Had a cheeky weekend off this week so thinking of planning something good for this weekend coming, just hope this lovely weather hangs about for a while yet.
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Had a cheeky weekend off this week so thinking of planning something good for this weekend coming, just hope this lovely weather hangs about for a while yet.
Ben, I'm envious! We've had crap weather here and I really miss being on my bike :(. This past weekend we had yet another bad storm blow through -- first rain, then freezing rain, then ice pellets, then snow, then 100 to 110 km/hr winds. If you heard about the ice tsunami that happened on Lake Erie, that's not far from here. Now it's back to -16C and we're getting another 15cm snow later today. Everything is covered in a sheet of ice, so I can't even go hiking or trail running. Arrrgh! I would post this in the Crap Weather for February thread, but I think the guys there are getting tired of me one-upping them on their moaning about "bitterly cold temps of +3C"....Ha!
Enjoy the ride! :D
Rolling tracks and fields !!!Quote:
Originally Posted by Zoidburg
Sounds like a nice days ride to me.
Been there and done it and live in Andover not too far from the start.
PM me when planning and I’ll give you some tips.
Ive ridden all the long distance tracks in this area but a serious motorbike accident and more recent heart problems have curtailed my activities to a significant degree. Still manage to get out but only short rides now.
South Downs is a great ride or run but plan carefully to make things easier for yourself. On a good day it’s beauty takes away the pain but cold wind and rain can make it awful - wet chalk track is about the worst surface you can encounter especially on exposed high ground.
Consider your start and finish planning carefully and think about a backup plan in case of mid route “issues”
Mel
God that weather sounds terrible mate, I hope I clears up for you soon and you can get out & moving again.Quote:
Originally Posted by Svend N
Hi Mel,Quote:
Originally Posted by Cycleallday
thanks for the message mate, definitely some good points to think about. I really have everything crossed already for decent weather on our trip as ive heard it can be a bit of a nightmare in the wet.
I think we have most of it covered but I must admit to not having a "back up plan" sorted as yet. We will be taking spare inner tubes and tools and a 1st aid kit just in case of course and a good part of the route isn't a million miles away from various family members so at least we have that to fall back on.
At present we have a B&B booked in Winchester the night before so we are aiming to get a relatively early start on the first day (7am ish) and since the last day should only be a 20 miler I will be looking at train times from Eastbourne to suit.
Yeah, it's been a crap winter here. We honestly don't mind the snow and cold, but it's when the freeze-thaw happens, or there is freezing rain, that all the snow on the ground turns to ice and one can't do anything outdoors. We've had a lot of that this winter.Quote:
Originally Posted by Zoidburg
But the weather is perfect today, so finally a break from being shut in. 20cm snow yesterday covered all the ice, so a hike in the woods with a camera is in order after work today. Sunny and -3C. Bliss! Should be able to go skiing this weekend too, and conditions look to be ideal.
Hope you make it out again on your bike. I enjoy looking at your pictures.
All the best,
Svend
Cheers dude, weather so far looks OK for Sunday so il hopefully be out & over to North Wales for the day.Quote:
Originally Posted by Svend N
So at last the weather has sorted itself out and I was able to get out again yesterday morning.
I'd been thinking about North Wales for a while as its only 40 mins from home and "on paper" it seemed like it would offer perfect mtb training for me.
I'd already bought an os map and done some online research for routes but was feeling a bit intimidated with the thought of getting lost in the middle of no where so decided to head to moel famua as we'd been walking there month or 2 back.
Moel Famau*(or Moel Fama)*is the highest hill within the*Clwydian Range, formerly Flintshire Range, on the boundary between*Denbighshire*and*Flintshire*in Wales. The hill, which also gives its name to the Moel Famau*country park, has been classed as an*Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty*since 1985. It is also surrounded by several well-preserved*Iron Age hill forts.
Parking in the lower car park I set off on a random trail I wasn't really expecting to get to the top but almost an hour later I found myself at the summit after the last 200m of pushing swearing and generally looking like a mess!!
I then followed another track down the backside of the hill which took me on a long sweeping route back towards the car park through some great gravel fire tracks.
I rode for 3 hours almost mainly on the fire tracks which proved to be perfect training ground, lots of long gradual hills followed by more steep hills and the more steeper hills lol. But I was pleased to feel that my legs are strong and my fitness seems to be improving with less recovery needed between the hills. I guess the crossfit classes are helping there.
My phone app messed up and lost connection repeatedly so my overall mileage seems low but I put a good shift in. Il be back there next weekend for more of the same I think.
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That looks like a fun ride out , Any stops for Coffee ?
I only took a few essentials with me like a flapjack and soft drink.Quote:
Originally Posted by Audio Al
My next ride will be longer and take in a pit stop for lunch I think
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Damn -- some long hills there Ben. Good on ya for slogging it to the top. Looks like some chunky stuff on a few of the trails too....you're getting close to singletrack terrain there :). Beautiful area too. Thanks for posting that - always fun to see your pics.
Best,
Svend
Thanks mate [emoji106][emoji106][emoji106]Quote:
Originally Posted by Svend N
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Just came across this and had a quick read through. South Downs way has 10,000 feet of climbs, we used to ride it in a day back a few years, organised event that's on every year. Some long climbs and descents can be dicey if it's wet, chalk is as slippery as a slippery thing. Not preaching but seat height is best done sitting on the saddle, heel of your foot on the pedal with leg straight is perfect. When you then put the ball if your foot on the pedal your knee will be slightly bent. Tyre pressures off road under 30psi or you will suffer less grip on the front and uphill on the back. I now use 2.8 plus tyres and run about 17psi. Tubeless is the way to go. Less rolling weight and unless you gash the tyre you won't know when you get a puncture.
Got a few days off this week so dragged my road bike out the garage where its sat unused for almost 3 years.
I've treated it to a new set of tyres, the widest touring rubber that would fit on it (28s) instead of the pure race 21 ultimos it had on, mainly to give it a bit of a softer ride hopefully.
It's had a full clean and de grease of all the drive chain and ive lubed it up and made sure it all works as it should.
I've just been round the block on it and it feels a bit odd, tiny and light but sooo quick. I'm off to the gym on it later which is about a 15 mile round trip. Nothing really but will be a bit more of a shake down.
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nice bike but that saddle is just a razor blade :stalks:
As is the way with these things I've also given the Mrs bike a once over as she wants to put some miles on it with me. I changed the tyres to a set of cyclocross hoops so she can do canal toe paths and the odd dirt track too.
Tomorrow I'm out over to North Wales again on my mountain bike with the hope of finding a good route of 30 miles or there about, got to get plenty of hills in again. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...824f284146.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...2ef8a7e169.jpg
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It's actually not grant, it's pretty wide compared to a lot of them!Quote:
Originally Posted by struth
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Wouldn't mind another bike. Not ridden since I was pushing sixty, but my legs and lungs still function and I could certainly use the exercise.
Something with a nice vintage Claude Butler or Freddie Grubb frame would appeal. Flat bars though, hate drops.
My dad's got a lovely Roberts framed bike he put together a few years ago.
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more like it :eyebrows:
I'd rather have a sore arse than have that on my bike!
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sorry i spoke
I'm only kidding mate
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Pleased with today's little outing, only 25k total but was split up by an hour of crossfit at the gym.
I'd forgotten just how fast feeling a road bike is, even with the slightly wider tyres it's still v v nimble and has a great turn of pace. On the downside it's deffo harder going on my lower back and I was starting to feel a bit of a niggle with it towards the end.
Things to note, I think I need some new brake pads on it as they felt weak, and the gears could do with some fine adjustment too.
Still 25k bike, 4k run, 60 box step ups and 50 9kg wall balls isn't too bad going.
Il enjoy tonight's bbq slightly more for it I know that! https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...78bf5bd834.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...b17b3935f7.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...aaffd40ef3.jpg
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Out again early this morning over to moel famau in North Wales.
Expanded my horizons a bit and found a fairly challenging 20 mile loop.
Plenty of hills that's for sure, I had to push in a few spots here and there.
According to my strava I improved in a couple of sectors from a few weeks ago, so I'm really pleased with that.
Only 5 more weeks till outmr big challenge so got to step it up more for the next few weeks before tapering it off. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...c3384bd924.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...15755136d0.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...7b3652bdf8.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...cf2ff0e74f.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...611ee565a1.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...460311bf76.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...ef9e5220c1.jpg
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Don't the local council object to you leaving a brown trail everywhere you go :doh:
Like your style Ben and hats off to you.
When you started the thread i thought it was a case of getting back on the bike but you've properly covered miles on good wheels and been to some lovely spots in the process - excellent !
Cheers mate, you know what I've really been enjoying myself in the process, way more so than I expected when I bought the bike back at the start of the year.
Actually getting out into the countryside is really enjoyable, it's a challenge too. There's something quite special standing at the top of a big hill surveying the route up thinking "I've done that, what's next".
I've somehow managed to string together a couple of months worth of regular cycling and crossfit sessions twice a week and and feel like I'm in a relatively decent shape to take on the south downs way in a months time.
Current thinking is "BRING IT ON" [emoji16][emoji16]
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:thumbsup:
North Wales again but only managed 26k, the hills got the better of me this morning I think.
I was out on the trail by just after 9am and it was warm even then, I could of gone further but played it safe, didn't want to overdo it in the sun as I forgot any factor 20.
Still it all helps, and I clocked another couple of PBs too. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...2308f541ff.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...fe1c78f870.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...4fd8845036.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...ae32e19d5d.jpg
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So beautiful, tranquil and natural
Long weekend to the seaside.
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Been putting a few more miles in this week, Thursday night I met up with the local mtb club for one of their evening rides. I enjoyed it but the pace was pretty quick and the tight twisty single track through closely packed woods wasn't really my thing.
Caught the train over to Delamere forrst again today and spent a few hours looping round the tracks there. Pleased with my fitness, my legs feel strong but I do slightly fear 3 full days of riding still [emoji16]
Highlight of today was sighting a buzzard swooping around the trail I was riding before perching in a tree. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...10b79f0f10.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...e31afde12e.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...642977b9c2.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...c61ee2dd0d.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...db0f0e6caa.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...03e89c157b.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...22bab77687.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...e82db99130.jpg
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Ben,Quote:
Originally Posted by Zoidburg
These routes seem perfect for riding.
Ivo
Cheers mate, Im lucky in that I have north Wales on my door step which certainly has it fair share of mtb routes on offer. Delamere is closer and also has plenty to explore too but is not quite so wayward.Quote:
Originally Posted by Primare
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Well it's almost here, I'm now only 10 days away from the big trip. I'm slightly crapping it still but there's no escaping it lol.
Today is probably my last long ride before the trip, il get out again in the week for a few miles here and there just to keep my legs moving but won't be more than another 20 k max overall I guess.
This mornings route was very pleasant, I just rode following my recently downloaded OS map app. This was really helpful for finding new paths, tracks and the like, and I was surprised how much off road I managed to find, I road tracks, across farm fields (foot paths) bridle ways, canal toe paths, though a couple of lovely parks and finished off along the edge of the mersey.
40 miles overall today, pretty flat really but nice to get the miles in if not the hills.
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Had a nice little bimble out tonight, nothing serious just wanted an hour out on the bike seeing its been so nice today. Gave me a chance to tyr out some new gravel / hard pack tyres too. If the forecast is looking dry next week il run with them I think. They have just enough off road grip for dry conditions I recon but will prob be terrible on wet grass etc, so things could get interesting real quickly lol
Really I'm just counting down the days until the south downs way now. Il probably get out over the weekend for 25k and hopefully get for a swim too but mainly I'm all done training now I think.
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Day one of our Winchester to Eastbourne ride is in the bag, and boy that was certainly an eye opener for all of us.
Full write up to follow but after setting off at 6.30am we limped into the pub B&B at about 4.30pm after 72k of ridiculous hill after hill [emoji16]. It was certainly challenging.
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Looks like you are in the Petersfield area? About 10 miles from me.
We stayed in duncton last night which was lovely, the pub was great (the cricketers).
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Bowled over by the pub Ben ?. Good luck with the rest of the trip and don't even think about how tough tomorrow will be ;)
Day 2 is now over and we've just had a nice evening meal and a few beers. Today was probably the easier of the 2 days but I had to drop off the route and jump on a train for the 2nd half of it.
I expected my legs to be tired or my bum to be too sore but after 35k my lower back started to give some real gyp. Herniated a disk a few years ago and it was telling me I'd done a bit too much.
So I'm a bit disappointed not to have fully complete today but on the other hand il be fresher for the final 20 miles tomorrow.
The few photos below really don't do the countryside justice, it's stunning, and with the weather we have had its been pretty much perfect.
I can't emphasis just how hilly its been though, nothing prepared me for it, and both days have included a fair bit of pushing [emoji16]
Onwards to the finish line tomorrow now! https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...bed5f96444.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...8c9eb60e7e.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...b2162c06b0.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...b62328eeb1.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...d0d28b6332.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...5fd64669d9.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...58e1003626.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...107d6b7996.jpg
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Thanks mate!Quote:
Originally Posted by tapid
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It's the day after the day after and I'm still basking in a post achievement glow of some sort.
Over 3 days I managed just shy of 85 miles and about 8000 ft of climbs. My legs are still a bit stiff now even after a session of acupuncture yesterday and really I could do with a good stretching session still.
The 3 days we had riding together was pretty much perfect, the weather was great, hot in places but usually there was plenty of breeze about to keep it pleasant. We met loads of walkers and cyclists, most happy to chat for a few minutes about the route and the ride.
I'm still laughing to myself about the hills, they were many, they were steep, and when you thought you'd got to the top usually you were just a turn away from another and another and another.
Mainly though it was just a joy to be out laughing and riding in the sun with my 2 brothers, away from work and pretty much carefree. Life don't get much better than that.
What's next? Well we talked a lot as we rode along and there's a few ideas floating about. Coast to coast was mentioned more than once but that will require a lot more training and possibly a new bike [emoji16].
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Almost ready to start the weekend
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Cool, where you off to?Quote:
Originally Posted by Primare
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To a small village in Pirin mountain, Bulgaria.
Already arrived. Ready to nap.
Earlier today.
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Along the seaside
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