Tag Archives: Rides

Early #Oct100 #Cycling Round Up

By 7 commentsCycling Challenges, Rides, , , , ,

Why So Early?

I know that October hasn’t quite finished yet.  It’s only the 31st as I write this.  But I was thinking…. it’s Monday, it’s quite warm out (in the UK at any rate) and there’s technically one more riding day until November… So maybe, just maybe, this article might push a few people out of the door tonight.

I’m also hoping that I might pressure myself into a final ride, as I’m about 16 miles short of the target for #Oct100.

How’s The #Oct100 Looking?

As at today, we’ve got 4,169 miles ridden in October by 25 cyclists, of which 3,423 was either outdoor leisure miles or time on the turbo trainer.

You can see the graph by clicking onto the Monthly Cycling Challenge page on this site and if you haven’t joined in yet, why not give it a whirl? There’s a wee form there, just fill it in to join or to ask me about it.

Worth A Mention:

Mental John Berry turned in his 10,000th mile of 2011 during the month, with over 1,000 miles in this month alone.  If that’s not worth a special mention, then what the hell is?

End Note

If you think you can, just pull the bike out, check it works and get on it.  You might only get round the block, you might notch up a 100 mile day like Mental John does some days.  But I promise you this: you will enjoy yourself.

Just get the bike out and ride it...

Get Your Bike Out.

So just do it. Tell ’em Phill sent you.

Riding Together? Whatever Next?

By 12 commentsRides, , ,

I’m Not Sure How To Deal With This…

Don’t get me wrong, I love my Other Half.  I love life at home. I love arriving back from work to the welcoming bosom of my family.

But there’s a slightly unnerving feeling when your OH says she wants to join you on the weekly bike ride… isn’t there?

Let me explain.

My Tuesday Night Autopilot Loop is as much a part of my weekly routine as Saturday morning lie-ins and Sunday night Match Of The Day 2.  I don’t so much compete against myself, but I do hammer it some nights in an effort to give my quads a beasting.

The solitude of the ride is a relaxing departure from the chaos and demands of normal daily life.  Come rain, shine, hail, wind, ice or snow, the routine of following a similar loop week-in-week-out gives me an enjoyable escape.

With a second rider, no matter how pretty or how scintillating the conversation, the experience will be… well… just different.

So What Am I Going To Do About It?

I’ll tell you exactly what I’m going to do.  I’m going to embrace the opportunity.  I’m going to enjoy the company.  I’m going to enjoy the experience of watching another rider’s experience increase and skills improve.  I’m going to have the sorts of conversations that only take place when two people are relaxed.

Then I’m going to find another night to go out on my own and ride fast. 😉

Are you with me?

What Mountain Biking Is About

By Rides, , , , ,

The Tale Of A Weekend Ride Resurrected

This weekend was my routine opportunity to build up a decent run to add onto the #Sep100 spreadsheet – and of course to enjoy the great outdoors.  Unfortunately circumstances conspired to make it impossible for me to get out on Saturday.

I won’t bore with you the details, but suffice to say that the following factors were involved: A fish; Some fungus; Rain; Work. Not necessarily in that order, or to scale.  I achieved a (not very impressive) total of marginally over 2 miles in a trip to the garden centre and back for essential supplies.

Hardly a long Saturday ride.

So, On Sunday…

… I was a bit antsy. We had plans for a houseful for late lunch so I thought I’d be stuck in all day.  My blessed Other Half perceived my angst, so she sent me off to play out on my bike.  I didn’t need to be asked twice. “Why don’t you have a couple of hours out on your bike while I sort this stuff out?” – “Ok, bye!” *whooosh*

I opted to try a new loop, climbing past Tandle Hills Country Park along Thornham Old Road (Thornham Lane) after a climb across to Royton.  I was really pleased with how the old legs held out, without needing a rest at all on the way up.  From the top of Thornham Lane it’s a great, grin-inducing descent to Slattocks.

From Slattocks, it’s less than mile alonf the towpath (avoiding the parallel main road) to Thornham New Road which leads back towards Royton.  I’d not ridden this lane before, and now I know why it’s not too busy:

 

Soggy Socks

Don’t Drive Up Thornham New Road!

 

At this point, I’d already ridden through three or four similar puddles but this was the deepest.  There was no option but to swallow hard, loosen up and keep pedalling. Thankfully there were no surprises lurking in the murk, so I got to the dry track unscathed and relatively dry.  My feet did get submerged as I pedalled but noting more unpleasant than that.

My Advice?

Don’t try riding the length of Thornam New Road unless it hasn’t rained for a week or more!

Having said that, I had a lovely 15 mile ride out, got lovely and muddy and cleared the cobwebs nicely.  Arriving home, refreshed and smiling, I hosed the bike (and my soggy shoes) down, went upstairs for a shower and prepared myself for my afternoon’s role as the gracious host.

You can see the route here, if you fancy a nosey.

Happy Days 🙂

What A July! Now What? #Jul100 #Aug100

By 6 commentsCycling Challenges, Rides, , , , ,

A Record-Breaking July (Almost)

OK, we didn’t break any records. Not really.  But, a couple of weeks ago I though we might do more miles in July than we’d done in June.  Bloody Hell!

The sun came out, we got our bikes out and we did some miles.  Boy, did we do some miles?!

As I write this on the first day of the #Aug100 there are 7,330 leisure (and turbo) miles on the spreadsheet, of 8,460 miles in total.  That’s more than any month except April, when the #30daysofbiking was in full swing.

What an awesome effort.  I’m humbled, and proud, and simply chuffed to be known to you all.  Superstars, you are.

New Members, Old Friends

During July, people like Lloyd at @cyclingnirvana and Craig at @fruitmeister have joined the fray, clocking up some serious mileage.  It’s great to have you along, guys! (If you want to say Hi, or if I’ve missed your name off, drop a comment below and make yourself known!)

Once again, Mental John Berry has topped the 1,000 miles for the month, winning whatever award I want to call it this month.  Let’s just call it the “Mental John Berry Award” from now on, shall we?  He’s a nutter.  He denies it, but he’s either lying or simply wrong.

Faithful friends like Matty, Jo Simcock and Chris Byrne have quietly pedalled away, chucking over 1,000 miles in between them.  You’re fantastic.

On a personal note, a modest 132 miles puts me in 26th place, but it’s 132 miles I know I wouldn’t have done without the peer pressure.  Month after month, I owe you all big thanks and probably a bunch of years on my life (but maybe off my knees) 🙂

Below you should see a graph of the current status.  Feel free to copy & paste to your own blogs or wherever you like.  Get some more people to join, why don’t you?  That’d be lovely!

Here’s a link to the spreadsheet, have a look!

Owd Betts For A Cuppa

By 2 commentsCycling Challenges, Photography, Rides, , ,

On Saturday, I had a couple of hours out in the sunshine on the Fat Boy, and a very pleasant couple of hours they were.

Getting across Rochdale was the least fun part, dragging through urban roads before the pull up from Spotland Bridge towards Norden.  Once climbing Owd Betts though, thoughts turned to stamina and gorgeous views.

I did stop for a rest on the way up, though.  It’s a steep old pull!  Nevertheless, I was pleased with myself after 7 miles to be enjoying a cuppa from the Granelli’s burger van opposite Owd Betts pub, gazing over Ashworth Moor Reservoir one way and up towards Knowl Hill the other.  After a brief chat with a bloke who was testing his new 250cc CBR on a nice afternoon run out (he’d got rid of a Ducati for it), I headed back home, but not before the fun and swooping descent of Ashworth Road.

My knees complained a bit afterwards, but I didn’t!

Oh yeah, the ride also pushed me over the 100 miles for the month.  That’s #Jul100 done! Hurrah 🙂

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