Getting back into cycling

[Zoidburg]

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.

[Svend N]

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!

[Cycleallday]

No it's all off road, I'm not sure what you call it exactly but from what I've seen on YouTube the route looks like rolling tracks & feilds.

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Rolling tracks and fields !!!

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

[Zoidburg]

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!

God that weather sounds terrible mate, I hope I clears up for you soon and you can get out & moving again.

[Zoidburg]

Rolling tracks and fields !!!

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

Hi Mel,

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.

[Svend N]

God that weather sounds terrible mate, I hope I clears up for you soon and you can get out & moving again.

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.

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

[Zoidburg]

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.

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.

[Zoidburg]

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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[Audio Al]

That looks like a fun ride out , Any stops for Coffee ?

[Zoidburg]

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.

My next ride will be longer and take in a pit stop for lunch I think

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