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Managed to get out with my club - Gregarios Superclub Ciclista - for the first time since June. Can it really be that long? A lovely 65-mile spin, with lunch in Chatterfield.
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WEEKEND RIDES LANZAGROTTY HOLIDAY SPEZIAL
rare full report. Leaving the sunny U.K with my rigid 29er in a bike box, set off via glamourous Gatwick for the Christmas getaway.
We paid £30 each on top ot the package charge to take a bike box, discovering the friendly Canarian transfer driver asking for us for another 20 Euros didnt please me but thems the rulez so when abroad.you pays.
The first incident involved lugging this box to the accomodation, twinging my back with the extra awkardness,m wonderful so far.
We settled in and found the requisite mosquitos, dodgy plumbing and northern monkey snoring next door but I wont dwell on the best bits.Rode out to find the MTB trails I read about on the net, these are approved by the Major of the island, and come with signage but as yet no map, they are basically a circular on/ off road circuit. first one Playa Blanca- Playa Quemada rated hard.
Easy enough to find, the riding was superfun, even with a rigid bike, picking a line, reading ahead, flowing into the trails, it wouldnt have been so good with guys on sus bikes but felt great getting back to basics on the loose rock again.basically this one crossed a whole headland bisecting the deep valleys so lots of this
lovely lovely riding, in fact this island could easily sustain a weeks MTB ing
waymarking varied from this
to this
superb backcountry for exploring
Other days saw us riding up to La Santa,where most of the active visitors gravitate to for tri training camps,
avoided the club itself for fear of running into too many speedo wearers, but its an all in experience if yuo want it.
The tri circuit out of there passes some superb Volcanic scenery with long drag climbs and blissful descents, especially when youre travelling south, prevailing N/E wind is strong here.The rest of the time was spent jumping in the sea, trying to stop drowning with smiles at the tropical fish just under the surface, and like eating and stuff that people do on holidays.
Bike shops are plenty and with pretty good riders, quality bikes for hire- still not sure whether it wouldnt have
been just as effective hiring bikes.In short- if you want an active break- theres plenty to do and see, and, you can run on volcanos then go and jump straight in the oceano atlantico
Keep yuor ride reports coming and hope all have some truly memorable rides in 2012
Happy new year! -
You took the ski lift to get up the hill, right?
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Thought so.
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Yesterday, courtesy of 4 complimentary tickets from First Capital Connect, I took the 7.45 train to King's Lynn for a trip into rural North Norfolk with laner, spybot and dropout. We headed out on National Cycle Route 1 and a few lanes, which provided a nearly entirely traffic free ride out to Sandringham. It was colder than I expected to be honest, and I was glad of the hood on my Swrve Milwaukee jacket over my cap. I secretly hoped to see the Queen walking the corgis around the estate so I could doth my aforementioned Campag head gear, but all we saw was a horsey woman on her mobile driving a green Land Rover...
[ame]http://ridewithgps.com/routes/848095[/ame
[/ame]From Sandringham we headed up through some pleasant lanes before turning towards the coast and riding up to the edge of the wash, where we had a quick photo opportunity on the beach.
We then followed the coast up to Hunstanton - on the land side of the sea defence, but down a rather bumpy off road track full of potholes, and had a quick look at the old lighthouse - home of the world's first parabolic reflector, installed in 1776 - before turning inland, doing another short off road stretch then stopping 31 miles in at Sedgeford for a rather good pub lunch of roast pheasant - mine showed its authenticity by containing a small piece of shot. This was only the second pub the ride passed, the other was at 38 miles in and after we passed that things got even more rural...
I don't think I've ever ridden anywhere so empty. We saw curlews, kites, oyster catchers, vast pig cities, huge piles of mangelwurzels (for the pigs, presumably), Vs of migratory geese, fields full of geese, more pheasants and partridges than I've ever seen, and most excitingly, a herd of white fallow deer in the grounds of Houghton Hall:
The lanes seemed to go on forever, and as the miles clocked up it got colder, darker, and started raining. I then regretted somewhat planning a route with some significant off road bits in the last ten miles, mainly because I wanted to go past the ruins of Bawsey Church, a local landmark. By the time we hit the last few miles of off road tracks (which were sandy, full of large puddles, muddy, slippy, the lot, sometimes all at once) it was pitch black, and my Exposure joystick wasn't really bright enough. I was envious of laner's new Vision 1! The sand was the worst - there were a few toppling overs/falling off and we had to push through the worst of it - which was at least half a mile. It was very atmospheric though as we finally rode past the silhouette of the ruined church, although by then it was about 5pm. This photo shows the track we came down from the church (in daylight though):
I've rarely been more glad to get back to civilisation, although the final few miles back into King's Lynn weren't exactly pleasant due to traffic, and the fact we were all cold, tired and wet. It took two cups of tea each in the station buffet and the 1 and a 1/2 hour train journey back to London to properly warm us up, dry us out and make us feel human again.
I have learnt a lot about not planning routes down lanes you can't check out on Streeview in areas you don't know. And I think I need to wash my bike :)
A good way to end the year though. Happy New Year everyone - here's to lots more miles in 2012!
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After a few days of trawling around the country and not getting out on the bike I put the gearie in the van last night to head over to Stockport for NYE with the gf's parents. Slept in nicely and then made a hasty exit as rain clouds were rolling in from the Marches.
Got lost headed to Wilmslow via Styal. Picked up an old audax route and got lost headed for Poynton. Finally set my sights on the Peak District through Marple and New Mills without really knowing how I was going to get across it. FInally popped out on an A road for either Chapel-en-le Frith or Glossop. Mentally tossed a count that was heavily weighted to taking a shot at the Snake Pass as a way to open my account on an attempt to ride all non-residential roads in the Peak District in the space of a year.
I realise that this is in fact pretty silly because I should be using this stretch of road to access other roads that will need riding and there's better use of the Snake Pass and the A57, but where's the adventure in that huh? There's a phrase that my girlfriend picked up working in the South of France; "it may not be the best way but it is the more beautiful way".
After a dismal "only place open in town" lunch at Tesco I headed upwards and the climb was fairly quiet. Got my feet soaked riding through the run off into the Derwent Valley and when it started raining as I cross the Ladybower decided it wasn't worth putting on shoe covers and a waterproof jacket. Wrote off a diversion through Strines owing to being cold, wet and feeling a little ropey (hangover and a damp chest) and sucked up a continued decent into the Rivelin Valley and short route home.
Not the best day or weather to get out but at least it gets better from here (after it gets worse).
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Don't say that, I break spoke all the time and I'm ever so thin.
#I'malardytosserreally #checkthosemanlymuffintops
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Our New Year’s Eve plan was to attend the Céilidh at Portavadie Marina on Loch Fyne and I decided a training ride out there would be a good precursor to the end of year festivities. I have not ridden down the west side of the Cowal peninsula before, but from driving and sailing in the region I know this coastline is beautiful. The route was 106km round the head of Loch Long and over the Rest to Strachur, then by back roads to Portavadie itself.
The weather called for heavy-duty gear, so I set out suitably clad and with two spare pairs of gloves packed. The familiar roads to Loch Long were peaceful under the veil of rain and it was a gentle ride until I turned south and headed into the wind. My dad was driving to the event and as he came past at Ardgarten he enquired whether I might prefer a lift. My answer was a definitive no.
I stopped at the Post Office in Strachur to buy a Coke and two Mars bars. Not the most sophisticated nutrition, but I had burnt through my breakfast getting over the Rest. Tired legs aside, I was pleased to have done more than half the distance in less than two hours.
Initially the road out of Strachur cleaves to the shore of Loch Fyne, but after 10km it begins to weave in land and gain height. After a short climb and slippy descent I found myself returned to sea level for a time. Then the road jagged sharply upwards and to the left out of Otter Ferry, signaling the last section of the ride.
The final run consisted of a series of sapping ascents and technical descents on a poorly surfaced road. My cadence and speed fell and my efforts became ragged. The second Mars gave me a brief rush that quickly flushed through my legs as I came to a grinding halt on the final climb of the day. Shoulders slumped and head rested on the bars, I took a minute to slow my heart before resuming. The sign reading 2m to Portavadie at the crest of the hill came as sweet relief.
Showered, rested and after a few recovery drinks I found the legs to enjoy a reel or two before we turned the corner into 2012.
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@Fox.
Good ride out report.
Wish I knew that you were in the area
My abode is 1 mile from the ruins of Bawsey Church.
Quite often out that way in the spring on the MTB (That track is not the best to ride in the winter).I was out in the Sandringham area this morning - geared Dawes, not fixed today unfortunately.
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Yesterday, courtesy of 4 complimentary tickets from First Capital Connect, I took the 7.45 train to King's Lynn for a trip into rural North Norfolk with laner, spybot and dropout. We headed out on National Cycle Route 1 and a few lanes, which provided a nearly entirely traffic free ride out to Sandringham. It was colder than I expected to be honest, and I was glad of the hood on my Swrve Milwaukee jacket over my cap. I secretly hoped to see the Queen walking the corgis around the estate so I could doth my aforementioned Campag head gear, but all we saw was a horsey woman on her mobile driving a green Land Rover...[URL="http://ridewithgps.com/routes/848095"][/URL
%22%5D%5B/URL] -
Lovely morning. Taken from doubtap upthread. Good way to get some hills in not a lot of time. Thankshttp://connect.garmin.com/activity/139508687
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Quick dash round Temple Valley this morning, more zone 2 stuff:
[ame]http://connect.garmin.com/activity/139517273[/ame] -
Lovely morning. Taken from doubtap upthread. Good way to get some hills in not a lot of time. Thankshttp://connect.garmin.com/activity/139508687
Didn't see you there today. I had a roll along for a coffee by the observatory around 11 this morning then did a quick lap down Maze Hill and back up through the park before heading home across the heath and up through Eltham.
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Christ, I gave my heart a good old workout today.
Must...get...fitter -
^^^ Sorry to miss you wvm. Thought I might bump into you again but you might not have recognized me since I was on my stupidly yellow geared bike.
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that max heart rate is nothing
http://app.strava.com/rides/2956172
(may not be accurate, or i had a heart attack)
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That's an impressive maximum heart rate- I have to put myself under substantial load to hit that.
I think my heart is closer to a diesel tractor than an italian V8, it lunks along at 150ish and refuses to rev higher unless I really up the pace and incline.
My maximum heart rate should be in the region of 166 but I have hit 192 a couple of times last year. Here's a link to an attack on a local TT route I did last year where I riding to my (slightly fitter) max. [ame]http://connect.garmin.com/activity/95923688[/ame]
^^^ Sorry to miss you wvm. Thought I might bump into you again but you might not have recognized me since I was on my stupidly yellow geared bike.
Despite having the Kentish countryside right on my doorstep, I really enjoy riding into Greenwich, particularly when the wind is like today. If you look on my route above you can also see one of my favourite stretches of road between Eltham and Bexley which is made even better by these winds. As a further bonus the espresso machine was repaired in the tea hut.
Doubtless I'll see you there again soon. -
Fixie skiddered down the road a bit.. now 44x19 or 46x19 or something, with the SLR T1 instead of the dangerous to wedding tackle shredder carbon slr and a sizeable amount of weight off the back tyre going from 28mm Mara Plus to 25mm.
Someone crashed into the front garden wall of the Duke of Kent pub. Whoops
Shannonball
Oliver Schick
Fox
The_Seldom_Killer
hippy
dr_nosh
roboto
pharoahsanders
Dammit
wvm
laner
Thuekr
andy.w-
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Tell us about your weekend ride
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Ah - you will know the area better than I do then! Any recommendations for routes or roads I should take in? I'm thinking of putting on the cross tyres and riding some forestry roads in the next few days.
I took the new road through Glen Fruin because I couldn't remember how to get onto the old one. I've driven along it and the climb out of Rhu is fairly steep as you say.