Cycling 2023

[Nickslikk2112]

Out again today, even though it's a Friday as tomorrow's forecast is none too good. Probably be fine all day now.

Wanted an easy day today, so just up the one categorised climb and then riding round and round in triangles and various polygons on flatter ground. Nearly got taken out by a motorcyclist on the way there though, he came onto a roundabout from the wrong lane. I noticed from his numberplates that he was from the Netherlands, so kind soul that I am I let him off without a two-fingered salute.

https://www.strava.com/activities/9405025937

Should've given him a more proper off putting. Dutch always have their mouth full of 'foreigners' but when we leave our own habitat we are useless and clueless.

I know from being in mixed British/Dutch Ski school classes that the Dutch do not take a blind bit of notice of the ski instructors and just point straight downhill causing carnage! They're very good and inventive at swearing in English though.

[Thenop]

True, we swear like no other regardless of language.
I am no exception I'm afraid 

[Thenop]

Out again today, even though it's a Friday as tomorrow's forecast is none too good. Probably be fine all day now.

Wanted an easy day today, so just up the one categorised climb and then riding round and round in triangles and various polygons on flatter ground. Nearly got taken out by a motorcyclist on the way there though, he came onto a roundabout from the wrong lane. I noticed from his numberplates that he was from the Netherlands, so kind soul that I am I let him off without a two-fingered salute.

https://www.strava.com/activities/9405025937

Should've given him a more proper off putting. Dutch always have their mouth full of 'foreigners' but when we leave our own habitat we are useless and clueless.

I find that Dutch people generally speak English better than a very high proportion of British people. Very few British people can communicate in a foreign language.

I work in an international company and you are 100% correct. It has a downside as well, no foreigner actually get a chance to learn the Dutch language. The minute we realize someone does not speak Dutch we auto switch to English.

[dom]

Was a little nervous heading out this morning as 9am was slap bang in the middle of a yellow wind warning. I'm sure I've been out in worse without a Met Eireann warning. Nice spin although it was blustery, the sun came out for the second half and it got increasingly warm. Watch battery packed up after 37kms but I noticed within about 4km and switched to strava on the phone.

Not as many weekday spins this week so dropping off the pace a little compared to last month. Planning another 50k tomorrow so shouldn't be too far behind.

[Fishy]

Eventually got round to checking out my slow puncture on the back wheel.. took a few attempts to actually trace where the leak was coming from.... The tiniest of holes.. nothing inside the wheel to indicate what caused it.. anyway repaired and pumped back up.. will leave for a couple of days before getting the wheel back on the bike just in case...

[Slim]

A grey day with a moderate breeze coming from the south. I thought I'd do a good old-fashioned Twycrosser. I rarely do that these days, usually preferring to take a detour that bypasses Twycross to the west.

Didn't think I'd get to go out today as the forecast was foreboding, even threatening thunderstorms at one point. But by the afternoon even the threat of rain had been withdrawn. Despite this, it was raining very lightly as I set off. I assumed it would pass and it did, although it came back intermittently, and a bit heavier, over the first hour.

I took the Tricross, partly because of the rain and partly because I was going to take the recently-resurfaced route out of the village. It is, after all, a gravel bike. Fortunately as I hoped the resurfaced bit of road out of the village has bedded down quite a bit, though it's still rough.

I was so engrossed in the tennis on 5 Live that I missed the turn for Packington and went right into Ashby. Did a U-turn and was back on track soon enough.

This was the first time since March that the Tricross had had a run out and the brakes were very ineffectual the first time I used them. Oxidation on the discs? It's the only disc brake bike I own and I've never noticed it before. But the brakes were fine after a few goes.

Very different conditions from my last ride. Grey, damp and not particularly warm. Still an enjoyable run out though.

Saw two pairs of discarded knickers along the main road down to Twycross (it's actually called Ashby Road, but so many roads around these parts are called Ashby Road that it's almost meaningless as an identifier). I don't see them so often these days, maybe the cost of living crisis is encouraging people to hang onto their underwear.

Listened to more of Slow Horses. Very intriguing. Lots of duplicity and counter-duplicity. I like it.

Back on 31.86 miles. 240 this month. I want to get that over 450 if I can, but I'll probably end up shower-dodging to get there.

https://www.strava.com/activities/9426527050

[Nickslikk2112]

Don't know if I'll get much in this week. Weather forecast isn't up to much and I've got to help Mrs S clear out her late Aunt's bungalow before the sale completion on Friday. We'll see.

Managed a couple of hours and a bit before the rain came today. I am prepared to ride in the rain if it's warm, but these days it seems to come down more heavily, must be global warming.

Kept close to home today and did four ascents of Long Lane (0.61 miles @ 7%) I was very consistent in my times: three @ 3'49" and the other @ 3'51", nowhere near my best but nice to keep it steady. Good to get 33 miles in but at only 228 for the month so far might struggle to get to much over 500.

https://www.strava.com/activities/9430045769

[Nickslikk2112]

Kept close to home again today in case of rain. Mrs S had put the washing out and has tasked me with bringing it in should it rain.

So I went out and did a few loops round Heath and Arkwright Town. Kept seeing showers in the distance, but could see they were missing the old ranch. Then from nowhere the rain came down so I set off home only for it to dry up in Hasland - a couple of miles from home - then just before turning up our road it started to absolutely hammer it down. Luckily Mrs S had just got home herself and got in the old washing.

Another 35 miles done, but how many more this week?

https://www.strava.com/activities/9436601597

[Nickslikk2112]

Managed to wangle my way out of clearing out Mrs S' Aunt's bungalow today. She decided that she'd recruited enough hands to help and that I'm useless. Fair enough, sun's out I'm a cyclin' bitch

I was recommended to do a 30 minute recovery ride, but a couple of hours at tempo will do for me. I even set a PB on a climb today. Did not expect that as I thought I was taking it steadily. Perhaps I still had some adrenaline pumping through my system after nearly being taken out by a Shearings coach coming the other way. Luckily there was just enough room, I think the car following me lost a door mirror.

So, 32 miles gets me to 372 for July, might make 700, but maybe not looking at the weather forecast.

https://www.strava.com/activities/9442932171/

[Slim]

Dismal weather this last week or so. Yesterday I was deterred from cycling by a weather forecast that threatened frequent showers in the afternoon. In fact there was only one short shower and I was annoyed with myself for not taking the risk. So with a similar forecast for today, I decided I'd go out regardless.

I'd just wheeled the bike out of the garage when a biblical downpour occurred. So I wheeled it back in and waited it out in there. I was minded to give up, but once it stopped, I decided to take my chances.

I was going to do about 15 miles of the Lower Westbound Route then come back. But I went out along Alton Hill to give Heather Lane a miss, thinking that it might be excessively puddly and once I'd done that, I just did a Twycrosser on autopilot. I had a bit of an excursion at the bottom along Ratcliffe Road instead of turning left along Mythe Lane. I encountered a "Welcome to Warwickshire" sign not long after. I'd forgotten how close Warwickshire was. Not long after that I found myself on the outskirts of Atherstone. Not very interesting. So I turned back and resumed the usual route down Mythe Lane.

Instead of coming back up via Bosworth or Gibbet Lane in the usual Twycrosser circular-route fashion, I took a left from Sibson to come back up the way I'd came. But I took a shorter way back from Snarestone.

It mostly rained for the first couple of hours. But I didn't mind it so much; I had a rainproof cycling top and a helmet cover on. Nice and dry (and sunny) for the last hour.

Listened to another couple of hours of Slow Horses. Then tuned in to Wimbledon to catch a tie-break for the second set. Almost as enjoyable as hearing Djokovic lose it was the sound of the Centre Court crowd making clear their dislike of the odious Serb.

Back on 35.72, only 276 this month.

https://www.strava.com/activities/9463193297

[Nickslikk2112]

No idea how I worked out I'd done 372 miles in July as it was only 296 on Thursday. I know that now because I'm at 311 after a paltry 15.5 miles today.

Spent way too much time watching cycling today, I could have gone out and watched the last couple of hours on catch-up, but every time I thought of doing so it started chucking it down.

Even when I'd got suited and booted and thought it looked set fair it chucked it down again. Luckily not for too long so I just rode up and down within a couple of miles of home for a shade over 50 minutes. Weather's not looking too good for this week, maybe I'll have to be happy with 600 miles this month.

https://www.strava.com/activities/9463764552/

[Slim]

Rain in the morning but a lovely sunny, dry afternoon with the wind coming from the west. Usually I don't ride on consecutive days but since I only did 35 yesterday I thought I'd take advantage of the weather to do a similar distance today. 

A simple plan, to do about 17 miles of the Lower Westbound Route then come back the same way.



Somehow, I missed the left turn for Lullington. I only realised I'd done this when the Twelve House failed to materialise after 12 miles. The Twelve House is a name I've given to a rather grand, white-painted colonial style house at Lullington that's exactly 12 miles from home by the usual route.

I wasn't bothered though. I was still on a familiar route that would take me to Walton on Trent. But I decided not to take the turn for Walton after Rosliston. I thought I'd keep going and go exploring for a bit. After about 16 miles I found myself in the outskirts of Burton upn Trent, so I turned back. Nice to do a new bit of road and it was quite pleasant, but possibly not that useful.

From Coton I followed a sign to Lullington, to reunite myself with the usual route. And after Measham, I decided to come back through Packington instead of Heather.



Listened to the last hour of Slow Horses. All the loose ends are tied up very neatly if a bit implausibly. And there's a nice cold little twist at the end. Then I continued my odyssey through the Rolling Stones' studio album catalogue with Goat's Head Soup - probably their best album.

Back on 35.12, 311 this month. Looking at the forecast, I'll be lucky to get that much higher than 400.

https://www.strava.com/activities/9470143213

[David L]

So, today was our 'big' adventure. Catch the train at Whitstable, get off at Ramsgate and cycle back along the coast to Whitstable via Broadstairs, Margate and Herne Bay, taking in a number of (9, planned) micropubs.
Caught the train with no bother, had a lovely english breakfast at Ship-Shape by the harbour in Ramsgate. We were excited and fully charged for the day ahead. Then it went a little pear-shaped. Whilst tackling a climb out of the town, Clare's chain snapped.
Having located a small cycle shop (coincidentally close to where we ate breakfast) we were confident we could get going again with a new chain fitted. Alas, the shop was open but no mechanic in today. As luck would have it, a guy in the shop, who I assumed to be a customer, was a bit more experienced with chain issues than myself. He took a couple of links out to get us going but suggested we get a new chain asap (they didn't have a 7-speed chain in the shop). We found the nearest Halfords online about 3 miles away, towards Margate but inland somewhat. We headed for it.
No decent 7-speed chain available so we had to spend £19 for a cheap(!) one, just to get us back without issues. The old one was pretty shagged so I guess it was only a matter of time before it gave out.
Anyways, although it took about an hour to get it sorted, we made Margate around the time we were planning to. Very disappointed though to miss out Broadstairs and the coast route to Margate (didn't help that most of the people we spoke to during the day said "have you been to Broadstairs, it's lovely"!).
We still did some great little micropubs, even though we didn't visit them all. Finished the day with a lovely fish curry at The Star of Bengal in Whitstable. In the end, a great day but we must get to Broadstairs at some point, if not this time.
We probably covered around 25 miles. Clare's gears are slipping on one or two of the gears on the rear cassette but we'll get a decent chain before we go back to Hope for August bank holiday. She'll have to put up with it for now.
Another lesson learned. I bought a chain link tool and connector links for both bikes whilst at Halfords, so hopefully better prepared in the future.

[Slim]

Another lesson learned. I bought a chain link tool and connector links for both bikes whilst at Halfords, so hopefully better prepared in the future.

On my birthday 5 or 6 years ago my other half and I went cycling on a pair of hire bikes while on holiday in Wales. My chain snapped while going up a hill. This was the only time in my life that I'd ever had a chain snap, and yet by an eerie coincidence it was the only time I'd ever had a chain tool on me - because I'd unwrapped it as a birthday present that morning.

Took about ten minutes to remove a bent link and reconnect the chain and we were on our way again.

[Slim]

Another day in which rain in the morning was followed by a warm, sunny afternoon - which suited me very nicely. Got out of work as soon as I could and, with a moderate wind coming from the north-west, was on my up through Coleorton and Top Brand to Isley Walton - then Swarkestone Bridge and west along the Beloved A Road.

Got as far as Foston then turned back. Came back the quicker way through Melbourne and up Rotter's Rise.

This particular ride is usually something of a Game of Two Halves when performed after work, with heavier traffic and a headwind over the first half. But it's worth it to glide along the A road with a tailwind in lighter traffic on the way back. I stopped for a bottle of lucozade and a sandwich at the petrol station near Hatton.

Listened to the first eight chapters of Laurence Krauss' The Physics of Climate Change which is a brilliant, dispassionate explanation of the science of global warming and the greenhouse effect - the history of the science related to it, how the effects can be measured and correlated empirically to human activity, exactly how it works, the physics of radiative forcing and all that. Fascinating.

I noticed a ladybird on my sleeve near the railway crossing at Derby Airfield and it clung on for four miles. I did wonder whether I was doing it a disservice by transporting it miles away from its usual territory but apparently they can fly over 70 miles in one go at speeds upward of 30mph.

Back on 47.63, and that's 359 this month.

https://www.strava.com/activities/9483528528