Cycling 2024

[Slim]

Another warm, sunny day. I left work shamelessly early with the intention of doing about 45 miles. A light wind was blowing from the south again but I've done the southbound a few times in the last week or two so I wanted to do something a bit different.

I devised a route that would go south down the "old" southbound route through Desford, but cut across to the "new" southbound route before Enderby. It looked easy enough on the map but (of course) I cocked it up and ended up on Coventry Road, a very busy road that sprouts south-westward out of Leicester. I have been on it before but the Friday afternoon traffic made it a bit hairy. So I took an opportunistic left.



Quite a nice stretch of road after that, nice to do something new. The bit of road I did before arriving on Coventry Road was quite pleasant as well. Always good to do new roads for a change. I stopped for a sandwich and a Bounty bar at a village shop at Huncote. Hadn't been there before.

Eventually I found myself at a place called Cosby where I took the pic. Saw a sign to Broughton Astley from there. From Broughton I came back pretty much the usual way, except that I attempted to hit the Earl Shilton bypass, took a wrong turn and ended up looping back on myself.

I really must learn to make better use of the eTrex. Too idle to upload the routes, that's the trouble.

Lovely out there and I dressed appropriately this time, minimal clothing. Listened mostly to 5 Live.

About two years ago I bought a cheap Chinese wireless "bike computer" off Amazon and I got round to fitting it to the Boardman today. The idea, if I remember correctly, was that for short rides I'd be able to use my phone to record the ride directly via the Strava app. I calibrated the computer using notes I'd made last time I fitted a speedo to similar-sized wheels and seem to have got it spot on. 49.32 acording to the Garmin watch, 49.3 according to the speedo (it only does one decimal place).

https://www.strava.com/activities/11379644436

[Slim]

Laura Kenny on a bike.

Must say I wouldn't have expected her recreational bike to be one of those.

[Nickslikk2112]

Once saw the lovely Laura outside Cafe Adventure in Hope with her mates. She was on a proper road bike then.

Didn't get as far as Hope myself today as once again I was too bus watching professional cyclists riding up hills in another day's armchair travel. Did pop out for a couple of hours though, still a bit warm but thankfully there was a bit of a cooling breeze.

Did a very similar 35 miles to last Saturday, but went up to the Moors through Cutthorpe rather than Old Brampton. No Cuckoos about today, but a Tawny Owl was hooting up towards what was the Gate Inn. Gets me to 275 miles for May and I'm somehow still ahead of 2021's tally at this point.

https://www.strava.com/activities/11387439377

[Slim]

Rain was forecast for the afternoon but it was a lovely morning, so - clothed once again in minimal cycling gear - I set off at about 1000, with the intention of doing about 35.

I was going to do about 17 miles of the usual eastbound route then come back the same way, but before I got to the junction at Zouch I took a left through Long Whatton, toward Diseworth. I had the idea of going into Loughborough, which I haven't done for a long time.

Before long though I realised I was actually going in the opposite direction of Loughborough, but I decided to keep going, just in the spirit of maintaining momentum.

At Diseworth I took a right turn I hadn't taken before, signposted to the airport. Nice little road, nothing special and less than a mile later I was on the A453, running south of the airport. I'd only done 13 miles by this time so I was struggling to think what to do to make up the miles I wanted. I probably should just have kept on going rather than take the left near Zouch.

I took the road down past Breedon, then went north toward Melbourne, then took the road to Ticknall from there - which I haven't done for at least a year. I chickened out of Bastard Hill and came home via Hartshorne, Woodville, Ashby.

Really a lovely ride over the first half. I spoiled it over the second half by giving myself too much hill climbing to do.

I listened to The Who's Who's Next.

Back on 37.04. I didn't get rained on and in fact hours after I returned home, still no sign of rain. Just warm sunshine. Annoying, as if I'd know I'd have done a fondo. But at the moment next weekend looks clear.

https://www.strava.com/activities/11393253252

[Slim]

Showers were forecast for the afternoon at about 1600 but I was keen to add some distance to the May tally, so I resolved to tolerate it. Last time I did that, instead of the light shower I expected, I got rained on for half an hour. This time, I didn't get rained on at all! The sky went ominously dark grey for half an hour at about 1630, but it didn't follow through on its threat.

A bit windy, not quite so warm as of late. I did a Twycrosser, with the added twist that I went east to Kirkby Mallory after Cadeby, to take in the last 12 miles of the return leg of the southbound route.



Back on 41.86. 318 this month now which is more than good enough for half way through May.

https://www.strava.com/activities/11411543098

[Nickslikk2112]

After three days off the bike for a spot of travelling - and not travelling - on trains, I did think I might not get out until after next week's four days off for travelling on trains after looking at the weather forecast.

Luckily the early rain stopped and I was able to pop out for 28 miles. Not the 40 I'd hoped for, but the rain delayed me and getting back when I did meant I beat the torrential shower by five minutes. Tomorrow and Friday don't look too good. Saturday morning looks OK, but I got back for Mrs S to tell me my brother's invited himself over for today. Doesn't ask me as he knows I'd say no...

Took a while to get going today though, I think my lungs shrivel if I spend a couple of days off the bike. Legs were OK but I was panting a bit.

https://www.strava.com/activities/11415814283

[Nickslikk2112]

Yesterday ended up being a washout. I was just about to head out for maybe 10 miles - grab it whilst you can - when the rain started falling quite heavily. Ho-hum, caught up on my housework instead.

Today I did make it out, cloudy with a bit of sun, so dry and warm. To get the best mileage in I stuck to the flatter ground out toward Tibshelf and back. Just rolling hills rather than long climbs. Nearly got taken out a couple of times though, one by a white van who decided to overtake whilst I was going by a pedestrian refuge and one by a caravan being towed by a Wankpanzer, he'd probably forgotten he was towing it.

On the plus side, I gained a KOM today  OK, so only 89 people have ever ridden it on Strava, but it's a KOM nonetheless. Also moved up to fourth overall on the Spital Lane Climb, out of 588 this time. If only I dare turn into it at speed I reckon I could take that one, but it's a 90 degree bend and you have to be wary of traffic pulling out.

https://www.strava.com/activities/11431034254

[Slim]

A beautiful afternoon and I wanted to escape from work at about 1500, and do a fondo. Then someone thoughtfully invited me to a meeting at 1700.

So instead I thought I'd take an extended lunch at about 1300 and do maybe 35 miles or so. A light wind was coming from the east, roughly, so the plan was to do about 18 miles of the eastbound route, then come back.

After about four miles, I entered Loughborough Road as usual, only to find that it had been "resurfaced", if I can dignify what they've done with the term, by having a huge quantity of dusty, sharp gravel piled onto it. I tolerated it for about 150 metres or so then decided to turn back. My tyres were liberally coated in grey dust.

I'll have to avoid Loughborough Road for a while, but fortunately there are other options for that part of the route.

I went west along the Coalville bypass then past Sinope and north through Peggs Green and Griffydam, up Top Brand. Rather than pursue the eastbound route I did a sort of loop through Belton, Long Whatton, Diseworth - just following my nose - and came back down Top Brand. Then west along Alton Hill, to Ashby then Packington, then Normanton Road to Heather, which I don't think I've done for at least two years. Back home via Ibstock, on 37.81 miles, in plenty of time for the meeting.

Really nice out there, warm and sunny. I trialled a pair of cycling shorts in a garish black and green colour scheme that were a Christmas present from Stepdaughter 2. You'd think I'd get a bit of credit for this from her mother but no, she just wanted to point out that they look ridiculous with a black and red cycling top. I suppose I need to buy a new top, I don't really have one that goes with it.

https://www.strava.com/activities/11432305648

[Nickslikk2112]

Managed to get out for a couple of hours before my brother turned up. Didn't feel too sprightly as last night's bottle of Cotes du Rhone had given me a real red wine head and the chicken curry had, well, you don't want to know.

Wanted to try and average 16 mph over a similar route to what I'd done a couple of times this year. I failed. Just. Came in at 15.97 mph - I'll ignore Strava's 15.8 - I suppose it will do, it was quite warm, I got quite sweaty and there was just too much traffic knocking about. That's it until next Thursday now, unless I get on a Boris Bike in London.

https://www.strava.com/activities/11438501416

[David L]

30 miles on the road bikes today. Absolutely lovely day for it. However, the ride didn't end too well. Stopped at Lynwoods cafe in Bampton for a sausage roll and a coffee where I removed my cat eye computer to check our average speed. After setting off, I realised I'd not put it back on the bike. Looked everywhere for it back at the cafe but it wasn't to be found. Pissed off.
I've actually located what looks like a used one on Gumtree for £12 so if I can get that it will be an easy fix using the existing sender unit. If not it will have to be a different model.......costing a lot more. Grrrrr!

[Slim]

30 miles on the road bikes today. Absolutely lovely day for it. However, the ride didn't end too well. Stopped at Lynwoods cafe in Bampton for a sausage roll and a coffee where I removed my cat eye computer to check our average speed. After setting off, I realised I'd not put it back on the bike. Looked everywhere for it back at the cafe but it wasn't to be found. Pissed off.
I've actually located what looks like a used one on Gumtree for £12 so if I can get that it will be an easy fix using the existing sender unit. If not it will have to be a different model.......costing a lot more. Grrrrr!

Which particular Cateye model, David?

[Slim]

I planned to do a long ride today, to take advantage of lovely weather. The wind was coming from the east. Too early in the year and a bit too cold in the extremities of the day for Sutton Bridge and back, but I hoped to do at least 100 miles, depending when I woke up this morning.

I woke up sufficiently early and was pedalling away from the garage door at 0705. The basic idea was to do some variation of the route to Norfolk, but turn back for home somewhere in Lincolnshire.

I made it to the village shop at Buckminster at about 10:30. Stopped and had a feast there. After Buckminster there are two options to go eastward, one route goes directly east from there and the other dips south first. Today I did the lower version. I haven't done this one so often and I missed a turn after Castle Bytham. But that was fine, I was happy to go exploring. After a while I came to a sign for Stamford so I headed in that direction. Well surfaced roads, decently quiet (although it was a Sunday of course).

I went right into Stamford. As it happens one of my brothers lives there, and I did briefly consider paying him an impromptu visit. Then I thought to myself - what would my reaction be, if he did that to me one Sunday? It wouldn't be positive. So I didn't. I turned back at a convenient roundabout. As I made my way back I wasn't 100% sure I was coming back the right way. I'd tried to memorise the turns. Fortunately I got them right.

There's a handy little village shop / cafe at Castle Bytham, but annoyingly it had closed by the time I passed it on the way back. But I found a handy shop at South Witham and bought some more stuff, including a Mars Bar drink. Ideal fuel for the return leg of a long ride.

At Buckminster I turned east again to take an excursion along the "upper" route eastward as far as Colsterworth, just to add a few miles before turning for home.

Came back via Burton on the Wolds and Stanford on Soar. I'd gone through Rempstone and Wymeswold on the outbound leg. I also had a bit of an excursion through Sutton Bonington and Kingston on Soar.



It was a beautifully warm, sunny day. Cool in the morning but I wrapped up decently warm. I'd backpacked my tights and two upper layers and was down to minimal clothing by 1100. Caught the sun on my arms and topped up the tanlines on my legs.

Listened to 6 Music, the first few chapters of Pete Townshend's superb autobiography, read by the man himself and then coverage of the final Premier League games of the season, on 5 Live.

Back on 127.17 miles. Probably should have done more given that I was back more than two hours before sunset, but I limited my options by going to Stamford I think. Lovely day out on a bike anyway and especially nice to do a bit of exploring in that bit of Lincolnshire. Lovely over there.

https://www.strava.com/activities/11450009463

[David L]

30 miles on the road bikes today. Absolutely lovely day for it. However, the ride didn't end too well. Stopped at Lynwoods cafe in Bampton for a sausage roll and a coffee where I removed my cat eye computer to check our average speed. After setting off, I realised I'd not put it back on the bike. Looked everywhere for it back at the cafe but it wasn't to be found. Pissed off.
I've actually located what looks like a used one on Gumtree for £12 so if I can get that it will be an easy fix using the existing sender unit. If not it will have to be a different model.......costing a lot more. Grrrrr!

Which particular Cateye model, David?

Cat Eye Micro Wireless CC-MC100W. I've just found out that the best option is not available - sold

[Slim]

A couple of months ago I might have described today's weather as "mild", but in a late May context I think it's fair to say it was cold. But at least it was dry. I wrapped up warm and set off to do a Twycross Bypasser at about 1500.

Came back along Heather Lane for the last couple of miles, which I haven't done for a while. Even though it's a country lane, it's usually less likely to be flooded than the road from Ibstock, which is the A447.

Listened to election coverage on 5 Live. Then I listened to another hour or so of Pete Townshend's autobiography. Very good.

Back on 35.36, and that's 518 for May so far. First 500+ month of the year.

https://www.strava.com/activities/11480610499

[Nickslikk2112]

Out today for the first time in nearly a week. Well, if I will go gallivanting round the country stalking a band what can I expect. Didn't want to come down with a cold though, but if I will go gallivanting round the country being in "crowds" stalking a band, what can I expect?

Yesterday I just didn't feel up to it. Can't even remember if the weather was OK. Today I told Mrs S I'd be out for between 5 minutes and 2 hours. When I first set off I thought it might be the 5 minute ride, felt a bit wobbly, but things picked up and it stretched out towards 2 hours. Ended up with 30 miles, but the last five felt a bit leaden.

It got me over 400 miles for May and I now have at most four riding days to get over 500. Should do it easily if the weather's fine, but last time I looked it looked too showery.

https://www.strava.com/activities/11485643795