Cycling 2026

[Nickslikk2112]

Today, I more or less repeated last Thursday's ride. Had to make a couple of adjustments for road closures and roadworks, but otherwise all the same roads. Wanted to see what a 180 degree shift in wind direction
would make.

Not a lot as it turned out as I ended up being marginally quicker. A shift to an easterly also meant back to long sleeves although with the sunshine and effort I could have got away with short sleeves.

I thought I'd fly up the Marsh Lane Drag with a tailwind, but only ended up 30s quicker, but then this week I had to stop at a Pelican crossing and road junction traffic lights which I cleared without a pause last week, so I would have been a good minute quicker. Still nowhere near as quick as I'd like, but I might have to accept I'm getting older.

I was trying to make sure I hit forty miles after two and a half hours to get a 16 mph average, but failed by 4 seconds. The headwind was just too savage on the home run.

https://www.strava.com/activities/18197059912/

[Slim]

A stiff wind from the east today, and a bit cool. I did contemplate doing 40km or so but in the end I decided to keep my run of fondos going. The roadworks at Zouch are destined to continue until August now and to avoid them, I devised a new route eastbound through Long Whatton and Kegworth.

This involved pedalling along a country lane called Kegworth Lane from Long Whatton, which I'd never been along before. So I took the Tricross, in case it was a bit rough. I needn't have worried, it's actually very decently surfaced as well as being quiet and scenic. Nice. So I continued round the back of Sutton Bonington and joined the usual route west of Rempstone.

It was a real slog going west against the headwind so I turned back a little bit short of half-fondo distance. Instant relief with the wind behind me and the rest of the ride was very nice in the warm sunshine. I got lost at Kegworth and had to work out a different route through the town on the way back but that was no biggie. Suburban Kegworth is actually quite nice. I took the long way through Diseworth and down Top Brand to make up the distance.

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Just noticed from the map that there's a Kegworth Aircraft Disaster memorial not far off the route I took today. Must go and see that. A RyanAir training flight was doing loops around East Midlands as I passed that way. Kept me entertained. Must be quite an expensive activity at the moment. Just had a look on Planefinder to see if I could find the track:

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Listened to Sir Olly Robbins' revelations to the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee then analysis / discussion thereafter on 5 Live, and more of Len Deighton's Fighter.

Back on 102.15, 3073 this year now. I see that I'm now only 4km behind where I was this time last year in terms of the distance tally. However I've just looked at the 2025 sheet and I don't fancy my chances of catching up.

The Kegworth detour is fine but I wouldn't use it for a long trip out east, it adds too much distance early on.

https://www.strava.com/activities/18200319062

[Nickslikk2112]

Warm enough to bare the arms again today, but still a bloody nagging Easterly wind. Tried as far as possible to ride North-South to mitigate it, but not to much avail, it seemed to funnel round everywhere.

Just an out to Tibshelf and back today. A 35 miler gets me to 500 for April.

https://www.strava.com/activities/18210989128/

[Nickslikk2112]

And out again today, well, that's what I do. Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday then whatever I can fit in at the weekend - which will be nothing this week, as it's first weekend break of the year.

Sun was out, so tan-line time again, but it was still a bit chilly at 11, soon warmed up under a bit of effort and the weather warmed up as the ride went on so all fine and dandy. Everyone else still seems to think it's Winter. Come on men, you're supposed to be Northeners!

With the continuing Easterly wind I thought I'd set a decent time up from Dronfield to Owler Bar, but an unexpected set of roadworks - on a bloody uphill bit - cost me a minute and ten seconds. Horses and too much traffic - where is it all coming from, it's getting busier - almost cost me a 16mph average, but a final dig got me there. Is it time for Summer wheels yet?

Forty miles for the ride, 116 for the week. Still not seen, or heard, any Curlew.

https://www.strava.com/activities/18225136804

[Slim]

New wheels, cassette and chain on the X. I even gave it a wash.

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Annoyingly although shifting seems fine on all the other gears (on the stand) it won't go into the smallest cog at the back. A limit screw needs adjustment I think. But I barely ever use the little cog anyway.

I also put the (bigger) Green Marathon tyres on the Boardman which unlike the Roubaix that I bought them for, has loads of clearance - as long as you take out the rear mudguard bolt, which I did. I suppose I should have taped over the hole. Bit tricky now with the wheel on.

I was surprised at the ease with which I was able to remove the bolt. It must have had an olympic swimming pool of mud and mucky water sprayed over it but it wasn't seized.

[Nickslikk2112]

Annoyingly although shifting seems fine on all the other gears (on the stand) it won't go into the smallest cog at the back.

I find the same with my bikes, yet they work fine on the road 

[Slim]

Had a long ride planned for today, at a minimum 161km for an 'imperial fondo' but maybe as much as 180, I thought. I didn't want to set off before 0900 because of the lamentable low temperatures expected early in the morning. I set off at 0905.

The weather, at least from that time, was ideal - sunny, mild, warm later. Very low winds.

Through Loughborough again to avoid the closed road at Zouch, but I think that for rides of greater than 150km out east I may always go that way - it does save a bit of distance. Loughborough wasn't too busy even at about 1000 on a Saturday. I've got the route through the town memorised now. At least going east.

I got the clothing strategy wrong. I was wearing a fleece under my cycling jacket, and tights. But I was too warm after less than 10km! I could have left the fleece at home, and probably the tights. Or set off an hour earlier, which would have been useful. Regardless, after about 40km, I stashed the fleece and tights in a hedge, along with lights and an emergency flapjack, in my camo bag. I also geocached a pair of alkaline AA batteries for use on a future ride, carefully wrapped in a sealed plastic bag.

Anyway - I got as far as Kate's Bridge, just a couple of klicks short of the left turn at Baston that would have got me onto the Fens. But I'd done 90km so I thought I'd turn for home. Hopefully I'll get another good day and an earlier start soon.

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Refuelled at the caff at Castle Bytham on the way back west. Very nice sitting out there in the sunshine with a pasty, a Magnum ice cream and a cold bottle of lucozade. Civilised. I took the pic at Witham, where a game of cricket was taking place.

In theory I should have had a very light headwind on the way out and the same again on the way back, at least later on. Not sure I did but either way it was very light.

Quite a few dead pheasant hens being eaten by corvids on the roads today. If the corvids were more intelligent they'd probably have a national day to celebrate the invention of the motor vehicle.

I'm really loving the bulletproof 700x28s on the Roubaix, now they're broken in they only drag slightly but knowing they aren't going to puncture (or at least that it's highly unlikely) is a big bonus on a long ride.

Stopped for a break and a snack at the bench at Waltham. A cute woman in her 20s and tiny denim shorts was doing some planting in her front garden opposite. Gave me a lovely smile, as well. Can't not like that sort of thing.

I also stopped at a bench at Thringstone, only about 6km from home. Felt a bit knackered but I'd possibly underfed myself a bit. Ate something and was fine after that.

I listened to Times Radio, footy on 5 Live and another couple of hours of Fighter. Just a few minutes of it left now.

Back about a minute before sunset, on 180.16km. That's the ninth fondo this month, one more and I'll have broken my record.

https://www.strava.com/activities/18256818084

[Thenop]

AI really is fun, interesting bike brand here Slim.

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[Nickslikk2112]

Wondered how the legs would be after four days off the bike. Wondered how the Cardio-vascular system would be after four days off the bike. It has been like going back to square one in recent years, but I seem to have come through it unscathed. Maybe climbing up Durham Cathedral tower on Saturday helped.

Bit cool though today, back to long sleeves, warm enough for the legs though as they do all the work. Bit blowy again too, but that helped on the way out. Went out the flatter side of town, although still managed nearly as much climbing as rides out to the Peaks. The climbing is spilt into smaller chunks though.

Found that the road up Brimington Common had been surface dressed in the last couple of days. Great a road covered with gravel. Luckily there was a clear path through it, road sweepers had been down, could feel the rear wheel skid out a bit if I hit the gravel. Not nice having traffic close behind though, there's an advisory 20mph limit and even though I was riding nearly up to that speed at times arseholes kept trying to come by. Still it was only for a mile of my 40. Over 600 for April now.

https://www.strava.com/activities/18291545832/

[Nickslikk2112]

New Kit day today! Mrs S had bought me some new cycling gloves for my birthday. She thought they would match my kit. They don't, they match Bianchi's Celeste colour though. They were Castelli, which forced me to buy more of the favourite kit of the All the Gear and no Idea MAMILs.

She'd bought the gloves cheaply as they were from a 2024 range, so I had to trawl the internet to find a matching jersey, but they were out there and I got a good price on it too. Ended up buying some Spring (Roubaix) Bib-Shorts too.

Of course you expect new kit to make you faster (why?) it doesn't, but I looked good! The wind was faster though, really quite blowy at times, I thought it was supposed to be calmer today.

Didn't do the ride I'd intended to do as it would have involved a high level - above 1,000' - return into the wind which is stronger at altitude. Kept to the lower levels but still got in a 550' climb. Also got pissed off by the number of vehicles which were half parked on the pavement which pulled off in front of me with no indication. Wish I could have caught up with them to put some dents in their doors.

Back with another 40 miles.

https://www.strava.com/activities/18305497636

[Nickslikk2112]

And another 40 miles, well nearly 43 in the bag today, to get up to 686 miles in April. Gets me back on track to average 500 miles a month, even if I'm not always getting there in the month.

Told Mrs S I'd be back for half one as she was heading off to clerk a School governor's meeting this afternoon and she likes to know I'm back safely, bless her. I failed.

I was convinced I would be as I know I can average 17mph on the route I went on as it was out to the flatter lands of Nottinghamshire, but it was a stiff headwind again on the way out, not as bad as the last couple of days, but unwelcome. Then I got lost. I was sure I'd taken the right turn, but it was a bit hillier than I recalled and then I ended up in Harthill, but I managed to get back on track after finding a nasty couple of kickers.

So, when I got to the A60 at Worksop I was well off the pace, luckily when I turned for home I picked up a tailwind and managed to equal my best time up a draggy climb, which was also on a tailwind day.

Back down the hill from Ault Hucknall was awful. It's never been a good road, but it was like cycling on a corrugated road today, my eyes were shaking so much I couldn't see, then when that stopped it was potholes interspersed with gravel. Then cow slurry at the bottom. Not nice. Better check my brake pads I'll have worn them out down there.

So, late back, averaging 16.5 mph, but Mrs S had spent too long in the garden so she was running late too. I got let off.

https://www.strava.com/activities/18318680700/

[Slim]

A sunny, warm day was promised, but it came with a stiff wind from the east. I felt sure I could manage a fondo.

I had two bikes with untested equipment to have a go on. My curiosity to find out what my 700x30 Green Marathon tyres were like narrowly beat out my urge to have a go on the new carbon wheelset on the X. So I took the Boardman.

I took the Kegworth detour to avoid the roadworks on Rempstone Road for the new bridge but this time, I descended down through Sutty Bonner and down through Normanton on Soar. You can still get through to Normanton via a short stretch of Rempstone Road that's still open.

I also joined Paudy Lane via Barrow on Soar rather than through Walton. There's a steep hill at Walton which I don't really like coming down coming east to west - too many parked cars and a sharp turn. So I wanted to see if a detour via Barrow is viable. Turns out it is.

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After 48km I took a left to loop round via Old Dalby, Nether Broughton and Upper Broughton. About ten years ago I remember stopping off at a caff on an unusual diversion off Six Hills Lane, and I've been trying to find it again. No luck. I think it may have been demolished for new housing.

Rejoined the usual route at Wymeswold and back via Kegworth again. I took the long way after that, through Diseworth and down Top Brand to make up the fondo distance.

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As for the tyres - I'd wondered if they might feel a little dead, like the Marathon Plus pair fitted to the Roubaix. Anything but! They're positively lively. My first impression was that they were "rubbery". Bouncy, almost. I doubt the rolling resistance is lower than the 700x25s that they replaced but they were a joy. They soaked up the road buzz on the rougher roads in Nottinghamshire very nicely and they were fun to roll along on.

One thing I hadn't expected but makes sense is that they've effectively changed the gearing of the bike slightly, by increasing the radius of the wheel. I might get some for the other Boardman.

I trialed a new item of cycling clothing - it's described on Amazon as a running vest. A bit like a cross between a fishing vest and a lightweight backpack, with chest pockets. Handy although I must admit I looked ridiculous.

Back on 100.98. I listened to 5 Live and LBC. Really nice ride overall although the headwind going east was annoying.

That's a wrap for Decuple Fondo April then, 1128 km this month, happy enough with that.

https://www.strava.com/activities/18320472951

[Slim]

A very decent day except that light rain was threatened for late afternoon. I got up later than I intended, so although I'm still very keen to try the new wheels on the X, I took the Tricross. I know you shouldn't baby your equipment, but I didn't want to get them wet on their first run out.

A light wind was coming from the west. I set off on the Lower Westbound Route at 1020. After less than 6km, on autopilot I took the left turn to Swepstone. I realised I'd made a wrong turn within seconds but decided to plough on and find my way to the usual route. Easy enough except that I approached the crossroads at Measham from an unfamiliar direction, wasn't quite sure where I was and took a left turn instead of going straight over. Again I realised what I'd done fairly quickly but thought I'd keep going anyway. I was headed toward No Man's Heath, which is a waypoint on an earlier version of the Lower Westbound. No bother.

No Man's Heath is unusual in that it's partly in Warwickshire, partly in Leicestershire but only about 1.5km from Staffordshire and 4.5km from Derbyshire.

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I was glad I'd brought the Tricross because the roads are rough over there. Nice to go over that way, hadn't done that for months. I took the pic between Clifton Campville and Lullington. Shame it took a navigation error to get me to go that way. I'm too often a creature of habit.

Anyway - I followed the usual route just short of Abbots Bromley, then turned back. Added a bit of distance with an excursion up Yoxall Road once I got back to King's Bromley. Nice and flat along there. Easy klicks.

Back on 101.17 and that's 29 fondos in a row!

I listened to Rod Liddle on Times Radio, 5 Live and the first few short stories from a new Judge Dredd collection, some of which are very clever, and very macabre.

Very nice day and there was no rain.

https://www.strava.com/activities/18348210329

[Nickslikk2112]

Due to circumstances beyond my control, I only got a couple of hours to go out in today. But that's fine as I never do more than two and a half hours anyway these days. Must try harder.

For the first time since last October I went out up the Col de Wigley. In the grand scheme of things it's not a brutal climb - 2.7 miles @ 3.9% - but it feels like it when you've not been up for a while. Doesn't help that it switches from ramps to flatter bits so you can't keep a good rhythm going. Was a couple of minutes off my best time, but 4th fastest out of 10 for the day, including beating former pro Mark Walsham - probably find out he was on a Unicycle.

After crossing Beeley Moor, I did my first full descent of Matlock Road since 2023. Where have I been. It's fun down there, got up to 44 mph barely pedalling. Makes all the ascent worthwhile. Back with 32 miles in the legs.

https://www.strava.com/activities/18349697439/

[dom]

Longest ever spin yesterday! 125km, heading down to Edenderry to catch the Grand Canal.

We had planned the route for a couple of weeks so the disappointing morning rain didn't put us off.  It was only a passing shower and was the last time we saw any despite the threat being pretty constant.

When we first looked at a longer trip we thought of heading along the Grand Canal eastwards and then heading back on the Royal Canal westwards. It didn't turn out like that and the Royal will have to wait for another day.

The route took us out of Meath into Kildare and Offaly (for the first time) The most interesting part of the trip was the 30 or so km along the Grand. It hasn't yet been developed into a proper Greenway and was a mixture of grass, gravel and stoney gravel. On road bikes it was quite slow going at times, I think we averaged 15km/h for the section. We also had to cross over from one bank to the other dependant on which side looked the most traversable. It had been dry for a week and that made it a lot easier. Heavy rain and it wouldn't have been doable on thin rims. The canal stretch was quite demanding despite the slow speed. Having to deal with the constant vibration from hard ground, gravel and stones and then to be on constant attention of pot holes and other obstructions like semi buried roots.


2 proper stops - Edenderry (cappuccino and black pudding sausage rolls) and Clane (bag of chips and cappuccino).

We did have a couple of impromptu stops as well and as a result I felt a lot fresher than I ever had after finishing a Fondo.

All of the stopping and slow canal section meant it was a long day. Set off at 9.15 and arrived home 9 hours and 15 minutes later at 6.30. That's why we chose to not do the Royal section. When we arrived in Kilcock we decided to head directly to Trim rather than take the canal route via Longwood. It would have added another 20km to the journey and we decided to head home more directly. Great day nonetheless.