Today's Ride
- Thread starter FairfaxPat
- Start date
PeterPerfect
Senior Retro Guru
rwm1962":1z2yttr2 said:You mean it isn't a gravel bike?
Touche
Re:
!Bono este!
A magnificent 17 rising to 20/21 at 08:00 this morning. Sweaty-Betty for sure but boy-o-boy bring it on. It beats long dreary winter days every single time. A few folks out but I expected more.
Today's mini-challenge was navigating these steps with no foot downs. Nailed it on the second go so that opens up a different path option.
!Bono este!
A magnificent 17 rising to 20/21 at 08:00 this morning. Sweaty-Betty for sure but boy-o-boy bring it on. It beats long dreary winter days every single time. A few folks out but I expected more.
Today's mini-challenge was navigating these steps with no foot downs. Nailed it on the second go so that opens up a different path option.
Re:
Home alone.
My partner and her kids have gone camping for a few days. We're both taking some time to think things over, or more honestly, I am. I've spent many hours, and many miles, reflecting on our relationship. This morning was no exception.
I've also been unwell for over a week, with vertigo-like symptoms. Being a cyclist this is an issue. Alone this morning, the trails were calling.
I probably shouldn't have, but I went for a ride.
It was 19°c when I left, and 28°c when I returned.
There were a couple of occasions when I wished I'd stayed at home. It felt like my heart skipped a beat several times, making me nauseous, but I was only unsteady when I stopped, otherwise my balance was fine.
Have I said too much? Am I to be chastised for taking a risk? It was my choice, my own free will. Something that I feel has been eroded recently.
These are dark days.
Weather-wise it was a truly beautiful day.
I rode beyond the A10 to Westmill and back in a large loop. Many new paths. Apart from a group of MX riding green laners, who thought it funny to fire rooster tails at me as they passed, on a particularly gravelly byway, I encountered only 2 offroaders. Many walkers, little else.
I covered a fraction under 40 miles. It was cathartic.
Home alone.
My partner and her kids have gone camping for a few days. We're both taking some time to think things over, or more honestly, I am. I've spent many hours, and many miles, reflecting on our relationship. This morning was no exception.
I've also been unwell for over a week, with vertigo-like symptoms. Being a cyclist this is an issue. Alone this morning, the trails were calling.
I probably shouldn't have, but I went for a ride.
It was 19°c when I left, and 28°c when I returned.
There were a couple of occasions when I wished I'd stayed at home. It felt like my heart skipped a beat several times, making me nauseous, but I was only unsteady when I stopped, otherwise my balance was fine.
Have I said too much? Am I to be chastised for taking a risk? It was my choice, my own free will. Something that I feel has been eroded recently.
These are dark days.
Weather-wise it was a truly beautiful day.
I rode beyond the A10 to Westmill and back in a large loop. Many new paths. Apart from a group of MX riding green laners, who thought it funny to fire rooster tails at me as they passed, on a particularly gravelly byway, I encountered only 2 offroaders. Many walkers, little else.
I covered a fraction under 40 miles. It was cathartic.
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PeterPerfect
Senior Retro Guru
What a lovely old Pub.
Nice photos.
Nice photos.
. The entire month of July was cold and grey. But during the past week the sun has returned, and Saturday night the weather was perfect for taking a cruise, and meeting up with some friends for a few beers.
Re:
Absolutely roasting down here the past few days. Saturday was early morning walk day. The mention of sheep on the last page caused the universe to move them to one of the fields we pass. Cooper was well pleased:
Sunday was run day and the second since recovery. The legs aren't as stiff but my pace has dropped off a cliff so work to be done.
Yesterday was super sticky and I got stung by a bee on a downhill. RIP bee.
Today it was 21 when I left and 24 at 08:00 on return after a front puncture. Still a brilliant ride on the Manomano. The humidity was creating some classic west-coast fog although not quite as thick A tantalising tickle of drops but no downpour.
Absolutely roasting down here the past few days. Saturday was early morning walk day. The mention of sheep on the last page caused the universe to move them to one of the fields we pass. Cooper was well pleased:
Sunday was run day and the second since recovery. The legs aren't as stiff but my pace has dropped off a cliff so work to be done.
Yesterday was super sticky and I got stung by a bee on a downhill. RIP bee.
Today it was 21 when I left and 24 at 08:00 on return after a front puncture. Still a brilliant ride on the Manomano. The humidity was creating some classic west-coast fog although not quite as thick
A tantalising tickle of drops but no downpour. 
Re:
With the threat of thunderstorms for the rest of the week the opportunities look limited. So I went out this morning, numbed by the medication, but feeling well enough to click off a few miles.
20°c when I left, 30°c when I arrived home.
I wanted to ride where I knew there'd be shade if the heat got too much, so i took to the Flitch Way. Today I was going to ride all of it, which I've not done before.
For those that don't know, Flitch Way is a disused railway line that used to run from Bishops Stortford to Braintree. It is now in two sections, Great Hallingbury to Great Dunmow, then you need to travel through GD and pick it up just south of the town and continue through to Braintree. It ends at Braintree Station. There are a couple of station houses that function as cafes along the way, Rayne being open more often than Takeley, and therefore more popular. It's relatively flat and fast. A great backup plan if I need an undemanding ride. It gets quite busy near Hatfield Forest and between Braintree and Rayne. It is a significant part of NCR 16.
In the end I managed 41 miles, but felt a bit under the weather when I got home. Stopping in the heat was punishing. Keeping moving was actually cooler.
With the threat of thunderstorms for the rest of the week the opportunities look limited. So I went out this morning, numbed by the medication, but feeling well enough to click off a few miles.
20°c when I left, 30°c when I arrived home.
I wanted to ride where I knew there'd be shade if the heat got too much, so i took to the Flitch Way. Today I was going to ride all of it, which I've not done before.
For those that don't know, Flitch Way is a disused railway line that used to run from Bishops Stortford to Braintree. It is now in two sections, Great Hallingbury to Great Dunmow, then you need to travel through GD and pick it up just south of the town and continue through to Braintree. It ends at Braintree Station. There are a couple of station houses that function as cafes along the way, Rayne being open more often than Takeley, and therefore more popular. It's relatively flat and fast. A great backup plan if I need an undemanding ride. It gets quite busy near Hatfield Forest and between Braintree and Rayne. It is a significant part of NCR 16.
In the end I managed 41 miles, but felt a bit under the weather when I got home. Stopping in the heat was punishing. Keeping moving was actually cooler.
Attachments
Re:
Yes it's hot. But the forecast has been a shambles. Five days straight they said thunderstorms, five straight days nothing and not even close to a drop of rain. The morning rides have been great and super-sweaty.
Que this morning and at last, a very light shower at HQ as I left at a cooler but toasty 21. As I headed towards the Downs, the rain increased intensity and before long I was in proper summer rain. Lovely stuff! This is looking down towards Eynsford but I needed to head home for boring old work.
By the time I was home it was almost dry and it turned out the shower I left had petered out as soon as I had left. So still no thunderstorms and no significant rain. GREAT FORECASTING!
Yes it's hot. But the forecast has been a shambles. Five days straight they said thunderstorms, five straight days nothing and not even close to a drop of rain. The morning rides have been great and super-sweaty.
Que this morning and at last, a very light shower at HQ as I left at a cooler but toasty 21. As I headed towards the Downs, the rain increased intensity and before long I was in proper summer rain. Lovely stuff! This is looking down towards Eynsford but I needed to head home for boring old work.
By the time I was home it was almost dry and it turned out the shower I left had petered out as soon as I had left. So still no thunderstorms and no significant rain. GREAT FORECASTING!
