There's probably an argument with the Estate over who is paying. Highways will want it turned into a bridleway i suspect.Quote:
Originally Posted by Graham Breeze
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There's probably an argument with the Estate over who is paying. Highways will want it turned into a bridleway i suspect.Quote:
Originally Posted by Graham Breeze
There was a road closed in the Eden Valley over a lot of the summer, the "alternative" route from Penrith to Appleby In Westmorland, south of the A66 and very quiet.. absolutely fantastic for cycling on with no traffic.
Although i recall struggling on one return journey after a training session at Dufton, as the warm summer evening turned very cold, and i was very tired and had long ran out of water!
Quote:
Originally Posted by mr brightside
Well as you know it only serves Storiths, ie a few farms, so Highways will not want to spend big bucks underpinning a minor road that even includes a ford, to stop it slipping down the hillside, when they are saving their pennies to bypass the slowly collapsing A59 Keighley-Harrogate Kex Gill road.
By building over the parallel bridleway! :D
Due to my calf playing up again and not running for a week I decided to cycle to last nights RATRun venue, The Queens Arms, Taddington and join the runners for refreshments.
I have not cycled in the dark for many years and wow, what a delight I have been missing. This was proper dark too, no street lights just lights from scattered farms. Having been used to running with a headtorch, the beam obviously lighting wherever one looked, it was a bit odd getting used to the light from my Cateye Volt 1200 being fixed on the road ahead, especially when hearing a noise to one side, looking and seeing nothing. I did have a headtorch in my pocket as a backup.
It was also very windy last night and I nearly came a cropper a few times, especially on the downhill ride home, from unexpected sidewind gusts through unseen gateways. Although these were roads I cycle regularly not every gap in the drystone walls was remembered.
Once in the Queens I did not partake in the cheesy chips as I had had my tea earlier but managed to despatch 4 pints of, spot on, Farmers Blonde 4% from Bradfield Brewery.
Only 18 miles and 1,385 feet and more night time cycling is definitely on the cards.
I now notice that my last outing on the bike was Dec 3rd, so 2 months without a ride (and no need for cycle maintenance and faffing 👍).
With spring around the corner I cannot put it off much longer - but it is cold and snow on the hills today, so maybe next week 🤔.
Are you sure it was the wind that gave you a problem on the way home?Quote:
Originally Posted by Llani Boy
I've never been great enthusiast for night cycling: too many motorists not dipping their headlights, and of course you can't see much around you. But I have just noticed this thread https://forum.fellrunner.org.uk/show...road-bike-ride , which reminded me of a night ride I did once, when my mother was living in South London. I was going to visit her over a weekend in June, and told her that I would be arriving some time on Saturday afternoon. I stayed up on Friday night, and shortly after midnight I set off in a vaguely southerly direction. Somewhere in North Oxfordshire I turned east, and eventually arrived at Leighton Buzzard to take the train: 108 miles, which together with the 5 miles from Euston station to my mother's home, gave me my greatest daily mileage ever.Quote:
Originally Posted by Llani Boy
Apparently in London cyclists, having studied the new Highway Code, have taken to riding down the centre of the carriage way with a burger in one hand and taking selfies with the other to illustrate to following motorists their new freedom of the road.
Obviously something I would never do. A burger?!
I was contemplating whether my bike handling skills would be adequate anyway as I set off down my apartment drive but before I had the opportunity to rehearse my best wheely moves I was aware of my neighbour's huge BMW SUV snarling to my rear - and moved smartly to the gutter where I clearly belong.
Anyway a brisk 32 miles to Harewood House hill (but only 1300 feet) contemplating if drivers are more courteous since the aforementioned Code change. Some of them overtook me so far to the right I thought they would mount the pavement rather than pass within 5 feet.
But not to worry. When I reached the sophistication of Ilkley and was executing a perfectly signalled, positioned, well lit, RH turn the driver of a white van with window down decided to advise me on certain physiological matters - the detail of which was, alas, lost to my ears in the wind and so cannot be reported here.
Still not running and as the roads were a little icy around here first thing I decided to carefully drop down to Bakewell on the Arkose and give the Monsal Trail some hammer. The surface was a little sticky and twig strewn after the recent weather but the sun was shining brightly.
Up and down the trail a few times got me 50.5 miles in 3hrs 2 minutes, in spite the following hazards;
A group of women 5 abreast, two of whom looked over their shoulders at me when I rang my bell and took not one bit of notice and continued to block my path. I politely thanked them for bringing me to a halt.
A large dog, off the lead, trotting towards me down the centre of the trail with a large stick, of about 5/6 foot, in its mouth. The owner, some distance behind finding it quite funny. I rode on the verge to avoid it and once back on the trail was pleased to see a large muddy puddle adjacent to the owner as I passed him and his nice white trainers.
A number of dogs on those long retractable leads who happened to find themselves on the opposite side of the trail to their master. On three such occasions when I rang my bell the owners panicked and I could hear the whirring of the lead as the dog ran further away, the owner obviously pressing the wrong button.
Two mountain bikers, on E bikes, cruising along side by side at 15 mph, oblivious to the fact that they were holding up a self propelled old codger who was going significantly faster. Again onto the verge.
Dozens of dogs running around off the lead.
Pushchairs 3 abreast.
A group of 6 Chinese/Japanese teenagers, spread across the trail looking at their phones, again oblivious to other users.
Some of the above I saw more than once, so I was ready for them, and I also saw a running pal twice, on the first occasion stopping for a quick chat.
I shan't be going down there again in a hurry.
Sounds like the final climb up Snowdon in the Welsh 1000 Metres!!
It makes avoiding being cut up by HGVs on roundabouts on the Queen's Highway sound really dull.:)Quote:
Originally Posted by Llani Boy
Sounds like Golden Acre Park in Leeds.Quote:
Originally Posted by Llani Boy
Don't go there, it's crap, even the ducks are arseholes.Quote:
Originally Posted by mr brightside
A tour round Harewood House and grounds but by road so, all in all, 33 miles (1400feet). So 65 miles so far this week!
I came home past Wheelbase Ilkley - not a shop I patronise because they don't sell Bianchi - it's more for people who buy Pinarello.
It appears that someone tried to drive a pick-up truck or something into the shop because half of the glass wall is missing and there are huge concrete blocks in front of where the door used to be.
Talking of Pinarello, the shop has knocked £2500 off some epitome of overpriced mechanical pornography on display in the window. The retail price was £12,000 so although £2500 sounds a lot it is only a 20% discount.
One would think, since Pinarello are in the fashion business, that a discount of 80% would be more in line with expectations. It's what I expect when I buy my new LBD during the sales.
Following your mention, I looked at their website (which is s***). Even at a 20% reduction, no one in their right mind is going to spend £9500 on a 2021 bike kitted out with SRAM.Quote:
Originally Posted by Graham Breeze
PS
Something you haven't told us Graham?Quote:
Originally Posted by Graham Breeze
Steady, you can be whoever you want these days.Quote:
Originally Posted by Marco
Quote:
Originally Posted by Marco
Well that big green door - is no more.
The building used to be a car showroom but around the time the Tour came to Yorkshire it was converted to a bike showroom by "Ilkley Cycles" which used to be a dump of a place hidden in a yard under an arch by terrace houses in a back street in Ilkley. You needed a compass to find it.
One might have wondered if ambition had exceeded financial reality and yep! it went bust quite quickly.
Otley has a big multi-branch shop, Chevin Cycles, which is only 7 miles away and has been established for decades but Wheelbase with its deep pockets obviously thought they could make the Ilkley business pay selling high end product.
I live half a mile away and occasionally press my nose against the Wheelbase window and gasp "How much!"
Well that might not be such a bad thing; it was flaming awful colour by the looks of the photo.Quote:
Originally Posted by Graham Breeze
Do you think the 'incident' may have been due to the buyer of an overpriced, SRAM equipped, Pinarello seeing the error of their ways and wishing to return the bike outside of opening hours? :)
Aaah! You saw me???Quote:
Originally Posted by Marco
And talking of cars: there is a website the IMCDB which identifies the makes, models, years of cars used in films.
I sometimes use it to clarify, say, the cars used in old Italian or French films (I mean say 1940/50s films - having once owned my share of Citroen and Fiat cars).
It is as nurdy as cycling sites but, for example, to choose a film well known for its cars: Thelma and Louise includes 51 identifiable cars.
CX 25 turbo?Quote:
Originally Posted by Graham Breeze
131 Mirafiori sport?
Ye god's, they just don't roll like they used to. The same guys that make the Peugeot 3007 once made the 205 1.9gti....the mind boggles, millipede.
Before I moved to Mercedes C Class (for the last 27 years) I had a Citroen XM. I would do the length of the M1 in just over 2 hours every Sunday evening on an almost deserted road and then cross London to my second home, taking about twice as long to return every Friday evening. My cars were changed every 2 1/2 years.Quote:
Originally Posted by mr brightside
I had a Cosworth 2.9L V6 Scorpio for around 15,000 miles which had astonishing acceleration but the XM is the car I loved above all others (although the Maserati engine Citroen SM would have been interesting to own).:)
Thirty-three miles towards Harrogate and back so 315 miles for the year. The last thirteen were in wind and rain and my hands were cold even inside double gloves so I think these miles should count double. It really is humiliating when your hands are so cold you struggle to remove your cycling shoes.
A late afternoon bike ride yesterday along the Tissington Trail to Tissington, down to Ballidon and up to the High Peak Trail via Roystone Grange. Along the HPT to Parsley Hay, down to Monyash, Horse Lane and home.
33 miles, 1,529 feet in 2hrs 22.
A lovely ride but very, very windy, most of it crosswinds, which kept me switched on looking out for gateways and other gaps that could cause me to come to grief.
The first of two highlights of the ride was a chat to a bloke in a wheelchair who I caught up on the Tissington Trail. It looked like it was a sports chair and he was going at a decent pace. I slowed as I caught him, said hello, and rode with him as we chatted. He was finding dodging the puddles a pain due to his chair width and me alongside wasn't helping so after a couple of minutes I bade him farewell. What an inspiration.
The second was a chat to the cleaning lady at the toilets at Tissington. They were spick and span and a credit to her. She told me that she also picked up litter in the car park which was also spotless. So many people take these type of facilities for granted but if it wasn't for people like her much of the countryside would soon become an eyesore.
If I was dishing out New Years Honours I know exactly where they would go!
The ADV is at Halfords for some attention but Halfords is unable to obtain the brake pads and the mechanic has suggested that if I buy them from Amazon and take them in then he will fit them. Sometimes the world is quite odd.
So with roads cleansed by torrential rain and a blue sky above - for the first time in a month it was Bianchi day. Tyres up to 7 bar and shortly afterwards I was bouncing down Old Pool Bank at a tad under 40mph. Oh joy!
Pool was once a station (as was Otley) on the railway line between Burley in Wharfedale and Arthington which connected the Leeds - Harrogate and Leeds-Skipton lines.
After 60 years some of the track bed has been built on, notably in Pool, and indeed Otley where the Otley bypass covered the old track bed with tarmac, but much of the rest has been left to walkers, with or without dogs, and the occasional MTB rider. But there is now an initiative to "Sustrans" some of the paths.
Which is probably why signs saying PRIVATE LAND. KEEP OUT have appeared along the proposed section.
Obviously a well meaning gesture by those with land near the old track bed to help walkers/riders from getting lost.
Such kindness.
We were walking on a section of the old railway to the east of Otley today accompanied by goldfinches. Walk and run the section to the west of Otley and the Burley in Wharfedale sections. A lot of it has been converted into footpath already, though the section behind Bradford Rd in Otley floods to deeper than wellies in winter. Not encountered the hostile signs yet.Quote:
Originally Posted by Graham Breeze
My Boardman ADV is back from Halfords and the Guiseley Branch is back to "best bike shop anywhere" status.
To celebrate that and the clear blue sky I took the Bianchi out: Bolton Abbey, Burnsall, Dibble Bridge (the climb), Greenhow - I have not ridden some of these roads since before the winter and I was shocked at the deterioration in the North Yorkshire road surfaces - from bad to worse. My wheels might now need truing.
Since I basically don't eat meat - just fish - I need to maintain my blood iron levels with massive doses of good red wine and currently a 14% 2016 Muga Rioja. But as everyone who doesn't believe the tosh on women's pages about diets knows, weight (by which I mean fat) control is about balancing calories in with calories out so I needed to do a hilly 35 miles (3300 feet) today to compensate for last evening's iron intake.
It was a good ride in the sunshine and I was so pleased with myself on my return I finished the bottle.
Just the one mind.
I believe you have an excellent wine cellar and if you need help making inroads I am willing to cycle up north to yours and replenish my iron levels.
Is there any Petrus still hidden in the back of the cellar?
Alas I believe most Petrus now resides in China - where it is drunk after mixing with Coca-Cola.Quote:
Originally Posted by molehill
Tuesday was a gorgeous day in Ilkley, blue sky and a risk of sunburn for my neighbours who were preening on their balconies sipping G&T. After 10am of course - not with their eggs benedict.
I could have gone for a ride but the thought of all the electric bike riders jamming the roads made me defer until today when I could rely on drizzle and gloom and feel 'ard. So 30 miles (1300 feet) along back roads I had not ridden for a while providing the opportunity to catch up on road signs destroyed by vehicles that had diverted from the carriage way and the general metal detritus left behind after collisions that breakdown recovery vehicles hadn't bothered to pick up.
The 30 miles took me over 400 miles so far this year in 2 months + 2 days and on checking on my return this wasn't far short of the 530 miles I ran in total in the 4 years 2018 - 21. The four years included 102 races and I won my category in 30% so I wasn't just walking round with the sweepers. However in those 4 years I cycled 9700 miles which presumably helped me keep reasonably fit with little damage to my knees.
So my general suggestion is that if you aspire to do Wasdale at 90 years cut out fellrunning and all that knee damage, apart from actual races, and do more bike riding. :)
So basically you advise back loading your fell career by cycling a lot? This is a dangerous game given the state of some peoples road manners towards cyclists, you might not make it.
Well that's far more impressive than my 2022 mileage, which is probably around the 180 miles mark (I don't always remember to wear my watch). Although all bar 7 miles of that has been on fixed wheel; only yesterday I was accosted by someone in Aldi who had spotted me riding a 'vintage track bike'. (It's not vintage, and it's not strictly speaking a track bike either, but I wasn't going to argue about the finer points). Second person of the year to tell me they'd seen me on it too.Quote:
Originally Posted by Graham Breeze
My somewhat low mileage hasn't been helped by the murder of a pensioner last Thursday, who lived on the main road into Whittington just over a mile from my house. For 8 days the road has been completely closed, for a 400m stretch, with an occupied police car at each end 24/7. Terrible though the situation is, I'm not too dispondent as I'm not in training for the M90 category at Wasdale :)
You may have a point there. Two or three cyclists are killed every week/Quote:
Originally Posted by mr brightside
Ha! I was going up a steepish country road climb yesterday using 34/34 and I thought to myself "I don't suppose I could even think of getting up this hill on a fixie"!Quote:
Originally Posted by Marco
I can see well over a hundred riders when I'm out on a decent day but not one in a thousand is on a fixed wheel.
Although not common here, you do see the odd rider around here on fixed wheel. I know, and meet on the roads, two riders locally who always ride fixed wheel. It does help, greatly, that the Trent, Tame and Mease rivers have carved a largely flat terrain, although that's a bit of a double-edged sword when the wind gets up across the largely tree-less plain.Quote:
Originally Posted by Graham Breeze
It's a different technique riding without a freewheel. The flywheel effect really helps at low cadence, so it's really surprising what you can climb, but you do have to ride it differently. Mechanically it's bullet proof too, so all you have to do is pedal. All the time.
Whever I see someone on a fixie I call out "Hi Brett!"Quote:
Originally Posted by Marco
Of course I do get some odd looks:D
Only if it was a bright red Cinelli Shark would the rider reply :)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Graham Breeze
A bright red Cinelli Shark? Now that is a beast. Sorry to say this, Graham, but if we're playing Top Trumps then you and I have lost. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by brett
As Graham mentioned his gear ratio a couple of days ago, would you enlighten us on your gear ratio on the Shark?