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Been out very little the last couple of months - sort of one short ride a week to town and little else - so today in the rain and drizzle murk I went up into some local forestry and managed a total of about 23 miles and 2600ft of ascent all together, a bit knackered!
Only found out today that my uncle who passed away a week ago, raced in the Milk Race in the early 60’s... I never even knew he was a cyclist!
I don’t know the exact year but we suspect somewhere between 1961 and 1965... all we have is a black and white photo with no dates on... I’ve tried searching archives online but they are very much incomplete for that era...
Hi Travs, you’ve probably already tried this but is there nothing in cyclingarchives.com?Quote:
Originally Posted by Travs
That’s the website I’ve tried.... the archives for that era are a mixed bag in terms of completion... I tried to search the name, which confirmed he didn’t appear on there...
Thanks for the suggestion though...
No worries, some of the guys then did great things in all types of sports, lots of it now sadly lost in the mists of time due to no internet, although had there been an internet they probably wouldn’t have done what they did.... different times :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Travs
Perhaps worth an email to any local cycle clubs in his area, I’m sure some old stager will have details somewhere.
I hate November! Is there really anything to commend it?
Today's cycle commute was a very wet and windy one, not helped by all of the leaves that are now blocking drains and causing standing water everywhere. Then the inevitable decision of ploughing headlong into said puddle or try to avoid by pulling out in front of some vehicle that probably hasn't seen you in the dark even though your decked out brighter than most Christmas trees.
On a positive note, I managed to get out on the road bike for the first time in ages on Sunday in the Shropshire/Wales borders on the way back from Wales. A beautiful clear day with fantastic views to the snow-capped Welsh hills. I had planned to do Long Mountain by 3 different ascents but after the last 400m of the first one had been blocked by sheet ice (and therefore at least 2 descents would share the same problem), I baled out when reaching the top and did a loop of the Breidden hills instead. Some great riding out that way - must get out there more often...
I love November and all the challenges it throws up, it means I have the oppurtunity to hone and refresh my skills. My Ice axe, crampons/Kattoola spikes and thermals are all ready, winter tyres on my bike, Winter Sleeping Bag In The CamperVan and camping gear fully winterised WINTER BRING IT ON:D
I don't mind the weather in November; I've got very used to cycling with a full set of waterproofs on in recent weeks! It's the darkness early in the afternoon that many of us find depressing.Quote:
Originally Posted by PeteS
I often wonder whether this is why there are so many "events" crammed together at this time of year. Within three weeks we have, in quick succession: Halloween, Guy Fawkes night, my stepmother's birthday, Remembrance Sunday, Loughborough Fair, and Children in Need - oh, and Diwali should be somewhere in there.
You are probably lucky enough to have a later start in the morning than me. Unfortunately I work from 7.30 so my morning commute has been largely in the dark for a few weeks already (apart from a brief respite when the clocks went back.) Afternoon is now also dark so other than the odd weekend ride I now have the prospect of 2-3 months of dark, cold and potentially wet riding to look forward to 4 days a week. I don't relish it but there is some positives in that at least you get the benefit of all that cross training and a smugness only derived from flying past queues of stationary cars!
Of course all the events are usually accompanied by fireworks which when you are the owner of a rather sensitive collie, take on a whole different aspect. Evening dog walks will now also be off the cards until at least the middle of January.
Out to the Vale of Belvoir: 45 miles, which is actually longer than any ride I did during the whole of 2019! Included 5 miles of completely flat riding along the Grantham Canal towpath, followed immediately by one of the roads up the Belvoir escarpment: 100 metres of climbing, including a short stretch of 1-in-7 near the top.
A very windy pre Brendan 30 miles and 2'500ft of climbing today taking in Youlgreave,Heathcote,Earl Sterndale and Chelmorton.
Roads were damp and plenty of cowshit around but just managed to get home before it started raining.
A glorious day for a 50 mile and 4'800ft bike ride in the Staffordshire Moorlands. A midride refuel of Poached Egg on Toast at Cobbles Cafe,Longnor.
Just the job.
A glorious day for a 50 mile and 4'800ft bike ride in the Staffordshire Moorlands. A midride refuel of Poached Egg on Toast at Cobbles Cafe,Longnor.
Just the job.
That good you did it twice i see
Out cycling during a slightly extended lunch-break; route included Six Hills Road from Walton-on-the-Wolds. "Six Hills Road" may sound like a route most cyclists would want to avoid, but (a) there's only one hill on the road, climbing out of Walton at a rather moderate gradient; (b) it doesn't go as far as Six Hills; (c) even if you do go to Six Hills, you will find that there are no hills there (it's on a rather flat plateau).
But Six Hills Road is a delightful narrow lane, which after a couple of miles peters out into a farm track, and then there is a bridleway along a field edge to the nearest road. Usually the farm track is rideable on my touring bike (32mm tyres), and even the field edge is often firm enough to ride. Not today, with the mud created by the Winter's rain. And at the start of the bridleway section there was a Bad Gateway (but not 502): nothing wrong with the gate itself, just the mud that you had to stand in to open it.
Perhaps someone is interested in a new off road race here in Wales, gravel tracks mainly. The two day Gritfest sold out in hours this year, so Matt Paige is putting on a longer single day race in the forestry - thought it may appeal to someone. https://gravelfondo.cymru/
I was actually tempted to get bike fit and try the shorter route, but Missus has a big birthday party that day - so not going to happen.
Thanks for posting. I was quite tempted but then realised it was the same weekend as the Lake District Mountain Trial mores the pity
Thankfully, today's 100km (Ride The Reservoir) sportive didn't get cancelled though a few probably wished it had! Absolutely atrocious weather - wind, rain and flooding with not much let up throughout. The earlier flooding had left pot holes and mud and gravel all over the road so care was needed on the descents. I had the chance at 55k to bail out and do the shorter 70k root but this coincided with a let up in the rain and recovering some sense of feeling in my fingers. So, ever the optimist and spurred on by the sun trying to break through, I set off on the extra loop. Cue torrential downpour and flash flooding! Of course, I had checked the map and profile thoroughly before the off and noted the only big hills were at the start and in the last 10km. What I hadn't picked up on was the saw tooth profile of the extra loop. Lots of small, sharp hills to sap what energy had not been washed away already.
By the time we rejoined the shorter route, I was running out of gas and limped home 30 minutes later than my planned 4 hours. Never has a post-ride curry tasted so good. My feet have just about thawed out now.
Running very hit and miss at the moment due to persistent calf injury so out on the bike yesterday on a glorious day for cycling. 36 miles and 3,000ft around the Dove valley. Spring has finally sprung. Lambs, birdsong and warmth from the sun.
One thing I noticed was the lack of vapour trails against the blue sky!
Hopefully a silver lining to the coronavirus restrictions is that I will be able to rest/repair my calf properly and not be tempted, as I have been doing, to race when it is not ready!
Thinking of buying my mates electric MTB. Looks like fun. Any views??
Go for it my wife has one and it is excellent I have managed to sneak a couple of rides on it and I have to say it won`t be long before I have one it opens up a whole load of new style Big Grin eyeballs out riding.:cool:
Never tried one but everyone I know that has one rates them highly
Just make sure you don't run out of battery a long, or even short distance from home, especially if its uphill.
They can be very heavy as a friend of mine found out!
It's cheating, a bit like GPS in races.Quote:
Originally Posted by Wheeze
Why not, life is about enjoying and at our age there's nothing much to prove or be "tough" about. I'm not ashamed of my walking poles going up hills.Quote:
Originally Posted by Wheeze
On the Gritfest race last year https://gritfest.co.uk/ we were at a friends farm watching at the top of a big, steep climb, the first 2 racers managed to peddle it and then the 3rd guy came up peddling with a bloody great rucksack, we all clapped and cheered and said "hardcore" and he just looked acros and smiled and said " I'm on an e-bike" :D. Fair play to him, he was a reporter and had his drone equipment in the sack!
Nobody else managed to peddle the hill.
Good shout there Moley, I have a mate who’s an ex commonwealth games road race star, he’s in his late 70’s goes out with his mate with his mate on an e-bike, still lets them ride together beyond where his mate would probably have packed in
Well well well after 3 years off this thread and my bike I'M BACK.
Just a little potter around the tracks and trails. Only 5.5k with 90m ascent.
Slowly and sensibly I hope to ease back into it.
55km around North Worcestershire this morning. Chilly start with a few ice patches around but turned into a very pleasant spring ride by mid-morning. I did some of the same route as last weekends sportive and although some roads still have some flooding and bare the scars of last Sunday , thankfully much tarmac was in evidence.
Plenty of cyclists out, mainly in socially distanced ones and twos as most club rides have been cancelled. A lot of runners too but I guess with decent weather, no sports fixtures and gyms all closed that's not really a surprise.
Still a lot of idiotic behaviour in evidence. I passed a load of children and parents in Belbroughton off to a kids party and Clent Hills car park was absolutely rammed more so than a hot summer Bank Holiday. Everyone taking mom out for a nice walk for mothers day....
A lovely solo, as mine usually are, lunchtime ride today, 33 miles and just under 3,000 feet out to Flash, Britain's Highest Village, Hollingsclough, Longnor and Monyash.
Similar experience to you, PeteS, plenty of folk about including cyclists but they were mainly in ones and twos.
Wasn't sure I was surprised to see cafes and a couple of pubs open doing a take away only service but hoards of punters stood outside enjoying their purchases!
All the car parks for the popular walks/ trails were full as were the verges. As busy as any Bank Holiday. Heaps of caravans too which suggest people are leaving the towns to isolate themselves in the sticks!
Hmm. Events move fast! My income has dropped to zero so I wont be splashing out on new gear just at the moment!
Plenty on the news regarding isolating in rural communities. People just aren't getting it yet. I worry about the remote Scottish and Welsh communities that will suffer as their healthcare infrastructure really is not setup to take the hit it is going to get with a major influx of tourists.Quote:
Originally Posted by Llani Boy
I too passed a pub yesterday that was serving through tbe door with a garden full of clients. Madness...
So. No work tomorrow. Weather is good. Wheel out the old MTB and set off to discover some of the lanes around here that I have not travelled. Amazing that there are so many even though we've lived here over 20 years. The lozenge shape between Monmouth and Abergavenny is an absolute warren of rarely used lanes.
30min just steady again on the bridle ways.
Lovely time after a hard day at work 🤣😂🤣
A little and often to build back up slowly 🙂
Me again.
Only 25 mins because my botty was saddle sore form yesterday.
Dug the padded shorts out and even though I was on the mountain bike, I stuck to the roads.
I do enjoy it and hopefully I will get a bit fitter before work resumes.
A glorious 40 miles and 3,500 feet in the Staffordshire Moorlands. Roads very quiet, not that the ones I use are ever busy. Saw around 10 fellow cyclists all of whom were solo, apart from a bloke with what looked like his young son, who went flying past me!
I now realise, more than ever, how fortunate I am to be able to partake in such activity straight from the door and feel for those stuck in large towns and cities. However, it was my choice to live in a rural area and sacrifices were made to enable me to do so.
Managed a quick blast after working from home today before the sun set.
Nice ride. Blasted around Halesowen, Clent, Romsley, Waseley, Frankley beeches and back via Quinton. Makes up for the lack of commuting and clears the head. Thankfully very few cars on the road.
26km, 500m ascent, 25kph avg about 85‰ effort.
Hat trick today.
Still building slowly and its bloody marvellous.
Had to pick up 8 tins of Guinness on the way back.
Lady asked if I could ride and carry them.
I said she was correct.
Maybe I should drink them and then ride, I said.
She thought carrying was safer.
🚲🤣😂
Oh yes.
Me again.
This cycling is really enjoyable.
Did a little off road 10k with 190m ascent.
Just starting to open up the lungs and make the muscles work a little.
Drink cycling does pose a few risks... I did it once as an 18 year old after 4 cans of Tennents Super... close encounter with a steel railing on the way home...Quote:
Originally Posted by Stagger
Also did it once in 20's, absolutely plastered, had my handlebars and front wheel 180deg the wrong way... did wonder why I was struggling to make progress and stay stable...