Tell us about your weekend ride

Shit! Sorry to hear that! Heal up soon.

Ouch! Hope you heal up soon. Sounds like it's been carnage out there today. I'll count myself very lucky that I only had a slight wobble.

Repped, ace attitude.

I was feeling a bit guilty about not having been on a proper ride today, so I went for out for a little evening jaunt around Highgate. I decided to do every*hill once, and then went up Swains again at the end for a little treat.

The first time I was heading up Swains, there was a group of about twenty out on some kind of guided walk. As my heavy panting became audible, one woman turned around and shouted "Come on!" and all of a sudden all twenty of them were egging me on. It was one of the best things I have ever experienced on a bike.

Descending Highgate West fixed was worse than ever with the slipperiness and my way past acceptable front tyre. And I realised tonight that going up it is even worse, and something I'd never done before.

On the way home I remembered I'd never actually made it up Swains fixed before, my previous two attempts failed due to heavy panniers, and then the fact that I tried it after my first Intermediate session at Herne Hill.

Pretty rewarding all in all, I'm really glad I went out, and my tea smells amazing.

I've never tried Swains lane before .

I did get half way up highgate west hill in the summer on a fixed 46/16 Pomp.I was on my way to work and didnt really make the effort. I will attempt swains lane asap.

I'd never ridden up Swains until yesterday, when our pub ride went up it. I was riding fixed, 48/18 - had been apprehensive about it all week (having only ever ridden geared up Highgate & Highgate West) - loved it in the end. Painfully slow though...

On the last day of the Tour of Britain this year, a few of us rode out to Surrey to watch it go past at a couple of points. We rode up a few of the KoM hills, where there were already spectators ensconced, and they were cheering anyone going past. Great fun, and always inspired us to put a bit of a sprint in so as not to disappoint them.

Bad news jimbo. gutted for you mate.

Was riding in norfolk on sunday was really nice out. Not really much out there so plenty of sun hitting the roads to make the ice turn to slush a couple of dodgy corners but nothing you can't coast past.

... and a bit of mud for extra grip.

Out in the lanes today, real nice riding till we found some black ice and I managed break my hip as I landed on it after pulling my arms in so I didn't do my collar bone. Not the best ride I've ever had, but a ride all the same.

Bad luck, Jim. Hope your rehab is swift.

^ Too bad Jim :-( Heal up soon...

There was a lot of it about yesterday ... out with BC yesterday and came off myself on ice just over the M25 towards Brasted. Luckily got away with bruised pride and ripped overshoes... looked like a woman cropped it at the same place and had the ambulance out. Will think twice about going out in 0degs in future...

Glad to hear your ok rab. I now know why rollas are such a good idea in winter.

oof sorry to hear about your spill Jim, heal up fast. Same thing happened to me a few years ago bunny hopping over some boxed electrical cables under the wobbly bridge late in the evening after the last day of work before chrimbo. Landed on ice and adios front wheel, I slammed real hard and skidded across the path into the railings to rampturous laughter from some peds who said it was the funniest crash they'd ever seen, harumph!

Managed to cycle home but next morning was in agony and I had to drive a hire van 200 miles up to Wales to help my folks move house the next day, I could'nt walk and had to be carried into the hire van place, I'm amazed they gave me the van to be honest, any outward movement of left leg was utter agony but luckily the accelator foot was fine :). It still gives me agro to this day, especially in the cold and I could'nt walk properly for 6 weeks, and I was feckin useless at moving house as had the mobility of a hatstand. Not a very CSB, anyway get well soon.

I did 60 odd miles out in the lanes in Kent today and it was lovely, bit windy but was glorious sun and the lanes were deserted, and thankfully ice free.

It was beautiful out there today. Where was everybody? I reckon we saw ten other riders (other than muddy MTBers) in 60 miles of Essex lanes. When the sun shone it was autumnal and crisp, in the shade at speed it was downright cold. A grey weather front rolled over the landscape as we turned for home and the sun became a pale disc in the sky. The tea and the ginger cake went down well and I felt sorry for no one who was out there today... No one perhaps except for the old mutt chained to the bike stand at the tea hut in Epping who had the shivers good and proper. He looked very sorry for himself, but he didn't have that undulating ribbon of tarmac near Curtismill Green to look forward to.

No ice to report either. It's wet out there - there's just not enough sun to dry out the roads.

Brigdes ride in the countryside. Dollis, Mimmshall and Wildhill Brook. River Brent, Lea, Mimram, Beane, Rib, Ash and Stort.

First fixeh ride (cupcakes came too) for about 4 months today. It was ridiculously hard work. Towards the end I was happy not to be walking up the hills. On a positive note, I rode up a new offroad-ish climb which was great, although there was a healthy smattering of leaves, filth, and rainwater covering the concrete slabs. Knees feel creaky.

Anyone who wants a dose of the brutality should clear their diaries for the 18th :)

I can't make the 18th, so name that climb please.

I raced the South East and Eastern regional cyclocross championships at Bethlem Hospital today. Probably the muddiest cross race I've ever done (the top three have all been this season) and insanely difficult due to the mud. I was literally brought to a halt at least once every lap by the depth of it, and rather foolishly had decided, after checking out the course last Sunday in the cold, that I wouldn't need my mud tubulars due to the large sections of woods that had a carpet of leaves in them. Some wise bastard had subsequently cleared most of them of leaves, leaving yet more mud to negotiate.

I had a cracking start and was running top 5 at one point on the opening lap, before the mud took it's toll and I lost ground, and places, on each lap but managed to finish 11th at the end which I'm happy with given I haven't raced for 6 weeks. I just have a nagging doubt that if I'd had the Dugasts on I could've finished a bit higher.

good effort !! you could do it with anything on the wheels

Probably the muddiest cross race I've ever done (the top three have all been this season) and insanely difficult due to the mud.

Could Fatty bikes have a place in cross?

Could Fatty bikes have a place in cross?

Jes - in muddy conditions it's common that 25% of the racing group DNF because of mechanical issues - but the eyes of UCI will down stare your fatty.

Bit of a bitch to run with though

Bit of a bitch to run with though

So is the big one-pack under the jersey of every fatty owner.

if you want to win races a fat bike isn't going to help. Also at national level(iirc) and above anything not cross isn't aloud.

If on the other hand you just want to have fun...

Could Fatty bikes have a place in cross?

IMHO more poeple should buy Fatbikes, and then have their own races.

I cant see the connection.

I love the idea of taking a fat bike to the beach.

Could Fatty bikes have a place in cross?

Maximum tyre width allowed by current UCI regulations is 34 mm.

So, no.

Maximum tyre width allowed by current UCI regulations is 34 mm.

So, no.

Exactly.

Seems like two ends of the spectrum.

my weekend run out, cold but lovely and sunny, and after living in the London for years, forgot how nice clean sea air is.

http://www.strava.com/runs/31469329

I went out on Sunday for a ride around Essex trying out my Assistant Manager's Garmin Edge 800 (I see my ride has also appeared on his Strava page as well...hmm). The Garmin was brilliant, having all that navigation and information right at your thick-gloved fingertips is a right treat. I think I also learned why people download GPX files of existing rides though.

The roads that looked nice on paper (B-roads through bits of green - Crooked Mile, Epping Road) were actually pretty grim, fast and busy roads with impatient drivers and horrible sidewinds. I'm pretty sure this is not what people mean when they go on about rides round Essex lanes, lesson learned.

Really enjoyed my first jaunt through Epping Forest though, and even had time to pop in and see my nan on the way home.

http://app.strava.com/activities/31646279

The B194 really scared me.