Show us what you did today, thread
- Thread starter clockworkgazz
- Start date
OK back to bikes and riding our shitty bikes 
Today was the first day in a while it looked like it might stay dry and so in between trying to get things out the loft to finish building the Mercian tourer for Brians big gravel ride next weekend, finish cutting and putting up the shelves in Calebs room I managed to slip out this afternoon for a couple of hours rolling around the country side on the Jack Taylor.
Lockdown has put a bit of a curb on being able to, and wanting to travel too far from home which means the large majority of my rides lately seem to be local. This means finding new routes etc to try and keep it fresh. Which is what I did today, I got to one point in my ride where on a nice quiet stretch of laneway I just thought ' what is up that dirt track straight ahead, rather than turning left?' as is usual. This led to a great shortish but steep climb up a gravel track that eventually just went to a radio mast. It was a great trying to race up this gravel and mud climb with out standing up as then I would wheel slip. The roads were damp and muddy being we've had so much rain and the farms are all working overtime getting ready for winter. Seemed to dodge the rain in a few places as would see it ahead and then find the road in front of me sodden but thankfully I managed to stay completely dry.
The Super Clubman was it's usual superb self. I can't express how nice this is to ride, so relaxed and comfortable.
Hope everyone else managed to have some decent weather and managed a ride.
Jamie
IMG_4246 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
IMG_4247 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
IMG_4249 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
IMG_4250 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
IMG_4257 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
IMG_4259 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
IMG_4266 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
IMG_4265 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
IMG_4270 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
Today was the first day in a while it looked like it might stay dry and so in between trying to get things out the loft to finish building the Mercian tourer for Brians big gravel ride next weekend, finish cutting and putting up the shelves in Calebs room I managed to slip out this afternoon for a couple of hours rolling around the country side on the Jack Taylor.
Lockdown has put a bit of a curb on being able to, and wanting to travel too far from home which means the large majority of my rides lately seem to be local. This means finding new routes etc to try and keep it fresh. Which is what I did today, I got to one point in my ride where on a nice quiet stretch of laneway I just thought ' what is up that dirt track straight ahead, rather than turning left?' as is usual. This led to a great shortish but steep climb up a gravel track that eventually just went to a radio mast. It was a great trying to race up this gravel and mud climb with out standing up as then I would wheel slip. The roads were damp and muddy being we've had so much rain and the farms are all working overtime getting ready for winter. Seemed to dodge the rain in a few places as would see it ahead and then find the road in front of me sodden but thankfully I managed to stay completely dry.
The Super Clubman was it's usual superb self. I can't express how nice this is to ride, so relaxed and comfortable.
Hope everyone else managed to have some decent weather and managed a ride.
Jamie
IMG_4246 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
IMG_4247 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
IMG_4249 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
IMG_4250 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
IMG_4257 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
IMG_4259 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
IMG_4266 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
IMG_4265 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
IMG_4270 by Jamie Dyer, on FlickrDue to a very hectic week at work this week I didn't manage to get the Mercian ready for Brians Gravel Ride with the Highland Classic Bicycle group today. That meant that the trusty Jack Taylor was taken instead. The perfect bike for the job.
Due to the wet and wild weather this week we both knew that this was going to be a pretty sodden affair, but Brian had enough back up deviations to cover us if any sections were flooded or too boggy.
I left home around 7 am and made it to Brians just after 9 where we had a quick cuppa, I got changed in the van and so with bikes sorted we headed down to the Dingwall meeting place for just before 10. We ended up with about 11 or 12 starters, some new faces for me and some old friends not seen for a while. With everybody being respectful of personal space and observing social distancing we got a quick group photo and headed on our way in a couple of small groups and a few stragglers. (me)
Brian picked a great route that was about 95% off road and a lot of it was really muddy and slippery and while I had 33mm tyres, they were fairly smooth and 'exciting' on the clay sections that had a few inches of water sitting on them. Amongst this we had a good few hard steep climbs as well, so a bit of everything.
Despite the showers and the mudfest as well as a slow speed off from myself it was a great day out with a warming coffee and bacon roll about 2/3rds round at Strathpeffer. From there it was back to Dingwall on the usual tracks, only they were, like the rest a lot more flooded than the last time we were here.
A great day with great company. Thanks Brian.
Jamie
IMG_4280 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
IMG_4278 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
IMG_4283 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
IMG_4285 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
IMG_4289 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
IMG_4295 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
IMG_4298 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
IMG_4302 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
IMG_4303 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
IMG_4311 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
IMG_4319 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
IMG_4323 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
IMG_4327 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
IMG_4332 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
IMG_4338 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
Due to the wet and wild weather this week we both knew that this was going to be a pretty sodden affair, but Brian had enough back up deviations to cover us if any sections were flooded or too boggy.
I left home around 7 am and made it to Brians just after 9 where we had a quick cuppa, I got changed in the van and so with bikes sorted we headed down to the Dingwall meeting place for just before 10. We ended up with about 11 or 12 starters, some new faces for me and some old friends not seen for a while. With everybody being respectful of personal space and observing social distancing we got a quick group photo and headed on our way in a couple of small groups and a few stragglers. (me)
Brian picked a great route that was about 95% off road and a lot of it was really muddy and slippery and while I had 33mm tyres, they were fairly smooth and 'exciting' on the clay sections that had a few inches of water sitting on them. Amongst this we had a good few hard steep climbs as well, so a bit of everything.
Despite the showers and the mudfest as well as a slow speed off from myself it was a great day out with a warming coffee and bacon roll about 2/3rds round at Strathpeffer. From there it was back to Dingwall on the usual tracks, only they were, like the rest a lot more flooded than the last time we were here.
A great day with great company. Thanks Brian.
Jamie
IMG_4280 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
IMG_4278 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
IMG_4283 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
IMG_4285 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
IMG_4289 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
IMG_4295 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
IMG_4298 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
IMG_4302 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
IMG_4303 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
IMG_4311 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
IMG_4319 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
IMG_4323 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
IMG_4327 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
IMG_4332 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
IMG_4338 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr
velomaniac
MacRetro Rider
Re:
A proper "gravel" ride without a single "proper" gravel bike that the industry believes we should ride. Jealous as usual, here in teir 3 getting out in stunning landscapes is tougher but I've got my ROG Sport single speed working now so plodding down Muddy single track is a future possibility
A proper "gravel" ride without a single "proper" gravel bike that the industry believes we should ride. Jealous as usual, here in teir 3 getting out in stunning landscapes is tougher but I've got my ROG Sport single speed working now so plodding down Muddy single track is a future possibility
epicyclo
Senior Retro Guru
Everybody there has been riding "gravel" all their lives. It would probably be more accurate to call it a group of Rough Stuffers.
There were a number of comedy falls though, including a synchronised one with the participants a good 10 metres apart. Or maybe it was just old codgers lying down for a rest. (Except this old codger who stayed upright despite being rammed into a fence post)
There were a number of comedy falls though, including a synchronised one with the participants a good 10 metres apart. Or maybe it was just old codgers lying down for a rest.
(Except this old codger who stayed upright despite being rammed into a fence post)Re:
Yes this old codger was feeling a bit too warm, dry and clean so decided to lay down in the cold wet clay all while still clipped in
Had to wash my good wool jersey when I got in, and my trousers and my long sleeve. At least my newish boots kept my feet warm and dry!!
Jamie
Yes this old codger was feeling a bit too warm, dry and clean so decided to lay down in the cold wet clay all while still clipped in
Had to wash my good wool jersey when I got in, and my trousers and my long sleeve. At least my newish boots kept my feet warm and dry!!
Jamie
Re:
Thanks mate but the countryside’s the inspiration.
I just keep my phone in my jersey pocket and click the camera button when it looks nice.
It’s the cool routes we ride that inspires me to take photos and the off beat places we end up.
Brian always makes sure we end up in a few of those
Once all the lockdown stuff ends and especially once you get your e bike then you should definitely come up and join us for a weekends riding.
Jamie
Thanks mate but the countryside’s the inspiration.
I just keep my phone in my jersey pocket and click the camera button when it looks nice.
It’s the cool routes we ride that inspires me to take photos and the off beat places we end up.
Brian always makes sure we end up in a few of those
Once all the lockdown stuff ends and especially once you get your e bike then you should definitely come up and join us for a weekends riding.
Jamie
Re:
I was up at "sparrows fart" this morning, to drop my daughter off at work just before 6am, then headed to nearby Kirkhill Forest for some early morning singlespeed mtb action.
It was bloody freezing setting off in the pitch black!! But also strangely magical with the frost sparkling in my bike lights.
It was also pretty cool knowing that I was most likely the only person (daft enough to be) riding in the forest that early , I did a few loops of the forest tracks and by 8am there were a couple of cars in the car park.
I stopped each lap at a small tower at the highest point of the forest, and had a cup of hot coffee from the flask I brought with me
, each time the sky was getting a little lighter.
As daylight arrived I tackled a few of the more off piste trails, for some proper bone shaking riding
no suspension and no dropper post made for some "interesting" moments, and one comedy slo-mo OTB incident, following which I decided I'd better had back home before my luck ran out completely.
I was up at "sparrows fart" this morning, to drop my daughter off at work just before 6am, then headed to nearby Kirkhill Forest for some early morning singlespeed mtb action.
It was bloody freezing setting off in the pitch black!! But also strangely magical with the frost sparkling in my bike lights.
It was also pretty cool knowing that I was most likely the only person (daft enough to be) riding in the forest that early , I did a few loops of the forest tracks and by 8am there were a couple of cars in the car park.
I stopped each lap at a small tower at the highest point of the forest, and had a cup of hot coffee from the flask I brought with me
, each time the sky was getting a little lighter.As daylight arrived I tackled a few of the more off piste trails, for some proper bone shaking riding
no suspension and no dropper post made for some "interesting" moments, and one comedy slo-mo OTB incident, following which I decided I'd better had back home before my luck ran out completely.Attachments
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