-
I only drink whisky.
-
A ride of many different parts this morning, led by the famously outed brompton rider, on whose bike the Argos respray was looking glorious. Eight of us left Oxford station at midnight, but after watching the ISS passing overhead as we paused in Cowley, someone's gorgeous Burls Ti fixxxie developed a slipping seatpost and rounded bolt, so he and his partner bailed and got the Oxford Tube back home. The remaining six skimmed along quiet starlit roads to Thame, where there were the usual drunks and a big police presence at one pub.
Then the climb up Chinnor Hill, by which time the ISS had completed another orbit and sailed past, a bit lower in the south. Some gorgeous (if slightly dark and gravelly) descents brought us to Smalldean Lane. I was on the 1989 Rockhopper Comp and so had the gears needed to get to the top (slowly). Then down through Naphill to another crazy descent into Hughenden Valley, more comedy drunks falling over, picking each other up and dropping each other in High Wycombe.
We invaded Tesco at Loudwater for sustenance before heading up to Beaconsfield, through Chalfont St Peter, Harefield, Ruislip, Greenford, Ealing and then breakfast at Paolo's in Acton where we were greeted by four friends, including a couple of folk from on here. Then a slow plod home. I could do with sleep.
-
Very headwindy on the way out with nobody to tow me along! But that did mean a lovely tail wind on the way back.
-
Stayed up late last night for guilty pleasures (Point Break) so didn't get out until this afternoon. The kids were at an Archery Party (which sounded well dangerous) so I ducked off for a couple of hours on the bike in the sunshine.
Mainly familiar Kent lanes but with a couple of 'off pistes' thrown in for good measure. In a lane near Chelsfield, which I have been down many times but never noticed this before, I found a blue plaque commemorating the Lord Mayor of London who instituted the publication of Parliamentary debates.. Brass Crosby was his name and the plaque seems to infer that he is the origin of the saying "As Bold as Brass". Sadly a couple of minutes on Google casts much doubt on that but it's a nice story (even if it's not true..)
-
A rough 60 fixed miles today checking out the route for the third day of our upcoming, annual rugby club ride. This year we're doing Birmingham to Dulwich, mainly along the Grand Union canal. My job was to scope out the route from the campsite back into London. Involved getting the train up to Luton, riding across to Ivinghoe and setting off from there on the route proper.
-
A ride of many different parts this morning, led by the famously outed brompton rider, on whose bike the Argos respray was looking glorious. Eight of us left Oxford station at midnight, but after watching the ISS passing overhead as we paused in Cowley, someone's gorgeous Burls Ti fixxxie developed a slipping seatpost and rounded bolt, so he and his partner bailed and got the Oxford Tube back home. The remaining six skimmed along quiet starlit roads to Thame, where there were the usual drunks and a big police presence at one pub.
Then the climb up Chinnor Hill, by which time the ISS had completed another orbit and sailed past, a bit lower in the south. Some gorgeous (if slightly dark and gravelly) descents brought us to Smalldean Lane. I was on the 1989 Rockhopper Comp and so had the gears needed to get to the top (slowly). Then down through Naphill to another crazy descent into Hughenden Valley, more comedy drunks falling over, picking each other up and dropping each other in High Wycombe.
We invaded Tesco at Loudwater for sustenance before heading up to Beaconsfield, through Chalfont St Peter, Harefield, Ruislip, Greenford, Ealing and then breakfast at Paolo's in Acton where we were greeted by four friends, including a couple of folk from on here. Then a slow plod home. I could do with sleep.
This sounds ace. Jealous to have not been on this ride. Will have to organise this myself.
-
Got the train to Swansea this morning, cycled down to the Gower in the blinding Sun. Impromptu cliff climb with the fixed on my back after getting lost over the Three Cliffs. Got back on the road and headed down to Oxwich bay for some surf. Burnt and broken after those cheeky Welsh hills. Fun though.
Happy hamster cheeks. -
Based on my enjoyment of the lanes I rode two days ago to Cambridge I set off in the same direction this morning with a view to heading up to Stansted Airport and back down via the more modest airfield of North Weald. I have no interest in planes at all but there's something about the weird hinterlands surrounding air strips which I have always found evocative and for the sake of planning a route these points seemed logical.
I was solo which was nice in its way for two thirds of the day but I have to admit I do miss the company at times. I'm also slower and lazier on my own - I find it hard to stay motivated. I also stop a lot more often, not being distracted by the pace and the chatter of others leads me to think of my stomach and my bladder or that weird rattle which probably needs investigating lest it kills me.
The clouds were supposed to part around mid day but as it was they never did and in the brisk headwind it was veritably chilly. I didn't take off my top layer once. This made food and drink tricky; I only have one bidon mount so carry my other bottle in my jersey pocket alongside my food - all of which was tucked up nice and tight under my rain top.
I felt a bit wobbly up near Stanstead and lost control of my crib notes so instead of circling the airfield from the top I ended up arriving at the south end. I then took a punt on a road thinking it would lead me back to where I needed to be and got in a right pickle. I cheekily rode round a barrier into a car park and headed off in the direction of the terminal only to attract a bit too much official attention. There are times when I am happy with my enormous dark beard (it compensates for my utter lack of head hair nicely while giving me the mysterious appearance of one of Aladdin's 40 thieves)... this was not one of them. Needless to say I backtracked quite quickly.
Back on route and this time with the breeze at my back I started to clock up some miles and tucked in nicely. I was feeling woozy and hungry but didn't want to stop as I was rattling along. I eventually picked up some familiar lanes which I'd ridden previously on the London Phoenix Easter Classic. And then came the smell... I'm usually home from a Sunday roll by about 1 so I rarely experience this. Almost as if they'd conspired to do me in, every other house on my route started to smell of roast lunch. I could even begin to ascertain what progress was being made by the chef. Smelling vegetables over the rich gravy tones indicated imminent noshing, the herby, meaty smells from some houses promised that the inhabitants had a little time to sink a couple of beers. I needed food!
Through my wobbliness I saw a garage appear along the road - the main word which leapt at me from the canopy was 'Energy', which seemed promising so I stopped. In total today I ate a slab of ginger cake, two Nature Valley Sweet & Nutty bars, a pack of Rowntree Randoms, two Trackers and a Cadbury's Fruit & Nut. The latter of which was hoovered up on the forecourt of that crappy filling station.
Needless to say I didn't break any records out there but I still had a good blast back to Leyton from Chingford - as urban as they are I really like those roads, they're a good chance to rinse out what's left of your legs.
Pre ride breakfast: Thai chicken & noodle salad.
Post ride nourishment: Two massive burritos.
Random inappropriate earworms: The Wind of Change by Scorpions, Rehab by Winehouse and All Night Long by Lionel Richie. Don't ask me how they get in there - they just do.TLDR: I rode to Stansted and back for a laugh, nearly got arrested as a potential Jihadist and ate a shitload of food.
-
No picyures to show the beauty of Herts, Beds and Essex but did have the inestimable company of Skully on hertfordshire Wheelers Audax today. My elusive fitness is showing signs of returning
-
^^ ha! nearly hijaking a plane on a weekend ride is some next level shit right there.
I roll the same way with regard to the gluttony, more miles = more cake. I did for a minute think you'd eaten all that on the forecourt of the garage, conjuring up an image of you lying on your back, burping and finally satisfied, fat freddy style, surrounded by gently fluttering empty wrappers. Ha, I've been there, and seen the horrified expressions on the faces of gawping motorists at the behaviour of the strange hobo man who must have been lost in the forest for months and clearly has'nt eaten the entire time.
-
The clouds were supposed to part around mid day but as it was they never did and in the brisk headwind it was veritably chilly. I didn't take off my top layer once.
That was unusual today. I went out in armwarmers and a gilet and kept them on all day.
About 99.5 miles from Upper Clapton to Sible Hedingham and back. When I got back, I briefly thought whether I should ride around the block a few times for a full century but decided that not doing so would make me feel better for not having been silly.
Funnily enough, I spotted a mate of Skully's called James on the Lea Bridge Road just before I got to the Princess of Wales to wait for my friend. We got chatting because a driver had a picture of his/her car taken just ahead of us. This is very nice. I'm sure many drivers would like to have more pictures of their cars taken while they're driving them.
We then spotted BMMF just north of Fyfield plus assorted other spots--some massive tractor-like contraption with extremely tall wheels whose purpose was unknown to me. It had about six feet of ground clearance and some sort of machinery on top. It was wider than a normal traffic lane and was being driven at speed towards us down a hill outside of Great Bardfield (I think). The usual array of speeding motorcyclists was out (lots of very sensible motorcyclists, too), with some idiots hooning it past us at ridiculous speeds--not that this was a surprise to me, or to anyone who rides out there regularly. Lots of bike riders on some kind of sportive or charity ride coming towards us, too.
We had surprisingly good cafe food at the Corner Cafe in Sible Hedingham and later stopped for a pint at the Axe & Compasses.
Nice ride, slightly unusual weather, but not half bad all things considered.
-
Up North the weather was smashing! Lots of sunshine & warmth was to be had.
Setting off from Preston we headed northwards for Lancaster, travelling along a stunning country lane by the canal/river. Fields full of growing calves, lambs & buttercups. Somewhere around Caton we stopped for a brew in a biker cafe. Here I noted everyone on two wheels wears strange clothing - bikers in their leathers, cyclists in their lycra.
Another few miles onwards we finally reached our destination - Ingleton. A village of outdoor activities, caving, climbing, hiking, waterfalls, somewhere I would very much like to spend some time & explore. Here we replenished our energy reserves with what could easily be a loaf of bread, several tins of beans, & a shops worth of cakes consumed between us all.
Then for the journey back - hills, hills & more hills, up over Quernmore. For some strange reason I think I may be starting to enjoy hills...at least, I'm getting better, or I was having a good legs day...Scorton, we stopped for ice cream, oh it was good! The best £1.50 spent in a long while, delicious, creamy, MASSIVE ice creams. Then it was home time. Tired, weary head & legs, but happy & content.
-
Excellent right up wrong cog!
Obvs I have nothing better to do while in the south of France than to read all about the rides you lot are going on! I'm having serious bike withdrawal and would probably swap the cake and for gras I'm being forced to consume for a few hours of suffering on the bike.
Justhavinganepiphanyaboutextentofmywrongness.
-
was this James McCarthy Oliver??? rode as a courier for a while
I didn't get his surname, but could well be.
BringMeMyFix
Ludd
Wrongcog
JB
hms
stevo_com
Tenners
fussballclub
monkdagola
NorthLondonLight
blue_fleet
Oliver Schick
user15757
Benj
hippy-
Post a reply
About
Tell us about your weekend ride
Posted by
Good man. Don't forget your whiskey. Rehydrate!