Thanks Geoff for another great weekend riding your local roads. Some classic climbs as well as a few hidden gems as yet undiscovered by the sportive crowd. I’m sure Mike will spread the word so that we can persuade a few more of the Carlisle crowd to cross the Pennines. Thanks again.
So, Travis and Harley are up here cycling. Left them to their own devices to try some of my favourite routes. Doubt I could hang in with either of them these days. Hay fever has been bad here so that's my excuse. If the wind doesn't blow them away tonight I'll do a long rolling route with them tomorrow. Going to be mullered either way whether its the legs or hay fever. Hopefully not too windy and that the rain doesn't spoil it for us.
Well it wasn't just hayfever but a summer cold as well. Couldn't manage the long ride or any with them. Recovered enough to do a little ride with Mat Porter on sunday last. He'd been riding some of the 100 best climbs since the Friday and was a bit tired by sunday lucky for me. He's posted his weekend on Strava for those into it. Weather still glorious so went for a 90mile ride Wednesday. Managed 15mph so happy with that.
Sundays routeon 8th with Jeremy. https://www.mapmyfitness.com/routes/view/830252797 Two stops. 1st at Hurworth for coffee and cake and lunch at The Rusty Bike at Swainby. A proper cyclists cafe run by a cyclist. Good food. afternoon stop if needed at Scorton or Bolton on Swale for water or coffee.
What weather eh!!!! 94 miles and 5000ft at 15mph. I've never seen it so consistently hot except for 1976. Yorkshire dales are stunning in such conditions and no traffic. Saw 10 cars in the entire days ride.
Finally some rain and it has set in now. Nearly 8 weeks uninterrupted good weather saw several people up here to ride and I have regained my pre-crash form of last season. I've been averaging 150 miles per week and I am buzzing every chance I get to ride the hills. Still slower than many but it's a sheer joy to ride feeling this way. There will still be many opportunities this year to enjoy these hills so please don't be shy. You are most welcome to stay here and choose your routes in this countrys best cycling landscape. It was especially nice to see Mark and Stevie Wyer on their way back from a camping holiday in Northumberland. Bring bikes next time and see what we have to offer. I took the opportunity to walk them round a potential CX course I have in mind. Think they approved. Mark was thinking of getting a youth squad up for a cycling trip here. That would be most welcome.
today's ride......was fun and sunny if a tad windy. https://www.plotaroute.com/route/658476 I'm experimenting with single chainring set-up. Going to build me a lightweight bike with discs and 42 chainring with 11/36 sprocket. No need for front changer. (when I get some money) I did this route on a 42 12/30 setup on a steel bike so I think the new set-up will work for anything, even the Pyrenees. KISS principle back to basics and 10 gears.
yesterdays ride on a sunny day 82 miles 8800ft https://www.plotaroute.com/route/662208 did most of this on 42 12/30 cassette. Chose to use the 30 chain ring near the end as this is a lumpy route and wanted to spin. I think my idea of a 42 chain ring and 11/36 cassette will work fine.
hoping for a reasonable day tomorrow Doing this route with Jeremy. https://www.plotaroute.com/route/473179 two nice cafe stops St John's Chapel and Wolsingham Peggotys for lunch
back a short while ago. 82 miles and 8800ft climbing. We had a great ride and only one patch of rain heading into Weardale from Langdon Beck. A strong warm wind averaging 14mph and gusting to 20-30 soon dried us. Headwind and strong cross winds most of the return from Hamsterley. Was fun but am tired now. Jeremy going well and seems over the worst of his back problems. I reckon I am still 10% down on the fitness I had last year but still time to improve before the bad weather and nights close in. How are you?
We modified the end route yesterday. For anyone interested here is the new route https://www.mapmyfitness.com/routes/view/22035 78 miles 7500ft.....Jeremy's garmin showed 76 miles 8000ft. Av. 12.5mph Interesting difference between garmin, map my ride and Plotaroute. Whichever, it was hard and not very fast. About half the speed that the pro's race at. Scary.
been on driving duties last 2 weeks so no cycling........1800 miles logged and knackered. Going to watch Tour of Britain this Friday with Jeremy. Winlatter Pass will see them climbing twice so a good spot to watch. I'm driving over to Penrith and then we are cycling out to watch. Anyone interested is welcome to stay and I'll drive them and bike over. Should be a good day if you aren't thinking of riding to Wells
Seems like an age. Been struggling with some nasty recurring bug for 4weeks. Splitting headache and catarrh. Over the worst I hope
Out for a nice rolling ride to Osmotherley and Northallerton with Jeremy yesterday. 92miles 4500 ft at 14.5 mph av. Getting back after a long layoff.
very frustrating up here. The weather is generally fine and even quite warm, but the best days also have winds from 20-30mph and gusting. BBC weather calls this a moderate breeze. They should try cycling against it uphill!!!!!
Sunday 7th and out for a 97mile round trip to the north york moors. Had to contend with what the weather forcast called a moderate breeze!!!!!!! 19 mph for 50 miles but mostly cross. No rain but a little brisk. Last 5 miles was a nightmare gusting full headwind 30+mph. Only managed 13mph av. but pleased all the same. Not many more good days left this season I expect but good to get a ride in.
managed a quick 28 mile hilly reservoir ride on the 10th after loads of sheep work for Ann. Weather hasn't been too kind up here what with severe winds and some stormy stuff. Managed 3 hours on the track at Manchester Velodrome Saturday 13th. Thoroughly enjoyed riding the boards. Met up with Max before his impending trip to NZ. Been busy down south sorting property but back up here now. Great ride yesterday (24th) 54 miles in fine sunshine and 300ft climbing with a couple of stops for coffee. Nice easy end of season riding. No more s/s tops and shorts but with the right gear it is still possible to get a good ride in. Going to be shorter rides now the evenings are closing in so 40-60 miles rather than the 90-100milers. Looking forward to seeing some of you up here next year for training rides for Italian trip.
Not much chance of riding these days. Too wet,cold,misty or windy. I'll get out as and when the weather permits. Looks like it's going to be a tough start yet again next year to regain lost fitness. It's times like now I envy the milder conditions for cycling down south. Have fun everyone and seasons greetings.
Comments
Hay fever has been bad here so that's my excuse.
If the wind doesn't blow them away tonight I'll do a long rolling route with them tomorrow. Going to be mullered either way whether its the legs or hay fever. Hopefully not too windy and that the rain doesn't spoil it for us.
Weather still glorious so went for a 90mile ride Wednesday. Managed 15mph so happy with that.
Wednesday ride route: https://www.mapmyfitness.com/routes/view/21291
Glorious weather Sunday so joined Jeremy on a Teesdale/Weardale hilly route
Sundays ride route: https://www.mapmyfitness.com/routes/view/21340
Two stops. 1st at Hurworth for coffee and cake and lunch at The Rusty Bike at Swainby. A proper cyclists cafe run by a cyclist. Good food. afternoon stop if needed at Scorton or Bolton on Swale for water or coffee.
I've been averaging 150 miles per week and I am buzzing every chance I get to ride the hills. Still slower than many but it's a sheer joy to ride feeling this way.
There will still be many opportunities this year to enjoy these hills so please don't be shy. You are most welcome to stay here and choose your routes in this countrys best cycling landscape.
It was especially nice to see Mark and Stevie Wyer on their way back from a camping holiday in Northumberland. Bring bikes next time and see what we have to offer. I took the opportunity to walk them round a potential CX course I have in mind. Think they approved.
Mark was thinking of getting a youth squad up for a cycling trip here.
That would be most welcome.
https://www.plotaroute.com/route/658476
I'm experimenting with single chainring set-up. Going to build me a lightweight bike with discs and 42 chainring with 11/36 sprocket. No need for front changer. (when I get some money)
I did this route on a 42 12/30 setup on a steel bike so I think the new set-up will work for anything, even the Pyrenees. KISS principle back to basics and 10 gears.
https://www.plotaroute.com/route/662208
did most of this on 42 12/30 cassette. Chose to use the 30 chain ring near the end as this is a lumpy route and wanted to spin. I think my idea of a 42 chain ring and 11/36 cassette will work fine.
Doing this route with Jeremy. https://www.plotaroute.com/route/473179
two nice cafe stops St John's Chapel and Wolsingham Peggotys for lunch
How are you?
https://www.mapmyfitness.com/routes/view/22035
78 miles 7500ft.....Jeremy's garmin showed 76 miles 8000ft. Av. 12.5mph
Interesting difference between garmin, map my ride and Plotaroute.
Whichever, it was hard and not very fast. About half the speed that the pro's race at. Scary.
Going to watch Tour of Britain this Friday with Jeremy. Winlatter Pass will see them climbing twice so a good spot to watch. I'm driving over to Penrith and then we are cycling out to watch. Anyone interested is welcome to stay and I'll drive them and bike over. Should be a good day if you aren't thinking of riding to Wells
Out for a nice rolling ride to Osmotherley and Northallerton with Jeremy yesterday. 92miles 4500 ft at 14.5 mph av. Getting back after a long layoff.
Managed 3 hours on the track at Manchester Velodrome Saturday 13th. Thoroughly enjoyed riding the boards. Met up with Max before his impending trip to NZ.
Been busy down south sorting property but back up here now.
Great ride yesterday (24th) 54 miles in fine sunshine and 300ft climbing with a couple of stops for coffee. Nice easy end of season riding.
No more s/s tops and shorts but with the right gear it is still possible to get a good ride in.
Going to be shorter rides now the evenings are closing in so 40-60 miles rather than the 90-100milers.
Looking forward to seeing some of you up here next year for training rides for Italian trip.
Looks like it's going to be a tough start yet again next year to regain lost fitness. It's times like now I envy the milder conditions for cycling down south. Have fun everyone and seasons greetings.