Tell us about your weekend ride

^ sounds good.

todays ride is at Llandegla trail centre, first loop done, gonna hit the skills area as I clearly lack skills...

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/116761149

Today Tom. and I went off to Swinley for an off road jaunt.

We have been going round the forest there at least a couple of times a month for a while now, but each time there are new parts to discover. We set off to do one of our usual routes, but I suddenly thought fuck it and at a junction where we should have turned left, we took a right and found a whole bunch of new trails for a while, this then led us to some familiar territory, hidden in which there is the Corkscrew, a short very technical twisty turny section of rooty singletrack. After chasing our tails for a while we finally found it.

We used to do the Corkscrew when we first started riding out there, but have been unable to find it since we both lost all the waypoints on our Satnavs. I struggle in the forest, one puddle/tree/muddy track looks much like another to me. It was a day for good traction and grip for both of us, and we both managed to get through the corkscrew twice without putting a foot down. It used to take a few passes to nail it, so clearly both of us have developed our skills a little.

I did however note that my foot had clipped a couple of roots. I then looked at my shoe to discover half the sole was coming off. So we decided to call an earlyish lunchbreak and pick up some superglue at the same time. After a brief trip to Sainsburys, we sat at the Lookout and ate our lunch and I fixed my shoe. It was busy out there, and there was a huge group of people who all seemed to know each other and were all riding rather expensive full suspension bikes, though we had seen a few of them out on the trails and they were even slower and less adept than us! The seated area did have its usual share of chavscum, I was particularly worried by the obese couple who had a child and 3 attack dogs with them in what is effectively a playground for kids, Tom and I played the game of what comment would they make if the dogs set about attacking a child, such as "Satan only gets aggressive if people look at him." I am baffled at why people have such animals, especially when the rotund owners looked like weebles struggling not to be pulled over by their much stronger animals.

After lunch we decided to hit one of our more usual trails, and really gave it some beans. Tom looked like he really had control over his bike today, it just appeared to be driven by telekinesis. It was one of those days where the bikes were behaving perfectly, no mechanicals, tyre pressure appeared to be spot on and traction was great. If felt like a day with nearly no unforced errors, no crashes or spills, and even when pedal strike occurred and the moment my bars clipped a tree nothing untoward happened.

Today was a great day on our bikes. They are not a frequent occurrence, but so much fun when they come along. Am tired and still dehydrated (it was surprisingly warm) but the contented inner glow makes it all worthwhile.

gps of circular track riding would look a bit dull so,

just back from track which was dry for 1st sunday this month,

got a good workout which was a bonus as Id gone prepared to coach but only 5 experienced riders came, so some group riding, team pursuit changing, taking laps in threes- (pretty windy out there)10 lap scratch race.actually perfect set up for a superlazy sundayafternoon.

anyone back from forest rides?.

Couple of pics from Llandegla

Really enjoyed it, progressed to Red routes comfortably, and surprised myself by not being the slowest plodder out there. Dare I say, I fancy spending some more time on the MTB this winter.

75k of offroad muddy gloopy fun.

anyone back from forest rides?.

I have new massive respect for long off road rides. I did 23 miles of South Downs, only half of that off road, and got home proper pooped. Some bits were quite steep.

Yorkshire Hills.

Same route as last year. This was also the trip that I posted about earlier this year, 'cept I ended up deciding not to pursue the thread. I've never been very good at self-promotion.

A misty start, with visibility reduced so much that little was left to look at other than a pair of spinning feet. Tedious, I could have achieved a similar experience on an exercise bike.

Weather and I perked up post lunch (Beef sandwich, packet of assorted penny sweets), at the village shop in Kettlewell. A bright and breezy (headwind) afternoon followed.

A Good day, all in all, but not without its ups and downs. The final three climbs: Cross Top, Buttertubs Pass, and Fleet Moss, felt a bit special, as did twenty-odd pleasantly knackered rolling miles down from the final climb.

I'll prolly head out again at some point, if anyone's interested...

I did 'The Race of 6 Friends' just south of Auckland yesterday morning. The weather was terrible and poured down for most of the ride.

The ride its self started in a small village in the middle of butt fuck knowwhere in a place called Tuukau. The signs were ominose getting soaked just assembling the bike in the car park. The format followed the Rapha gentlemans race with teams leaving at 2minute intervalls.

My team was made up of me and 5 fucking tough 50/60 year olds. The first 22k were done in propper pace line in one of the most epic downpours I have ever ridden in at an average of 38kph. That was the easy bit. From there we turned onto a gravely muddy metal road for the next 15k. This involved a 500m climb with 18% gradients. The decent was even tougher with my wheels trying to wash out all over the place. After the gravel section we were first on the road but missing 1 team member. 45min later he turned up after having three punchers on his new gatorskins. Our chance of a placing was now over.

A little deflated and really fucking cold we set of back on the tarmac at a decent pace now surrounded by other teams. Aprouching a long, wet, steep, twisty hill we were warned at the top to take it easy due to the conditions. Advice I took to hart. About half way down the climb I was passed by another team prom my bunch ride going hell for fucking leather. About 100m down the road they all binned it roand a corner taking me out as well.

I picked myself up and assessed the damadge, bike ok. No broken bones, just a shit ton of road rash and lycra that was ripped all over the place. They were not so lucky with broken correr bones, ribs and 5 or them went off in an ambulance. They put it down to the risks of racing. I put it down to them riding luke cunts and taking them, me and one of two others out. Wankers.

Anyway, I managed to carry on for the next 90k with nasty hills, more gravel sections and taking it very easy down hills. One team member snapped a chain 15k from the finish and had to jump in the car. The rest us us limped to the finnish in the rain through some bleak sceanery with about 20min sepperating the group. I have never ridden a harder 130k in my life. We ended up 11th out of 21 team with a few not finnishing or just giving up.

After an hours drive home, Sarah washed my muddy bike (thank you!) while I picked gravel out of my leg and washed myself down in detol.

Hear is the route from someone elses garmin:

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/116817792

I have new massive respect for long off road rides. I did 23 miles of South Downs, only half of that off road, and got home proper pooped. Some bits were quite steep.

That picture brought back tons of memories. Was this near Ditcham? It's where I grew up and used to play as a young un.

Done one Friday, heading to a Stag do. Thought I use it as an excuse to do Thirsk to Staithes across the North York Moors.

Great ride. Some really steep hills (a couple of 1 in 4) and some amazing downhills. The middle section (the bit going almost straight north) was mainly all on the top giving beautiful views. Reached 47mph on one of the downhills.

I did 'The Race of 6 Friends'

Chapeau mate - that sounds like a beast!

^indeed, quite an epic.

A pootle with some friend yesterday. Beautiful day for it!

I hamstrung myself a bit by borrowing my brother-in-law's '82 Pinarello Treviso with 2x7 speed Victory, whilst they were all on their Sunday carbon blingers, but I kept up and even got to the top of Radnor Rd first B-)
Barhatch Lane was a struggle though. Lovely route - was trying to link to the GPS but it keeps posting a massive stupid embedded picture. On RideWithGPS.com its number 733077.

Should work by just pasting the link...

Edit: Or not!

Quite like that gradient map (I assume that's what it's showing). Easier to read than google terrain mode.

After an hours drive home, Sarah washed my muddy bike (thank you!) while I picked gravel out of my leg and washed myself down in detol.[URL="http://connect.garmin.com/activity/116817792"][/URL]
Love this story. I grew up in Auckland but only took up cycling here in UK. Do you ride around the Bombay hills much?

Love this story. I grew up in Auckland but only took up cycling here in UK. Do you ride around the Bombay hills much?

This was just west of the bombay hills I think. Although I am not sure of the area so it may be. I have never ridden arround there before. After this experience I am not sure I want to again. Haha.

knarly sounding day there PGM- something about being away maybe? go for it you lucky man

Not sure if Lucky is the right word. Havent been able to ride for two days now, I can bairly sit down as I have road rash all over my thigh. Having said that, after the ride I was ready to sell all my bikes and take up something in doors. Now I fancy doing the ride again. Haha. funny that.

Some photos of the ride:

3 Attachments

http://ridewithgps.com/trips/405071

know you're in trouble when you have to pedal as hard down hill as you did up it.

Warm, 24c and very very windy, 30mph+.

Beats working on a wednesday though.

Been a while since I did some weekday slacker miles so thought I would pack some in since I reckon this is the last of the good weather. Stole TNRC's Kent 1 and edited it a bit to include Knatt's Valley.

And whooooooosaaaaaaaaaa what a beautiful route it was. Quiet lanes, dapple shade, warm sunshine, getting hit in the face with conkers - it had it all. This cow took a bit of a shine to me.

^Lovely day for it.

On the subject of cattle,

I've had a couple of instances recently where my route has been blocked by a herd. Rather than plough through, I've erred on the side of caution, put my bike on my back, and walked around.

While I'm reasonably sure that the cow is a docile animal, I'm also aware that they're f*cking big. Am I right to be cautious, or should I man up and dive in?

In related news, I just looked up "How fast can a cow run?", and Google suggested 17mph. Therefore, I would probably beat a cow in a race.

Herds of cows are dangerous and easily spooked. Caution is recommended.

Well, if you're surrounded by cattle, you must be 'doing it right' so to speak. Like andyp says, cows can be quite dangerous and have been known to surround people and crush them.

I was chased by a Jack Russell today. I heard a dog barking and thought nothing of it, until it got louder, and I looked back to see it lusting after my naked ankles. I beat him in a sprint, the little shit.

^^That. I've been caught in a cattle stampede, and it's truly frightening.

On the same topic, as I'm back in Nottingham I rode to Melton Mowbray again, with Yas. On a hill which defeats all but the geared clan we paused by a field of some heffers, and bulls, and watched as they grew steadily more agitated by us, until there was hoof-stamping on their part and excrement flowing down shorts on mine. Then they tried to eat some rope, got bored, and trotted off.

A geared roadie passed us as we walked up the hill. He looked at our bikes, then us, and scoffed; 'Fixed. You get no sympathy from me. Sado-masochists". Never been called one of them before. Not sure I'm up to the task, but will be fun finding out.

Nice cow. I'm envious of your weekday slacker miles Oli, it is indeed a lovely day for it.

I grew up in the countryside and cows can indeed be dangerous. People get crushed to death most years by cattle. Unless you know how to read a cow related situation it's best to steer well clear. Dogs are often the worst culprits, owners don't keep them on a lead and they can spook the cattle.

If they were in a field with heffers 'Swine they would have been bullocks, technically :)

They were big and not horses, so as a city-dweller I'm left with no option other than a bloody cow.