Tell us about your weekend ride

First road ride since June. Had a surprise Lancaster Bomber flyby laid on near Knutsford (to celebrate my passing by no doubt). Warm & slow. A spider spun a web across my handlebars mid ride. That'll likely be it until zwift/velodrome resumes. #fairweatherrider

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Had to drop some keys off about 10 miles, but took advantage of the weather and did a 60 mile loop up to the southdowns and back around along the sea, inc a little ferry hop. Found a nice stream for a paddle too that helped cool off.

Absolutely gorgeous, toasty, but nice with the breeze.

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A selection from https://www.lesperitdelbikepacking.org/lesperit-de-girona-info

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Fantastic pics!

There's a few more on Insta. Haven't had time to go through them properly yet.

Bramley wheelers CC 25

As usual, the report starts way before the race. I was pretty psyched about my 1st TT two weeks previous. The following week I felt decent on the bike on my commute, the whisper of a return to some kind of form was starting to appear and my [over]confidence was growing. I met a mate from the fell running club and did a steady 8 miles on the trails one evening after also commuting 11 miles each way to work on the fixed. You know the feeling - you put some miles in, you get some results, and you feel like you’re a lot more durable than you really are. So obviously I felt absolutely wrecked by the weekend. I got up early to get 60 fixed gear miles in, but I just sat there on the sofa, the time ticking away, unable to unglue myself from my seat. 630am. I’m already shortening the route. 7am. More shortening. I just can’t will myself into action. I can’t remember when I actually set off, but the route had been cut in half. I tried to get up the East Chevin climb by Otley and failed miserably. No beans. No power. No Engine. Stopped, walked, tried again. Like a sack of shit on a bike. So I just called it quits and went home, a grand total of 18 miles.
And then after all that, I had a week of professional exams, including a two day practical. General stress. Resting heart rate right up. Mood low and feeling shite. Flogged myself to get onto the bike on Thursday morning and commuted slower than I have in months. It wasn’t looking good for Sunday. Things did look up by the time I rode home and some life had started to return to my legs. Even PBd one of the climbs.
A mixed bag. Not feeling great but at least improving.
Weather forecast initially was for 15mph winds, which dropped to 10mph the night before. The course is faster than my previous TT according to those I’d spoken to. Good road surface. Fewer climbs. Some even dared to suggest I might go under the hour.
Upsidedown had kindly hooked me up with some shoe covers. I had a hilarious episode Veeting my legs while also trying not to cauterise any sensitive equipment in the process (once sub 60 had been mentioned, I was willing to try anything to squeeze any extra seconds off my time). But I wasn’t exactly following a Team Sky race protocol, as when the opportunity presented itself to have two pints with my brother, I happily obliged.
After the first TT, there wasn’t much to prep the night before. Kit and a change of clothes in a bag. Pump tyres up (and try and ignore that they’d deflated themselves over the last 2 weeks).
Race day was the standard fare. Up at 620. Take too long to have a shit. Get stressed. Rush around. Hoover up coffee and cereal. Chuck everything in the car hastily. Worry that I’m short of time. I am short on time. Arrive. Get changed. It’s 8.11 and my start time is 8.28. The start is 2 miles away and I am definitely not warmed up. Cycle to the start. Hit a small pothole and my right extension flips down at a 20 degree angle. Pull it back into place. Rush around near the start trying to get warm. It’s all too late so I roll to the start line, whip out my multi tool, fix my extensions and wait my go.
Count down and we’re off (I did remember to set my garmin going before the 10 second countdown this time at least).
I set off well but it didn’t quite feel like there was too much of a tailwind. Definitely rolling faster than the previous effort though. Average speed flirting with 25mph. Maybe the hour is on? A serious looking rider flies past me. I try not to take it too personally. But speeds are good and the course feels fast.
Can’t tell if I should be pushing harder. Can’t tell if my legs feel good or not. It’s wet and greasy on the road and the first turn comes around. It’s a roundabout followed by an anti-clockwise feeder back onto the main road. I’m too cautious to corner aggressively in these road conditions. Kick for hell out of the roundabout - with a photographer there to capture the moment - and then angrily churn my way round the feeder. I’ve taken a few places, and the headwind doesn’t seem to be there. Feels more like the crosswind of the first half. Average speed is 14.75. The hour seems doable for sure. So I try and put a decent leg in, head in position, mouth agape and drooling away (also captured by a photographer). The second turn goes without incident, just have to try and keep it together now to prepare for giving it hell on the final leg. The final turn goes very similarly to the first - tentative cornering and trying to kick out to compensate.
As I rejoin the road, the headwind is definitely present now. My average is floating just below 15 mph, so I just try and go hell for leather. Hints of cramp, breathing much heavier, legs threatening to fade. I pass the half constructed petrol station which means it’s two miles to go. Making weird noises and practically vibrating, I feel like I give all that I could for the last 2 miles. Crossing the finish line with a raspy shout of “28”.
1:00:45. Not today. But technically a 4 minute PB.
A gentle roll back to the village hall, to be greeted by a table of cakes, sandwiches and cups of tea.
Lots of chatting and eating later, I slink off home. On the road before 11. Pretty decent outing considering it’s not even lunch time yet!
So sub 60 will have to be a project for 2024 it seems.

Was in Kent for the weekend with the wife and kids, so we decided to do the Crab and Winkle way from Canterbury to Whitstable and then back again. I was towing the two little ones (4 yo and 2yo) in a trailer from my old MTB, wife on a hybrid (she's not really a cyclist so this route and duration was challenging for her).

7.5 miles each way on a mix of road, shared path, stony tracks and cycle path. Not too bad, some hilly bits, but took a damned site longer than the estimated time! Had a short time at the pebbly beach and chips from VC Jones (top chippy!).

Literally 10 mins into the ride, my chain snapped, so had to swap bikes with my wife and cycle back into Canterbury for a new chain. Managed to get a SRAM one with a quick link (didn't have a chain tool and the shop didn't sell them), so managed to get it on, but it was a bit too long, resulting in some gears slipping and dodgy shifting, but it was ok.

There was one particularly nice view back over the city which was lovely.

In Whitstable, there were a bunch of kids (probably 12 or 13 yo), one of them ran across the road and threw something into the trailer at my kids. Turns out he nicked is mates beanie and threw it into the trailer for a laugh. My wife had an epic go at them and the lad was suitably embarrassed in front of his mates.

Anyone cycling 'out in the countryside', be ready for the vegetal odour of Ash saplings in hedgerows shattered by flailing.
Yes, we are once again entering the season of hedgerow destruction by uncaring contractors working for uninterested landowners and local authorities.

I don't know what that odour is, but 80 miles around Hampshire lanes and lots and lots of 'hedge deviststion' today.

Rode my 10th l'eroica yesterday, a great 'vintage cycling' event which I really think every cycling fan should do once in their lifetime. Tuscany in pre-autumn/late summer is so lovely, the atmosphere is superb, and even though it's really busy with thousands of participants on pre-1984 steel bikes, once you get on the white roads it spreads out and there's plenty of opportunity to enjoy the Chianti landscapes.

Siena at sunrise is just awesome (start of the ride is between 5 and 6:30 AM for the 135 and 205km). There's a choice of distances, from 45 to 205 kilometers. The longest one has over 100km of 'sterrata' (gravel roads) and some of the climbs are absolutely nasty (especially Castiglion del Bosco and Mont Sante Marie (named 'sector Fabian Cancellara' in the Strade Bianche road race which was inspired by l'eroica).

Every time I'm completely knackered when I cross the finish line, for me it's one of the hardest but most beautiful days on the bike of the year. Some more pics on my strava. Make sure you go some time!

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I can’t compete with the above, but I did have a smashing day today.
Started with brioche toast and jam with a natural pour over coffee.
I walk along the river at the end of the road.
A fab cortado at Strangers in the city and another walk along a lost river and then by the wensum in the city. Stopped for a banger of a Mexican Falafel wrap at Moorish .
Then went for a bit of a ride on the MS, out into the sticks and back round to home. I put in a nice 30miles at 18ish mph and as the normally mental stretch of road up to the bypass was shut to motor traffic I took the opportunity to put in a balls out speed run. I hit 42mph on the gas pipe bruiser, I’ll take that.
Then home to a fabulous sunset, now for an Achari Butternut curry with home made naans.
Today was a good Sunday!

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the great cockey once flowed

we were all young once

Les Sept Vallees

In the Pas de Calais.

My ride last Sunday (15th October) was a modest 30 mile round trip from Torcy (62310) (pop. 200, so you won't have heard of it, except from me) to Neuville sous Montreuil and back via Beaurainville. Perfect weather, no potholes and about one car per mile. There was a bit of climbing - inevitable with all those valleys, but this was definitely touring rather than training.

I'm posting for two reasons - I hope you will like the (whimsical) photos, and to mention that I would like to organise a trip to the area next year. I can find reasonably priced accommodation.
No date is fixed yet, but if you think you may want to come, please let me know.

Second post to come with more pics.

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More from the 7 Valleys:

My bike can be seen on a bridge over the river Canche - I leave the other pictures for you to caption from your own imagination!

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I love the fishing frog! :)

Yes, that frog is the star of the show.

Here are another three views:

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A dry and sunny 2hr 'training' ride today! Completely unexpected after a drowningly rainy week.

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Lovely morning blast around the New Forest, which is absolutely gorgeous with the leaves.

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That looks very nice (and makes me wish I'd bought ME an orange Mason and not my missus).

I hate it when you need to plug a tyre on its first outing. Especially if it's a GP5000 (S TR, yes)

My observation (I'm totally judging here, let's be honest) is why are you using GP5000s in winter? #seetyrethread

I don't think there's anything better in the road tubeless space, tried others for too long. The conditions weren't great with the flood water and (sometimes literal) shit it brings, it was just lack of luck. #offtopic

Rephrased and shortened multiple times to stay on topic.

"better"

That's kind of the crux of the issue. Better at what?

Is standing by the side of the road pushing a plug into a brand new £80 tyre my definition of better? Not really. Sure, shit happens. But, if you're riding flooded roads (it is the UK / and it's not the Worlds in Yorkshire) then there's probably "better" options.

Better at not puncturing. I'm not going to get Marathons or > 30mm on this bike. (wouldn't pay more than £60, so just slightly expensive than other more puncture prone and/or fast wearing alternatives) #moretyrethread