Cycling 2023

[Nickslikk2112]

Finally made it out for November. Thankfully what ever I was coming down with on Friday didn't really kick in and was back to my general state of semi out off fitness by today.

Took a while to get out though, too much Cyclocross to watch, yesterday's day in the European was postponed so there were two days worth today - well done Zoe Backstedt for winning the U23 for GB - and I still have the elite men to watch.

Ended up riding what I would have done a fortnight ago if there hadn't been any floods. It looked like the traffic lights in Unstone had gone. Wrong. I was at the front of the Queue when they turned red which meant I had to really gun it when they turned green as it was an uphill ride. Had to stick out over 500W until I got through to the other side then still had to keep going until there was enough room for following traffic to get safely by. I then collapsed over my handlebars for a bit, a week off the bike buggers me...

Plenty of other people out today, I expect they were making the most of a dry day. Couldn't believe how many didn't have lights fitted though, this was not long before sunset and I was still up on the Moors and not many people live out that way. I did get a bit fed up of people overtaking me - in cars - when traffic was coming the other way. Why can't people wait five seconds?

Still, I got out and did 15 minutes after sunset to get to 33 miles for the day.

https://www.strava.com/activities/10166197523/

[Nickslikk2112]

Thought I was going to regret not going out in yesterday's sunshine as today's forecast of a dry morning looked distinctly off whenever I looked out of the window. But I took a punt on it staying dry - but didn't hang out the washing for Mrs S, just in case - and headed out on the highway.

Didn't stray too far from home so as to be able to make a quick return should it turn inclement and started off doing a few laps of Cock Alley. All done on the gravel bike as I didn't want to risk Schwalbe Pro Ones being shredded on damp gravelly roads. Unlike some I don't consider them to be made out of Moth wings, but they aren't the most substantial of tyres.

Managed to stick with it for a couple of hours and get 30 miles in, which was enough. Tomorrow looks like being damp, then on Thursday morning when it's looking sunny. Mrs S has booked me in for a haircut, I only had one back in February

https://www.strava.com/activities/10176100104

[Slim]

The weather forecast held a threat of showers at around 5pm, although this had been withdrawn by midday. I left work early and set off at 1500 to do a Twycrosser (I thought Orton Lane might be a bt too waterlogged for a Bypasser).

About a quarter hour later, rain. Cold, persistent and somewhat unpleasant. About 45 minutes later though as I approached Twycross, the rain died away to be replaced by blue skies, yellowy fluffy clouds and sunshine, and the roads were dry. Looks like if I'd set off an hour earlier I'd have missed the rain. It was actually really nice out there by this time in the last of the afternoon light. I mostly dried out except for my feet, which were in woolly hiking socks.

Back on to the wet roads as I approached Bosworth coming back up north. Pretty horrible in the dark. I enjoy cycling in the dark mostly but wet roads are annoying even with a bright front light.

Came back up through Newton Burgoland and Ibstock. Quite an enjoyable run out on the whole. Back on 37.35. 159 done this month, I hope to get that up to about 400.

https://www.strava.com/activities/10178439021

[Slim]

I set off on a Bypasser at about 1500.

Twice in the last week, the weather forecast has changed from rain to dry in the afternoon, but it rained anyway. And today, once more, by midday the BBC had replaced the rain cloud symbol in the forecast for the afternoon to a harmless-looking white one without the raindrops coming out of it.

It didn't take the wisdom of Nadine Dorries to work out that it would probably rain regardless. And it did, but it was very light and only lasted half an hour.

I was going to go down to Kisses Barn Lane at the bottom end, but Orton Road was closed off near Warton, so I backtracked and took Sheepy Lane instead.

Mostly listened to liberal conspiracy theories about the Home Secretary on LBC.

I had the bright idea of using the Strava app on my phone to record the ride since I have an old-fashioned magnet-driven bike computer on the Tricross handlebars. Unfortunately the app (or the GPS chip on the phone) seems to have gone into some sort of weird minimalist mode. It only saved a couple of dozen track points then claimed I'd done 32.20 miles. But the bike computer recorded 34.75, and a route planner agrees with that very closely. So: back on 34.75, although I haven't fixed the track on Strava.

https://www.strava.com/activities/10189832357

[Nickslikk2112]

Managed to drag myself out today. Sun was shining, so no excuses. Decided that I would try and get serious and do a Zone 2 ride, they're supposed to be good for conditioning, supposed to encourage the mitochondria. Winter miles, summer smiles, yadayadayada...

A ready reckoner for Zone 2 heart rate is 180 less your age, so that's a maximum of 120 for me. My Garmin in its infinite wisdom puts it at 114. Bugger. I can't do that! Well I can, but it has to be perfectly flat and no headwind. I'll keep trying though.

Mostly listened to the sound of screeching tyres as people slammed on their brakes to avoid hitting vehicles coming the other way - and the sound of oncoming vehicles blaring their horns. Why can't people just wait a few seconds to make sure it's clear? Why can't I remember haulier's names to send them ranty emails?

https://www.strava.com/activities/10193633610

[Slim]

I hoped to do at least 80 today, originally. Very light winds were forecast. It was going to be sunny. But the forecast changed to threaten mist after sunset, so I decided to keep it down to fondo distance or thereabouts.

The wind was coming from the west, but I decided to go east anyway. It was only supposed to be 4 mph, not enough to worry about. The wind direction was due to do a 180° turn later in the afternoon interestingly, although not until after sunset so I wouldn't have been able to take advantage of that.

I put too many layers on, unfortunately. I ended up stashing a pair of overtrousers and a winter cycling tunic in my backpack after about 17 miles and I didn't need them again during the ride. I guess I hadn't taken the direct sunshine into account, it does make a big difference.

Got to the Eastwell crossroads at about 1150 (I'd set off at 0905) but decided to press on. I went right past the left turn to Belvoir Castle and kept going, something I hadn't done before. This led to a long, steep descent. My curiosity to visit the village of Knipton overcame my instinct not to go down the hill. Happily it had a (very small) village shop with a table outside, so at least I was able to take a break for lunch before slogging back up and homeward.



Took a different way home after Six Hills, through Wymeswold and Hoton. And after Belton, I came back through Peggs Green and Coleorton.

I took the pic near Cotes. Very impressed with the multi-exposure capture function on my phone; even with the camera facing the Sun directly, the bike was exposed nicely.

Listened to LBC,  the British Sea Power album Do You Like Rock Music? and 5 Live, including some of United v Luton.

Back on 74.05, about half an hour before sunset. I could have done a bit more. But the lure of a coffee and a couple of digestive biscuits is strong.

https://www.strava.com/activities/10200952416

[Nickslikk2112]

I really ought to get up early on a Saturday morning and get out on the bike, but even in retirement Saturday morning's a still there for a lie-in, especially after a bottle of 15% Cotes du Rhone...

Then there's Cyclocross on GCN+. After watching the women's race today I won't moan about the state of the roads again. Well, not until later in this post  I know Cyclocross isn't raced on roads, but the mud today, it was nearly hub deep in places, no surprise that they "ran" through that. I shouldn't have done, but I did chuckle when Maria Schrieber did a face plant into the gloopy mud after coming down a steep bank 

By the time I got out I was off into a low sun. Not nice. I tend to drift out into the centre of the road when that happens and have to pray that following drivers can somehow see me silhouetted against the sun. It's always good to turn away from it.

Today saw the reappearance of a base layer too, it was warmer than when I set out yesterday, but that was in the morning and the day was warming up, today the heat was ebbing away and I was grateful for it eventually. Could have done with my warmer gloves too.

Could have done with fewer people out riding horses too, great lumps of horsey shit all over the roads, even then main ones. Fuckers. Put the bloody things in nappies.

Still, now I've forgotten about riding uphill it was good to get out for a couple of hours and 32 miles. Finally over 100 miles for November. Must try harder.

https://www.strava.com/activities/10200732433

[dom]

Cold one this morning. Was bright when I got up and it was a little frosty. By the time I set off fog had started to descend. I was a little concerned but not overly as I had purchased an extra set of lights for Winter cycling.

Just as well as the fog got thicker and thicker. And despite the full fingered gloves, hands were cold. I met my fellow cyclist 10kms away in Bective and he suggested giving the hands a good shake. Sure enough, that increased circulation to the hands and warmed them up. As the morning went on, the fog began to lift and by the time we reached Kells it was a bright (if still cold) morning.

Pleased to get in approx 60kms as I thought the lack of visibility and cold would force me home sooner. That brings up 3 figures for the month and 2800 for the year. Touch and go as to whether I'll make 3000 for the year. The cycled journey to work is so short that I don't measure it.

[Fishy]

Flat back tyre .. which I noticed last week.. just got around to repairing.. took me ages to get the bloody wheel back on.. I hate back wheels..

[Slim]

Very windy out there today, 40+ mph in the early afternoon, but conditions had improved markedly by the time I mounted the X at 1550-ish. Still pretty windy though. But unusually mild, about 12C I think.

I did a Bypasser. I only had half an hour before sunset but it was lovely out there in the dark. Especially in the open between Norton and Orton. Listened to the commentary about David Cameron returning to government and Suella leaving it, on 5 Live.

Unbelievably, yet again this morning the weather forecast had warned of rain later in the afternoon, then later claimed that it wouldn't rain. And of course the rain did come down, for the last half hour. Still - it was worth it for a very enjoyable run out.



Back on 35.45 miles. 5677 done this year now, so 6,000 miles in 2023 looks nailed down.

In 2020 I set myself a target of doing 6214 miles, or 10,000km. I could well do the same this year without particularly having tried to. Not sure why it's been such a high-scoring year really.

https://www.strava.com/activities/10212897533

[Nickslikk2112]

No wind. No rain. No Sun. No power in the legs. But I git out, that's the main thing. Checking up on the Derbyshire roadworks website not many ways out either. One of my "escape" routes is now closed until mid-December and most of the rest have traffic lights at roadworks just in the places where you don't want them to be. I stayed local. I can still get climbs of 4-500 feet in even if they are a bit shallower than those to the Peak District, but it still gives the legs and lungs a work out.

Changed the batteries in the Power Pedals on Sunday. Got 193 hours out of them, Garmin reckon on 120 so I was chuffed with that. Hope the new set last as long. I hope they are as good as the last lot as my average power was 10W down on what I'd expect, but that could just be jaded legs, although why they're jaded on my current weekly mileage I knoweth not. It was a decent couple of hurs and 32 miles, it'll do.

https://www.strava.com/activities/10216629293

[Nickslikk2112]

Unbelievably, yet again this morning the weather forecast had warned of rain later in the afternoon, then later claimed that it wouldn't rain.

BBC weather is currently showing 0% chance of rain until 14:00. Looking at my window says it has been raining, albeit fitfully since 10:00

[Slim]

Unbelievably, yet again this morning the weather forecast had warned of rain later in the afternoon, then later claimed that it wouldn't rain.

BBC weather is currently showing 0% chance of rain until 14:00. Looking at my window says it has been raining, albeit fitfully since 10:00

0% all day here supposedly. I'll find out later!

[Nickslikk2112]

Unbelievably, yet again this morning the weather forecast had warned of rain later in the afternoon, then later claimed that it wouldn't rain.

BBC weather is currently showing 0% chance of rain until 14:00. Looking at my window says it has been raining, albeit fitfully since 10:00

0% all day here supposedly. I'll find out later!

The forecasted dry afternoon looks like its happening, but I'm on parcel receiving duty now

[Slim]

Bit of a strange one. Nice dry day, colder than of late but still reasonably mild. I sneaked out not long after 1430 with the intention of doing some of the Lower Westbound route and coming back on 45 miles or so.

But - I was so engrossed in the audiobook I was listening to (Geddy Lee's My Effin' Life) that I took the turn down Gallows Lane, as if doing a Twycrosser or Bypasser, on auto-pilot. So my options for doing more than 40 miles or so were a bit limited. I did a bit of the old Dad's Army route down as far as the A5, then went down toward Atherstone, through Ratcliffe then west to Sheepy, after which I came home via a part-reverse Twycrosser.

Home on 43.15.

Nice run out on the whole, the only really annoying thing was having to cope with copious quantities of mud in great big chunks along Sibson Road. It was fine last time I went along there a few days ago; clearly some large farm vehicles have come and done their stuff. It was so bad that my own road bike tyres were flinging off chunks of mud like tractor tyres, and the wheels were slipping. Not what you want in the dark. I stopped a couple of miles later and was pulling huge clumps of earth out of the front fork, jammed under the front brake.

More on Friday I hope, might take the afternoon off work.

https://www.strava.com/activities/10225175704