Last Night’s Bike Ride
In another motivational aberration brought on by the #June100 Challenge, I had pasta alfredo early last night, got changed and snuck (is that the past tense of sneak?) a quick hour on the Focus Fat Boy before the 9pm watershed.
My favourite loop is about 7.5 miles, to Hollingworth Lake and back along the Rochdale Canal. That’s not far enough, except as an excuse for tea and cake up at t’Lake.
If I go via Milnrow, it raises to 9.3 miles or so. Tantalisingly close to double figures. So my last couple of rides have included an extra lap round the Lake to get me over 10 miles.
Last night, I took a detour at the beginning of my ride, along a tarmac farm road between Firgrove Playing Fields and then alongside a brook that runs towards Milnrow. Anything to avoid the main road, which is as dull as The Daily Politics on BBC1. Combined with 2 laps of Hollingworth Lake, this added up to a slightly more useful 11.41 miles, which brought me in at 57 minutes with tired legs. Ideal!
The only downside was that it was quite gusty, so my maximum speed pedalling on the big ring down the hill, away from the Lake was a bit pants.
Average Speed 11.9 mph
Maximum Speed 24.9 mph
Ascent/Descent 370 m
Calories Burned 753
Have a look at the route here if you fancy:
I can remember ‘that lake’ from the PBW. I stopped there twice for ice cream; and very nice they were too! It was also the start of the most horrible uphill i’ve ridden all year.
Follow Rakewood road around the lake and under the M62. The path is reasonably level for a while but then it doubles back on it’s self and starts to climb all the way up to Saddleworth Moor.
Ha ha yes I know exactly where you mean, I got as far as the double-back and then double RIGHT back and went home!
The blog post about it is here:
Ha ha yes, I remember exactly where you mean. I went as far as the double-back once, and doubled RIGHT back and went home!
I blogged it briefly at :
This post
Yet another sneaky pedal eh? WTF is going on? Anyone would think you’re competitive…
Me? Competitive? Noooooo.
I’m not competitive either
That’s two us then
Phill: Ahemm does Louise know you had a quick hour on the
“Focus Fat Boy” before the watershed my mind doth boggle or to much time on me hands maybe
John: No ure just a legend
Oi! I’m less competitive than you lot!
I’m bloody competitive, but broken.
Moonwalking Bear, since Louise is Joby’s wife, I don’t think she’d mind much.
Clive, No way, I’m much less competitive than you.
Riding, get well soon – but not too soon
I’m going to dope myself up tomorrow morning and go for a ride..
Yesterday’s drive to Wakefield and back was quite painful.
I’ll be out on Sunday with my daughter too, so hopefully close to 20 miles over the weekend.. Shoulder and weather permitting
Yeah Phill anything that keeps Joby away has got to a bonus matey
Jon, good man. Seriously though, be careful. Overdoing it with my knackered ribs was, with hindsight, a mistake. 20 miles-ish should be ok though as long as you don’t go off any big drops. I’ve got Sat free so I can do a little then, once my DIY list is all ticked off.
TMWB I’m keeping quiet on the Joby’s missus front now. Could be dangerous ground
the weekend was a bit of a failure cycling wise. I managed to ride down to Ashworth Valley, up to The Egerton Arms as once was and then back down to Norden Rd via Jowkin Lane.
Had no energy in my legs whatsoever so I decided not to do anymore rides this weekend.
I’m hoping to get a gentle ride in this evening..
Sometimes the legs give up don’t they? That’s why I made sure I didn’t go out on Sunday. Even stairs were a challenge in a 3 storey home!
I had that problem yesterday too.. Stairs to upstairs had become very steep!
Like Hogwarts? But real, obviously.
Like what?
remember I live in my own little bubble so i’ve no idea what you’re on about..
Ha ha, it’s not important, I haven’t even read the Harry Potter books. I think I saw one of the films once.