Ilkley does look pretty posh after a quick scout round on Google Maps.
Mind you, Keighley looks posh to me.
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Ilkley does look pretty posh after a quick scout round on Google Maps.
Mind you, Keighley looks posh to me.
When I cycled to work (now working from home!), I used to use cx shoes. Reasonably stiff enough for cycling a moderate distance but with a proper sole that you can walk in, cleats tucked away.
Very good but obviously I choose not to know what the S stands for!:)Quote:
Originally Posted by Marco
Character building 27 miles in the rain on an out and back along the R. Wharfe (so only 800 feet of climb: Otley, Pool, Arthington & Harewood.
It really is interesting how cold and rain, the threat of sleet and oncoming darkness can turn a dawdler into time trail mode.:)
And your choice of footwear?Quote:
Originally Posted by Graham Breeze
Oh some long established Italian family firm - I think they are called Specialized.:)Quote:
Originally Posted by Llani Boy
Another 36k and 850m ascent, slow and struggling again on the hills.
But it wasn't raining and I wore 2 pairs of socks in my trainers. I also fitted a little "ass saver" mudguard and it worked - I arrived home with a dry bottom :cool:.
Always pleasurable in my experience.Quote:
Originally Posted by molehill
With a forecast of snow I wore my brand new Ron Hill Stride Stretch Tights - straight out of the bag from PBS, who also previously supplied my Helly, my cag, my Broxy-recommended water proof gloves (they aren't...) although not my bike.
My favourite follow-the-River-Wharfe route to Harewood Hill then left to Burn Bridge-North Rigton-Stainburn-Leathley-Otley-Home: 34 miles (1700 feet) making 3600+ miles for this year. The road from North Rigton (off the A658 to Harrogate) past the towering millstone grit of Almscliffe Crag through Stainburn to Leathley (B6161 and also to Harrogate) is a delight. Basically connecting farms it undulates and winds and does 270 degree turns and at this time of year is covered in manure and slurry except where the road is cleaned by a stream. It's often narrow so vehicles cannot pass and there are often horses and damn cyclists... country travelling at its best:)
Got completely fed up with slithering on muddy trails in he hills and the souless tarmac alternative. So wheeled out the trusty MTB for a bit of weekend exercise. There's a 14 mile loop with 2,300 feet of climbing between me and Skenfrith on tiny lanes. Few cars but plenty of farm traffic. Apart from the copious mud and slurry, I'm alarmed at how quickly cavernous potholes have opened up. I get home frozen, encrusted in unmentionable brown stuff and sore. But with that self righteous glow of having 'done something'.
1hr on the turbo, on my patio, peering through the kitchen window my wife preparing dinner. And listening German radio news (got to keep up my Deutsch, handy when you live in Germany).
Didn't run because Achilles pain.
Stationery cycling is extremely boring. How the hell people chose it on purpose is beyond me. Many even pay regular fee, plus "smart" trainer. Weird.
Having done no exercise, other than short dog walks, since hurting my back nearly 2 weeks ago I was getting stir crazy so went out on the Arkose gravel bike today.
Once I had struggled to get all my gear on, having got astride, fortunately my back was OK and I managed a chilly but mainly sunny 40 miles and 2'600 feet in 3hrs 11min, the vast majority of it being off road.
A downhill start to Youlgreave and then up to Friden and along the HPT to Longcliffe. Down to Ballidon and up a lovely lane I have not been on before to Roystone Grange which is, or rather was, a medieval monastic sheep and cattle farm. Animal wise all I could see were lots of fancy chickens and three Iron Age pigs, which I think are a cross between Wild Boar and an heritage pig breed. They certainly looked ancient!
A few more miles of gradual uphill on gravelly Cobblersnook and Cardlemere Lanes before dropping down to the Tissington Trail at Biggin. As I was "flying" down the lane I could hear a strange noise which I thought was coming from something stuck in my rear wheel. I dared not look as all my concentration was required on the large grade gravel and water filled potholes. The noise got louder and then I realised that it was the honking of a skein of geese overhead, and as they appeared in front of me I could see that there was at least 200 of them. They were not very high so I assumed that they were on their way back to nearby Carsington Water after a days grazing.
Along the TT to Parsley Hay for a warming Latte and then on to the end of the HPT and the usual run home via Flagg and Monyash.
A lovely day out and surprisingly only 3 other cyclists seen. Shoulders are a bit achy but the back seems OK.
Lets see in the morning!
Well next time I hear disconcerting sounds instead of looking down at my bike I shall look up to the heavens for comfort.:)Quote:
Originally Posted by Llani Boy
I don't get it either, if there is a choice. Suppose it is difficult at this time of year with early darkness and s**t weather, but why people go to gyms to use treadmills and indoor cycles if they could be outside is beyond me. And pay for it :eek:Quote:
Originally Posted by Gambatte
+1 on all of that and even using weather and darkness as an excuse not to get outside is a cop out, given modern equipment.Quote:
Originally Posted by molehill
For me the challenges of Autumn and winter make for the best, most rewarding and memorable outdoor exploits.
That also includes winter camping nothing finer than waking at sunrise on the hill (or anywhere quite for that matter} with a covering of snow and ice and lingering over a brew and breakfast, ok it may be raining but that just means you cut out the linger and get in a few more miles, win win in my book.
A great time of year for Bikepacking if injury says shanks pony is out.
Even the extra cleaning an care of the kit is a labour of love.
I'd most certainly prefer to do all of my running outside... But I'd get absolutely nowhere near 10,000ft per week without using a treadmill.
It certainly benefits my training/performance.
Stationery cycling! Is that mixing up your pencils?
Where's spelling bee?
It was my mother's 98th birthday today so I was content to do a swift out along the R. Wharfe to Harewood Bank and a wiggle back via Huby to make sure I got to her apartment before the bacchanalia and diabolical, degenerate debauchery developed.
So 34 miles (1400 feet) along the rough and ravine ravaged roads of North Yorkshire to pass 3660 miles for the (leap) year.:)
Another mainly off road ride today on the Arkose. A couple of rutted rough lanes that I have previously only run/walked on and obviously hadn't realised how rough they were.
One tumble, when I couldn't get unclipped quickly enough having struck an unidentified object in the bottom of a waterfilled rut, and thereafter, 4 pre-emptory dismounts to avoid a similar outcome. These stops, combined with others to open gates, resulted in my 30 miles and 2'440 feet taking 2hrs 42 min at an average of only just over 11mph.
My back has held up but my arms and shoulders very achy and tender. I think the problem is that some sections of these routes I am doing are more suited to a mountain bike where most of the shock is taken by suspension and lower pressured tyres.
As much as I enjoy the gravel bike I think I will have to ease off on some of the terrain and look for a decent MTB in the New Year to replace my weighty 20 year old.
More importantly, going for a run tomorrow.
Oh, and finally, Happy Birthday Mrs Breeze:)
My son has texted to say he has ordered a Hunt 4 Seasons Gravel Disc Wheelset for delivery on his birthday: £349. I wonder if that is a hint to me that he isn’t happy with his usual £5 book token? When I bought my road bike (from a long-established Italian company) the dealer said he would very happily sell me some exotic wheels; but did I really need to get to the top of the hill 10 seconds faster?
I complimented him on his wisdom and put my credit card away.
However, as I surfed, splashed and sank under today's miserable rain I did ponder that if, say, a Meilenstein Evo Schwarz Edition Tubeless Disc Brake Wheelset has magic anti-rain properties they might well be worth considering at…£5358. And as a bonus I would be those 10 seconds faster as well.
Today another trip following the Wharfe but on the other bank via Castley with a lovely view of the railway viaduct on the Leeds-Harrogate line. I passed Weeton railway station which is bang in the middle of Huby. Weeton being a separate and much smaller village at least a mile away! The blame can be laid on the Leeds & Thirsk Railway Company when they opened the line in 1848 when Weeton was actually named Weeton for Ormscliff Crags (sic). I have never heard of these but Almscliffe Crags are not too far away.
I have not ridden this route since my son suggested we went out for a 30 mile ride which ended up closer to 50, throughout which he rode one hundred meters in front of me looking back at where I was.
Sometimes I think I should have strangled him at birth. It would also have saved on birthday presents.
Anyway, 27 miles and 750 feet.
I am sure a $5k wheel set would be a thing of beauty, befitting an Italian made blah, blah, blah :rolleyes:. But ultimately the wheels are round like all the others and would you take them out in the rain ☔?
Does an apple fall far from the tree?Quote:
Originally Posted by Graham Breeze
:D
But then of course you have the fun of overtaking people who do have all the kit when you don't. And conversely you should consider that when considering whether to spend that extra £1k - will this mean people will laugh at me when they overtake me riding their halfords bikes?Quote:
Originally Posted by Marco
I've heard of cyclists and their new toy described as like a Rolls Royce with a Mini engine.
Isn't fell running going in this same direction with the likes of Inov-hate trying to part you from £100+ with the promise the graphene in your soles will get you that bit extra performance.Quote:
Originally Posted by Marco
I entirely agree with you. I was just comparing the choice of footwear available now and accompanying hype compared with a choice of Walsh (2 models was it) or ETA when I started not that long ago.Quote:
Originally Posted by Marco
No biking but my mate who helps with my bikes and teaches me stuff has mailed today that he has covid (and to stay away), he just lives across the paddock from me and look out on their house. He went for test, only mentioned it is very unpleasant but fingers crossed for him - he's in the V45 bracket I think and fit etc. but that can become meaningless.
Guess he caught it from work, College in village for young adults with learning difficulties so a very challenging environment to contain it and they have carers in from all over S.Wales daily.
Tempted to mail him to ask if he wants his fancy bikes exercising, but maybe a little soon!
llkley Medical Practice rang me today to confirm my mother's vaccine dates - first one next week. As I have previously said, she is 98. I light-heartedly mentioned my place in the queue but since I am not yet 80 she said (jocularly) that I would just have to wait.:)Quote:
Originally Posted by molehill
I found out today that my mother's care home is expecting to get the vaccine within the next two weeks. My sister suggested to me that we "pop round there and sit with our sleeves rolled up, hoping for the best".Quote:
Originally Posted by Graham Breeze
98! Brilliant!Quote:
Originally Posted by Graham Breeze
:d :d :d :d. :dQuote:
Originally Posted by flem
You must buy her one of these for Christmas https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Corona-Va...edirect=mobileQuote:
Originally Posted by Graham Breeze
My lucky day today. Christmas arrived early.
After 2 months in the waiting list they just informed me I got a place at the Maratona dles Dolomites, 138km 4230m cycling in the most beautiful mountains in the world.
https://www.maratona.it/de/138km
Extremely happy.:D
Just how the hell do I train here in flat boring useless Hamburg?
After some huffing and puffing by Mrs LB I managed to get out of last minute Christmas shopping and headed out, on a cool but glorious day, on my Arkose. 40 miles but only a measly 2,024 feet in 2hrs 50min.
On most of my rides I tend to get around 1,000 feet in for every 10 miles but todays effort was mainly on the High Peak and Tissington trails, which apart from some tracks that I used to join them, are flattish. Only 12 miles of the ride was on tarmac, getting to and from the trails.
Plenty of folk about and I bumped into 5 people I knew, who were either out running or walking, which was nice!
The only occurrence of note was whilst I was waiting for my Latte at Parsley Hay I could hear the two girls in the kiosk chatting about New Year resolutions. One of them said " I have two resolutions this time. One is to complete a Tough Mudder and the other is to get pregnant"
It made me chuckle but looking at her I think she might struggle with both!
But the real problem is the missing one-twelfth.Quote:
Originally Posted by Marco
You're showing your age (or perhaps your intelligence) that your go-to answer is in fractions.Quote:
Originally Posted by anthonykay
My dilemma was that I was replying to a post which referred to "two-thirds" and "25 percent". And "one-twelfth" seemed neater than "8.33... percent".Quote:
Originally Posted by noel
Or maybe I suspected that something "warped" was going on, and decided that the best way to expose it would be to play a straight bat . . .Quote:
Originally Posted by Marco
With the local minor roads having patches of ice, todays planned road ride was changed to off road. So 35 miles and only 1,650 feet in 2hrs 45min on the Arkose.
But what fun.
Crashing through frozen puddles on the HP and Tissington Trails and an assortment of farm tracks and bridleways adjoining them. Unfortunately my pal Phil had not been able to fit mudguards to his Specialized so I ended up covered in shite, which was the lesser of two evils, as there was no way I was taking the bitterly cold north wind at the front for all of the time. A few snow flurries made for a festive ride and lots of walkers about ensured that my bell had plenty of action.
Our stop at the Parsley Hay kiosk, for a latte and date slice, was greeted by the waft of cannabis smoke from a couple of youths on mountain bikes. Perhaps it was the effect of their joints that enabled them to be riding gloveless! Another group of three blokes, more my age, were getting stuck into cans of Speckled Hen. I like my beer but couldn't think of anything worse to drink outside on such a day.
Anyway a great few hours in the countryside making room for tomorrows festivities. Numbers confirmed at 5.
Happy Christmas to all, especially Stagger and Oracle.
Bonjour la classe, et vous attention s'il vous plait. Hier etait la 'Grand Premiere' de L'etape de la Ring Road Leeds.
It's my belief that the Leeds ring road has never been ridden as a loop and a time set because the inner ring road is a motorway, and cycling on it is a bit dodgy and will carry a 50 quid fixed penalty for dangerous cycling. So what, who cares; the north face of the Eiger carries the penalty of death, but that didn't stop the 1938 expedition doing what had already been done 80yrs previously. You do it because it's there, and that is what I was planning to tell any critics, arresting officers or will tell the magistrate.
I got to the inner ring road ahead of schedule. There was a lot more traffic than i'd thought, and you wouldn't believe how steep it is in the main tunnel under the LGI, also how noisy. It narrows to one lane at the other side through endless roadworks, again going uphill, and some guy in a Range Rover who was stuck behind me for about half a mile was getting pissed off and revving it. Don't really know what he wanted me to do about the situation.
Time: 1,35,46
Chapeau!
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Attachment 8873
Merci et très interesant!Quote:
Originally Posted by mr brightside
I did wonder why you were taking a short cut up the inner ring road from a proper circuit of the Leeds outer ring road...but I accept this is not a complete ring (although there are plans!) so chapeau!
Thirty-four miles based on country roads - the sort where you only see tractors, cyclists and people with satnavs that are having a nervous breakdown - near the banks of England's most glorious river*.
Sublime.
* The River Wharfe in Ilkley is the first in the UK to gain bathing water status, the Government has announced.
The area of the river which runs between Ilkley Main Bridge and Beanlands Island will be added to the list of bathing waters in England from 2021.
It follows a public consultation by DEFRA which ran from August 7 to October 2. It was prompted by an application from the Ilkley Clean River Group, who want to ensure the river - which can attract over a thousand people on sunny days - is fit to paddle and swim in.