Did the climb up through the mines this morning as hard as I could, off road forestry track and quite rough in places, impossible to ride with any rythm. 3.75km uphill and 333m. Knackers me anyway!
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Did the climb up through the mines this morning as hard as I could, off road forestry track and quite rough in places, impossible to ride with any rythm. 3.75km uphill and 333m. Knackers me anyway!
Indeed it is and often cited as the only competition we are likely to win!Quote:
Originally Posted by Llani Boy
Had an enforced week off due to an infection in my ankle caused by an insect bite. Got back into the swing of things with 35km ride out on the 29er mostly off road on the Birmingham and Black Country canal network. Spotted various wildlife along the way including 5 grey herons (though I suppose it could have been the same one 5 times!)
Leg seems to be OK so looking good for a Pembrokeshire coast path run and maybe a jaunt up in the Prescellis next week.
Did a 23 miles yesterday in the heat, hard graft up the forestry climbs, followed by 18 miles today, much better and rode well.
Seem to have logged a 90 mile week, best yet and on the gravel bike (with big nobbly 700x43 tyres) I am not the fastest - these road bikers pass me on the tarmac hills like I'm stationary, but average speed and distance keep increasing.
10k to bank and then around marina.
Beautiful.
Cecil Rhodes always regretted not saying that to live in the Yorkshire Dales is to have won first prize in the lottery of life - so I have on his behalf.
The road between Buckden and Hawes is allegedly the highest road in Yorkshire and today it had to be ridden in clag as part of a 33 miles (3000ft) pootle between Buckden - Hawes - Askrigg - Aysgarth and then back through Bishopdale to Buckden. Sleddale, Wesleydale - all very nice but Langstrothdale, where the road follows the Wharfe, is just sublime: I hope I am not too disappointed with the anticlimax when I get to heaven.
I understand that some Oriel College (Oxford) students want to remove the statue of Rhodes from high on their college wall. Nonsense of course but we send our brightest and best to Oxbridge, and don't trouble them with too much work in their 8 week terms, so they will get this sort of silliness out of their systems and then get on with running the country, the City, business - and educating the next generation - as they always have.
I wonder if Rhodes - rode a bike?:)
Fine report Graham of what sounds like a splendid ride
Bala to Ruabon, including the ford of the river Alwen just west of Corwen: water deep enough to get my shorts wet, and I waded it 5 times to get bike and luggage across to the other side dry. A bit of extra climbing towards the end, so that I could take the little road below the Eglwyseg limestone crags.
My Welsh sunburn is a bit painful.
Sorry for my ignorance... but couldn't you have crossed the river at the A5, or the bridge a couple of hundred yards adjacent?Quote:
Originally Posted by anthonykay
Yes, of course I could (although as far as I can see from the map, the nearest bridge is at least 1 km away); but where would have been the adventure in that? And the ford was the most direct route.Quote:
Originally Posted by Travs
25 mile round the reservoir, usual plenty of hills and some off road.
One of my favourite rides. Especially in that direction!Quote:
Originally Posted by Graham Breeze
Woo-hoo! 52 miles on Sunday and 51 yesterday - what did I ever see in that fell running lark?
Maybe my next planned struggle up Buttertubs Pass will remind me of the suffering:)
Have you seen that Billy Bland chappie on Strava thing, knocks off 250 miles a week regular as clockwork. If he can do it, so can you and I .........or maybe not! He's even 5 years older than me.
Yep. I have reviewed Steve Chilton's biography for The Fellrunner.Quote:
Originally Posted by molehill
But Billy gave up fell running way, way before I did to sit on a saddle; despite being younger:)
Bianchi Aria E-Road Ultegra Electric Road Bike 2019 - Celeste. Normal RRP £4500 but £4202 on ebay.Quote:
Originally Posted by Marco
But I am strictly Campagnolo.:)
Local Otley girl goes large at the Course - Go Lizzie. You may get as famous as your Dad, John - MV60 Three Peaks winner!
My longest ride yesterday, usual mix of tarmac and forestry, 41 miles with 5100ft ascent. Managed a 100+mile week so pleased but legs a little stiff!
About 36 miles, out to the West beyond Ashby-de-la-Zouch, so I had a tailwind coming back. Stopped for a short walk in Willesley Wood, which I had helped to plant about 30 years ago.
Due to persistent hamstring problems I have decided to stop running for a month, so back on the bike.
My first road ride since June was 30 miles and 2'800 feet in 2hr 4min.
A lovely ride on a glorious day, out to Youlgreave, Mill Dale and Wetton returning via Hartington and Monyash.
I'd almost forgotten that cycling is nearly as enjoyable as running!
With your distances increasing like this, there's a danger our paths may cross some time soon. The easternmost point of your ride is only about 6 miles from the westernmost point of my last ride.Quote:
Originally Posted by Marco
About 38 miles, out to the East (which meant that I had a headwind on the way home, but it didn't seem to be holding me back significantly until the last 6 miles or so). Got some tingling in my toes, which became somewhat painful for the last hour; no idea what was causing that.
Some interesting sights on the way. A dozen men in army fatigues walking along the road, together with three ponies carrying some of the kit. The British Army is still using horse power in the 21st Century. :confused:
Had a look round the church and churchyard at Old Dalby. Discovered the grave of Edward Purdey from 1743, on which was engraved a diatribe against the woman who had murdered him over a small debt. The story was revealed with a bit of googling when I got home: apparently he had been a halfpenny short of the price of the beer he had drunk at a local hostelry, and the landlady set her dog on him, which inflicted lethal injuries. A salutary lesson, although obviously no-one on this forum would dream of entering a pub without enough cash to pay for their drinks.
After clearing up the birthday present left by one of my dogs I managed to get out on my bike just after 8. A lovely but windy day saw me matching my age in miles, 62, and 5'900 feet of ascent in 4hr 20min.
A loop out to Buxton, Goyt Valley, Cat and Fiddle, Axe Edge, Flash, Longnor, back up to The Mermaid, Elkstone, Wardslow, Hartington, Earl Sterndale, Flagg and home.
Lots of bikes out on what are usually quietish roads and chatting to another cyclist was informed that The Tour of the Peak, postponed from May was taking place.
A great day out.
Following my wife's 70 birthday party last night, I eventually dragged myself out this afternoon to ride off my hangover, a sweaty 20 miles and 2375ft. Not much fun.
Managed to get out on the bike late morning. 30 very warm miles and 2'950 feet in 2hs 3min taking in the villages of Flagg, Longnor, Hollinsclough (Chrome Hill looked lovely in the sunshine), Earl Sterndale, Taddington and home.
I didn't realise it was as hot as it was until I stopped when back at home and couldn't stop sweating!
Oxnop Scar in between Buttertubs Pass - in both directions. Both have 25% sctions which always concentrates the mind: 3200' in 24 miles.
I waited until I got home before again watching youtube of the Tour de France going up Buttertubs. There were fewer spectators watching my efforts - but it was quite hot to be out waiting in the sun:).
you must have been up early Graham :DQuote:
Originally Posted by Graham Breeze
I love driving past cyclers going up Buttertubs and Oxnop and, better still, Fleet Moss. Its all about shouting 'dig in' if they're doing it properly or booing and hissing if they're walking :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Graham Breeze
Graham obviously cycled over Fleet Moss on the way from his home in Ilkley to Buttertubs.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fellbeast
Anyway, The Fleak is the best route between Wensleydale and Swaledale: higher than both Buttertubs and Oxnop.
Fleak MossQuote:
Originally Posted by anthonykay
"..top to enjoy scenery that rivals any in the Dales, or indeed England for that matter"
Simon Warren Cycling Climbs Of Yorkshire
A genuflection to Anthony Kay
You are correct.Fleak Moss is an interesting climb south from the River Swale and the views today were stunning. I also did Greets Moss from Redmire and Oxnab Scar summit from Askrigg.Over 3500 ft of climbing.Quote:
Originally Posted by anthonykay
I've only done it from south to north, and it was a long time ago. But I seem to remember that I found the descent into Swaledale somewhat frightening; used up a lot of brake rubber.Quote:
Originally Posted by Graham Breeze
The Swale end is steep, twisty and narrow - and would not be pleasurable as a descent because there isn't room for a vehicle and a cyclist to pass without one or the other stopping.Quote:
Originally Posted by anthonykay
In time!
Had a lovely ride out in Mid-Wales yesterday. 63 miles, 4’777 feet in 3 hrs 56. From Llani out to Rhayader and a tour of the glorious Elan Valley dams including the out and back to Claerwen. Back to Rhayader and then a right turn at Marteg taking me up to St Harmon, Pant y Dwr and Tylwch. Up out of Tylwch and right, up steeply and down into Newchapel, Oakley Park and home.
A perfect day for riding a bike.
One observation was that on the out and back to Claerwen, across the valley there were a couple of groups of Mountain e-bikers who were tearing up the footpath/bridleway. I could see the dust, gravel and soil they were throwing up from a couple of hundred yards away.
My concern is that with e-bikes these wild beautiful places are going to be spoiled as they become more accessible to people who would firstly, not get their under their own steam and secondly, in greater numbers.
I am sure that if these places were restricted to non e bikes there would be less damage due to fewer numbers and slower speeds, especially uphill!
Past our old house in Tylwch then, nice ride.
Hadn't thought of that ebike problem over the Elan, the motor bikes did enough damage over the years till they managed to stop most of it - ruined a lot of paths like the Monks trod. Ebikers could have the same impact if numbers increase.
And they WILL increase in numbers - MASSIVELY - over the next couple of years.Quote:
Originally Posted by molehill
67km with1100m ascent out into rural Worcestershire. Up and over the Clent Hills (where the Halesowen triathlon was somewhat surprisingly going on) and then out on quiet lanes to Rushock. Paid my respects to Bonzo as it 40 years this week since he sadly left us, and then headed back home via a second climb of Clent. A lovely morning for cycling, still in short sleeves and not an e-bike in sight - really enjoyed it despite the block headwind all the way back.
Pete i've had my eyes on Clent for a run out. Looks like it could be interesting.
Looking on the bright side, they will give me another thing to moan about and swear at in my grumpy old age!Quote:
Originally Posted by wharfeego
As you know, it is the only hilly area of note with any kind of remotely challenging terrain within a few minutes drive of where I live. I'm therefore up there quite a bit - usually 2 or 3 times a week running, cycling or just walking the dog. There are a number of quieter paths away from the hords (of which there can be many on a good day) and it's quite easy to get in 500m ascent over a 10km run. The only downside is there is no long continuous ascent. The most you can do on any noteworthy gradient is about 150m over about a 1km or so.Quote:
Originally Posted by Travs
Plenty of good cycling to be had too. Some nice quiet roads and 5 notable climbs all within a few kms of each other.
I can give you a few pointers on routes if you are interested. I would offer to show you around but I very much doubt I'd keep up with you! 😁