Well today, I set off into the rain. Didn't thonk it was set in, but it took about five miles to fizzle out, not that there was too much intensity to it. It did keep trying to make another appearance, but it never threatened an intensity where you would have to man up. The air didn't seem as thick today either.

Once again the ride I'd planned to do didn't happen as loada of new roadworks had sprung up which looked as if they were causing delays. So I just rode abuut quite locally doing what in my mind was a mini Flanders classic, lots, well three or four, of little kicker hills. Managed to getmy forty miles in without even getting as far as Tibshelf.

That's July's cycling done for me now, got in 725 miles with 47,000 feet of climbing.

https://www.strava.com/activities/19528281572

Quote from: David L on July 30, 2026, 01:29:02 PM

Quote from: The Picnic Wasp on July 30, 2026, 01:15:17 PMI wondered if it was time for a UK drought thread. Considering this country suffers from severe flooding regularly and we're surrounded by sea, I thought it might be worth discussing possible engineering options.

De-salination plants are the obvious answer along with half a dozen new reservoirs. Of course, the issue is that the privatised water companies refuse to spend their investor's, owner's and director's money on meeting their responsibilities.

And also the fact that people would like new reservoirs, but when it is suggested that are placed where they like to drive out and walk their dogs the NIMBY warriors burst into life.

Seems like it's getting harder. Might be a weather thing, I noticed a local rider who I follow on Strava said that for his ride yesterday the air felt heavy - and it did and it did again today - and he's just back from riding in France. Just felt like more effort to do anything yet the power meter was as normal.

Anyhow, enough moaning, for a couple of seconds, as I did my slowest time of the year - out of three - up to Barlow Grange. Should get quicker as the year goes on, but looking at it the wind direction has been more against me every time. That's it, blame the wind.

Yes, the wind that in the BBC forecast was a gentle breeze most certainly wasn't. It is now, but it wasn't when I was on the road. The wind even led me to get a PB on a segment on the way back. I'd have been even quicker, but a load of flying straw bits from a field being harvested got stuck in my throat and made me cough. It's a hard life.

Got my forty miles in though, that's all I wanted.

https://www.strava.com/activities/19514300824

Got the new week off to a start today. After feeling good on Sunday it felt like a slog today, I think it was a change from a WNW to a SW wind that did it, got more of a cross tail wind on Sunday, more of a cross headwind today. It started warming up a bit as well.

I had planned on heading out to Baslow and the Peak District today, but finding that roadworks had sprung up in Baslow changed my plans. Now it's the Summer holidays it can get snarly round there at the best of times so better avoided, you get too many folk wanting to come by as soon as the lights change.

So as ever when changing plans I headed out to Tibshelf - and beyond - managing to vary the way by taking a bit of road I'd never ridden before. Which was nice, if a bit uphill.

Plenty of other people out on bikes today, normally don't see so many out that way. Maybe they'd decided to avoid Baslow too. Once again another 40 miles.

https://www.strava.com/activities/19499345803

After the Lord Mayor's show comes the Tour de l'Ain.

And stage one of three was won by plucky young Brit Noah Hobbs of EF Procycling. Pity the Visma development team didn't have a space for his brother Henry. Jonathan Milan's brother Matteo came in  fourth.

Top Five Stinkers:

1. Tai Shan
2. Bravest Face
3. Wish Them Well
4. Freeze
5. High Water

It's hard, after Signals there's an awful lot of stench.

Quote from: captainkurtz on July 28, 2026, 01:54:55 PM

Quote from: Thenop on July 28, 2026, 10:07:20 AM

Quote from: captainkurtz on July 28, 2026, 09:32:22 AMSnakes and Arrows

The whole album then?

Yes, the only good thing about it was that we got a UK tour out of it.  Second set was a real slog with all those songs from S&A one after another...

And I saw that bloody tour six times!!!!
Only time I've ever gone for a beer during a show.

Quote from: Thenop on July 28, 2026, 10:07:20 AM

Quote from: captainkurtz on July 28, 2026, 09:32:22 AMSnakes and Arrows

The whole album then?

Certainly work with Vapid Trials

The Lovell Observatory at Jodrell Bank could close because of Government cutbacks. 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5y6r9rdxygo

Cut welfare not Science.

I think that for all Pogi's superhumanness, he's still going to be a bit knackered after three weeks. MvdP did a lot of sitting at the back in the last few stages.


I've seen this morning that Mads Pedersen is doing the Vuelta, that's the Maillot Verde sorted! Unless of course Pogi enters and wins it from stage wins.

Well, that was unusual, well, unusual for the last few weeks. It rained. I was hoping to get another 30 miles in to get to my cyclingest ride of the year setting out at 14:30 so I could see the last stage of the tour.

Well, 14:30 which was the time by which the rain should have stopped was rainier than at any other time of the day. It also looked on the rainfall radar that there was a conveyor belt of showers heading my way. Bum.

However, at three they started melting away so, nearly an hour late I managed to get out and I managed to get my 30 miles in. I also burned round my parcours in my probable fastest average speed of the year. It was helped by a semi favourable wind on the way out, but which was a semi unfavourable one on the way back. Luckily although the Tour stage has started they were still pissing about and not racing properly. Result.

https://www.strava.com/activities/19475317316

And in winning the Green Jersey, Mads has only managed two top five stage finishes,he was monstering the intermediate sprints.

That was some finish!

Was hoping Pogi could win in yellow, not to be, but good day for MvdP just holding on. Mads Pedersen up there for third.

MvdP completely spent.

Quote from: David L on July 25, 2026, 10:08:11 PM

Quote from: Nickslikk2112 on July 25, 2026, 08:44:10 PMWishbone Ash - Argus

Khemmis - Deceiver

Rosalie Cunningham - Rosalie Cunningham

How good is Argus?

It's alright.

Quote from: dom on July 25, 2026, 08:56:21 PMWhat a mad stage, 5000m of climbing, takes me 3 months to do that.

Move to Derbyshire, takes me about six days