Tell us about your weekend ride

Rode the Etape du Tour Acte 1 on Sunday wearing sharkpits with pride. Official uphill was 5,900m over 152km but Strava is saying 6,150m. Either way, it was hard work.

http://app.strava.com/rides/12855029

...a little more about it...

Christ, sorry mate. I've had a couple of goes at jotting everything down, but it takes me an embarrassing amount of time to write anything at all.

Having digested the journey more thoroughly, I'd definitely be up for it again. This time around was superb, but I'm sure that a second stab at the trip would be a smoother operation, which I reckon would add to the enjoyment.

I'd also hope that a second attempt would feature better weather, Friday brought with it conditions that were about as masochistic as I've cycled in.

Descending through Glencoe remains the strongest contender for best moment, it was absolutely spectacular; though also in the running is a chance encounter with a Welsh inn, which prevented me from having to crap in a forest.

Rode the Etape du Tour Acte 1 on Sunday wearing sharkpits with pride. Official uphill was 5,900m over 152km but Strava is saying 6,150m. Either way, it was hard work.

http://app.strava.com/rides/12855029

Awesome ride! Great work.

Thank you :)

.....wearing sharkpits with pride.

excuse my ignorance but what is "sharkpits"?

gaping mouth like a hole in a reef?

the forum jersey.

sharkpits.

Just got home after cycling Hackney to Oxford today, worked out about 77miles. Headed out through Richmond to Sunbury, out past Staines and finally onto the quieter roads around White Waltham, stopped for lunch in Henley. Stopped looking at the map around Watlington and Chalgrove as we remembered the roads from living in Abingdon years ago, got to Cowley Road in Oxford and stopped at the first pub that'd let us take our bikes in.
First long ride on the new Italian bike, seems I didn't do up the bottom bracket tight enough so it started unscrewing itself early on. Luckily made it to Oxford before it became too loose, but it meant I couldn't cycle home from Paddington station and had to get the bloody tube home.
Really nice ride once you're out past Staines, nasty hill at Patemore Lane followed by a piss-pants scary down hill just after, levels out completely at the end to the point you realise you've been climbing ever so slightly for the last 10miles, so the flat is a blessing all the way into Oxford.
We used this route, deviated a little bit because we couldn't be arsed to keep checking it all the time [ame]http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/London-Oxford[/ame

I had a completely free day yesterday. That, combined with the lack of any rain meant I had a good start to the Strava Rapha climbing challenge.
First proper ride on my new wheels which are my first foray into tubs. Needless to say I punctured and had to use some latex sealant. Worked perfectly thank god!

http://app.strava.com/rides/13470028
I ended up with 103 miles with 3200 metres of climbing.
46% done. Some cheeky fucker has completed the challenge already!

I had a completely free day yesterday. That, combined with the lack of any rain meant I had a good start to the Strava Rapha climbing challenge.
First proper ride on my new wheels which are my first foray into tubs. Needless to say I punctured and had to use some latex sealant. Worked perfectly thank god!

http://app.strava.com/rides/13470028
I ended up with 103 miles with 3200 metres of climbing.
46% done. Some cheeky fucker has completed the challenge already!

pretty epic ride nick.

nice one.

3200 metres of climbing.

Good work Bainbridge. That is a fkload of climbing for a day's riding in that part of the country.

^^Absolutely. Nicely done on the laps of box hill.

Just got home after cycling Hackney to Oxford today, worked out about 77miles. Headed out through Richmond to Sunbury, out past Staines and finally onto the quieter roads around White Waltham, stopped for lunch in Henley. Stopped looking at the map around Watlington and Chalgrove as we remembered the roads from living in Abingdon years ago, got to Cowley Road in Oxford and stopped at the first pub that'd let us take our bikes in.
First long ride on the new Italian bike, seems I didn't do up the bottom bracket tight enough so it started unscrewing itself early on. Luckily made it to Oxford before it became too loose, but it meant I couldn't cycle home from Paddington station and had to get the bloody tube home.
Really nice ride once you're out past Staines, nasty hill at Patemore Lane followed by a piss-pants scary down hill just after, levels out completely at the end to the point you realise you've been climbing ever so slightly for the last 10miles, so the flat is a blessing all the way into Oxford.
We used this route, deviated a little bit because we couldn't be arsed to keep checking it all the time http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/London-Oxford

Sounds good. The bit inbetween 70-45km is part of my commute when I do it. The Drift Road between approx 38-35k is a nasty quite narrow fast road with dips and near blind crests that I really don't like.

Thanks, it was quite hard work. A lot of stiff hills early on. By the 8th rep Box Hill was getting a bit wearing!

Those Box Hill reps make for a very pretty Strava profile

My ride on sunday was my first proper length ride in about 7 years possibly more. I was out being shown up by TooTallTim (who had already ridden Hackney to Fulham to meet me), who promised me a leisurely sunday ride without too many hills.

Too a seasoned rider thats probably true, to this rank amateur Tim had lied and i never wanted to do something so stupid again.

Though as it seems to happen with everyone, we reached the end and i want to go again.

Stole my Old Mans Techno Gizmo as well so if your interested you can see the route we actually ended up taking complete with wrong turns.http://connect.garmin.com:80/activity/embed/199814751

There is definitely a point at which cycling ceases to be at all enjoyable. It doesn't matter what you're riding, what you're wearing or what you're consuming. I found that point today.

Easy 22 miles. No big deal. Except it's in the mid to high 30s, which combined with constant searing sun and high humidity, apparently feels like mid 40s.

I was totally fucked after 10 miles. I'd already had a litre and a half of electrolyte drink and I still felt faint and had to stop for a bit in some shade.

I got home, stood under a cold shower for 10 minutes and as soon as I stepped out I was sweaty again despite having my A/C set at 18C or something.

Japan, you suck bro.

Hoorah for the North York Moors.

Among the highlights were three tricky climbs (Caper Hill, Rosedale Chimney, Blakey Bank) and some easy descents around Rosedale. Also enjoyable was an assortment of longish gentle hills, the summits of which offered excellent views of inviting road. The transport from London to Malton and back was dead easy.

Saturday was good, but Sunday (more or less Saturday backwards) was better.

I've included the routes as I completed them; though both feature a balls up. The easternmost part of the Moors was skipped after my plotted route indicated a left turn onto private roads owned by the MOD. So, in order to avoid being shot at by tanks, I opted for a stretch of the A170 to digs in Scarborough. It was 'fine', but the better option (I spotted after returning home), via Danby Forest Drive, would have reconnected me with my original route, and provided the opportunity to polish off what remained of the countryside.

Top stuff though, all the same. I don't think that the Moors get quite the same exposure as do other destinations, but they're well worth a visit. The airy, open feeling of scrubby moorland was a treat.

Better out than in.

After 3 months in pancake flat holland I rode from Kinlochewe over the Bealach Na Ba today. A leg-melting 6 mile climb to the 629m summit then a wind-swept scream down into Applecross with the air roaring in your ears and brakes screaming, and all in glorious technicolour sunshine.

The lower slopes were fine, giving a false sense of 'oh, this might be ok' confidence, but the 2nd and 3rd quarter is a seemingly endless slog at 10-13% that had me fighting to keep my heart rate at a manageable level (sub 180 that is), then the final hairpins near the top and a false summit are there to just boot you in the nuts one last time. Managed a sub 50 min ascent which considering my lack of fitness i'm happy with, my mate managed it in 36 mins which is 3 mins off his pb and pretty impressive. Hardest climb I've ever done but has me dying for more...

I am going to bed a happy man.

I bought my first ever fixed gear yesterday in Derby, and today rode it for the first time!
I started a diet a month n half ago, and so far gone from 17st 5lbs to 16stone, so I'm getting there but no way near fit enough for some of the rides I see you guys riding. I did 8KM and it killed me!
I kept forgetting not to coast, each time it nearly broke my knee caps haha but I will get there eventually.
Isit normal for the seats to be flipping uncomfortable, or do I need to buy a bigger one!
It's a good starter bike from research I did, and has a 'flip flop' hub so I can spin it round to single speed if I require!

1 Attachment

Nice job! Keep going and you'll be a skinny hipster in no time!

Saddles take some getting used to. Find a guide online and play with how your bike is set up, which will probably help. Also as you lose weight I bet you'll see a difference. Last resort, change the saddle - maybe it just doesn't suit your arse!

Might ride out to LMNH later. That should be about a mile or two. Pretty steep descent where I carry the bike downstairs, and a similar climb on the way back.

I'm probably going to need a beer and a pie when I get there.

So it looks like the tour de france has given me some momentum to undust the abandoned road bike. Last week I did a mount lofty run, which was painful, foggy and cold.
Today I did a beach ride with a friend of mine on what was probably the nicest day this winter. Great clear sky, gentle rolling waves along the shore, a decent coffee stop at Henley. Gorgeous.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/201336825

Thanks dude! Yea am sure it will take some getting used to

Nice job! Keep going and you'll be a skinny hipster in no time!

Saddles take some getting used to. Find a guide online and play with how your bike is set up, which will probably help. Also as you lose weight I bet you'll see a difference. Last resort, change the saddle - maybe it just doesn't suit your arse!

SHUT UP
LEGS
99 KM
150G
OF GINGER CAKE
& 1 BUTTERFLY
CONSUMED
0
STITCHES
1
DEER
2
FOXES
6
RABBITS
SPOTTED
41MPH
TOP SPEED
SUN
SHINING
LITTLE HILLS
IN EPPING
100s OF CYCLISTS
WAVED AT
1
WRONGCOG

150 KG
OF GINGER CAKE
& 1 BUTTERFLY
CONSUMED

150kg ? I'm impressed.