Cycling 2024

[Slim]

Another warm, sunny day. I left work shamelessly early with the intention of doing about 45 miles. A light wind was blowing from the south again but I've done the southbound a few times in the last week or two so I wanted to do something a bit different.

I devised a route that would go south down the "old" southbound route through Desford, but cut across to the "new" southbound route before Enderby. It looked easy enough on the map but (of course) I cocked it up and ended up on Coventry Road, a very busy road that sprouts south-westward out of Leicester. I have been on it before but the Friday afternoon traffic made it a bit hairy. So I took an opportunistic left.



Quite a nice stretch of road after that, nice to do something new. The bit of road I did before arriving on Coventry Road was quite pleasant as well. Always good to do new roads for a change. I stopped for a sandwich and a Bounty bar at a village shop at Huncote. Hadn't been there before.

Eventually I found myself at a place called Cosby where I took the pic. Saw a sign to Broughton Astley from there. From Broughton I came back pretty much the usual way, except that I attempted to hit the Earl Shilton bypass, took a wrong turn and ended up looping back on myself.

I really must learn to make better use of the eTrex. Too idle to upload the routes, that's the trouble.

Lovely out there and I dressed appropriately this time, minimal clothing. Listened mostly to 5 Live.

About two years ago I bought a cheap Chinese wireless "bike computer" off Amazon and I got round to fitting it to the Boardman today. The idea, if I remember correctly, was that for short rides I'd be able to use my phone to record the ride directly via the Strava app. I calibrated the computer using notes I'd made last time I fitted a speedo to similar-sized wheels and seem to have got it spot on. 49.32 acording to the Garmin watch, 49.3 according to the speedo (it only does one decimal place).

https://www.strava.com/activities/11379644436

[Slim]

Laura Kenny on a bike.

Must say I wouldn't have expected her recreational bike to be one of those.

[Nickslikk2112]

Once saw the lovely Laura outside Cafe Adventure in Hope with her mates. She was on a proper road bike then.

Didn't get as far as Hope myself today as once again I was too bus watching professional cyclists riding up hills in another day's armchair travel. Did pop out for a couple of hours though, still a bit warm but thankfully there was a bit of a cooling breeze.

Did a very similar 35 miles to last Saturday, but went up to the Moors through Cutthorpe rather than Old Brampton. No Cuckoos about today, but a Tawny Owl was hooting up towards what was the Gate Inn. Gets me to 275 miles for May and I'm somehow still ahead of 2021's tally at this point.

https://www.strava.com/activities/11387439377

[Slim]

Rain was forecast for the afternoon but it was a lovely morning, so - clothed once again in minimal cycling gear - I set off at about 1000, with the intention of doing about 35.

I was going to do about 17 miles of the usual eastbound route then come back the same way, but before I got to the junction at Zouch I took a left through Long Whatton, toward Diseworth. I had the idea of going into Loughborough, which I haven't done for a long time.

Before long though I realised I was actually going in the opposite direction of Loughborough, but I decided to keep going, just in the spirit of maintaining momentum.

At Diseworth I took a right turn I hadn't taken before, signposted to the airport. Nice little road, nothing special and less than a mile later I was on the A453, running south of the airport. I'd only done 13 miles by this time so I was struggling to think what to do to make up the miles I wanted. I probably should just have kept on going rather than take the left near Zouch.

I took the road down past Breedon, then went north toward Melbourne, then took the road to Ticknall from there - which I haven't done for at least a year. I chickened out of Bastard Hill and came home via Hartshorne, Woodville, Ashby.

Really a lovely ride over the first half. I spoiled it over the second half by giving myself too much hill climbing to do.

I listened to The Who's Who's Next.

Back on 37.04. I didn't get rained on and in fact hours after I returned home, still no sign of rain. Just warm sunshine. Annoying, as if I'd know I'd have done a fondo. But at the moment next weekend looks clear.

https://www.strava.com/activities/11393253252

[Slim]

Showers were forecast for the afternoon at about 1600 but I was keen to add some distance to the May tally, so I resolved to tolerate it. Last time I did that, instead of the light shower I expected, I got rained on for half an hour. This time, I didn't get rained on at all! The sky went ominously dark grey for half an hour at about 1630, but it didn't follow through on its threat.

A bit windy, not quite so warm as of late. I did a Twycrosser, with the added twist that I went east to Kirkby Mallory after Cadeby, to take in the last 12 miles of the return leg of the southbound route.



Back on 41.86. 318 this month now which is more than good enough for half way through May.

https://www.strava.com/activities/11411543098

[Nickslikk2112]

After three days off the bike for a spot of travelling - and not travelling - on trains, I did think I might not get out until after next week's four days off for travelling on trains after looking at the weather forecast.

Luckily the early rain stopped and I was able to pop out for 28 miles. Not the 40 I'd hoped for, but the rain delayed me and getting back when I did meant I beat the torrential shower by five minutes. Tomorrow and Friday don't look too good. Saturday morning looks OK, but I got back for Mrs S to tell me my brother's invited himself over for today. Doesn't ask me as he knows I'd say no...

Took a while to get going today though, I think my lungs shrivel if I spend a couple of days off the bike. Legs were OK but I was panting a bit.

https://www.strava.com/activities/11415814283

[Nickslikk2112]

Yesterday ended up being a washout. I was just about to head out for maybe 10 miles - grab it whilst you can - when the rain started falling quite heavily. Ho-hum, caught up on my housework instead.

Today I did make it out, cloudy with a bit of sun, so dry and warm. To get the best mileage in I stuck to the flatter ground out toward Tibshelf and back. Just rolling hills rather than long climbs. Nearly got taken out a couple of times though, one by a white van who decided to overtake whilst I was going by a pedestrian refuge and one by a caravan being towed by a Wankpanzer, he'd probably forgotten he was towing it.

On the plus side, I gained a KOM today  OK, so only 89 people have ever ridden it on Strava, but it's a KOM nonetheless. Also moved up to fourth overall on the Spital Lane Climb, out of 588 this time. If only I dare turn into it at speed I reckon I could take that one, but it's a 90 degree bend and you have to be wary of traffic pulling out.

https://www.strava.com/activities/11431034254

[Slim]

A beautiful afternoon and I wanted to escape from work at about 1500, and do a fondo. Then someone thoughtfully invited me to a meeting at 1700.

So instead I thought I'd take an extended lunch at about 1300 and do maybe 35 miles or so. A light wind was coming from the east, roughly, so the plan was to do about 18 miles of the eastbound route, then come back.

After about four miles, I entered Loughborough Road as usual, only to find that it had been "resurfaced", if I can dignify what they've done with the term, by having a huge quantity of dusty, sharp gravel piled onto it. I tolerated it for about 150 metres or so then decided to turn back. My tyres were liberally coated in grey dust.

I'll have to avoid Loughborough Road for a while, but fortunately there are other options for that part of the route.

I went west along the Coalville bypass then past Sinope and north through Peggs Green and Griffydam, up Top Brand. Rather than pursue the eastbound route I did a sort of loop through Belton, Long Whatton, Diseworth - just following my nose - and came back down Top Brand. Then west along Alton Hill, to Ashby then Packington, then Normanton Road to Heather, which I don't think I've done for at least two years. Back home via Ibstock, on 37.81 miles, in plenty of time for the meeting.

Really nice out there, warm and sunny. I trialled a pair of cycling shorts in a garish black and green colour scheme that were a Christmas present from Stepdaughter 2. You'd think I'd get a bit of credit for this from her mother but no, she just wanted to point out that they look ridiculous with a black and red cycling top. I suppose I need to buy a new top, I don't really have one that goes with it.

https://www.strava.com/activities/11432305648