Cycling 2025

[Thenop]

Just out of curiousity, how many bicyles do you guys own? I count at least 5 for you Slim, of that I like the look of the black Cannondale a lot, and the Boardman has a classic look to it.

Although I do not cycle myself, I am always interested in equipment, a bit like with guitars. I don't play, but sometimes wish I did because of the gear.

(and no I am not judging in any way - I have 19 different sets of darts :-)

[Slim]

I have seven.

The Cannondale is my favourite bike, despite being acquired for a modest sum. The only carbon fibre on it is the seat post, which I replaced a few years ago.

At one time apart from a hybrid which I no longer own, I had the red Boardman and the Cannondale and the Cannondale always felt so much lighter and sharper.

The red Boardman was my first proper road bike, at least since I was in my 20s. Then I bought the Cannondale as a spare. It's had new Campagnolo wheels since I bought it.

Then I bought a second Boardman second hand, to leave in my turbo trainer (which I no longer use). It's a black one, same as the red one except it's a "special edition" with carbon forks.

Then I bought the green Planet X new. I can't even remember why. Felt I needed to have a carbon frame bike probably. I bought a Specialized S Works because it was a bargain - supposedly £6k of stuff on it if bought new. It's my only bike with a carbon wheelset.

Then I bought a Specialized Tricross (silver painted frame) fairly cheaply because I wanted a second winter bike - it's a gravel bike and more suitable for rough lumpy roads. Good bike, alloy frame, a bit heavy. Bigger tyres.

Then I decided I needed a proper endurance bike for long rides so I bought the Roubaix (the white one). I think it definitely is a bit more comfy over long rides while still being light and agile.

[Thenop]

Fantastic, they all have a purpose. I like that. You never outfitted the black Boardman for the road then?

Personally, not being a cyclist so I have no opinion on the technical qualities, I have always found the Wilier brand beautiful to look at.
And of course, being Dutch, the Bianchi bikes used by Jumbo/Rabobank were a bit special.

[Nickslikk2112]

Just out of curiousity, how many bicyles do you guys own?

I have five, well six, but one is totally unusable.

A Bianchi Sprint Disc Ultegra - with two sets of wheels carbon for Summer, Aluminium for Winter

Giant TCR advanced Pro 1 - High Summer and Holy day bike, rim braked carbon wheels. one on the verge of needing replacing. Goes like stink.

Ridley Kanzo Adventure - Gravel bike, mainly used on roads, but will put on the Aluminium wheels from the Bianchi in filthy Winter Weather

A Boardman Hybrid bike unused in years, but held in reserve for filhiest winter road use.

Giant Defy - On Permanent Turbo Trainer use as rear brake is seized up.


Took the Bianchi out for a short spin today to get back into it after a weekend of Premier Inn breakfasts, and Evening tasting menus, Tapas and Pizzas.

https://www.strava.com/activities/14384264171

[dom]

Just the one for me. The Merida I bought back in 2016. It is a bit like Trigger's broom at this stage though having replaced the wheels, the chain (twice) the chain-ring, and almost everything else virtually. All that remains are the frame,the handlebars, front fork and seat

Even with all the upgrades though it costs me nothing at this stage and I'm well due a full upgrade

[Slim]

Fantastic, they all have a purpose. I like that. You never outfitted the black Boardman for the road then?

Yes I do use it sometimes. Really just for a change I guess, or as a spare. Doesn't really do anything the first Boardman or the X don't do.

I'm a little bit wary of using it for long rides because it has the Cannondale's old wheels, and I repaired the hub on the rear one with some springs I bought from Amazon after it failed, as I described here. But I think it's done a few thousand km since then.

[Nickslikk2112]

And took the Bianchi out again today, nice little 40 mile spin out through Tibshelf to Higham and back. A bit quicker than last time I did that sort of ride. Either I'm getting a bit fitter or the wind was more favourable or a bit of both.

Every other car today seemed to have an illegal number plate on. Either smoked ones, ones with illegal spacings or with bolts placed to make numbers look like letters or letters to look like other letters. Why? It's all so pointless.

https://www.strava.com/activities/14394174621

[Nickslikk2112]

And the Bianchi got a ride out again today. Similar ride to last Tuesday's ride, but with an added loop in the hope of getting to 100 miles for the week. Should have done two loops, but I'm not sure as I need to be any loopier.

Thought it might be a bit easier today as I cleaned and lubed the chain after yesterday's ride. Can't say as it was, but my averaged speed was up by 0.1 mph and my average power was up by 6W. Maybe a dirty chain costs me 6W. Who knows. My average Heart Rate was down by 6 bpm, perhaps that was due to more power being transmitted through the bike chain. Who knows.

Anyway, good to be out on the roads with all the other old men, plus a few young women.

https://www.strava.com/activities/14404574420/

[Slim]

Had a jazz guitar lesson until 1330, but it was a decent enough day for an afternoon fondo. The wind was coming from the east so I settled on the time-honoured eastbound route as far as Eastwell.

A fairly cloudy day and a bit cooler than I expected. The headwind was annoying on the way out. I went the slightly shorter way via Rempstone and Wymeswold, so I'd done a bit less than 50k by the time I turned back, after a quick snack at the bench at Eastwell. Made up for it by taking Narrow Lane back to Wymeswold, then coming back the Peggs Green / Coleorton way after Belton.

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Enjoyable run out, especially on the way back with a nice tailwind. Picked up some PRs on segments I've done dozens of times (as always, without trying). The sun came out as well intermittently, which warmed me up nicely. Wished I'd worn gloves rather than mitts, my fingertips were uncomfortably cold.

Back on 100.86, 391 done this month now. I'm 703.02km ahead of my yearly distance on this date 12 months ago, and by an odd coincidence 303.02km ahead of 7th May 2023. Exactly 400.0km difference. What were the chances?

Some nice cycling days coming up in the weather forecast.

https://www.strava.com/activities/14408437935

[Fishy]

Glorious morning so bagged a 33 miler.. forgot to hit record on Strava.. idiot..

[Nickslikk2112]

Glorious morning so bagged a 33 miler.. forgot to hit record on Strava.. idiot..

It didn't happen then

Not such a glorious morning here, cloudy and 11C, but popped out for 26.5 miles to get me over 125 for the week. Time for a day off tomorrow, it's the start of the Giro.

https://www.strava.com/activities/14414792411

[Fishy]

Glorious morning so bagged a 33 miler.. forgot to hit record on Strava.. idiot..

Heading out on the same run tomorrow and I'm going to remember and record it..

[Fishy]

Glorious morning so bagged a 33 miler.. forgot to hit record on Strava.. idiot..

Heading out on the same run tomorrow and I'm going to remember and record it..

37 miles this morning ..similar run as yesterday but chucked in a trip to Straiton which I hadn't done for a while... glorious day again..

[Nickslikk2112]

Went out for a shortish spin today, spent too much time watching the Giro Time Trial. Don't even really like watching TTs, but there was a bit of action to this one and a corner where there was a good chance of coming off. Memo to self, take it steadily round corners.

I noticed the memo and took it steadily round corners. Took it reasonably steadily everywhere. Finished just shy of averaging 16mph though as my chain came off going down Newbold Road after hitting a bump. Memo to self, adjust front derailleur.

Got in what is probably my biggest climb of the year at 669ft of elevation gain. Could have sworn I'd been up the Col de Wigley before this year, but it appears my last ascent was last November. My, how time does fly.

Highslide Image Viewer

https://www.strava.com/activities/14438634882/

[Slim]

Another lovely day was forecast, with the wind coming from the east again. But I didn't really want to do the eastbound route again so soon. I thought I'd do the southbound, but a bit further than usual - maybe not all the way down to Northampton, but at least 10km south of Welford.

While poring over a route planner last night I had the idea of going down to Sibbertoft as usual, but from there to keep going east until I came to the A508 - then to take the A508 down toward Northampton. Usually I go down Welford Road.

So I did that. I wasn't really impressed with the stretch between Sibbertoft and the A508 - a bit bumpy and ill-surfaced. But the A road was fine, quieter than I expected. The thing that worried me most was that I seemed to be descending perpetually, and I really didn't fancy coming back the same way.

I came to a roundabout after 71km, with a right turn to Spratton - which I knew to be on the Welford Road route. I kept on, though. But the road was faster and busier after the roundabout so after maybe 200m I performed a reverse ferret and took the Spratton turn. I'd decided to return homeward the usual way, up Welford Road.

Initially this took me through a village called Brixworth where I bought some food at a Co-op and had an impromptu lunch at a bench.

Highslide Image Viewer

At Spratton, as I swapped between my DAB and my phone by the roadside, a young woman came up to me slightly nervously. She was of South Asian descent, off-the-scale pretty, with shoulder-length hair, hypnotic eyes, very well-spoken. She was wearing a leather tunic over a long, flowing, colourful ankle-length dress and Doc Marten style boots. She wanted to know if I knew how to get to Guilsborough. I'd never heard of it but I invoked Google Maps and planned the route for her. It was 5.8km away, or, as I told her, about three and a half miles.

Must admit I felt a bit of disquiet afterwards .. she wasn't exactly dressed in walking clothes. Should I have asked if everything was OK? Did she have a bottle of water on her? It was a warm day.

So anyway I came up the usual way after Spratton. Stopped for an ice cream at the petrol station at Welford. Back on 141.61km.

That was a very satisfying run out. Mostly warm and sunny and I've caught the sun a bit. Did feel slightly uncomfortably cool when the sun disappeared behind clouds, but that wasn't often or for long.

Mostly listened to LBC and footy on 5 Live. But I also started the next Reacher novel, Never Go Back. The one the second Tom Cruise film was based on, but although I don't remember the plot of that one very well the book doesn't appear to bear a lot of similarity to it. Decent so far, though.

https://www.strava.com/activities/14439238950