Cycling 2023

[Slim]

I was going to do a fondo today, so I was a little dismayed to find this morning that the forecast had changed to threaten rain in the afternoon. But I decided I'd just suck it up.

It was cold. I had to put a few layers on.

The wind was coming from the north-west so I decided on the Upper Westbound route - up through Coleorton, over Swarkestone Bridge and west along the A road. I'd done 24 miles when I hit a snag, in the form of a flood along Leathersley Lane. Judging by the road vehicles that were ploughing through it, it was at least seven inches deep and the complete width of the road. So - I turned back.

When I came to the main road again (Uttoxeter Road) I turned left to go west, in the hope that I'd be able to loop round the flood from the north. But I ended up in the same place, right in front of it again. When I got to Uttoxter Road again I turned westward again, but this time went as far as Foston, then turned back. Foston is a bit of a dead end unless you want to go on the A50. So I turned for home.

I only had a few miles to make up by this time. I did a brief excursion to Etwall, and a detour into Coalville on the way back. I stopped for a sausage roll and a Fry's Chocolate Cream at the petrol station near Hatton.

I listened to a range of opinions on the Israel / Palestine conflict on LBC, some more of the Reacher novel (Gone Tomorrow) and the Kiss album Love Gun.

The threatened rain didn't materialise until a minute after I'd put the bike back in the garage. Nice timing. Actually it was mostly sunny in the afternoon.

As an experiment I used the phone to track the ride. Even after more than 60 miles of tracking and a couple of hours of audiobook playback, I still had 75% battery power when I got back. I used my old Soleus GPS watch as a sort of simple mileometer. It will track rides of course but you need a Windows PC to get the data off it, which I can't be bothered with. Its other annoying foible is that it exaggerates distances - it was claiming more than 60 miles done when I'd only just done 59 according to the phone.

Back on 62.79.

https://www.strava.com/activities/10037716452

[Nickslikk2112]

I was going to do 40 miles today. Weather was sunny until I got suited and booted, then it rained. Soon cleared though as did the skies so I set off.

I was on my Ridley today and overtook a bloke who was also riding one, not that I noticed. He made sure to catch up with me and talk Ridley's because you don't see many of them on the road. I think he was riding the previous year's iteration of my bike.

Went out up the Birkin Lane climb today. It was awful. Strava reckons on it being 0.7 miles at an average of 9%. It felt an awful lot more than 9%, my Garmin seemed to be showing 14% for ages. I've never enjoyed going up it but today was a trial. Maybe the headwind didn't help. Then when I got to the top the clouds rolled over and it started raining/hailing. Lovely.

I ploughed on manfully though and managed to ride through it into the sunshine. Cold sunshine, but sunshine, I was regretting having fingerless gloves on, icy fingers dropped my oat bar onto the road. At the point where I could have turned off to make sure I got 40 miles in I didn't bother as dark clouds had returned, couldn't face more rain, so I dropped down to home, managing to outpace the inclement elements.

Finished just shy of 36 miles and was quite pleased to find I had set my highest average power output over 2 hours and now have a VO2 max of 55. Made up for feeling like an empty husk.

https://www.strava.com/activities/10038188208/

[Nickslikk2112]

Think I suffered for yesterday's power output. The legs were nearly empty today, still at least it was wall to wall sunshine for my 30 miles and long fingered gloves kept my digits toasty.

https://www.strava.com/activities/10044939296

[Slim]

I woke up early this morning which is not unusual, but instead of dozing and going back to sleep as usual I let my mind wander, and I was wide awake by 0630. So I got up and started work there and then. Very handy having a two minute commute.

That meant I was able to leave work early of course, but instead of having an afternoon nap, I decided I'd do a fondo. A light wind was coming from the east and the conditions were nice and dry, if a bit cold. So I did the usual eastbound route, except that I experimented a bit with a detour near Burton on the Wolds.

I only wanted to do the regulation 62.14 miles and my detour threw my mental arithmetic out a bit, but I made up the distance with a bit of faffing around over the last couple of miles.

Listened to LBC, Dynasty by Kiss and more of the Reacher novel. Nice out there, quite bright. Back about an hour after sunset, but I had lights.

Back on 62.48. That was this year's 30th fondo.

https://www.strava.com/activities/10050577919

[Nickslikk2112]

Didn't really feel like going out this morning. Had an awful night's sleep and felt like I was coming down with a cold. It was bit misty and grim too. If the almighty Garmin had advised a rest day or 30 minute recovery ride then I'd have put my feet up. However, it recommended an hour and fifty two minutes base level ride and the sun came out. Off I went.

Not far though. Just out through the delights of Calow and doing a few circuits based around Cock Alley. Surprised at how much elevation gain I managed to pack in and surprised to find a Hulley's bus coming round a 90 degree bend on Back Lane. Can't for the life of me think why that would be a bus route. Maybe people want to go and buy potatoes from Calow Green farm.

Went a minute over the recommended time, but managed a Base level ride. Only 27 miles though.

https://www.strava.com/activities/10054429776/

[Nickslikk2112]

Sun was out from the word go today, so I felt more like going out. After three cold rides I could have been back to summer garb today as it had warmed up considerably, would probably have got chilled in the wind though, whilst it was sweaty work going uphill, once in the wind it cooled you off rapidly.

Did a ride I'd last done at the end of May, did it marginally quicker - on the same bike and set up - which I suppose is good. Would have been quicker if I hadn't had to come back into a headwind. Had to put out 450W to get up to 30 mph on a downhill bit. Not good. Although it still feels easier than doing 450W uphill. Don't think I can put out 450W uphill...

Got the Bianchi in for a service now. Can't say as I'm keen on the bloke putting up pictures of it on his Facebook page, but at least I can see some of the work he's been doing. Mind he's also got a Cervélo bike in, their cheapest bike costs more than my Bianchi as far as I can see.

https://www.strava.com/activities/10060707577

[Nickslikk2112]

Managed to find an hour and a half dry slot before lunch. If I'd waited until after lunch I could have got two and a half hours in, but how am I to know the weather forecast would be wrong?

Just 22 miles, but it's 22 miles better than nothing and better than going on the Turbo Trainer. The only good thing about the Turbo is that you don't get Squirrels running out in front of you all the time! There were hundreds of the furry blighters about today, they can be a real menace. Thankfully I avoided them all. Didn't avoid sweating like a pig though, it was well warm today.

https://www.strava.com/activities/10066676595

[David L]

Managed to find an hour and a half dry slot before lunch. If I'd waited until after lunch I could have got two and a half hours in, but how am I to know the weather forecast would be wrong?

Just 22 miles, but it's 22 miles better than nothing and better than going on the Turbo Trainer. The only good thing about the Turbo is that you don't get Squirrels running out in front of you all the time! There were hundreds of the furry blighters about today, they can be a real menace. Thankfully I avoided them all. Didn't avoid sweating like a pig though, it was well warm today.

https://www.strava.com/activities/10066676595

One of those furry blighters broke my pal's clavicle by trying to run through his front wheel!

[Nickslikk2112]

Managed to find an hour and a half dry slot before lunch. If I'd waited until after lunch I could have got two and a half hours in, but how am I to know the weather forecast would be wrong?

Just 22 miles, but it's 22 miles better than nothing and better than going on the Turbo Trainer. The only good thing about the Turbo is that you don't get Squirrels running out in front of you all the time! There were hundreds of the furry blighters about today, they can be a real menace. Thankfully I avoided them all. Didn't avoid sweating like a pig though, it was well warm today.

https://www.strava.com/activities/10066676595

One of those furry blighters broke my pal's clavicle by trying to run through his front wheel!

Bloke smashed his face in when one ran through his front wheel a couple of years back. can't stand it when I see them dash out in front of me, I like having teeth!

https://metro.co.uk/2021/06/01/cyclist-fractures-face-after-hitting-squirrel-while-hurtling-down-hill-at-35mph-14685250/

[Slim]

I do see them quite often but they haven't caused me any grief so far. I do see a lot of dead ones. Best kind, probably.

[David L]

I do see them quite often but they haven't caused me any grief so far. I do see a lot of dead ones. Best kind, probably.

There seem to be far more grey squirrels around than ever before. I think we should start eating them - 'nutty', I suspect

[Slim]

[David L]

Mmmmm, Tamsin Greig. I bet she tastes nice too!

[Fishy]

Glorious day today so went out and managed a 34 miler.. not been out since sept 5th which is not good ...

[David L]

Also managed a 34-miler today. Lovely ride. First time in leggings, gloves and overshoes for months. Nice when the sun came out later. 15.5mph average. Wife rode like a beast today 😁