Tell us about your weekend ride

Rode to Suffolk during Saturday night, then did the Waveney Wander 100 during Sunday. Very cold night with the temperature hovering around -1, -2 C, bit sketchy towards the end with frost and perhaps ice on the road (I didn't go out of my way to check...), ridiculously nice day afterwards. Good company too with @jaeyukdapbap and @Ruserius. That was a good day.

(photo credit to jaeyukdapbap)

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Finally getting into riding again after a hectic year. Mtb last weekend and fixed today, only about 10 miles. Was thinking of selling this bike but it's nearly perfect for this kind of quick work out. Found myself a bit over-geared and under-biked at a couple of points but made it up everything eventually so probably just a matter of training. It's hilly in Cornwall.

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I met Hogtrough Hill this morning.
I was a bit wary as it's bit uncertain what lies ahead, so kept a little in reserve, it certainly woke the legs up!!

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Ok, so it’s not the weekend but I’m on me holibobs and went for a ride. Fuck me was it cold. And deadly icy, had to make several double backs as some lanes were totally frozen snow bound. Slow riding so got really cold. Now back home and shivering but happy.

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Scotland winning at hills

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Meanwhile in Rwanda...

Longest ride I've ever done. Good grief.

Highlight was the massive hill in the middle of the ride, with near zero traffic:

• 90 minute climb at 5%
  
• Victory cup of tea at top
  
• U-turn
  
• 30 minute descent (patchy tarmac, could be 15-20 minutes if fixed)
  I can recommend listening to The Knife's album Silent Shout whilst contending with a twisty, deserted half-hour descent.
  
  

Mostly the ride was just uphill/downhill/repeat, but at the 160km mark I noticed a sudden headwind and an ominous grey curtain totally obscuring much of my foreground - I knew I was in for a soaking. The rain in East Africa doesn't fuck around. I heard thunder as the first big drops fell, a lightning bolt arced beautifully into the field next to me and locals starting running for cover. So I thought I'd follow suit. I stopped at a large building which happened to be a Jehovah's Witness church, into which I was warmly welcomed. I sat at the back while the rest of the 25 strong congregation battled to sing over the smashing of the rain on the tin roof. A polite young man tried to convert me. The storm passed in just 20 minutes and the remaining 33km was more downhill than uphill, which did not go unappreciated. At home I ate all the things.

193km, 3400m approx. ascent (ridewithgps tells me 3750m but it's not accurate because the elevation profile needs smoothing). 8/10, will ride again.

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And a photo! [Seems I can only upload one file per post.]

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Jesus man, sounded epic and the photo gives a small prompt too-well in!

Is that the west side of Loch Lubnaig? Looks bonny wherever it is-and icy!

Nah, Loch Duich. Staying in Glenelg for Hogmanay so I sneaked the bike into the car to do the Old Military Road and Bealach Ratagan. Amazing views, no ice and a proper alpine type climb. There’s loads round here, reckon I’ll be back.

https://www.strava.com/activities/1334375563

Not strictly weekend today, but I managed a slightly longer winter ride in Odenwald today, the region where I grew up. As a teenager / young adult I didn't cycle a lot, so I always wondered what it'd be like. And as I expected, it's pretty great here for Cross or XC riding, with a lot of road options too.

Weather was between 0 and 3 degs, slightly windy, and the rain the last few days had turned all forest road bits into a bit of a skills session with focus on finding traction and staying upright. 2hrs 30 ish ride with 950m vert.

So glad I packed my bike and brought it all the way from Australia.

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Weekend rides with the weds night fixed gear guys are gaining momentum in Manchester now - there were threats of some going off to join road clubs and so a couple of us are trying to make our weekend rides more reliable.
Today we took a group of 6 up 2 of the biggest climbs in the Peaks: Holmfirth and Holme Moss. One was on a 1x9 Raleigh beater with 32c paselas and risers. Amazing day out with good pals, and good mock racing up the climbs.
Stopped for a huge meal at non-pretentious, inexpensive vegan pub in Glossop and had to take the fast way back into Manc because of the fading daylight. Knackered/10

A new longest ride for me:

202km, 3100m ascent, a little under 8 hours.

Smooth, dry tarmac, five 20-30 minute climbs and way too much pizza. From Kigali to the Team Rwanda training centre and back.

Strong group: A cycling coach, Ironman triathlete and an ex-Olympic swimmer. And myself, mostly trying to remind everyone that because it's January and we're going long to "KEEP IT IN THE TANK". Particularly the triathlete, who pulls off the front like a labrador who's just spotted half a kebab in the gutter.

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^

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Chapeau!

First ride of the year after a plethora of health problems last year, wish I hadn’t bothered.

A mate text me saying “RP laps? See you at 1.30.” Fuck it, go on then. Ride an hour in sodding rain, do a few laps while I wait for him. 20mins later, still no sign of him. I’m freezing cold and wet, can barely use my hands to text him.

“Mate, just a thought, you did mean Regents Park when you said RP, right?”

“Err, no. I’m at Richmond Park, obviously”

I ride home, another hour, borderline hypothermia, takes me 15mins to open the front door because my entire arm is numb.

Sounds like it's getting better next ride already.

Similar experience today, the least pleasant ride I've ever had, I think. Arms were freezing the entire time, hands were fine until rain soaked right through the (big thick winter) gloves, the last ten miles I couldn't feel any of my fingers and could barely grip the bars. Took me about 30mins once home to warm up enough to be able to shower, had about 30 mins in the shower, still feel cold.

Oh and did all the above with a stinking hangover. 😔

Agreed

Took hours, but sorted out the boss a bike here in the UK. Bit big for her, bit small for me. Bit torrential out. Cycled it the 4 or 5 miles back in the wet to save her the journey. She was nice and dry on the bus. She test rode it on the paths for 10 minutes, fits like a tourer - zero aeroz, all the comfort.

Unusually for me, the stars aligned and I managed to get out into the Kent lanes for a ride with a mate. Coming back through West Wickham, my usually warm Prendas deep winter gloves stopped warming my hands and started to refrigerate them.
Haven't been that cold in some time. Everything else warm.

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Jesus, was actually going to do a few laps today as didn't fancy venturing out into the lanes....glad i didn't bother!