Today's Bike Ride

On a bright sunny day I set off from downtown Ilkley to climb Norwood Edge, a mile or so up from Lindley Wood Reservoir with some 16% bits and one of Simon Warren's Yorkshire Climbs.

By the time I reached Blubberhouses Moor and the wind had managed to blow me off the road I decided 24 miles and 2100 feet was good enough and L'Angliru and the Vuelta beckoned on Eurosport.

Perhaps in the ITV4 commentary tonight David Millar will mention that he climbed off and abandoned here in 2002. But he never was much good without the EPO.

David Millar's account is here but I'm not sure his abandon was much to do with EPO more a political statement towards the race organisers.
https://chpt3.com/blogs/journal/angliru

Great stage today though.

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Originally Posted by PeteS

David Millar's account is here but I'm not sure his abandon was much to do with EPO more a political statement towards the race organisers.
https://chpt3.com/blogs/journal/angliru

Great stage today though.

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Yes. Although I did think Roglic was doing so much work dragging his group up the mountain he was unlikely to cross the line first.

I have read both Millar's books. I think he is the best race analyst (along with Robert Millar) because he has "done it" and is intelligent and articulate. Although he gabbles so much he must be paid by the word. However I have never really accepted his "I had to dope" defence. Maybe I just don't like him.

And of course, being British, commentators never refer to his dark background whereas they used to be happy to refer to eg Valverde's past.

Interestingly on Eurosport the other day they talked about the oldest rider to win a Grand Tour and talked about Chris Horner who won the Vuelta in 2013 at 41 years (!) "out of nowhere". I don't think his record is crystal clear but that was never mentioned of course.

However omerta has always extended to TV commentators as well - I have never really expected them to admit they helped hold the syringe.:)

(Oops. A post on cycling and drugs without my mentioning the loathsome Richard Virenque. Almost.)

A book I have never found is Could Have-Should Have Won That Grand Tour.

It will be about team tactics and star riders and cover such matters as why Wiggins had to win his (solitary) Tour when Froome was the stronger rider and the Hinault/LeMond soap opera.:)

Having spent the rainy days fettling my bike in the shed - no idea what I'm doing but youtube helps - I cleaned all the chain and cog bits, piles of gunk came off and today I took it for a ride.
Damn a clean bike is like having an extra gear, it does go better and everything clonks less. 30k and 650m before lunch.

Indeed. A regular deep clean works wonders as does a cable change when shifting starts to become less precise. Do the both and it like having a new bike. Well almost...

(Ilkley), Otley, Pool and Arthington on the road to Harrogate lie on or south of the River Wharfe. Further south from Otley is the climb up the side of the Chevin to Bramhope on the main Leeds Road. Between the two are six climbs roughly parallel with each other and all with their own character. So Old Pool Bank is straight and brutal, Creskeld Lane passes very expensive houses in Bramhope, Black Hill Road merely passes a farm and a quarry so the road is always covered in slurry. Sometimes dry but more interesting when wet which means retaining adhesion on the allegedly but doubtful 20% slope concentrates the mind with HGV quarry lorries roaring up behind you.

Today I went up Black Hill, down the new Pool Bank, up Old Pool Bank and down the main Leeds Chevin Road to Otley and home.

Twenty eight miles and 1700 feet and lots of pootling along the flooded, fast moving River Wharfe.Lovely.


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Cycled into town with rucksack for shopping.
Forgot face mask 😷.
Cycled home again without shopping 🚴.

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Originally Posted by molehill

Cycled into town with rucksack for shopping.
Forgot face mask ��.
Cycled home again without shopping ��.

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Still time to get down there before they shut at 5pm

PS Don't forget your face covering!

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Originally Posted by Llani Boy

Still time to get down there before they shut at 5pm

PS Don't forget your face covering!

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Afternoon trip vetoed, bonfiring instead!

39 miles and 5000ft, lot of off road. Slow but a lovely day for it, legs tired now!

I have a soft spot for the River Wharfe and a very nice ride is from Ilkley through Beamsley and the back road though Bolton Abbey's woods (then Appletreewick) to emerge on the lovely bridge in Burnsall; and then back on the other bank with an optional diversion over Bardon Moor via Embsay. Not much of this is flat and so 31 miles and 2800 feet. The route surface through the Bolton Abbey woods is rough and is really just a service road for the Abbey (it includes a ford) and so I treated my Boardman ADV to an outing. My best bike may have Vittoria graphene tyres but why tempt fate?

I have a book Journey of the Wharfe by Paul Hannon which illustrates its route from the source in Langstrothdale to where it joins the Ouse. It's a nice book and includes a photograph near the summit of the Burnsall Fell Race of a line of fellrunners stretched out behind one runner I know rather well, so possibly I am biased.:)

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Originally Posted by Graham Breeze

I have a soft spot for the River Wharfe and a very nice ride is from Ilkley through Beamsley and the back road though Bolton Abbey's woods (then Appletreewick) to emerge on the lovely bridge in Burnsall; and then back on the other bank with an optional diversion over Bardon Moor via Embsay. Not much of this is flat and so 31 miles and 2800 feet. The route surface through the Bolton Abbey woods is rough and is really just a service road for the Abbey (it includes a ford) and so I treated my Boardman ADV to an outing. My best bike may have Vittoria graphene tyres but why tempt fate?

I have a book Journey of the Wharfe by Paul Hannon which illustrates its route from the source in Langstrothdale to where it joins the Ouse. It's a nice book and includes a photograph near the summit of the Burnsall Fell Race of a line of fellrunners stretched out behind one runner I know rather well, so possibly I am biased.:)

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Graham, is your ADV the off the shelf version from Halfords, currently 8.9 with Shimano GRX 10 speed for £1,000 or did you choose your own bells and whistles from their "build your own" service?

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Originally Posted by Llani Boy

Graham, is your ADV the off the shelf version from Halfords, currently 8.9 with Shimano GRX 10 speed for £1,000 or did you choose your own bells and whistles from their "build your own" service?

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I bought it in May ordered "off the shelf". It was £1000. Shimano Tiagra. It was difficult get hold of any new bike then and delivery on some other brands was in months. In fact what arrived wasn't stricttly to the spec but I was grateful to get anything since they were in very short supply. It was my 3rd Boardman and you do get "bangs for your buck" (Halfords own them now of course) and I wanted something more robust for canal towpaths etc but without the brute strength, shock absorption or weight of a MTB. The supplied tyres were 700x35mm and OK for "trail" but too smooth and useless for mud etc. (There was some discussion with Wheezing Donkey on here about alternatives).

I love my Bianchi but fast on a broken road surface it bounces all over the place on 25mm but the Boardman (5 lb heavier) just rolls over any rubbish and never makes me feel I am about to fall under an HGV.

And I rather like that feeling!

Oh and it is bright orange!

A cold and misty start for todays ride of 45 miles and 4'170 feet in 3hrs 9min. Went out with a friend who was astride his Bianchi and although he enjoyed my chosen route was not too impressed with the numerous farms we either went through or past which got his pride and joy covered in cowshit.

Out to Chelmorton and Earl Sterndale before the long drag up to Axe Edge and straight back down to Glutton Bridge and on to Hollingsclough. In fact it was a loop around Parkhouse and Chrome Hills which looked lovely in the bright Autumn sun. Longnor, Crowdecote and Earl Sterndale again before down Long Dale and up to Parsley Hay.

Nicely surprised to see that the cafe kiosk was open at Parsley Hay with 8 or 9 pairs of customers sitting at the picnic tables with their refreshments. Whilst I was consuming my toasted tea-cake and Earl Grey my friend decided to educate me on the origin of Bianchi's Celeste colour and that how he was outraged about the 2021 models going to be available in just about any colour. As we set off he said " of all my bikes my Bianchi is the only one that makes me happy" and continued " when ever I ride it I feel alive". I replied " even when its covered in cowshit" and was told to **** off!

We continued to Biggin, Friden and Monyash and back home via Magpie Mine. A fantastic ride out in good company with very few others about apart from at Parsley Hay.

Oh yes, thanks for the info on your Boardman, Graham.

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Originally Posted by Llani Boy

As we set off he said " of all my bikes my Bianchi is the only one that makes me happy" and continued " when ever I ride it I feel alive".

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I trust he rides Campagnolo and nothing from that maker of fishing rod reels?:)

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Originally Posted by Graham Breeze

I trust he rides Campagnolo and nothing from that maker of fishing rod reels?:)

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Correct.

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Originally Posted by Graham Breeze

(Ilkley), Otley, Pool and Arthington on the road to Harrogate lie on or south of the River Wharfe. Further south from Otley is the climb up the side of the Chevin to Bramhope on the main Leeds Road. Between the two are six climbs roughly parallel with each other and all with their own character. So Old Pool Bank is straight and brutal, Creskeld Lane passes very expensive houses in Bramhope, Black Hill Road merely passes a farm and a quarry so the road is always covered in slurry. Sometimes dry but more interesting when wet which means retaining adhesion on the allegedly but doubtful 20% slope concentrates the mind with HGV quarry lorries roaring up behind you.

Today I went up Black Hill, down the new Pool Bank, up Old Pool Bank and down the main Leeds Chevin Road to Otley and home.

Twenty eight miles and 1700 feet and lots of pootling along the flooded, fast moving River Wharfe.Lovely.


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I know I’me not much of a cyclist compared with you and Llani so nice to hear some familiar names. This is my neck of the wood when it comes to cycling and doing a bit of climbing. I have fairly regularly done all of the climbs you mentioned over the last five or six years or so. There is also Weardley Bank that lies to the east of Black Hill Road and skirts the back of the Harewood Estate. Probably mid way in gradient between Black Hill Road and Creskeld Lane. Black Hill Road certainly feels sharp to me even though it is short. I remember once coming down it on the first Tour de Yorkshire sportive in 2015 in the driving rain and it was not a comfortable experience.

Norwood Edge, (which I imagine you know well) to the north of Otley is also a decent climb and within a circuit from home for me.

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Originally Posted by Muddy Retriever

I know I’me not much of a cyclist compared with you and Llani so nice to hear some familiar names. This is my neck of the wood when it comes to cycling and doing a bit of climbing. I have fairly regularly done all of the climbs you mentioned over the last five or six years or so. There is also Weardley Bank that lies to the east of Black Hill Road and skirts the back of the Harewood Estate. Probably mid way in gradient between Black Hill Road and Creskeld Lane. Black Hill Road certainly feels sharp to me even though it is short. I remember once coming down it on the first Tour de Yorkshire sportive in 2015 in the driving rain and it was not a comfortable experience.

Norwood Edge, (which I imagine you know well) to the north of Otley is also a decent climb and within a circuit from home for me.

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Well Llani is more of a cyclist than I am - I just think I am lucky to have so many climbs (and reservoirs) nearby. On the other hand, as Simon Warren says, "there's nothing picturesque about Thwaites Brow...just focus on those (cobble)stones"!

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Originally Posted by Graham Breeze

Well Llani is more of a cyclist than I am - I just think I am lucky to have so many climbs (and reservoirs) nearby. On the other hand, as Simon Warren says, "there's nothing picturesque about Thwaites Brow...just focus on those (cobble)stones"!

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And I don't consider myself much of a cyclist, more of a reluctant one. I only do it as I am struggling to get back running at the moment!

Another ride this morning 23 miles, gives me a good week of 96 miles and 10800ft. Enough to make my little legs ache!

A bit less than 30 miles today. No idea where I went, the fog was too thick to see anything. :)

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Originally Posted by Marco

Having started our second lockdown a few days ago I've had more time to look at this using the climbbybike site https://www.climbbybike.com/country/Germany/8 and have found a bigger climb called the Waseberg on the Blankeneser Berge. It says it's the hardest climb in North Germany

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71 metres of climbing, including a stretch at 16% gradient. And the top is 87 metres above sea level: that's nearly as high as some of the hills in the South Nottinghamshire Wolds! :p

From places like Pateley Bridge or Malham one has a choice of climbs listed by Simon Warren so one can go up and down and up and...Keighley is the same. So today I linked three climbs. Hainworth Lane (from the A629) is a cobbled classic which gains 520’ in 0.9 miles with a max 19%. From the B6265 in Riddlesden is the winding climb from the Leeds-Liverpool canal up to the water shed at Keighley Gate on Ilkley Moor. This drags for 2.7 miles and climbs 915 feet with a max of 12.9%. And there is “the best cobbled climb this side of Flanders?” that is Thwaites Brow.

It isn’t so much the steepness of this climb (17.5%) or the height gain (406 feet) or the length of 0.7 miles that makes it interesting but the fact that the cobbles suggest a century or so of utter neglect. They are uneven, broken, angled oddly and just missing, with gaps to break a wheel and savage bends and the road is narrow and a busy rat run for white van man and taxis.

On most climbs you know if you stay calm, keep your pulse out of the “red zone” and keep moving forward you will succeed; but with Thwaites Brow you never quite know if a van will career round a corner into the line you have chosen and you’ll have to put a foot down, or worse.

If Michelin did hill climbs Thwaites Brow would be *** and “worth a visit”. Simon rates it 9/10 and in the whole of Yorkshire he only rates four climbs higher but one of those is Rosedale Chimney on which Simon snapped his chain twice - but then it does climb 595 feet in 0.8 miles including some 24%. (The road sign says 1 in 3 but veloviewer.com says 23.9%.) I have watched someone zig zag using the full road width to climb this on road bike gears and concluded that it was, perhaps, too long a way to come from Ilkley.:)

Well if it is worth doing once why not twice?

Having watched Simon Warren's video ascents of Thwaites Brow, Hainworth Lane and Ilkley Road on youtube (with %incline, watts, speed, gear change clicks, panting and grunted commentary) I put them together again plus the trip over the rocks and gravel that make up Keighley Road ("road" as a donkey would recognise, not a Maserati Ghibli) from Ilkley, for 20 miles of fun with 3300 feet of climb.

It may be tiring but it does make one feel virtuous.

Marco you seem to be piling on the distance, which is good to see after your troubles earlier in the year...

An absolutely glorious Autumn day for a bike ride, cool, breezy with blue skies. We firstly went out to Flagg and over to Earl Sterndale, Crowdicote, Brund, Warslow and down into the Manifold Valley. Back up to Hartington and along the gated cowshit covered road to Pilsbury and then up to Parsley Hay where refreshments were taken from the Blueberry Kiosk.

Whilst enjoying a Date Slice we were approached by two fit young ladies who asked if we had a pump. One of them had found on taking her mountain bike out of her car that her rear tyre was completely flat. I managed to inflate it with my little Lezyne pump, which surprised me as it was pan flat and was I expecting it to be punctured.

I asked the girls if they were local, as I was prepared to let them have my pump and they could drop it off at a later date. Local they were not, they had driven up from Leicester that morning for a ride on the High Peak Trail. FFS.

Then there was a heated argument between a dog walker and a cyclist including the lines of "you nearly killed my dog you arsehole" " no I didn't you deaf twat, I rang my bell". It went on for a few minutes and was getting close to blows being exchanged. One of the Leicester girls chipped in with "look you two no one got ****ing killed". Nice.

I then realised that I knew the dog walker, who regularly marshalls and timekeeps on some local fell races so my friend and I intervened and managed to get them both to agree to disagree!

Back on the bikes we returned to Earl Sterndale, Chelmorton, Taddington and a nice blast down the A6 to Ashford in the Water and Bakewell before the uphill drag home.

An eventful day of 50 miles, 4,934 feet in a steady 3hr 42min.

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Originally Posted by Llani Boy

Whilst enjoying a Date Slice we were approached by two fit young ladies who asked if we had a pump. One of them had found on taking her mountain bike out of her car that her rear tyre was completely flat. I managed to inflate it with my little Lezyne pump, which surprised me as it was pan flat and was I expecting it to be punctured.

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So it was one of those punctures that is slow enough to allow you to ride 2 or 3 miles before you start feeling the bumps in the road surface against your wheel rims. :p

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Originally Posted by Llani Boy

An absolutely glorious Autumn day for a bike ride, cool, breezy with blue skies. We firstly went out to Flagg and over to Earl Sterndale, Crowdicote, Brund, Warslow and down into the Manifold Valley. Back up to Hartington and along the gated cowshit covered road to Pilsbury and then up to Parsley Hay where refreshments were taken from the Blueberry Kiosk.

Whilst enjoying a Date Slice we were approached by two fit young ladies who asked if we had a pump. One of them had found on taking her mountain bike out of her car that her rear tyre was completely flat. I managed to inflate it with my little Lezyne pump, which surprised me as it was pan flat and was I expecting it to be punctured.

I asked the girls if they were local, as I was prepared to let them have my pump and they could drop it off at a later date. Local they were not, they had driven up from Leicester that morning for a ride on the High Peak Trail. FFS.

Then there was a heated argument between a dog walker and a cyclist including the lines of "you nearly killed my dog you arsehole" " no I didn't you deaf twat, I rang my bell". It went on for a few minutes and was getting close to blows being exchanged. One of the Leicester girls chipped in with "look you two no one got ****ing killed". Nice.

I then realised that I knew the dog walker, who regularly marshalls and timekeeps on some local fell races so my friend and I intervened and managed to get them both to agree to disagree!

Back on the bikes we returned to Earl Sterndale, Chelmorton, Taddington and a nice blast down the A6 to Ashford in the Water and Bakewell before the uphill drag home.

An eventful day of 50 miles, 4,934 feet in a steady 3hr 42min.

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So...cyclists really stop at cafes to meet women and sort out fights?:)

I must admit, i felt rather unsafe on my tyres this afternoon, and it was only a ten minute ride into town and back, and only a slightly damp road!

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Originally Posted by Marco

Thanks Pete, I'm increasing my mileage quite steadily, although it's going to be a low total this week. Following my big rear wheel slide on slurry, on a narrow country road with a lorry coming the other way, I have ordered some winter tyres from one of the largest on-line retailers. I was tempted by their offer of collection points, only to find it didn't work after I'd paid. Consequently, I'll be staying in for a good part of the week!

Following Mr Breeze's mention, I have ordered the cheapest tyres available with Graphene, in 28mm width. Of course it didn't stop there; neither of the two pairs of existing wheels I had were wide enough, so I had to buy a training/touring/winter pair from the Japanese maker of fishing equipment. And the 6 inner tubes I have from the prestigious German tyre manufacturer were too narrow

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When I muttered in my local dealer that I seemed to be spending a lot of money the response was "well, this is a bike shop".:)

My road bike was looking neglected today so 25 miles to climb Black Hill, near Harewood House, and back. It was a joy to be riding something 5 lb lighter than the Boardman ADV.

When I was buying this bike the shop owner was extolling the virtues of the hand built steel Pennine bikes they make and pointed out they last a life time and far longer than the carbon frame model I was considering. So I checked my birth certificate - and stuck with the Bianchi.:)

I'm looking forward to buying my road 🚲, was meant to happen but assorted lockdowns prevented travel to go and look at bikes, plus there seems to be shortage of stock all around. So with winter here it will have to wait for springtime.
But as I peddle my 111/2kg of gravel bike up rough gravel forest tracks, I do long for a nice easy spin eating up the road miles and finding a cafe half way around ☕

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Originally Posted by molehill

I'm looking forward to buying my road ��, was meant to happen but assorted lockdowns prevented travel to go and look at bikes, plus there seems to be shortage of stock all around. So with winter here it will have to wait for springtime.
But as I peddle my 111/2kg of gravel bike up rough gravel forest tracks, I do long for a nice easy spin eating up the road miles and finding a cafe half way around ☕

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My previous road bike had a 32 at the back and I could get up anything but the lowest gear on the Bianchi is 34/29 so 10% higher. I did notice the lack of a "crisis" gear when I bought it.

My ADV is 32/32 but is 24 lb rather than the 19 lb of the Bianchi. That feels a lot heavier but relative to my body weight - not that significant compared to the 15% lower, lowest gear of the ADV.

So which is easier to ride up hills? The heavier ADV!

I had a brief word with a young man on a MTB today. I think he said the dinner plate on the rear was a 50 and his single ring on the front was a 26. He said it was good for getting up hills!

I just wondered how he kept it moving forward :)

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Originally Posted by Graham Breeze

My road bike was looking neglected today so 25 miles to climb Black Hill, near Harewood House, and back. It was a joy to be riding something 5 lb lighter than the Boardman ADV.

When I was buying this bike the shop owner was extolling the virtues of the hand built steel Pennine bikes they make and pointed out they last a life time and far longer than the carbon frame model I was considering. So I checked my birth certificate - and stuck with the Bianchi.:)

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Yes, but... 'Birthdays are good for you. Statistics show that the people who have the most live the longest'. (Larry Lorenzoni)

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Originally Posted by Graham Breeze

I had a brief word with a young man on a MTB today. I think he said the dinner plate on the rear was a 50 and his single ring on the front was a 26. He said it was good for getting up hills!

I just wondered how he kept it moving forward :)

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Like the discussion we had on another thread about running vs walking up hills: is there any point in having a gear so low that you can stay mounted while going up a hill even though it would be quicker to get off and walk?

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Originally Posted by anthonykay

Like the discussion we had on another thread about running vs walking up hills: is there any point in having a gear so low that you can stay mounted while going up a hill even though it would be quicker to get off and walk?

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Dignity.

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Originally Posted by Marco

Have you ever tried walking up a steep hill with shoe plates on the bottom of your shoes?

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Obviously not. When I go into a bike shop to buy a new pair of shoes, I always remember to mention that I want the sort of cycling shoes that it is possible to walk in.

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Originally Posted by Marco

My experience of steel frames is that they don't last a lifetime. I have worn out two steel frames, both Reynolds 531, after around 10 years of light use and in both cases the seat-tube/bottom bracket braze fractured. Whilst it is possible to repair frames with this affliction, the cost involved is about the same as buying a new frame or even buying a cheap bike (at the price I pay for them anyway).

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I'm still going around on a 35-year old Reynolds 531 frame. Although my mileages these days are much more modest, there was a time when I was doing over 5000 miles per year, over half of it on this bike. However, the fork did break (while my son was riding it!) about 8 years ago.

A cold and blustery wind hampered my progress today during my 40 miles and 4'183 feet ride resulting in it taking 3hrs 2min.
For a change I set off downhill into Ashford in the Water and along to Great Longstone and up Longstone Edge. A headwind to the top of Hay Dale before I dropped into Upperdale and then the steep climb up to and through Cressbrook and on to Litton.

Back into a headwind for the next 10 miles along the road above Little Hucklow and then over to Peak Forest with no respite until Wormhill and the drop into Millers Dale where a welcome latte and date slice (again) warmed me up.

No excitement at todays stop other than a dog eating someone's chips!

Now refuelled I took on the mile and a quarter drag out of Millers Dale up to the A6. I hate this hill. It is sheltered from the wind and not particularly steep but I can never seem to get into a comfortable gear or pace. Perhaps it is because every time I do it it is at least, and usually more than, 2 hrs into a ride.

Anyway I got to the A6 and the headwind again riding over to Chelmorton and on to the 515. Then nearly all downhill to Flagg, Monyash and home after what felt like a tough ride.

Anybody want to hazard a guess as to how long it might take me to cycle over the Wrynose and Hardknott Passes?

Googlemaps informs me that it's 12.3 miles from Skelwith Bridge to Boot... is two hours enough for that journey (not racing, just pushing along nicely)? Even with the climbs, surely average of 6mph can't be too ambitious?

I'm no dedicated cyclist, but have been known to get on a bike and do 50+ miles with not much prior thought. Obviously i'd likely be pushing up sections of the passes i'd have thought.