Today's Ride

[Frankenorange]

I would go postal if i lived up there where Totoro is. It is mostly main roads with just a few lanes dotted about. Bridleways and byways look a bit thin on the ground, too. I realise i am very lucky to be down on the border of Dorset, Somerset, and Wiltshire. On my midweek century this week i interacted with about 20 vehicles. Mostly cars, a couple of lorries and vans, and the bulk of that was on a short link through the edge of a small town. Very light for 3 1/2 hours riding and that was a high count for the rides i do.

 

[nic0]

Longest ride so far, I'm shocked how far some of you lot go. I know I can do more distance but I don't want to ride through busy towns so am still looking for good longer routes

I have no idea who Kev Harmon was but

View attachment 936815

https://kev-harmon-2021.muchloved.com/

 

[Totoro]

I would go postal if i lived up there where Totoro is. It is mostly main roads with just a few lanes dotted about. Bridleways and byways look a bit thin on the ground, too. I realise i am very lucky to be down on the border of Dorset, Somerset, and Wiltshire.

I love it here, I can do my favourite usual 12 loop while only using around 2 miles of main road? A few miles of my ride has no traffic at all, just hikers and other cyclist. I'm right in the middle of the countryside. I tend not to use the bridleways much though as they are busy with hikers and horse riders. The country lanes are a little thin though and the one I took yesterday (where I took the picture of the memorial bike) left very little room to even pass. Only thing here is that it's so bloomin hilly. I think I have found a good longer route but my being unfit is giving me the fear of some of the hills, although I am building up to it.

https://kev-harmon-2021.muchloved.com/

I think I remember this now, very sad indeed. I think it was near where the bike is, if its exactly where it is then there is very little room and I was surprised to see 3 vehicles use it while I was on it. Fairly tough climb with very little room to squeeze past oncoming, nothing came up behind me and there are a couple of passing places at least. Bloomin cars in the countryside

 

[db95]

Third try's the charm! Finally got a ride out on the Bianchi with no mechanical failures doing around 64km/30 miles with 660m/2165ft climbing. 12c and a slight breeze made a nice change from getting battered by the wind like we have for the last few weeks. Definitely took it on some routes it wasn't made for but all good fun, got my first Strava KOM too

 

[highlandsflyer]

That is definitely not smooth tarmac!

 

[Frankenorange]

I think I have found a good longer route but my being unfit is giving me the fear of some of the hills, although I am building up to it.

Taking your time to build up to things can be frustrating but it is worth it if you are starting from an unfit state. Also if you are 40+ ish then resting between efforts becomes more important as the years tick by.
I got back into cycling around 2017-18 after a break of 13 years. I had successfully become an overweight, 20-30 a day roll up smoker, and an alcoholic.
I spent a year or so doing 2-5 mile rides and then up to 10 and so on. I had to stop sooooooo many times in those early days to catch my breath and even after a few years i was still only good for 10-11mph avg speed. Thankfully it is all very different now and am in my mid 50's but i reckon i could give some younger people a run for their money!

Take your time and it stay injury free, enjoy the rides, and it will all be worth it. Setting goals is a good thing but make sure they aren't too heroic and don't get on a downer if your nemesis hill is still defeating you.

One day it won't and that will feel really good

 

[wynne]

Third try's the charm! Finally got a ride out on the Bianchi with no mechanical failures doing around 64km/30 miles with 660m/2165ft climbing. 12c and a slight breeze made a nice change from getting battered by the wind like we have for the last few weeks. Definitely took it on some routes it wasn't made for but all good fun, got my first Strava KOM too

Cracking work.
Every bike is a mountain bike!

 

[Piotr]

beautiful weather, so I went for a short ride after being sick...... it's good

 

[slackboy]

Lovely day fro a trip over the moors

 

[Mark Manley]

I took my Roberts Master Pro out for its first spin of the year, up to a friend's house for a cup of tea and a look out over this view.