Today's Ride

[Markybeau]

Last week I was house and dog sitting. I didn't feel it would be fair to leave the mutts any longer than necessary, so there were no rides.

This morning I was raring to go. Warm and sunny. The prospect of a lovely day ahead.

I'd got about a mile down the road when a seed of doubt was sown. I stopped and checked my bag. I didn't have my office keys...dammit... I had to turn around. Took me ages to find them in the sensible place where I'd left them, and by then it was late. I had to go in the car...numpty

 

[CassidyAce]

Nice little, early evening, chill out ride by the riverside to stretch my legs. Beautiful weather.

 

[Markybeau]

This ain't no party...

No false start this morning.

Big push, felt slow yet good pace: becoming consistent. Breezed in at a perfect 13°c.

Stopped on the way home to take this:


Wtf...I've been running low on options for new vistas to delight this thread's readership, and I wouldn't think you would want to see my mug gurning into the lens, or the same shot repeated over and over, or both. So I try and keep it interesting, in an attempt to offset the fact that the write-up isn't. I thought I'd found a great shot next to the sewage farm: endured the pong, and the above is what came out.

Anyway. The young lady below was hanging around outside my front gate. She doesn't look particularly worn, but she was tired. Bees wear themselves out. An easy way to tell how old they are is to look at the leading edge of the wings. If they're frayed she won't be around much longer, and they tend to die where they fall.

Ride home I was on it. Best pace yet. Moving into Herts pace territory, with hills and evreefink.

23°c. Bit warm, light breeze.

Lovely day.

 

[Markybeau]

This ain't no disco...

Yesterday's picture today!

Went back and shot it again. On reflection yesterday's was probably better.

The temperature was up another degree this afternoon, a balmy 24°c. Pace was up another notch too. On one road section, of about a mile and a half, I can hold off following cars until we hit a 40 limit. I think my fitness is reaching a similar level to mid-summer last year, although the mileage is considerably less.

Elevation change of 347 feet. 7 miles in just under 29 minutes. At the moment I simply don't have time for greater adventures.

 

[Markybeau]

This ain't no fooling around...

Today's ride is brought to you by Stinging Nettles. Brushed across the thigh, it'll nearly put you in the river!

Pace is not a fluke. Even though the commute is a relatively short sprint it's becoming easier.

This morning took a bit of winding up. I was nearly at work by the time I'd warmed up.

Take me to the river
Drop me in the water . On second thoughts, this is the Don. Better not.

18 - 22°c and grey skies all day, with a lukewarm breeze.

 

[Markybeau]

Much stronger breeze this morning. It cost me over a minute and a half - wow. God forbid I admit to being tired.

This week has been rather splendid weather wise. Hope it continues...

The cycle commute paradox. A longer journey that makes for a shorter day.

Morning view towards Mexborough Low Lock.


Don riverbank towards Cadeby. Went out again later for this as the sunset was stunning.
Temperature same as yesterday 18-22°c, but sunny.

 

[slackboy]

Work has been hectic this past week so not much chance to get out. Did manage to get an impromptu picnic one lunchtime - we have a nice stream about 2 miles from the house so grabbed the retro messenger bag and bikes and headed out for an hour in the sun

 

[rwm1962]

Just the usual commute along the Derwent valley & up Spen Burn but took my time as weather so good.

 

[longun]

Spent the day moving my sister and family into their new house, went home for 3, the wife is away on the peaks and the youth is at her friends for a sleep over so I decided to go to the woods and do some jumps and berms and rimmers haha. Good couple of hours out the house and not doing work, fixing van's, home improvements etc. Might go back tomorrow ......or leeds.....or local...

 

[CassidyAce]

Most of the cats that you meet on the street speak of true love
Most of the time, they're sittin' and cryin' at home

But not me; I got going out the front door. About 24 degrees, light breeze, beautiful day. Across Canterbury, first: Your typical city involved in a typical daydream. And then to Fordwich, past this pond, where a couple of dragonflies were dancing around each other:


Across the country miles and wide open spaces after that:


To the Grove Ferry, a pub and picnic site, with a spot of boating:


And from there, over more country lanes to the village of Hillborough:


And to the seafront at Hillborough, where I had a drink and a piece of cake. The bench is new, with flowers, photos and a dedication to a recently deceased lady. The photos showed a kind-faced woman and the dedication revealed that she was a youngest sister; born after me, died before me. I guess they can't revoke your soul for tryin'. Perhaps she enjoyed the view from this spot. I did.


From there, it was down to the seafront, which was increasingly busy with bikers, barbecues and first world bellies the further I went:





Looking back towards Herne Bay:


By this stage, I was keen to get home, so I didn't stop for any more photos.
Whoa, Whoa baby, back where I belong
Back home, sit down and patch my bones

I stuck to the seafront all the way to Whitstable, then turned inland and went over the Crab and Winkle Way back home. There's a short but steep hill at the Whitstable end and, as I was going up, I passed some kids going down who shouted encouragement at me in a good-natured way, in between puffing on a joint that you could smell for about 100m. Young people get a hard rap but I doubt if their joint will cause as much harm as the middle-aged obesity on the seafront will.

It was a beautiful day, and a varied ride.

Sometimes the light's all shinin' on me
Other times, I can barely see
Lately, it occurs to me
What a long, strange trip it's been

With apologies to the Grateful Dead (but I've been enjoying the reissue of American Beauty).

I hope Fairfax Pat would be pleased with the way his thread is continuing.

@rwm1962 That is a beautiful commute.