Cycling 2023

[Slim]

I wanted to dedicate most of my Saturday to idling around the house but with more delightful weather on offer, it seemed rude not to do at least 30. I set off on the S Works at about 1115. The wind was coming from the south-west, so I decided on a Twycross Bypasser

I got held up for a long time at the crossroads on Gallows Lane / Swepstone Road. There were temporary traffic lights there, for roadworks. The two cars ahead of me went through on a red light. I assumed the light had just changed. I stopped. Then about six minutes later I gave up and just went through. I'm pretty sure all of the lights were frozen on red. As I passed them I noticed a large queue of stationary motor vehicles in all four directions.

The road to Norton Juxta Twycross is still closed, so I continued down to Twycross - making today's outing a Twycrosser, rather than the intended Bypasser. I did do the detour to Orton though.



I went down to Ratcliffe Culey and across to Twycross Road, but rather than coming back up through Congerstone or Bosworth, I went west through Sibson back to Sheepy. I'd forgotten to bring a bidon with me so I decided some hydration (pictured) was in order.

I came back up the quick way from there, up the usual downward stretch. I did take a mild detour through Ibstock over the last couple of miles.

Really nice out there. I overclothed again, with two tops on. The temperature climbed pretty quickly after the first hour.

Listened to more of the Reacher novel - very entertaining so far.

Back on 34.40, 340 miles done this month.

https://www.strava.com/activities/9679340246

[Nickslikk2112]

Crikey, that was my first decent Saturday ride since the end of June! Too much inclement weather, Tour de France and buggering off to Glasgow for the World Championships are the cause of that.

First ride over 50 miles since the 24th June too, I thought I'd really pile on the miles in retirement, but hey-ho, there's still four months to go and then next year.

Didn't get out until 15:45 thanks to watching the Tour of Denmark. I envy Danish cyclists, plenty of decent infrastructure - although that isn't needed if drivers are sensible - and it's reasonably flat. Not too flat as that would be dull, but not Peak Districty hilly.

Was quite surprised to be quicker than my last couple of times up through Cutthorpe, being as there was an appreciable cross-headwind, maybe my fitness is building up. Then a decent time up the Fiddler's Elbow climb, my equal third fastest out of 21 attempts. The wind being a tailwind helped, if only I'd put pedal to the metal when it flattened out at the top I'd have set my best time. Doesn't look too much on my ride profile, but it's 1.6 miles @ 6.5%

50 miles gets me to 448 for the month. Going to Macclesfield on Monday to see my brother and nephews, if only Mrs S would drive on unfamiliar roads I could take the bike over and ride up the Cat and Fiddle, but she won't. *sigh*

https://www.strava.com/activities/9680609564/

[Nickslikk2112]

Not quite another 40 miler today - 38 will do - but it means I get over 200 miles for the week for the first time since the week ending 4th June.

Took it nice and steadily today - ended up with a base level ride - yet averaged 17.5 mph for it, the best of any 35+ mile ride for me this year. Avoiding hills, that seems to do the trick.

https://www.strava.com/activities/9687168370/

[Slim]

Couldn't leave work as early as I wanted to but I'd set off not long after 1600. I intended to ignore the ROAD CLOSED sign forbidding the turn-off to Norton, and do a bypasser. When I got to the roadworks it was easy enough to get the bike through the traffic cones and past the big hole in the road.

I did a longish version, along Mythe Lane and Atterton Lane at the bottom. Unusually, I went through Upton and Shenton on the way back up.



The road going east into Shenton is lovely - narrow, quiet, scenic but well surfaced. Every time I do it, I ask myself - why don't I do this more often? Then I forget about it.

Back up the usual way through Bosworth.

Warm and dry out there, but overcast. Unusually humid. I stopped at Heather, a couple of miles from home to take the pic at the derelict petrol station there. It must belong to someone so I assume I was on someone's private land but I was quick. I suppose some of the residents of Heather consider it an eyesore, but I quite like it. The following image is lifted from Google Street View.



Listened to another couple of hours of the Reacher novel, Nothing to Lose. Definitely one of the better ones.

Back on 36.60 miles and that's 377 this month, 4012 this year.

https://www.strava.com/activities/9694120244

[Nickslikk2112]

Got it to over 500 miles for August today, yet still nowhere near 4,000 for the year yet. That could well have to wait until September.

Did managed my first ride up Froggatt today, been too many road closures so far this year, not too bad a climb as it's a consistent gradient so you can get a good rhythm going.

A couple of sets of roadworks I hadn't expected though. First one was uphill on a narrowish road. Once through the stopped traffic coming the other way combined with a narrow road led the van driver behind me to shout "OH FOR FUCK'S SAKE!". He got a two fingered salute. Once past me he had to stop twice because of oncoming traffic, wonder if he gave the motorists some shit? I went by the parked up van ten minutes later, hadn't left much room on a country lane to get by "OH FOR FUCK'S SAKE!"

https://www.strava.com/activities/9698029924

[Nickslikk2112]

And another 40 miles in today. Boy, am I ever a creature of habit. Nice enough today, wind dropped, but warmer than I thought it would be, worked up a sweat.

Managed to plot a route which avoided all the roadworks which have recently popped up. Looking at the traffic on Google maps it appeared that some may have disappeared before their expected removal date, but I wasn't going to take a chance. Too many people take too many chances to pass cyclists whilst in roadworks when there isn't enough room.

https://youtu.be/J23OliBag5w

[Slim]

Yet another warm, dry day - we're being spoiled, aren't we? I was a bit tired today after a night in a Travelodge and a long drive up from Oxford, but I always seem to have enough energy for 30-odd miles. Almost as if it comes from a different internal power supply.

So I set off at about 1600. I went up to Swarkestone Bridge the long way via Isley Walton, went west as far as Willington, looped round the village there and came back the same way (barring very minor deviations over the last few miles).

Back on 37.63 which very pleasingly takes me to 414 this month. Will be happy with 450, but 500 seems likely. A decent enough figure given I was away for the first ten days.

Listened to another couple of hours of Reacher.

Very pleasant run out apart from jamming the transmission near Melbourne. The chain is too short on the X and there's a combination of big chainring / big cog at the back which will do that every time. I must put a longer chain on. I had to turn the bike upside down to free it up.

https://www.strava.com/activities/9708088239

[Nickslikk2112]

Reviewing the local roadwork situation - some have gone, new ones have appeared, some are in for the duration - I went back to the sort of ride I was doing this time last year, but with a different beginning and a different ending.

Quite a nice ride out actually apart from the start involving back lanes which are more suited to gravel bikes. The Wessington climb isn't one of my favourites, not because of steepness, but the volume of traffic that uses it, thankfully today it was mostly coming the other way.

Yet another 40 miler takes me over 600 miles for August.

https://www.strava.com/activities/9711522417

[David L]

Back in Hope for the weekend. Got a good route for a short mtb ride from a local at the pub last night.
Took Brough Lane up past Shatton mast to Abney and down into Hathersage town where where we enjoyed coffee and cake at Bank House.
Tommorrow...... Winnats Pass!

[Nickslikk2112]

Tommorrow...... Winnats Pass!

Good luck!

Been down it, never up.

[David L]

Tommorrow...... Winnats Pass!

Good luck!

Been down it, never up.

We came, we saw........we conquered! Might be a different story on a road bike though 

[Nickslikk2112]

Tommorrow...... Winnats Pass!

Good luck!

Been down it, never up.

We came, we saw........we conquered! Might be a different story on a road bike though 

Congrats I'll give it a go one day, but I'm waiting for an Easterly gale! I would use my 36x28 geared bike rather than a 34x32, higher geared but lighter. Years ago my mum and dad were walking down Winnats, the wind got up my mum's skirt and she took off! Winnats is a corruption of Wind Gates.

Thought today would be one of those days where I got suited and booted only to find the heaven's had opened. Nearly was, but the early afternoon saw it rain before I decided to get changed. It hammered down when I went for a pre-ride shit and did start up again when I changed, but it soon stopped again.

Didn't manage a 40 miler, but 32 will do. Heard it thunder and saw a bit of lightning over Totley way, but that's Sheffield so all was good. Managed a reasonable 17.4mph average and was back in time for the Vuelta.

https://www.strava.com/activities/9725687864/

[David L]

'Wind Gates' - interesting. It was one of the most brutal road climbs I've done, probably because it is reasonably straight, rather than zig-zagging.
We had two roadies come past. First one towards the bottom responded enthusiastically to my greeting, "morning". The second, I could hear from behind, grunting like an agitated farm animal. My greeting was met with silence (apart from the animal noises) as he passed. Fair enough, it was on the steepest section (28%).
I had to wait for Mrs L at the top but after about 3 mins I saw her head bobbing above the road surface. I was surprised as I was sure she'd be pushing. She 'fessed-up' that she did have to briefly dismount at one point but did exceptionally well - a true heroine!
From the top we turned right and took the Edale Road over the top of Mam Tor, down Mam Nick (which we ascended last time we were here). A very fast free-wheeling descent into Edale to The Rambler Inn for a pint of Guinness. We then visited The Old Nags Head at the end of the village where we lunched on superb pulled-pork 'dirty fries' and pizza.
From Edale it's around five or six miles back to Hope but we'd decided to visit the Intrepid brewery open day at their premises at Brough as it's just a mile or so down the road from our campsite.
A couple of halves and some lovely conversation with a couple who've just moved to Bamford from Derby, to be close to their daughter who's expecting their first grandchild. As it happens, Richard was also a vinyl nut (we weren't stuck for things to talk about  )
The rain started around 6:00pm which signalled time for us to make a mad dash back to the site to avoid a soaking. We managed to miss the rain earlier (in the pub) and we avoided it again.
Another great day in the Peak District. Roast dinner and beer fest at The Old Hall to round things off today before we return home tomorrow. Everyone says we must witness the drunken chaos that is the Tideswell silver Band today!

The bikes have performed without issue. It was unfortunate that after having Clare's Trek serviced a couple of weeks ago, the bottom bracket bearing proved faulty (grinding and clicking/too much play). I returned to the shop the day before we left for a replacement.......so far, so good

[Slim]

The forecast threatened showers until 2-3pm, but I took a chance and set off at 1325-ish. A fairly strong and rather annoying wind was coming from the west. I decided to go up over Swarkestone Bridge and west along the A road. I wanted to do at least 35, to get my monthly tally to 450. I was going to go to Hilton or thereabouts, then come back.

However, not long after Willington I decided to take a right turn and navigate my way into Derby. This took me to Etwall, and not long after that, a T junction - with both directions signposted to Derby, somewhat counter-intuitively. I took the right turn indicated by my sense of direction. Unfortunately after a couple of miles, this led me onto a stretch of the A38 that is a three lane motorway in all but name. I felt absolutely ridiculous pootling along there on a gravel bike. More embarrassed than unsafe. Fortunately the traffic wasn't heavy and I came off at Kingsway - a part of Derby that I used to frequent often in the early '90s. I used to go to the EnormoTesco there before one opened closer to my place in Oakwood, on The Wyvern.

From there, down Uttoxeter Old Road, past the place where I lodged with a colleague in 1990, right onto Friar Gate and right through the City Centre. Memory Lane.

Ideally I'd have liked to come back homeward via Alvaston and onto Shardlow Rd, but that would have involved negotiating Raynesway, a fast dual carriageway. So I played it safe and left Derby via Nottingham Rd, to Borrowash. About 16 years ago I used to cycle up Nottingham Rd regularly when I commuted to work via Derby Railway Station. It was a bit of an ordeal as I recall and yet today, even on a relatively heavy bike, it hardly seemed much of a climb at all.



I decided to come back down through Donington although I was in two minds about this, because of the high likelihood of annoying my other half by being late for dinner. Which in fact I was, but only by 15 minutes. I eat faster anyway, so I caught her up.

Looking at the track I did turn off Shardlow Road to go through Aston, and yet I looped back up onto Shardlow Road a mile later. Not sure what I was doing there. Perhaps I was thinking of going the Swarkestone Bridge way when I made the turn.

Came back the quickest way from Donington, down Top Brand. Back on 50.34 miles.

Cool and cloudy, but the Sun came out later in the afternoon. I snapped the pic at Shardlow in bright sunshine. Fortunately the wind was behind me at this time and the heavy clouds in the distance were moving away. I didn't get rained on.

Listened to a highly entertaining game of football between Man City and Sheffield Utd. Then more Reacher.

This ride was an odd experience in that I was wearing contact lenses - I'm wearing trial disposables at the moment, pending my proper prescription ones arriving some time next week. They're supposed to be varifocal but for me they don't seem to be. They're great for reading the bike computer, using a phone or checking a watch, but the view to the distance looks a lot like not wearing any sort of eyesight correction at all, ie blurry, but adequate. Still - they were comfortable enough. Nice not to have to wear glasses to ride a bike, not sure how often I'll wear them for cyclng though.

https://www.strava.com/activities/9732439238

[Nickslikk2112]

Just a 32 miler again today. Tapering things off a bit...

I was recommended to take a rest day, but where's the fun in that? SO I took things steadily. Although a different parcours to yesterday it was about the same distance with about the same elevation gain, but my average speed was down by 1.2mph, proof of taking it steadily.

https://www.strava.com/activities/9732599947