Today's Bike Ride

[Al Fowler]

A grand ride out on mi tod today on some fantastic quiet roads with stunning views. In complete contrast to Tuesday's end of the world arkesque ride, today was warm, mostly sunny and clear and free of washing away sheep and cattle. I rode out to Sawley and turned off onto the Wigglesworth road past the Copy Nook and veared left at the top of the Forest Becks onto a lane touring cyclists can only dream of. The views offer up vistas of Pendle, The Bowland fells and the Ribble valley to the left and Yorkshire Dales hills to the right. It's like a tarmac strip through the fields generally free of cars and a pleasure to cycle on. After about 6 miles a left turn onto the lane up to Tosside and straight through down towards Rathmell, left through to Wham & Rome and onto the Lawkland road to the Austwick junction where I turned right and then left to the Hamlet of Feizor and an al fresco snack at the gem of a cafe and a caving chat with a mountain biker who was staying at the Craven Pothole club house in Horton prepping Gapping Gill for the August bank holiday winch meet. I returned via Austwick, Helwith Bridge and the back road through Little Stainforth to Giggleswick - again fantastic cycling lanes with views that quenched a thirst that only dry stoned walled fields and fells only can. Onto Rathmell and Giggleswick where I passed a couple of tired looking cyclists, Sawley, Chatburn, Clitheroe, Whalley and back to Accy. Probably around 68 miles at maybe 17 average (still not replaced my wheel magnet) but irrespective of any stats it felt superb to experience such landscapes. The all new Colnago was a dream to ride and the cardio workout was a bonus. What a blessing to be able to enjoy days like these.

Sounds epic ady.


Finally had a free evening/rain free evening so I went out on my bike as soon as I got home from work.
I was majorly dehydrated and seriously hungry before I set off but I was willing to take the pain to get out on the bike.

Followed my usual route up through Brindle and Wheelton, before turning off and skirting Chorley and headed up to Rivington. The climb up the road that takes you to Belmont is a real beast. Real tough climb and I was fooooooooked by the time I got to the top but it was a beat of a climb.
Once my legs had recovered I was able to fly down the road to belmont and enjoy the windy road..until some clown in a van I was following jammed on out of the blue and I nearly went into the back of him.....skidded to a holt but Ive scuffed my rear tyre.
Then along the big long road out of belmont to the junction 3 of the M65 and back through Riley Green, Hoghton and them my village.


I was absolutely knackered when I got home. Hamstrings were starting to cramp up with 10 miles to go and my calfs were tingling. Had a tracker bar and a gel with some water and battled through. Quads locked off when I unclipped at home.

24.8miles in 1hr 24 ish. Forgot my garmin so dont know the amount of climbing but I was a belter of a ride.

[Toffer]

Chapeau everyone, good riding. Sadly that is something I have been singularly unable to do for the last 8 weeks as a result of a bit of a fractured sacrum problem. Erm, best not to ask....
Anyway, the 40 miler I did on said sacrum the day after I did the damage was a little uncomfortable, all exercise was thereafter banned!! Blimey, haven't managed to get my heart rate up in weeks!!!
Still back doing a bit of gentle pedaling this week and inspired by the Tourmalet yesterday felt obliged to find a long climb to blow out some cobwebs. So Rhigos mountain, out and back, 51miles at a chirpy 16.3. Not fast enough to don the Steam Bunny polka dot top, but a good start. Oh, and a prize to correct identification of this familiar location:

[Hanneke]

Top of the Col du Tourmalet, in front of the statue of Octave Lapize...

[Hanneke]

Toff... you got to tell us what happened... Glad you are back on the bike again!

[stevefoster]

Top of the Col du Tourmalet, in front of the statue of Octave Lapize...

Tourmalet.jpg was a bit of a giveaway

[Toffer]

Tourmalet.jpg was a bit of a giveaway

oops

[Hanneke]

It is starting to look a bit serious for this week... wibble! (Dim Wibblio, dim wibblio, dim wibblio...)

[Toffer]

Good stomp out this morning......55miles @ 16.7 average, essentially a 25 mile TT out to Hirwaun via Aberdare, yes it really is all up hill, single timed hill rep of the Rhigos, 40+ mph descent then two up chain gang back to Cardiff, followed by a large lunch

[Hanneke]

Sounds like you are back Toff

Fancy a ride sometime after 31 July?

[Hanneke]

New tyres on my beloved