Today's Ride

al-onestare · Jun 17, 2021

Another quick 10 mile blast before playing Kofi Anan, peace-keeping between a pedantic window installer and a non-existent builder. Slight breeze, 12 degrees only rising to 13 by 07:30. Glimpses of blue sky, a lot of fast moving cloud cover.

Took in a few small diversions to continue the explorations. Some worked, some didn't, it's all good and riding single-speed always gets the legs and lungs pumping. Another shot looking over to Cape Cornwall and Wolf Rock lighthouse, from near the top of Kenidjack valley. Nice drop on both sides, probably not worth attempting on any bike

Looking to the week ahead, we still won't break the 20 degree barrier but stranger things have happened...

Markybeau · Jun 17, 2021

@al-onestare. Splendid views Al. You've shown us many vistas recently that take much more than a moment to appreciate fully. Thank you. Keep them coming.

This morning it was raining heavily. The forecast didn't look particularly good. I left in the car and it stopped 5 minutes later. Serves me right for pussying out.

So here is yesterday's ride instead.

The ginnell (or snicket, indeed whichever colloquialism you prefer) behind Swinton Station. Yep, I really need to have a think about alternative route options... To the left is the station: and the right is Waddington's boatyard.

Today should have been more of the same.
98 is all I have available at the moment but it's been faultless.

17°c in the morning, which was nice.
27°c coming home, getting a little uncomfortable.

CassidyAce · Jun 17, 2021

Markybeau said:
@al-onestare. Splendid views Al. You've shown us many vistas recently that take much more than a moment to appreciate fully. Thank you. Keep them coming.
. . .

Totally agree. I'm starting to think he's a secret agent sent to infiltrate Retrobike by the Cornish Tourist Board. Looks amazing!

hookooekoo · Jun 17, 2021

I went for another thrash this evening on the newly rebuilt retro mountain bike. Fortunately with all the dry weather the trails were almost completely dry. I hate to muddy it up when it's all still so shiny. Maybe I will just ride it in summer, and stick to road bikes the rest of the year, although I'd feel like a bit of a fraud, and not a 'real' mountain biker. I started off with exploring a couple of trails that are round the back of my house. Although I've lived in the same place for years, I never bothered finding out where these trails went. Then I went to the main park, which is huge, and is considered to be one of the largest city parks in Europe. I did a bit of fairly tame riding first, then decided to try a few of the trails that lead away from the main lakeside trail. I've walked around the lake loads of times, but never found out where any of these trails go. I thought there wouldn't be much to ride on away from the main lakeside trail, but quickly found that the trails above the lake are like a rabbit warren, with numerous trails branching off all over the place. And with all the tree cover, and a heavily overcast sky, the trails seemed almost as dark as a rabbit warren too. As I climbed higher up the hillside above the lake, picking trails to follow at random, I discovered a beautiful, ornate, bird-cage style trellis, quietly rusting away in its secret little corner. There were what I think are rhododendrons growing nearby, so evidently this part of the park had been landscaped and planted before it became a public park. Then I strayed into the neighbouring golf course and cycled around the edge of some of the fairways before looking for a route back into the park. I followed one trail, but it was so narrow and overgrown I turned back and looked for a better route. A little further along I encountered two young lads on MTBs coming the other way, so I knew I'd found a half decent route back into the park. I finished my circuit of the lake, cycled up to the folly and the smaller lake, then rode home.

hookooekoo · Jun 17, 2021

al-onestare said:
Another quick 10 mile blast before playing Kofi Anan, peace-keeping between a pedantic window installer and a non-existent builder. Slight breeze, 12 degrees only rising to 13 by 07:30. Glimpses of blue sky, a lot of fast moving cloud cover.

Took in a few small diversions to continue the explorations. Some worked, some didn't, it's all good and riding single-speed always gets the legs and lungs pumping. Another shot looking over to Cape Cornwall and Wolf Rock lighthouse, from near the top of Kenidjack valley. Nice drop on both sides, probably not worth attempting on any bike

Looking to the week ahead, we still won't break the 20 degree barrier but stranger things have happened...

Wow! Great place to ride! It looks like the sort of riding where the trail gets a bit gnarly when the rock is exposed.

reindeer · Jun 19, 2021

Reward for cycling at 32°

No, that's cream

Markybeau · Jun 19, 2021

Friday's ride.

And to round off the week: heavy rain.

Much craziness for the moment. I've lost my workshop space. It's being used to store a kitchen. I am limited to one bike. Far better than none. But I really could do with carrying out a bit of maintenance...

Much milder today 14°c this morning. Wasn't much more than that on the way home.

DrGooGoo · Jun 20, 2021

Spent the day racing around the city.

CassidyAce · Jun 20, 2021

Much of the day was spent babysitting a wee sproglet so it was 5.40 pm by the time I got out for a ride. I decided to ride to Wye, just because the distance suited the time available. No sunny beaches today. Grey skies and damp. 17 degrees, just under 24 miles.