Tell us about your weekend ride

Hillingdon tomorrow ? :)

not tomorrow, miles to be munched, but could do next week? I'll drive you up there and everything.

Nice one! Next week it is. I prefer riding out to be honest but would not mind a lift back.

No, I've never been. Most of my Mum's family live in Cardiganshire - so we've rarely travelled north. Up for trekking up there at some point in the next 12-13 days though if you'd recommend it?

The funny thing is because Wales is so lumpy, you never get into a rhythm climbing, or if you do at any point, there will be a hair raising 17% descent for 300 meters, followed by a nasty steep climb, and so on. Makes long rides pretty tiring - definitely feeling the last couple of days in my legs today.

Hey Dan are you based in Cardiganshire on this visit? And where was that Lake, Clywedog, Bala or another? They all look the same to me. (lake-ist)

If you're going to Lake Vyrnwy you may aswell go to the Horseshoe Pass near Llangollen, and if you like climbs the ride up from Dinas Mawddwy up Bwylch y groes is in the 100 greatest UK climbs book and looks a nice run down to Lake Bala.

Amazing part of the world for cycling, have fun.

Hey, my mum has a house in Llanwnog - which is between Llanidloes and Newtown, near to Caersws. I love this part of Wales!

The lake in the picture is Clywedog, I've been working out different routes up and over towards Mac - through Llanidloes, over to Dylife, also tried going through Llawrglyn up to Staylittle yesterday (nicer at the beginning - but pretty tough towards the top!).

Funny that we've had this house since I was a kid - but not done any road cycling here til recently as I always used to be more into mountain biking when I was younger.

I was here about a month ago with a friend and we rode from here to Ynyaslas, over Clywedog - brilliant ride, really hard on the way back though. I'm really enjoying being here on my own with a bike as it gives me an opportunity to explore a little and also work out some routes for when I come with other people.

I've been to Dinas- but only on car and foot - that climb looks like a right bastard though! Might give it a shot while I'm here - can't be any worse than the Galibier :)

Are you based around here?

^ Haha small world, yes I know Llanwnog well, not that there's much to know, as I spent all my high school years living just here:

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=craigfryn+caersws+powys&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=0x486ff6a157976b09:0x625ea11cd6792098,Craigfryn,+Carno,+Caersws,+Powys+SY17+5JY&gl=uk&ei=CGdPTpK1F9CzhAeP2aTsBg&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CBgQ8gEwAA

Despite being brought up there I've hardly done any road cycling in the area as I've only got into it in the last 3 years, as before that I too was a mountain biker, (and still am). Apart from a few mountain biking mates and despite the area being amazing for road biking none of my mates back there are into it, this is a part of the world where having a car is essential so everyone gets to 17, gets a car and the bikes remain forever alone, unused in the shed.

So you've done Staylittle then, I remember that being steep in a car! And the road from Clywedog to Llanidloes is fast, I remember when I got my first Cannondale Jekyll in 2002 I got my Dad to give me a lift to the top in his van so I could cycle down it. Mountain bikers dont like cycling up so parents shuttle service to the top FTW. Oh I'm getting all nostalgic now, done lots of unoffical camping at Dylife, amazing spot. So it sounds like you've done most of the Barry Hoban (famous local resident) route, I plan to doing this when I'm up there, though the directions on this are a bit vague as when you get in the hills above Mochdre and Newtown there is loads of forks in the road with no signs so getting lost is a common occurance and a satnav would be helpful.

http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/routes/wales/345650/mid-wales-with-barry-hoban.html

I'm not based there, I've been in London since 1993, Lambeth currently, but as my folks are still in that neck of the woods I go back a couple of times a year. I am cycling from Liverpool to Machynleth along the coast at pottering pace with my landlord and his missus over the Bank Holiday and will be in Mid Wales for about a week after that if you still about and want to meet for some cycling. I'll PM you my email address and phone number, though email is best as where my mum lives there is no mobile phone reception, sticksville or what.

I was looking at routes yesterday and plan on taking the B4518 from Llanidloes over Panty-dwr to Rhayader, then from there you you can go through the Elan Valley and over to Devil's Bridge, round the Nant-y-moch reservoir to Tal-y-bont, photo opportunities all the way, you may have done this already but I've not cycled it before and can't wait as it looks amazing. And blimey if you've cycled the Galibier that is all going to be easy.

Oh and I'm another Dan by the way, there seems to be loads on this forum, I did the night time ride to the stones in Avebury and half of the group seemed to be Dans.

this goal setting is actually really important, and as I said to you Tom when first meeting youve got some solid talent. perhaps find a coach who can help you sort out what exactly it is you want from the sport, all this prep will help, so just find out what really gets you excited and get focused on that sort of event, then the planning for preformance comes with the coaching. If you know some of the coaches off here/ Herne Hill maybe pick one you like and get in touch with them

having said all that Im the worst at planning long term, just want to keep enjoying what I do and doing it for a long lifetime. Pleased today that I chose the track training option, as nearlyu went out with Pifko and Arducius long road riding, and it started to piss down at 12 like clockwork after we finished on track. did a mixture of technical and intervals,just going into lactating on a couple of sprint efforts which tells me I tried hard enough. New build firmly put though its paces.
now troughing goats cheese and fresh bread.olympic weekend diet you see.

Lewisham Windsor Lewisham with loop around Windsor Great Park and 3 laps of Richmond park thrown in = 100 miles 5:42 riding time. My first full century ride on a nice fast flat route and pretty much windless day.
Back through front door just as rain began to fall FTW.

sweet,
you like the solo stuff Dubtap? music on earphones helping along?

Back through front door just as rain began to fall FTW.

Was supposed to go out with phil/somebody and buddies, but didn't feel too hot this morning and didn't want to have other paces to play to, so I solo-ed off to the top of Ditchling Beacon and back instead. 94 miles all in, total up to 510 or something. Don't even care now I've got there. The rain stopped the second I got in. FML. 15 minutes slower than I allocated, but I'll blame having to be cautious on the way back in to town. Now for breakfast.
/empty stomach riding isn't cool, kids.

^You should eat. Eating is good!

Congratulations on the 500 week, though.

sweet,
you like the solo stuff Dubtap? music on earphones helping along?

No never have music plus I like to be out early (before 7am) whenever possible so rest of the day not trashed.

chilterns. 80 chilled miles with almac, ave 16.2 mph.
gears, rapha, assos, carbon, not ashamed.
nice ride, even with the rain.

A day that started with frustration ended perfectly.

Was meant to go to Swinley today with Tom. and unharmed, unharmed sms'd at an ungodly hour, he was feeling unwell. I got up late and checked train times, to discover that there was a rail replacement bus on offer - so basically we were never going to get to Martins Heron.

So I called Cliveo to congratulate him on his fantastic new frame and commiserate regarding his awful choice of groupset. Turned out he was planning on a jaunt into Surrey and was going via Putney so we arranged a meet just after mid day on Putney bridge.

The way out of town was amusing, I had just commented on a pedestrians "awesome observation skills" for which Clive was telling me off when another ped with "awesome observation skills" walked straight off the kerb into Clive - one mentally dense object being drawn to a physically dense object.

At the next set of lights a woman was creeping into the ASL, so Clive started gesticulating at the front of the car and I was nodding my head in concerned agreement. Eventually the driver got out of the car to come and look at what was troubling the two of us, and Clive explained that she had encroached (well filled) the ASL with her car. This was just as the lights turned green, so we pootled off as she got beeped at for holding everyone else up.

We stopped off near Epsom to visit the house Clive grew up in. Sold years ago by his parents the place is about to be redeveloped so we had a look for old times sake and Clive took some photos. It was a day for sights of interest, Clive pointed out a park where a palace belonging to Henry VIII had burned down, and I pointed out the lane nearby I had previously used for a natural break.

We were taking a gentle pace, Clive is training for his road trip in a few weeks time. His new bike is perfect, Serotta Legend, fitted to him. He just looked so comfortable and was clearly enjoying the difference between his old CX bike and the custom road bike.

At Box Hill Clive tried to challenge me to do 4 reps in the time it took him to do two, I turned down the BOGOF and instead aimed for 3 for the price of two. Box Hill was busy and due to traffic jams I had to fully stop 3 times.

On one descent I saw two motor bikes come perilously close to a female cyclist, one of them was trying to pinch her bum as he went past. He got an utter earful of abuse from me, turns out they came within a cats whisker of Clive too. I caught up with lady concerned on my return up the hill, she was thankful for my intervention. Its arseholes like that who have left me unwilling to cycle in the countryside without companions. I have had someone try to push me off my bike a couple of years ago when cycling up a hill coming back from Brighton, any twat who is willing to take such risks with a cyclist is clearly not likely to stop if a serious accident occurs.

I just managed to catch up with Clive for the crest of the hill and we then grabbed coffee, bidon refills, and a bite to eat at the cafe. I then saw the most stunning Baum Coretto bike. Di2 Dura Ace internal routing, integrated seatpost, Tune clamp, cranks and headset, ENVE forks and with Lightweight wheels with the logos in black. The bike was utterly stunning, I hope to meet up with Richard the owner again soon. We ended up nattering about bike fitting and all sorts. The bike was utter high class filth.

Clive and I then took a slightly more direct route home. It really was a near perfect day out on the bikes, though we did look almost like a couple of clones, having both opted for black lycra, white extremities (gloves, shoes and catlike helmets - I almost used the term contact point, but fuck I don't actually want my head to be a contact point), and our titanium bikes. It was fantastic some breeze to take the heat off, but sun gently shining down on us.

Most important was having perfect company to ride with, for me cycling is so much about the banter, the chat, sharing titbits of information and the odd bit of gossip. Time on a bike is so much more fun when done with interesting folk.

So thank you Clive, I was almost going to spend a day feeling frustrated that I had not got out, instead I had a near perfect few hours turning pedals and taking in the Surrey countryside. Your new bike is awesome and I hope it serves you well for many years.

It was a day for sights of interest, Clive pointed out a park where a palace belonging to Henry VIII had burned down, and I pointed out the lane nearby I had previously used for a natural break.

Ha - I've not been on a ride as such, but went for a pootle and found some stunning undiscovered streets in Westminster, which always makes me happy.

London keeps on giving.

just found the bike on weight weenies

http://weightweenies.starbike.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=84979

You met the Bike Tart

yep

is he on here?

sounds like a good afternoon, uninterrupted by weather. should have said tl;dr but I did.
rolled over to Wimbourne Minster on the sustrans route along with the jolly hockey sticks family cyclist groups, did somee quality manmooching, then spun back into Poole to watch the cycle speedway first team get beaten, but the second team win against the mighty Horspath. Sun was lovely to doze about in. God were lucky.

ouch that black beauty burns!

is he on here?

Of course. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

The way out of town was amusing, I had just commented on a pedestrians "awesome observation skills" for which Clive was telling me off when another ped with "awesome observation skills" walked straight off the kerb into Clive - one mentally dense object being drawn to a physically dense object.

That's unfair--Clive is not an object.

On one descent I saw two motor bikes come perilously close to a female cyclist, one of them was trying to pinch her bum as he went past. He got an utter earful of abuse from me, turns out they came within a cat's whisker of Clive's bum, too.

Good job you stopped them, that could have got messy.

is he on here?

Yes, I am waves

Good to meet you this afternoon. Beautiful bike.

James, lovely ride, wonderful company.

I'll stick a new pic of the bike up at some stage - it looks much more 'finished' now with the steerer cut to length and the Tune cranks on.