Tell us about your weekend ride

^^brilliant. This (and a number of other contributions upthread, post 'Fixedgate') is the start of the big road fixed revival following the monopolization of fixed for track and fixie-ing around town following the commoditization of fakengerism following the co-opting of courierengerism following the adoption of track and winter trainer and hillclimb fixed gear blah blah blah.

We could even have a forum based around it in some way.

Don't be daft, never take on.
Even I don't make words up that blatantly

@BMMF
I'm lolzing about your idea of a forum just for fixed wheel bikes used for road riding.

...
Gotta say that path n.c.n looks pretty ropey though, pfft.

Exactly. That's why I posted that particular pic. I have to say this particular stretch was really short, and were were on mostly good-ish tracks or by-roads (or sometimes actual roads without grass growing down the middle) before and after that. But yeah the NCN definition of 'cycle path' is certainly pretty much aimed at offroad bikes. I was prepared for this with low gearing and dry 'cross tyres.

Crazy ride over the weekend. Did my favourate 60km route around the local winding coastline. Was pre warned that it was windy.

Turned out to be gale force winds coming in off the sea.

Beautiful ride as always. But driving back (had to pick up some fire wood could'nt ride back), my blood sugar did a delayed bomb. So the wind must of taken i out of me.

http://goo.gl/maps/1L1o

Did the Dragon Ride long route........just counted up the midge bites.......37.....itch...itch.......

We could even have a forum based around it in some way.

On the Swedish Fixedgear.se there is a thread only for Fixed-touring-style rides www.fixedgear.se/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=11448

Rode up mount Zeuss (Zas) with Anton on a mountain bike.

Highly recommended. He's a very good tour guide, knows the area exceptionally well, and he's FAST.

http://www.flisvos-sportclub.com/active/biking.php

Heh- I lived on Naxos for a while, climbed Zas a couple of times (well, walked up it), lots of snakes.

^^ cool fakt.

to be fair we didnt actually summit Zas on bikes. did take a scooter up to the carpark and walked up on a different day. the local goats climbing the cliffs all had bells on playing a surreally beautiful "goat music" as they hopped around eating sticks and spikey plants.

what kept you in feta and mythos whilst working on naxos?

I sold my Klein.

Track league tonight, few new lads on there, enjoyed the pace play, would have had the sixteen lap scratch race but for couple of younger riders pushing the last lap.
Anyway got some points, and it was actually warm this evening.
Best of all, got to eat a massive chinese feast after, riding bikes is the best ain't it.

Ah ace Mr Ben! Its photos like this that kinda make me want some dustbins....

Spent most of last week riding uphill in Wales and generally getting very wet. Here is a write up of the first (non-Wales and non-rainy) day of a ride that included Jiggers Bank, the Long Mynd and some very exciting (not like that) public toilets:
http://100climbsfor2012.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/tour-de-wales-day-1-non-wales-day.html

I'm doing all of this for charity, so if you have enjoyed reading any of my blogs then please do have a look at my fundraising page where you can leave a donation for Sue Ryder care and the Manorlands Hospice:
http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/100climbsfor2012

Went to Brighton on Saturday to meet some friends for a stag do. Lovely day for a ride, including this little stop almost exactly half way!
/attachments/54794

Only downside was losing with a bus driver at edgeware road tube. Ended up punching the bus so hard I still have a painfully bruised hand. Still, I know I can ride to Brighton one handed now...

1 Attachment

Tour de Wales day 2 - The Shelf, Penbarra, Moel Arthur, The Road to Hell, and a shitload of rain
http://100climbsfor2012.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/tour-de-wales-day-2.html

No. We used OS maps. Strava is a for twats.

Oh hang on, I got confused, I meant Garmins are for twats. Strava's for sad twats.

My Garmin has OS maps. What do you say to that, huh?!

Looks fun though.

My Garmin has OS maps. What do you say to that, huh?!

Looks fun though.

If they haven't yet got 1:25000 versions yet, and are still on 1:50000 ill say on Skullys behalf- they are crap for navigating on, the small screen needs constant checking, can run out of batteries, fail in bad weather,
Shall I go on?

My Active 10 Sat Map has OS maps - zoomable 1:50 and 1:25. Charges via normal battery or USB. Weather proof casing. Bike mountable. Shame I don't ride anywhere.....

OK. you can still set off 180 degrees in the wrong direction if you're not careful, but that just adds a frisson of imminent death sometimes :P

I got 2 wonderful puntures :?

If they haven't yet got 1:25000 versions yet, and are still on 1:50000 ill say on Skullys behalf- they are crap for navigating on, the small screen needs constant checking, can run out of batteries, fail in bad weather,
Shall I go on?

Seeing as you baited me...

You can zoom in and out on the Garmin OS maps, I have no idea of scale.
Not sure what 'crap for navigating on' means but the turn-by-turn navigation on my 800 is awesome. It also doesn't fail in bad weather: it didn't fail when I used it - with skully actually - in minus 10 and it's got soaked several times too. An OS map also needs constant checking if you don't know where you're going and good luck checking your physical OS map going downhill at 30mph...

It can run out of batteries, but I've found it good for up to about 150 miles, after which I plug in my 'Pebble' USB charging wotsit.

Still, haterz gonna hate ;)

Went to Brighton on Saturday to meet some friends for a stag do. Lovely day for a ride, including this little stop almost exactly half way!

great half way stop that one! spent a lovely 40 mins in there waiting for one of our group to catch up... (a rugby playing fitness freak friend of ours who persistently refused advise/help on the hight of his saddle on his mtb... consequently he got dropped rather quickly...)

Headed out into Kent/Surrey with Benj. We were planning to get a hilly century in, the sun was (almost) shining, the wind was a bit temperamental but still, all was good in the world. After a couple of meaty climbs - including Chalk Pit Lane - and a way better than Disney encounter with a lost fawn, we headed on to Pilgrims Way. Flying along with the wind at our tails, a kamikaze butterfly foolishly head-butted me in the torso. Unfortunately for my metamorphosing foe, my porridge filled belly was more than a match for its paper thin structure. As I wiped what was left of poor pappilion from my belly, my rear tyre popped with what can only be described as a terminal cough. Now, I'm no expert on chaos theory....

The tyre was a write off, as was the century, as was the butterfly. Trundled back to the nearest train station with a five pound note acting as tyre wall (thanks for the tip wrongcog) and commuted home.

This was me yesterday:

[ame]http://connect.garmin.com/activity/189679929[/ame]

Haven't been out much recently, and when I have it's felt like I've been plugging into a headwind the whole way. With that in mind, and having heard the forum's famous Cambridge route was a lovely ride, I set off in that direction.

Getting out of town was a drag. I reminded everytime I go that way that I don't know north-east London at all well. 13 miles in my first hour was not what I'd been hoping for, and the big through Epping Forest was a bit of a drag.

Then got to the magical left turn just before Epping to find lanes and more lanes, and a succession of lovely Hertfordshire villages. Took it fairly easy through the middle bit, as with one thing and another I hadn't done 60 miles straight for a while. Ran out of water in Hunsdon, so stopped at the little shop to refill. Also picked up a cheeky Magnum and a Capri Sun (all about sports nutrition). When did they start making screw-cap Capri Sun? Not having the sharp straw to poke through the wall of it was a major disappointment.

Got a bit bored and grumpy towards the end so decided to pick up the pace a bit. No stop at the Tortoise Tea Rooms, and ended up TTing most of the last hour (not including a couple of wrong turns). Realistically, flat riding with a decent tailwind meant I was undergeared on 48x19, but had fun anyway.

Then, Cambridge eh? Was there about half an hour. Spotted six comedy blazers, five cellists (one dreadlocked) and about 50 people in white tie, it being summer ball season. Who says our elite universities aren't representative?

A++, good route, would ride again!

Headed out into Kent/Surrey with Benj. We were planning to get a hilly century in, the sun was (almost) shining, the wind was a bit temperamental but still, all was good in the world. After a couple of meaty climbs - including Chalk Pit Lane - and a way better than Disney encounter with a lost fawn, we headed on to Pilgrims Way. Flying along with the wind at our tails, a kamikaze butterfly foolishly head-butted me in the torso. Unfortunately for my metamorphosing foe, my porridge filled belly was more than a match for its paper thin structure. As I wiped what was left of poor pappilion from my belly, my rear tyre popped with what can only be described as a terminal cough. Now, I'm no expert on chaos theory....

The tyre was a write off, as was the century, as was the butterfly. Trundled back to the nearest train station with a five pound note acting as tyre wall (thanks for the tip wrongcog) and commuted home.

IMHO that butterfly seriously needed to HTFU.

After dropping BPB at the station I had another crack at Gangers Hill and then resumed the blast along the Pilgrim's Way and out into Kent proper.
Not that much to report - century attained with a reasonable average speed - plenty of upping and downing - tacky Tuna and sweetcorn sarnie on a greasy petrol station forecourt. Usual stuff.

Beautiful moment descending Bowers Lane into Eyensford when I stopped for a pee and saw/heard a pair of skylarks larking around over a scrubby field which was densely poppied and looked stupidly picturesque in the sunlight. I was a bit bonky at the time but that moment reminded me why I love this hobby so much.

First ever ride with a club (Verulam), and first experience of proper sustained group riding. Surprising how much faster you can go on average in a group - this was a good 2mph faster than rides on my own or with one other. Was a nice flat route though.

http://app.strava.com/rides/11056981

Edit: just read the posts above, seems I am a massive twat.