Between The Wheels

Just a test post

(http://bikediary.uk/images/220122bike.jpg)

Nice bike!

Nice and clean for the time of year.

Hello you foul-faced bunch of dweebs :)

Welcome, Barney! I think I've worked out your TNMS identity from the clue in your username here ;)

I doubt it will be busy but that's fine - this place was conceived as a lifeboat for the handful of us who took part, or lurked, in the cycling thread on the good ship TNMS. But everyone's welcome.

If you have any cycling questions do fire away, there's a decent wealth of experience here.

Well first potential cycle day on the new forum and I have wimped out (based in the South). Drizzle and mud, miserable stuff. I only have one assembled bike, a BMC team machine about 6 years old, a Specialized Allez hangs on the garage wall, I tried changing the rear bearings, ballsed it up and have never been able to put it back together again. So I want to keep my one good bike in reasonable condition so tend to take it out when dry, if it rains on route that's ok.

Really a rather nice day for cycling, dry and sunny with a moderate wind coming from the west. The wind was supposed to pick up in the afternoon.

I planned something a bit different. The idea was to go up through Coleorton, Melbourne, up over Swarkestone Bridge and west along the Beloved A Road as usual, but to come back a different way - down through Tutbury, then through Burton on Trent, which I've never done on a bike before. Then to Ashby, and back the usual way from there.

The route looked pretty simple, so I didn't bother committing it to the eTrex or a GPX app. I should have done though, because I took a wrong turn out of Tutbury which took me some way out of my way. Quite hilly round there, fun to be exploring new territory though. I managed to navigate my way to Burton without difficulty with the aid of Google Maps, but I came a different way through the town than I'd intended. Slightly scary - dual carriageways and multi-lane roundabouts aplenty. But a lovely view coming over the river.

(http://bikediary.uk/images/220130bike.jpg)

I followed directions to Moira, from where I knew I'd find Ashby easily enough.

The wind didn't really seem to pick up in the afternoon. I didn't notice the tailwind at all.

Listened to the Australian Open singles final on 5 Live - absolute classic, although I didn't catch all of it. I also listened to a fascinating programme on 6 Music in which Tom Ravenscroft and Damon Albarn looked through some of Tom's dad's massive record collection (Tom's dad being John Peel of course). Tuned back to 5 Live in time to hear Medvedev giving what was a pretty gracious and good-humoured runner's up speech in the circumstances. He was two sets up to love, but he lost.

Really a fun run out despite the hills and the conspicuously urban content through Burton. Still hoping to try the route I intended soon.

Back on 45.36 miles, which takes this month's total to 416. Seems a lot for a January, not quite sure how that happened. I suppose the weather must have been kinder than usual.

https://www.strava.com/activities/6606135934

Chill but with bright skies I did my usual route. The roads however were wet under rubber and often had either a thin film of liquid mud,running water or general clods of mud on them.Took it gently as didn't fancy coming a cropper, first time I wore my big gloves out and that also was a potential pilot error waiting to happen scenario.

https://www.strava.com/activities/6604676829

Another mild day with the wind coming from the west. No chance of rain, but the roads were a bit wet. Mostly cloudy, but the sun did come out from time to time.

I thought of doing the Dad's Army route as far as Dordon. I hadn't been quite that far along it (as far as I recall) since I first used it on a run to historic Worcestershire and back, about eighteen months ago.

It's mostly the Twycross route until you get to the junction with Pinwall Lane, then it goes west. I'd forgotten what a rubbish little road Dordon Hall Lane was. Narrow, hilly, heavily potholed and covered with a thin film of mud. I'll take a longer way round next time. I narrowly avoided getting liberally doused in muddy water when an oncoming Land Rover went into a deep puddle in the ditch, though to be fair he only hit it because he was trying to give me room to get past.

Anyway - I went as far as Dordon, then came back via the second part of a Twycrosser, so in fact this ride ended up as a Twycrosser with an extension to the west at the bottom. Took this pic near Dordon, a few minutes after sunset. Nice view from there, looking back toward Orton and Twycross.

(http://bikediary.uk/images/220202bike.jpg)

I really want to go a bit further next time, at least as far down to Kingsbury Water Park which I remember was really nice. But I'll devise a better route.

Listened mostly to 5 Live Drive. Lots of talk about Hormone Replacement Therapy, and I must say a conversation about "vaginal atrophy" made me shift uncomfortably in my saddle.

Back on 37.29 miles.

https://www.strava.com/activities/6621896724

Not much cycling so far this month, but I was able to leave work reasonably early and set off at 4pm. Cloudy with a hint of dampness in the air, but the forecast reassured me that rain was highly unlikely.

I was going to go up over Swarkestone Bridge and west along the A road for a bit, but I took a longer route to get there, up Top Brand and to Isley Walton. Not long after I took the left turn at Walton though, my saddle started to feel oddly uncomfortable .. a bit low at the back and erect at the front, exactly like it did on a Fondo to Eastwell and back a few weeks ago.

I stopped at Stanton under Bridge to have a look, and yes - it had shifted back again. No worries I thought, I'm sure I left the appropriate Allen key in the frame pack .. but nope, I must have taken it out.

It wasn't too uncomfortable but I didn't fancy going too far, so I turned for home there and then. However rather than take the turn to go south through Melbourne (ie the quick way home), I came back the way I'd come, through Isley Walton.

Stopped to eat a cheese & onion pasty at the top of Top Brand, and a miserable, cold drizzle started to descend. But it only lasted 20 minutes. Took this at Peggs Green.

(http://bikediary.uk/images/220207bike.jpg)

On a whim I came through Swannington rather than Coleorton over the last couple of miles - something I've only ever done four or five times, since it involves a long, steep climb. I stopped about half way up and could feel my ticker beating like the clappers. Not sure how great that is really for an older gentleman like myself, but I didn't give me any trouble. I do have a friend who had a heart attack while cycling about ten years ago; something I do think about from time to time.

I'd definitely tightened the saddle down properly so I shall look for a new seat post for the X. You can see where the clamp on the seat post has shifted. The single bolt design ones are rubbish.

Back on 25.65 miles, a modest 63 miles this month.

Having fitted a new carbon seat post to the X, a test ride seemed to be in order. It was very nice weather for cycling on the whole this afternoon – dry, sunny, a bit windy and cold but not bad enough to spoil the fun.

I faffed around a bit near home before deciding what to do, then I decided to go up Top Brand to Isley Walton. From there I went west to Melbourne as I often do, but rather than going up over Swosser Bridge I decided I'd turn for home there, but come the long way through Ticknall, Hartshorne, Boundary and Ashby.

I set the seat post slightly too high but apart from that it was fine. I must admit I didn't pay careful attention to the saddle position before I dismantled the old seat post but the riding position felt very comfy. I got the impression that it was a slightly more comfortable ride than usual but that could be psychological, or possibly just a different saddle angle than before.

I also used my Olight torch as a front light. Despite being small and light (it takes a single AA) it's adequately bright, but the battery didn't last that long. I turned it off at some traffic lights for road works near Ashby to save juice, but when I turned it on again it wouldn't come on. I assume the battery was low. Would be ironic if it's a fault as it's one of the very few LED torches that I own that's a reputable brand rather than an anonymous Chinese product.

Had a beautiful view of a half moon in a clear blue sky just before I set off. Didn't notice any stars after dark, though. Actually I did get 15 minutes of rain near Ticknall so it must have clouded over after sunset.

28.17 miles, 91 this month. Enjoyed that one.

https://www.strava.com/activities/6662709425

I used my Xoss bike computer and I was delighted to discover that the phone app now has a feature to replay your route as a 3D aerial view – a bit like that Relive facility that was popular a few years ago. It saves the video to your phone's gallery, but I uploaded this one to YouTube. You can alter the perspective while the track is playing but if you do, it will record your changes to the video (it works as a sort of screen capture function, hence this would have worked better if I'd been holding the phone in a landscape stylee rather than portrait).

The weather forecast promised a day off from the rain and it was sunny when I set off on the Boardman this afternoon. The roads were a bit wet, but nothing too troubling. A strong wind was blowing from the west. I decided to go up and west, along the A road for a bit.

I went out through Swannington, unusually. I used to go that way often, but it fell out of favour. It's a bit rattly on the long downhill stretch.

Up to Isley Walton, then west. The flags outside Donington Park were flying dead straight in the direction I was coming from. The wind was gusting strongly, like an invisible hand lunging at the brake levers.

Not long after I crossed Swarkestone Bridge, the rain started to come down. It only lasted a few minutes. But it came down again fifteen minutes later. As I stood at my favourite rest stop near Willington munching a cheese & onion pasty in the pouring rain, I decided to turn for home. Very nice to have the tailwind coming east.

I came back the quick way through Melbourne and Coleorton.

Despite the wind and the rain I remained in good spirits, and even ascending the North Face of Rotter's Rise in the dark didn't piss me off. Much. By then the rain had stopped again.

Had an extraordinary view of the Moon looking huge just above the horizon near Coleorton, with a streaky cloud in front of it - it looked like a ghostly huge Saturn.

I was listening to Drive on 5 Live, and people were texting in their anecdotes for Random Act of Kindness Day. Here's one to melt the hardest heart. I've just listened to it back on BBC Sounds so I can transcribe it:

Ten years ago my teenage daughter was new to both cycling and London. One very cold winter Sunday she found herself with a puncture to fix at the side of the road with fingers so cold she couldn't do it. A stranger stopped his car and fixed it for her. A third party saw what was happening and posted a picture on social media - of Mark Cavendish fixing her bike.

Feel like I'm leaving the February Fondo a bit late, but next week looks OK weather-wise and I won't be on call.

Back on 31.76 miles, 123 this month.

https://www.strava.com/activities/6698710901

A decidedly windy day but it's been slim pickings so far this month so - since it was at least dry and sunny, I felt I should try and do at least 25. For some reason though, the wind didn't seem so bad once I was underway, even going directly west.

I went up through Coalville and Belton to Isley Walton, up over Swarkestone Bridge, west along the Beloved Flat A Road. I was feeling unusually thirsty for some reason so I decided I'd go as far as the garage near Hatton and buy a drink. I didn't have a lot of water with me. Chilled Lucozade. Lovely. I also ate a cheese & onion pasty I'd brought with me before I mounted my bike to come back the same way.

The return trip, with a tailwind and having fuelled up a bit, was a real joy. Until I stopped for a wee near Willington, and dropped my phone. The screen cracked, rendering it inoperable, and making it impossible for me to send a message to say I'd be later than expected. Even worse, I was using it to listen to the PM's press conference on 5 Live because my DAB batteries had died - and I didn't want to use the spare AAs in case I needed them for the front light. Worst of all, 'er indoors started ringing me and it was impossible to answer calls.

Needless to say she was irate when I returned, and my explanation only placated her partly. But Lib Dem supporters can be impervious to reason, sometimes.

That was a really nice run out apart from writing off my phone. 47.30 miles, but felt more like 35. Beautiful starry night, with all of Orion clearly visible. The fields near the river at Swarkestone Bridge were waterlogged like lakes which was actually quite a beautiful scene.

Only 170 done in February so far. Would really like to get that up to 300 if I can, but it's a short month.

https://www.strava.com/activities/6718185140

Been off work today, ostensibly to give Mrs S a bit of company in her half-term week and to make a start as an executor of my dad's will. But hey, guess what, the sun's shining LET'S RIDE!!!!



It was bloody hard work :( I think every one of my last few rides has seen the wind just ramp up another notch, it's no fun cycling along the flat at 7mph! I saw in the tour of the UAE the other day that the headwind was so strong a rider got off his bike and pushed it as quick as the others were cycling. It was one of those days here.


I had fully intended on doing 40 miles, but realising that up on the tops was no fun at all I came in at 32. At least I had the wind behind me on the way back and it was good to overtake someone going up the Grange Lane Koppenburg, I know it's not much of a hill, but it's good to average 23.5 mph uphill!



So, that's just got me over 100 miles for February and I'm 440 miles down to where I was this time last year - due to weather and no furlough.



https://www.strava.com/activities/6726027528

Just went through Strava in honour of the new site and created a spreadsheet for this year's cycling.  Just on 200kms for the year.  Slow start in January due to getting Covid so didn't start til 23rd Jan.  That's from 6 spins so averaging 33kms per trip.  Seem like I'm pretty slow moving at the moment.  I did feel stronger on the last trip and that was the hilliest so far this year too ( a pretty miserable 258 metres).   That was on 12th Feb so I've probably lost some of that momentum.  Not sure I'll be out this weekend either as it's the wife's birthday.  May get out on Saturday.

It's been a very windy start to the year !

Not 'arf has it been a windy start to the year. I thought it was supposed to have been a bit calmer today and maybe it was, but it was still no fun slogging up hills into it. It was nice when it was behind you though, I managed to set a best time on a segment today where I'd set my previous best five and a half years ago and today I didn't even try. It's nice when you get up to 30 mph on the flat :)

Had to contend with hail and snow today too. Luckily I missed the worst of it as I skirted the southern flank of the showers, but the hail was like being blasted by ball bearings at times and the road was covered in them. Yet when I turned off the road the hail lasted for half a chain and then the road was completely dry! Good job I chose to go out this morning as it's been filthy so far this afternoon and the moors are now snow covered.

https://www.strava.com/activities/6731087362/

I noticed clouds of hail and snow going past the window at a 45 degree angle a couple of hours ago! Glad I wasn't out in that. Weather should be nicer tomorrow, I've booked the afternoon off.

February has been a right off for me so far, hoping the weekend will bring a cycling window.

The forecast promised a sunny, dry day. I took the afternoon off with the idea of doing 80 or so, to bump up the February mileage tally and get the Fondo done, having left it somewhat late in the month.

The wind was blowing from the west as usual but I decided to break my rule of not returning home into a headwind, and go east. I wanted to do part of the Norfolk route. The roads east of Eastwell through Waltham and Buckminster are my Cycling Happy Place. And the wind was supposed to dissipate a bit later on.

I didn't really want to turn back after 40 miles, it was so nice over there - sunny, scenic and quiet - so I kept going. I hit a Lincolnshire sign not long after Buckminster, then a couple of miles later, a Rutland sign! So I've ticked off the two remaining Neighbouring Counties of Leicestershire for 2022 without having intended to.

I'd intended to pursue the Norfolk route but missed a turn for South Witham. I ended up there anyway though, somehow. Then I turned back for home after 45 miles and came back the same way.

(http://bikediary.uk/images/220225bike.jpg)

Usually my DAB personal radio would be pretty good company on a Friday bike ride with Elis & John on 5 Live, then the film review show. I believe Kermode has been sent on an impartiality course. However today it was just wall-to-wall Ukraine news all day. I got Ukraine fatigue eventually; I know that's an easy thing to say from this safe distance but it was pretty much the same news cycling round for hours.

I listened to the new Sea Power album on my MP3 player, then - unusually - I did silence for a bit.

I'd had to take a layer off earlier in the day and stuff it in my backpack but the temperature dropped just before sunset. I was still 30 miles from home when the sun dipped below the horizon, but I'd brought good lights.

Two teenage girls waved at me from the back of a car I was stuck behind at some roadworks in Waltham. I waved back of course. This only seemed to encourage them and I was quite relieved when the lights changed and they pulled away.

Terrific run out, 90.56 miles, 261 this month which gives me a decent chance of 300 before March. Really looking forward to going further on that route, on a longer and warmer day.

https://www.strava.com/activities/6737414282

Personally, I'd be happy doing 90 miles in a week let alone in one ride - although I am now over a 100 miles for this week thanks to a couple of days off work.

Today's ride was only my third forty miler of the year and it looks like I'll end February 500 miles down on last year. Still, it's quality, not quantity that counts, that's what I tell myself anyway.

It was a nice dry day thankfully, but there was still a stiff breeze, but it had swung round to a southerly direction from a westerly so the segments where I was flying yesterday were down amongst the also rodes today. Still the sunshine had brought the cyclists out today, there were one or two who looked like they had just emerged into the world of real cycling from the Zwifting one as there were one or two very shiny posh looking bikes out there, probably why I was well down today's leaderboard on the climb out of Cutthorpe.

There's too many roadworks round these here parts, I encountered an unexpected set in Holymoorside. I ended up doing what drivists accuse all cyclists of doing - cycling through a red light. It looked very much as if they were stuck on red - and I did follow a Royal Mail van through, so the drivists started it. Whilst waiting at the lights a cycling couple turned up behind me and we exchanged pleasantries, I saw them again up on Beeley Moor as I was doing my refuelling lap round the Beeley Triangle. Looking at Strava I think it was Mark and Mad Dog Walsham. Mark was a pro for the Raleigh cycling team back in the day and Mad Dog's his missus, so she'll be the reason I beat them up Harewood Road easily...

Managed to get out for the first time in 3 weeks. A meagre 16 miles but it blew the cobwebs away and hopefully get me back on track. Still annoyingly had to slow for two instances of horse passing.

Same route today and feel better for it. Still one bloody horse though, back to normal distances again on the next rides.

Today's mission was simple, to do 40 miles and get the February distance total over 300. The wind was blowing from the south-east, so even though I did the eastbound route on Friday I thought I'd do the first 20 miles or so again. It's not as if I do it that often.

However I thought I'd go up through Coleorton and Peggs Green rather than Coalville and Thringstone. The latter route is more efficient in terms of distance and elevation but it's nice to change things up a bit.

I was annoyed that I couldn't use my usual wee stop, a few metres off the road at the edge of Prestwold Park. Some sort of event was taking place there and people were walking to and fro near my cosy little secluded spot.

I'd done just less than 19 miles when I decided to turn back. I thought I'd make up the distance by detouring through Long Whatton and Diseworth on the way back. This was a bit unfortunate in one respect because it meant that I had a very unwelcome headwind coming down Top Brand. Wasn't sure I'd quite be back on 40 miles (I think I would have been, looking at the map) so I added a bit of distance by detouring along Breedon Lane.

Beautiful day today. I took my phone out to take a pic of Boardman II, resplendent in the afternoon sunshine near when I stopped near Cotes. Alas, I was distracted by a WhatsApp message and it looks like I didn't. Or at least I can't find a pic from today on my phone.

Back on 40.94 miles, that's 302 this month.

https://www.strava.com/activities/6747060657

Very handy to have a few days of good weather at the end of the month. It's been a pretty successful cycling weekend; I got the Feb Fondo in, got the distance tally over 300 miles and ticked off the last two neighbouring counties.

Two nice days in a row - if still a bit breezy - meant I hit the roads for the first Sunday in four weeks! Don't think I've ever had such a Sundayless run since I took up cycling again back in 2016. Let's hope the weather settles down a bit now.

I got another 40 miler in to take me over 200 miles for February and 146 of those were this week! I also got in two climbs I've never done before. The Cordwell Valley from Barlow has a plethora of climbs up either side of it - all with some degree of "interest" - and these had just passed me by. I'd been down one before, but never up it so I took the plunge today. The first one I took a wrong turning on, but it was no bother to get back to the start again, in fact it was a good mistake to make as otherwise I'd have missed getting to 40 miles. I'd say this was the better of the climbs, as it is more up and down and windy. The second was straighter, all of a similar steepness and covered in thick mud and big stones washed out of the fields, but what doesn't kill s only makes us stronger.

https://www.strava.com/activities/6747931544/

Just had a random follow request on Strava. Accepted it, and:

(http://truth.justdied.com/images/stravang.jpg)

SPAM on Strava, that's a first. I did the "report fake profile" thing.

Quote from: Slim on February 27, 2022, 10:47:11 PMJust had a random follow request on Strava. Accepted it, and:

(http://truth.justdied.com/images/stravang.jpg)

SPAM on Strava, that's a first. I did the "report fake profile" thing.

Hottie! Get a tandem

Dry day, decently bright though not quite sunny, but - a cold wind was blowing. Since it's likely to rain for the next few days, I thought I'd leave early and get the March campaign underway.

I decided on a Twycross Bypasser; hadn't been along Orton Lane for a while. I did the longish version going into Warton. Since I was suffering slightly in a cold headwind I decided, once I got to Sheepy, that I'd come home the quickest way from there. The trouble is, I never know which way that is. I came back through Twycross, Congerstone, Shackerstone, Swepstone and Ibstock anyway.

(http://bikediary.uk/images/220301bike.jpg)

I bonked near Twycross. Hadn't eaten that much today, I guess. But two mini pork pies soon sorted that out.

I saw a large, grey bird near Shackerstone. At first I thought it was a pigeon, but it was flying along the ground along the side of the road in front of me, in a most un-pigeonlike manner. Then it just cleared the hedge on the opposite side and swooped down over the field again. I'm pretty sure it was an owl.

33.98 miles.

https://www.strava.com/activities/6758244853

Glorious day in Ayr today so took a route up n over the Carrick Hills... done in a car a few times .. first time on the bike ... fantastic views over to Arran and Firth of Clyde ... eventually  circuit route back down onto the sea front and out to the pier and home

23 miles.. just great

It was still blowy again today, but David Coverdale had been out and changed the Westerly to a Northwind. Still, it made a change to be slowed down in different places :)

Thanks to the wind change I almost broke 17 minutes on the Harewood Road climb, just two minutes off my best. On my good bike and with a tailwind I stand a chance of breaking 15 minutes this year - although looking at the cracks appearing in the road it won't be long before it joins the long list of Derbyshire roads closed by land slippage. :(

That's a 40 mile ride start for March, hopefully the weekends will stay fine now.

https://www.strava.com/activities/6776233270

Beautiful day in Ireland too. Bright sunshine not much wind to begin with although it did pick up a little later. Met up with 3 other Trim wheelers and a newcomer. We did a gentle 20k loop not to scare her off and then the same loop again without her in reverse with a slightly quicker pace.  Wind had picked up again by then but nothing like it had been on every other time I've been out this year

I was going to go out tomorrow rather than today but my dhb shorts arrived from Wiggle, and I thought I'd brave the cold north wind and try them out. I thought I'd do the eastbound route for 20 miles or so then come back. Conditions didn't really seem to suggest a longer ride than that.

The eastbound route is actually a bit north-east-ish, at least as far as Eastwell. So actually I had a blend of sidewind and headwind to contend with and it had become a bit of a struggle after 20-odd miles. As I stood at the entrance to a garden furniture depot to the east of Six Hills, contemplating the famous Loughborough skyline in the distance and munching a cheese & onion pasty, a light rain started to descend. I did think I should probably turn for home, at this point. But Eastwell (my default Fondo endpoint) was only six miles away so I pressed on.

The rain got a bit heavier. Not a lot of fun propelling yourself uphill with a wind blowing stinging cold rain in your face. But - I was a lot more comfortable after turning back at the Eastwell crossroads, especially when the rain stopped.

Stopped to buy provisions at Burton on the Wolds on the way back and had a sandwich and doped myself with a Malteser bar at the log near Cotes, where I took this pic.

(http://bikediary.uk/images/220305bike.jpg)

The rain started up again shortly after this, but it was light and only lasted 15 minutes or so.

Mostly listened to footy on 5 Live.

I passed a young man deploying a hazard warning triangle behind his white BMW near Six Hills as I pedalled east, and he was still there sitting in his car nearly two hours later on the way back. Waiting for the AA or similar, I assume. Poor lad.

Annoyingly my Garmin bike computer only lasted five hours on its charge, and I had to track the last 12 miles or so using a GPS app on my phone.

The shorts fit well and are very comfy. I'll probably save them for longer rides.

Back on 62.37 miles, dead on sunset. Lovely sunset as well with the tall trees in the village silhouetted in front of a glowing orange sky. Good timing.

Pretty tough one that, at least in parts, but ultimately satisfying. Pleased to have got the March Fondo in early.

https://www.strava.com/activities/6778969870

Another beautiful day in Ayr so did the reverse circuit from yesterday with a few little changes.... Up thru Belleisle and Rozelle Parks out to the cycle path which pretty much follows the main A77 out to the small village of Minishant which is where I found a nice connecting road up to the single path track taking me up to the Carrick Hills..  back down to join the Route 7 cycle path and into Burns Land and back out to the seafront and Pier then home

Was hoping for more but turned in 21 miles....

I was hoping for my first 50 miler of the year today, but the slow start to the year means my legs just don't feel up to it. Once again the wind didn't help either, not as strong as it has been, but a chilly Easterly.

I got to 45 miles though, making it my longest ride of the year so far and with 3,488ft of ascent my climbingest ride of the year too - even though I only took in one classified climb. It's the hills of the North.

https://www.strava.com/activities/6783731022/

Another sunshiney day so back out again... this time on the coastal route..out towards Dunure and dropping into Maybole....a closed road forced me into a back road I knew nothing about but eventually brought me out just south of the village of Minishant.. where I picked up a part of the route from yesterday and dropped into Alloway and past Burns Cottage to a cycle path next to the river and then onto the seafront...coastal route was pretty hilly and riding into the wind so was absolutely knackered.. called it a day as had a Thai curry to make so headed home

23 miles but it felt longer....

Beautifully bone dry, sunny afternoon in the East Midlands. I left work reasonably early and set off on the southbound route. A Twycrosser wouldn't have worked out too well with the wind coming from the east.

I wanted to do about 30 miles, but I got as far as Kirkby Mallory before I decided I'd had enough. I'd wrapped up a layer or two lighter than of late, and I definitely shouldn't have. Bloody cold out there. I had a brief incursion into the grounds of the race track (Mallory Park, of course), which I hadn't done before. Then I turned back for home.

I briefly gave some consideration to the idea of coming back via Sutton and Bosworth, but I assumed I'd regret it because it would take longer. Actually looking at the map on Strava it would probably have been quicker.

Back on 26.34 miles which takes me to 123 done this month.

I trialled the new AA-powered bike light I bought a week or so ago and while the light itself works nicely, the mount it comes with is rubbish. It's really cheap plastic and it was impossible to tighten it enough to stay in one place. I suppose I'll end up affixing it to the bike with a plastic tie, or quite possibly it will end up in one of several crates of barely-used retail therapy detritus in the garage.

The new phone my company has sent me is bigger and heavier than the one I smacked against the unforgiving tarmac of the A5132, so I've reverted to an older one. Unfortunately the old one doesn't take photos nearly as well as the last one, and I was unable to capture the majesty of the sunset on the way back.

So I CGI-ed one in. I hope you like it.

(http://bikediary.uk/images/220307bike.jpg)

https://www.strava.com/activities/6788514731

What catches my eye is a wonderful example of a telegraph pole (Distribution Point 13?) supporting an element of the UK's fixed-line telecommunications infrastructure maintained by the hard-working members of Openreach Ltd, a company wholly owned by the superbly efficient and successfull BT plc
Makes me very proud  :)

Quote from: Slim on March 05, 2022, 10:51:07 PM(http://bikediary.uk/images/220305bike.jpg)

What we need is a picture of Slim's bike by the side of the road propped up against a burnt out russian tank.  ;D

Was a bit undecided about going out today..... weather was starting to close in..windy rainy still a bit of brightness but decided what the hell....glad I did... obviously rubbish weather keeps the walkers/dog walkers indoors so less obstacles for me to overcome... intention was going to get to Dunure on the coast do a circuit of that and see where the force would take me......quick change of plan 3 miles in and decided to try the Carrick Hills again... a bit of battle climbing up but worth it on the descent... reaching the heady speeds of 27 miles an hour.. took a new route off the hills thru the little village of Knockdon which I'd. never heard of.. again a nice freewheeling exit from that village down to the main road where I joined up with earlier routes thru Minishant/Alloway/Seafront and Pier....Weather was now pretty nasty by this time so quick route home into a very strong headwind

20 miles..very enjoyable

Sunny day. Got out of work early and - since a moderate wind was coming from the south - decided I'd do 20 or so miles of the southbound route, then come back. Pretty much the same thing I did on Monday, except that I went further.

I got as far as Broughton Astley. But instead of turning for home and coming back the same way, on a whim I took a right turn. I thought I'd give myself a bit of an adventure, and try to navigate home along unfamiliar roads.

A couple of hundred yards later I saw another right turn signposted to Stoney Stanton, so I took that. All this did was to loop me back onto the original route within about half a mile. Not much of an adventure then but I did notice a decent shop and a petrol station along the way. Might be handy for supplies on a longer ride in future.

The return journey, with a tailwind, was really very pleasant except for 15 minutes of rain. I listened mostly to 5 Live, and speculation about Chelsea football club. It was a mild evening, so at least my own assets weren't frozen. Really nice to be out after dark without feeling cold.

Took this pic on the bridge over the M69.

(http://bikediary.uk/images/220310bike.jpg)

Back on 42.38 miles. 165 miles this month, happy with that 10 days in.

https://www.strava.com/activities/6804176756

Big News. Assuming Mrs Miller lets me (she has bloody covid!) Im going cycling outside tomorrow!

I have some new Ale shorts (big reductions at Wiggle at the moment, and they are lovely), a new Lezyne mini pump in case of punctures, and no excuses. Weather looks set fair as well

Just had a look on Wiggle and they have no less than 18 Lezyne hand pumps!  ???

I already have six or seven of various different sizes. My favourite is a very light and usable Boardman-branded one that came with the second Boardman. Nice combination of reliable and very light, although some of my other pumps would get the job done quicker.

25 miles yesterday.. Ayrshire coast road again to Dunure  which boasts on its welcome sign Outlander filming location...nice little village with small harbour..... so a quick tour of that then back up onto main road and back the way I came then turning off for another trip up and over the Carrick Hills then picking up earlier routes and home

Rather blowy and I was on call, but I wanted to do about 40. The wind was blowing from the south so I thought I'd do a chunk of the eastbound route. But to change things up a bit I thought I'd go a different way over the first 10 miles or so - through Coalville, then up through Shepshed. I knew this would add about 200 ft of climbing for about the same distance.

Unfortunately I was so engrossed in the footy chat on 5 Live that I completely forgot what I'd planned to do, and pursued the usual route. I realised what I'd done at Whitwick and tracked back and onto the intended route, using the Coalville bypass as a short cut to get there.

It was nice to do something different for a change but the road up through Shepshed was like a rollercoaster of hills. I'd been along there in a car many times years ago, but obviously I'd forgotten it. There's a particularly buttock-clenching feature which, when I used to negotiate it in a car years ago, I termed The Devil's Anus, in homage to a similar feature near Hartlepool known to locals as "The Devil's Elbow" - a fast, sharp dip that cleverly uses gravity to propel your vehicle round a curving bend like a slingshot.

The other annoying thing is that when you come into Shepshed there are a couple of roundabouts coming downhill that rob momentum when you're forced to put the anchors on.

Nice view on the high ground along there, though.

(http://bikediary.uk/images/220312bike.jpg)

I'd planned to go at least as far as the petrol station at Burton on the Wolds because I hadn't brought enough food, but I decided I'd had enough of the headwind before I got as far as Prestwold Park. Additionally I was starting to feel nervous about being too far from base while on call, so I opted to turn back. I knew I'd only end up with about 36 miles if I came back the usual way from there, but a detour via Long Whatton would add a few miles and allow me to refuel at the village shop there.

I had a very pleasant lunch sitting outside said village shop. An egg mayonnaise sandwich, a Twix and a packet of barbecue flavour crisps. Not in that order. I also gulped down a small can of Red Bull.

The chain came off the front chain rings a few miles later which would have been merely a minor inconvenience if I'd had some disposable gloves in the saddle pack, but I didn't. I have two boxes of the things in the garage. I got my hands filthy, of course. But I wiped the worst of it off on the grass at the side of the road.

I suspect the X needs a new chain. It's been performing phantom gear changes recently, as well.

I did get a call from work about 8 miles from home, but whatever the problem had been it had sorted itself out by the time I got back. Probably a network glitch.

I tried the coffee shop at Normanton on Soar on the way out. I carefully pedalled the bike round the back of the community centre there to find it closed. I think it's only open in the mornings. But it looks a nice little place with benches outside. Less than 12 miles from home so not that useful but might be a pleasant diversion on a casual ride.

Mild again today. Mostly sunny, as well. Wore my helmet for a change.

Back on 37.78 miles, a bit less than I wanted but that'll do. 203 done this month.

https://www.strava.com/activities/6813871805
 

Didn't get out until this afternoon today, as little brother had arranged a conference call to discuss where we're at on the road to getting probate on our dad's estate. But that was OK as there's plenty of daylight in the afternoon now. Still plenty of wind too.

Today was a slight variation on my Saturday morning ride in that I dropped down to Baslow roundabout to get another hill in. I like hills. NOT! But they're their so ride them. Slowly.

Well, not that slowly, I'm not too bad for an old bloke but EF Procycling's James Shaw had been out and about today and he was nearly five minutes quicker than me up the Harewood Road climb. Will he be as good when he gets to my age though? Will he be burnt out, me I didn't start serious cycling into my 50s and I'm still getting better - or not that much worse.

It appears that the Curlew are back, well at least on is, I heard it's plaintive call up on East Moor and turned my head to see it flying by. I didn't see any deer like I did last week. Nor did I see chef Mark Aisthorpe swanning around outside the Bull's Head in Holymoorside, I thought he might have been after his appearance on this week's Great British Menu, but no.

Another 45 miles done today with 3,500 feet of elevation gain, but I still don't feel fully into the groove yet.

https://www.strava.com/activities/6813603246/

And another 45 miler today. Slightly longer than last Sunday's and with more climbing too. So, the numbers appear to be getting better, but I feel absolutely knackered :( Perhaps I shouldn't have stuck the third categorised climb in Yesterday. Funnily enough I only did one categorised climb today, yet the ride over had more elevation gain. It's nicely hilly in these here parts  :)  :(

No exotic bird or animal life out today. Very few cyclists either, perhaps yet another windy day put them off. Plenty of people who drive like twats out though. Can't stand those who come by you giving a foot of space and then they drive with their tyres rubbing against the kerb. What is in their heads?

https://www.strava.com/activities/6819419995

Went out on Saturday for a spin with the small group I've been cycling with for the last 6 or 7 years. A mix of men and women most of the spins are very gentle. But for a 5k segment on Saturday we decided to ride at our max between Ballivor and Kildalkey. I had to slow down a couple of times so was happy enough to have averaged 27km/h and manage my fastest time for that segment. Its still early in the season so may try that again a few times and see how I improve (or not) with more miles in the legs.

Due to the wife's operation she will not be able to ride for another four weeks. So, for the first time in a couple of years, I joined my two buddies for a ride out on Sunday morning. Wet roads meant it was the mtb. Pete and Adrian were on their hybrids with much larger wheels so I was doing extra work (or so it seemed). Coped quite well with a fairly steady pace. No computer/phone between us so it was a guess as to distance but we agreed we must have gone around 28 miles in just over two hours. managed to keep warm, just a few spots of rain. Legs a bit tired later but looking forward to doing it again next week. Fingers crossed we will be able to take the road bikes out.

Nice cycling weather was promised so I booked the afternoon off. A light wind was blowing from the south-east and the sun was supposed to shine most of the day. I wanted to do about 80 to get the 2022 distance score into four figures and the eastbound route was the obvious choice. 40 miles would take me just beyond Buckminster, to the border with Lincolnshire.

I was a little tired when I woke up this morning because I'd had a minor work incident to deal with at 0400, and although it only took 15 minutes, I didn't sleep properly after that.

Nonetheless - I set off at about 11:20, undeterred. Very pleasant out there although actually the sun went in a few times. But conditions were consistently bright.

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I'd brought a cheese & onion pasty, a croissant, a white chocolate cookie, banana-flavoured milk and some toffees with me but I stopped and bought more at the deli at Waltham, after about 34 miles. A flapjack (which I didn't touch in the end) and a cornish pasty (which I ate at a nearby bench). And a can of pop.

Was slightly nervous on the way back after 5pm because I was on call and I didn't get back until 7:15pm, but I didn't get a call.

I started a new audiobook, a Philip K Dick novel called The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch which I've never read before. Written in 1965, but set in 2016, when mankind has colonised several of the other planets and moons in the solar system.

I find Philip Dick a bit of a mixed bag. I read The Man In The High Castle in the late 80s and was blown away by it, one of the best books I've ever read. Some of his short stories are pure genius.

This one though, although extraordinarily imaginative hadn't really grabbed me by the first three chapters. I must say though the guy who narrates the audiobook gives a terrific acting performance when voicing the various different characters - he really gives them each a distinctive personality.

Still a bit of light at 6:45 this evening and since the last few miles are mostly well lit (through Thringstone and Coalville), I made do with my little strappy blinker and didn't bother getting the proper front light out.

Back on 80.36 miles, 283 this month and 1001 this year. Nothing new or adventurous, but a really nice run out nonetheless.

https://www.strava.com/activities/6829660021

Rain all day yesterday but the roads had dried up nicely by this afternoon. I got round to lubing the Tricross earlier in the week so I took it out today. I wanted to do about 35 miles. I did a pretty typical Twycross Bypasser, but it was getting a bit cold after dark so I came home a quicker way than I'd intended, along Gibbet Lane.

Back on 30.03 miles, 313 this month.

I had a bit of right knee pain after 10 miles or so, but I took it easy for a bit (I mean - I always do really, but even easier) and pleasingly, it wore off.

The forecast had promised sunshine from 5pm but it was cloudy until 5:40, and the Sun only came out for about 20 minutes. But it illuminated the full Moon beautifully. I love it when the Moon's clearly visible in bright sunlight, but it looked even better after dark - really clear, with all the features distinctly visible.

This was supposed to be a moody sunset pic. I miss my old phone.

(http://bikediary.uk/images/220317bike.jpg)

The Tricross might be heavy but there's something so reassuring and comfy about it. It rolls along very pleasantly.

Very nice run out, that.

https://www.strava.com/activities/6839857142

You know you are an old cyclist when you get the handle bar mirrors...... ;)

Not really, I used to have them when I was 15 :)

Important safety feature, much more so than a helmet.

Quote from: Slim on March 18, 2022, 10:39:02 AMNot really, I used to have them when I was 15 :)

Important safety feature, much more so than a helmet.

Can be used to see how many stitches you're likely to need  ;)

Thanks to CalMac ferries fucking up our trip to Arran we decided to seize the day and cycle out from Ayr to Troon.. a round trip of 22 ish miles all in all very relaxed and enjoyable.... Followed the national route 7 signs from Ayr seafront out to Prestwick past the airport then picked up a cycle route running next to  the main railway out to Royal Troon golf club then dropping onto Troon seafront and into the the town. Grabbed a superb toastie at a small cafe called the Drift and pleasant  conversation with a guy who was asking about our bikes etc....
Took pretty much exact route back home into a fairly strong head wind.. where upon we opened the bar and got stuck into some white/red wine respectively

All in all a very satisfying day. I never knew so many aircraft spotters hung about Prestwick airport...

Quote from: Fishy on March 18, 2022, 08:18:12 PMAll in all a very satisfying day. I never knew so many aircraft spotters hung about Prestwick airport...

Were there any planes to spot?

Many years ago - 1972 - we holidayed near Culzean Castle and had a trip to Prestwick Airport to do some plane spotting. Not one. They had a photocopier though and I bought a copy of Shoot! magazine...

I go past Teesside Airport a few times every year on my bike. Usually see a few people with binoculars and telephoto lenses but one day a year or two ago there were people with camper vans and tables parked on the grass. Lovely day out.

Quote from: Nickslikk2112 on March 18, 2022, 09:24:57 PM

Quote from: Fishy on March 18, 2022, 08:18:12 PMAll in all a very satisfying day. I never knew so many aircraft spotters hung about Prestwick airport...

Were there any planes to spot?

They were getting very excited about a private jet that landed as we were going by.. I asked one of the blokes if it was anyone special.. he said no...

On the way back from Troon saw a 747 Cargo plane coming into land.. very impressive..

In my younger days I was a train spotter....old trains good new trains utter shit...

Oh yes, the good old days of planes. Forget your 707s, you might get a Boeing 720B (my first flight was on a 720B) or even a Convair Coronado, my memory says I saw a Swissair Coronado when my dad took us down to Heathrow for a day of plane spotting  :) He took us to Manchester to see the first 747 land there. I had an exciting childhood...

Back to the cycling. I thought I might get out in the shorts today, nice and sunny, forecasted temperatures not too bad, but by 'eck there was chill Easterly, so full length tights were the order of the day. Again.

What with one thing and another I didn't get out until the afternoon today, but that gave me a bit more time so I was able to get out for 50 miler of the year. I'm way behind on where I normally am, but hopefully the weather will settle down a bit now. No exciting wildlife to mention, apart from a Raven on a drystone wall eyeballing me as I rode slowly uphill into a chill Easterly.

https://www.strava.com/activities/6849729916/

First road bike ride of the year this morning. Clocked up 37 miles at a very pedestrian pace. Weather was great but chilly wind from the east. De-greased and lubed the chain and cassette yesterday, gear changes were slick and positive. The Park chain cleaner is the best cycling accessory I've ever bought!
My mate had a lovely bike built for him a couple of years back which, because I stopped riding with him when Covid hit, I saw for the first time today. Carbon Trek frame with Ultegra DI (electric) shifters. It's a beauty, ludicrously light. Very jealous. Can't see me changing the Giant anytime soon though, not when it's riding so well. Still looks great too, gets a wipe-down after every outing.
Went for thin tights over shorts, two top layers, overshoes and Sealskin gloves. Just about right but a bit cold after stopping for an energy bar. Looking forward to warmer weather and getting the legs out.

Back on the Ayr to Troon National 7 route again with the Mrs.. another sunshiney day with a pretty cold breeze blowing.. decided @Troon to follow a local cycle network route further on to Barassie which lead us nicely down to its seafront.. glorious views of Arran and Alisa Craig....bit of a head wind heading home via Troon and the national 7 route... no plane spotters today at Prestwick....

24 miles round trip with a stop in Troon for a small cone 99...

And out again today. Sunny again too and the breeze actually dropped to around 10mph which is about as calm as it's been this year. It was a bit chill though coming from the East, by the end of my ride I could have done with my shoe covers and a base layer on.

Could probably have done with putting a bit more effort in to warm me up, but it was supposed to be an easy day today so I just pootled along. Same average speed as yesterday, but less elevation gain involved and flatter rises too. 42.7 miles gives me 93 for the weekend. That'll do.

https://www.strava.com/activities/6855445797

I did it! Went out!

It was lovely, heart was fine, head was fine, weather was beautiful. 51 miles at 18.4mph so not too bad for the first time in forever

First 16 miles straight into quite a stiff easterly breeze, so really feeling it after about 20 miles, but battled on.

Bike seemed in decent order too, nothing rattling or clunking

Quote from: Jonners on March 21, 2022, 08:42:52 AMI did it! Went out!

It was lovely, heart was fine, head was fine, weather was beautiful. 51 miles at 18.4mph so not too bad for the first time in forever

First 16 miles straight into quite a stiff easterly breeze, so really feeling it after about 20 miles, but battled on.

Bike seemed in decent order too, nothing rattling or clunking

Decent pace over that distance. I'd be blowing out my arse - well done!

Didn't think I'd get round to it so soon, but since I'd decided to go for a longish ride tomorrow rather than today I used the pleasant weather to erect my maintenance stand in the sunshine outside the garage door, attach the Planet X to it and fit a new chain.

First however, I dismantled the jockey assembly and removed the wheels to give them a good clean. Got to admit, they were gross. A bit of patience, an old rag and some GT85.

During my lunch break today I took advantage of the nice weather to fit a new inner tube and two new tyres onto Boardman II. Beautiful day, sunny, light winds and easily warm enough for exposed legs so I left work early and took the new tyres (and inner tube) for a spin.

Normally I wouldn't do more than 25 or so with a new component, but I wanted to do at least 40 and I took the risk. I thought I might even do a Fondo - but probably not, since the weather looks good on Saturday as well when I'll have more time for a long ride.

(http://bikediary.uk/images/220324.jpg)

I did the southbound route. Kept going south as far as Dunton Bassett. I'd usually continue on to Gilmorton from there, but since I was about to turn back I took a different turn, to go exploring a little. This took me to a village called Ashby Magna. From there, rather than turning back to come the same way, I followed a sign back to Dunton Bassett which looped me back round to the usual route after about a mile.

Really nice run out. Nice to have the old legs out again. I did take a pair of tights in my backpack and was tempted to put them on when the temperature dropped after sunset. I didn't bother. But interestingly I found myself pedalling back into warmer air, now and then. The dip between Ibstock and Ravenstone though was like being lowered into ice water.

Back on 48.97 miles.

https://www.strava.com/activities/6877352086

I do think the second Boardman looks better with plain black tyres.

I'm pissed off that the weather's bloody lovely - warm, dry, sunny, no wind - and I'm still suffering from COVID  >:( Just my bloody luck.

At least you can sit in the garden with a beer or two :)

Not even got any beer in the house...

recovery days nick

Doing my Market Bosworth loop tomorrow, already excited about riding through Barton in the Beans, my favourite place name in the world

Carrick hills run again.. which gets me up to 500 miles since the New Year
Another glorious day....

A lovely day was forecast, with plenty of sunshine and a light wind from the east. The plan was to do at least a fondo, but possibly 100 if I got up early enough.

I did get up at 0730, and I set off at 0805 on the Cannondale. I'd decided to do the first 50 miles of the Norfolk route, then come back. And that's pretty much what I did, although I went slightly further than 50 miles.

Just lovely out there. I took a fleece and a pair of tights in my backpack because I assumed it would be cooler later but I didn't need them. In the end I was a bit annoyed with myself for bringing them. Glad I was able to top up my tan lines a bit.

As usual I stopped for a feast at the village shop at Buckminster, ideally situated 40 miles from home.

Listened to more of my audiobook, The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch. Must admit it did draw me in a little though more because I was interested in the fantasy universe in which the story takes place than the story itself, which still feels a bit directionless. Also listened to footy chat on 5 Live, Gilles Peterson on 6 Music and a bit of the England game on Talk Sport.

Really a glorious run out. I love that part of the world east of Eastwell. Quite pleased as well that I managed to navigate the 50 miles without recourse to Google Maps, although I've done the first 31 many times.

(http://bikediary.uk/images/220326bike.jpg)

Lots of pheasant out at the moment. I saw a very recently expired one on the road at Stonesby, but a public-spirited chap out walking a dog thoughtfully removed it from the road and threw it into the hedge at the side of the road as I was passing. I think it had been hit by a car. Very quick, I'm sure.

https://www.strava.com/activities/6887232446

That was a breeze. Pick a warm day and eat like a horse. That's the key to doing long rides without wearing yourself out.

Back half an hour before sunset, on 101.30 miles. 464 this month, pretty good going for a March and 1182 this year.

The only pheasant I've seen today have been in my back garden. I need to get out on the bike, but I've not even had it in me to clean and lube the chain. Maybe things will start to come good in April.

Had a lot on recently but managed to get the pale white legs out this weekend.

Did my Bosworth ride, longest ride since heart troubles last year.
Time in the saddle is a massive thing when you have been use dto doing hour long zwift sessions.

Felt like a first time cyclist again, slightly sore neck, shoulders etc

But the roads, heavens above some of them are shit! My wrists elbows and arse at the end were sore, god knows what its doing to my rims and tyres

Even with the brighter evenings I think that's March done. Bike has gone in for a service (brake pads and handlebar tape, gear check etc) so I'm not sure when I'll get it back. Steady progress has seen me get to 407kms for the year with 175 of those in March. (Yes I know Slim virtually managed my whole monthly total with one trip but we are where we are!)

Hoping for at least 250kms in April but we'll see how we get on.

2 idiot drivers on the spin on Saturday.  Both thought they could see round corners and knew better than me that they could go past even though I was signalling for them not to do so.  Both forced the cars I could see coming to brake to avoid a collision. Mindless!

Beautiful day with very little wind to speak of made it a very pleasant trip

Yesterday evening would have been better for cycling - warmer and less windy - but I felt tired all day, partly I think due to the change to BST - and I didn't bother. But I wanted to test ride the X since I'd replaced the chain and had the jockey wheel assembly in bits. Didn't have that much time after work today but a Twycrosser seemed in order.

(http://bikediary.uk/images/220329bike.jpg)

Mostly cloudy but the sun did come out now and then. I wrapped up warm and was comfortable. The bike's working fine though some of the higher gear changes felt a bit rough. I wonder if the rear gear cable's fraying? Will have a close look. Actually it's not that long since I changed it, it won't be that.

26.93 miles, pleasant run out. 490 done this month and if I do another 25 on Thursday, I believe that'll be a March Personal Best.

Very nice to be putting the bike away in daylight.

https://www.strava.com/activities/6903056873

Was thinking of going out to tip the monthly total over the 500 mark before April kicks in tomorrow, but it's snowing thick and fast at the moment! And cold out there.

Interesting ride out earlier.. did the Carrick Hills route again dropping into the village of Minishant and instead went south this time turning left onto the Straiton Road then turning left at the crossroads to head into Dalrymple.. it was then I could see what I thought was sheets of rain heading my way... coming up the big hill out of Dalrymple the clouds opened with what appeared to be hail.. and a nasty head wind as well....10/15 mins of sheer misery cycling thru that.... Picked up the National Route 7 back into Ayr with now blue skies and sunshine so stayed on the seafront out to the pier and then home
24 miles and soaked to the core....
Road kill count..2 very dead pheasants...

Went out for my first ride in a fortnight today, thanks to COVID. Bloody Hell, it's taken a lot out of me. I'd managed to get back to 50 mile rides and now I'm doing half that and feeling it. The flat was OK but as soon as the road went uphill that was it. I looked at one uphill segment on Strava and my times hade been coming down consistently all year, now I'm back to the beginning of January times and there wasn't even a headwind today...

Didn't manage a full hill climb today, although I got further than I intended, but I managed to reach pub car parks to turn round in - and collapse over my handlebars for a bit, not done that in years. The inside of my lungs felt like they were being toasted, a strange sensation. I suppose it's only onwards and upwards from here...

https://www.strava.com/activities/6921065245/

Bound to take a while to get your strength back, glad you're out and about again. Take it easy for a bit!

On the Carrick Hills circuit again.. lovely sunshine but a biting cold wind.. did a couple of variations which put the mileage up to 29....
No roadkill this time but some nice little lambs in the fields and a bunny rabbit on cycle route 7....
However a dullard dog owner with 3 sausage dogs who I wish were roadkill... fucking idiot...

Quote from: Nickslikk2112 on April 02, 2022, 09:29:00 PMWent out for my first ride in a fortnight today, thanks to COVID. Bloody Hell, it's taken a lot out of me. I'd managed to get back to 50 mile rides and now I'm doing half that and feeling it. The flat was OK but as soon as the road went uphill that was it. I looked at one uphill segment on Strava and my times hade been coming down consistently all year, now I'm back to the beginning of January times and there wasn't even a headwind today...

Didn't manage a full hill climb today, although I got further than I intended, but I managed to reach pub car parks to turn round in - and collapse over my handlebars for a bit, not done that in years. The inside of my lungs felt like they were being toasted, a strange sensation. I suppose it's only onwards and upwards from here...

https://www.strava.com/activities/6921065245/

Take in the views and enjoy it for a bit while you recover.

Quote from: Nick on April 03, 2022, 03:15:36 PM

Quote from: Nickslikk2112 on April 02, 2022, 09:29:00 PMWent out for my first ride in a fortnight today, thanks to COVID. Bloody Hell, it's taken a lot out of me. I'd managed to get back to 50 mile rides and now I'm doing half that and feeling it. The flat was OK but as soon as the road went uphill that was it. I looked at one uphill segment on Strava and my times hade been coming down consistently all year, now I'm back to the beginning of January times and there wasn't even a headwind today...

Didn't manage a full hill climb today, although I got further than I intended, but I managed to reach pub car parks to turn round in - and collapse over my handlebars for a bit, not done that in years. The inside of my lungs felt like they were being toasted, a strange sensation. I suppose it's only onwards and upwards from here...

https://www.strava.com/activities/6921065245/

Take in the views and enjoy it for a bit while you recover.

100%. Don't worry too much about times and speeds. Just enjoy the fact that you are out there and cycling.

Wasn't sure it was a great day for cycling - we had a bit of snow round these parts yesterday and I expected conditions to be a bit cold, as well as windy. But I only had time for about 40 miles, or so I thought - so with a brisk wind coming from the west, I thought I'd go up to the Beloved A Road, then turn back for home after 20 miles.

However by the time I'd got to Derby Airfield after about 18 miles I'd decided to come back a different way, through Ticknall and Woodville. I reckoned this would add a couple of miles to get me up to the requisite 40, so I turned back there and then.

So nice to be cruising along the nicely surfaced flatness of the A5132 in the sunshine with a tailwind. I only wish there was more of it.

Rather than taking the usual road out of Ticknall I followed a sign to Woodville, on a whim. Woodville was on the way home anyway. All this did though was to loop round to my usual route after about a mile and a half. Not a very interesting detour and probably knocked a bit off the overall distance, as well.

Back on 39.49 miles. Nice run out except that I wrapped up too warm and was overheating a bit. The weather was nicer than expected. Taking my Union Jack dutt off helped a bit, but I wished I'd brought a backpack so I could remove a layer of clothing as well.

(http://bikediary.uk/images/220403bike.jpg)

I made a right dog's breakfast of recording the ride. I failed to press "resume" a couple of times after stopping, and another time I pressed "save" instead of "resume" so I split the track. Consequently I didn't know how many miles I'd done until I repaired the track and uploaded it.

https://www.strava.com/activities/6926661030

Received a WhatsApp from 'er indoors just I was arriving home, to say that she'd gone to a restaurant with one of her mates. Annoying because I'd kept the ride down to 40 miles because her right arm is in a plaster at the moment and I didn't want to leave her alone for too long. If I'd known, I'd have done the April Fondo. Would have been a pretty good day for it.

My new El Cheapo cycling shorts were fine.

A leisurely Carrick Hills climb with the mrs... then a nice stop over on the way home at the Secret Garden for some soup n carrot cake..

15 miles
Roadkill 2 pheasant....

Quote from: dom on April 03, 2022, 05:24:06 PM

Quote from: Nick on April 03, 2022, 03:15:36 PM

Quote from: Nickslikk2112 on April 02, 2022, 09:29:00 PMWent out for my first ride in a fortnight today, thanks to COVID. Bloody Hell, it's taken a lot out of me. I'd managed to get back to 50 mile rides and now I'm doing half that and feeling it. The flat was OK but as soon as the road went uphill that was it. I looked at one uphill segment on Strava and my times hade been coming down consistently all year, now I'm back to the beginning of January times and there wasn't even a headwind today...

Didn't manage a full hill climb today, although I got further than I intended, but I managed to reach pub car parks to turn round in - and collapse over my handlebars for a bit, not done that in years. The inside of my lungs felt like they were being toasted, a strange sensation. I suppose it's only onwards and upwards from here...

https://www.strava.com/activities/6921065245/

Take in the views and enjoy it for a bit while you recover.

100%. Don't worry too much about times and speeds. Just enjoy the fact that you are out there and cycling.

I'm just interested to see how much it's taken out of me. I never go full bore, but now it's just a case of getting there eventually. It felt a lot better today though, my old lungs felt more like what passes for normal, but the legs were toast today.

Saw someone with two Dachshunds today, oh how I'd love it if I found they'd been converted into Road Rissoles. Also saw a couple heading out onto the Moors with two dogs off the lead, not a good thing, a pregnant Ewe and its two unborn lambs were killed the other day not far away when a loose dog chased it out into the path of the van. There's a special circle of hell for these scumbags.

Taking things more steadily did allow me to get a better look at a bird which flew out in front of me and onto a roadside post, it was new one for me in the shape of a Reed Bunting. Over a year since a added a new bird to my tally.

Managed to up the distance to 32 miles today, much helped by a tailwind on the run in to home.

https://www.strava.com/activities/6926749143/

Another dry day. Finished work early and off I went. I wanted to do 40 or so and was thinking of doing a bit of the Dad's Army route, but it was very windy out there and I decided just to do a Twycross Bypasser. So I did, coming back along Bosworth Road and up through Carlton, Barton in the Beans and Newton Burgoland - which I hadn't done for a while. The smell of animal wee from the farm at Barton is very pungent at the moment.

Very much a game of two halves. Most of a Twycrosser or Bypasser takes place to the west of chez moi so I had a shocker of a headwind to cope with on the first half. But the Tricross rolled along very nicely in the second half with the wind behind me.

Stopped to lean the bike against the public library at Burgoland and take this pic. Nice to see the England flag fluttering in the homeward direction.

(http://bikediary.uk/images/220405bike.jpg)

Back not long after sunset. I didn't need to bother with a front light, though I flicked the rear one on as a precaution for the last ten minutes.

Back on 36.49 miles.

https://www.strava.com/activities/6936876044

Carrick Hills route again with another variation... this time heading to Maybole once i came off the hills...past a few farms and in the middle of nowhere it seemed for a bit...... 5 miles later dropped into Maybole and then picked up the Dalrymple road again....

Sunshiney day but a really cold biting wind..so didn't bother with the seafront/pier route and just got quick home...

24 miles
Roadkill Count.. 3 pheasants and what looked like a starling..

I managed to leave work not long after 3pm with the intention of doing a Fondo. I was going to go up through Melbourne and west along the Beloved A Road in the time-honoured fashion. However I realised after a few miles that I hadn't brought a phone with me. I'm not on call at the moment but even so, I'd never hear the end of it if my lovely wife tried to call me. She does have a broken wrist at the moment so it's conceivable she'd need help with something.

I pressed on nonetheless, but started feeling a bit anxious after I got to Hatton. What would I do if my chain broke, with no phone and no debit card or cash, 20-something miles from home? So I turned back.

Very much a game of two halves, on the outward leg I got rained on quite a bit and had to contend with a headwind. Conditions dried up nicely for the homeward part and it was a very pleasant ride with a light wind behind me.

Back on 43.59 miles, 120 this month. Target is 350.

https://www.strava.com/activities/6950848184

Did the reverse Carrick Hills route yesterday starting off going thru Alloway then heading out to Maybole.... Some steep climbs but worth it for the views.... Another sunshine day with a pretty biting cold wind..still loads of annoying dog walkers to navigate past at times...
23 miles

Still on the post COVID comeback, but today I took the Summer Giant out, it's lighter than the Winter one so doesn't need as much effort to achieve the same speed :) Or it least it wouldn't if there wasn't such a bloody headwind going uphill >:(  I was barely quicker than last week. Still, I did manage a full ascent of Cutthorpe this week, that's a positive sign and going more slowly gave me plenty of time to listen to the evocative call of the Curlew. Didn't see any though.

Mind, I might not have seen them as I think I have Blepharitis and my right eyelid is all swollen, but a ride out seems to have brought it down, must be increased circulation levels.

So, I got in five more miles than last week, onwards and upwards!

https://www.strava.com/activities/6955375438/

Made it up to 40 miles today. Intended on just extending to 35 miles, but for me it wasn't an overly hilly route and the sun was out, so I made a bit of hay. Nice to feel a bit of warmth in the air, even if it wasn't that warm, but I got away without a base layer and no overshoes.

Still well down on where I normally am at this time of the year, but I feel like it might come back now, especially if the weather calms down. Be nice to average 18 mph on that sort of ride rather than today's 16.

https://www.strava.com/activities/6961183590

Fitted a new seat post to the Cannondale yesterday so naturally, with a bit of time for cycling this afternoon, I was keen to try it. Had to make a minor adjustment after setting off (the saddle was a touch too high) but after that, it was very comfy indeed. I fitted a similar carbon seat post to the X and wasn't sure if it made a difference to the ride, but on the X it definitely did feel smoother.

It always amused me that the Cannondale didn't have a stitch of carbon fibre on it despite being my favourite bike, but I guess that's why it makes more of a difference now that it does.

Anyway I wanted to do about 40 miles and I did a longer version of the Twycross Bypasser. Along Fenn Lanes and through Shenton and Bosworth, then up through the villages. Hadn't done that for quite a while, a few months I think. Just checked, not since September according to Strava. Took this pic along Atterton Lane.

(http://bikediary.uk/images/220414bike.jpg)

Noticed more small birds around than of late - is that a Spring phenomenon? Curious how they like to fly across the road at an altitude of a few inches, sometimes. Catching insects, perhaps? I wonder if they ever like to see how high they can go? Wouldn't you?

The weather was almost perfect; nearly warm and very dry. A bit windy but not overly bothersome. Really a lovely run out.

39.20 miles.

https://www.strava.com/activities/6982439975

Quote from: Slim on April 15, 2022, 12:30:28 AMNoticed more small birds around than of late - is that a Spring phenomenon?

Mating season isn't it. They're all flying around looking for a bit of nookie, plus some of the Winter migrants are still getting together to fly back to their summer homes.

Managed my first evening ride of the year this week, thought I'd try putting a bit more effort in on Wednesday, didn't work. Thought I'd take it easy on Thursday, ended up putting a bit of effort in and doing OK.

Think I paid for it though today, was a bit of an effort at times, but I suppose that's to be expected after this year so far. It was nice to get out in the glorious warm spring sunshine in bib shorts and a short-sleeved jersey. Managed to get some work done on the tanlines, which were still quite well in evidence from last year.

Got a 38 miler in, which means I'm less than a thousand miles behind last year now!

https://www.strava.com/activities/6986535252/

Quote from: Nickslikk2112 on April 15, 2022, 08:08:44 PM

Quote from: Slim on April 15, 2022, 12:30:28 AMNoticed more small birds around than of late - is that a Spring phenomenon?

Mating season isn't it. They're all flying around looking for a bit of nookie, plus some of the Winter migrants are still getting together to fly back to their summer homes.

Managed my first evening ride of the year this week, thought I'd try putting a bit more effort in on Wednesday, didn't work. Thought I'd take it easy on Thursday, ended up putting a bit of effort in and doing OK.

Think I paid for it though today, was a bit of an effort at times, but I suppose that's to be expected after this year so far. It was nice to get out in the glorious warm spring sunshine in bib shorts and a short-sleeved jersey. Managed to get some work done on the tanlines, which were still quite well in evidence from last year.

Got a 38 miler in, which means I'm less than a thousand miles behind last year now!

https://www.strava.com/activities/6986535252/

Yes all that beautiful bird song, the dawn chorus, is essentially nothing but robins and blackbirds bragging about how big their todgers are 😂

Quote from: dom on April 15, 2022, 08:17:53 PM

Quote from: Nickslikk2112 on April 15, 2022, 08:08:44 PM

Quote from: Slim on April 15, 2022, 12:30:28 AMNoticed more small birds around than of late - is that a Spring phenomenon?

Mating season isn't it. They're all flying around looking for a bit of nookie, plus some of the Winter migrants are still getting together to fly back to their summer homes.

Managed my first evening ride of the year this week, thought I'd try putting a bit more effort in on Wednesday, didn't work. Thought I'd take it easy on Thursday, ended up putting a bit of effort in and doing OK.

Think I paid for it though today, was a bit of an effort at times, but I suppose that's to be expected after this year so far. It was nice to get out in the glorious warm spring sunshine in bib shorts and a short-sleeved jersey. Managed to get some work done on the tanlines, which were still quite well in evidence from last year.

Got a 38 miler in, which means I'm less than a thousand miles behind last year now!

https://www.strava.com/activities/6986535252/

Yes all that beautiful bird song, the dawn chorus, is essentially nothing but robins and blackbirds bragging about how big their todgers are 😂

Thankfully after we double glazed our house we couldn't hear the little buggers.

A beautiful warm, sunny day today. Unfortunately time constraints and the irritating matter of being on call meant I couldn't make the most of it, but I did want to do 40 or so.

With the wind coming from the south, I had the idea of doing the southbound route for 20 miles or so then coming back. But I went a slightly different way and missed a turn; I realised I'd done this when I found myself approaching Barton in the Beans. But I pressed on down through Bosworth and Sutton Cheney, with the idea of joining the southbound route at Kirkby Mallory - which should have been easy enough to navigate to from there.

(http://bikediary.uk/images/220416bike.jpg)

Unfortunately it wasn't - I thought it was a left turn along the A447 but it was a right. So I looped back to Cheney and decided to do something else. I went west along Fenn Lanes and did a reverse Twycrosser of sorts.

Stopped off at San Giovanni for an Old Fashioned.

(http://bikediary.uk/images/230416oldfash.jpg)

Very nice run out really, though I'd have loved to have done a longer ride. My inept navigation took me along some roads I haven't done very often. Happy to have given the S Works a run out as well, it hadn't been out of the garage since September.

I hadn't seen any discarded underwear on a bike ride for quite some time, but the drought is over - two pairs of women's knickers were sighted in the grass verge between Ibstock and Ravenstone, within  a few feet of each other. I suppose the improved weather must have something to do with it.

Back on 43.37 miles.

https://www.strava.com/activities/6992124225

I'm still on the old comeback trail and I think at the moment that 40 miles is the most I have in my legs for one ride. I've normally done a few Fondos by now, but they'll come - I hope.

Still, it was another nice day, managed to work up a bit of a sweat, even though I didn't see any discarded female underwear - hey, all the chicks round here don't wear any

Managed to get in two decent climbs today, just a bit slower than my best times for the year so far on them, but I'm now on one of the good bikes, so that just shows me how I've been knocked back. I'd say I'm about 10% down on where I was and reading an interview with a pro cyclist who's had COVID recently - and one whom I sometimes encounter when out and about - he say's he's about 105 down and he only had five days off the bike.

https://www.strava.com/activities/6992339019#

Congratulations to my mate Elisa Longo Borghini for winning Paris-Roubaix Femmes today. Not really a mate, but she'd high up the leader board on plenty of local Strava segments.

Cooler today, and a bit of a wind coming from the west. But I was relieved of oncall responsibilities at 0800 this morning, so today was set aside to do the April Fondo.

I planned the route last night; the idea was to go up through Coleorton and over Swarkestone Bridge then west along the A road until Sudbury, then go south to come back via what I might term the "legacy westbound route", which runs to the south of the one which has gained favour in recent years. I did that but took a different turn at Yoxall than I intended, and came back through Barton under Needwood and Coton in the Elms, rather than Alrewas (pronouced "or 'e was") and Croxall. Still a familiar westbound route, but a bit shorter.

(http://bikediary.uk/images/220418bike.jpg)

As I approached Measham though having done only 50 miles, I realised I was going to be about 5 miles short! I knew my navigation error would cut the route a bit shorter, but not that much. Turns out that I somehow made a stupid mistake on the route planner last night and got the track to double back on itself for a couple of miles.

Anyway I made up the requisite Fondo distance by going into Coalville and back.

Excellent day out on the bike, nice to do one of the old westbound routes again, even if only in one direction. The stretch of road that joins the two westbound routes is a brutal rollercoaster of hills, though.

I listened to another four hours of The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch. Really right out there bonkers. It's hard to know whether the events that appear to take place are real or happening in a sort of psychic netherworld induced by the futuristic drugs that are taken by the characters in the book. Wild. I can only think that Philip Dick had partaken of some hallucinogenics himself when he wrote it.

Back on 63.35 miles, that's 265 this month. Target is 350.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7003397072

Managed another 50 miler today and it felt better than the last few, I think a bit of fitness is coming back now. I wasn't particularly quicker, but it required less effort to maintain the same speed. Maybe being fully card loaded after yesterday helped too. That's got me over 1,000 miles for the year now. Longest it's taken me to get there since 2016.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7003040248

Did a reverse Carrick Hill run..heading out to Dalrymple onto Minishant then across to Maybole then up and over the Carrick Hills then picking up cycle route7 back into Ayr and finished off going along seafront  to the pier to watch the sun going down over Arran.. very nice
31 miles and a mouthful of midges and flies..

couple of outdoor rides this weekend, fitness and speed coming on nicely (high 18s average speed) but more importantly confidence/mental state fine, and no heart issues still. Very happy I'm over that blip by the look of things, bloody covid

Wanted to do 30 or 40 after work. I was able to get out at about 4pm. Not particularly warm, but dry and mostly sunny.

With the wind coming from the east, I thought I'd do 15 or 20 miles of the eastbound route, then come back. I decided to turn toward Long Whatton instead, but just by following my nose I found myself back on the usual eastbound route after a few miles.

After Zouch though I took the turn to Sutton Bonington, rather than Normanton. I hadn't done that for about three years - which is painful to think about really, because it doesn't seem that long ago. Really nice along there. The trouble is, it doesn't really go anywhere useful.

Stopped to take this pic, and to check the seat post and saddle - this was the Boardman's first run out on its carbon seat post, which had been intended for the Cannondale but didn't fit it. I hadn't noticed anything amiss during the ride up to that point, but when I checked it by hand, the saddle was loose! Just as well I'd brought the appropriate Allen key.

(http://bikediary.uk/images/220420bike.jpg)

I turned back for home. I could have gone a bit further along Soar Lane, but the road surface was awful.

Back on 28.96 miles. I could have done a few more but I was looking forward to a cheap but well refrigerated Sauvignon Blanc and a Tesco ready meal.

That's 294 this month, 1503 this year.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7013812538

7 miles out today and picked up a puncture.. so it was either a long walk home or a call to the mrs to pick me and the bike up.... luckily bike fitted into her car so quick home.. very annoying as it was a great day and had just found a new single track road that i never kknew about.. oh well...

There's always option 3.. take an inner tube, a pump and a tyre lever. Has saved me more than once!

Quote from: Slim on April 21, 2022, 07:53:24 PMThere's always option 3.. take an inner tube, a pump and a tyre lever. Has saved me more than once!

Yes indeed ...off to the bike shop tomorrow to acquire👍

Quote from: Slim on April 21, 2022, 07:53:24 PMThere's always option 3.. take an inner tube, a pump and a tyre lever. Has saved me more than once!

Saved me once!

Three times I've been a mile from home. Once I was 15 miles from home and bloody cold so I called out the cavalry and once it was a blow out in a tubeless tyre and there wasn't enough daylight left in the day to faff around getting a tube in it, so out came the cavalry again.

I still always have at least one inner tube, pump and tyre lever - and even Anchovy fillets for when I'm riding tubeless.

I think I've only had a ride-interrupting puncture twice. The first one was extremely unlucky, it happened about half a mile before I intended to turn back on the longest ride I'd ever done at that time (Wales and back). Literally the furthest I'd been from home on a bike, 70-odd miles.

I'd brought a pump and a spare tube but the Presta adaptor I'd brought for the pump didn't fit properly. Fortunately a passing cyclist gave me a disposable CO2 inflator but that only got me as far as the next village. An thoughtful old bloke at the bench where I stopped in the village square very kindly went and brought me a track pump from his house, so I whipped off the back wheel, changed the inner tube, pumped it up and off I very happily went!

Can't remember where the other one was. Once or twice I've had slow punctures without noticing it until retrieving the bike from the garage for its next ride.

The other thing to take with you is a pair of disposable gloves because changing an inner tube is a messy job, especially if it's the back wheel.

Didn't think I'd make it out today. Had a bit of an on/off ache in my left knee for the last couple of weeks, it hasn't affected cycling, but it's a bit niggly. Today I managed to catch the end of my slipper on a door frame - get me - and ended up twisting round on the knee which was seriously painful. However it wore off and so long as I only move my leg up and down it's fine. Might help that I use blue cleats which don't have much float in them.

Did a version of my Saturday 40 miler with a couple of extra loops in to get me up to 45 miles. I'm gradually upping my distance. Was substantially quicker over the first 25 miles than last week, but I think a strong tailwind helped, because coming back into a fresh ENE wind was no fun at all. I got overtaken going uphill at one point and the bloke said to me "It's like you're standing still in this wind!" In that case I was being blown backwards.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7029083894/

I also managed to complete the Strava climbing challenge for the first time this year. I'm slacking.

A dry day but cool, cloudy and very windy. Since the wind was coming from the NE I thought I'd do the eastbound route (which is actually a bit north-eastish in reality).

I hoped to do a Fondo if poss but thought it quite likely that the wind would prove too much. It certainly was brutal but I struggled on until I'd done 30 miles, by which time I'd had enough and turned round. What a relief. I thought I'd top up the ride distance to the requisite 100km by taking a detour through Diseworth on the way back. I also came back the old way through Wymeswold and Rempstone, which definitely made a nice change.

(http://bikediary.uk/images/220423bike.jpg)

A game of two halves of course but the second half was very pleasant.

Listened to footy on 5 Live and another couple of hours of the Philip Dick audiobook. Getting the impression that he's making it up as he goes along rather than working to a plot.

Back on 62.36 miles, which takes me to 357 this month, and past the April target. I'm using a simplified monthly target system this year. Rather than have them dynamically calculated by the spreadsheet based on distance done in previous months, I'm just going for 300 in Jan, Feb, Nov Dec, 350 in Mar, Apr, Sep, Oct and 400 in the four months in the middle.

That was the 8th Fondo this year, on target for 24 in 2022.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7029229794

Left knee felt almost back to normal today. Which was nice. The rest of my legs didn't. Perhaps I'd just pushed it a bit hard this week, or perhaps they never feel as good on a Sunday.

It was supposed to be marginally less windy than yesterday. Can't say as I noticed, of anything it was worse when I set off, but that could have been down to a slightly different wind direction. I think it did ease off a bit as the afternoon wore on, but not enough to stop the downhill run to home being a bit of a grind. Saw a couple of flat Blackbirds out on the road today :(

https://www.strava.com/activities/7034880037/

Did a loop that took me to a place called Brewood on Sunday. 64 milesm, with about 300aft of climbing. I can teel Im heavy at the moment, hills really gave my legs a beating

More a case of a Fondo being an excuse for an afternoon off work than vice-versa, today. I just felt I needed to take a break from it. And it's only Tuesday.

The eastbound route was the obvious choice, with the wind coming from the NE. I did that for 24 miles, then I decided I needed to do something different. I remembered pedalling along a road called Long Lane a couple of years ago, with a nice view of Belvoir Castle in the distance - I knew it couldn't be far from there (a little to the north and east) so I set off in the appropriate direction.

The main part of the eastbound route after Six Hills runs along the crest of a long hill, and any of the northward turns off it involve a steep descent - as you can see from this section of a topographic map:

(http://bikediary.uk/images/eastb_topog.jpg)

I took a north turn along Ostler Lane, and rattled down the hill at quite some speed. Fun! I arrived at a village called Nether Broughton, where I saw a sign to Nottingham, pointing up an A road. Should I have a bit of an adventure, and head off in that direction? I didn't. I continued my pursuit of Long Lane with the aid of Google Maps, but I gave up about two miles later. The route there looked too complicated and I was fed up of consulting my phone every few minutes. So I decided to take an easy looking route to the A road leading to Nottingham after all. I looped round via a village called Hickling.

(http://bikediary.uk/images/220426bike.jpg)

Then I stuck with the A road for a bit, and plotted a course from a bench while I had lunch that would take me to Wymeswold, from where I've navigated home many times (it's on the old eastbound route).

After I arrived at Rempstone I calculated that I'd be home on less than a Fondo distance so I detoured via Diseworth and that saw me home on 62.82 miles.

Quite a lot of new territory but not that interesting, and some of it was a bit suburban. A bit of an adventure I suppose but I was irritated by having to check Google Maps at regular intervals over the unfamiliar part. Nice weather today though. Intermittently sunny, completely dry and the wind wasn't strong.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7044862040

Three of my last four rides have been Fondos, not sure I've ever done that before.

420 this month, 1628 this year. This time last year I'd done 1378, and the year before, 1160.

I left work pretty early, thinking of possibly doing a Fondo. Pretty nice out there, just warm enough for bare legs and sunny.

I did the southbound route as far as Kirkby Lane, at which point I decided I'd keep it short. I had other things I could be doing this evening and for some reason I didn't fancy a long one. So I looped across to Market Bosworth and came back via Barton in the Beans, Odstone, Burgoland, Swepstone.

(http://bikediary.uk/images/220429bike.jpg)

Really nice out there and I enjoyed it, but 27.25 miles was enough. I fitted the last of the new carbon seat posts to the second Boardman at lunchtime, so I took that. All good and again I think it's improved the ride.

Listened to more of The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch. Nearing the end now and man, what a strange book. Toward the end there's some lengthy dialogue in which you sense that Dick is expressing some sort of whacked out religious philosophy. He did suffer from hallucinations and delusion in real life, and you can see that in what he writes.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7060886889

447 this month and that'll be it for April.

Well, what a nice morning that was :) Warmed up nicely and a clear sky, the best part of the day. Not totally pushed for time because I'm out this evening, but I didn't want to knacker myself so did one of my regularish 40 milers.

Managed it slightly quicker than last time too, things are on the up, but how ever I managed to average over 17 mph on my first time I knoweth not.

Lots of other cyclists out today, plenty of proper ones, then on Beeley Moor a huge gaggle of Mountain Bikers were spread out all over the road in a congregation, they then set off nearly taking me out! Ignorant buggers, bet they all drive Range Rovers >:(

If I'd known I'd have done 42.5 miles to get me to 500 for April, but hey-ho, it is what it is. Onwards and Upwards!

https://www.strava.com/activities/7064362262

And out for yet another 40 miler today, to open May's account. Not as nice a day as yesterday by a long way, but still warm enough for bin shorts and a short sleeved jersey.

Lots of small finchy bird type activity about today, but the little buggers flit about too quickly for you to get a positive ID on them. Dead Badgers on the other hand...

https://www.strava.com/activities/7071828936

And another 40 miler. Another dull day, but warmer and still enough UV getting through to add to the tanlines :)

Still not back to where I was at going uphill, but it might be coming back. I did get overtaken by someone who looked my age - so he'll have been about 35 - up one uphill bit, so I decided to put in a bit of a fig to take his wheel. I managed it, but then dropped straight back again because I was pooped. Ho-hum.

Had to stop at some lights for roadworks, so I pulled up behind a car, then the car behind started to try and come by  >:( SO when the lights turned green I moved out to primary and still he wanted to get by, even though if he had he'd have hit the car in front, so I just stuck two fingers up at the twat. I got something shouted at me when I turned left at the end of the roadworks, but I just despair at people who thing cyclists are just there to be intimidated and run off the road.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7076728666

Thoroughly decent weather was forecast for today, so I came up with a plan last night to do something a bit different. Attentive readers might recall that on Tuesday, I tried (but failed) to navigate my way to Long Lane, over near the border with Lincolnshire.  So I planned a route to do that from Eastwell, then to take a road called Redmile Lane north-east to the the Newark route that I've done a few times and come back that way. I made a slight modification, to come back through Rempstone rather than East Leake.

I loaded the route into a GPX app on my phone, which I mounted on the stem. Worked very well. It's a pretty serviceable alternative to my eTrex I must say. As long as you only flip the screen on for brief periods, it doesn't wear the battery down too much. Might even be adequate for a much longer ride.

Nice to reacquaint myself with Long Lane. I love the view of Belvoir Castle in the distance from there. Great to do the Newark route again on the return part as well, I've only done it a couple of times and not for over a year. The only bummer is that the roads in Nottinghamshire are really rough in parts; scrubby and weather-worn, and patched up with tarmac like big lumps of black chewing gum.

But I was glad to be coming back a different way. Typically on a long ride I come back mostly the same way, and the sense of adventure and fun drains out of the ride on the way back. But today I was looking forward to seeing landmarks on the old Newark route that I hadn't seen for a long time.

(http://bikediary.uk/images/220502bike.jpg)

I stopped to buy some food at a village shop at Stathern, on the part of the ride that I hadn't done before. This turned out to be a cyclists' dream village - there was another village shop two minutes further on with benches and tables, and an inviting looking pub with a beer garden. But I was happy enough with the bench I found there. Only 33 miles from home so it would be well worth making it the end point for a Fondo, except that it's at the bottom of a long, steep hill.

I listened to the last half hour of The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch. It has a pretty ambiguous and meaningless ending. It doesn't really conclude, it just dies. It's a phenomenally imaginative work and certainly thought-provoking, but not coherent. After that I listened to the first two instalments of Scorpius (https://tardis.fandom.com/wiki/Scorpius_(audio_story)), a Big Finish audio production concerning the Cybermen. A bit like a radio play with some thoroughly creditable acting performances and impressive incidental music and sound effects. Brilliant! Very focused and really draws you in. Earth is in a war with a race of human-created androids in the Orion system. The androids are winning.

The Cybermen offer to help. They have the military power to destroy the androids easily. But what do they want? I loved it.

I trialled a backpack that I've had for about three years but never used, my only dedicated cycling backpack. Narrower, with a stiff back and chest and waist straps. Not that voluminous. Quite comfortable though, I don't really see an advantage over a simple generic light backpack but I'm sure I'll use it again.

Anyway - 74.12 miles and that's my 10th Fondo this year.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7077188658

two 50 odd milers this weekend, the one on Saturday significatly harder than yesterday, and took in a climb called Buttermilk, near Blythfield reservoir.

Tried it twice now, and both occasions have had to get off and walk. Its ridiculous. Not helped by areas of loose surface where the wheels just span under me

Facebook tells me that my Wales trip was five years ago today. I posted a number of pics on the way there and back, and they've come up in my Facebook memories this morning.

That was a very memorable ride, shame I haven't done it again - although I think I'd go a different way this time, over the first 40 miles or so anyway.

(http://bikediary.uk/images/cheshiresign2016.jpg)

I'm back to feeling more like a cyclist now. Managed to get over 50 miles since before I had COVID and whilst I still don't feel up to my usual self going uphill, I did manage to get in three Cat 3 climbs. I expected to have to drop down to second gear up Froggatt, by managed to keep it going in third, even though I was stopped by traffic lights at roadworks. I fagged me out though trying to keep up a good pace to avoid pissing off the drivists behind me.

Mind, I really ought to piss them off, because they piss me off with their MGIF antics. Why bother going by a cyclist when a junction is coming up and you then have to slam your brakes on to avoid transgressing Give Way/Stop lines and being hit by another car?

Still, a nice day out in the Peak District in the May sunshine.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7103837565/

Looked a lovely day for a bike ride but I decided to go out tomorrow rather than today. Might do 100. I did relube two bikes and give them a bit of a clean (using Dettol bathroom wipes! Lovely smell).

I should give them a proper wash really, but I did degunk the sprocket wheels.

I washed two cars as well, pretty productive day.

Dropped back down to a 40 miler today. Didn't feel as much of a cyclist today, but then looking at the other folk out on the road today I soon picked up :) don't know where all the "Big Boys" were, maybe on extended rides or sat at home watching the Giro.

I'd told Mrs S that it would just be a gentle spin today, perhaps 40 miles at 16 mph. It was a gentle spin but came in at 16.9, that's a mile per hour quicker than a few months back, but I suppose I'm on a Summer bike now, not a Winter one. It makes a difference.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7109586724/

Had our first ride out on the road bikes since the wife's op. A gentle 27 miles. She did great. Glorious weather. Nearly opted for a long-sleeved top as a second layer because the sun was not out when we were getting ready. Mighty pleased I decided against it.
The countryside around here is starting to look spectacular.

Lovely day for cycling with a light wind coming from the east. I wanted to do an Imperial Fondo, a term I've just coined for a 100 mile ride, and the Norfolk route, or part of it, seemed the obvious choice.

I was slightly concerned, when I got to Waltham, to find that both shops there were closed. I'd only brought a cornish pasty and a flapjack. But I stopped at a bench there and ate the pasty anyway, in the hope that I'd find a place open later on. Happily the village shop at Buckminster was still open for another half hour (good timing) so I stocked up on goodies there, and ate some of them at the bench outside. I particularly enjoyed the ice cream choc lolly.

I like that place, but when I inspected the chicken sandwich I'd bought there about 25 miles later, I noticed that it had a "Use by 5th May" label. Bit of a black mark.

I wore tights and three layers on top as it was definitely a bit cool when I set off, but the tights and an upper layer came off at Waltham. I was fine for a while after that but definitely still too warm for a couple of hours later on.

I confess I have not been maintaining my legs in the proper cyclist fashion and some of my leg hairs are alarmingly long now. I think it's an age thing. I must sort them out soon.

I took a different route after Buckminster than last time I went this far, although I have been the same way before. I hope to do Norfolk and back again this year sometime and I think today's option is a bit better. Better road surfaces and I think a little less climbing, though I will check that.

Nice sunny warm day, really nice day out on a bike. I was back about an hour before sunset and I did feel a bit guilty for not doing a longer ride. I didn't set off particularly early either, about 09:10. But I didn't have time to do the whole Norfolk shebang and just doing another 20 or 30 miles in that direction feels a bit pointless.

(http://bikediary.uk/images/220508bike.jpg)

I went a bit further than 50 miles though which gave me the opportunity to take a slightly quicker route back (through Wymeswold and Rempstone again) to change things up a bit.

Listened to part two of the Cyberman audio series, Fear. Brilliant stuff. Also footy on 5 Live, although Arsenal took the suspense out of their game against Leeds somewhat by scoring twice in the first 10 minutes. Man City committed a similar offence later on against Newcastle so I flipped to Radio Leicester to listen to Leicester vs Everton which was a bit more interesting.

100.36, 174 this month.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7110306227

I'd been looking forward to doing a Bypasser after work and the weather was nice enough today - dry, partly sunny and warm enough for exposed legs. Too windy, though. But hey ho.

Nice views into Staffordshire going along Orton Lane.

My left cleat wouldn't clip in. It was hooking in nicely at the front though, so I tolerated it. Will replace it tomorrow. It was fine last time I wore those particular shoes (I choose them at random in the garage), but probably used on a different bike.

I listened to 5 Live Drive, which was mainly concerned with the news that Deborah James, the podcaster who was diagnosed with terminal bowel cancer five years ago, is now receiving end-of-life care at home. There was a recorded interview with her.

Listeners were warned that it would be a tough listen, and it certainly was - not only because Deborah was audibly scared and upset, but also because Tony Livesey, who interviewed her, was improbably gushing and mawkish. But since he's something of a personal friend of the poor woman, I forgave him.

I certainly counted myself lucky, as I pedalled the rest of the way round, to have a decent probability of another twenty or thirty years myself.

31.04 miles and that's 206 this month. Happy with that for ten days into May.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7120464079

Just looking at the forecast and Saturday looks a terrific cycling day - if I timed it properly I could do a Fondo with a tailwind both ways, albeit a very light one. But I'm on call.

And 40 miles again today. My brother came over to do some Executorship type of things today and discuss a bit of form filling, so I didn't get out until after 4.

Because of the late start I decided just to try my regular Saturday 40 miler with the option to bail out earlier if necessary. Last time I did it I couldn't think how I'd once averaged over 17 mph on it. Today I think I realised, being as I averaged just shy of 17. You need a nice warm day and still winds and job's a good 'un.

And a curse on e-bikes. I was about to turn left and do a bit of uphill and two Mountain bikers came along the road I was turning on to ahead of me. I thought I'd blast by them and show them my "Roadie" skills. Couldn't even catch them up despite doing 15 mph for most of the climb. Of course by the time I did catch them it was obvious that they were assisted.

So 40 miles and another 3,000+ feet of climbing sees me complete May's Strava climbing challenge.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7142501012

M3: Cyclist found riding along motorway arrested
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-61448903
A cyclist found pedalling along a motorway has been arrested after refusing to stop for police.

He was spotted heading north in lane two of the M3 at junction 13 for Eastleigh at about 05:00 BST.

As officers tried to stop the cyclist he switched lanes and continued to cycle along the outside lane.

The 28-year-old from Southampton was forced to stop on a verge and arrested for causing danger to road users and suspected possession of Class A drugs.

Rule 253 of the Highway Code states that UK motorways must not be used by pedestrians, cyclists and certain other vehicles.

On call again today and I did get a call at 0150 this morning, so I wasn't in the most enthusiastic mood for cycling when I got up. But it was a lovely warm day. I thought I'd do 40-odd at least. I'd undoubtedly have done a Fondo if I hadn't been on call, but I couldn't stray too far from base today.

No firm plan in mind, I set off on the southbound route to start off. When I got to Ellistown I thought I'd take a detour along Beveridge Lane, but I got lost on the industrial estate there. Ended up looping back to where I'd taken the detour from, four miles later. Quite interesting to see those places, though. There's a huge Amazon distribution centre and some other massive blocky buildings. They must be visible from the Moon.

Anyway from there I continued on the southbound as normal, went down just beyond Kirkby Mallory then did a sort of partial Reverse Twycrosser from Kirkby, although I bypassed Twycross and came home the quick way through Bilstone and Shackerstone from Sheepy.

Really nice to do the bit along Atterton Lane and Mythe Lane again, especially in that weather.

(http://bikediary.uk/images/220514bike.jpg)

So nice out there and I've topped up my tan lines quite nicely. Listened to more of my Cyberman audio adventure. Gripping. Just the fourth part left now. Can the need to resist a common enemy bring peace between humanity and the androids? Or will the Cybermen slaughter all the androids and convert all the humans into emotionless automata?

Then the buildup to, and start of the FA Cup. I set myself a target of getting home before Liverpool scored their first goal, which turned out to be easier than I thought.

46.19 and that's 251 this month, 1907 this year. Last year it took me until the end of May to get over 1900.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7142686145

Thought I might get in a 55 mile ride today. Looks like I massively underestimated how long my planned route would be as it ended up at 45 miles. Still, it's more than 40.

I also massively underestimated how much traffic there would be out and about today because of the Chatsworth Horse Trials - hope the Equine bastards were found guilty - and roadworks at one of the exits to Chatsworth. I got a wannabe MGIF in a manky old min bus at the lights. Twat just sat in behind me revving away and essaying attempts to come by, but there was no bloody point as I was keeping up with the traffic ahead of me  >:(

At least traffic was light for my first ascent of Padley Gorge for the year. Quite happy with my time
up it too, it came out much quicker than it felt.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7148200416/

went to Hatton Locks at the weekend, a 66 mile round trip for me.

its not a massive fave of mine, as about 1/3rd of te ride is retracing steps, which I hate doing.

double puncture with 30 to go. By some miracle, a had two spares with me, and a pump instead of gas. Pissed me off though. Our roads are shit

Warm out there, but the BBC weather forecast had rain starting on the 8pm slot - which I take to mean any time between 7:30pm and 8:30pm.

I left work early enough to do about 40 miles before getting rained on, and with a stiff wind coming from the south I decided on the southbound route. I did about 21 miles, then turned back and came home the same way.

(http://bikediary.uk/images/220517bike.jpg)

And I did get home before 7:30pm, but unfortunately the rain started coming down with 20 minutes to go. Actually though it felt quite refreshing. Much worse when it's cold. I was annoyed at having to wipe down and water-repel the bike on my return though.

Listened mostly to Drive on 5 Live, which in classic BBC style was mostly a propaganda broadcast about acceptance of migrants, before degenerating into an anti-government opinion piece. Perhaps I'll write and suggest that they spend a similar amount of air time talking to people who have to live with the negative consequences of immigration. I'll let you know what they say.

Anyway I did enjoy that ride despite the precipitation. Hope to go further down that route soon, when I have time.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7159913673

42.72 miles, 294 this month. Need to do at least another 106 before June.

Last Saturday I thought I was about back to being a cyclist again. Now I feel like a novice again. Been suffering from a cold all week and even if I'd felt like going out, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings were just too damp and miserable. Got out on Thursday, but took it steadily.

Having said all that, I managed my longest ride of the year today at 53 miles, that was down to just riding round on the moors after my second ascent up to them, it's reasonably flat and nice just to pootle around a bit on. The roads were busy though, they're not normally that busy when Tansley Sunday market is on.

On Thursday, I had to take back a bit of what I say about BMW drivers. I was riding along towards a roundabout when one pulled alongside me and wound the window down. Great I thought, more mindless insults coming. But no, it was to tell me my rear light had fallen off. Thank you that man. I managed to retrieve it, but have now lost the cover for the USB charger bit. I think someone must have clipped it as the on/off button is now flush with the end of the light. More expense.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7180267510/

Managed to annoy an Audi SUV driver today. The fact that if he'd driven sensibly I wouldn't have annoyed him (as much) is immaterial to his entitled pea brain. I was turning left at a junction, he was coming the other way and wanted to turn right - surprisingly he'd paid the three grand to have his indicators wired up - and just pulled across straight in front of me. I had to brake, so shook my head at him and shouted "AUDI DRIVING SCUM" as you do. I could hear him shouting away as he drove off, so shook my head again.

Mr Audi then stopped and asked me out of the window if I'd like to get off my bike so we could discuss things properly, because obviously I thought I was special. I told him that I didn't discuss things with my fists and that a quick perusal of the Highway Code would give him all he needed to know. I then rode off, all the while hearing him shout "WHY DO YOU THINK YOU'RE SPECIAL". I'm surprised he didn't come after me. I can only think that Barrow Hill, where we stopped was his destination. Now one thing I've known all my life is the propensity of the residents of Barrow Hill to punch people in the face first, ask questions later. It's obviously still the case. Why do some people have such a visceral hatred of cyclists?

Apart from that it was a nice enough 40 miler and I had drivers who were courteous to me on country lanes and I was courteous to drivers. It's easy, even if you are misanthropic sociopath like me.

Still, I suppose I better avoid Barrow Hill for a bit, I'm always a bit wary riding through there at the best of times as its full of feral kids who look like they'll knock you off your bike to flog it for drugs.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7186142819

Not sure I'd be in the mood for cycling this afternoon, following a 230 mile drive back from South Wales, where I spent the last few days - but after a 90 minute rest and a bit of lunch, I felt well up for it. Rain is forecast for tomorrow evening and I wanted to make a bit of progress to this month's target (400 miles).

Lovely afternoon for it - warm, bright (not quite sunny) and light winds. I did what I think I once termed a "Twycrosser with Orton Detour", a bit like the "Bypasser" route except that it goes right into Twycross.

Came back up through Sibson, which similarly I haven't done for a while, then Gibbet Lane.

Took this pic of the bike and some Alpacas at Packington. Hadn't seen them there before. They didn't seem at all bothered by the bike, or their photographer.

(http://bikediary.uk/images/220522bike.jpg)


I was having a fine old time cruising along, taking it easy and listening to the drama of the final day of the Premiership on 5 Live, until I seemed to run out of juice. I bonked, coming down the hill from Sibson. Mental fatigue from the drive, the ill-effects of too many cocktails over a long weekend and failure to feed myself properly today all caught up with me. I could feel my legs pedalling under me, but they seemed to be running on empty. I went a bit numb and seemed to be zoning out!

But I made it to the bench at the Gibbet Post where I consumed a flapjack I'd fortunately brought with me. I gave it ten minutes to kick in before I set off again and I was fine after that.

The footy was high drama. I got the results I wanted at both ends (Liverpool didn't win the league and Leeds stayed up). But I yanked my right earplug cord on my thumb while adjusting my jacket zipper and broke it. I only had audio in my left ear, but that was fine for football commentary. When I was a kid I had a little transistor radio with a single earplug so it was just like old times.

Anyway - 30.12 miles.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7187036480

Showers were forecast for the late afternoon but dry conditions were promised later. I had a feeling I was wrapping up a bit too warm as I prepared for the ride, but after I set off I was glad to have tights on, and three layers on top. The westerly wind was surprisingly cool.

I decided to go up over Swarkestone bridge then west along the Beloved A Road. I did that, then turned back after 22.5 miles. Encountered a drizzly shower going over the bridge but it only lasted for seven or eight minutes. After that it was dry all the way, and the sun came out.

Really a joy coming back along the A road in the sunshine with a bit of a tailwind. I seemed to be flying along. And the temperature seemed to have climbed a bit as well - I was actually a bit too warm by this time.

I like to do this particular ride in the dark; it's a lot easier in daylight of course but I miss those post-sunset rides.

I listened to 5 Live Drive, which this evening was mostly about how the police are racist, and the criminal lack of gender equality in musical festival lineups.

45.04 and that takes me to 370 this month, 2025 this year.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7196966844

First - of hopefully many - ride in retirement today. Can't say as it felt any easier, but that might have been the wind, it was a bit blowy on the way out, but a boon on the return. Managed to avoid any showers, but I'd not missed a heavy one by much as the roads from New Whittington to Dunston were saturated.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7194512150/

Another warm, sunny afternoon, but too windy again. Undeterred I left work early and did a Twycross Bypasser. Wanted to do at least 31 miles to hit the May target (400 miles), but I did a bit of an excursion down the Dad's Army route, and ended up on 36.01.

Came back through Shenton, I should do that more often. Lovely along there.

(http://bikediary.uk/images/220527bike.jpg)

Saw a helicopter taking off near Measham again. A red one, looked very shiny in the sunshine. I have no idea why there's an ad-hoc heliport in a field next to a B road near Measham.

Nice ride apart from the irritating occasional headwind.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7212307672

Nearly the end of May and I still haven't managed a Fondo. Getting closer though, just 10% short today, but I think my endurance has endured enough and buggered off.

Nice to be out with very little wind, it may have been  a bit of headwind up Padley gorge, but I was going so steadily it made no difference. Managed to get in over 4,000 feet of climbing for only the second time this year. Doubt I'll make a 100 miles of it this year, but we'll see. Heard my first Cuckoo in ages today too, the Curlew were calling after a bit of a gap too.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7217580769

I felt rough this morning. Low on energy and washed out. Took me until 10:40 to get out of bed. But with rain forecast over the next couple of days I thought I should go out and do 30 or so. I'm on call so I couldn't do a long one anyway.

With the wind coming from the north-east, I thought I'd do the eastbound route for a bit and come back. When I got to the A6 junction though I pondered the road sign to Loughborough and thought - why not? So I took the A6 into Loughborough.

My visit to the celebrated Leicestershire market town mostly consisted of cruising along its dual carriageways, but at least it was quiet. I did take a brief detour into the suburbs though to visit my ex-girlfriends' parents house, where I stayed a few times in the late '80s when I was still living in Hartlepool. I don't think they've lived there for many years, but it was a nice sentimental excursion along memory lane.

After that I was faced with the choice of coming back homeward along the main A road, which I didn't think would be particularly safe, and the more urban route along Snells Nook Lane and Copy Oak Road, which I knew would involve a tedious uphill slog. I settled on the latter. At least it made a change. I could just have come home the way I'd come of course but I probably wouldn't have remembered the way.

Picked up a few spots of rain in Ibstock, but only for a couple of minutes.

Back on 27.24 miles, seemed like quite a lot of work for that distance but I was already over target for May.

It was unusually cold so I wrapped up warm, with my Union Jack dutt. Lots of flags out for the Platinum Jubilee so I must have blended into the surroundings quite nicely. Saw a couple of persons of colour out on their bikes and I made a point of giving them a friendly smile and a wave - because cycling is for everyone, and our flag stands for respect and inclusion.

When the sun came out I overheated a bit. Nice run out nonetheless. Something a bit different for a Sunday afternoon.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7222565594

Just noticed that I have 2112 miles to go, to hit my yearly target (4200 miles).

Was a bit worried about today in the week, as the forecast was for it to ne a bit chilly. I Knew Saturday would be fine for short sleeves and bib shorts but today might have necessitated more and I have to wear the same outfit at least twice as if I put to the wash after one wear Mrs S goes Full Tonto on me...

I needn't have worried, the sun was out and it even though the wind was a Northerly it wasn't too cold and riding uphill warms you up a bit. Got a bit chilly going downhill, but that wasn't as bad as when my chain came off going down through Old Brampton, it's a very bumpy road and it quite often gets bounced from large to small chainring, but today it dropped off the small too  >:(

There were a lot of shitty drivers about today too, I got close passed, left hooked, drivers pulling out on me and just lots of general crap passing - 20 yards from a roundabout, giving me room but heading straight for an oncoming driver, ignoring my signals that I'm turning right. If Mrs S saw them she wouldn't let me out again!

Anyway I did 40 miles on roads less travelled today to get to 190 for the week, best weekly total of teh year.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7222980322

Did our small 17 mile loop on the mtbs today. Threatened rain but didn't materialise.
Did my good samaritan bit by helping a lady that had dropped her chain on her sit-up-and-beg.

bike service last week

Amazing what they feel like after one, once the brand news tyres have worn a little it will be super quick as well

interesting that I always end up with play in the headset, which needs fixing each time. Dont know if thats an issue with Cube bikes, or my weight through the bars, but I bet a lot has to do with our shot roads

Always like a new chain as well, something reassuring about it clicking nicely between the gears

Quote from: Jonners on May 31, 2022, 10:20:13 AMbike service last week

Amazing what they feel like after one, once the brand news tyres have worn a little it will be super quick as well

Did you have to clean the bike first? How much did it cost, if you don't mind me asking?

Always done my own maintenance and servicing so far, but I'm by no means an expert mechanic.

so, it wasnt cheap this time as tyres are now crazy expensive (£120 for 2 x GP5000) and 11sp Chain £34.99

But, the basic service was £40, and then additional labour £47. Was here for a couple of ours (he is a mobile guy)

I was disappointed with the cost of a new chain last time, I must admit. But I definitely would not pay £120 for a pair of tyres. I went with Finncis last time, £35 for a pair (in March). They're on the second Boardman.

They're a bit cheaper now, I've just noticed. I'm not fussed with brand loyalty so much, I do shop around.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08BFW6HQC

Quote from: Jonners on May 31, 2022, 11:09:23 AMso, it wasnt cheap this time as tyres are now crazy expensive (£120 for 2 x GP5000) and 11sp Chain £34.99

But, the basic service was £40, and then additional labour £47. Was here for a couple of ours (he is a mobile guy)

£120 for two tyres! That's some tyre. I'm more than happy with my Michelin Pro 3 Race but I know you're waaaaay more into your cycling than me  :)

Quote from: David L on May 31, 2022, 11:21:40 AM

Quote from: Jonners on May 31, 2022, 11:09:23 AMso, it wasnt cheap this time as tyres are now crazy expensive (£120 for 2 x GP5000) and 11sp Chain £34.99

But, the basic service was £40, and then additional labour £47. Was here for a couple of ours (he is a mobile guy)

£120 for two tyres! That's some tyre. I'm more than happy with my Michelin Pro 3 Race but I know you're waaaaay more into your cycling than me  :)

I wont be doing that again with the tyres, I didnt realise how much they were tbh!

I have some michelin ones, might be Pro 3 race actually on my other bike, or certainly similar, and think they are great

Its done now,so no  point stressing, but it wont happen again.

Quote from: Jonners on May 31, 2022, 10:20:13 AMbike service last week

Amazing what they feel like after one, once the brand news tyres have worn a little it will be super quick as well

interesting that I always end up with play in the headset, which needs fixing each time. Dont know if thats an issue with Cube bikes, or my weight through the bars, but I bet a lot has to do with our shot roads

Always like a new chain as well, something reassuring about it clicking nicely between the gears

Tried booking my Bianchi in for a service - at last - today, my man doesn't have a spare day until 21st June. It really needs a rear derailleur cable - and I'm not attempting Ultegra with internal routing - he hopes he can do that for me on Friday afternoon.

I was going for what he calls a full service+ where he takes the bike to bits and reassembles. Charges £90 for that. I need my good Giant doing too, but haven't yet replaced the front chainrings which were an advisory last time around as they are getting worn. I think the Giant also needs a new freehub and I can't afford to have that done too. The Giant always seems to have play in the headset too.

Chains I replace whenever my chain checker tells me to.

I'm off work tomorrow, there's a light wind coming from the East, going to be dry all day and warmish most of it - sounds very much like the yearly Norfolk & back run is on the cards. 176 miles (although I may add a few to bump it up to 180, which would be a career second-best).

Slightly concerned that some or most of the shops will be shut but I've plotted the locations of a couple of petrol stations on the route. And hopefully the roads will be quiet-ish.

long day in the saddle

I, on the other hand, will be jet washing horse stables, as there has been a Pin Worm outbreak

I think the phrase rhymes with "clucking bell"

Managed to get £10 off a Shimano chain, if you join the Halfords car club (no fee) they give you a £10 in store voucher.

https://www.halfords.com/motoring-club.html

I set off at about 04:35 yesterday morning, headed for the Norfolk border near Sutton Bridge. Attentive readers may remember that I attempted this last June, but fell short of my intended destination due to my Garmin eTrex failing, and some unanticipated roadworks.

I hadn't had more than about 90 minutes' sleep. I actually got out of bed at about 03:00, restless with anticipation. But I didn't want to set off too early, because I knew it would be cold out there for a couple of hours at least.

I'd wrapped up fairly warm, with the intention of taking off the excess layers and relocating them to my backpack later in the day. Conditions were tolerable over the first twenty minutes or so but by the time I was pedalling along Gracedieu Lane, five miles in, I was very uncomfortable. My fingers were icy cold even in gloves and I was shivering. I'd descended about 250 ft closer to sea level at this point; cold air tends to cling to lower ground and clearly, it made a big difference.

So I decided to change course and head east through Rempstone and Wymeswold rather than Normanton, Stanford and Burton on the Wolds. I'd be on higher ground much more quickly. Sure enough as soon as I'd ascended the West Face of Rempstone Road, the ride was much more tolerable. Half an hour later the sun had burned away the early morning mist and I'd warmed up nicely.

I must say the scenery had been spectacular in the bright morning sunshine with the landscape shrouded in swathes of radiant white mist.

I maintained a steady pace against a light headwind and was in Bourne by 10:00. After that it was flat Fenland all the way to my destination.

There's something faintly post-apocalyptic about the Fenland, east of Bourne. It's like no other place in the country; reclaimed marshland criss-crossed by straight, narrow roads and drainage channels. It has a curiously desolate aspect, especially in bright sunlight.

I reached Sutton Bridge by about 13:20. I crossed the bridge and continued on to my destination, the border between Lincolnshire and Norfolk, by a circuitous route intended to avoid the A17. But this was so poorly surfaced that I decided to take my life in my hands and returned to the bridge via the busy A road. Not much more than a mile of it, thankfully.

I've done this ride four times now, never by quite the same route and this last one was definitely the best compromise between efficiency and scenery. I'd spent many hours preparing it with a route planner. The route I did yesterday is well served by petrol stations and village shops, making it easy to find somewhere to pick up more food and hydration. The key to doing a long ride like this is to keep eating.

Warm and sunny most of the afternoon, really nice weather. I took a sunblock stick with me to apply to my nose, as it often suffers a bit of sunburn on a day out on the bike when the sun is shining. About 50 miles into the ride I stopped by a farm gate to dig my MP3 player out of my frame pack. I noticed the sunblock stick fall out of the pack and into the grass. I made a mental note to pick it up before I set off, but I didn't. However it was still there when I stopped at the same place on the way back, 77 miles later. Fortunately my peaked cap (I eschew a helmet on comfort grounds for long rides) appears to have protected my face quite nicely.

(http://bikediary.uk/images/220603cowbit.jpg)

I replaced my misbehaving eTrex with a newer touchscreen model, this was the first time I'd used it and it worked very well. Much more ergonomic and a bit lighter. The map display looks a lot better on a phone to be fair but the AA batteries in an eTrex last a very long time.

I listened mostly to coverage of the various Platinum Jubilee events on 5 Live. Despite being a republican myself I did find it quite interesting. Also listened to more of the Reacher novel, although when it turned out that the whole first chapter is an elaborate deception intended to set you up for a plot twist, I got a bit annoyed with it.

The sun set at about 21:15 and twenty minutes later, it was time to power up some bike lights. I'd intended to bring a powerful little LED front light as well as my head torch (another reason not to wear a helmet) but after searching my backpack, frame pack and clothing it became apparent that I hadn't. I had two rear lights but I only had the head torch to use as a front light. Although it's very adequate, I don't like to have a single point of failure and I'm never sure how long they last between recharges. Fortunately it was still going strong when I arrived back at the garage door.

Saw a dead calf by the side of the road near Six Hills. I've seen a lot of roadkill in my time, but I think that was a a first. Looked to have been moved there deliberately, it was lying exactly parallel to the road and only just visible in the long grass. Grim.

(http://bikediary.uk/images/220602bikenene.jpg)

First time I'd used the Roubaix since October. It feels pleasantly comfortable and reliable but actually the S Works or the Cannondale would have made slightly lighter work of the distance I put in front of it.

Back on 175.91 miles, my third-longest distance. I was glad to have completed that successfully after last year's failure, but I think I've squeezed all the juice I can out of the Norfolk trip now. I've done it four times and the novelty's worn off. I'll do something else next time.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7245486642

Finally got my first Fondo of 2022 in today! Only a couple of months or so later than usual, hopefully the first of many, however now I'm retired I don't seem to have quite the same urge to get out. Most be because I don't have to get out to reset my brain and escape the toxicity of work.

Did a very similar ride to a couple of Saturday's back, but I extended it by dropping down through Dethick - no sign of Simon Groom - to Lea. Of course as soon as I got to Lea, my furthest point from home it started raining. Thankfully it didn't last long, I wouldn't have fancied riding 30 miles back in the rain, especially as there was a stiff breeze coming in from the East on the way back.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7254959509/overview

And I'm over 2,000 miles for the year at last!

Changed my chain last week but it's making a really clicky chainlike noise rather than an almost silent whirr... I haven't lubricated it as I assumed it was prelubed out of the bag it was packed in.

Dead baby fox and one dead squirrel on the road today, a vole took its chance to cross ahead of me and made it safely across.

Quote from: Nick on June 05, 2022, 03:59:31 PMChanged my chain last week but it's making a really clicky chainlike noise rather than an almost silent whirr... I haven't lubricated it as I assumed it was prelubed out of the bag it was packed in.

It will have been prelubed and the factory lube is generally better than the stuff you apply from a little plastic bottle. Is there a sticky link? worth leaning the bike up against something (or using a stand if you have one) and watching what happens when you rotate the pedals by hand. Possible it's rubbing against the front derailleur.

Quote from: Nick on June 05, 2022, 03:59:31 PMChanged my chain last week but it's making a really clicky chainlike noise rather than an almost silent whirr... I haven't lubricated it as I assumed it was prelubed out of the bag it was packed in.

Might need a bit of adjustment on the indexing, give the rear barrel adjuster a quarter turn and see what happens.

Quote from: Nickslikk2112 on May 31, 2022, 03:16:12 PMTried booking my Bianchi in for a service - at last - today, my man doesn't have a spare day until 21st June. It really needs a rear derailleur cable - and I'm not attempting Ultegra with internal routing - he hopes he can do that for me on Friday afternoon.

He got round to it this morning. Cable was frayed near the shifter so he's put a heavier duty one in. Said bike was fine and didn't need any service, so the black Giant's going in instead.

Nice warm afternoon but rain was due over at 6pm-ish. I left work as soon as decently possible and set off on a Twycrosser. Funny how familiarity puts me off longer routes, but it's the very thing that appeals to me on shorter rides. The Twycrosser and Twycross Bypasser in their many variants are a regular part of my routine now.

I was going to go down to Pinwall and across through Ratcliffe Culey, but the road south of Sheepy had clearly just been resurfaced. So badly, that after about 5 metres of it I had to turn back, and come back up through Sibson instead. I've seen roads round here surfaced with sharp gravel before and I usually tolerate it as long as it's not a long stretch but this was gross - massive quantities of coarse, dusty bright grey gravel a couple of inches thick in some places. It had definitely been overdone. Took another five miles for the dust stripe to wear off my tyres.

Will take a while for passing traffic to wear that down, I think. Scandalous.

Sunny at first but the clouds came over quite soon. It hadn't rained by the time I got back, on 29.26 miles. It still hasn't started, over two hours later and the sun even came out after I came back in the house. Should have stayed out longer.

I listened to 5 Live, and today in addition to the regulation Boris-bashing there was a piece on the difficulties facing bisexual people - who often suffer prejudice from gay people as well as straight folks apparently, and are sometimes denied representation for their rich history and culture. I was taken aback by the number of times the woman interviewed used the word "queer", has that been reclaimed for usage in everyday discourse now?

I learned that bi women often pretend to be gay in queer spaces. If they come out as bi, gay women tend to distrust them - sometimes suspecting that their attraction to women is mainly to please men for sexual reasons.

The world is so complicated now, especially on the BBC.

Anyway 205 this month, 2293 this year.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7271151878

Got out on the Bianchi for the first time this year. Which was nice. :) As was the sunshine. Nice to average over 17 mph for a ride too. Definitely quicker than the Winter bike.

175 so far for June 2,106 for the year. Now over 1,100 miles down on last year.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7269232119/

Quote from: Slim on June 07, 2022, 08:40:47 PMI listened to 5 Live, and today in addition to the regulation Boris-bashing there was a piece on the difficulties facing bisexual people - who often suffer prejudice from gay people as well as straight folks apparently, and are sometimes denied representation for their rich history and culture. I was taken aback by the number of times the woman interviewed used the word "queer", has that been reclaimed for usage in everyday discourse now?

I learned that bi women often pretend to be gay in queer spaces. If they come out as bi, gay women tend to distrust them - sometimes suspecting that their attraction to women is mainly to please men for sexual reasons.

The world is so complicated now, especially on the BBC.

Bisexual? Greedy, more like

Warm, sunny and no chance of rain. But a powerful wind was blowing from the south-west. I thought I'd do the southbound route as far as Stoney Stanton, but turn off there to go down Fosse Way for a bit. Hadn't done that for quite some time.

But when I got to Earl Shilton, I decided to do something different and took a left turn, instead of a right. I have done this before, but I couldn't remember were I ended up. So clearly, I was in for a bit of an adventure.

I ignored the first left turn, to Desford (which is probably what I did last time). I took a left fork at the next junction though I ignored subsequent left turns to Thornton and Markfield, wanting to press on in a spirit of exploration. I saw a sign to Ratby, and I took that.

I'd passed the Poundstretcher head office a few miles earlier. I must admit it makes me envious to see people working in offices; I could see people at their desks through the windows. The signage and branding there is very much in keeping with their brand philosophy, it looks very cheap. I've definitely passed that place on my cycling travels at least one other time. I must see if I can work out when, from a segment or something.

I had only a very rough idea where I was by this time. But I'd only done 20 miles or so and definitely not in a straight line, so I couldn't be far from home.

I ignored another Markfield sign and continued on to Groby. Then I arrived at a junction with the A50. Regrettably, I had pushed my luck too far. I wasn't going to turn back the way I came and in the circumstances, the A50 seemed to be my best bet for getting back home, so I took it. It's one of the main roads west out of Leicester. I've done it many times in a car, but I never thought I'd be doing it on a bike. it was very busy and to make matters worse, it's quite an uphill slog as well. My old Talbot Sunbeam used to struggle up there every weekday morning in the late '80s and I didn't fare much better myself.

But I got to Markfield. From there I took a relatively quick way home which meant rejoining the same busy road for a stretch, but not for long.

Something a bit different, certainly. But I sort of wish I'd just done a Twycrosser. Would have suited my Friday afternoon mood better.

Still - 35.25 miles and that's 240 this month. Shame to waste so much evening light and come back relatively early but it was too windy for a long one. Quite annoying at times.

Curious that so many places on the outskirts of Leicester have names ending in 'by'. Enderby, Blaby, Groby, Ratby. It's Viking  in origin, apparently.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7286905075

Every time I put the BBC News on, when they're not slagging off Boris Johnson, they're banging on about the cost of living crisis, interviewing people who are filling up their cars at petrol stations whilst moaning about how they can't afford to fill up their cars (Schrödinger's Tankstelle?) In that case you'd think they might decide to drive less to save money. Not on your Nelly, the roads out in the Peak District were chock full of people driving round aimlessly. They could or rather should do what I do and cycle out there, it's not that hard.

It's not that easy either though, especially with a headwind like today's! It was a real slog up the exposed parts of the Abney climb and even going up Padley where it should have been a tailwind the  local topography contrived to make it a cross headwind. I couldn't even be bothered to put in a final loop to get up to a Fondo today AND I finished 1 foot down on 5,000 feet of ascent for the ride I was that pooped.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7292385399

Lovely weather again, apart from the wind (again). Blowing directly from the west. I had two ideas for a Fondo today - the first was to do one of the old westbound routes, Abbots Bromley and back - and the other was to go up over Swarkestone Bridge, then west along the Beloved A Road. It's not easy to get 31 miles out of that so I knew I'd have to improvise a bit at the remote end.

I took the Beloved A Road option, because the fridge was a bit short of cycling supplies. There's a very serviceable petrol station with a decent shop near Hilton.

So I battled the headwind to the petrol station, got myself a nice selection of snacks including an Ice Cream Bounty - then continued on to Foston, where I found a bench and consumed them.

I'd only done 24 miles at this point and I couldn't go any further without going on the A50 which is never a good idea on a bike, so I turned to come back. Shortly afterwards I saw a left turn named Hay Lane. I wasn't sure if I'd been along there before so I thought I'd explore for a bit. The road surface was a bit scrappy here and there. At Alkmorton I saw a familiar sign for a farm "honesty shop" and a bit later on, a tractor business with an odd Christmas Tree installation on the roof. I'd definitely seen these before so I assumed I must have done this road at least once. However I'd taken a different route there previously, along a parallel road as it turns out.

My hope was that I'd be able to find some other way back home by exploring, rather than coming back the same way. And happily, that's what happened.

Just found my write-up of the last time I'd been along this way, here (http://bikediary.uk/2020/10/07/699/) - complete with a pic of the odd Christmas Tree structure atop the building at Alkmonton.

On that occasion I came back the same way, but this time I plotted a course to Derby along a road called Long Lane. I definitely hadn't been along there before. This was terrific fun. It was a decent but quiet road with lovely views, I had a tailwind now and I felt like I was having a bit of an adventure.

I continued on and into the outer reaches of Derby - Mickleover and Littleover, then onto the ring road. Obviously this was pretty urban but I didn't mind weaving through the traffic. It was really nice to be back in Derby.

(http://bikediary.uk/images/220612bike.jpg)

I turned off along Moor Lane to visit the old Rolls-Royce Leisure Association. I used go shooting there every Friday evening. I went right into the car park. I hadn't been there since 1994. There are a lot of new buildings now but it's still recognisably the same place. Really strange to think that I hadn't been there for all that time and to think of everything that's happened since, yet as I turned out of the main gate and onto Moor Lane, it felt like no time had passed at all.

I continued along the ring road until Allenton, then came down through Chellaston and back onto Swarkestone Bridge. I wouldn't have done 100km if I came home the usual way, so I went over to Isley Walton and came home from there. The fields on my left, and occasionally on my right between Melbourne and Walton had been repurposed as car parks for the Download festival, and some of the young revellers were out and about. I counted three Motorhead t-shirts and it did occur to me that none of their wearers could have been born when I bought the raucous trio's first record in 1977.

My four-miles-to-go landmark at Coleorton (a public footpath sign) told me that I was still going to be short of a Fondo, so I went half a mile or so in the direction of Ibstock before coming home. Back on 62.76 miles.

Listened to 6 Music, and the Grand Prix coverage on 5 Live, then Northern Ireland vs Cyprus. Quite an enjoyable game to listen to even though both sides were dire. I'm really surprised to have got about nine hours from the cheap rechargeable AAAs in my DAB over two rides, because I'd left them discharged for years. I only charged them up and gave them a go to confirm that they'd had it. But clearly they haven't.

Possibly the most enjoyable ride this year. 62.76 miles and that's 303 this month. That was the 13th Fondo of 2022.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7297951776

Feeling a bit jaded after yesterday, I didn't bother heading out for the Peaks today. Instead I rode the more rolling lands to the South of Chesterfield. The bloody wind was a bit of a bugger again today, but not as bad as on the tops yesterday.

Looking at what I did today a lot of roads I hadn't ridden since 2018. Down to my decision in 2019 to try and become more of a climber - why? - which lasted through COVID for some strange reason. There was an awful lot of traffic about today, lots of SUVs and Range Rovers set up for offroading which were shinier than Haysi Fantayzee.

Forty miles gets me to 353 for June.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7298057907

A warm afternoon, bone dry, sunny and a light wind. I managed to escape work fairly early and set off to do a longish Twycross Bypasser.

It's not often I set off in minimal clothing with short sleeves, but today was one of those days. However - within half a mile I was starting to regret it because it was cooler than I thought. I seriously considered going back for a long-sleeved jacket.

Another mile further on though, I'd warmed up nicely and later on I was too warm if anything.

(http://bikediary.uk/images/220614bike.jpg)

I went right across to Kisses Barn Lane, along Mythe Lane (where I passed a group of seven ducks taking shelter under a roadside bench) and right along Fenn Lanes. I stopped at my favourite bench at Sutton Cheney. It was replaced a few years ago and it really was a beautiful thing then, smooth red wood with sharp edges. But it's grey, cracked and weathered now, with all the edges worn down.

Back up the usual way but I extended the ride a bit by going through Burgoland, then Ibstock.

Listened to the cricket on 5 Live, I wouldn't normally but the Drive programme mostly switched to coverage there when it became apparent that England were putting in something of a historic performance.

Beautiful out there.

42.51 miles.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7309158365

Passed one of these at Cheney. I guessed it was probably a guinea fowl, and I was right.

(http://bikediary.uk/images/guineafowl.jpg)

I was served guinea fowl in Dieppe once. Very similar to turkey.

we have a few of those at our family farm, lovely looking creatures

I'll be cycling again this afternoon. Might be a bit warm, but at least I won't have to contend with a leopard attack. Although I will be going past Twycross Zoo, to be fair.

Just a Squirrel attack for me this morning and a Skylark. Managed to fend them off, but Squirrels can be bloody dangerous.

It was a bit warm though, so I'm glad I have Fridays off.

Too hot tomorrow and it's going to rain all weekend apparently, so I booked this afternoon off work. I was going to Bingley Hall and back, but I changed my mind before I set off this morning. The wind was blowing lightly from the south, so I thought I'd do roughly the same distance along the southbound route.

Really warm out there. I had my absolute lightest cycling clothing on, including my lightweight meshy camo top.

I went right down through Welford towards Northampton. I did briefly entertain the idea of going right down there, but decided against it. I'd just about have enough light, but not much time for a couple of beers, a bath and a decent meal when I got back. It is, after all, a school night.

(http://bikediary.uk/images/220616welford.jpg)

I stopped at the village shop at Gilmorton on the way down - nice to see that the table and chairs have been deployed outside again - and had some sort of bacon and cheese pastry object, a coffee and a Magnum ice-cream lolly in the sunshine there. Very civilised. I was joined there by another cyclist whom I took to be roughly the same age as myself - he had a very smart Trek Madone with electronic shifting, and he admired my Roubaix. Told me he had three of them himself! We had a nice old chat about bikes, and long rides. I told him I was 61, and that I never would have thought I'd be doing long rides at my present age. He told me he was 74, and still did 8,000 miles a year. Made my day.

I've caught a bit of sunburn - my legs were pre-tanned so I think they'll be fine, but my arms haven't been exposed much this year and they've gone a bit sore. Ah well.

I stopped at Spratton on 41 miles, then turned back.

(http://bikediary.uk/images/220616bike.jpg)

Listened to Colin Murray on 5 Live, sitting in for Naga. Then a few minutes of Nihal Arthanayake's awful programme - he must be the most painfully woke, pitifully one-dimensional broadcaster on Earth. The first item in his show today was about lesbian parenting. I switched him off and listened to the Reacher audiobook for a few hours. It kept my attention but so far isn't drawing me in so much as previous Reacher novels.

A little cooler and more cloudy later on, which was a relief. Stopped at the petrol station at Welford on the way back and gorged myself on a sandwich, a mini pork pie, a flapjack, and more coffee. I never even touched the cheese & onion pasty I took with me out of the fridge.

Anyway - 83.04, 429 this month which is over target.

Nice to go a bit further down to Northampton, I'll go all the way down again one day this year.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7320897820

So, I'd spent all week thinking I wouldn't get out today as the forecast was for rain all day. So what happened? This mornings forecast was for a mostly dry day with light rain late afternoon.

Of course it then rained this morning and the Rainfall Radar had a continuous band of rain just below Chesterfield, but it stayed dry into the afternoon, so I went out to try for a forty miler.

I decided to just do a few loops close to home as with the strength of the sun at this time of year it can suddenly trigger heavy downpours when none look likely. Sure enough it did rain on my second loop, but not much on me, but I hit places where it had obviously pissed it down - do I not like cold spray on bare legs!

It then dried off again, it was nice to get in four climbs with 500 feet of elevation gain without even having to head for the Peak District, hills are a fact of life in this part of Derbyshire. A quick ride up to Linacre Reservoir gave me the forty miles needed. It then tipped it down when I got home.

Saw a lone partridge in the road at one point, unfortunately a Red Legged (French) Partridge, not a John Major approved English Grey Partridge.

That brings up 500 miles for June.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7329916637

Other things to do today but I had time for 30-odd miles. Much cooler today but the roads had mostly dried up after yesterday's rain.

My first idea was to go up Top Brand, up to Isley Walton then hook a left to Melbourne then perhaps the Beloved A Road for a bit, but as I was pushing up Top Brand I decided to go right up to Castle Donington, then west to Shardlow. Wasn't sure what I'd do from there - I briefly entertained the idea of going into Derby again - but in the end I came back down through Aston and Weston, to Swarkestone Bridge. Back the usual way from there.

A bit different, don't think I've ever done that stretch between Shardlow and Swarkestone that way round before. Made a nice change.

(http://bikediary.uk/images/220619bike.jpg)

Took the pic near Weston. Lots of poppies out today, and a few fields of lavender. Very pretty.

My nostrils were assaulted by a powerfully pungent smell on Top Brand. I noticed some sort of tanker spreading a noxious liquid on a field about half a mile upwind. I was very glad to get past it. I wonder if our farmers have been buying processed sewage from the Dutch again?

The dead deer I noticed at the side of the road south of Melbourne was a bit whiffy as well.

It was cool at first, and rather cloudy. Regretted coming out in bare legs for the first half hour. But conditions warmed nicely later, and the sun came out.

32.37 miles.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7335050712

Took my life in my hands and spent too much time in South Yorkshire today. Still before Sheffield became too rapacious in its land grabs most will have been Derbyshire, but I suspect the locals are now well brainwashed into thinking they are the lower for of life that is a Yorkshireman...

Dropping down to Beauchief does give me the opportunity to do a climb of over 900ft of elevation gain. Most of it's a slog apart from the early bit and you can do big chunks on the big chain ring if you so desire. Unlike Fidler's Elbow, that's just a 562ft climb, but most is a constant 7-8% gradient and if you don't have a tailwind it's plod and slog city.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7335648057/

Did a Bosworth route on Saturday, christ it was warm! 
Struggling at the moment, and always seems to be breezy when I go out

Paid homage to Barton in the Beans as always, and another of my fave little hamlets called Upton. There is a cheese shop there, and a house with two retro petrol pumps in their front garden which always makes me smile

Quote from: Jonners on June 20, 2022, 09:55:45 AMDid a Bosworth route on Saturday, christ it was warm!
Struggling at the moment, and always seems to be breezy when I go out

Paid homage to Barton in the Beans as always, and another of my fave little hamlets called Upton. There is a cheese shop there, and a house with two retro petrol pumps in their front garden which always makes me smile

I haven't seen that, must take a detour through Upton some time.

Quote from: Slim on June 20, 2022, 11:44:56 AM

Quote from: Jonners on June 20, 2022, 09:55:45 AMDid a Bosworth route on Saturday, christ it was warm!
Struggling at the moment, and always seems to be breezy when I go out

Paid homage to Barton in the Beans as always, and another of my fave little hamlets called Upton. There is a cheese shop there, and a house with two retro petrol pumps in their front garden which always makes me smile

I haven't seen that, must take a detour through Upton some time.

Not a huge amount to see there, its literally a hamlet along a B road, but you cant miss the Petrol pumps, and teh Cheese shop has a little Cafe attached I believe as well 

Worth a detour though. Think I may have a picture outside the pumps, will dig it out

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10160693004730444&set=pb.621745443.-2207520000..&type=3

In Heather, about two miles from here there's a disused petrol station with two ancient, rusting petrol pumps that's now part of someone's garden.

I believe the petrol station closed about 40 years ago.

(https://i.ibb.co/5sJkRFL/hpetrolpump.jpg)

(https://i.ibb.co/WPhsQJG/heatherpetrol.jpg)

Quote from: Jonners on June 21, 2022, 08:55:27 AMNot a huge amount to see there, its literally a hamlet along a B road, but you cant miss the Petrol pumps, and the Cheese shop has a little Cafe attached I believe as well

Worth a detour though. Think I may have a picture outside the pumps, will dig it out

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10160693004730444&set=pb.621745443.-2207520000..&type=3

Checked it out on Street View and that is on one of the Twycross Bypasser versions (albeit a rarely used one) so I did actually miss the petrol pumps a few times. Will pay more attention next time.

And there is a big sign for the cheese shop, albeit in the entrance to a farm saying "This is not the entrance to the cheese shop" which always makes me smile

Today's plan was to pedal up through Coleorton, take the Beloved A Road west until I'd done about 20 miles - then come back the same way. A very common choice for a ride after work, when the wind's blowing from the west.

Warm and sunny out there, very bright. I did worry a little about my slightly-sunburned arms, but I smeared them liberally with an SPF30 product that I bought at Tesco yesterday. I did think of wearing a long-sleeved top, but bare limbs cycling days are so infrequent that I didn't want to waste one.

It was after 3pm when I left so hopefully the UV levels had dissipated. The arms seem to have done OK. The outer layer of skin has started to flake off this evening, but I think it was due to do that anyway. Unfortunately I'll be taking an occasional break to vacuum armdruff from my desk over the next couple of days.

This was actually the only time in my adult life I've ever used a sunscreen product. I've always relied on my natural dark-skinnedness, a product of my Iberian part-ancestry.

A lot of traffic out there, the busiest I've ever known it along the A road. A consequence of the rail strike, maybe?

I got to Hilton on 20 miles, then turned back.  However when I got to Swarkestone, instead of turning right to come back the same way, I turned left to come back through Weston, Aston, Shardlow and Donington. Exactly the same as Sunday, except the other way round. I probably wouldn't have done this except I was sick of waiting for a gap in the passing traffic to turn right.

I used my Casio GPS watch to track the ride. Did seem a bit easier to get the track off this time, maybe they've improved the app a bit.

It did occur to me in the heat and bright sunshine on the way back that I'd be doing most of that ride in the cold and dark, if I set off at the same time during the winter months.

Very pleasing run out. 48.11 miles. 509 this month.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7346820333

Quote from: Slim on June 21, 2022, 10:26:14 PMThis was actually the only time in my adult life I've ever used a sunscreen product.

I've not used any sunscreen this year. I start wearing short sleeves early in the season and just gradually pick up a bit of colour. My arms were nicely bronzed by the start of this week without any burning whatsoever.

Think I could have done with some the last couple of days though, there's no sign of burning - thanks to the tan - but I can feel it. Suppose I ought to be safe rather than sorry, but the days are shortening now.

Quote from: Nickslikk2112 on June 22, 2022, 05:18:37 PMSuppose I ought to be safe rather than sorry, but the days are shortening now.

Thanks for cheering us all up!

Quote from: David L on June 22, 2022, 05:42:50 PMThanks for cheering us all up!

Always look on the Bright side of life - has never been my motto :)

Is my glass half full or half empty? I don't know, some bastard's nicked it >:(

Had my good Giant in for a service. I knew that either the rear wheel bearings or freehub were on their way out because of the noise they were making when freewheeling, which is why I'd stopped riding the thing. What I hadn't noticed was quite how bad the braking track had worn. It's time for a new rear wheel. Arse. I'll stop riding that one in the rain in future.

No rain on today's ride and despite the heat I was quicker than last week. Wish I was as quick as a 13 year old kid up the road, he did a climb last night in ten minutes that took me 14 today. It's no fun being old.

Plenty of time after work this evening, but rain was due over at around 8pm. Cloudy and cool as I set off. I regretted wearing short sleeves again initially, but soon warmed up. Actually very pleasant indeed, once I got going. Until the rain came down, not at 8pm but at 4:30pm.

Happily it only lasted 15 minutes or so, and the sun came out after that - after which it was lovely and warm, and the bike and I dried off rapidly.

I'm typing this at about 9:15pm and actually it hasn't rained again, so I could have stayed out longer.

(http://bikediary.uk/images/220623bike.jpg)

I did a Twycross Bypasser I didn't go as far as Warton because it was raining when I got to the junction at Orton, so I took the quick way to Sheepy.

Came back across through Upton, hoping to see the two antique petrol pumps which are a revered local landmark, as regular readers of this thread will be aware. However I came through the village along the wrong road for that. Looking at the map, I'd need go down to Atterton Lane (which I do quite often) and head for Upton from there. I'll make a mental note.

Listened mostly to 5 Live. Today's Drive programme featured the Black Swimming Association.

Back on 33.84 miles, looking good for 600 this month. The forecast is for strong winds at the weekend, but otherwise decent conditions.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7357221825

quick question. I know I often have strong opinions about the tech side of things, but have never given much thought to cleats, and as a result pedals.

What type of cleats do people use, im a yellow SPD type. And how often do people replace

I was strongly advised not to go for red or blue, as with a history of knee issues I need some degree of flex/rotation at the pedal interface to revent further injuries

I use blue SPD, I can't say as I find them much different to yellow, but my knees don't take kindly to too much sideways movement.

I replace whenever they become too "chozzled" - if there are bits hanging off, or if the toe ends are worn away to black.

I use SPD-SL, never tried red but I like to have a bit of flex as well. Always the yellow ones.

I change them when they start to fail, ie when they won't clip in properly or consistently.

The Chinese copies are fine, they work just as well except that they don't last as long. But that's not a bad thing because the heads of the bolts can start to rot if you leave them in too long, so that it's harder to get a good fit with the Allen key. And of course the copies are cheaper.

I always put a bit of copper grease round the threads.

As for the pedals - those are always original Shimanos, the bog-standard metal ones or the lighter carbon ones on the lighter / posher bikes.

Quite a gusty wind blowing from the south and a threat of showers in the forecast. Not too warm. I thought of doing the southbound route, with no particular expectation of a distance.

I picked up a few spots of rain near Newbold Verdon. Then as I pedalled down Kirkby Lane, it started to rain properly. Another few seconds later and it was torrential, with hailstones mixed in - I was riding straight into the headwind, so they were clattering on my face. Without a doubt the worst conditions I have ever ridden in, so aggressive that I was nearly forced to get off the bike, but a minute later it was normal rain again.

I decided to cut across to Sutton Cheney at this point, and come back up through Market Bosworth. But by the time I got to Cheney I was rolling along a dry road, on a warm, sunny summer's day. It was as if I'd dreamed it, except that the bike and my clothes were still a bit damp. But they dried off quickly.  So I went west along Fenn Lanes instead, and did a partial Reverse Twycrosser with a detour through Barton in the Beans.

Quite a nice run out in the end, certainly more so with a tailwind and warm dry weather in the second half.

Listened mostly to Reacher. Quite enjoying it now. Plot unfolding nicely.

39.40, 582 this month.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7366454863

Didn't think I'd get out today. I was glued to watching the rainfall radar, trying to decide how accurate the timing of it was and the accuracy of the placing of the rain. Eventually, I just thought bugger it and went out. It looked like a dry slot.

Of course as soon as I went out it started tipping it down, but just riding a bit to the East got me away from it and after doing a circuit to check where the rain was going I headed off to the hills. Of course this then took me along wet roads - ugh, spray on legs - but the sun was out and the breeze wasn't too in my face.

I managed a nice ride to the tops, then dropped back down again and rode along to the next hill to the tops. By this time cloud was rolling in, but it looked like I'd skirt the rain. There was then a massive clap of thunder just off to my left and I got caught in some rain, but it soon abated. Once up top again I could see the rainover Chesterfield and over to my house which meant a ride back home on very, very wet roads, but with nice sunshine and a tailwind. I got soaked. My lovely Celeste bike turned brown :(

A nice ride though, my fourth 42 miler of the week taking me to 735 miles for June, which is more than this time in June last year.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7367119926/overview

I don't usually cycle on consecutive days but with plenty of time on my hands and the weather looking a little iffy over the next few days, another run out seemed a good idea. My knees have continued to improve and they're more robust than they were even a year ago so I felt sure they wouldn't mind.

Far from ideal conditions though, with a strong wind blowing from the south. But it was warm enough, with very little prospect of rain. I set off on the southbound route at about midday.

I took a detour over toward Bardon Hill from Ellistown, past the big industrial buildings and the Amazon distribution centre, but I was back on the usual track three miles later. However - after Bagworth, on a whim I decided to take a left instead of the usual right, and go down through Merry Lees and Botcheston. I took this option during the Christmas hols in a spirit of exploration, but hadn't done it again since. I took an earlier left to Ratby this time. I soon realised I was on the same road I was on a few weeks ago, when I ended up on the A50. So I was sure to take an early left turn to Markfield, to avoid doing the same again.

Back on 27.77 miles, felt like a lot of effort for a relatively modest haul. But it's not just about the distance. Since I hadn't been out on the old faithful Boardman for a while, I took this one with about half a mile to go.

(http://bikediary.uk/images/220626bike.jpg)

Listened to Reacher again, very good.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7372188768

Well, I was being very sad and watching the British Cycling Road Race championships today. But, the sun was out so I thought I better be.

The sun was nice, but it was bloody windy, quite a Southerly one too, which was nice. Perhaps. Not on the way back certainly. Kept my average speed down below 16 mph it did.

Mind, the average speed may have been knocked back a bit by trying a new hill to me. Strava says it averages 9%, my Garmin never went below 11% and I had to use first gear for the first time this year. I do do plenty of hills, but I don't care for them when they go over 8% it's too much like hard work. I cycle for fun.

Anyway, I managed 50 miles not another 42 miler which gets me to 785 for June.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7373192040/overview

windy wsnt it this weekend. Unpleasent ride south to hatton locks into a strong ish southerly. Journey back was easier, but knackered by then!

A cloudy afternoon, warm enough, dry, but very windy again. I wanted to do 30 or so, perhaps a Bypasser. But it was hard going pushing southward into the wind so I decided to keep it relatively short, and went straight down through Twycross rather than detouring off through Orton.

Much relief when I turned back northward, after Sibson.

(http://bikediary.uk/images/220628bike.jpg)

After Carlton I veered off toward Nailstone, something I haven't done for quite a while. I followed a sign to Ellistown from there. But when I got to the next junction, signage to Ellistown was inexplicably absent - so I followed a sign to Ibstock.

Back on 27.56 miles. 638 this month and looking at the forecast, that's most likely it for June.

Listened to Andrew Marr on LBC, since I wasn't particularly interested in what was happening at Wimbledon at the time. The prospect of a Scottish Independence referendum was the main topic. I was quite pleased to find that he took a relatively neutral approach - not as opinionated as some of the other LBC presenters.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7383378235

That cassette looks alarmingly dark, or is it a trick of the light?  (asking for a friend)

It's a bit grubby. They don't stay shiny very long.

Well, that's June over with now. Half way through the year. Nowhere near half the mileage of last year.

However 912 miles in June is better than last year's 838, looks like retirement is kicking in. Looks like old age is kicking in too, I'm consistently a minute down on one of the hills I do. Maybe it's down to not having done as much as last year. Maybe it's a lingering COVID effect. Still, I got nearly 70,000 feet of climbing done.

Got passed by a bloody e-bike today going uphill. Like that is so cheating. I clawed my way back to him along the flat afterwards, then sped by when the road went downhill :)

I have noticed a distinct deterioration in my performance since lockdown/covid, and the heart issues attributed to the jabs

and, im nearly 51. Nothing lasts forever, but I have very much enjoyed getting out and about this year so far, rather than the grind of the turbo trainer

Think I need something to aim for, and I do also fancy a new bike, but right now that is a bad idea financially, prices have rocketed

I noticed an improvement the last couple of years, thanks to getting out a lot with lockdown and furloughs, but this year my uphill has gone downhill. I did say at the end of last year that I thought 2021 would be peak cycling for me, I'm 60 next year so things definitely can't last.

I fancy a new bike - or two - but the cost is off-putting and Mrs S won't let me hang them from the walls like works of art...

I don't push myself to go fast but honestly, over distances I haven't noticed a degradation in form yet. I don't think I was any more tired and knackered after doing 176 miles last month than I was after doing (more or less) the same ride in 2017, when I was a young lad of 56.

I was thinking of doing Wales & back on Sunday but the forecast is "blustery showers". I think there's probably a nicer day for it before the daylight hours have receded too far.

choose your day carefully for a wales and back, wind from the east would make the 2nd half of the journey drag

Of course. I wouldn't even do 30 miles with a headwind on the way back.

Got a new rear wheel on my Black Giant  :)
Forgot to compare its weight to the old one. Might be lighter.
Nearly got the rear cassette wrong by putting a spacer in the wrong place, but it was pretty obvious.

Took the newly rewheeled bike out for a spin today. Thought it might be a bit quicker, but it wasn't. If anything it was slower, probably because it's got a better braking surface now...

Good job the rear brake surface worked as I very nearly got taken out today. I was going downhill and I noticed a car approach a junction from the right. It looked as if it might come out, then stopped. Then when I was almost upon it he pulled out, causing me to slam on my brakes and nearly hit the back of him. Why do drivers do it? Do their tiny minds just think "Cyclist = Slow"? You can see on Strava how I checked my speed when I saw the car approach the junction, then speed as when I thought he had stopped than a rapid slowing. At least I'd have met my doom knowing I was in the right.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7404617800

Note to weather gods- I know I missed cycling for most of April and all of May but I really don't need a reminder of what I missed in July. Thanks!

Quote from: dom on July 03, 2022, 01:08:14 PMNote to weather gods- I know I missed cycling for most of April and all of May but I really don't need a reminder of what I missed in July. Thanks!

How long have you lived in Ireland?  ;)

I didn't enjoy today's ride. Bloody wind again, nowhere near the light breeze of the BBC forecast. I reckon since I started riding seriously in 2016 it's got windier every year. Managed to pick up a bit of speed on the way back, but nowhere near as much as I'd lost on the way out.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7410116518

Although it was ultimately successful, I made a bit of a dog's breakfast of my mission to Wales and back in 2017 by taking a bike pump that I hadn't tested properly. Ever since, I've wanted to have another crack at it.

Today looked like the day, weather-wise. I was going to set off at about 0700 but I woke up at 0345. I was out of bed half an hour later, and I set off shortly after 0500. Fairly cold at that time of the morning, but I was wearing tights and a few layers on top. Once again the fields were swathed in clouds of mist, illuminated by the early sunlight light bright cotton wool. So pretty. And as you'd expect, the roads were so quiet at that time on a Sunday morning. I only saw two moving motor vehicles over the first six miles.

Unfortunately, from the fourth or fifth moving motor vehicle that I saw this morning, a young man leaned out of the passenger window and shouted WANKER! at the top of his voice as it went past, at considerable speed. This is why I'm glad we don't have a second amendment, because I'd have been taking shots through their rear window with one hand while steering the bike with the other.

I'd picked out a different route from the first Wales trip over the first 15 miles or so. I've done that stretch of roads before, but not for ages. I don't really get why it fell into disuse .. in recent years typically I'd go through Coton or Harlaston but this route, through Lullington and Edingale, is much better. Better roads and less hassle while still being quiet and scenic. But there are so many different options that it's hard to remember them all and I don't go that way so often, anyway. I'll make a note, though.

Really nice to reacquaint myself with the roads to the west of Stone, that I'd only ever done once before. I remembered taking pics at the same county boundary signs for Shropshire and Cheshire.

I arrived in Wales at 1159. The morning sunshine had given way to grey skies by this time, and the rain started. Although there is a "Welcome to Wales" sign I was rolling past it at some speed, so I didn't stop there. I settled for this one, which is much the same pic I took in 2017, but with a different bike.

(http://bikediary.uk/images/220703wales.jpg)

I checked my rear tyre carefully here. I had no particular reason to think that it might be punctured. It wasn't. But I spent an unhappy 20 minutes or so in the same spot five years ago, after realising that I had a puncture and my pump didn't work properly.

The rain followed me back into Shropshire, but it was very light and only lasted 15 minutes. After that it was dry all the way. Result! I'd fully expected to get rained on a few times, though I knew it would be dry after 5pm.

One minor glitch - the road had been closed off near Audlem on the way back for roadworks, but I was able to get by on the pavement.

I'd expected to be taking my tights and fleece off after 40 or so miles, but it wasn't that warm until 2pm-ish and I didn't bother taking them off until I only had 35 miles to go.

One really annoying thing - the A51 had been resurfaced after Colwich, and it was an awful surface to ride on - coarse gravel that had been sprayed with tar. This was definitely the finished article, because it had fresh white lines on. After I'd put up with it for three miles it I started to worry that I'd have another twenty miles of it, but fortunately there were only five miles of it in total. It didn't seem so bad on the way back, probably only because I knew when it would stop.

The lady in the petrol station where I bought some snacks and coffee on the way back recognised me from a similar shopping trip in the morning. "Have you been cycling all this time??", she wanted to know. I'd been in there at 0800 and it was about 1600 at this time. I told her that I'd set off at about 0500 and still had another 30 miles to do. "You'll definitely sleep tonight", she suggested. And I think she's right, actually I'm half asleep now.

Strange to go past the power station at Rugeley with the cooling towers gone. On the outbound part I took a wrong turn and went through the town, rather than past the power station.

The way back was a breeze, with a bit of a tailwind, nice afternoon sunshine and plenty of gently descending flat bits.

Saw a couple of Spitfires, late in the day - or perhaps the same one, if it had looped round. I heard that distinctive Merlin engine growl and looked up to see the unmistakable shape. Not exactly air display altitude, but very recognisable.

I listened to LBC first thing in the morning and that was really good actually, though why people are taking part in a phone-in show at 5 in the morning on a Sunday is beyond me. Later, a bit of 6 Music and Wimbledon / Silverstone on 5 Live. Then Reacher. I'd only meant to listen to an hour or two of it but I found it really compelling and listened for about four hours, right until the end.

Really a nice, nostalgic ride out and glad to have finally ticked the Wales box again. Back on 142.7 miles. Fourth 100 miler and fifteenth Fondo of the year.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7410440746

Quote from: Slim on July 03, 2022, 10:51:17 PMUnfortunately, from the fourth or fifth moving motor vehicle that I saw this morning, a young man leaned out of the passenger window and shouted WANKER! at the top of his voice as it went past, at considerable speed. This is why I'm glad we don't have a second amendment, because I'd have been taking shots through their rear window with one hand while steering the bike with the other.

You need one of these:
(http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5484/11328882013_b05aa6f5fa_z.jpg)

Quote from: Nickslikk2112 on July 03, 2022, 09:57:24 PM

Quote from: dom on July 03, 2022, 01:08:14 PMNote to weather gods- I know I missed cycling for most of April and all of May but I really don't need a reminder of what I missed in July. Thanks!

How long have you lived in Ireland?  ;)

I didn't enjoy today's ride. Bloody wind again, nowhere near the light breeze of the BBC forecast. I reckon since I started riding seriously in 2016 it's got windier every year. Managed to pick up a bit of speed on the way back, but nowhere near as much as I'd lost on the way out.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7410116518

Nick I've been in Ireland for over 18 years now and you do get nice days in July.  You're right though, I shouldn't expect them!

A 35km spin that I intended to do without stopping but the journey out was into a nasty headwind. I was wrecked by the time I got to Kells, so I stopped for a coffee, a bun and a Lucozade.  The homeward leg was a breeze in comparison with the wind on my back (and some spitting rain) and I wondered if I'd kept going whether it would have been ok.  I imagine that all the sugar helped though!

I'll never be ceased to be amazed by these lengthy day trips Slim!  There needs to be a super kudos option on Strava!

Quote from: Slim on July 03, 2022, 10:51:17 PMSaw a couple of Spitfires, late in the day - or perhaps the same one, if it had looped round. I heard that distinctive Merlin engine growl and looked up to see the unmistakable shape. Not exactly air display altitude, but very recognisable.

Managed to find flight data for a Spitfire that overflew Edingale and Lullington at 17:38 yesterday, at a height of 3950 ft. I pinpointed my position at that time using the track off my Garmin and I was about 420 metres to the north of it at this time, just to the west of Lullington.

https://planefinder.net/flight/GRRGN/time/2022-07-03T16:10:00.000Z/speed/1

This does match my recollection that it was going in the same direction as myself.

Apparently it belongs to Rolls-Royce, a Mark XIX. So it was actually a Griffon engine that I heard, not a Merlin.

https://www.nottinghampost.com/news/local-news/iconic-second-world-war-aircraft-4736868

The one I saw later wasn't the same one, this one landed at East Midlands Airport ten minutes later.

Glad to know that Royces still own a Spit. I saw their Spitfire XIV overfly our offices in Derby in 1990. Sadly that one was lost in a fatal crash two years later at the Woodford Air Show.

Lovely afternoon again, warm and sunny. I set off with the intention of doing a Twycross Bypasser at 1552. There was a fair old breeze coming from the north-west and a Twycrosser (or Bypasser) mostly takes place to the south-west so not ideal, but I was looking forward to the cosy familiarity of a frequent ride as a sort of warm-down from Wales.

However, unaccountably, I forgot to take the turn to Norton on the road down to Twycross, so I continued all the way down there. I did the detour to Orton from there, though.

Went right down to Mythe Lane and across Atterton Lane, to the A444, which I took all the way up to Gibbet Lane. I don't usually do that long a stretch of A444, preferring to turn for Bosworth or Shenton more often that not. But it was fine.

I was listening to Marr on LBC as this evening's news came through, but I'll post about that in the Politics section.

Anyway - back up through Ibstock and home on 32.62 miles - which takes me to 2901 this year.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7420486036

Went over 3,000 miles for the year today. Thankfully no duty cobbles were involved.
It was bloody windy again though. On the sheltered bottom half of the Harewood Road climb I was going well, then when the trees disappeared it was into a block headwind.

Another glorious afternoon, an ideal candidate for an early exit from work. The wind was coming from the north-west and it wasn't particularly light, but it was properly warm and sunny out there.

Set off fully intending to go up over Swarkestone Bridge then west but before I got to the turn for Coleorton I'd decided to do a Twycross Bypasser instead.

(http://bikediary.uk/images/220707bike.jpg)

I did a bit of the old Dad's Army route at the bottom end. Nice down there. I went through Upton, but I didn't see the two old petrol pump ornaments I was looking for last time. I must plan a route to go past them.

Up through Bosworth, Barton and Burgoland. Back on 39.28 miles.

Tuned into 5 Live for their all-day political celebrations, very pleased with themselves for their victory over ordinary people as you'd expect.

Back on 39.28 miles. Lovely run out. I'm almost getting used to going out with bare limbs, but I'll certainly miss it when I'm pulling on overtrousers over jogging pants in two fleeces in five months' time.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7431467152

Forgot to put my cycling gloves on today. The backs of my hands have got sunburnt.

Great ride on the mountain bikes today from our campsite in Hope. Lots of climbing (and a bit of pushing!). Went up and over to Ladybower reservoir and stopped for a swim and our packed lunch at Slippery Stones. Nice and warm but the water was cold!
The wife did brilliant, really getting the hang of the challenging descents.
Had covered just over 30 miles by the time we got back to the village

I imported my four favoured Fondo routes onto the same map. Upper West, Lower West, East and South.

I'd like to have a North route really but Derby and Nottingham are in the way and it can get hilly up there. I wonder if I could find one that goes north to the west of Derby.


(https://i.ibb.co/SdjKHQM/fondos.jpg)

Quote from: David L on July 08, 2022, 09:31:59 PMGreat ride on the mountain bikes today from our campsite in Hope. Lots of climbing (and a bit of pushing!). Went up and over to Ladybower reservoir and stopped for a swim and our packed lunch at Slippery Stones. Nice and warm but the water was cold!

Funny you should mention that, a piece about the drowned village (Derwent) came up in my YouTube suggestions this morning. From four years ago, though.

Nick - were you out on the Bianchi today? We were at the bus stop today at Aston Lane, Hope when a cyclist passed at around 13:50. Saw another coming back through Castleton an hour later (Sheffield direction).
Was it you?

Quote from: David L on July 09, 2022, 08:47:14 PMNick - were you out on the Bianchi today? We were at the bus stop today at Aston Lane, Hope when a cyclist passed at around 13:50. Saw another coming back through Castleton an hour later (Sheffield direction).
Was it you?

No, I was out on the Giant today. Didn't get out 'til 15:30 either, I was slumped watching the Tour de France. There's something Zen about just watching a big pack of cyclists heading through the countryside.

After feeling not at all like a cyclist last Sunday, I'm getting back round to enjoying things again. Strava even reckons I'm about as fit as this time last year, but whatever metrics it uses for that it's a pile of piffle. I'm still a good 5-10% down on the uphill from this time last year. Although I did set a PB on one climb today, but it was only my fourth attempt and the others have been out of peak season. Not nice to be beaten by Candy Crapper and Mernard Banning though.

Set a best time for me on the Abney descent today, which surprised me as I had no intention of doing so. I'd rather go down it on a disc braked bike than a rim braked one, and I got held up by an old fart in a mobility scooter.

I'd hoped the ride would come out at 50 miles, but it turned out to be 55. I can spend 20 minutes longer watching the Tour de France tomorrow now.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7441915652/

A shorter route than Friday's today. From Komoot, we did 'The Shattered Road - Hope valley views loop from Hope'.
First part takes you up Mam Tor via the collapsed road, interesting! Reaching the highest point of 1800ft then remaining above 1000ft until a couple of miles from Castleton. Loads of variety in the featured terrain. Slightly spoilt by the unrideable section back into Castleton behind Peverill Castle.
2hrs 35min in the saddle, 16.6 miles. Stunning weather giving stunning views in all directions. Very enjoyable second ride of the holiday.

First time out for ages due to work travel, holidays to Greece and illness. Nearly boiled alive!

Hot and sunny out there, this afternoon. I particularly wanted to do a Twycross Bypasser, because I wanted to take some landscape pics, in pursuance of my hobby of identifying distant objects. To this end I took a decent zoom compact as well as my phone. I'm particularly interested in a pointy little hill, just visible from Orton Lane in the right conditions, which I think is near Dudley, nearly 30 years away.

I found the road closed by a metal barrier near Warton. A charity run was taking place, with people dressed in pale blue Cancer Research shirts running towards me. I told one of the stewards who was handing out bottles of water that I'd weave through them carefully and she just asked me to take it easy. I was tempted to ask her for a bottle of water, but I didn't. I did run out of fluids on this ride which is unusual, and I certainly enjoyed my post-ride beer straight out of the fridge.

I pressed on past the barrier and ploughed through the oncoming runner traffic, deliberately and slowly. A lot of them were walking, anyway. Don't blame them, it was bloody hot.

(http://bikediary.uk/images/220710bike.jpg)

I took this pic with my compact, to be fair I think the phone performs just as well in these conditions.

Annoyingly I forgot to turn the bike computer back on after one of the stops so I had to repair the track using https://www.routemaster.app/.

Very glad I did the Wales trip last weekend, would have been cruel and unusual in today's weather.

34.24 miles, that's 249 this month. I want to get to 500 this month if I can.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7447712694

It was indeed hot out there today. I drained two bidons in 41 miles today as against two in 55 yesterday. If I had any sense I'd have gone out this morning, but I had a bit of a red wine head. Barbera d'Asti always seems to affect the insides of my head than other reds.

I tried keeping a high cadence in a low gear today to try and avoid too much strain. Didn't seem to work as my average cadence was the same as last time I did a similar ride, but the Summer Giant is more highly geared than the Winter Giant.

The air was very clear today, up on Beeley Moor I could see over to where the gliding club above Great Hucklow is and then over to the Kinder plateau and the moors above Buxton. Looking the other way I could see over to Hardwick Hall. Couldn't tell if the Trent Valley Power Stations were visible though.

I did see a Paddy Wagon with its blues and twos going up on Beeley Moor. Rather an incongruous place for that to be happening as there are only a few farms knocking about.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7447384990/overview

Went out for my Tuesday regular - must start mixing things up - and it rained. It was lovely - for once!

A cloudy day, but an improbably, uncomfortably warm one. I downed tools early with the intention of doing 40 or so.

Because the wind was blowing from the west, I thought I'd go up over Swarkestone Bridge and along the Beloved A Road for a bit. However I breezed past the turn for Coleorton and found myself going down Alton Hill on autopilot - as if I was doing a Twycrosser. But I wasn't. I didn't fancy tracking back up Alton Hill so I decided to press on, through Ashby and Ticknall and get to Swarkestone Bridge that way.

Unfortunately at the roundabout north of Ashby, I took the wrong turn. I've navigated that roundabout many times, but nearly always in the opposite direction. Undeterred, I made my way to Melbourne via Lount. My unintentional detour had added about 4 miles, but I wasn't short of time.

Remarkably, I picked up a bit of rain. For the life of me I couldn't see a cloud likely to be the culprit, but I did get rained on lightly for a few minutes. It was rather pleasant.

(http://bikediary.uk/images/220712bike.jpg)

I did the A road as far as Hilton then turned back, but I decided to come back via Isley Walton to extend the ride a bit.

That really was a breeze, 47.13 miles but felt more like 35. So warm out there, actually a bit surreal to be doing a ride I associate more with the cold and dark in those conditions - and still have a couple of hours of daylight to spare.

A juvenile grouse (I think) ran out in front of me not long after I set off and I nearly collided with it. But it escaped from our encounter unscathed.

Mostly listened to Tory leadership fun on 5 Live and LBC.

296 miles this month, pleased with that because I'll have less time for cycling in the latter half of July.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7458422979

Thought I'd picked up a bit of gravel stuck to my tyre with molten tar today on the last bit of my ride. Got home and noticed there was a nail sticking out of the tyre. Good job it's tubeless as it sealed, otherwise I'd have been changing an inner tube at the side of the road.

Pulled out the nail and gave the cranks a good turn to spin the wheel and the sealant didn't seal it. Got rubber in my hair and all over a nice Celeste coloured bicycle. Well, it did about seal it eventually, but when I pumped it up to pressure it popped again. Now seeing if an Anchovy Fillet will deal with it. Swings and roundabouts on tubed vs Tubeless.

Thankfully the Anchovy fillet did its job and I didn't get my arse sprayed with warm white gunk :)

Yesterday we did the ' Clough's Lane Coombes Rd Loop - from Youlgreabe'.
Around 20 miles on a variety of surfaces. Included a stop at Druid Inn, Birchover; The Peacock, Rowsley and The Rutland Arms, Bakewell.
So, today should have been a rest day but a chance conversation at the campsite made me plan a route to find a couple of pubs we'd not visited before.
We headed out to Gt. Longstone via Ashford In The Water. Up to Longstone Edge and a stop at The Red Lion, Litton. Then on to Cressbrook and up to the Monsal Head Hotel. Sadly this place has seen better days. The nice little bar adjacent, The Stables, is now closed. A short cycle to The Packhorse at Little Longstone made up for our disappointment. Great little pub.
Finally, we dropped into The Bull's Head at Ashford and enjoyed a bottle of Rosé and a superb steak and ale pie.
A lovely supplementary ride before our planned route up to Curbar tomorrow.

Just returned from completing 'Gate view from Baslow Edge - Froggat'
Taking in Chatsworth, Baslow (Prince Of Wales - Thornbridge Green Mountain IPA - keg)), Baslow Edge, Curbar Edge, Curbar, Calver, Calver Peak, Rowland, Hassop, Great Longstone and Ashford in the Water (Bull's Head - Robinsons Dizzy Blonde - cask)).
22.3 miles in 3h 4min, 2425ft of climbing.
That's the last of our 'proper' rides for this trip. Might have a quick trip out to Youlgreave tomorrow for a picnic and a swim in the river.

Quote from: David L on July 15, 2022, 06:19:09 PMMight have a quick trip out to Youlgreave tomorrow for a picnic and a swim in the river.

Wye? Oh no, Bradford or Lathkill.

Ah'll get me coit...

Quote from: Nickslikk2112 on July 15, 2022, 06:24:26 PM

Quote from: David L on July 15, 2022, 06:19:09 PMMight have a quick trip out to Youlgreave tomorrow for a picnic and a swim in the river.

Wye? Oh no, Bradford or Lathkill.

Ah'll get me coit...

Bradford

https://peakdistrictkids.co.uk/youlgreave-swimming/

Quote from: David L on July 15, 2022, 06:30:49 PM

Quote from: Nickslikk2112 on July 15, 2022, 06:24:26 PM

Quote from: David L on July 15, 2022, 06:19:09 PMMight have a quick trip out to Youlgreave tomorrow for a picnic and a swim in the river.

Wye? Oh no, Bradford or Lathkill.

Ah'll get me coit...

Bradford

https://peakdistrictkids.co.uk/youlgreave-swimming/

But will there be watter in it? It's bin waarm an' Lathkill at least allers dries up, check before diving in :)

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ec/Dried_up_swimming_pool%2C_River_Bradford_-_geograph.org.uk_-_2654938.jpg/800px-Dried_up_swimming_pool%2C_River_Bradford_-_geograph.org.uk_-_2654938.jpg?20210920191107)

Quote from: Nickslikk2112 on July 15, 2022, 09:10:23 PM

Quote from: David L on July 15, 2022, 06:30:49 PM

Quote from: Nickslikk2112 on July 15, 2022, 06:24:26 PM

Quote from: David L on July 15, 2022, 06:19:09 PMMight have a quick trip out to Youlgreave tomorrow for a picnic and a swim in the river.

Wye? Oh no, Bradford or Lathkill.

Ah'll get me coit...

Bradford

https://peakdistrictkids.co.uk/youlgreave-swimming/

But will there be watter in it? It's bin waarm an' Lathkill at least allers dries up, check before diving in :)

Bombshell...every time ;D

Rode out the short 3.5 miles to the wild swimming spot at Youlgreave.
(Luckily plenty of water in the river Bradford. Great few hours on the packed riverbank soaking up the sun)
That's our Peak Disrict cycling done...until we return to Hope for August bank holiday weekend (The Old Hall Hotel beerfest)
What a great trip!

I really must ride out further into the Peak, there's plenty of roads out there I haven't done and it would be nice to ride out to Macclesfield and back to do the Cat and Fiddle again, but COVID seems to have limited my horizons, although in today's warmth I didn't want to get to far from home in case I got heat stroke, but it wasn't that warm. Warm enough though.

Warm enough that I was limited to 50 miles as that's how long two bidons lasted me. Like the Queen I don't carry money with me so can't stop to buy anything, not that I actually go by anywhere I could have purchased anything anyway. Chesterfield may be a town of 100,000 people but you can soon get away from it all - a good thing most would say.

I did think I was the only cyclist out there this afternoon, but up on the tops there were one or two about, nice to have it a couple of degrees cooler and a bit of breeze.

Up to 491 miles for July now. Mrs S thinks I should stay indoors now for a few days, but you've got to make hay whilst the sun shines, be remiss of me to not do 21 miles tomorrow to get to 200 for the week.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7479621901

We love the mtb trails around these parts. Scenery is stunning, as are most of the pubs.
The climbs are challenging but nothing too scary or long - unless the surface makes it impossible to get any purchase. We have discussed changing cassettes to add a tooth or two. I had mine replaced last year and lost a tooth as the shop did not have a direct replacement.I think the wife would find life much easier too with a cassette more suited to the terrain in the peaks. Having said that, she's becoming something of a grimpeur!

I must be some sort of grimpeur - although I don't feel like one -as most of my best hill times are done on a bike with 52/36 chainrings and an 11-28 cassette. I'm not as quick on the Bianchi which has 50/34 chainrings and an 11-30 cassette, must be down to the Bianchi being a tad heavier than the Giant TCR.

Another warm one today. Think I'll stay in on Tuesday. 30C is manageable, but much above that is too much. After two hours what water was left in my bidons was just too warm to drink, I'd had them - half full - in the freezer before I went out, but they were soon ice free. Don't know how they cope in the TdF at 40C doing over 100 miles at 25 mph, even with sticking ice packs down their backs.

At least I've got to over 500 miles for July.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7485144072

I'm pondering going for a gentle bike ride after work this afternoon. The UV will be less fierce after 3pm, but the temperature will be 37 at 5pm and won't dip below 30 until after 9pm. I suspect I probably won't.

An intensely hot day. I hadn't had a chance to go cycling for a few days so I decided to brave the heat after work. Left it until about 5:35pm before setting off. It was still 36 degrees C out there, but at least the UV levels would have diminished somewhat.

I did a short version of the Twycrosser, that takes a left to Bilstone and Congerstone then comes up through Shackerstone.

(http://bikediary.uk/images/220718bikehot.jpg)

Obviously I took it easy, but I really wasn't too uncomfortable. Nonetheless I thought it best to keep it short. Drank plenty of water, even though it was warm after half an hour. Maybe tea's the thing to take in your bidon in weather like this.

I didn't see a single other cyclist out there for the first 18 miles, after which I did see a young man in t-shirt and shorts on a hybrid.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7490589329

22.71 miles, 319 this month, 3045 this year.

Good on yer James, but it was too hot yesterday. I was going to get up early today and get out whilst it was cooler, but mananaged to oversleep and the air temperature was 35C at half nine.

I cleaned the Cannondale on Monday, taking advantage of the hot weather to dry it off quickly. Used my Park Tool chain cleaner for the first time. It must have done some good because the degreaser went a very dark colour, but the chain still emerged with a thin film of dark gunk clinging to its sides.

I'll GT85 it later, will be interested to see how much muck comes out.

There are still some bits of grime hanging on to the nooks and crannies on the bike, but ah well.

What degreaser do you guys use? I use a citrus one that I bought from Amazon in a large container, but how good it is - I don't know.

Quote from: Slim on July 20, 2022, 11:40:46 AMI cleaned the Cannondale on Monday, taking advantage of the hot weather to dry it off quickly. Used my Park Tool chain cleaner for the first time. It must have done some good because the degreaser went a very dark colour, but the chain still emerged with a thin film of dark gunk clinging to its sides.

I'll GT85 it later, will be interested to see how much muck comes out.

There are still some bits of grime hanging on to the nooks and crannies on the bike, but ah well.

What degreaser do you guys use? I use a citrus one that I bought from Amazon in a large container, but how good it is - I don't know.

I use Mobi (also citrus) from Wiggle. No problems using it with the Park chain cleaner - chain comes up shiny as new. Needs rinsing off with water (use the Park tool for that too). I use a Park sprocket brush for the cassette.
Once dry, re-lube with Muc-Off Dry lube - job's a good 'un

I'd picked out today as ideal for a post-work Fondo out east from the weather forecast a few days ago, but light rain struck unexpectedly. It had stopped by early afternoon, but the roads were a bit damp when I set off. Not for long though. By the time I was in Coalville, two miles away the roads were completely dry, so we must have had very localised weather.

I wasn't troubled by precipitation for the rest of the ride either.


(http://bikediary.uk/images/220721bike.jpg)

Very annoyingly a stretch of Ashby Road near Zouch has been resurfaced, if I can dignify what they've done with the term, by scattering heaps of sharp, dusty gravel on it.

I turned round after 30.8 miles, because I intended to do a detour via Diseworth on the way back - to avoid some of the gravel. Nice to have a tailwind on the way back. I especially love to see wind turbines pointing in the right direction, in the distance. I did the Rempstone / Wymeswold route on the way back.

Nice weather for it, intermittently cool and slightly warm. I thought a lot about my mum, and our home in Hartlepool leaving the family tomorrow, especially as the afternoon drew on. I felt an urge to be there again one last time, to see the sun go down in the back garden where I played as a kid.

I'd been looking forward to doing the eastbound Fondo again for a while but I was so preoccupied that it mostly sort of washed over me. But it was good to get out for a few hours.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7506778428

63.26 miles.

Quote from: Slim on July 21, 2022, 11:49:27 PMI'd picked out today as ideal for a post-work Fondo out east from the weather forecast a few days ago, but light rain struck unexpectedly. It had stopped by early afternoon, but the roads were a bit damp when I set off. Not for long though. By the time I was in Coalville, two miles away the roads were completely dry, so we must have had very localised weather.

When we were away the other week, we had an afternoon out in Hathersage. Whilst enjoying some food and drink at The Bank House, a cyclist stopped for a break at the table next to us. A grizzled, bearded old fella, probably in his sixties (hard to tell as he kept his helmet and shades on). I couldn't help but strike up a conversation with him. He was a member of the Coalville Wheelers (had the club colours on). A club of some standing, established in 1930.
Really nice guy. He told us he'd done 130kms to get him there. He told us about the extensive cycling he'd done (and still does) on the continent. I think he's probably done all the notorious climbs, he embarrassed me with his experience.
Had a nice Cannondale with Ultegra components. A real road warrior, he was. Unfortunately, he' had a heart attack recently and we discussed the nature of that particular event given that he'd been an active cyclist all his life. He has family history so clearly it is pretty difficult to avoid issues in that instance, even if you are as fit as a fiddle. He seemed to be recovering well after treatment though and was just getting on with it, regardless.
It was a pleasant 30 minutes or so in his company before he set off up the High Street, presumably to cover the 60 or 70 miles required to return to Coalville

Hoped to do about 40 today. A pretty much perfect day for cycling, easily warm enough for bare legs but decently mild, and the wind was light. I decided on a Twycross Bypasser, mostly because I wanted to pursue my hobby of identifying distant objects on the horizon, but also because the wind was coming from the south-west.

I did a long version, going up to Packington at the top, across to Warton on the left, right along Fenn Lanes at the bottom and right over to Kirkby Mallory on the right.

Unusually, I came back home through Hugglescote from Ellistown, rather than through Ibstock. I used to do this quite often a year or three back and I'm not sure why it fell into disuse. I was only reminded of it a week or two ago when I was with 'er indoors when she was driving back from Ellistown, and she came the same way herself. Probably 99%, literally, of my rides involve coming home along Heather Lane, or down the main road from Ibstock, or along Ashby Road from Coleorton. So today's ride was in the 1%. A nice change.

Back on 42.62 miles.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7515627945

Quote from: David L on July 22, 2022, 12:51:04 AMWhen we were away the other week, we had an afternoon out in Hathersage. Whilst enjoying some food and drink at The Bank House, a cyclist stopped for a break at the table next to us. A grizzled, bearded old fella, probably in his sixties (hard to tell as he kept his helmet and shades on). I couldn't help but strike up a conversation with him. He was a member of the Coalville Wheelers (had the club colours on). A club of some standing, established in 1930.
Really nice guy. He told us he'd done 130kms to get him there.

I was in the Wheelers myself for a year. Their clubhouse is just south of the bottom end of Top Brand, I pass it very often. I joined up when my knees were still at an early stage of recovery to see if I could benefit from other peoples' experiences and advice (and to get the club discount on physiotherapy / sports injury treatment), but I never actually went riding with them in the end.

They're mostly about times and competitions, not really my thing.

Did only my second Fondo of the year today - been a funny old year - and the first of the year with over 5,000 ft of elevation gain, which was nice.

Not an especially nice day, cloudy, bit of a stiff SW breeze on the tops, but a Goldilocks temperature. Even though I was trying to keep well within myself, I set best times of the year on a couple of my regular climbs. On the big climb of the day - 1,000ft of gain, but you only end up 732ft higher - I was setting decent times compared to past years. Maybe the legs are finally getting into it. There were lots of bloody sheep to avoid though. I'm surprised there aren't a few flat ones given the way half the population seem to drive.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7516773842

Went for a spin yesterday morning before going with my son to the Bray Air Show.

27kms at 22km/h. Below the sort of spin I'd normally be at at this time of year  but fair enough as I'm on recovery mode after the stent operation just over a month ago.

Anyway I was into the last 3 to 4 kilometres of the trip when I started feeling nauseous. I had to stop thinking I was going to be sick. I wasn't so I took the last bit of the journey very lesuirely and made it home.

15 mins of laying down and I was back to normal. Never experienced that on a bike before. I have on occasion after over-exertion in the gym.

I'm putting it down to the fact that I hadn't had much to eat the evening beforebut I'd be interested to hear if anyone else has been through this?

I haven't had that myself, even after 140+ miles (although I don't do any substantial distance at 22km/h). I'd be concerned that you're not fully recovered and you're making your ticker work too hard - of course that's not an informed opinion, just a thought based on your recent experience.

Maybe do 20km rides for a bit and go a bit slower?

Quote from: dom on July 25, 2022, 03:50:06 PM27kms at 22km/h.

What's that in real money?

QuoteAnyway I was into the last 3 to 4 kilometres of the trip when I started feeling nauseous. I had to stop thinking I was going to be sick. I wasn't so I took the last bit of the journey very lesuirely and made it home.

15 mins of laying down and I was back to normal. Never experienced that on a bike before. I have on occasion after over-exertion in the gym.

I'm putting it down to the fact that I hadn't had much to eat the evening beforebut I'd be interested to hear if anyone else has been through this?

I sometimes feel sick before a ride, but that's just nerves.

Anyhoo, I learned something new today, it was my first time changing brake pads on a bike with hydraulic disk brakes. Got the old pads out, put new ones in, but no room for the disc rotor to slot back in. Seems that on hydraulic brakes the brake pistons move out as the pads wear down and you have to get them back in again. Took the gradual insertion of thicker and more strips of plastic to push them back. Jobs a good 'un now.

The rain came down in bucketloads a couple of times during the day but by 4pm, when I'd removed the X from its perch, only a few puddles remained. A pretty powerful wind was coming from the west, but I only wanted to do 35 or so. I wanted to examine the view from Little Orton through binoculars, which I took in my backpack - so I did a Bypasser.

Once again, warm enough for bare legs. I must be on the longest unbroken run of legs-out cycling in my cycling career. Decently bright when I set off, but by the time I was pushing along the right turn to Norton Juxta Twycross, conditions had gone ominously crepuscular and a couple of spots of rain had made their presence felt. I was actually glad of the wind I was struggling against because it looked like it was going to push the rain clouds over and make way for blue skies. And it did. Twenty minutes or so later, warm sunshine. I did a bit of the Dad's Army route at the bottom, just to give myself a tailwind for a bit longer after I turned back. Which was very enjoyable.

The sky went a bit gloomy again for the last half hour, but it didn't rain.

Back on 38.26 miles. 463 miles this month, which is 63 over target. If I can do another 60 this month, I'll only have to exceed the remaining monthly targets by 50 in total to hit 5,000 this year.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7527605789

A year or two ago I had the idea of doing a bike ride that would take in every village in North-West Leicestershire with a name ending in "stone". I think I did plan a route back then, but I never got round to it.

Last night I planned a new one anyway - it came to about 36 miles, perfect for this evening because I wanted to be back by about 7pm to stand a decent chance of not getting rained on.

So I set off at about 3:30pm and pedalled through Thringstone, Swepstone, Snarestone, Bilstone, Congerstone, Shackerstone, Odstone, Nailstone, Barlestone and finally Ravenstone.

Mostly roads I've already done before many times on previous rides but there were a couple of parts I hadn't done - Church Hill near Thringstone and the road through Barlestone.

I had to keep referring to the GPX app on my phone on the handlebars so it wasn't the most relaxing ride but anyway, glad to have done it.

I was threatened by some very dark clouds and was convinced I was going to get rained on at some point, but I wasn't.

Back on 37.35 miles (and actually I could have done it in fewer but I took the long way through Ibstock on the way back). And that's 500 this month.

I could possibly extend the ride to take in Aylestone and Whetstone one day, but those are a fair way to the east and would add about 25 miles I suspect.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7538851342

Noticed that one of the tyres on the Cannondale is delaminating. The outer surface is coming off like a Tesco 'Easy Peeler' satsuma.

Unfortunate because there's a distinctive white line pattern that matches the other tyre, and I'm not taking that off because it's fine at the moment.

I can't be bothered trying to stick it down with rubber glue so I've bought a pair of Conti Ultra Sport IIIs. Well reviewed and less than £10 each from Wiggle at the moment. Will keep one as a spare.

Got three 42 mile rides in this week to get me over 800 miles for July. Hopefully get to 900 at the weekend.

Hopefully, as yesterday I got stung on the ankle by a Bumblebee. I learned something new, that Bumblebees can sting repeatedly. I thought I'd be OK riding today, but my ankle swelled up quite considerably on the ride Been quite painful too, but appears to be subsiding now. I'd always thought Bumblebee stings weren't as bad as Honey Bee or Wasps, but this has been the worst I've had, perhaps due to the multiple sting aspect.

I didn't realise honey bees and bumblebees were two different things!

Quote from: Slim on July 29, 2022, 09:03:15 AMI didn't realise honey bees and bumblebees were two different things!

We have one native species of Honey Bee and 24 Bumblebee species. Bumblebees only live in small colonies and don't produce much honey.

The one that got me was a Tree Bumblebee - the only one I can recognise with certainty, due to its ginger thorax - I've just read that it's the most aggressive European species and it's only been in the UK since 2001. I can only assume that it got hit by my leg as it was flying along and didn't take kindly to it.

Quite a nice afternoon - cloudy but quite warm, and only light winds. There was a mild threat of rain in the forecast, though. I thought to do about 40 miles.

Since the wind was coming from the east I decided on the eastbound route. But when I got to Prestwold Park I decided to go left through Hoton, along the "Lost Road" then back home the old way through Wymeswold and Rempstone.

(http://bikediary.uk/images/220729bike.jpg)

After Zouch though I detoured through Shepshed to avoid the crappy road surface on Ashby Road. I'd forgotten about that for the outbound trip, might take the detour both ways next time. Pleasant change, anyway.

Back on 38.15 miles. The weather looks iffy on Sunday and I have a lunch appointment that day anyway, so that may well be it for July.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7549635968

I'm still suffering from a swollen stiffy - anklewise - following Wednesday's Bumblebee sting. Can't believe it's had such a long lasting effect. Would probably have been better if I'd been stung on a fleshier part of the body.

So, I just went out for a couple of hours today, I think actually the swelling went down a bit on the ride, but I couldn't quite put the effort in I normally do and bumpy roads didn't help one bit. The road up from Cutthorpe had been shut this week for all the road markings to be repainted. Why I don't know as all the car drivers ignore them anyway. What the road really needs is resurfacing, but there's nobody within the council highways department who's that smart.

Today's 33 miles gets me to 871 for July, hoepfully I can get out tomorrow to do the 29 to get me to 900.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7555075799/overview

Didn't think the weather would be suitable for a run out today but the rain had dried up by midday, and by the time I got home from a restaurant at about 4:45pm, conditions were set to be warm and dry for the rest of the day. Not a hint of a puddle when I set off at about 5:10pm.

I wanted to do 36 miles, to bring my yearly tally to 3300 - because that would mean that I only have to fulfil the remaining monthly targets to end up on 5,000 miles in 2022.

The wind was coming from the west, and a bit stronger (I thought) than advertised on the forecast. I did a Twycross Bypasser, going through Upton and Shenton to Bosworth.

Really nice out there and visibility across into Warwickshire from Orton Lane was superb - I had a really clear view of the tops of the tall buildings in Birmingham 19 miles away and wished I'd brought binoculars.


(http://bikediary.uk/images/220731bike.jpg)
Saw a hare running towards me on the road between Shenton and Bosworth. It stopped when it saw me, then when I got within 40 metres or so it turned and ran the other way before darting into the hedge.

A few powered hang gliders were pootling around in the skies near Norton - one of them appeared to be coming in to land in the field on my right but it swooped up and took to the air again. Looks like a lot of fun.

It's Scarecrow Festival weekend in Heather. I was pleased to see a lot of people out and about and enjoying the various creations people had put out in their front gardens when I passed through in the car earlier - nice that these quaint rural traditions are still popular - and I stopped to have a closer look at one of them when I came back through later on the bike. It featured the Queen on a makeshift balcony, the Red Arrows represented by inflatable toy red aircraft strung up above and Prince Louis with his hands over his ears. I did take a pic but sadly the phone didn't focus it properly.

Was pleased to see when I got to Bosworth that I was going to end up on 36 miles pretty much exactly if I came the quickest way home from there, so I did.

36.02 miles, 574 for July.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7561507879

Unexpected rain this morning but by the time I was able to leave work - unusually early - conditions were warm, dry and sunny. A pretty stiff wind coming from the west, though. I felt like going up and west along the Beloved A Road. The August Fondo, perhaps.

The trouble with the Upper West route, as I now know it, is that you start to run out of options after 25 miles. On this occasion I took a right after Sudbury, then a left along a minor road - just making it up as I went along, really. The road started to degenerate into one of those single track roads with lots of dips and bumps with a build-up of gravel down the middle, but it wasn't too bad.

I stopped at a farm after about 28 miles and was about to turn back, but I thought I'd press on over the next little hill to see if the road improved. It did! A bit twisty with some sharp climbs and scary downhill descents, but the surface improved a lot. Really lovely cycling territory with some brilliant views to the west, and very quiet. I will definitely do that stretch again, but probably on the Tricross.

(http://bikediary.uk/images/220803bike.jpg)

I continued until I'd done half a fondo and was going to turn back but I saw a sign to Sudbury along a right turn, so in a spirit of adventure I took that. I thought it might be a slighter shorter way and rob me of the full fondo mileage, but in fact it turned out to be exactly the same distance. A slightly busier stretch of road but better for a road bike. I think I'll base a fondo route on the way back, ie the last 31 miles of this ride.

Same way back from Sudbury.

Lots of ladies out in shorts. Not to be sexist or objectifying or anything, but I saw a phenomenal specimen in Melbourne on the way back. Tall, athletically slim and fit but curvy, long brown hair, about 30 and wearing tight black shorts that only covered half her bum. I nearly fell off the bike.

The headwind over the first half was a pain, but of course I enjoyed the tailwind on the way back. Conditions stayed more than warm enough for the whole ride and I was back on the dot of sunset.

Really a terrific run out, possibly my most enjoyable normal-distance fondo of the year so far. It was a breeze as well, despite the up and down twisty bits. Felt more like 40 miles than 62.29.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7578014995

I booked this afternoon as annual leave with the idea of doing a ride to Stafford Bingley Hall and back. I have two routes there, one an extension of the Upper Westbound route and the other extended from the Lower Westbound route, itself derived from the ride to Wales a while back.

I entertained the idea of doing one route there and the other one back but in the end I decided to take the Lower Westbound option both ways.

Nice warm weather and mostly sunny, though I did get a couple of spells of light rain (neither lasted more than 5 minutes).

Bingley Hall is now known as Staffordshire County Showground but I know it best as the venue where I saw a number of bands, most notably Rush of course, in my late teens. Back then it was it was a few hours from home on a train but now I live in the East Midlands, it's a thoroughly serviceable distance for a bicycle pilgrimage.

I hung round the main gate for a minute or two and took a pic, then turned back. I thought of listening to Hemispheres on the way back since that was the current album when I saw Rush there, but remembered that I heard two new tunes from the next, unfinished album Permanent Waves for the first time those two nights. So I listened to those (The Spirit Of Radio and Free Will).

(http://bikediary.uk/images/220805bingley.jpg)

The last couple of miles to Bingley has what must be the worst climb of any bike ride I've ever done but the nice thing about it is that you don't have to use the brakes on the way back down - it tapers off nicely at the bottom and eventually leads to a shallow climb that soaks up the remaining momentum. I hate to waste kinetic energy (and brake pad material).

The new surface on the A51 has bedded in nicely now, since my Wales trip.

The headwind was pretty aggravating on the way out but I think the wind had died down a bit or changed direction after I turned for home. I even had to cope with a headwind again for a time. I felt cheated.

The Scarecrow Festival at Heather is still happening so I took this pic two miles from home:

(http://bikediary.uk/images/220805scarecrow.jpg)

Nice afternoon out on the bike. 74.06 miles, 136 this month. That was my 18th Fondo this year.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7588047745

Quote from: Slim on August 05, 2022, 09:02:54 PMBingley Hall is now known as Staffordshire County Showground but I know it best as the venue where I saw a number of bands, most notably Rush of course, in my late teens. Back then it was it was a few hours from home on a train but now I live in the East Midlands, it's a thoroughly serviceable distance for a bicycle pilgrimage.

I hung round the main gate for a minute or two and took a pic, then turned back. I thought of listening to Hemispheres on the way back since that was the current album when I saw Rush there, but remembered that I heard two new tunes from the next, unfinished album Permanent Waves for the first time those two nights. So I listened to those (The Spirit Of Radio and Free Will).

Looking at those first appearances at Bingley Hall, I find it interesting that the band would travel over from North America for just two gigs. Was the production scaled back at all? They must have felt the UK market important enough to spend what must have been an awful lot of money on these two dates. Ray must have calculated that  it was worth it to maintain momentum until the following summer.

Quote from: David L on August 05, 2022, 10:38:24 PMLooking at those first appearances at Bingley Hall, I find it interesting that the band would travel over from North America for just two gigs. Was the production scaled back at all? They must have felt the UK market important enough to spend what must have been an awful lot of money on these two dates. Ray must have calculated that  it was worth it to maintain momentum until the following summer.

I don't think it was scaled back. Actually those two gigs were the first at which I'd seen the bands fabled rear projection, which the likes of Newcastle City Hall had been too small to accommodate.

The tickets were only £4.50 so yep, an expensive couple of nights for the band I'm sure. Maybe some of the stuff was hired in England.

Went out, snapped chain, collected by wife.

Annoying! Did you get many miles out of it?

Increased the intensity a little today with a slightly longer and slightly hillier spin than I've managed since the op.

I was a little nervous setting out after the nausea of a couple of weeks ago and I did make a couple of stops for a couple of minutes each time when i felt tired. Seemed to get stronger as I went on. Happy with the 42kms with over 300m of climbing in a shade under 21km/h

Well done on the 40k. A few weeks ago I put a new chain on but it always made a noise, I noticed this morning I had previously misthreaded it and the noise was from rubbing against a metal guide on the derallieur. At the same time I had an appointment at Halfords for a free bike check this morning and they confirmed the same plus I need a new bottom bracket and new rear hub bearings.They told me I shouldn't really ride it until it was fixed. So naturally I did!

Quote from: Nick on August 06, 2022, 05:07:09 PMtold me I shouldn't really ride it until it was fixed. So naturally I did!

Have bike will ride!

I'd been riding one of my bikes for weeks with what was a failing freehub, when I took it in for a service I said it had only started making a noise recently  ::) Worse than that the rear rim braking track was worn away to the carbon wheels, that could have been wheel explosion time...

Got only my third Fondo of the year in today. Longest ride of the year too at 65 miles didn't quite reach 5,000ft of elevation gain though, but I can live with that. Even set a best uphill segment time today, not done that on any climb this year, I suspect that the few times I've done the climb before have been into the teeth of a Northerly gale...

Climbing up from Hathersage to Surprise View (Not much of a surprise as I know it's there and it was behind me) I overtook a bloke in rather obvious Le Col cycling clobber. As I was in Rapha I greeted him with "LE COL SUCKS, RAPHA RULES!!!" Hopefully in the week when I'm in Le Col I can overtake a Rapha Rider and repeat things in reverse...

https://www.strava.com/activities/7593647022

Quote from: Nick on August 06, 2022, 05:07:09 PMWell done on the 40k. A few weeks ago I put a new chain on but it always made a noise, I noticed this morning I had previously misthreaded it and the noise was from rubbing against a metal guide on the derallieur.

I've done that. Always noticed it before I actually rode it, though (I always spin it through a couple of gears on the maintenance stand after putting the chain on).

On a related note I'd jammed the transmission a couple of times performing questionable gear changes on the X, and I realised that I'd over-shortened the chain last time I had a new one on.

It only affects changes involving a big cog at the back and the big chainring at the same time. So I'm more careful to avoid those.

On my rides I always do a short loop before embarking on the main body of my ride. I do this as if I've done a bit of work on the bike and done a poor job it'll be obvious in the first bit of the ride.

Today I had to do without, as the Chesterfield inner relief road was closed and traffic was backing up on the diversionary routes which were the ones I would have gone out on. Good job I hadn't worked on the bike then...

So, I went out the opposite to what I'd intended only to find another closed road. I turned round and set off another way to eventually come to a set of traffic lights at roadworks near the top of a hill. Thwarted again. Luckily I didn't have to go through Clay Cross, I wouldn't want to take a good bike though the X, too many feral hoodlums around.

Luckily all these diversions meant I didn't end up looking for random roads to ride down to get the ride up to 40 miles. That's 235 for the week, the best of the year so far.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7599595219

Yet another beautifully warm, sunny day. I left work early and set off to do a Bypasser. I chose the Cannondale, because I wanted to give the new rear tyre a spin. I fitted it a few days ago and it was still encouragingly firm when I checked it in the garage.

I got as far as the uphill approach to Snarestone, having done about 8.5 miles, when I noticed that my bottom was experiencing the road surface a bit more intimately than it should have been. I stopped; sure enough the rear tyre was a bit soft.

I continued on for a little while then stopped just after the turn off for Snarestone. I'd managed to bring a pump, but not a spare inner tube. I hadn't remembered to put the saddle bag back on after cleaning the bike. I stopped at a convenient spot and tried the pump. It didn't seem to be inflating the tube. I set off walking again, then tried the pump again in the shade of a tree at the bench in the church yard at Swepstone. No go. I think the valve is broken; the new tyre doesn't seem to have picked up any trauma.

I called 'er indoors and she agreed to come and get me after she finished work, at 5pm. By the time she did kindly pick me up near Heather I'd probably walked about three miles in my cleats.

A kind couple in a Range Rover kindly offered me a lift, but shortly thereafter decided that the bike probably wouldn't fit in the back. I kind of think it would have, but never mind. At least they wanted to make sure I was OK and had plenty of water, which I did.

Ah well! Not something that happens often. 8.89 miles, certainly the shortest ride of the year so far but it was fun while it lasted.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7605188052

Quote from: Nickslikk2112 on August 06, 2022, 09:31:35 PMClimbing up from Hathersage to Surprise View (Not much of a surprise as I know it's there and it was behind me) I overtook a bloke in rather obvious Le Col cycling clobber. As I was in Rapha I greeted him with "LE COL SUCKS, RAPHA RULES!!!" Hopefully in the week when I'm in Le Col I can overtake a Rapha Rider and repeat things in reverse...

I overtook a Rapha rider today :) Unfortunately I had my dhb kit on :(

Another stinking hot day. I took advantage of the hot weather to wash the X. I gave it a very thorough clean and after I'd hosed out the last of the car shampoo lather, it took about four minutes to dry in the baking sun.

I then gave it a bit of a seeing to with GT85 and some lube in the garage. But I chose the Cannondale for a ride out this afternoon. I wanted to make sure all's well with its latest inner tube, and the rear tyre only got about 9 miles on the last run out (not counting being wheeled along at walking pace).

I hoped that the sun had lost some of its ferocity by 3pm, when I set off.

I basically did a long version of the time-honoured Twycross Bypasser, except that I cut left to Sheepy after Sibson, so that I could visit San Giovanni for a pit stop involving a beer or two. I also asked for some tap water to refill the bidon. I'd brought my Magnum 1L one, not often that gets used. But I was going through water at an alarming rate.

(http://bikediary.uk/images/220811sang.jpg)

By the time I left, the shadows were longer and the sun a little less hostile. I came back up through Twycross and Swepstone. Sort of a part-Twycrosser in reverse.

Happily, rear tyre and inner tube behaved themselves this time.

I was overtaken by a beautiful metallic silver E-Type Jag near Packington. And I saw a steam tractor pulling a trailer half a mile from home. Maybe coal power is a bit more economical now that diesel is so expensive.

Back on 40.48 miles, a bit debilitated from the heat and the beer (although I had another one as soon as I got back), but content. That's 186 this month, the target is 400 but there's a fair bit of rain in the forecast next week.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7622640241

On the Bianchi, I've been suffering a "Tick" noise every pedal revolution when going up a steep hill. In the past this has been solved by taking out the pedals and greasing the threads. Not this time. On Wednesday it was noisier than ever.

So, I took the wheels off and checked the tightness of the lock rings on the disc rotors and rear cassette. They were both slightly loose on the rear, quick tighten and jobs a good 'un. Only trouble is, some quieter noises have now appeared...

An MP3 player fixes those.

Quote from: Slim on August 12, 2022, 02:04:37 PMAn MP3 player fixes those.

Sorry, don't want any of my senses making dimmer.

Bike was quiet today, apart from a faint hint of not quite properly indexed gears. It may have been quieter because I couldn't be bothered to put too much effort in. 30C is just a bit warm. I'd half filled my bidons and put them in the freezer this morning, then topped up with cold water before leaving. They were fully up to temperature after 56 minutes.

Today's 42 miles were as much as I could do with two 750ml bidons, I don't think I passed anywhere to procure any more libations until I was nearly home. Hopefully next week will be cooler. Hopefully next week will be dry.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7632509459/

I was determined to do a fondo today. Unfortunately it was scorchio again, but I reasoned that if I set off at 3pm then I'd only be uncomfortable for a couple of hours.

I did the standard eastbound fondo, Eastwell and back via Burton on the Wolds. I took a 1L bidon with me but it was already near depleted by the time I got to the petrol station at Burton. I bought a lucozade and a Fanta from the fridge. Drank most of the lucozade on the spot (and what a joy) and decanted the Fanta to the bidon. I bought water and more Lucozade on the way back. In all I consumed about 2 litres of fluids, probably a record for me (and I gulped down a San Miguel as soon as I got back). Don't feel great about ingesting all that sugary stuff, perhaps I should have bought more water and less Lucozade but hopefully I burned a lot of it off.

Had a headwind to contend with on the outbound stretch. It grew stronger as I made progress eastwards, though I knew it would as, unusually, I bothered to check the forecast over several points on the route rather than just for home. I didn't mind it so much, though. It was a bit like being fanned.

(http://bikediary.uk/images/220813bike.jpg)

I've bought a new DAB personal (the controls are a bit more intuitive and easy than the ones I already have) and so far I've got nearly ten hours out of a bog-standard pair of Alkaline AAs. Impressive. I listened mostly to Premier League footy - of special interest was Brentford vs Man United, and I couldn't help thinking the London side had made a schoolboy error by scoring their four goals so early in the game - yet United failed to capitalise on their mistake.

Conditions grew more tolerable as the shadows lengthened and the day wore on of course, but I was still a bit uncomfortably warm at 7:30pm. I was also a little disconcerted to see the sun go down at about 8:30pm, but I hadn't checked the sunset time. I did have lights with me, but I only used the rear. I was home by 8:55pm.

I heard a pronounced CLUNK coming from the transmission a few times when freewheeling. Happened to be looking down at the chainring when it happened the third or fourth time and what was happening was the chain was going slack, then twanging taut again - which can only mean, I think, that the rear Disraeli is sticking. Perhaps I didn't lubricate it properly following cleaning, or perhaps something's caught in it - I'll have a look tomorrow.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7633197434

62.81 miles; that's the third fondo this month. Don't know what my record is, perhaps I'll check. Glad to have got 151 miles done in August already as I'm on call for most of the rest of the month.

Quite surprised to see four Strava PRs on a route I've done very many times. Must have been on the way back, with the tailwind. Or perhaps it's Lucozade power.

Did more or less the same ride as yesterday, with a different descent back to town. Once again two bidons were just enough, I filled them three quarters full before freezing, took them an hour and twenty to get up to temperature today.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7638163138

Much cooler than yesterday, and we had some rain around midday - but still more than warm enough for minimal clothing and the roads were dry by the time I was able to leave work, at 4pm.

The rain was due back over in the form of thundery showers later in the evening (though as I type, they haven't materialised yet) so I thought I'd keep it down to not much more than 20 miles. I did a shortish Twycrosser, coming up along Gibbet Lane.

By the time I got to Barton I'd decided it wasn't going to rain anytime soon so I lengthened the ride a bit by detouring through Burgoland and Swepstone.

(http://bikediary.uk/images/220815bike.jpg)

I brought the wrong pair of glasses with me somehow. Often on a short ride I'll just grab a pair of old varifocals rather than my cycling glasses, but this time I brought reading glasses. I put them away in my jersey and made do with unassisted eyeballs, but I found I was able to read the bike computer and my watch, albeit with slight difficulty. And I didn't mind the slightly unfocussed view of my surroundings. I did get a couple of small flies in my eyes though.

Listened to 5 Live, which marked the first anniversary of the Taleban taking over in Afghanistan, an event which to the BBC is only about girls being prevented from going to school. Also featured: Graeme Souness and his crime against humanity.

Back on 25.26, more on Wednesday I hope.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7643475203

Of late I've been alternating between weeks on the Bianchi and weeks on the Giant TCR. This week was set to be a TCR week, although I had said to Mrs S that if the week were wet, which it could be, then the disc braked Bianchi was the better option.

Anway, I was prepping the TCR and had cleaned it and cleaned and lubed chain. I then decided to check the sealant levels in the tyres, especially as the rear tyre/wheel is new and it can do with extra checking. So, I let the air out of the tyre and the beading came out of the rim. Bum. Gave it a blast from the air tank, it appeared to pop back in, let out the air to put sealant in, just as the last bit of air came out so did the tyre bead. Repeat a stupid number of times.

I decided that maybe the beading had stretched - yeah- so I thought I'd try the old tyre from the old wheel. That wouldn't seat at all. So, it was try the new tyre in stock. Back to situation number one. Reading up on other people's travails someone else had given it a tank blast, then fitted the valve core back before the tyre fully deflated which solved the problem. I tried it and the blast of air from the valve blew the valve core down the patio...

However, I found that using just the track pump I could get the tyre to seat and I now have a tubeless sealant injector which will, if messily, put in sealant through a presta valve core. Success. I'm still using the Bianchi this week though...

I was going to fire off an email to the bloke who built the wheel for some advice, but he's on holiday for a fortnight...

Rain this morning. Dry, excepting a few puddles by the time I downed tools in the afternoon - but much cooler weather than the last few days. Almost cold! And windy, and overcast. Positively autumnal.

I put a pair of cycling tights on, bringing to end what must surely be the longest run of legs-out rides in my cycling career. I put several waist-up layers on as well, including a fleece. I was comfortably warm enough but I didn't overheat.

Started off a bit indecisively up Ashby Road before turning back after a minute or so to start the eastbound route. I only had a vague idea of what I was going to do. I suppose (in hindsight) maybe Six Hills and back might have been well-suited to the conditions, with the wind coming from the NE. But I got as far as the junction at Hathern and decided to go up the A6, just to do something different. I assumed I'd find a left turn to come back toward Long Whatton or Diseworth but I'd done two miles of the busy A road before I found a suitable turn, to Donington. Shortly after that I found a left turn to Long Whatton. Quite an enjoyable stretch of road that, one I'd not done before. A bit twisty, and patchy in places but quiet.

Came home a time-honoured way from Whatton once I'd got my bearings (I took the wrong turn at the T junction there initially). Tried to extend my ride a bit by taking a detour along Breedon Lane, then detouring into Coalville for a bit. But I was still back on a disappointing 27.97 miles.

(http://bikediary.uk/images/220817bike.jpg)

Following your nose and faffing about can sometimes cause you to do longer distances than you intended, but sometimes they can bring you home sooner than you wanted. And that was the case today. But I'll try to do at least 40 on Friday.

Anyway, 302 done this month so the target 400 miles should be eminently doable.

I've now done more than 15 hours of DAB time on the same pair of Alkaline AAs. Very happy with that.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7655199470

Tights? I try not to wear them until November, I thought yesterday was just right - once I'd warmed up. Didn't enjoy it being a gravel ride though, all Tuesday's rain had washed a load of gravelly detritus out into the roads making for some pretty sketchy cornering and descending at times, even on what are normally decent roads.

A bit warmer today, but my legs felt empty. Wasn't particularly slower than on the same ride in previous weeks, but I think the wind direction helped.

Another warm day yesterday and with a stiff wind coming from the west, I thought a trip after work along the Beloved A Road was in order. I went as far as Hatton, where I acquired a pork pie and a triple Bounty bar from the petrol station - then turned for home.

Just lovely on the way back in the warm evening sunshine with a gentle tailwind. I decided to atone for my short ride on Wednesday by extending the ride a bit. I had two options - either to continue on after Swarkestone through Weston, Aston and Shardlow then come down through Donington - or to hang a left at Melbourne for Isley Walton, then come down Top Brand. I opted for the latter. The Donington option would have added at least 6 miles (at a guess, I haven't worked it out) but I thought I'd get at least 4 from detouring through Isley Walton.

(http://bikediary.uk/images/220820bridge.jpg)

In fact it adds a bit less than 2.5 miles. Still - back on 46.15 miles, happy enough with that.

There are some enormous farm vehicles on the roads at the moment. I had one coming toward me that literally took up 2/3 of the width of a decent sized road. No way I could have got past it in a car. And I was overtaken by a speeding fire engine along Ashby Road, just a couple of miles from home. I was slightly concerned to see it take the left turn for Ravenstone ahead of me, but I couldn't see any houses on fire in the village when I arrived there.

Astonishingly, my new Roberts personal DAB got another 4.5 hours from the same pair of Alkaline batteries - that's nearly 20 hours out of them, and they aren't dead yet. I wouldn't have to think about taking spares with me on a long ride. I could even take them out and use them in a front light over the last couple of hours, especially if I took high capacity AAs and used an MP3 player for some of the ride.

Anyway that's 348 this month. More tomorrow hopefully.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7665876264

I'm fed up with all the roadworks going on round here, I had to completely change what I was going to do. There's been a road closed all day that I wouldn't use, but it being closed has meant that roads I would have taken have been snarled up all day, add in the fact that another road I could have used was closed for Barlow carnival and it meant I had to spend more time than intended slogging into a headwind :(

Mind a headwind wasn't the only thing that slowed me down going up to Abney, a sheep had escaped from its allotted field and was in the road ahead of me, it kept running up the road "BAAING" away, but I was never sure what it was going to do and didn't want to get too close on case it decided to take me out. Luckily it eventually found a fence it could get under. I had nearly taken myself out earlier, sliding on some gravel on a 90 degree bend, I couldn't escape it as some pillock had parked his van bang on the corner >:(

Because of the wind I failed to meet my target time of 3 hours and 15 minutes for the ride - Mrs S always likes an estimate so she knows when to start worrying - and it ended up at 3 hours 22 minutes.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7671254987

A pleasantly warm, mostly sunny afternoon with a light wind coming from the west. My first idea was to do some of the Lower Westbound route and come back the same way. But when I got to the crossroads at Gallows Lane I decided I didn't really feel like doing that, and I set off down through Twycross, thinking of doing some of the Dad's Army route.

However I failed to take the correct turn for that at Pinwall Lane, and ended up going east along Fenn Lanes. From there I continued on to Kirkby Mallory and came back the usual (southbound route) way from there.

(http://bikediary.uk/images/220821bike.jpg)

Really very pleasant out there, especially with footy on the DAB radio. I listened to Leeds vs Chelsea, very entertaining. Lovely to have that fixture back in the top tier, especially at Elland Road.

Noticed a couple of light planes and powered hang gliders parked up in the air field along Fenn Lanes, so I stopped to take a pic there. Must have been an air festival on this weekend, or something.

Passing a field near Kirkby Mallory I saw a miniature tornado whirling up bits of wheat chaff and dust. Never seen anything like it, quite remarkable. It had a really well-defined acute funnel shape, very narrow and pointy at the base where it connected with the ground. I stopped to watch it but unfortunately it had died before I could get a pic.

Astonishingly, my Roberts DAB personal has now given me nearly 24 hours from the same pair of alkaline batteries, and it still hasn't finished them off.

Back on 39.60 miles, 388 this month.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7676801912

That was better today, lighter winds and a flatter parcours. Even managed to set some PBs on segments which ended up higher at the end than the beginning, not hills, maybe not even drags, but certainly not quite flat or downhill.

42.4 miles today got me to 225 for the week and 675 for the month so far. Fingers crossed that the weather stays nice enough for me to get to 900 for the month.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7676994484

Rain this morning and mostly a pretty dismal day early on, so I was a bit surprised to discover that it was rather warm out there when I left the house. Almost scorchio, and the sun had come out.

Today's plan was to do the southbound route for a bit, then come back the same way. I got to Stoney Stanton on about 18 miles and was about to turn back, when - on a whim - I decided to take the right turn at the roundabout and find a different way home. I'd come home that way a few times in the past so it was really just a question of remembering the route. Which I didn't. Instead I found myself, after a while, on a fairly busy A road which I remembered from the days when I used to commute to Coventry by car, over ten years ago. I must confess that I used the cycle lane. I don't usually do that as a rule, but it looked nice and clear of gravel and debris. And pedestrians.

I came to a big roundabout next to a Morrisons and I thought I knew the way from there from my old commute, but I took a wrong turn, through Stoke Golding. This took me to Fenn Lanes a few miles further on though, very familiar territory. I took the left turn off Fenn Lanes toward Shenton and sat for a while on the Judith Birch bench, munching a cheese pasty and idly watching the sheep in the field opposite.

The road from Shenton to Bosworth was blocked by a flood (as documented photographically below) so I backtracked and took a road signposted to Sutton Cheney at the previous junction. This was quite fortuitous as it took me along Albion Lane. I've done that a couple of times in the past and remembered it as being pleasant, but wasn't sure where it was when I've thought of doing it again. So I found it without actually looking for it. It leads right to the junction where one of my favourite benches at Sutton is situated. I must remember that.

(http://bikediary.uk/images/220823bike.jpg)

Back the usual way, or one of them, from there. Very nice run out, a nice adventure. I'll try to devise a route that takes in the pleasant stretch of road near Stoke Golding while avoiding the A road with the cycle lane.

I overheated a little at first but was very comfortable later on. A thick layer of cloud rolled over before long and I thought it might rain, but it didn't.

Amazingly my Roberts personal DAB has got another 4 hours, 22 minutes out of its first pair of AAs, bringing the total to more than 28 hours. I would have been happy with 10 hours, and surprised with 15. And the batteries aren't done yet. I must remember to put a glowing review on Amazon.

42.59 miles which takes me to 430 this month and 35,000 since I started doing this regularly in January 2015.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7688687537

Went out yesterday, did the same ride as last week but did it more slowly even though my legs felt better. Shows the value of having a tailwind on my 15 mile run in back home.
Overnight rain meant that the roads had been liberally - unfortunately not Conservatively - re-gravelled, with known gravel patches from last week being completely rearranged. 43 miles got me over 700 for August.

And another 43 miles today, takes me over 750 miles for August.

Had a bit of a contretemps today with a female Range Rover driver and her daughter. I'd pulled up at some traffic lights for roadworks behind a line of cars and started up when the lights turned green, I heard a car rapidly approaching from behind I turned round to eyeball them to warn them away - I have great faith in Paddington Bear style hard stares - but she just pulled out round me and slotted herself in to what was just, just, a Range Rover sized gap "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU PLAYING AT?!?!"I shouted at her, only to get some verbals from the daughter. I then noticed a dirty great Dog's head sticking out the rear window "AND READ THE HIGHWAY CODE RULE 57 AMONG OTHER THINGS" I got more unintelligible verbals back. I tapped on my front light and said "IT'S ALL BEING FILMED!" (Obvs not, but they don't know) "We don't care" was the reply I heard. They then proceeded to drive along at just over 15 mph braking all the while whilst I shook my head. Then at the next Traffic light controlled junction she turned without indication into the right turn lane and turned off just as the lights turned red.

I fail to comprehend what goes on inside other people's heads. Through light controlled roadworks, I'm as quick as a car, why do these entitled jerks think they can do what they like? It really pissed me off, there was just so much wrong (I hate myself for writing that, but hey-ho)

https://www.strava.com/activities/7691837687

It was bloody humid out there too today, I ought to put my kit to the wash, but Mrs S will kill me, it has to have over 100 miles in first...

Plenty of rain this morning but by 4pm I'd decided that the roads had dried out enough for a run out on a bike. The wind was coming from the west, very roughly, and I decided I'd do the Beloved A Road for a bit. Not long after I'd turned left onto it from Swarkestone Bridge, I had the idea of taking a right turn toward Derby then finding my way back to Swarkestone from there, perhaps via the ring road and down through Chellaston. I felt like indulging my inner Derby resident.

I took a right turn called Frizams Lane. This took me to Stenson and past a pub called The Bubble, where I used to go occasionally 30 years ago, and have been to once or twice on a bike in recent years. From there I followed a sign to Derby which took me, less than a mile later, to a very pleasant A road. This confused me a bit. Where was I? Why have I never been along this road before? But about a mile later I realised that I'd looped back onto the same (Beloved) A Road. All I'd done, effectively, was a sort of elaborate U turn.

No matter - I continued back to Swarkestone. I had a few options to extend the ride a bit from there. I could continue on to Shardlow, or to Isley Walton again for example. Instead I decided to keep going to the A50 roundabout then hang a left onto Infinity Park Way, a road on the very outskirts of Derby built to service industrial units and new housing, and which leads to the Rolls-Royce test facility (pictured below). I've just read that it was only opened last year, and yet I'm sure it was there when I last pedalled that way and I'm sure that was more than three years ago.

(http://bikediary.uk/images/220825rr.jpg)

I turned back from here and came home the usual way from Swarkestone. I didn't really fancy Rotter's Rise after Melbourne, but it wasn't too bad.

Stopped at a big log at the edge of Spring Wood near the Derbyshire border and ate a cheese pasty sitting there in the evening sunshine. Lovely.

Very nice run out. Nice to visit Derby again, even though I only penetrated her lightly.  I do get quite sentimental when I think about living there in the early '90s, when it was still new to me.

36.33 miles, 467 this month. If I hit all of my (pretty modest) monthly targets for the rest of the year, I'll end up doing more miles this year than last. No big deal, but nice to have. Actually I'm 484 miles ahead of this time last year.

I got another 2 hrs, 24 minutes from the AAs in my Roberts DAB before they finally died - bringing the total to an extraordinary 30 hours, 31 minutes.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7699934193

Didn't bother going out yesterday. It belted it down in the morning and I'd got the Vuelta to watch in the afternoon.

Went out for a Thursday ride today and did it more quickly than I have before, just, which was nice. Lots of traffic about though, which wasn't nice.

Another 43 miles got me to 805 for August, still 950 behind where I was last year. I have to go back to 2018 to find a year where I'm ahead of myself.

And another 50 miles onto August's tally today, takes me to 855 miles for August, so barring unforseen rain, injury or bikes falling to bits - all of which could happen - should get me to 900 for the month, even though I can't get out on the last two days of August due to taking Mrs S away for her 60th birthday.

Managed to set my quickest time of the year on a couple of hills today, but was nowhere near on the third, think the legs had run out of steam. Going up the first one someone in an Audi called me a Dickhead, presumably because I'd delayed him and his tarty woman for a few seconds on their trip out to drive round aimlessly.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7710277889

I'm on call at the moment, but it's been very quiet. So quiet in fact that I was tempted to do a fondo. Not the sort of messing-around fondo that involves a sort of orbital or criss-cross route intended to keep me within 15 miles or so of base, but a proper one, in which I cycle in roughly the same direction for 31 miles, then come back.

A beautiful day for cycling; warm and sunny with a light wind coming from the east. No risk of rain, according to the forecast. I took the S Works since I'd only been out on it four times this year and of course the Summer of 2022 is, alas, drawing to a close.

As a sort of gesture to fortune, I expanded the ride a bit over the first 25 miles or so - by taking the long way up through Diseworth and Long Whatton to Zouch, then by detouring through Wymeswold between Cotes and Six Hills. This would enable me to turn back a mile or two closer to home.

Wymeswold is an inexplicably complicated village to navigate, and by approaching it from an unfamiliar direction, I managed to get lost. Instead of exiting it along my usual route (East Road), I found myself on a very pleasant, leafy and quiet country lane. I had no idea in which direction I was headed at this point but in a spirit of adventure, I decided to just keep going and see where it took me. In fact three miles later it took me to my usual road out east, near Six Hills.

I realised then that I had pedalled along a road called Narrow Lane - I'd seen it on a map often, but I'd always ignored it because it's not particularly useful. The usual route out of Wymeswold (ie the one that had eluded me) is more efficient. There's only three miles of Narrow Lane and it's a bit up-and-down-ish. But it is very quiet (unsurprisingly, because it runs parallel to a faster road going in the same direction) so I may well do it again some time.

(http://bikediary.uk/images/220827bike.jpg)

I was of course, a little nervous about being a considerable distance from home and on call at the same time. The insistent voice of my conscience on my right shoulder (not really, this is a metaphor just to be clear) kept whispering in my ear: "What are you going to do if you get a call 25 miles from home, and it's an emergency? Turn back now!" But the voice on my other shoulder reminded me that I almost never get a call on a Saturday afternoon, and anyway (it continued), I could always say my phone was broken.

So I kept going. In fact I kept going for about a mile past the half-fondo distance before turning for home, to give myself the option of taking a more direct route back. I did do Narrow Lane again (and stopped there to take the pic above), but I came through Wymeswold and Rempstone the traditional way rather than going down to Cotes. I also didn't bother with the Diseworth detour on the way back. At Zouch I realised that I'd be back home a mile short of a fondo, so I detoured into the outskirts of Coalville over the last couple of miles.

I didn't get a call, fortunately.

Listened mostly to footy chat on 5 Live. I'd been looking forward to Liverpool vs Bournemouth, the featured commentary game at 3pm, but Liverpool took the suspense out of it by scoring twice in the first six minutes. So I switched over to Gilles Peterson on 6 Music, a decision that I regretted later when I heard that Liverpool had scored nine goals. What that match lacked in suspense, it might well have made up for in entertainment.

Gilles had an interview with Kahil El'Zabar, a talented musician for sure but a bit of a hippy. He told us about "the vibration of energy" and that his saxophone player's parts were "the expression of the universe through human configuration".

Back on 62.26 miles and that's the fourth (and last) fondo this month.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7709732392

Just returned from a 17 mile mountain bike ride with the missus. From Hope village to Pindale, Little Hucklow (The Blind Bull). Then on to Gt Hucklow, Grindlow and Foolow.
Had some lunch at the Bull. Never had a yorkshire pudding wrap before. Essentially a roast dinner wrapped in a yorkshire pud. Very nice.
We returned the way we went. Seemed like a much longer ride with all the climbing.

Hi folks! Great site and wonderful name. I love Rush and I'm trying to get into cycling before I leave it too late. Buying a bike in the next week or so, probably a hybrid. The appeal is it has no chain, but some belt drive with only 8 gears. Haven't seen it yet other than online but I think will be a good fit. I wouldn't dare to report my mileage on here though. Don't know how you old rockers manage it.

Well welcome aboard Picnic. Do we know you from a previous life? Just wondering, you're welcome either way. Thanks for signing up.

Quote from: David L on August 28, 2022, 04:37:01 PMJust returned from a 17 mile mountain bike ride with the missus. From Hope village to Pindale, Little Hucklow (The Blind Bull). Then on to Gt Hucklow, Grindlow and Foolow.

Keep meaning to do Pindale up from Castleton, but it's too sketchy for my good bikes...
Should have gone on through Foolow to Stella's Kitchen, a most incongruous Caribbean Restaurant in the middle of nowhere, never been myself as I don't carry money... Or, you could have gone up to the Gliding Club above Gt. Hucklow and down through Abney to Hathersage. Nice Views.

I stuck to the unglamorous flat lands today, although I did go by Hardwick Hall and the site of England's first onshore Oil Well. Managed to pick up a few PBs as well, without even trying. Equalled a best time which I'd set in December 2016. must have been a strong tailwind that day!

43 miles gets me to within 2 of 900 for August. Should, should, manage that.

The flat lands don't sound too unglamorous to me as I think I need to shed about 10 kilos before hills are achievable again.

Quote from: Nickslikk2112 on August 28, 2022, 09:57:01 PMKeep meaning to do Pindale up from Castleton, but it's too sketchy for my good bikes...
Should have gone on through Foolow to Stella's Kitchen, a most incongruous Caribbean Restaurant in the middle of nowhere, never been myself as I don't carry money...

Is that the place near Eyam? Weirdly, 'er indoors was saying only yesterday that her friends had been there recently. I think it was on that last Hairy Bikers series, as well.

So I need a new bottom bracket, a new derailleur, new bearings for the rear hub and new shorts.

Kudos to the cyclists I saw in Majorca presumably doing the trip to Formentor.. the heat was incredible.. bad enough standing still in that heat.. to cycle..incredible...

Quote from: Slim on August 28, 2022, 10:30:19 PM

Quote from: Nickslikk2112 on August 28, 2022, 09:57:01 PMKeep meaning to do Pindale up from Castleton, but it's too sketchy for my good bikes...
Should have gone on through Foolow to Stella's Kitchen, a most incongruous Caribbean Restaurant in the middle of nowhere, never been myself as I don't carry money...

Is that the place near Eyam? Weirdly, 'er indoors was saying only yesterday that her friends had been there recently. I think it was on that last Hairy Bikers series, as well.

That's the one.

Quite a decent cycling day - cooler, but warm enough for bare legs. However I have a long day tomorrow and other things to do today so I only wanted to do 25 or so this afternoon. I'd intended to set off after the Artemis I launch, but when it was delayed I guessed it was probably going to be scrubbed for today, so I set off at about 12:55pm.

A moderate wind was coming from the east, but since I wasn't going far I decided I'd do a Twycrosser. I was going to come back along Gibbet Lane but changed my mind and did a u-turn on Burton Road to take the route back through Carlton.

(http://bikediary.uk/images/220829.jpg)

Listened mostly to Sangita Myska on LBC, sitting in for Shelagh Fogarty and I must admit I had steam coming out of my ears after about half an hour of it. She either misunderstood or laughably misrepresented every topic she wanted to talk about, as she entertained a series of hysterically moronic callers. I so wish everyone didn't get to vote, only a very few of us really know what we're doing in a polling booth.

I got rained on, but only lightly and only for a few minutes. Mostly cloudy but the sun came out for the last two miles.

28.17 miles, bringing the total for August to 557 and that'll be it for this month. If I hit the (pretty modest) targets for the remaining months, 2022 will be my third best year so far in distance terms.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7720312751

Two day ban for political comment! 😂

Apologies. Thank you for the avatar before my 48 hour break kicks in.

Got in the 2 miles to reach 900, then added enough to take it to 940 with 67,700 ft of climbing. That'll do.

Better still I didn't get knocked off by any of the marauding Bank Holiday motorists, would have been just my luck before a couple of nights away.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7720725780

Quote from: The Picnic Wasp on August 29, 2022, 07:14:33 PMTwo day ban for political comment! 😂

I was careful not to comment on or refer to any of the topics discussed during the show - but if a consensus develops between the moderation team that I've broken the rule, I will accept a 48 hr suspension.

Cripes! I've had four days away from the bike, would I remember how to ride? Would I have the strength to do so? Two days of walking round Edinburgh had taken its toll on my legs, can't believe the subtle difference in muscle usage between walking and cycling.

Well yes, of course I could still cycle, I could still get up hills. Didn't even feel that hard. Didn't do as much as I wanted to though as it looked like it would piss it down at any moment. It didn't, but it never seemed far away.

September is now underway with 45 miles done.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7748981556

Managed to avoid getting too wet today. I only caught the edge of a couple of showers, but they must have been torrential as the roads were really bepuddled and running with water.

The roads were rather busy too, but Mrs S pointed out it was Chatsworth Country Fair this weekend so it will have been all the attendees going back home.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7754849283/

A little 20 miler yesterday up and over the Carrick Hills.. very warm

Managed to get two rides in today :)

The Tour of Britain was making its closest approach to me and I like to use that as an excuse to get out for a ride. However, it would mean being out in the afternoon and thundery showers were forecast which was just like what had happened the previous couple of afternoons. So, I decided to nip out for an hour or so in the morning whilst it was dry and then see what happened.

After lunching, the weather still seemed set fair and no troublesome rainfall appeared on the rainfall radar. I then made the 21 mile trip out to the top of an extremely laughable "King of the Mountains" point. Mountains, in Nottinghamshire, pah! It can be a bit rolling but noy mountainous.

Luckily the pro riders were making good time so I didn't have to wait long amongst the sad Castelli wearing, Pinarello riding, fat mid-life crisis males. (I'm 6'2" built like a racing snake, dhb wearing, Bianchi riding, Uncle Mort lookalike) So as soon as the Pelton had whizzed by, I set off home.

Set off home into the rain. Luckily it didn't rain too much on me, but the showers had left the roads extremely wet and I had a constant spray of filthy water up my back. I was also hoping to average 18mph on the ride, but it was school emptying time as I rode back and that slowed me up, especially past my - and Mrs S's - old school. Ho-hum. Still, I got over sixty miles in over the day.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7774059571
https://www.strava.com/activities/7775270802

I haven't managed to get out on two wheels this month yet, due to holiday commitments and weather. Starting to feel like an ex-cyclist.

30 miler today.. found some cracking single track roads .. bloody hard going heading home with a very strong head wind....   a nice bottle of Australian Shiraz is helping🍷

At last, an opportunity to get out on a bike in September. With the wind coming from the NE I decided a trip up over Swarkestone Bridge then west along the Beloved A Road was in order. What I wanted to do, at least roughly, was repeat my ride from the 3rd of August in which I'd got a fondo distance out of riding to a village called Marston Montgomery.

Very light drizzle when I set off but since the forecast was mainly dry I tolerated it, in the hope that it would go away. It didn't though, it got worse. Persistent light rain by the time I was rolling through Coleorton. It lasted no more than half an hour though, and after that the temperature climbed a bit and I dried off fairly quickly in the warm breeze. I was too warm in the end actually. I'd opted for bare legs but had three layers on top. I took one of them off and stuffed it in my backpack, which helped.

I thought I'd be able to remember the route easily enough, but I failed to take a turn at Hatton and found myself in Foston. I had a break there, for a pasty - there's a very comfortable bench next to a bus stop - and plotted a course back onto my intended route using Google Maps.

(http://bikediary.uk/images/220910bike.jpg)

Since I'd added a couple of miles by unintentionally diverting to Foston, I didn't go all the way to Marston Montgomery.

Rotter's Rise, my regular nemesis south of Melbourne was a bit of a struggle. Whether that's early onset of COVID, loss of fitness incurred by not riding a bike for 11 days or residual debilitation from ingesting an excess of alcohol on holiday, I don't know.

I was waved at by a tiny tot, being held by her grandfather (I assume) at the front gate of a terraced house near Hatton. She was waving at all the passing traffic. It's a hobby I suppose! Of course I smiled and waved back.

Back on 64.78 miles, a decent bite out of September's modest target (350).

https://www.strava.com/activities/7786004335

Went out and did a sort of reverse Thursday ride today. Now a Thursday ride is 43 miles and I like to do at least 50 on a Saturday, so I added a couple of bits in and missed out another bit.

Of course, with being out to the flat, well rolling, lands of Nottinghamshire on Thursday I added in an extra hill. Found out that James Shaw is the Local Legend on that hill. He's not done it for a bit though as he's riding the Vuelta. He can do it 5 and a half minutes quicker than me too. Bastard.

It was odd going back the way I normally ride out, didn't feel right going anti-clockwise. Hillier than it ought to ne too. Still, it got me to 52 miles and 266 for the month.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7786626644

Went out for a 40 miler today. Was going to take it steadily. I did take it steadily, but for one reason or another I did rather more climbing than intended. even steady climbing isn't fun on old legs.

Still, I'm over 300 miles for September and 5,000 for the year.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7792433878

Got up at about 0945, didn't feel like I had a lot of energy but I thought it would be best to get some exercise. I mounted the Cannondale not knowing if I'd be able to manage much more than 5 miles. Felt a bit shaky over the first 100 metres or so, and a bit zombified over the first couple of miles - almost like a lucid dream.

However I found that I wasn't having any trouble going up hills so I took it easy, pressed on and did a shortish Twycrosser. Came back along Gibbet Lane to keep it short as a precaution but as I seemed to be doing fine I stretched the ride a bit by diverting through Burgoland and Swepstone, then Ibstock.

I did have a coughing fit like an old hag after I got off the bike, but I'm fine.

Decent weather, a mix of light wind and cloud. Just warm enough for bare legs.

Naturally I was careful to retain an appropriate distance from other persons at all times, including the bloke who was leaning against the driver's side of his van while it was parked on Measham Road. Gave him a very wide berth.

Anyway I did 28.42 miles. 257 still to do to meet my target for September and I don't think I'll be able to do it. Got other commitments next weekend and it's a 30 day month.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7812684673

Managed to rack up 180 miles so far this week. Three 40+ mile rides and a 50 miler today. Most on the usual roads, but a bit different on Thursday as some roadworks have appeared on my usual route home. However the junctions on the alternative way back are so busy that it costs me more time than waiting at lights.

Thankfully it's still just warm enough to keep my arms and legs exposed to the air. The thought of getting back into bib tights is too much, that means Winter's on the way. Most other people seem to be resigned to the old long clothing though. More fool them, at least I didn't sweat today.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7823922336/

And another 43 miles today. Wasn't sure if I'd do that, as my Heart rate apparently went up to 181 whilst going along the flat after a downhill corner. Got to be a heart strap fault as it settled back after a couple of minutes and I certainly couldn't feel any racing of my heart. Ended up buying a new strap after this happened a couple of years ago.

Today was a take it easy day anyway, being as I'll be getting an extra ride in tomorrow with it being a Bank Holiday.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7829578854/overview

In Arran for the week so decided on Corrie to Lochranza with the mrs.... A nice 20 miler .. great scenery. dry no wind hardly any traffic.. very enjoyable... think it'll be Lamlash  tomorrow or we're climbing Goat  Fell...

September had already turned into a sort of damage limitation exercise by the time I came down with COVID a week ago, but this bank holiday weekend was at least an opportunity to clock up 100 miles or so. Wasn't it? Nope, a suspected kidney stone kept me out of action on the Saturday and Sunday.

But I appear to be back to my normal self mostly today - whether the kidney stone has passed, just moved somewhere more comfortable or never actually existed I am yet to find out, but I decided I would attempt 25 miles or so this afternoon. The worry was that the pain would flare up again and I'd be incapacitated, an inconvenient distance from home. But a shortish Twycrosser seemed an acceptable risk.

(http://bikediary.uk/images/220919bike.jpg)

Very light rain when I set off and it only got worse, at least for an hour. Then it stopped for an hour. Then it came back. I pressed on regardless, driven mainly by bloody-mindedness. I listened to coverage of the latter stages of the Queen's funeral, the Windsor instalment.

It was eerily quiet out there.

Bit cold later on, even when it wasn't raining. Not the most enjoyable ride, but glad to have got out on a bike again, for only the third time this month.

26.45 miles.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7834155260

With it being a Bank Holiday and not wanting to spend time in the house whilst Mrs S cried her eyes out at the funeral of an old woman she didn't know, I thought it an opportune time for a bike ride.

It was a bit nippy though, had to put a long-sleeved jersey on, although it got a bit sweaty going uphill which meant cool descents, but probably the best thing to do. At least it didn't rain on me, managed to miss all that.

Thought the roads might have been quieter today, but apart from the lack of commercial traffic there were just as many loons in cars as ever. Up on the tops I've never seen so many cars parked up the side of Clodhall lane and lower down in New Whit all the inhabitants were out walking their Staffies and Pit Bulls rather than being enthralled by the unfolding pageantry on the TV.

A gentle 40 miler - managed not to get the old heart above 137bpm - takes me to my highest ever September total of 572 miles.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7832732725

Corrie to Lamlash today.. just over 20 miles... dry. very warm actually... again brilliant scenery.. so it's a hike up Goat Fell tomorrow👍

A nice afternoon, very mild, very dry, light winds. Left work as early as I could in the hope of cranking out 30-odd miles. Decided to take the Tricross, since it hadn't had a run out since April. Despite its weight it did roll along very pleasantly.

(http://bikediary.uk/images/220921bike.jpg)

I did a Twycrosser, with a detour to Orton from Twycross. Went right down to Witherley, but came back up mainly along the main road. Hadn't done that for a while. Very nice out there.

Conditions grew a bit dim over the last half hour of the ride which would have been fine, except that my rear light needs new batteries, apparently. Plenty of light to see the road in front of me (and my blinky front light was working properly) but I definitely felt a little insecure about traffic coming up behind me over the last couple of miles. It was twenty minutes after sunset before I got home. Fortunately it was very quiet along Heather Lane. I think I only got passed by a moped.

Listened mostly to various analysts and commentators on LBC, giving their opinion on the prospect of a thermonuclear exchange with Russia.

Back on 33.62 and that's a measly 153 this month, but 4010 done this year now.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7846189383

Lovely afternoon, almost warm and mostly sunny. A light wind coming from the north. There can't be many more days like this in the year so I took the afternoon off to do an eastbound fondo - the traditional, time-honoured route to Eastwell and back - except that I took a road called Narrow Lane on the way back; a lovely little stretch of road that I discovered on a fondo four weeks ago.

(http://bikediary.uk/images/220923bike.jpg)

I was really enjoying myself until, eight miles from home on the way back, I noticed that my pedals didn't seem to be engaging the back wheel. The chain was still properly attached at both ends. But the cassette was just spinning on the hub.

I stopped and examined it and the freehub was freely spinning both ways. I did manage to get it working briefly - but only very briefly; I got another half or mile or so out of it. So of course I called 'er indoors and she came out to collect me. I walked the bike some of the way back, and even managed to roll down a couple of descents on it.

She was, I have to say, unimpressed. Naturally she wanted to know what I'd have done if it had happened in Wales or Norfolk. And it's a fair question. I mean - statistically, proper mechanical breakdowns are very rare fortunately, but there's no legislating against them.

Anyway the Internet tells me I may be able to fix the freehub by flushing it out with WD-40 then relubricating it. I'll have a look next weekend maybe.

54.45 miles, 208 this month.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7855925438

Well, that's the first September since I started to cycle "seriously" (2016) that I haven't managed to fit in a Fondo :(

However, it's the first September since I started to cycle "seriously" (2016) that I've got in 750 miles :)

After not managing to get out yesterday - little brother came over and we were doing the work of executors on our dad's estate - I had decided to fit in a Fondo. I'd plotted out a route in my head which would rack up the requisite milage and set out.

However, I hadn't discovered there was a ser of light controlled roadworks on my route. On a sharp bend at the bottom of a dip. I went through one way, but knowing I'd planned to come through the other way and noting the queues that side I aborted my plans.

The new route came in 10 miles short, but the old legs - still in bib shorts - were getting a bit cold in a raw wind, so things didn't work out too bad. Now to see if I can get to 800 miles for the month.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7866478022

Quote from: Slim on September 19, 2022, 09:32:33 PMSeptember had already turned into a sort of damage limitation exercise by the time I came down with COVID a week ago, but this bank holiday weekend was at least an opportunity to clock up 100 miles or so. Wasn't it? Nope, a suspected kidney stone kept me out of action on the Saturday and Sunday.

But I appear to be back to my normal self mostly today - whether the kidney stone has passed, just moved somewhere more comfortable or never actually existed I am yet to find out, but I decided I would attempt 25 miles or so this afternoon. The worry was that the pain would flare up again and I'd be incapacitated, an inconvenient distance from home. But a shortish Twycrosser seemed an acceptable risk.

(http://bikediary.uk/images/220919bike.jpg)

Very light rain when I set off and it only got worse, at least for an hour. Then it stopped for an hour. Then it came back. I pressed on regardless, driven mainly by bloody-mindedness. I listened to coverage of the latter stages of the Queen's funeral, the Windsor instalment.

It was eerily quiet out there.

Bit cold later on, even when it wasn't raining. Not the most enjoyable ride, but glad to have got out on a bike again, for only the third time this month.

26.45 miles.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7834155260

Good to see you out again! Kidney back to normal?

Quote from: dom on September 25, 2022, 10:58:46 PMGood to see you out again! Kidney back to normal?

Thanks! I haven't had a recurrence of the kidney pain since Sunday. I'm hoping it's passed (though I haven't actually noticed that, but they can be very small). I'm supposed to be having an ultrasound scan soon though I don't have an appointment yet.

It was a dismal day until 4pm or so, when the rain dried up and the sun came out. It was cold though and a moderate wind was blowing from the north.

I set off in the direction of Swarkestone Bridge, thinking of doing a bit of the Beloved A Road, then coming back through Ticknall - however after Swarkestone I decided I'd go east to Donington through Weston, Aston and Shardlow.

(http://bikediary.uk/images/220926rainbow.jpg)

I wrapped up warm and it was actually quite nice out there, especially when I wasn't pedalling into the wind. As I passed the airport it occurred to me that I very rarely see aircraft take off and land there when I'm going past. Just unlucky, perhaps.

My GPS bike computer ran out of juice after 20 miles so I had to use a GPS logger app on my phone to record the rest of the ride. I stitched the tracks together before uploading to Strava.

Properly dark by the time I got back. But of course, I'd brought lights. 33.51 miles. 241 this month.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7871698645

Not yet at 800 for the month. Today's 42 miles gets me to within 8 miles. So, barring bad weather or other such things I ought to get there.

"Nice" to be able to do the Froggatt climb again today, not done it since the 7^th of May due to it being closed since then. Closed for what I don't know, as all I could see was a very short stretch of new Tarmac.

Wasn't quite as cold as I thought it would be either. Perfectly fine on the legs in bib shorts and a long-sleeved Roubaix jersey was marginally too warm on the climbs.

Quote from: Slim on September 23, 2022, 09:39:20 PMI stopped and examined it and the freehub was freely spinning both ways. I did manage to get it working briefly - but only very briefly; I got another half or mile or so out of it. So of course I called 'er indoors and she came out to collect me. I walked the bike some of the way back, and even managed to roll down a couple of descents on it.

This has given rise to a plan.

Instead of replacing the freehub body on the Cannondale rear wheel, I'm going to upgrade the Cannondale wheelset instead.

Then I'll upgrade Boardman II with the present Cannondale wheels - using the freehub body that was on the original Boardman I wheels, which I've been keeping as spares for years.

Just have to think about which new wheels to get .. the ones on there now are Fulcrum Racing 5s.

I bought these:

https://www.wiggle.co.uk/campagnolo-zonda-c17-wheelset

(https://i.ibb.co/6BPxHMp/zonda.jpg)

Nothing fancy but a bit of an upgrade from the Fulcrum 5s, I think.

Should arrive tomorrow.

A dry afternoon, didn't leave work quite as early as I'd have liked but I thought I'd get another 30 or so in. For a change I thought I'd do 15 miles or so along the route to Wales, then come back the same way - a bit of the "lower westbound" route, in other words.

That all went very well until I found myself approaching Coton in the Elms, at which point I realised I must have missed a turn. But I'd already done 12 miles at this point so I wasn't bothered really. I just followed a road sign to Walton, and kept on keepin' on.

(http://bikediary.uk/images/220928bike.jpg)

The thought did occur to me that I was in entirely new territory here, on a road that I'd never done before. I got as far as a queue of traffic for the narrow bridge over the Trent at Walton, then I decided to come back rather than wait to cross the bridge. I thought that trying to find the same way back by remembering the turns might be a bit of a challenge but it wasn't, and I realised that I hadn't been on a new bit of road at all.

Beautiful out there in the early evening sunshine. Glorious. I should do that route more often. For some reason I only really go that way on much longer rides, usually. It just feels out of my comfort zone, out of my sense of territory to go over that way. Daft really.

Anyway - back on 32.03 miles, which brings this month's total to 273 miles, and that's probably it for September. My target was 350 miles, and this is the first time ever that I've failed to hit a monthly target.

A cruel and unusual set of circumstances combined to defeat me. A holiday to Portugal and Spain at the beginning of the month. A dose of COVID took me out for a few days. A kidney stone wrote off one weekend. I had to go to visit relatives last weekend. And finally, it's a 30-day month. I reckon that the absence of any one of these five factors would have seen me scrape through to 350 miles, but anyway as a damage limitation exercise, I'm pretty happy to have managed 78% of the target. 4130 done this year.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7881759025

I got up to my 800 miles for September today, but only 17 further. Had just gone past my furthest point from home when there was a BANG! I'm falling out of love with tubeless tyres. Whatever had punctured the tyre led to a catastrophic deflation, the sealant had no time to do its job as it all seemed to have shot out in one go. I could have tried to stick a tube in, but being as it took two of us two hours to get the tyre on when it was last changed I thought calling out the cavalry was the best option - especially as I had a house valuation at three - although Mrs S, even though she has lived in the Chesterfield area all of her 60 years didn't know how to get to Beeley Moor.

I think I walked about three miles before my rescuer arrived, several cyclists stopped to offer help, but on hearing my predicament they thought I was doing the right thing. For road tubeless to be a success you need the hole to be small and at an angle, or, for the puncturing item to remain embedded in the tyre, big holes are too much.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7879578595

And another 42 miles today gets me to 862 miles for September with 63,100ft of elevation gain. Now up to 5,558 miles for the year.

Fed up of all the roadworks which keep springing up. Always in places where you don't want them. Hey-ho. No punctures though today, back on the Bianchi. The hole in the tyre from yesterday has about sealed itself though now. I can get it to 40psi before the hole goes again, but if it had done that yesterday I'd have been able to limp home. Ho-hum.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7884521742

A nice 34 miler yesterday... weather very pleasant with a slight breeze... hit 41 mph freewheeling off the Carrick Hills....and the new CatEye BM45 mirror is just great....

Very decent weather today apart from a stiff wind coming from the west. I'm on call at the moment but it's been very quiet, and I thought I'd risk a fondo.

I decided to go up onto the Beloved A Road south of Derby and go west. But I did make a concession to being on call by going NE through Donington to Cavendish Bridge rather than over Swarkestone Bridge, to minimise my distance from base at the point I'd need to turn back.

Got as far as Sudbury after about 35 miles, then turned back. When I got to my '20 miles to go' point in Hilton (a hairdresser's called The Salon) I realised I'd have to stretch the ride a bit if I came home the usual way over Swarkestone Bridge. So I detoured via Ticknall, rather than coming down through Melbourne and Coleorton.

I did think I should probably give Bastard Hill a try, to see how I got on since I haven't done it for a long time - but I decided to leave that to a day when I had a lighter bike with me and took a further detour through Hartshorne to give it a miss.

(http://bikediary.uk/images/221001hilton.jpg)

Nice out there, especially with a tailwind on the way back. I did get spotted with rain for 15 minutes, but it was very light. And the sun came out later on.

I listened to 6 Music early on. Radcliffe and Maconie had an interview with Lenny Kaye about psychedelic music that was really good, what an interesting guy. They played an Electric Prunes tune that was a ringer for the old Nancy Sinatra / Lee Hazelwood tune Summer Wine. Later Huey played a Megadeth tune that was clearly a ripoff of the old TPOH song I'm An Adult Now.

Later I listened to the footy on 5 Live, Liverpool vs Brighton. The south coast side got my hopes up by bagging two goals in the first eighteen minutes, but I wasn't surprised when, just as I was arriving home, Salah had made it 3-2 to Liverpool. I must admit I was surprised to find out, later, that Brighton had equalised and nabbed a point.

Along Manchester Lane near Hartshorne, I witnessed an altercation between a hawk of some sort and a pigeon on the road in front of me. The hawk was definitely on top, figuratively and literally. Feathers were flying. It had its victim in its claws. As I drew close though the hawk retreated and the slightly distressed-looking pigeon flew off. Unless the hawk caught up with it later, I saved its life there.

Back on 64.04 miles. After a disappointing September, nice to have got the October fondo in at the first time of asking.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7895220011

Thought today was supposed to be a decent day - westerly winds excepted - and it was until about half an hour before I went out when it started to tiddle it down. Rainfall radar suggested it would continue for a while and then stop. It did so out I went.

Fifteen minutes into the ride and rain appeared. Heavy rain. Yet in my field of view all I could see was blue sky. Most dispiriting.

I was wet, but it dried up, so on I pressed, up Far Lane for only the second time this year, once on the tops the roads were dry. Dropped down to Cutthorpe roads were wet. Back to the tops, roads were dry. Went over to take the A619 back to town it was piss wet again. Wet up through Old Brampton and back to dryness again.

Then back home to wet roads again, a decent 46 miles got in, more than I thought.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7895840851

Dragged myself out again to do 50 miles. Didn't need much dragging to get me out, but it felt like a drag at times even though I did less climbing per mile than yesterday and the headwind was lighter.

Couldn't even average as high a speed as yesterday, but I only got in one decent descent as opposed to three yesterday. Got more people in cars shouting shit at me today too. I got passed in a 50 limit by a bloke in a Porsche doing at least 60. I saw him a bit later parked at the side of the road taking photographs of his motor "It's Shit" I told him. He came by not long after most probably over the limit again. Pratt.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7901423706

Quite a nice late afternoon, dry and almost warm with a light wind coming from the south. Hadn't been down the southbound route for a while and I thought I'd do at least 36 miles, to get the October tally up to 100.

Got as far as Stoney Stanton (after 18 miles) then turned for home. After Earl Shilton though I decided I'd keep going along Leicester Road rather than turn off for Kirkby Mallory - just to give myself a navigating challenge. I have done this before and (as I'd forgotten) it's not that pleasant during the rush hour. But I took a turn left for Desford after about a mile.

Thought I'd be able to navigate home from Desford easily enough but no, I took the wrong turn at the T junction there. I ended up taking a route through Desford that I hadn't done for about five years but I found my way out easily enough.

Dark by the time I got home. I quite like this time of year in that you can combine daytime and nighttime cycling on the same ride after work. I came home through Hugglescote for a change, something I do rarely.

Leaned down to switch off the rear light when I got back to the garage, only to find that it was already off. In fact the rear lens and two AA batteries were absent. They must have popped off when I went over a bump. Still - it only cost about £3.

Lots of ladies out in tight jogging pants.

Listened mostly to coverage from the Conservative Party conference on 5 Live, none of it very sympathetic of course.

Back on 37.92 miles. Happy to have got 102 miles in over the first three days of the month.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7906525075

A 33 miler yesterday pretty much same route as last time with a couple of changes..... really strong head wind throughout which made it fairly unpleasant..Strava has my max speed as 46 mph which again must have been coming off the Carrick Hills  on the homeward bound stretch....
Looks like rain for rest of the week so hopefully get out again as the daylight decreases daily...

Bit blowy round here today. Blustery and swirly, which wasn't too bad actually as most windy days this year have been a constant strength in a constant direction, not good as a headwind, at least today it would relent - and then come in from the side. That's why I only just topped 41 mph on a bit of road where 50 is possible with a tailwind, it was just too swirly today, I wanted to stay safe.

Thought I was being attacked by baby Rovers at one point. Riding uphill there were about 25 apples rolling down towards me. Most strangeish. Although lots of roads round here have lots of squashed apples to the edges.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7909539106

Rather than tackle the sticky freehub on the X myself I've taken it for a proper service this morning, should have it back later this afternoon. Includes the following, not bad for £80. The guy lives 6 miles away so pretty handy and he's very well reviewed.

I don't like to chicken out of doing it myself but I may well get him to swap the freehub off the old Boardman rear wheel onto the old Cannondale Fulcrum 5.

I still have to put the cassette from the Fulcrum 5 onto the new Campag wheel. I've given it a bit of a clean, it was filthy.

Bike safe snowfoam jet wash (https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/t33/1/16/2705.png)
Frame inspected for wear & damage (https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/t33/1/16/2705.png)
Suspension bearings inspected for wear & play (https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/t33/1/16/2705.png)
Bottom bracket bearings checked (https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/t33/1/16/2705.png)
Headset bearings checked (https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/t33/1/16/2705.png)
Wheel bearings checked (https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/t33/1/16/2705.png)
Wheels trued (https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/t33/1/16/2705.png)
Brakes bled and aligned(https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/t33/1/16/2705.png)
Brake pads checked for wear (https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/t33/1/16/2705.png)
Drivetrain components removed, degreased & checked for wear (https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/t33/1/16/2705.png)
Jockey wheels checked for wear & play (https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/t33/1/16/2705.png)
Inner cables replaced (https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/t33/1/16/2705.png)
Forks & shocks checked for wear and play (https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/t33/1/16/2705.png)
Complete re assembly, lube & tuning (https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/t33/1/16/2705.png)
All bolts and fittings torqued (https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/t33/1/16/2705.png)
Silicon finish applied to frame to help prevent dirt sticking (and make it smell nice (https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/t57/1/16/1f609.png)) (https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/t33/1/16/2705.png)

Bravo, WD40 Degreaser!

I gave the cassette off the Cannondale a quick seeing to with GT85 and an old toothbrush to get the thick of the gunk off. It did do that, but it was still pretty black. This morning I felt guilty about not doing the job properly so I disassembled the cassette completely and sprayed all the bits with WD40 Degreaser. Left it on 5 minutes and the remaining grime just rubbed straight off.

Some of the Shimano branding also came off the locking ring, but I'm not too bothered about that. About half of the bristles fell out of the old toothbrush I was using, as well. Life is hard.

Gave all the cogs a good wash with detergent and dried everything carefully. Will put them on the new wheel this afternoon.

(https://i.ibb.co/QdksDWZ/cleancassette.jpg)

If you've never disassembled a Shimano cassette before, no need to worry about putting it back together. The splines on the freehub are designed so that you can only fit the cogs on the right way round, and unless you're blind you won't put them back in the wrong order.

Another mild evening, another opportunity to bag another 30-odd miles. A moderate wind was coming from the south. I thought I'd go up and west along the A road, although of course this would mean a bit of a headwind over the last few miles.

However - once I was over Swarkestone Bridge I decided to go the other way and penetrate Derby from the south. I took Infinity Park Way, leading to the Rolls-Royce test centre and Aerospace Campus. RR has a lot of real estate over there, it's no wonder they're the city's largest employer.

Rather than come back the same way once I reached the test centre like I have in the past, I followed a signpost into the city centre. From there I just kept going, following my nose. A nice feeling to be back in Derby. I've been feeling quite nostalgic about the place recently. Although despite having lived there a total of 12 years, I had no idea where I was. At one point I saw a place called Oakwood Nursery. Could I possibly have found my way to Oakwood, the part of Derby where I'd bought a house in 1991? Surely I couldn't have, unless I'd pedalled through a worm hole?

I hadn't, it was just the name of the nursery.

Anyway I found my way to a crossroads with a busy main road. I looked right, and saw the "Spider" - the name given by Derby folk (hi) to a roundabout with pedestrian bridges crossing it. I knew exactly where I was then, and a left turn took me straight back to Swarkestone, three miles later. I came back home through Belton, Thringstone and Coalville for a change rather than straight down Top Brand and Coleorton.

I saw a dead crow hanging in a tree near Donington Park. It was suspended by its head, claws dangling. I suppose it must have died in the tree then got its head caught in a branch. Bit of an eerie sight.

I heard my phone ring in my pocket just after I crossed Swarkestone Bridge on the way up. I ignored it, because I'm not on call. But I stopped to check MS Teams on my phone anyway. I saw a message from an HR manager at our head office in Massachussets, asking me to call her.

Uh oh.

I sent back a message to say that I was out on a bike, could she email? "Please call me when you have five minutes", was the reply. I called her there and then by the roadside, slightly hesitantly. She was phoning to apologise about something. She'd given an award for something to someone else called James in the company when it was intended for me, because she got our surnames mixed up. I laughed.

Looking at the track on Strava I didn't penetrate Derby very far, but I did visit a part of it (Boulton) where I'd never been before. Perhaps I'll work out a route that takes me to my old house, it's not easy though to avoid dual carriageways.

Back on 39.0 miles, which my spreadsheet tells me is the median distance so far this year.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7922317417

Out fairly late today, what with having a prospective buyer to show round my dad's house and then the finish of il Lombardia to watch - well done Pog a 100% record - it was gone four by the time I'd left the house.

I did wonder about going out in summer kit still, but a long-sleeved jersey whilst a bit too warm at first was really needed as the sun dropped to the horizon. I was suffering a bit from a shortness of breath too, Mrs S has been emptying cupboards at my dad's and I think some of the old perfumes and unguents of my mum's which she tipped down the sink, have triggered a bit of an allergic reaction in me. Funnily enough my old mum used to moan about the same.

Still, I picked up as the ride went on and good to get in another 40 miles but by 'eck sunset's early now!

https://www.strava.com/activities/7932175929/

Definitely a fondo day today. With the wind forecast to come from the west, I plotted a route last night that would combine the Upper Westbound route (up over Swarkestone Bridge, west along the Beloved A Road) with the Lower Westbound route on the way back, the two being joined by a route down through the A515 and Abbots Bromley.

I set off at 10:05. I was tempted to take the X so I could check it out following its service, but that would have been unwise for a long ride. So I rolled out the Boardman again.

A few puddles but nothing unavoidable. Unfortunately rather than going straight up to Melbourne I drifted up through Peggs Green and up Top Brand, on autopilot. I just wasn't thinking about what I was doing. I got back on track by taking a detour through Breedon and Lount for a change, rather than Isley Walton and King's Newton, which would be my usual method to get to Melbourne from there.

(http://bikediary.uk/images/221008bike.jpg)

And when I arrived at the aforementioned Derbyshire town which shares its name with Australia's second-most populous city, I realised that my misnavigation had added more than 6 miles onto my ride. I compensated for that by coming straight down to Yoxall on the southbound part of the ride, rather than all the way west and south (respectively) to Abbots Bromley and King's Bromley. This meant that I came back through Walton and Coton rather than Alrewas, Croxall, Edingale and Lullington as I'd intended, but oh well - still a nice route.

Really a nice day out on the bike apart from an uphill slog for a mile coming down the A515. Cool in the morning, especially when the Sun disappeared behind a cloud but it was much warmer, and consistently sunny in the afternoon. I'd brought a backpack to stuff layers of clothes into, fortunately.

I judged the distance pretty well following the navigation hiccup and the compensatory short cut later on; just had to take a detour through Ibstock over the last couple of miles to finish on the fondo distance. Back on 62.56 miles. 204 done this month, target is 350 but I hope I can tack on the deficit from last month.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7931564857

We are enjoying a 10-night holiday in Kent at the moment. Currently on a site just outside New Romney.
On Friday we had a short ride of around 17 miles taking in Lydd On Sea, Dungeness and stopping off at Lydd for a couple of beers at The Dolphin. None of it could really be described as 'off-road' but enjoyable nonetheless. A highlight was The Snack Shack at Dungeness. I had a scallop roll (slaw/chilli jam), Clare had a fresh fish flatbread (avocado/slaw/spinach/sour cream/chilli jam). We shared a portion of fried potatoes. Fantastic! The trip advisor reviews are not wrong! The lowlight was being caught in a brief two-minute hailstorm as we passed the power station at Dungeness - bleak. Oh, and one of the grimmest pubs ever visited, The Britannia Inn also at Dungeness (a poor half of Guinness).
Yesterday we decided to follow another route found on the Komoot app to Rye via Camber Sands. Nearly all of the ride from Lydd is a designated cycle route (2) with mostly paved track. Very pleasant..and fast.
At Camber, we stripped down to our swimmers and took a dip. The weather was great for October, sunshine all day, which helped us to dry off. The water temp was about as warm as it's likely to be so after the initial shock it was quite comfortable.
On reaching Rye we alighted on a bench in the park for our packed lunch before a little bit of exploration. A couple we met on the track into Rye recommended The Mermaid which we came across almost by accident on a steep cobbled street. A lot of the buildings in Rye were rebuilt in the 15th century after being destroyed by a devastating fire (the original Mermaid was built in the 12th century). I enjoyed a half of Mermaid ale, Clare enthused over the Appleshed cider.
We rode down to Rye Harbour (1.5 miles) but a huge disappointment. Although the William The Conqueror served Whitstable Bay pale ale, it was not worth the extra three miles, tbh.
We then visited a real gem, The Waterworks micropub. Awarded the Camra South East best pub in 2020 and 2021, it is situated on the corner of a street in an old water company building. Very quirky interior and good selection of beer. I had a Romney American Pale Ale, Clare enjoyed a Tenterden cider.
Back to the campsite via Lydd with a slight unplanned detour along a bridleway due to my failing to follow the route correctly! A pretty overgrown single-track ensued. Lots of brambles left their mark on my bare legs!
A good ride but a frustrating end due to my incompetence. Clare was not amused!

Quote from: Slim on September 23, 2022, 09:39:20 PMI stopped and examined it and the freehub was freely spinning both ways. I did manage to get it working briefly - but only very briefly; I got another half or mile or so out of it. So of course I called 'er indoors and she came out to collect me. I walked the bike some of the way back, and even managed to roll down a couple of descents on it.

I've got the new wheels on the Cannondale now (not tried them yet), but I took apart the freehub body on the old rear wheel to have a look. It wasn't gummed up or grimy in there as I'd suspected (or not much). Nor were the pawls worn down. The problem was that the spring that makes them stick out and connect with the hub had broken. As soon as that happens, the next time you freewheel they'll go flush against the barrel and they have no incentive to come out again to push the wheel round.

A bit disconcerting that your ability to get home depends on what is actually a pretty flimsy bit of coiled wire.

Cycling, it's great isn't it.

On my Sunday ride the front disc brake was making the most hideous squealing when applied. I was almost, almost, embarrassed by it, but I have no shame. So, yesterday on my bike fettling day, I gave the disc rotor a good clean with isopropyl alcohol. For good measure I did the rear rotor too. I then thought the rear disc pads were rubbing and was driven spare trying to sort it out until I noticed I'd misplace the cap thing from the front derailleur and the cable end was rubbing against the tyre...

Did the cleaning cure the squeal? For the first 25 miles yes, but then it started up again. Must pick roads with gentle descents to go down.

Not long after the squealing started again, I heard a metallic snapping sound. WTF was that? I thought the front brake might have gone, or the chain, I thought about a spoke snapping but there was no insistent hitting of a spoke end against anything. Turned out it was a snapped spoke.

Second time I've had a spoke snap on the same wheel. It was the original rear aluminium wheel the Bianchi came with, which I put back on a couple of weeks ago because the rear tyre was getting thin and I couldn't be arsed to go through a tubeless tyre change again. Well, with a buggered rear wheel I thought I'd put my emergency spare tyre on the carbon wheel. Big mistake. Took ages to get the bugger on, then it would not inflate. Thought I'd put a tube in took ages to get the tyre off then another bloody age to get it back on again. Managed to tear all the tendons in my fingers. Probably.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7945990220/overview

Not raining for once so managed to get out for a couple of hours yesterday.. 35 miles.. similar to last couple of routes.. some hazy sunshine with some strengthening winds... out via Auchencruive towards Stair then onto Coylton.. Dalrymple. Minishant then up n over Carrick Hills and home...

We've now moved up to Seasalter just a mile or so west of Whitstable.

We had it in mind to do the Sustrans route 15 from Whitstable to Reculver, known as The Oyster Trail. However, having done this in good time we decided to go the extra miles to Birchington on Sea (The Viking Trail). A great ride, mostly along the seafront, flat as a pancake too. Good surfaces for 90% of the way with great views.

On returning to our site, we'd done a little over 30 miles, all at a fairly moderate pace.

I'd like to explore this route a bit more at some point. I think getting the train down to Ramsgate and riding back to Whitstable would be nice, taking in Broadstairs and Margate.

We're impressed with Whitstable so we'll probably be back. The only downer was encountering a hedge-cutting tractor on the short section just west of Reculver. I've got a thorny twig stuck in my front tyre at the moment, bound to cause a flat when removed.

Lovely day for it today - and cycling - clear blue skies, warm enough for bib shorts and NO WIND!!!!

Can't remember the last still day we had like that, certainly not been many this year. The lack of wind helped me to my best time of the year up the Col de Wigley. Only my second-best time of the year up the Harewood Road climb though, I'd realised by then that I'd put too much in going up Wigley, it was the lack of a headwind see, encouraged me to push on more than usual.

That got another 44.7 miles into the bag. Got another bag when I got home, a new Jersey and pair of bib tights in it from Le Col, the DFS of cycling clothing, never paid full price from them yet. The Jersey is a lovely colour as well, one has to look stylish don't you know :)

https://www.strava.com/activities/7956561066

A sunny, mild day with a very light wind coming from the south, a moderate temperature and no chance of rain, according to the forecast. I was tired, from having to stay up until 0215 last night (and the night before) to perform scheduled work for a customer that took (literally) all of ten seconds each time. But I wanted to do a fondo nonetheless, especially since I hadn't found the time to ride a bike for a few days. Perfect conditions for the southbound route.

I left work as soon as I could. I wanted to take the Cannondale as a test ride, since it has two new wheels. But as I examined it in the garage I noticed that the front tyre was completely flat. Now - it may well be that I let all the air out myself to fit the front wheel on through the brake pads, but I certainly wasn't going to take the risk. So I took the X, also due a test ride since its recent service.

It's not really a great idea to do a long ride on a newly-serviced bike, just in case one of the new cables haven't been fitted properly, or the headset hasn't been tightened properly, or a bolt hasn't been torqued correctly. Or whatever. However I was keen to verify that all was well with it (and in particular that the freehub had been fixed; it had been sticking). So that was a risk I was prepared to take.

Really nice out there. I stopped at my favourite village shop at Gilmorton on the way down and treated myself to a bit of a feast there. Warm enough to sit at the table outside. And it was here that I realised that I hadn't brought my LED torch, which I'd intended to use as a front light. I did have a head torch with me, and a flashy blinker - but I wasn't sure that this particular head torch would be adequate to light the country lanes in front of me on the way back. I'd done 25 miles at this point. It would probably be wiser to turn for home, once I'd finished my coffee. But I decided to go for the fondo distance regardless and hope for the best.

I didn't go all the way down to Welford and the Northamptonshire border, as I normally would. I turned back as soon as I'd done the requisite fondo mileage (factoring in that I would take a slightly longer route on the way back by going along Wood Road a few miles from home).

It all went well. No problems with the bike, it's rolling very nicely, the freehub isn't sticking any more and all the gear changes were fine. It would be an exaggeration to say that the head torch was adequate, but I got away with it. Very enjoyable run out except for the idiot in a beanie hat near Stoney, who, while overtaking another oncoming vehicle, decided to aim his car at me and swerve away at the last minute for a laugh.

Saw a bright yellow helicopter hovering maybe ten metres above a field about 200 metres away near Newbold Verdon. It was there for at least two minutes, can't imagine what that was about. And I had a lovely view of a glider coming in to land at Husbands Bosworth airfield.

Back on 62.56 miles, that was the 24th fondo of the year and the third this month. It could well be a quadruple-fondo October!

https://www.strava.com/activities/7958847090

Another great ride on the mtbs today. Starting from Whitstable, we rode south on the Crab and Winkle Way towards Canterbury. Around two miles from the city centre we veered off to Rough Common and took the trail through the Blean Woods RSPB nature reserve. On exiting the woods we headed towards Faversham.

A half pint of Mad Cat in the Phoenix Tavern and another half a Shepherd Neame Late Red in The Albion, alongside  the creek. We then followed cycle route 1 to Graveney to alight at The Four Horseshoes (half a Wainright Gold on keg) and a quick sprint to return to our campsite at Seasalter.

A round trio of around 24 miles. A great ride with a nice selection of terrain. No climbs to speak of but the most climbing we've done on this trip (825ft).

That will be the last of our rides in Kent. I'm sure we'll return

Nice out there again today, if you were out of the wind. If. Certainly still warm enough for shorts, especially going uphill. Had to overtake someone uphill today, I did think I'd just drop in behind him and wheelsuck for a bit, but he was too slow for my liking so I put a dig in and went by - just as the slope hit 14% I had to keep digging in a bit longer than I liked...

Still, got another 40 miles in. Only 400 behind this time last year now.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7967710067/

Didn't want to go too far today as I was feeling a little worn down from the combined effects of a fondo on Thursday, a gig in Stoke last night and two overnight jobs at work earlier in the week. Minimally though I wanted to do 34 miles, to get the October mile count up over 300.

I thought I'd do some variation of a Twycross Bypasser, with an excursion down the Dad's Army route at the bottom. The wind was coming from the south-west, ideal for this route.

I wanted if possible to go right down to Kingsbury Water Park, which I hadn't done since I first did this ride just over two years ago. I didn't upload the route to a GPS app or anything like that, I just hoped I'd remember it. I wouldn't be overly troubled if I didn't. One change I made was to join the A5 earlier, to avoid the twisty, climby, gravelly little narrow track near Dordon. A case of a choice of two extremes, neither particularly desirable.

I turned off the A5 after two miles of it. A mile later I was convinced that I'd taken the wrong exit, or missed a turn somewhere, because I didn't recognise where I was at all. In fact (as I discovered later by scrutinising the track on Strava) I was on exactly the right road, and if I'd stayed on it another four or five miles I would have arrived at Kingsbury Water Park.

(http://bikediary.uk/images/221015bike.jpg)

But I didn't. I decided to take a left turn signposted to a place called Wood End. Half a mile later I was confronted with a uncompromising-looking hill. I'd done 22 miles at this point, so I opted to turn back. I rejoined the Bypasser route five miles or so later, and continued home through Sheepy, Bilstone, Barton in the Beans, Odstone and Heather.

Took the above pic on the A5 on the way back.

Saw a very large number (a murder?) of crows in a field near Barton, about half of them airborne. Something seemed to have agitated them. And there was a beautiful partial rainbow visible from Gibbet Lane, with all the ROYGBIV constituent colours clearly distinguishable. I was going to take a bike pic with it in the background but by the time I'd found a suitable spot, it had faded a bit. So I didn't bother.

The roads were a bit wet from overnight rain when I set off, but soon dried off. I did hit a patch of wet roads again on the way back near Heather, though I hadn't picked up a spot of rain on the ride. I'd guessed that might happen when I saw the rainbow segment hovering over that general direction.

Back on 43.20 miles which takes me to 310 this month. Another 117 to do to hit this month's target + last month's deficit.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7967477196

And another 40 miles under the wheels today. Takes me over 6,000 for the year and 470 for October.

Just did a bit of random riding around today, my regular Sunday route has a couple of sets of roadworks on uphill sections so I decided to avoid those. I then got caught up in a road closed situation due to a car smash. Two fire engines, three police cars and an ambulance were there and the Filthocopter was circling overhead. I managed to sneak my way through, but it put the kibosh on a loop I was going to do a few of.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7973793052

Quote from: Slim on October 13, 2022, 10:54:32 PMI left work as soon as I could. I wanted to take the Cannondale as a test ride, since it has two new wheels. But as I examined it in the garage I noticed that the front tyre was completely flat. Now - it may well be that I let all the air out myself to fit the front wheel on through the brake pads, but I certainly wasn't going to take the risk.

Tried to pump it up, wouldn't take any pressure at all. There was a small tear in the inner tube, probably my own fault for being a bit rough with it when wrestling the tyre on. At least the tyre was a bit more supple (or stretched) when I replaced it.

Will give it a go tomorrow, hopefully.

I was determined to give the new wheels on the Cannondale a spin this afternoon, but I didn't want to go too far - apart from the two new wheels I'd also be relying on two untested tyres and two untested inner tubes. The wind was coming from the south-west and I thought I'd go roughly in that direction.

I went over through Norton Juxta Twycross in Twycross Bypasser stylee, but I turned right instead of left, thinking of going over through No Man's Heath and Clifton Campville. Then I remembered how rough the roads are over that way and I didn't fancy doing that on two nice new road wheels, so I followed a sign to Orton. A few minutes later, I realised what I'd done. I was following a road that would lead me, inexorably, to the wrong end of a curvy hill known locally as the "ski slope". I'd made this mistake before. Actually it wasn't too strenuous.

I must say the views over there, with the fields bathed in late afternoon sunshine, were glorious.

(https://i.ibb.co/m65dXyV/221017bike.jpg)

After Orton I came back via a typical Twycross Bypasser route. I was tempted to come back along Fenn Lanes, but since I was road testing new parts and I didn't have a proper front light, I thought better of it and took a mostly direct route home along Burton Road and Gibbet Lane.

Everything working nicely on the bike, thankfully. Does it feel a bit more zippy with the new wheels? No, it feels pretty much the same but I'm happy enough with that. Objectively the new wheels are a bit lighter. I get the feeling the rolling resistance is a bit higher but that's probably because the tyres (Conti Ultra Sport) are new (they should harden up a bit over time and resist a bit less).

Back on 32.74 miles, 342 this month which is only 8 miles short of target. But the rest of the month is predominantly rainy, according to the forecast.

https://www.strava.com/activities/7978587017

With tomorrow's forecast not looking good, this week has been my lightest mileage week in ages. Then again it is October.

Was struggling a bit today. Went up to do some sorting at my dad's yesterday and whenever I go up there I always come back with congested feeling lungs. Not very good at explaining how it makes me feel, but I always feel short of breath. Mrs S is fine, but me...

Still, apart from a briskish South Westerly it was a nice afternoon, plenty warm enough for shorts still. Just a bit gasping for air when going uphill. I still set the best time up Harewood Road today :) Even if it was A minute and forty seconds slower than on Wednesday.

45 miles gets me to 605 for October, my best ever October total - and still a week to go.

https://www.strava.com/activities/8003003397

A dry day was promised after a few days of persistent rain. Handy for a Saturday. With a moderate wind coming from the south, I thought I'd do my "other" southbound route, which differs from the usual one in that it turns off down Fosse Way after Stoney Stanton.

Pretty mild out there. I set off just after 0900. The roads were wet from yesterday's rain for the first hour or two, so I took the Boardman.

Cool for the first couple of hours but I got the clothing strategy just right. I stuffed a fleece and a nylon outer layer into my backpack after Brinklow, while I gorged on a sausage roll that I'd bought in the village shop there. Brinklow is also the home of the Lost Deli, (http://bikediary.uk/2022/01/22/the-lost-deli/) but it wasn't open when I got there.

(https://i.ibb.co/Zgx1NKH/221022bike.jpg)

I hadn't been down this route for quite some time - I think I've only ever done it four or five times - and I did manage to take a wrong turn, down Watling Street (also known as the A5). Fortunately it narrowed to a single carriageway after about half a mile so I was able to do a U turn.

I went down Fosse Way as far as a place called Princethorpe - I don't think I've been down that far before, I'd done 36 miles at this point - and I took a left to go exploring. I found myself on a very pleasant, well-surfaced and delightfully flat stretch of road. I did about three miles of this then I came to a T junction with a very busy road, so I decided to turn for home. As it turns out I was a few miles from the south-western outskirts of Rugby.

I took the above pic at the High Cross monument, which marks the centre of Roman Britain at the intersection of two great Roman roads (Fosse Way and Watling Street). You might remember that it was featured in Great British Car Journeys a few years ago.

Just found this old bit of film from 1966 in which it's featured, as well, about 30 seconds in:

https://www.macearchive.org/films/atv-today-14121966-fosse-way-part-three

I listened to 6 Music for a bit, then I started the next Reacher audiobook, The Enemy. The last one (Persuader) featured some flashbacks to Reacher's time in the army, and I suppose Lee Childs must have got the taste for it because this one is set wholly in Reacher's army days. Makes a change, I guess. Written in the first person again. I prefer the third person ones. Annoyingly the audiobook MP3s were a bit quiet even with the volume right up but I can fix them.

Back on 79.36 miles, which makes this possibly my first Quadruple Fondo October. 422 done this month, which is 72 miles over target, and about five miles short of target + last month's deficit.

That was a really nice run out, I must go down that way more often, especially the flat stretch near Rugby. Probably one of my five or six favourite rides this year.

https://www.strava.com/activities/8002884607

2nd puncture of the year earlier today about 10 miles in.. had the wheel off new inner in..couldn't get the bloody thing to inflate... later googled about the mini pump and realised what a dick I'd been.. but then if you don't know..you don't  know.. called the Calvary who was actually about  5 mins away in a garden centre....
Back home and reflated so good to go tomorrow hopefully...

Quote from: Slim on September 27, 2022, 10:06:53 PM

Quote from: Slim on September 23, 2022, 09:39:20 PMI stopped and examined it and the freehub was freely spinning both ways. I did manage to get it working briefly - but only very briefly; I got another half or mile or so out of it. So of course I called 'er indoors and she came out to collect me. I walked the bike some of the way back, and even managed to roll down a couple of descents on it.

This has given rise to a plan.

Instead of replacing the freehub body on the Cannondale rear wheel, I'm going to upgrade the Cannondale wheelset instead.

Then I'll upgrade Boardman II with the present Cannondale wheels - using the freehub body that was on the original Boardman I wheels, which I've been keeping as spares for years.

Rather than swap the old freehub in, which may not actually be possible anyway (the hub's probably incompatible though I didn't check) I decided to have a go at fixing the one already attached to the Fulcrum 5s that were on the Cannondale. So .. I bought some freehub springs from Amazon and fitted one to the freehub.

Actually a pretty simple job once you've taken the freehub off the wheel - you just wrap the spring, which looks like a slightly-oversized cheap keyring, around the groove in the freehub body. The pawls are designed so that the tension in the spring makes them stick out and engage the hub when not freewheeling. I'm no mechanical engineer but I reckon that using a single spring for this is a poor design.

The remaining springs in the pack are shown here:

(http://bikediary.uk/images/pawl_springs.jpg)

I gave the innards a good wipe round, and relubed the pawls and the hub. Fortunately the Fulcrum 5 rear wheel has sealed bearing units so I didn't have to bother with regreasing little steel balls.

Working nicely now.  Some freehubs have independently sprung pawls. like this:

(http://bikediary.uk/images/sram_freehub.jpg)

.. and that's surely a better design.

Still to do: swap the 8 speed cassette off Boardman II and put it onto the Fulcrum 5 rear wheel. It'll need spacers because the Fulcrum freehub is designed for a 10 speed cassette.

Never considered the design of a freehub. I am enlightened, thanks for the description and photos!

Torrential rain yesterday and the roads were a bit wet again, but a high probability of a dry afternoon was promised so I thought I'd do 30 or so after work. Didn't want to go much further than that because I'd been feeling a bit tired and frazzled from a beer-enhanced gig followed by a late bedtime last night.

I did a Twycross Bypasser, starting off by going down through Heather. I don't usually do that, but on this occasion I'd actually intended to go out west through Measham but changed my mind when I reached the turn for Swepstone. The cosy familiarity of a Bypasser just felt more appealing.

It was getting gloomy by the time I reached Sibson and I reached down to turn on the rear light, only to find that it wasn't working. I remembered that I'd had exactly the same experience last time I took the Tricross out after dark. And I never got round to fitting new batteries.

(http://bikediary.uk/images/221024bike.jpg)

Luckily though I'd brought a spare head torch that takes the same (AAA) batteries so I stopped and swapped them in. Just as well because it was properly dark for the last half hour of the ride.

Really nice out there in the Autumn sunshine and not too cold. I picked up a few spots of rain near Sibson, but nothing to speak of.

I listened to the Drive programme on 5 Live, which mostly concerned itself with the result of the Tory leadership election of course. Geeta Guru-Murthy was sitting in for Clare McDonnell. It became obvious from the first few minutes that she holds similar views to her brother Krishnan, although she didn't call anyone a cunt.

Back on 30.44 miles. 452 this month and I've more than made up for the September shortfall now.

https://www.strava.com/activities/8013414942

A dry, mild afternoon and I was able to leave work early - at the cost of having to work later this evening - and mount a bicycle at about 3pm.

The wind was blowing fairly powerfully from the south. I left with the intention of doing a southbound fondo. However by the time I reached the T junction at Potters Marston after 17 miles, I'd decided not to do that. The headwind was annoying me. And besides, I thought - who really gives a toss if I do five fondos in the same month? It would be a personal record, but I decided I wasn't that bothered about it.

So I decided to go left instead of right, explore for a couple of miles, then turn for home.

However - by the time I'd reached a village called Huncote I'd come down a longish, steepish descent that I didn't really fancy coming back up. I kept going until I hit Narborough, on the south-western outskirts of Leicester - then I followed a sign to Stoney.

This wasn't a great idea really because it took me along a pretty busy B road in rush hour. Funny how B roads can be bigger and badder than A roads, sometimes. Three or four miles later though I found myself on the usual southbound route, so I followed it home.


(http://bikediary.uk/images/221026bike.jpg)

It was getting dark by the time I rolled through Stoney, so I put my lights on. By Ibstock, the rechargeable rear light had run out of juice (I might not have noticed this for a while, but a passing motorist tactfully drew my attention to it). Not to worry, I'd brought a spare of course. A little clip-on flasher. I clipped it to the hem of my cycling jacket at the rear.

A mile later I got beeped at again. I reached behind to check the clippy red flasher was still there; it wasn't. Fortunately the rechargeable cell in the main rear light had recovered sufficiently to see me home and I only had a couple of miles to do at this point, though I was a bit nervous in the pitch-dark coming up from Ibstock before I reached the street lighting at the outskirts of the village.

Nice to have a bit of an adventure on a new stretch of road but the rush hour traffic spoiled the party a bit on the way back.

Back on 42.29 miles, 494 this month. More than happy with that, but perhaps the weather will permit another run out before November. Currently the forecast claims rain every day for the rest of the month.

https://www.strava.com/activities/8023756535

Managed an hour out yesterday morning as little brother was coming over to help replace the fence panels in my dad's garden.

First 10 miles was great, then the metaphorical legs fell off. I'd earlier passed a cyclist on a fully winterised bike whilst going uphill. He then flew by me on the next one. We both agreed we were overdressed for the day even though I was still in shorts.

Almost got to 700 miles for October with this afternoon's spin out. The usual Thursday morning 40 miler went out of the window with the weather. May not be too good for the rest of the month, but hopefully I can squeeze another 8 miles in.

Did get to 700 miles for October, another 25 and I could, indeed should, if the weather forecast is correct get to 750.

It was a bit of a grim day weatherwise, rain all morning, drizzle and mizzle and mist in the early afternoon. But, by half three it was dry enough to venture out. The roads however will still very wet, just the right conditions for slippery bits of flint to pierce your tyres.

Of course, I got a puncture. Thankfully after some bad tubeless experiences it the sealant worked today. It took its time, but once I'd got the bit of flint out it eventually sealed. didn't lose much pressure either. Wasn't sure how far to go either, so just rode around a bit before making the decision to head up to the tops.

On the way up I thought I'd got another puncture, but thankfully it was just a white bit of gravel stuck to the side of the tyre. Once up on the tops the mist closed in and the rain started, so back down it was, for the sun to come out just as I'd got back to our drive and just as the sun set.

https://www.strava.com/activities/8038262435

Rain this morning but a very mild day - almost warm - and the roads dried off eventually. I decided to make the most of the unseasonal weather and set off at about 3:15pm under strict orders from myself not to do less than 36 miles, which would take me to 530 this month.

I was going to take the red Boardman but found the rear tyre a bit soft. I thought I'd probably get away with 30-odd miles if I pumped it up but I decided not to risk it. It must have a slow puncture and I'd probably have worried about it for the whole ride. So I took the X instead.

Really remarkably nice out there considering we're on the cusp of November, especially early on when it was sunny. Late-summer-ish.

Today's plan was to do a Twycross Bypasser as far as Kisses Barn Lane, then take a right instead of a left to explore new parts in the approximate direction of Tamworth.


(http://bikediary.uk/images/221029bike.jpg)

So I did that. Despite a bit of climbing, the road toward Tamworth was very pleasant. I kept going until I was in the suburban outskirts of Tamworth itself, then came to a roundabout with no appealing options except to turn back, which I did. However on the way back I decided to take an unplanned turn signposted to Shuttington - just to see if I could find my way home from unknown territory. I knew I'd seen Shuttington on a map but couldn't remember where it was.

Before long I saw a sign to No Man's Heath, which was on one of my regular routes years ago, so I followed that one. However I arrived at a T junction, at which I assume I was supposed to guess whether to go left or right, because No Man's Heath wasn't signposted from there. But I could see the Lichfield transmitter in the distance to my left, so I turned right. No Man's Heath was about a mile further on and I took a time-honoured route home from there.

I'd expected my adventurous orienteering to knock my distance up considerably, but nope - I'd only done 31 miles when I got to Heather and although I could have added a mile or so by detouring through Ibstock, I didn't bother. Back on 33.0 miles. 527 this month.

Listened mostly to footy on 5 Live, Brighton vs Chelsea. Highly entertaining, although every time Brighton scored, you'd think the match commentator (Ian Dennis) had had an electric cattle prod stuck up his bum.

https://www.strava.com/activities/8038659868

Didn't make it to 750. Weather forecast was shite.

Getting ready to go out and the skies turned black and it hammered it down. Managed to get out about half three but the roads were still really wet - some massive puddles out there - and the sun goes down not long after half four.

20.6 miles got me to 746 for the month, maybe I can tear myself away from my office work tomorrow to sneak another five in.

https://www.strava.com/activities/8044089726

The weather forecast warned that rain was due over at around 6pm. I took a long lunch break at about 2:15pm, thinking that I wouldn't get wet if I was back by about 5.

I got showered on for five minutes near Sibson after 18 miles and I hoped I'd get home without attracting any more precipitation, but nope - after a brief respite it was mostly persistent rain all the way home.

I trialled a new cycling jacket - really a perfect fit, nice and tight, but the pockets - especially the rear one - aren't quite as big as I'd like. The sleeves are just the right length though, which is unusual for me as I have abnormally long arms. It did resist the moisture quite nicely, as well.

I listened to Nihal Arthanayake's programme on 5 Live, which today was about how Mugabe's behaviour in Zimbabwe was really the fault of the British.

Had to give the Tricross a good wipe down to get the moisture off when I got back, but at least it looks cleaner now.

https://www.strava.com/activities/8048660419

29.42 miles, 557 this month which is 207 over target. Looks like I'm on course for about 5350 this year. 4687 so far.

Thankfully not much office work as postie didn't deliver much, so I was able to get the 5 miles for 750. In fact I got the 30 miles in to let me complete Strava's October 1,250km distance challenge. First time I've done that in October. Certainly won't in November.

I think it's a case of as and when for cycling now, early sunset and probable worsening weather will mean taking advantage of any dry slots. Must try and hit Strava's climbing challenge for November, not managed to do so yet.

https://www.strava.com/activities/8048355665

Also noticed that a kid up the road is the U14 British Hill Climbing Champion. Don't know how many others there were in that category, but he was 13 out of 45 for the U18s and would have been 100 out of 269 in the Men's category. Raced up a mile @ 12.5% with 0.31 miles @ 15.7% I'd have been off and pushing.

The forecast promised a dry, sunny day so I took a day's annual leave to get the November fondo in. Slightly scary single figure temperatures, though. I wrapped up very warm.

The wind was coming from the west, and I thought I'd do the Lower Westbound route, or some variation of it. The rough idea was to do the first 30-odd miles of the route to Wales, then come back. I did that, except that after 24 miles, I took a right turn toward Abbots Bromley at the T junction rather than a left to Rugeley. I only need to do another 7 miles or so and I felt sure it would be a bit more cycling-friendly than pedalling through Rugeley, which is a bit industrial. I also took a wrong turn after 8 miles, but I looped back onto the correct route more or less by chance a mile later.

I had the impression that I hadn't been right up to Abbots Bromley for years, but when I got there I remembered sitting on the bench near the village shop about a year ago. I did the same again today, to refuel with a cheese & onion roll and a sandwich from the shop.

(http://bikediary.uk/images/221104bike.jpg)

I continued on up the road to Uttoxeter, until after about 33 miles I took a right turn along a small country road named Hobb Lane. This turned out to be a bit bumpy and gritty - one of those one-track roads with passing places, copiously furnished with grit, stones and grass growing in the middle like a sort of central reservation - but I was able to plot a course through the worst of it. I persevered for about a mile before I decided to turn back, and head home.

Interestingly, although I didn't know it at the time, the map tells me that I wasn't too far at this point from the "Upper Westbound" route.

I came back the same way although I did wonder if I'd gone off-piste a couple of times. But I hadn't.

My paranoid fear of the cold had caused me to over-clothe myself. I was far too warm after the first few miles. I stopped at a log and removed my jogging pants (worn as a layer between my cycling tights and overtrousers) and a fleece (worn as a layer between my cycling jacket and compression top). I was fine after that apart from being annoyed that I was carrying them round in my backpack for no sensible reason.

Came back through Packington and Alton Hill over the last few miles, rather than Heather.

Listened to 5 Live, then more of the Reacher novel.

Very good one, nice to go up that way again. Back on 68.58 miles.

https://www.strava.com/activities/8068159948

Been out for a ride every day this week so far. Not always a "lengthy" one, but at this time of year you have to seize your chances, so any dry, clear slot will get pounced on. I have got over 150 miles for the week too.

Today's 42 miler was the longest one of the week and my first ride in my new Le Col ensemble. Looks very smart, but didn't make me any faster :( Been the first full week in bib tights this autumn too. If anything, I probably under-dress but going uphill soon warms you up, even if it is a bit of a fresh one.

https://www.strava.com/activities/8067022750

Well what a (Water? Wet a? [not Weta]) weekend. Only managed 18 miles. Got a wet bum too. I'd have done more if I were still at work. Possibly. Might have gone on the Turbo Trainer, but I want to avoid that at all costs. Ugh, sweat.

The weather forecast suggested a threat of a shower before 5pm, but dry conditions were promised after that. Managed to down tools at about 3pm at the expense of having to work later this evening, and set off hoping to do at least 32, which would get me into double figures for November.

Only my second bike ride in November, mainly due to the weather. A brisk wind was coming roughly from the south so I had a simple plan: do the southbound route for at least 16 miles, then come back.

I rested the bike against a fence at a favoured wee spot not long after Kirkby Mallory, and the wind blew it over. No damage, it fell onto soft ground and I wasn't on it. But the mirror popped out of the ball joint on the rightmost end of the handlebar tube and I couldn't force it back on. It was dark by this time. I pressed on to the northern end of Stoney Stanton, then turned back.

Beautiful full Moon after dark.

I was congratulating myself on not having being rained on when I noticed a few flecks of moisture in the beam of my head torch. Ten minutes later the rain was coming down properly, cold and unpleasant. Not heavy, but not light and very persistent. Misery.

Had to give the bike a good wipe down when I got back. It had only done 60-odd miles since I had it cleaned, as well.

Still - 35.46 miles.

Listened mostly to the Reacher novel. It's really drawn me in now.

https://www.strava.com/activities/8088936122

Windy but dry and mild. The wind was coming from the south again so once again, I decided to do 16 or 17 miles of the southbound route, then come back. When I got to Kirkby Mallory though I decided to take a right to Sutton Cheney, then take the Twycross route home, in a backwards-stylee.

 don't often do Fenn Lanes east-to-west and I always forget how rough that side of the road is. The wind was pretty annoying as well until it became a tailwind, after which the combination of a zippy bike and assistance from the elements had me flying along, up from Twycross.

Noticed my bottle cage flapping around on the frame after I removed the bidon for the first time. One of the bolts had worked loose and disappeared. Fortunately I was able to remove the other one with my fingers. I put the bidon and bottle cage in my backpack.

Apart from the wind, pleasant out there, especially at dusk. And the Cannondale is rolling very nicely on its new wheels.

Back on 36.20 miles.

https://www.strava.com/activities/8098545311

Got over 6,500 miles for the year now. Bit windy out, bit warm too made my helmet all sweaty...

A dry, almost warm day. I'd been waiting for the right conditions for an eastbound fondo for a while; today the wind was coming from the south-east. Close enough.

I set off not long after 0900. Would have been sooner but I didn't bother to reattach the bottle cage to the Cannondale yesterday so I had to do that this morning. Unsurprisingly I couldn't find my stash of the appropriate bolts in the garage. Fortunately I did find two loose ones slopping around in a drawer. I put plastic washers on this time.

Nice out there, sunny later on. I went a bit further than Eastwell, my usual eastbound fondo endpoint, this time. Hadn't done that for a year or two. After a couple of miles I came to a right turn for a village called Eaton. Hadn't been there before so I went and had a look. I didn't go right into the village because the road took a brutal downward dip that I didn't want to bother coming back up. I'll see what, if anything, I missed on Street View later.

On the way back at the Nottingham Road junction, curiosity got the better of me and I decided to take a right turn along the main road, rather than crossing over it. I'd thought of doing this often but always talked myself out of it. After all if it was a promising or interesting route, surely I'd have noticed it while nerding out over a route planner.

I ignored the first left turn to Wymeswold, but took a left turn called Station Road after about 6 miles. I did have a sneaky look at Google Maps at this point and noticed that if I kept going I'd end up in East Leake, which is on a familiar route to Newark and Back.

(http://bikediary.uk/images/221112bike.jpg)

I didn't much enjoy Nottingham Road but Station Road, after the left turn, was idyllic cycling territory. Nice views, especially when I was overtaken by two curvy ladies in clingy lycra.

Sunny later in the afternoon. Lovely. I was back well before sunset and I should have done a longer ride. Perhaps I would have, except that I forgot to bring a debit card with me. Fortunately I had enough food and water to keep me going; in fact I didn't get round to eating the cheese & onion pasty until I was about 8 miles from home.

I did think that I'd probably extend my ride quite substantially by adventuring off in the direction of Nottingham but nope, it didn't turn out to be a longer route home. Or not much anyway.

Listened to another couple of hours of the Reacher novel and 6 Music.

Very satisfying run out, nice to explore a few miles of new territory. Back on 67.60 miles.

https://www.strava.com/activities/8107678132

Being as I've got more money than sense (so not much, obvs) I've treated myself to a set of Power Meter Pedals (Could've bought a cheap Winter bike). They arrived this morning and I'd soon got them on the bike and paired up with my Garmin. Decided to just go out for a ride round the block to see what data came out of them.

Well, they appeared to work, but after 2 minutes the Garmin switched off. Turned it back on again, rode round again, after 2 minutes Garmin turned off again. Bugger.

Went home, synched it with Garmin Connect for what it was worth and found out that 37% of my power came from the left leg. 63% from the right. Am I Long John Silver? I also looked and found the Garmin storage was nearly full, so I deleted most of this year's rides and also installed a smaller base map to free up space.

Went out after lunch and things didn't switch off after 2 minutes, so I could now see what power I put out when rising along (not much). Took it for a 30 mile spin, all I had time for and then right at the same point as earlier the Garmin switched off. Bugger. Same place as earlier though. I'm now thinking it could be down to some segments on the Garmin as switch off point came at where it tells me I'm about to start the segment. These have now been deleted so I'll see what happens now.

Is power meterage worth it? Don't know. But, my leg imbalance is now 47% left, 53% right so I can work on that. It also seems the cleat on my right shoe is not centred properly, so that's handy. Looking at Strava's power estimates against actual, it's uphill guess is not far off, but it seems low over a full ride and seeing your power uphill just incentivises you to dig in a bit. Anyhow, it's more data. I like data.

https://www.strava.com/activities/8107671302

Quote from: Nickslikk2112 on November 12, 2022, 09:34:10 PMIs power meterage worth it? Don't know. But, my leg imbalance is now 47% left, 53% right so I can work on that. It also seems the cleat on my right shoe is not centred properly, so that's handy. Looking at Strava's power estimates against actual, it's uphill guess is not far off, but it seems low over a full ride and seeing your power uphill just incentivises you to dig in a bit. Anyhow, it's more data. I like data.

That's really interesting. My first physio told me that my left leg would probably work harder while my right knee (the worse affected one) was recovering without me being conscious of it, and to try to keep them doing roughly the same amount of work.

I suspect that my right leg works harder now but I don't know that that really gives me a disadvantage, other than putting it under more strain but it can handle it.

One thing I do that might defeat power meters is pulling up on the pedals sometimes when going uphill - it uses a different muscle group to spread the load a bit. I also sometimes pull up with the left foot while pushing with the right sometimes, on a hill. And vice-versa.

I can also see at which point of the pedal stroke I'm applying the most power and thankfully most of it is where it should be. My leg imbalance has lessened too to 48%L 52%R but I was trying to put more effort on today due to limited cycling time due to the Sister in Law coming over.

I hadn't solved my Garmin switching off either, but I don't think I'd deleted the offending segment properly. Try again another day.

Quote from: Nickslikk2112 on November 13, 2022, 09:42:36 PMMy leg imbalance has lessened too to 48%L 52%R..............

Not sure about 'imbalance', that's a clearly defined victory for your right leg  ;D

Was checking Strava last week and realised I hadn't been out a proper run since mid October.. although had an aborted run due to a puncture a couple of weeks ago .. anyway seized the day yesterday and managed a 28 miler.. blue sky sunshine little bit of a breeze and very mild...
Out along the coast road heading south to Dunure.. Culzean Maybole and Kirkmichael.. then a nice single track road cross country into Dalrymple then head home via Alloway and back onto the seafront.. thought about heading to the pier but too many pesky walkers and dogs ..
Very enjoyable and loads of other cyclists out.. nice to get a nod or wave as you pass them

Hadn't been out on a bike for a few days, so with rotten weather expected tomorrow I thought I'd try to get 20 or so in after work. Didn't have time for much more than that, because rain was due over around 7pm.

If I got back by 6pm, I reckoned, I'd probably get away with it. Well, I didn't get away with it, I was intermittently subjected to light rain and drizzle. Dry for the last 5 miles or so though, and the bike and myself mostly dried off. I gave the bike a good wipe down when I got back anyway.

A light wind was coming from the east. I went up to Long Whatton, across to Diseworth, back down Top Brand, Griffydam, Peggs Green, Coleorton.

20.62 miles, not a lot really but I'm pretty relaxed about getting the miles in now. Done 228 this month now, the target is only 300. If I do another 84 this month which seems likely, I'll hit 5000 miles this year before December.

https://www.strava.com/activities/8127098503

Managed to get out today after yesterday's washout. Probably my last chance until next Tuesday now, what with the weather forecast and a weekend away in London.

Weather wasn't that good today and it necessitated the wearing of winter gloves and overshoes. Not quite cold enough for a base layer.

Was hoping to get 40+ miles in, but was late getting out and the rain up on the tops was a bit off-putting, but I did get 33 miles in and completed the Strava climbing challenge for the first time in November. Didn't get past 350 miles for the month though.

My right leg is still winning.

https://www.strava.com/activities/8125961610

By this morning, the weather forecast on the BBC site promised merely the faintest threat of rain over the whole day. Furthermore, winds were promised to be very light, blowing gently from the east. Anticipated temperatures had been upgraded a degree from yesterday's forecast, as well.

Clearly, a fondo along the eastbound route was in order, even though that's exactly what I did last Saturday.

(http://bikediary.uk/images/221119bike.jpg)

I set off at about 10:20. I picked up some very faint drizzle after 20 miles. After another 5 miles or so, persistent cold, light rain. It didn't let up for about 90 minutes, and I was soaked. Misery.

Fortunately the weather cleared up quite nicely later in the afternoon and the last 25 miles or so were dry. But my socks were still soaking wet after I took my cycling shoes off on returning home and my gloves had only just started to dry off. Uncomfortable. But actually I did enjoy the ride on the way back all the same.

I came back a slightly different way, along Narrow Lane to Wymeswold. I've done that a couple of times but this time, on one of those adventurous impulses that I've been prone to recently, I followed a sign to Hoton. From there I continued on to Cotes and I don't think I've done that stretch before. Nice cycling territory along there.

Listened to Gilles Peterson on 6 Music and a few hours of the Reacher novel.

Back on 63.90 which puts me within 8 miles of the monthly target (300). 4980 done in 2022.

https://www.strava.com/activities/8140682833

Heavy rain this morning but the sun came out in the afternoon and the roads had dried out quite nicely; still a few puddles around of course but they were eminently avoidable. The weather forecast strongly suggested that it wouldn't rain (spoiler alert: it did).

I'd been looking forward to getting out again for a few days, because I only needed about 20 miles to hit the 5,000 mile mark for 2022, and only 8 to hit the monthly target for December (300).

Left work early. I decided to do a Twycross Bypasser, which would give me about 30 miles.

Pretty cold out there, but the wind was light. Unfortunately not long after sunset an annoying, persistent, cold light rain started to come down. I quite enjoy riding in the dark but cold temperatures, wet roads and rain spotting against cycling glasses make it miserable, especially when oncoming cars don't bother to dip their headlights. Fortunately I had my most powerful headtorch on, one with a separate battery pack and a focusable beam so I dished out a few luminal punishment beatings.

The rain stopped for the last eight miles or so which made life a lot more bearable, but my fingers were soaked, numb and freezing. The roads were still wet and I had to give the bike a cursory clean and wipe down back at the garage.

Someone once said of climbing mountains that they liked it because it's great when it stops, and that's probably the most positive spin I can put on today's ride.

Still - very satisfied to have overcome the elements and to have got to 325 miles this month, 5012 this year. Another 28 miles and I'll have overtaken the 2021 total (5040).

I listened to the World Cup of course, Spain vs Costa Rica.

https://www.strava.com/activities/8159357962

Got out yesterday for the first time in five days and it was bloody hard work! I went out a flatter way than I normally would but by 'eck it was a struggle whenever the road went upwards. Power output was certainly down, but the left leg is now in a draw situation with the right leg.

I'd made up my mind that I wasn't going out today after seeing the forecast, but the afternoon turned out nice. However, when I set my mind to not doing something it doesn't get done. I'd also got a bit of business to transact at the Post Office.

Nice day for it today - and a bike ride. Apart from the roads being mainly piss-wet and going uphill like cycling up a river. Got myself up to within 20,000ft of elevation gain from 100 miles for the year and within touching distance of where I was distance wise this time last year.

Left leg is still in balance with right leg. Suppose that's a good thing, but right cleat isn't centred over the pedal like the left one. Can't get the adjustment right.

https://www.strava.com/activities/8166236509

I wanted to do about 40 miles today, which would see me comfortably over my target for 2022 (the 2021 total, 5040 miles). Mild enough weather, with a light wind coming from the south. But a bit cloudy and damp, with wet roads.

A simple plan: to go about 20 miles down the Fosse Way route, which is exactly the same as the usual southbound route for the first 18 miles. Then come back.

I did that except that after 19 miles, at Sapcote, I turned right instead of going straight over at a crossroads there. Just to explore for a bit. Shortly after this I saw a sign back to Stoney, so I took that. However due to misnavigation induced by entering Stoney from an unusual direction, I took a different road out of the town than I'd intended. I wanted to hook up with my usual road back, but instead I took a nondescript but inoffensive A road leading to Earl Shilton, where I eventually rejoined my intended route.

I started to feel a little drained of energy over the first mile, which is highly unusual for me. Too many late nights recently probably. But I took it easy and I was fine.

(http://bikediary.uk/images/221127bike.jpg)

I'd hoped that my adventurous orienteering would add a few miles but no, it was actually a slightly quicker way back to Earl Shilton than if I'd just come back the same way. So I extended the ride a bit by detouring through Battram, and by taking a longer route home through the village over the last couple of miles.

Listened to Japan vs Costa Rica and Belgium vs Morocco on my DAB personal. Unexpected results in both games.

Back on 40.15 miles and that's 365 done this month and 5052 done this year. Interestingly on this day last year I'd done the same number of rides over the year (110).

So: this year is my third-best ever performing cycling year on distance, and even with a month to go it'll stay that way because I'm not going to get the 2022 tally up to 5778 miles (the 2016 total). But I should be able to get it up to 5400 or so.

I was staggered to find, while removing my cycling tights on returning home, that I'd somehow neglected to put cycling shorts on underneath! I'd just pulled them straight on over my undies. However despite the lack of appropriate padding I wasn't uncomfortable at all.

https://www.strava.com/activities/8176502564

Horrible weather this last couple of days, with a cold, foggy gloom clinging to the East Midlands. But conditions had brightened sufficiently this afternoon to contemplate a bike ride after work. The sun even came out for a few brief moments.

A very light wind coming from the south. I wanted to do 30 or so so I decided to do a Twycrosser. Went out through Heather for a change; I'd normally go over Alton Hill and Packington, but to do that I'd have had to join a queue of Yummy Mummies in their 4x4s taking their kids home from the school along the lane. Bad timing.

I didn't see a single 'nother cyclist over the whole ride and certainly the conditions weren't ideal for it, especially after dark. Very cold out there. But I'd wrapped up warm and I quite enjoyed it although my feet and fingers were starting to freeze over the last ten miles.

I did the detour to Orton from Twycross.

The rear light on my Tricross was a bit dim. It's only just had new batteries so I think it must be discharging them while switched off, for some reason. Will hang onto it for a few days and if it runs the batteries down I'll bin it. Fortunately I had a spare with me today.

Fun ride out apart from the usual wankers in oncoming vehicles with full beam on. Back on 28.14 miles.

That'll be it for November. 393 done this month.

https://www.strava.com/activities/8190503437

Aye, the weather has been a bit grim the last couple of day. Should have gone out when it was sunny on Monday, but we were having new windows fitted, then I had to make a visit to the bank in the afternoon. Ho-hum.

Still, I have got a couple of 30 mile rides in in the mist and murk. Was really quite foggy on the tops yesterday and I saw a group of six cyclists come the other way who had been riding along a road I wouldn't have like to in those conditions. I went up then came back down as soon as I could.

Anway I'm now ahead of my mileage from this time last year, so as long as I'm fit and the weather stays dry I should set my highest yearly total. Another 15,000ft for a 100 miles of elevation gain, it was also the first time I've exceeded 500 miles in November :)

https://www.strava.com/activities/8188964711

At last, some sun! Even a bit - a bit warmer - still needed winter gloves and base layer though and a new pair of winter Merino socks. Nice. Didn't make me any quicker though, fourth time I've done that ride and the slowest yet. Still, it was nice to get out and my Summer fitness will be waning now. Second fastest out of 23 for the Harewood Road ascent today. Must all have been out on Mountain bikes! First time I've climbed it with my power meter pedals and the average power for the ascent was about what Strava has estimated it to be for me. Which is a shame, means I could have saved some money...

Riding across Beeley Moor, I saw a bird walking along the top of a dry-stone wall. Couldn't quite make out what it was at first, but it turned out to be a Red Grouse. It didn't half make a strange noise as I passed, like a demented chicken. Should have stopped and photographed it, but my fingers will too cold!

https://www.strava.com/activities/8201800631

Back in Hope for a long weekend. With an eye on the weather, we made the decision to venture out on the mtbs. We wanted to see what Tideswell had to offer (not much as it happens) so set off around 11:30 with threatening skies above.
Through Bradwell to Little Hucklow using the quietest roads we could find. Stopped for a pint of Guinness at The Anchor just outside Tideswell. Sat in the village square and ate our packed lunch and enjoyed a flask of coffee. That was welcome as it was pretty chilly. From Tideswell to Wheston and Peak Forest and back to Castleton for a pint of porter at the Swiss House.
No idea how far because my iphone battery inexplicably lost its charge by the time we'd got to Tideswell. I guess it was somewhere between 15 and 20 miles. 
Nice ride but was glad of a hot shower back at the site.

Wife was out for a lunch yesterday so took the opportunity to get out for a couple of hours.. nice dry sunny cold day bit of a breeze...
33 miles stuck to B roads and single track paths.... the two puncture repairs on the front tyre held up which was great

Was due out today but my son drove to work with the garage keys in his pocket.

Took the dog for a 5 mile walk instead. Think Ziggy was grateful for my son's absent-mindedness.

Took the afternoon off with the intention of doing a bike ride. I particularly wanted to do a fondo today, because I hadn't been out on a bike at all so far this month. A ride distance of 62 miles would see me on course to do about 300 this month, which is the target.

Rather cold out there, only about 4 degrees C, but the weather forecast promised mainly dry conditions. I wanted to do a ride I've done a couple of times in the past in which I do my usual route up over Swarkestone Bridge and west along the Beloved A Road, then north along Ashbourne Road.

However I got confused at the remote end - I hadn't planned it properly or checked the route beforehand, I just assumed I'd remember - and I took a wrong turn which led me eventually along a little road called Aston Lane, which degenerated eventually into gravel and potholes. I consulted Google Maps though and saw that I'd be able to take a right turn to Foston a bit further along. I did that. I'd effectively looped back in a homeward direction. If I took the usual way back from Foston I'd end up on quite a bit less than the requisite fondo distance so I took an excursion up along Woodyard Lane toward Alkmonton, which I've done before a few times. Nice to do that again.

(http://bikediary.uk/images/221206bike.jpg)

Getting quite dark by this time, but I had highly adequate lights.

I checked my projected ride distance at my twenty-miles-to-go point at Hatton and was surprised to see that I was only due to do 60 miles. So I did a detour to Isley Walton and down Top Brand after Melbourne. Saved me from Bastard Hill if nothing else.

I listened to the last few hours of my Reacher audiobook, The Enemy. The way the plot is tied together when Reacher solves the conspiracy that's the basis of the story is frankly over-complicated but there's a very interesting and affecting thread about Reacher's French mother, who dies in this story. He attends her funeral in Paris in the last part of the book, and I cast my mind back to my own mum's funeral in Whitley Bay. Then minutes later, at the very end of the recording, I heard "If you've enjoyed this recording, please write to us at Isis House, King's Drive, Whitley Bay". Really odd, not least because I assumed it was an American production (it's certainly an American voice actor who does the narration).

One of my rear brake pads squeaks like a train whistle when I put the brakes on.

Anyway .. back on 62.73 miles. Glad to have the full set of monthly fondos for 2022, which was one of my goals at the beginning of the year, as it always is.

https://www.strava.com/activities/8216065338

Got a half Fondo in today. It's enough. Only done about four Fondos all year, but I do have more time to get out these days, so don't have to keep finding time for a long day in the saddle.

It was a bit nippy this morning and set to get nippier, but thankfully going uphill warms you up, coming back down cools you off though. To say I'd only been off the bike three days my power was down today. Think I've had a bit of a cold though and maybe the thrill of seeing how much power I'm putting out and trying to maintain it is wearing off.

One of my front disc brake pads keeps catching on the rotor, every so often I get a "ding-ding-ding" sound like Angel Chimes, yet it never lasts long. Strangely it squeaks like buggery in the dry and yet is mainly quiet in the wet, should be the other way round...

https://www.strava.com/activities/8214593661

Got nearly 38 miles in today on a bright, sunny, crisp, well chilly day today. A bit of ice around at the side of the roads, but it was quite easy to see and most had a dry line on them where the sun had done its work.

Whilst riding up Harewood road, a mountain biker coming the other way shouted "Thiz sum ice up theer youth" to which I replied "Morning" as it always takes a while for things to register inside my noggin. Yes, there was ice, but nowt serious.

I took the Beeley Moor chicane very steadily, with one foot unclipped as I have come off on ice there before, it gets lots of run off and when cars go through it the spray freezes in the air and forms a thick slush. It was there today, but I safely negotiated it - unlike the black Audi which had ploughed straight on and gone through a fence LOL.

https://www.strava.com/activities/8219088013

A very cold day today - 1C due to dip to 0 at about 3pm. I didn't think I'd be able to tolerate more than 25 miles or so on a bike, so I decided to go for a ride during an extended, late lunch break.

I had no particular plan except to go north, since the wind was coming from that direction - which, along with a crystal clear sky was presumably why it was Baltic out there. I went up through Coleorton and up Top Brand, swung a left at Isley Walton and pedalled up over Swosser Bridge.

I was going to potter along the Beloved A Road for a bit but instead I thought I'd go over the A50 roundabout and flirt with Derby via Infinty Park Way. This took me, as usual, past a number of Rolls-Royce sites - most impressively the huge engine test site at Sinfin. I must admit I felt a pang of nostalgia at seeing RR personnel leaving the car parks, presumably on their way home. It's (somehow) 28 years since I worked for that company myself, but it was a very memorable first graduate job.

I wonder what I'd be doing now if I'd stayed there? Running the place, probably.

(http://bikediary.uk/images/221208bike.jpg)

Conditions were nowhere near as hostile as I'd expected - the bright sunshine was very pleasant, even if my toes were starting to feel like ice cubes. I pressed on into Derby for a little while. I joined the ring road, then took a left along Victory Road.

An important element of Derby culture and folklore, held dear by its people, is their belief that they were instrumental in winning the Second World War, because the famous Merlin piston engine, which powered the Hurricane, the Spitfire and later the P-51 Mustang, was made there - and this is of course where Victory Road derives its name.

Anyway I arrived back on Infinity Park Way eventually so I turned south for home and came back a quicker way, directly through Melbourne.

The temperature started to drop as the sun set, as I expected it would. Fortunately I was home 15 minutes later. Good timing.

35.13 miles and that's 98 this month. Moderately pleased with that, 8 days into December.

https://www.strava.com/activities/8224024608

A cold afternoon today. Didn't go out in the morning as it was quarterly haircut time, then as the frost hadn't lifted I stayed in. By the afternoon the frost still hadn't lifted and it was getting chilly indoors, so I thought I'd go out and pedal to warm myself up.

Managed to get over 7,000 road miles for the year today. How I don't know, as it seems that an afternoon means that it's OK for everyone to go out and drive 200 yards to pick up their little darlings from school knocking off cyclists with impunity on the way.

I have never seen so much shit driving on one ride and I only did the 28.5 miles to get to 100 for the week. The worst was when some twat pulled out of a side road straight in front or me. I could see him coming as the road almost faced the way I was going so I thought he must have seen me. No. If I'd slammed the brakes on I'd still have hit him and gone over the bonnet so I swerved into the other side of the carriageway where a van was coming towards me and just managed to get to my side of the road in time. Really thought I could have been a goner. Just a complete and utter twattish piece of driving, I'd even got cars on my tail as I'd not long since come out of traffic lights at roadworks.

In other news, I thought about prepping the Winter bike, but the rear brake doesn't work. can barely pull the brake lever. Thought it might have stiffened up over the summer so gave it all a good squirt with WD40, but no change. I can however see the outer cable move near the brifter when I pull the lever so any sticking point must be in the outer cable somewhere as the caliper makes no movement at all. I'll have another look some day, whilst it stays dry I'll keep riding the Bianchi.

https://www.strava.com/activities/8223978179/

Cold out there again, 0C. I hoped I'd be able to do 30 miles or so. A very light wind was coming from the south, so my simple plan was to do about 15 miles of the southbound route, then come back.

I set off at about 1100. The road surface was thinly glazed with frost and ice near home, but the more frequently used roads were clear. Once again I was more comfortable than I expected - the bright sunshine on my clothing made a huge difference, I think. So I pressed on to Broughton Astley. I took a left turn there to go exploring, but this only led to a new housing estate. So I found my way back to the usual route, then came home roughly the same way (I did the usual detour along Wood Road on the way back).

(http://bikediary.uk/images/221210bike.jpg)

Listened mostly to Iain Dale on LBC, sitting in for Matt Frei. Iain wanted to discuss the power of prayer, following the revelation that Bukayo Saka, or Backward Bukayo as I shall now know him, reads the Bible and prays every day. And my heart sank listening to the number of callers who also talk to a sky fairy on a regular basis.

Back on 43.00 miles. 141 done this month.

https://www.strava.com/activities/8232159970

Not as cold as it has been today. Still a bit nippy, but bearable. Didn't quite get in as much as I would have liked, but got enough elevation gain to hit 100 miles of upwards cycling for the year again for the fourth year in a row. Took a few hundred miles of road distance to get there though. Today's 26 miles means 194 for December.

https://www.strava.com/activities/8231373317

A brighter day than of late, with a wind coming from the north-east. But cold. The air temperature was -1C when I set off on the Tricross, due to dip to -2C a couple of hours later.

I really didn't want to face those conditions to be honest, but I reminded myself that it's usually not as bad as I expect once I've done a mile or two - and I definitely wanted to get 20-odd miles closer to my target this month. So I set off at about 1410 on an extended lunch break ride.

I was right, it wasn't that bad out there. My left thumb went painfully icy but otherwise I was fine. I set off on the eastbound route as far as Smithy Lane, where I turned off to Long Whatton, then looped back through Diseworth. At the roundabout at the top of Top Brand, I decided to head up to Isley Walton to extend the ride a bit. But on a whim I took a turn for Tonge. I've thought about doing this many times but never tried it. Well - all that happened was that I went into the village of Tonge, then took a turn that looped back to the same road. So I came back home from there. Looking at the map though, I could have navigated to Melbourne from there, via Wilson. I'll try that some time.

Darkness seemed to fall like a curtain after sunset.

Unfortunately my Garmin bike computer, or the one I used for this ride, seems to be on the way out. It gave up the ghost after 16 miles, despite having had a full charge last night. I'll charge it overnight with a different cable and see how it does, but I suspect it's for the bin. I edited the remainder of the track in with a GPX editor.

Anyway - back on 22.58 miles.

https://www.strava.com/activities/8244460534

I'll be needing a new Garmin soon, gives a low battery warning after a couple of hours. Don't know whether it's the power meter pedals draining it more quickly with their extra info or the cold weather.

I stayed in today, will give it a go tomorrow, have to exceed last years total.

Gave it a go today. Lasted a couple of hours for 30 miles. Wasn't as cold as I thought it would be, but I did have my second most thermal jersey on today.

Was surprised on the variability of the snow today, just a couple of hundred feet higher close to home and the back roads were still almost coated in an icy compacted layer of snow and yet further afield on the moors it was the same light snow covering as at home in the fields, must have been a localised heavy burst of snow on Sunday morning, but it is an area where it always seems to rain more too.

Now within 60 miles of last year's tally.

https://www.strava.com/activities/8247435791

That's my last ride for a bit.

Managed to come off the bike today. Not on ice or anything like that, but a product of my own choice. I'd got to a long queue of traffic at some lights, so I decided to filter along the inside of it. Normally I don't bother, but it was a long queue and I know that there is an advanced stop line at the lights. Now there wasn't a lot of room, but there was enough. After a bit the traffic started to move so to distance myself from it I thought I'd move over into a bust stop. That's where things went wrong, the kerb stones at the edge were a bit higher than expected and there may also have been a bit of a gap in front of them. Whatever my back wheel caught it and I went over like a sack of spuds.

Landed heavily on my left hip which now has a huge bit of road rash on it, one of my fingers was also at a funny angle, but that may have been from looking at the finger on my glove which had torn and was displaces. The finger still worked, but when I got back home it was a bit white and when I held my hand flat the end of it pointed upwards. Mrs S suggested I put it in some warm water and massage it, I did and it clicked a bit. No more pointing upwards.

I'm now feeling very sorry for myself with a stiff and sore hip and very sore and stiff swollen finger plus my best bib tights now have a hole in the knee  :(

Aww no, hope you feel better in a day or two Nick. I came off my bike a few months ago and got a nasty bruise on my hip and a strange swollen bump, but they both disappeared after a week or so.

Thanks James. I'm a bit swollen and bumpy, but should be OK. Thankfully the weather is starting to look wetter so I won't have to be hoping to go out.

I have a few days off work and since today was slated to be sunny, I thought I'd attempt a fondo. Got up later than I intended and didn't set off until 1130, meaning I'd have to do a couple of hours in the dark - but I didn't mind that.

Very cold again out there, a degree or two warmer than Tuesday but that's not saying much. Peaking at 1C in the afternoon. Below freezing after sunset.

The wind was coming from the west so I did the time-honoured route up over Swarkestone Bridge and west along the Beloved A Road through Willington and Hillington. Once again I missed the right turn up Ashbourne Road, so I pressed on to Doveridge. Unfortunately after that you either take the A50 (the coroner would probably record a verdict of suicide) or minor roads that degenerate quickly into twisty, gravelly lanes extravagantly furnished with potholes, but I pottered around as best as I could before turning back. I stopped at a Church in Doveridge to take a pic of the bike with a frosty graveyard as the backdrop. Would have been a cracking photo. But I couldn't find the phone! It wasn't in any of my (many) pockets.

This did make me feel a little insecure, I must admit. What did cyclists do before mobile phones came along in the '90s? I suppose you'd take a few 10p pieces for public phone boxes. But actually I had the phone in my backpack all the time, although I only realised that after arriving home.

I thought the part of the ride after sunset was going to be an ordeal - the temperature was due to drop a couple of degrees and the bright sunlight had definitely made a positive difference - but it was bearable. Even so the water in my bidon was cold enough to hurt the back of my throat and give me an ice cream headache (https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/headache/ice-cream-headache) more than once.

I realised I was going to be half a mile short of the requisite 62.14 miles fondo distance as I passed my twenty-miles-to-go point (a hairdressers' salon in Hatton) but I made it up with a detour round the village over the last couple of miles. Back on 62.34 miles. That was this year's 30th fondo.

https://www.strava.com/activities/8252263494

No rain in the forecast and a few degrees warmer than Thursday. I didn't feel a need to go far though, maybe 30-40 miles? And with a moderate wind coming from the south, I set off on the southbound route not long after midday.

Had to take a detour along Beveridge Lane from Ellistown to avoid roadworks. Then when I got to Bagworth I decided to take a left at the T junction instead of a right, just to follow my nose and do something random for a change. So I went down through Merry Lees and Botcheston to Newtown Unthank. I've done that a few times before; not sure why I don't do it more often. It's a pleasant and convenient enough route.

In the past I've taken a left toward Kiby Muxloe from Unthank, so I took a right to do something different. This led me, to my surprise, to Kirkby Lane and my usual southbound route. I'd been meaning to turn back and take a turn to Markfield, but I didn't bother. I pressed on to Kirkby Mallory. From there I took a turn to Sutton Cheney rather than going any further south. Then to Shenton along Shenton Lane, a road I've only ever done a couple of times, then up to Bosworth and home the usual way, or one of them.


(http://bikediary.uk/images/221217bike.jpg)

Despite the alleged improved air temperature, I felt colder than I did on Thursday or Tuesday - presumably because the sun wasn't shining. But at least there was no rain or snow. A bit of ice on the roads on the quieter stretches but not much.

I passed a steam tractor parked outside the Gate Hangs Well pub at Carlton. Really a beautifully preserved old thing, in shiny dark blue paint. I stopped to take a pic and a minute later, the driver started shovelling coal.

(http://bikediary.uk/images/221217tractor.jpg)

I listened to Foolgita Myska on LBC mostly.

Back on 34.41 miles and that's a modestly pleasing 260 so far this month.

https://www.strava.com/activities/8259551185

The roads were wet from heavy rain overnight, but a rain-free, mild day was promised. Another day off work today. I set off not long before 1100. The wind was coming from the SW so I thought to do some of the southbound route. I wanted to do 40, to hit the December target of 300 miles.

By the time I'd reached the turn for Kirkby Lane though after ten miles, I'd hatched an alternative plan. I decided I'd head for Markfield. I recalled seeing a road signposted in that direction near Desford on my previous ride. However I lost my way at Desford and ended up looping back onto the same road. So I reverted to Plan A and went down Kirkby Lane.

From Kirky Mallory though I took a left along Peckleton Road - don't think I've done that before - in the hope of finding a viable route to Markfield. Good cycling territory, must try to incorporate it into a route another time.

Eventually I did find my way to Markfield, via Newtown Unthank and Botcheston. Really nice to be doing different roads than usual. Made a nice change. I visited my old house there, as I usually do this time of year. And then I set off in the rough direction of Swarkestone Bridge.

One day in 1990 when I lived in Markfield, I commuted to my place of work in Derby by bicycle. I only ever did this once. I don't know the route I took either there or back, except that I used Swarkestone Bridge both ways. I planned the route using an OS map that I took with me. because I know all the likely routes quite well now, I'd be fascinated to know which roads I took. I have only tiny fragments of memories of the rides there and back, none of them conclusive with respect to a location.

So .. I hoped that maybe doing the same thing again today might tease out an old memory, but nope. I didn't get any flashbacks to rolling along those roads in a Raleigh Routier in the distant past. My best bet is that I didn't go the same way as I did today. I remember the ride being a lot more rural and I doubt I went through Whitwick. The most interesting thing actually about the last couple of miles to Whitwick from Markfield is that it's downhill all the way, and I think I would have remembered that.

 Anyway by the time I got to Whitwick I was only about four miles from base, so I rode home the usual way from there.

Back on 35.34 miles. Considering it was unusually nice cycling weather for this time of year and I had the day off, criminal not to do more really. But that's the way it pans out sometimes. 296 miles done this month which is a few miles short of the December target - but although the weather forecast for the rest of the year looks a bit iffy, I'm sure I'll get another couple of rides in.

https://www.strava.com/activities/8270724181

First time out for a couple of weeks.. was hoping to get a 20 miler in but only managed 15..heading out to the pier on homeward run and the rain just started to pour...so abandoned and just home as quick as poss... up til then afternoon had been cold dry bit of a breeze and quite enjoyable...
Sunset time..3.49👍

Looks like the weather will keep me off a bike until Xmas Eve, when the sunset time - around these parts - will be a slightly more generous 3:54pm.

Last time I did the Norfolk ride, as I pulled off my cycling shoes with the last remnants of my energy and will to live in the garage, I said to myself - I'm not doing that again. But already I can't wait to do it again. Bring on the long, warm days.

Not been on a bike for over a week now and the way I feel now I can't see when I'll next feel up to iy even if the weather is nice.

Quote from: Nickslikk2112 on December 22, 2022, 09:46:55 PMNot been on a bike for over a week now and the way I feel now I can't see when I'll next feel up to iy even if the weather is nice.

Is your finger OK? I'm guessing your hip wasn't too badly hurt.

Quote from: Slim on December 22, 2022, 10:30:14 PM

Quote from: Nickslikk2112 on December 22, 2022, 09:46:55 PMNot been on a bike for over a week now and the way I feel now I can't see when I'll next feel up to iy even if the weather is nice.

Is your finger OK? I'm guessing your hip wasn't too badly hurt.

Finger's still stiff and a bit bruised. The swelling's all gone. The finger is what made first contact with the ground and with holding the brake lever it took a real clonk.
My hip was just a bit stiff for about three days, but that's now fine apart from the scabbed over road rash.

Just back from a 25 miler .  wanted a fairly flat  route so  followed the national route 7 out to prestwick past the airport onto Troon then picked up a local cycle route to Barassie then pretty much  same route back.. now pouring with rain so nicely timed

The roads were wet from overnight precipitation but a rain free, sunny day was promised. Had a date with a cocktail bar later in the afternoon, but I wanted to do about 40. With the wind coming from the south, the plan was to do the southbound route - but detour to Markfield (again) on the way back.

Just for a change I went down through Donington le Heath instead of Ibstock. A shorter route, but involves more climbing. Oddly - just looked at the track on Strava - I seem to have taken a wrong turn, then recovered without realising it.

I got as far as Broughton Astley before deciding to turn back. From Kirkby Mallory I took Peckleton Lane in search of Markfield, but I didn't find it. I did a bizarre, meandering route through Desford that ultimately led me back to the usual route. So I gave up on Markfield. But I do like to do something a bit different over the Christmas hols, so I took a road to Barlestone rather than coming back up through Bagworth or Battram. Just by following my nose I ended up looping back onto the A47, so I gave up being adventurous and just came home the direct way through Ibstock - apart from a little wrinkle where I took a wrong turn at the double roundabout.

I took this pic near the Caterpillar works at Desford. The aircraft display is intended to commemorate a twin-engine trainer that was built there after WW2, when the site was an RAF airfield. I think the red, white & blue decorations were added for the Platinum Jubilee.

(http://bikediary.uk/images/221224bike.jpg)

Mild out there, pleasant in the sun. I had to roll through a couple of inches of water once or twice - some of the roads round here turn into shallow rivers after a downpour - but that's what winter bikes are for.

Back on 44.76 miles. 340 done this month, 5420 this year. I'm sure I'll get out again a couple more times before the end of the year, but I'm quite happy with that.

https://www.strava.com/activities/8286515341

On a post Xmas break in Sparkford, Somerset. Weather has been iffy since we arrived on Tuesday but a better day gave us an opportunity to get out on the bikes today.
Headed south on the A359 to Yeovil (wouldn't recommend it) and then east towards Sherborne. Had a nice tomato soup in The Half Moon (very small portion!) Visited the Digby Tap (good pub, bad beer!) before making our way back to the Mildmay Arms at Queen Camel (good pub, bad beer - forced onto rum and cokes).
I'm guessing just over 20 miles. Stayed dry, some blue sky and sunshine at times.
Never had as much trouble finding a decent beer. Nice to get out on the bikes though....and stay dry.

Another break in the miserable weather and probably the last cycling opportunity of the year. I wanted to do about 45 miles, to preserve my 2022 average distance. The wind was blowing from the SE, but I thought I'd go up through Coleorton over Swarkestone Bridge and west along the Beloved A Road as usual.

However - I'd hatched a different plan within about half a mile of setting off. Instead I decided to go up Top Brand. At some point along Top Brand, I had the idea of going up through Castle Donington then through Shardlow towards Derby. So I did that. Must say it was delightfully sentimental to be rolling along the road between Shardlow and Derby. I used to go to work that way (in a car of course) back in 1989. Happy memories, can't believe it's 33 years ago now.

I took a right to Borrowash. I'd decided to take my old route into Derby from Nottingham, from the time I worked at Nottingham University. I only ever did that on a bike three or four times but I called in at Spondon Railway station, from where I used to take my bike to Nottingham and back on a train every day in the late noughties. I hadn't been there for about 14 years; quite a strange thought given how familiar it seemed. Next, I went up Acorn Way to Oakwood, where I bought a house in 1991. Again - just indulging my sentimental side, but I find that as I grow older, the past seems to become ever more important.

After rolling through Oakwood for a bit I took an opportunistic turn up Morley Road. I doubt I've been along there since the early '90s. Nice to see pubs I'd forgotten about are still there.

I came back much the same way, except that I went through Chaddesden in Derby, just to look around. And I detoured through Diseworth after Donington.

Back on 56.45 miles, which takes me to 397 this month and 5477 for the year.

(http://bikediary.uk/images/221229bike.jpg)

I listened to Talk Radio for a change. I quite enjoyed Mike Graham but Cristo Foufas, who followed him, wanted to talk about COVID and has more than a whiff of tin foil about him, sadly. Very irritating to hear someone who knows next to nothing about public health matters assume he knows more than Chris Whitty, although some of his callers were worse. Pretty annoying to listen to a retired school janitor pontificating about genome sequencing.

Anyway. That was one of my favourite rides of the year probably. Much more fun than if I'd just done one of my usual routes.

https://www.strava.com/activities/8307902343

First ride for a fortnight today. Knew I'd have a few days off the bike after coming off it as my damaged ring finger would have prevented rear braking and front chainring changing, but I never thought I'd come down with some sort of virus like I have done. Last Thursday I thought I'd be off it for the rest of the year.

I'm not 100% now, but the sun was shining, it was dry and I didn't want to lose any more conditioning in my legs. I don't know what it was I had but it's buggered me up more than COVID did. I was hoping to get the 26 miles in to get me over last year's total road mileage, but had to settle for 20 and that was probably 5 too much.

Hopefully there will be a dry enough slot to fit six miles in before the end of Saturday, but it was still good to get out. Shame that after hitting the Strava climbing challenge for November for the first time, I'll now miss out on December's - unless I get in two more rides like today. Don't think that will be likely.

https://www.strava.com/activities/8306672679

Tomorrow's weather forecast tells me no more cycling in 2022 so that's a wrap for this year.

It was a pretty good cycling year, I think. I did Norfolk and back again which was very enjoyable. I did Wales and back as well, which I'd only done once, a few years ago. But no new long routes. I definitely need to plan something different for 2023. York and back, maybe. But I do want to do Norfolk and back again.

I fell short of my monthly target for September, which is a first. But I exceeded it every other month, quite substantially in some cases.

A comparison of this year's stats with last year's: I did one more ride in 2021 apparently. Surprisingly consistent. But my average distance was higher in 2022 and I did three more fondos. But one fewer 100 milers.

(https://i.ibb.co/5kfyZxs/2122stats.png)

I only did 180 miles on my S Works this year, which seems a shame. And only 538 on the Roubaix, although I really only use it for unusually long rides. I'm surprised to note that Boardman I has been overtaken by Boardman II as the most used bike. Boardman I has better wheels in theory, although Boardman II has carbon forks. I got more use out of the Cannondale in 2022 than in 2021 which is nice, as it's still my favourite bike. It's had brand new wheels this year.

(https://i.ibb.co/fGmykYY/Bike-Usage2022.png)

Every year I set myself the target of visiting all of the neighbouring counties of Leicestershire, and I'd done that by 25th February this year (30th March last year). That just depends on the weather, really.

I didn't do any new counties this year. The last time I did that was August 2020, when I penetrated Gloucestershire. Perhaps I'll aim for a new one in 2023.

Well, I went out in the rain to get 6 miles in which got me past last year's 7,150 miles. Finished up on 7,150.9 miles and I'm now completely buggered. This virus is taking some shaking off.

Got my 100 miles of elevation gain in for the year, but failed to hit the Strava climbing challenge every month, finishing 1,800ft shy of it for December.

Only managed 3 Gran Fondos all year with a longest ride of 65 miles. I'd say the Bianchi did the Lion's share this year. Hopefully 2023 will see a new addition to the fleet - if I can sneak it by Mrs S...

https://www.strava.com/activities/8317009505