Cycling 2024

[Slim]

A stiff wind was coming from the south but it was a dry and sunny day. Not too cold. Agreeable conditions for a southbound fondo, to get another neighbouring county box ticked (Northamptonshire).

I was up at about 0800 and expected to have set off by 0915 or so, but I dawdled a bit over breakfast and didn't leave until 0950. Probably for the best, because it was a bit warmer by then and I had plenty of time.

Stopped for a wee after 11 miles. Unfortunately the farm gate I'd leaned the bike against wasn't secured, the wind caught it and pushed the bike over. The bike was fine though except that the mirror popped out of its ball joint. I assumed I'd have to do without it for the rest of the ride. The last time I did that (by exactly the same method) I was unable to push it back on. I think I resorted to using a vice or something. This time though I did manage to get it back on by brute force when I stopped and had a go a few miles later.

I was very happy to find the shop at Gilmorton open - they close at 1pm on a Sunday apparently, and I got there at 1230. So I treated myself to lunch on one of the tables outside. I bought some stuff to eat on the way back, as well.

I took the left to Sibbertoft Gliding Club, to cross the boundary there rather than Welford. Kept going into Northamptonshire for half a mile or so then turned back. It's an unusual county boundary, at least at that point. Doesn't have a natural feature like a stream or an old road. It just crosses a field.



I tried a modification to the route. One negative about the southbound route is having to slog up a hill into Earl Shilton both ways. But while experimenting with a route planner yesterday, I found that I could avoid this by taking the bypass. It circles round the hill. This involves taking a short, winding, narrow cycle path between the usual route and the bypass, which I'm not keen on - I did notice a few thorny creepers straggled across the path, and I know from unfortunate experience that a thorn can give you a puncture. But I avoided them, and it was very nice not to have to pedal up that hill.



Quite often a strong wind dies down in the afternoon but not today, which was nice as it meant I had a noticeable tailwind on the way back.

Listened mostly to 5 Live - the Australian Open mens' singles final and some very entertaining FA Cup footy. I also listened to 45 minutes or so of David Hepworth's Uncommon People, not bad. He writes well but he waffles.

Back nearly 3 minutes before sunset. 66.83 miles.

https://www.strava.com/activities/10648921031

[Nickslikk2112]

Another 27 miles done for me today. Once I'd watched the Women's Cyclo Cross and the last 20km of the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race (Still got the men's CX, GP Marseillaise and Challenge Mallorca to watch)

Wasn't as warm as I thought it would be so was glad to have put the merino base layer on especially as the wind was quite fresh at times. Tried my very best to complete a ride at base level, but failed miserably, so Tempo will have to do. Think it was having to ride into the wind so much. Just need to get 15.5 miles in for my best ever January, looks like it will have to be Wednesday.

https://www.strava.com/activities/10648682828/

[Slim]

Wasn't expecting to be able to ride a bike today but the forecast improved considerably, so I did. I had scheduled work at 1800 so I abandoned my desk rather early to be back in time. But I only wanted to do 30-odd anyway.

Dry and sunny, but cold, about 5C, diminishing rapidly after sunset. Windier than advertised, as well. I did a Twycrosser.



I meant to take the same road between Sibson and Shenton that I did on the 19th, but I took the wrong turn and went through Upton instead. But that was a road I hadn't done for a while, and pleasant enough in its own way.

Back 45 mins after sunset, but it was still just about light enough to see the road.

Another 33.21 miles and that'll be it for January.  Pretty pleased with 481 miles this month.

https://www.strava.com/activities/10661737487

[Nickslikk2112]

Got out this morning and did the 32 miles which gets me comfortably ahead of my previous best January mileage. If I can do it again tomorrow I'll get to 500 miles which I would be very happy with.

If I do go out tomorrow it won't involve hills though. Today was my first ride into the Peak District this year and my first - brief - venture outside Derbyshire on the Jordanthorpe Parkway. But even taking the nice gentle ride to the tops was a bit of a drag. Still, a nice day for it.

https://www.strava.com/activities/10660078403

[Nickslikk2112]

And I got in the required 32 miles - 33 and a bit to make sure - and got to 500 miles for January. Even at the end of last week I didn't think I'd get there, but get there I did. Hope the rest of the year carries on as well as that (It won't if Riverside are touring in May...)

Did my usual check to make sure roads were roadwork free for the way I wanted to go and they were. Only to find a closed road. Blast. Turns out a burst watermain had led to a multicar pile up. Hmmmm. Only problem was my diversionary route, which I hadn't checked had four way traffic lights at roadworks on a roundabout. Turned red as soon as I go there  Of course a car then pulled bang alongside me and when the lights changed - after five minutes - he turned left alongside me, not checking to see if I got off safely. Drivist wanker.

What will February bring?

https://www.strava.com/activities/10667317256

[Nickslikk2112]

Got February underway today. Longest ride of the year for me so far, all of 35 miles. Does that say something about me or the weather?

First ride up to the tops through Cutthorpe as well this year. First time since 24th November last year, now that DOES say something about the weather, normally do it once a week no matter what time of year, but it's just been so wet and miserable. Felt pretty miserable today with it being my first climb with more than 500 ft of elevation gain and a headwind that must have been twice as strong as forecast.

Luckily it's flattish up top, so a nice ride around a bit before a quick descent. That descent makes the climbing worthwhile, especially when the corners are free of gravel...

https://www.strava.com/activities/10674063730

[Slim]

A dry, very mild day was forecast (about 13C) so I took the afternoon off with a view to doing a long one. I decided to do the Lower Westbound route, but to take the turn for Rugeley rather than Abbots Bromley. In essence my Wales route, although I wasn't going to go nearly that far today.

I set off not long after 1100 but had a false start - After about half a mile I realised firstly that I'd forgotten to adjust the saddle on the Boardman like I intended (it came slightly loose and after I'd tightened it, it was about a centimetre too far forward), and secondly that I'd forgotten my phone. So I turned back, adjusted the saddle, went in the house for the phone and set off again.

Bit of a bothersome headwind on the way out. But the sun came out, which I wasn't expecting. I stopped after about 38 miles (including the superfluous mile at the start) and turned back. I'd done about half of the Wales route.



I missed the turn for Armitage and King's Bromley on the way back, but only realised some time later. I'm sure I did the same thing on the way back from Wales, last time. But I saw a turn for King's Bromley a bit later on and took that. My unnecessary detour added about four miles but I didn't mind - it was well-surfaced and mostly flat, and I had a decent tailwind so I was flying along.

The A51 was resurfaced in part a couple of years ago and it was pretty rough for a few miles but I'm glad to say it's bedded in nicely now.

I listened to 5 Live, and started the next Reacher novel, 61 Hours.

Back two hours after sunset, on 79.71 miles. Very enjoyable trip.

https://www.strava.com/activities/10683138934

[Nickslikk2112]

Only got 17 miles in today It's the Cyclocross World Championships this weekend and I'd got three races to watch. Yes, I know I could watch on catch-up, but there's the Alula tour and Volta a Communitat Valencia on too. I love watching cycling me, it pissed off Mrs S that I can find so much...

Thought I might get a couple of hours in, but no sooner had I set off than a persistent drizzle set in, just on a day when I'd decided not to bother with overshoes. Forecast was for 10% chance of rain after 17:00. Ho-hum. Tomorrows forecast has a 42% chance of rain in the afternoon, so hopefully it'll be dry.

https://www.strava.com/activities/10688801065/

[Nickslikk2112]

Well, forecast went to 26% chance of rain after 16:00 so out I went into a rain free outdoors. Didn't stop out long, did like an urban cyclocross course - in my fevered imagination - long enough to do 12 miles and get over 130 miles for the week, my highest weekly road tally for the year so far.

https://www.strava.com/activities/10696296194

[Nickslikk2112]

With a dodgy looking weather forecast for most of the week, I decided to forego my Monday off. Unfortunately I forgot to set my alarm and ended up a bit of a slugabed.

However, I did manage to get out and get a ride in before doing the tasks Mrs S had set for me this afternoon (over and above vacuuming up Woodlice). Nice enough 25 mile ride and I got the cobwebs well and truly blown away.

https://www.strava.com/activities/10700681978

[Slim]

Wasn't able to abandon my desk as early as I wanted due to a meeting but it was mild and dry, if a bit windy and gloomy. I thought I'd do the usual 30-odd after work. I did a Bypasser.

Saw a helicopter travelling in a south-westerly direction not long after setting off and wondered if it was headed to the "helipad" field near Measham. Sure enough when I passed the field it was there, red lights flashing and spinning up the rotor blades. I stopped and watched it take off.

Even better, I saw an old steam locomotive on a huge trailer being pulled along Gallows Lane.

Tested a new torch that I bought at Tesco on an impulse - it takes 4 AAs and is quite heavy so not practical for longer rides but great for these shorter jaunts. Very bright.

Listened to 5 Live and more Reacher.

Back on 37.27 miles.

https://www.strava.com/activities/10703141853

[Slim]

Would have been a lovely day for an eastbound fondo - very light winds, no chance of rain and mostly bright and sunny (albeit I'd have been coming back in the dark). But I had scheduled work late this afternoon so I couldn't. So I took a long lunch break instead. I did a Twycrosser.

Once again I saw a helicopter apparently headed for the field near Measham and sure enough it was parked there when I passed the field fifteen minutes later. I saw a well-dressed lady in her 50s in a Range Rover pulling away from the gate, a man of a similar age in a business suit was walking along the path to the helicopter.

Quite an enjoyable run out, if brief. Nice to do the whole thing in daylight, at least. Back on 26.35.

https://www.strava.com/activities/10715495867

[Nickslikk2112]

Another struggle to get out of bed day, but a make the most of the weather day. For the first time this year I got over 40 miles on a ride. Looking back, that's the first time in nearly four months! I really am slacking in my retirement, very much a fair weather cyclist these days. Wish I'd put what's left of my overshoes on though as it was none too warm and my feet ended up as ice blocks.

I think today's dry and still conditions had brought out a lot of fair weather cyclists, but then again it's the first day where I've come across several of the popular routes out of Sheffield. I was going to drop down to the Derwent Valley and come back up Froggatt, but I think that might have done me in. As it was my Garmin reckoned I was a cycling Zombie for the last 14 miles, with <1 mile left in me, <1% stamina and <1% potential stamina. Ha! Tell that to the bloke I overtook three times - it's a long story...

https://www.strava.com/activities/10714518503/

[Nickslikk2112]

Went for my pre-ride bowel void this morning and it was eye of a needle time. Gut problems or last night's curry? TMI? I didn't feel too bad, so out it was, yup, better out than in.

I was hoping to get in two hours or 32 miles, whichever was longer - hey there's six bike races on today, can't spend all day riding - but it came in at 31 miles and 6 minutes under two hours. Too much rain started coming down, I'm sure it wasn't forecast yesterday, but there it was.

Still, it was a nice enough ride on my not straying too far from home, trying to keep it steady route. Heart rate wasn't that steady, up a bit on what I'd like, but that was probably due to a surfeit of red wine and chocolate digestives yesterday.

https://www.strava.com/activities/10733687262

[Nickslikk2112]

Thankfully a reasonably solid bowel void today. Sure you're all glad to know that. Today I did manage the  two hours or 32 miles, whichever was longer. Although half way round I thought it would be the 32 miles which was the longer. However a mainly following wind and downhill section got me to 32 miles with 16 seconds to spare, so I had to add on a trip round Sainsbury's roundabout to get two hours in.

https://www.strava.com/activities/10742265652/