Tell us about your weekend ride

Oh that did didn't make me laugh Oliver :-)

Jake, don't encourage him!

42 miles, three climbs, beautiful blue skies and great company:

http://app.strava.com/activities/21356641

I seem to go and ride on my own most of the time, today reminded me of why ours can be a social sport.

Chasing after Em up what turned out to be a longer climb than I anticipated (Cudham) to chatting as we span along under a blue dome with the sun beaming down.

I really enjoyed today, and I got home at 11:59:13- I said I'd be back for 12, so I think that's pretty close.

Looks like I covered some of the same ground.

http://app.strava.com/rides/21365965

The ride out south wasn't as bad as expected bar getting held up by the marathon this morning. Chalk Pit Lane almost caught me out after 80km of riding, glad I swapped my cassette, sure is steep.

about 140km today down the coast Haarlem to Schiedam and back on my C50
a phenomenal bike, could have gone forever if I had the stamina
done some liquids today and all

Surrey League 4-up TTT yesterday.

The traffic was so appalling that we arrived the race 30 minutes before our start time, and in the ensuring faff had no time to warm up, look at the course, or generally prepare for an event that none of us had ridden before.

A quick look at the opposition gave us a good indication that we were a little out of our depth - no TT bikes between our two teams, and 6/8 had hairy legs. Quite the contrast to the majority with slippery-fast race machines, pointy helmets, and serious faces. Still we'd paid our monies so without further ado set off to give the 34-mile rolling course a good licking.

About 7 miles into the first lap, one of our riders (who had the most bling kit) managed to hit an enormous pothole which was hidden in the dappled shade, and flatted his deep-section front wheel with a bang. After that, there was nothing for it but to give it some serious welly.

TTTs are a really interesting way to race. You're only as fast as your slowest person, so the team aspect really comes in to keeping up the momentum, watching your pace up hills and around corners, and communicating all of the time so that everyone's on the same page.

We were very happy not to be caught by the team behind us (the Cat 1 and 2 Windymilla squad), and even did our fair share of overhauling a couple of other teams. We had noticed a lot of puncture casualties on the road, and even taking into account the appalling state of Surrey's roads, it seemed like more than expected for the race. Reports back at the HQ were that thumb tacks had been found on the road and in tyres. Great to know how it feels to ride the Tour...

Didn't stick around for the results (the TT crowd seem to have a fairly niche conversation bracket, and the canteen had run out of fizzy pop and cake) so we hot footed it back to London, taking a mere 2.5 hours to cover the 35 miles home. Probably should have ridden...

[ame]http://connect.garmin.com/activity/220770790[/ame]

145 miles to south end and back. Gorgeous route but I just don't have the energy reserves for that long in the saddle. Southend is soddom and gomorragh without the good bits.

2012 IoM end 2 end challenge.

Very windy, boats cancelled. Wind blowing 30-40 Mph from the south. We were riding From the north, and heading south. Very tough day out.

The first 10 miles or so are on road, I got in with a very fast group, I kept up for a while before I decided that I would never make it to the end if I tried to stay with them. I dropeed off the back and left them to it. Time for food before the first offroad sections and a couple of pretty steep climbs.

This first section was all new this year due to some serious errosion on the usual route. They worked, steep climbs spread out the field before it was back down some very technical single track. Ear to ear grin, even after going over the bars trying to avoid the crash in front of me. No damage done, not even hurt pride, back to thr grinning and to the bottom beforethings got vertical, again. Tough fire road climb, very warm. That was short lived af we climbed out of the trees and back into that headwind.
The next section undulates on a pretty ropey fire road through the open moorland, heavy going.

The rest of the course varis slighly in places from year to year, considening the volume of rain this year it was relatively dry for the most part. Some fantastic support through out the event keeps aching legs from taking over your thoughts.

Down through some farm land, very fast and very slippy in the fields and into St Johns to mark the half way point. bask in the glory of cheering spectators before The slog that is Slieau Whallian. Things start to get wet, its a tricky (for me) climb and is quite steep in places, the river running down the trail wasn't helping, time for a quick walk.
Up to the top and then down through another plantation, mainy fire road with some very wet and rooty singletrack. More grinning, not for others. Some pretty full on rider tree collissions. Got to hurt, lots.

More climbing very rocky, a quick gear change and stop. Ffffuuuuuu. I've never seen a chain wrap itself round a BB shell like that. No play in it so out came the tools. Couldn't reach the split link so cahin tool out and after a bit of faffing I was away, briefly. Through a stream and a quick hop up the other side, apply pressure to pedals, snap. Another faff and a split link added, praying it holds. I was feeling good and despite watching various riders disappear into the now very thick mist I was spinning back up the hill. Another tricky rooty plantation. 100's of mushrooms, may go back tomorrow when I have more time t collect o few for the pot.

More fire road climbing and back out into that bloody wind. A little bit more climbing and then it's pretty much all downhill until just before the finish. Nice riding, visibility was very poor, my sunglasses didn't help. Had to leave them on though to stop the wind blowing my contacts out.

More fast singletrack and then into the fields, over zealous going over an old wall, squeaky bum time. I held it, just.

Last section, road and them the funal climb (bastards) to the finish.

Mrs.w and Nancy were at the bottom to chear me on, It helps. Up the hill and over the line. Most times are a bit down.

Not mine, Official time 5:18. 15 minutes quicker than last year. I'll take that. Tired but happy. A quick ride down to Port Erin to meet the family and my lift home. Had to ride back to get the car. The heavens opened. 5 minutes riding and I was soaked.

A very tiring but fun day out

45 miles, 5272 foot of climbing. I may feel that tomorrow.

http://app.strava.com/rides/21390021
http://app.strava.com/rides/21390021

I did this London to Brighton route on Saturday. Weather was great as was the scenery. The route itself was HELLISH. 6 odd hours.

I was with mates on geared bikes but did bump into a lfgss member on a fixie which was a nice touch

[ame]http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1691666[/ame
[/ame]

Great efforts boys, what dosent kills us makes us stronger.

With the family out for the day I took the opportunity to spend a little longer than usual in the saddle today. I often ride the Hell of the Ashdown route on a Sunday morning, but haven't managed it for a few weeks. So I added a few bits here and there to take it over the century mark.

[ame]http://connect.garmin.com/activity/220848326[/ame]

What a lovely day. A bit of a headwind as I went south, but was very welcome on the return. I took it nice and leisurely and it was a good reminder not to treat every ride as a head down, destroy your legs training session. There's some beautiful scenery down there.

Grim, I did my first London to Brighton (fixed)- flipping loved it and looks like I went a different route. I can't find the original website I got the directions but this one looks similar. http://www.workingonliving.com/london-to-brighton-cycle-route/

We headed out from Balham-Mitcham -Gatton Bottom (via Fannys Farm Shop) - Turners Hill -Ditchling

http://www.manxphotosonline.com/Isle-of-Man-End-2-End-MTB-Challenge-9th-Sept-2012/slides/2012-09-09-0284.html

Saw you guys going through Brasted..

Fantastic day for a ride - here is my version:
http://app.strava.com/activities/21359205

42 miles, three climbs, beautiful blue skies and great company:

http://app.strava.com/activities/21356641

Anyone do the Circuit of Kent sportive yesterday? I saw approximately 4000 cyclists between Sevenoaks and Sissinghurst. Looked like a nice route.

This weekend's ride was the best I've done in ages. Rode up from Forest Hill to Hyde Park Corner to meet 16 others at midnight for a ride out through Aldgate, Bow, Stratford, Romford, Ilford, Brentwood, Stock, the Hanningfields, Maldon, the Tolleshunts, along Mersea Island, tiny ferry over to Brightlingsea at 6am, Harwich, another ferry to Felixstowe, breakfast on the banks of the Deben at about 9, another boat over the Deben and then a gentle roll up through Tunstall, Snape and Walberswick and over the river to Southwold, arriving at about 2.30 for some glorious Adnams before riding down to Darsham for the train back to the smoke, rounding it off with a ride home through SE London to bring the total to 150 miles.

This weekend's ride was the best I've done in ages. Rode up from Forest Hill to Hyde Park Corner to meet 16 others at midnight for a ride out through Aldgate, Bow, Stratford, Romford, Ilford, Brentwood, Stock, the Hanningfields, Maldon, the Tolleshunts, along Mersea Island, tiny ferry over to Brightlingsea at 6am, Harwich, another ferry to Felixstowe, breakfast on the banks of the Deben at about 9, another boat over the Deben and then a gentle roll up through Tunstall, Snape and Walberswick and over the river to Southwold, arriving at about 2.30 for some glorious Adnams before riding down to Darsham for the train back to the smoke, rounding it off with a ride home through SE London to bring the total to 150 miles.

ooh nice. Maldon and back is my standard flat century route; might have to steal the rest of that.

Meanwhile in Holland we had a look at the road world championships courses.

http://app.strava.com/rides/21488943

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Well, the overall trip included a fair bit of waiting for tiny ferries and some stretches of sand and shingle, so it's not the quickest way of getting the miles in. I hope moulton-riding Olaf doesn't mind if I post the route here (not including the SE London bits or the ride down to Darsham, and in fact the sub-group I was in took a slightly different route into Harwich as we were in a hurry to catch the first ferry crossing at Harwich and used the A120 before turning right down Low Road to the seafront when we realised we had time in hand):
[ame]http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=ynssnxfewxudqqnl[/ame
%5B%2Fame]

Took another chunk of time off my 25 PB on Sunday after setting a Serpentine lap record in the mixed pairs Pedalo category.

mixed pairs

Fat and thin?

120 miles on the back of Stu F's Lavenham ride (58 miles from Shenfield), then riding back to London (about 64 miles).

[ame]http://www.bikemap.net/route/1827351[/ame]

https://www.lfgss.com/thread91661.html

Several hundred yards were walked, though.

In Holland we had a look at the road world championships courses.

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After horrendous storms, and constant downpour, we had a break in the weather. Exactly the same time as I had chance to spend a couple hours cycling to the in-laws small holding.

Fecking result.