Today's Ride

[al-onestare]

Last ride of the year in all likelihood as tomorrow we're planning to be off to Sydney for New Year's Eve / Day, so wanted to make it a good one. Even so, didn't get going until midday -- it was bright and dry, 23C with wind threatening to ramp up in the afternoon. Went off on the Kona Jake to see if the newly-mended rear wheel and general fettling would reveal its true qualities.

All was good climbing out of town on the tarmac and held up well through rolling countryside to the first gravel section. This has recently been graded, smoothing over the stones and corrugations, so it was a pleasure to race over a few kms' fast gravel -- but over the highest point we ran into the first of the breeze coming off the coast, right into our teeth. Stopped for a quick chat to a bloke who had pulled his ute over and was striding purposefully to where the dirt rejoins the highway. He declined my offer of help and I watched as he prodded his watch and set off up the road at a jog . . . miles from anywhere! I suspect a Strava segment bagger.

View attachment 912868

Another undulating gravel section, much rougher than the previous, took me through a nicely kept farming community and then onto a road which was barricaded with large 'road closed' signs -- the old wooden bridge further down is being replaced with concrete. Took the road anyway, enjoying the wind now at my back, until we reached the bridge works. Some consternation as the creek at this point is a good 10m wide and clearly pretty deep. Had to climb a fence and drag the bike over, giving myself a picturesque graze on the forearm in doing so.

View attachment 912870

Carried the bike a way downstream through a paddock until some stepping stones appeared and was then able to scramble up the other side to rejoin the road. It's great pedalling along a closed road, knowing you have it all to yourself -- we even surprised a Kestrel sitting on a fencepost and tucking into a field mouse.

View attachment 912869

Just a little more climbing and then it was all downhill back into town, going nicely with hardly any traffic. 40km, 450m climbing, no bike issues -- a nice close to a year which I started flat on my back with a leg in plaster and continued with seven weeks' inactivity with lower back trouble!

Happy new year to all you retro wronguns!

Great to see another Jake out and about, and no more issues with it

 

[al-onestare]

Before Christmas I had the pleasure of riding with Scott but this time off-road and around his manner up north. We were lucky weather-wise but it was still mighty damp and sloppy in places. A proper adventure ride for me, less so for him, given the terrain I have back at HQ. Much longer climbs but less steep. Much more mud and earth, less stone and jank. Still, it was treacherous in places and exceeded my skill and fear levels a few times I need to do more of this and I want to get better!

Looking back...

...looking up...there was a lot of that!

The highest point of the ride.

A touch windy and chilly hence Scott getting his layers back on. My old-skool thermals did the job...less so on deflecting water!

Added steam train whistles and smells - lovely stuff! Those were the windmills and hills we'd traversed earlier.

One last slog...

Made it! That's Manchester in the distance, looking more and more like an American city skyline.

Now a blast back on some skiddy cobbles

Crazy numbers for me, a bimble for him

Meanwhile my turbo trainer experience continues to keep me going and hitting new silly numbers. Well pleased with this mornings efforts.

Holding 600w for a minute was leg breaking but well worth it.

 

[Piotr]

Today was a last day this year for wet and mud perfect training, last circle.
Fantastic terrain. a lot of slippery mud .
About standard 40 km of good riding.
Kamikaze got what he deserved and what he was created for.



I wish you a Happy New Year and many nice rides

 

[Hombre]

last ride of the year today (I think I won't go anywhere in this year )

finally ideal temp just below freezing point, so no mud at all, great coverage of some misty fog, absolutely brilliant!

should we start a thread of 'bikes and fog'?

...and TBH I am very happy that the bad series of the past few winters seems to.... errr.... past. I enjoy riding again when it's cold outside.

 

[Joe_Rides]

@al-onestare - wow, that's my neck of the woods! You can now tell everyone how bl**dy hilly and muddy it is up this end

No photos for my last ride of the year (last night, 30th December) but it was an uneventful "urban" circuit of Bolton, 22 miles or so. Crucially it tipped my yearly miles to 1,502 which was my aim.

Happy New Year everyone,

Joe

 

[bikeworkshop]

should we start a thread of 'bikes and fog'?

No need!
There are Trees in all those photos
https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads/bikes-and-trees.485738/

 

[dorset boy]

Happy New Year. Thanks to all who like my rides and thankyou to those that post their rides. All my rides are on retro steel with a small amount on retro aluminium and all outdoors.Weather,it has been wet,mild and windy seem's the day's of very cold Winter's have gone down here ! This year's miles from my diary. Thank's

 

[Piotr]

Yesterday early morning I went shopping for bread for breakfast and I met this interesting bicycle.
As you can see, very neglected



I don't know where to find the right section for things found on the street

 

[CassidyAce]

Yesterday early morning I went shopping for bread for breakfast and I met this interesting bicycle.
As you can see, very neglected

View attachment 913545View attachment 913546View attachment 913547

I don't know where to find the right section for things found on the street

There'a a 'Retro bikes you saw V 2.0' thread: https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads/retro-bikes-you-saw-v-2-0.146905/.

 

[oligali]

Almost catching the sun today, whilst riding around the woods in the city with the Missus...
1:20 hrs and 18km with 500 m alt...and frozen toes!