I survived, just about.

In reply to Paul Atkinson:


Gives me a nervous twitch now, the Stanley Arms road. Had my first experience of the dreaded 'front wheel shimmy' at about 45-50mph a couple of weekends ago. Blunted my 'need for speed' somewhat since then!

In reply to Chris the Tall:



When i say the Goyt Valley, I'm meaning along the single track road that runs alongside the water (down by Errwood Reservoir?) Maybe I need pictures...My geography aint that good

I'm not a big fan of the cat and fiddle to be honest...everytime I've been in there (three times) waiting ages to be served.

So I tend to use it as an end point..and then go somethere else. This time we got to the C&F, then turned back the way we came and had a couple of pints in the Shady Oak in Fernilee.

And they were very nice.

In reply to Bob:

Nobody riding this weekend ?

Did the Tour de Yorkshire - stage 1 on Sat, stage 2 on Sunday, finishing around 10:30pm.

Stage 1's not too bad (133 miles but that included 5 into Leeds), the weather was pleasant, route (mostly) well signed, loads of other people doing it, great scenery and the roads not too bad - only swore at a dozen drivers at most !

Stage 2 is an absolute killer (130 mile but back loaded with viscous climbs). Lots of drizzle, fog on Holme Moss, lots of nasty busy roads, but some nice ones as well. The cobbled climb in Haworth is very amusing !

Should be a fascinating race - and if it gets categorised as a flat stage they'll be trouble! But if anyone's interested in riding a stage, do stage 1.

In reply to Chris the Tall:

Just got back from a week's touring of Orkney and Shetland - 70 miles in to the wind ain't fun!! We should have picked the B&Bs to be closer

The drivers on both sets of islands are great - they leave plenty of room when passing and will wait before overtaking if they can't see round the bend ahead.

In reply to Bob:

I had a very successful Sunday morning and managed to knock 28 minutes off of my 100 mile TT time finishing in 4:24:14 which I was very pleased with. Although it was a pan flat course there was an increasing NE wind which made any bit of cover welcome.
After 30 miles the undercarriage started complaining and at 90 miles it was threatening to walk out!
Now debating whether to have a bash at the 12 hour in September

In reply to Chris the Tall:

Did the Etape Eryri - 165km around snowdonia - on Sunday. Perfect weather, sunny spells and warm without being too hot. Rode around fairly leisurely together with my brother - the legs were definitely feeling it at the end though.

Great atmosphere and organisation - I'll be back next year!

In reply to Bob:
30 miles of gentle rolling terrain Saturday teatime after a couple of hard days fell running. Just the ticket. No 3pcx this year, so pressure's off a bit

In reply to Bob:

Took a lazy morning in Whitby to ride some of the coastal roads, found a quite astonishing uphill back road but nobody died ...

In reply to Bob:

47 mile ride round rural Ayrshire, trip along the coast with some hills on the way home - crackin weather for it, long may it continue

In reply to Bob:

Innerleithen red XC route with the mental black sections included. Last ride before I build the new steed; a fine send off to my hardtail!

In reply to Alun:

Was on the etape Eryri Mawr too. Was great. My first century.

Suffering today.

In reply to Double Knee Bar:

SAT : Glasgow <> Trossachs solo 85 miles incl Dukes Pass
SUN : Easy 52 miles with mate

Did not get wet or blown off ... sometimes this country aint too bad.

In reply to Bob:

Le Tour Stage 1 from Addingham (skipped the ride out of leeds)
will be a few challenges for a peleton on some of those roads

In reply to jethro kiernan:

The descent from Kidstones in to Bishopdale looks prime "incident" territory for a peloton at full speed. It's hairy enough on a club ride with just a few of you. A few weeks ago our club organised a sportive over there and the only crash was on that descent.

In reply to Bob:
I also notice that the mystery rider JP has a few KOM's on the first Stage of Le Tour on Strava

In reply to Bob:


That was fun but trust me when I say that is nothing compared to the second half of stage two, and in particular the section from Midhopestones to Oughtibridge.

On stage 1 they have a long run in so they'll be taking it easy, but stage 2 is nothing but climbs and drops, much on narrow roads. A break will go with someone trying to mop up KOM points (9 categorised climbs and just as many uncategorised ones such as Cragg Vale and Haworth). Everyone will be jostling for position on Woodhead cos after that it will be very hard to move up. The drop down Ewden Bank is lethal with two very tight turns then a sharp climb. Something similar in Bradfield with a long, steepening descent followed by a hairpin on a climb. All of which will add to the anxiety of the peleton cos if you get held up there it will be very difficult to get back to the bunch.

In reply to jethro kiernan:


I think David Lopez clocked up a few as well

In reply to Chris the Tall:

I really don't know much of the second half of stage two - I've done Cragg Vale and Holme Moss on a bike (I thought the descent off HM was pretty fast) and have driven along the Strines road - but apart from that I'll go with what you say. I think Strines will make the peloton very nervous, lots of short, sharp climbs and descents with sharp and blind corners, if a group gets away before then they should stay away.

In reply to Bob:

Stage 1 is far more pleasant to ride. I don't think Welcome To Yorkshire expect people to do stage 2 as the they haven't put up any signs past Holmfirth

In reply to Chris the Tall:

Well to be fair, riding along the A59 over Blubberhouses is hardly the most pleasant experience, the most interesting bit from Fewston reservoir up kex Gill to the summit is also going to be the most frustrating for any drivers behind you with the usual inconsiderate/dangerous overtaking being the most likely result. I've done small bits of it but avoid where possible.

The route then passes through quite a few towns (Keighley, Hebden Bridge, Huddersfield, etc) so although there's some good bits, I.E. Cragg Vale; Holme Moss, it's not a ride I'd do out of choice. Like you say, stage 1 is much more pleasant and you can make it a loop from Addingham by cutting back from Harrogate via Norwood Edge and the back road from Otley.

In reply to Chris the Tall:

Not sure Yorkshire was prepared for the sheer volume of MAMILS passing through, seemed to take it fairly well appart from the initial A roads.

In reply to jethro kiernan:

You're not likely to get the chance to play at Wembley, Wimbledon, Lords or even Prenton Park, but can go and ride the roads. It's brilliant seeing the efforts some places have gone to to welcome the tour (and Giro in Ireland). Got to be good for the local economy. The vast majority of drivers were very considerate and only a few were ar5eholes - mostly bus drivers !

We you out on Sat or Sunday - there were some very portly chaps on Buttertubs mid afternoon

In reply to Chris the Tall:

I see you spotted me on buttertubs then
great atmosphere on the tour routes, cycled up the Col du Lautaret (they had shut the Galibier to all traffic) the morning the tour was due and the atmosphere was electric, really was like having a kick around on wembly on cup final day.

In reply to Bob:

Sunday Enjoyable 106 mile club run through Cheshire via café at top of Beeston Castle hill

In reply to Bob:

Just done Alpe d'huez. 1h8m slowing down with age

E

In reply to Enty:

slacker

In reply to Bob:

Cycled to Paris. The extremely scenic way!

Cycling in France is a revelation. Dedicated cycle highways, permanent cycle signposts for Dieppe -> Paris, marble-smooth roads, no hate from drivers... Worth getting the £30 ferry over just to cycle for the weekend.

In reply to Bob:

My club's 10 mile Box Hill TT (the 'Olympic Circuit'), followed by a club ride, and back to the village hall in time for tea, cake and medals (none of the latter for me though).

It was perhaps unfortunate (and the result of an absence of dilgent seeding) that the winner started one minute after me. I was passed after 8 minutes, as we slowed for a bend and T-junction. Thoughts of staying with him lasted about 4 seconds.

He did manage a 55 minute 25 mile TT time recently though and I am but a mere mortal of a certain age

In reply to Bob:

Friday/Saturday/Sunday days 2,3 and 4 (of 5) doing Lon Las Cymru from Holyhead to Cardiff. Day 2 took me from Porthmadog via Trawsfynydd to the upper reaches of Coed y Brenin, down forest tracks to the Visitor Centre and on to Dolgellau. Day 3 was Dolgellau to Llanidloes (38 miles with 1400 m. of ascent) and Day 4 Llanidloes to Brecon. I finished on Monday afternoon in Cardiff Bay. The weather was perfect and I recommend this ride (National Route 8).I was on an Orange P7, solo and unsupported.

In reply to Bob:

An audax, 600km of contrasting and scenic roads and hills.

In reply to Bob:

Another one on the etape eryri Mawr here! No great pace for me but good fun!

In reply to jethro kiernan:

Slateman feature is now in 220 Tri - https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=723302017715543&set=a.189847741...

In reply to Bob:

62 miles in the Peak including my new top speed of 58mph down Slack Hill. My only other time down there was into a head wind and I clocked 53mph so knew I should be able to go a bit quicker.

I also bumped into the Eroica sportive. Lots of nice steel frames around and plenty of hot sweaty people in wool jerseys!

In reply to Henry Iddon:

Saturday: somewhat knackered after having to get up at 3am to drop my wife off in Leeds to catch a train. My road ride plans got shorter and shorter: I ended up doing a quick loop over to Colne and back in the humidity.

Sunday: went to Gisburn Forest with my wife and did the red route plus the Hope Line. Not been to a trail centre for ages, I think the last time was two years ago at Llandegla. Quite a few new sections since I last did the red route plus I did Hully Gulley for the first time which was fun, well apart from my wife taking a ten metre tumble in to the beck! Fortunately only a few cuts and bruises but it knocked her confidence a bit.

In reply to Bob:

Sorry to hear about your wife's tumble. Hully gully looks fun if you relax and let it flow. Easier for some people than others.

In reply to Bob: a very very hot 107 miles on the dartmoor classic, lovely but I was soo hot riding up to Princetown.

Keep left, keep left, keep left, on your right, on your right. Sportive riders and the centre white line, it's like moths to a candle flame?

Huge kudos to the yogi riders on their mtbs and the couples on tandems, all who had twenty years on me (older) and thanks to those I rode with for the last 15, always nice to have company and legs to share the work with.

Cheers

Toby

In reply to Bob:

I fell off. Descent on the MTB, went over the handlebars and landed on my head, then crashing down on my right shoulder and knee. Oddly I sat up, thought blimey, I actually don't appear to be injured at all, how lucky is that. Picked up the scattered cereal bars, checked the brakes and alignment of stuff on the bike and pootled down the hill to where one of my companions was waiting. He was slightly aghast at the amount of blood on my leg. Cleaned up the leg, grazes and a couple of shallow gashes, helmet dented and replacement now ordered. All in all, I'm blooming lucky even if I'm limping with two legs this morning and sore and stiff neck, shoulders and upper back from the impact. It was interesting. I kept riding for another hour before starting to feel like I was a bit of a liability to my companions as head bangs aren't to be trifled with. Shame, because I was really up for our midsummer 60km killer loop! It's only a small consolation to me that they stopped at 43km (I stopped at 20). We will be back.

In reply to Guy:

She's done it several times (and is made of sterner stuff!) but she just got the line slightly wrong on the section after the big berms where one of the down slopes has had rocks put in. She was going all of 1mph at the time, if she'd been leaning the other way she'd have just been able to put her hand out and touch the bank.

In reply to Henry Iddon:

Nice one, will try and get a copy, 100k midsomer early morning from Llanberis over the pass down to Betws y coed via capel, over the Crimea to Blenau Ffestiniog and then back via Beddgelert and Nant Gwynant all in sunshine and perfect tempratures

In reply to Bob:

As a brand shiny new cyclist, I'm really starting to enjoy punter biking. Mind you, only in the sunshine . Yesterday's foray was to Rutland Water with a lovely group of friends.

In reply to Bob:

Bugger all on the bike -- my son and his wife were visiting and we'd not seen them since Xmas. I'll make up for it in the next few weeks starting with a cheeky ride down to the Southport CC club night (32 mile round trip from home to the clubhouse). At this time of year I can get back home before it gets dark!

In reply to Bob: Decided to give it a go riding with the club A section, from Otley up to Grassington and the top of Kidstones before turning around with a smaller group. Good fun and reasonably comfortable on the way out, but fewer wheels to hide in, a net downhill profile and I'm convinced a generally faster bunch meant the second half almost blew me apart. Good fun though, and far quicker than I've ever ridden for that distance before.

In reply to Bob:

Got dropped off the back of a 80km road race early on and spent the rest of the race riding round with three other back markers trying to get within a sight of the bunch which of course wasn't going to happen.
Maybe time to realise that at 48, trying to keep up with 20 year olds isn't going to happen easily if at all.
Entered another 80km race this morning in September

In reply to Bob:

65 miles with 3,800 ft of ascent on Saturday, felt great. Sunday little pootle with great friends another 16 miles with almost no ascent at all.

Really pleased with how my legs are feeling.

In reply to woolsack: Can you find any LVRC events that you can attend if you're not convinced you can live with the sprogs?

In reply to Bob: It's always the slow ones that get you!!

In reply to Liam M:

I think you're right, time to accept it!

In reply to Bob:

Rode High Street in the Lake District on Saturday and it was as dry as it ever gets. It's a route I only attempt in either frozen or very dry conditions and it was dusty trails all the way this time. That final descent from Loadpot Hill to Howtown has got to be one of the best descents in England.

In reply to shantaram:

100 miles from cambridge to theft ford and back. Lovely sunny day.

In reply to Bob:

I'm going to attempt to bask in the reflected glory of my mate Dave's ride this weekend. Look at this profile for bonkersness... http://www.strava.com/activities/156185820

In reply to SteveRi:

That is truly epic. It was the National 24 this weekend, that also has a huge element of madness attached to it. We had one club member do 341 miles on a bike and another nutcase doing it on a tricycle. No idea what his mileage was. 231 miles and 22,000 ft of ascent takes some beating though

In reply to Bob: Spent Saturday having a post-cricket hangover and taking 12 teenagers to Blackpool, then Sunday had a lovely nurdle round Nidderdale - Askwith Moor, Pennypot Lane, Ripley Castle, Pateley Bridge, Greenhow and home via Linton. A delightful 60 miles and some new roads to ride on. Even Greenhow seemed pleasant on a day like that.

Rode it on my winter bike as the cracking and groaning from my bottom bracket finally got so bad I took the chainset off to find the BB cover cracked - into the mender's today to replace it, and also to find what we think is a little crack near the BB, so I've just "impulse bought" a new frame - which my mate (whose mate works for Scott) reckons is a hyper bargain - 2013 Foil which retailed at £2500 for £1500 including Ultegra Di2 shifters, cables, battery and derailleurs. Will probably sell the gear set to fund the frame set purchase!

In reply to andy:
Press-fit BB or Hollowtech? This on your carbon summer bike?

In reply to Bob:

Let me guess, press fit BB?

In reply to woolsack: Yep, Shimano press fit - summer bike. Winter bike is a Ribble carbon with Hollowtech. Having been out on it tonight I'm not even sure it is a crack as it's running silently, but the new frame's too good a deal to miss!

BB had done 3 years and c7,000 miles though, so not too shabby.

In reply to andy:

Mine creaks like a b*stard, same press fit rubbish on a Trek Madone frame

In reply to woolsack: Easy enough to replace if you have the right tools - which I've now bought!

In reply to woolsack:

Press-fit's a con. It came about because it costs frame manufacturers money to thread and face the traditional BB shell. The way it's sold to the punter is a "stiffer" BB, though the increased amount of carbon fibre in the area might have more to do with that (if you can really tell the difference) than the actual mechanism.

In reply to woolsack:


Had a few friends on that as well. Best made around 470 miles but most in 370 - 410 mile range. 24 tts are tough.

In reply to Orgsm:


Would that be the Mark Rigby one starting from Tewkesbury and heading into Wales? If so, I admire your understatement! I have a clubmate who did it and it looked brutal, having seen his Strava for it. Another very experienced Audaxer I know said it was the hardest 600 he's ever done!
Very well done whatever it was - it's hard to beat that feeling of putting your feet up on the Monday after a 600

In reply to Orgsm:

It's a tough course as well apparently, I've only done the Mersey and that is the right balance between being flat and not being boring IMO. 470 miles is ace in that heat (as is any distance)!

Any idea if provisional results are available yet, I'd be interested to see. I don't know who of the current big 24 hour hitters was entered though.

In reply to Orgsm:


I've decided to do our 12 hour in September. 12 is palatable, 24 is just mad!

In reply to Byronius Maximus:

Nope don't think provisional published yet.

In reply to Bob: 90 something km around the North Downs with around 1250 m climbing.

Thoughts:
(5) "I cannot remember there being a flat section ever." Self explanatory.
(4) "Where did this hill come from?" Sundridge Hill not being one I noticed when planning, definitely noticed it on the way up.
(3) "This is a three banana ride", definitely not a banana and an apple which was all I took.
(2) "Why am I riding through so many places or roads called hill?" Did not realise there were so many, the SE is not flat! Ide Hill, Toys Hill, (missed Yorks hill gladly), Titsey Hill, Riverhill, Bailey's Hill, Hosey Hill, Bogtrough Hill, Brasted Hill, Sundridge Hill, Knockholt Hill, Rushmore Hill, Well Hill, Rock Hill...
(1) "That must be the top, no that must be it, no the next one, how high can this go we're only in Sussex!" On pretty much every one of those hills.

In reply to Byronius Maximus:

I think they're still wading through reams of timing sheets

http://www.timetriallingforum.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=91275

In reply to Byronius Maximus:


Black sheep

Got this one starting Friday http://www.millecymru.com to keep me out of trouble. Seemed like a good idea when I entered but build up gone well and injury and sickness free this year. So as prepared as I can be. Probably the toughest one I've entered so far. Relentless hills and over 16,000m of ascent / descent. Hopefully body and mind will hold out

In reply to Bob:


Although my bike's got an aluminium "liner" in the BB, so you'd think it wouldn't be that hard to put a thread in that.

Anyway - it's fine now, and tomorrow I'll have another one. Didn't you ever go for that Scott hyper-bargain from Westbrook?

In reply to andy:

No, didn't bother in the end, happy with current bike.

In reply to Orgsm:
Oh good one! And very impressive doing so so soon after such a hard 600. Do post on here to say how you get on - MC is one for the future for me (assuming they keep running it) but I'm not doing long stuff at the moment. It looks like the best tactic for it would be to think of it as three very long day rides, rather than a 1000k monster.
PBP next year? Or am I best to ask that after MC?

In reply to woolsack:
Cheers. Looking over on YACF, it seems that things might have been confused by a car crash causing one of the circuits to be closed early, so I should imagine the officials are taking extra care over their calculations!

Good luck with your 12 hour! Not yet done one but it almost sounds harder than a 24 because you'd feel like you can ride it harder, if you see what I mean. On a 24, you just settle down to a certain pace.

In reply to Byronius Maximus:

Yes PBP next year. But this weekend is my last long ride of this year. Then I'll take time off , other than cycle commuting, till sometime early next year.

In reply to Bob:

Figured out a combination of knee wraps and dressings to try to keep last week's damage contained and clean and managed an afternoon on the MTB yesterday, checking out folk checking out Tour de France access routes on bikes. Today took the MTB out and ambled up Chunal and Monks Road before going over to Lantern Pike and winding my way gently back. Short one today and now chilling with a mug of decaf and cheese & ham on toast.

In reply to AlisonSmiles:

Not a lot, since a car reversed into me on Friday afternoon and bent my front wheel

In reply to nniff:

Ooh! Hope their insurance pays out.

Did my first 100 miler of the year and since my op on Saturday. Did the interesting bits of stage 1, basically up Wharfedale, over Kidstones, up to Hawes then over Buttertubs and down to Reeth before heading back via Redmire and Kidstones. Lots of cyclists out since there were two events using stage 1.

Today did 90Km with my wife - we went over to Slaidburn then over Newton Fell to Waddington and back via Barnoldswick. Very quiet both traffic and cyclist wise.

In reply to Bob: Painful chaingang yesterday, then White Rose Classic today - medium route (84 m, 8000' ascent) but a really hard day out - felt like we were pushing all the way. Significantly slower overall time than last year due to being chivalrous and stopping for 10 minutes to "not fix" someone's chain, but feels like we've had a proper day out.

In reply to Bob:

Exactly two minutes off of my 25 mile TT time this morning. Moderate cross wind spoilt things for everyone. Reasonable compensation for getting up at 0430 on a Sunday I suppose

In reply to Bob:

Saturday - Rode from two jacks campsite close to Banff down to Canmore for a coffee then back and up to Banff and around the lake Minnewanka (oohh errr) loop. That was about 60km.

Then went and paddled lake Minnewanka which was about 30km round trip(didn't go all the way to the end and good job n all as I headed back into a storm and it was about a 7hr round trip).

Sunday - rode the loop (15km) this morning at 7am then drove back to Saskatchewan.

In reply to Bob:

Started off with the Southport CC A team but got caught out by a split in the group at a mini roundabout, and couldn't make it back on up the drag out of Preston. Went my own way via Barnacre and Scorton to Cafe de Lune, then back home over the Fylde. About 87 miles mostly solo at just under 16mph. (I'd never have stayed with the A group anyway as they did the same sort of distance with 3 times more climbing round the Trough of Bowland and averaged just under 18mph!)

I want to put in a complaint to the man upstairs who decided to change the wind direction so that I had a headwind most of way back as well!

In reply to Removed User:

Sounds lovely -- we never got to Canmore and Banff last year due to the floods!

Jealous!

In reply to Bob:

Just two short trips out this weekend, Jill did the NHS Triathlon yesterday at Horwich, so we had a gentle recce of the bike route on Saturday, which was a bit of a tour of the West Pennine Moors. Had to be leisurely, both for Jill resting up and for me due to 14 miles running fell and trail that morning.

After watching other people exercise for most of the day, I had a hour of riding fairly hard on the local hills before tea.

In reply to Bob:

ventoux from bedoin on saturday morning. left at 05.45 to avoid wind and crowds. first time for this lovely climb. v blustery for last 2km. back in bedoin for 08.45.
shame about all the empty gel wrappers, gel tubes and other rubbish lying by the sides of the road. shame too about the idiots riding on the wrong side of the road as we were coming down.

In reply to Bob:

Got completely out of my depth in a rare MTB race participation - I was going OK until 33kms, then crashed on a descent and lost all semblance of power. Struggled round the last 12kms with agonising knees, to finish in 4:14.

This morning I checked the results and was astonished to see that I wasn't last. The winner finished in 2:38 and one guy finished 8 minutes after me!

In reply to Bob:

Not enough

[4 weekends ago]

Rebuilt MTB and got out on the surrey hills for the first time in years.

Forgot quite how much fun MTBing can be - riding with huge smile on my face.

Then decked and fractured 5 ribs.

In the words of Danny Glover "I'm getting too old for this sh*t"

In reply to Bob:

Not the weekend but who cares. Done a killer 50 mile MTB ride around the southern lakes today. Elterwater, Grizedale, Blawith, seathwaite, coniston and back to Elterwater 10 hours later. Slight delay towards the end due to stoping for a chat with a lakes legend and then puncturing.

Was already feeling dead by the time I reached the start of wanna scar - despite the recuperative powers of a pint at the Newfield Inn, so it was long slog with much pushing. I think next time I'll try and do it when I a bit fresher - 6 hours in on a hot day was too difficult to make a decent fist of it

In reply to Chris the Tall:
me 'n' bob went to Ilkley last night to watch the crit racing - a certain Ms Armitstead was riding in the blokes' race and looked extremely comfortable all the way. Great night out, massive support and hopefully a real legacy of the Tour. Shame I'm missing Otley tonight.

In reply to andy:

Interesting to see Laura trott beat lizzie armistead at the uk champs. Great to see the effort otley and ilkley and the other places round there to welcome the tour. I gather there is still almost nothing on the final run-in in Sheffield, but I think that's down to the suburbs it's going through

In reply to Bob:

I guess I am not going to surprise anyone by saying I watched the Tour. Cycled over Cock Hill to Skipton and watched out on the road to Grassington on Saturday. Up Blackstone Edge and down Cragg Vale to watch at my girlfriend's Dad's house in Cragg Vale. Two great days.

In reply to The New NickB:

Funnily enough, rode up the Cote de Blubberhouses and cheered on Jens : )

In reply to The New NickB:

Dalbeattie Red on Saturday, but my pal snapped part of his bike so, on Sunday, we tried to hire another bike locally. No joy with that quest so headed back up to Glentress and did a bit of a trail mix later on in the afternoon.

First "weekend" of riding for a while... I'm sore today!