Cycling 2025

[Nickslikk2112]

Popped out for a quickie again after watching the Giro. Was thinking of getting in 60 miles over the course of the weekend, but 55 will do. It got me over 180 miles for the week which is my highest weekly tally of the year.

https://www.strava.com/activities/14449336588

[dom]

Went out a bit later yesterday as it was Community clean up day. The guy I cycle with came to Navan rather than us meeting up in Bective, halfway between Trim and Navan.

Glorious day and the first one I cycled this year with legs and arms exposed to the sun.

I'd gone for a drive with my daughter the other evening and it was a pretty route on mainly quiet roads so decided to repeat that.  Into Castletown through Lobinstown then onto Rathkenny before heading home via Kilberry.

Big GAA game was happening today, the Leinster final between Meath and Louth. The Green and Gold flags were everywhere on the eve of the big match, but as the journey went on I began to notice more and more of the Red and White of Louth.  Sure enough we had missed a right hand turn to Rathkenny and ended up in Collon which is in the Wee County.

Headed back to Navan via Slane, Seneachlestown and Johnstown. 65 quite hilly but picturesque kiometres

[Slim]

Another warm, sunny day. 25C, no less. But rain was forecast for about 3pm, and since I'm going to a gig tomorrow, I didn't want to work my knees too hard. Also, I've just fitted a new tyre to the rear wheel of the Roubaix and wanted to test it.

So I planned a modest 48km route that would take the eastbound route as far as Long Whatton, then hook left through Diseworth to Kings Newton, down through Ticknall, then loop back via Ashby.

Well I did that as far as Long Whatton, where - to my disgust - the main road west to Diseworth has very recently been "resurfaced" by the loose, dusty sharp gravel method of which Leicestershire County Council is so fond. I took a pic.

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I turned back and more or less made it up after that. Back to Belton then acoss to Breedon, down to Lount, then home via Coleorton and Top Brand. Ended up on 39.28km and looking at the map, I could have done better. I haven't actually seen any rain yet, either.

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Still - 572 km done this month, 4043 this year now and that's a record for a 12th May.

Listened to more of the Reacher novel. So far, so good.

As you can see the Roubaix now has aesthetically mismatched tyres.

https://www.strava.com/activities/14456271075

[Fishy]

Another 31 miler in this afternoon.. found a great little B road with no pots holes..no traffic and dropped into a little village called Barbieston..never heard of it before.. lovely place.. another glorious day

[Nickslikk2112]

Another nice day, if a bit breezier than the light breeze promised by the weather forecast. Still not giving it my all, but decided to try something a bit hillier today, taking on some what seemed like sustained 10%+ uphill sections.

Bloody hard work it was! Not helped by delivery vans coming the other way on single track roads which refuse to slow down or pull over for you. I don't enjoy having to unclip and put my foot down on a 10% slope as it's bloody difficult to get back going again. It's time people started shopping in Town centres again!

Managed to overtake a couple of cyclists on one uphill bit, but then they were an old couple on a tandem! Still, it's nice to know you've overtaken somebody! Back on 38.98 miles and if this weather keeps up I'll have to take two bidons out with me.

https://www.strava.com/activities/14466136640/

[Slim]

Another warm, sunny day? Really? I had plenty of time in the afternoon but I didn't really feel like doing a fondo. I thought maybe 65km would do. Ideally I'd have done a Twycross Bypasser but the weather's been coming at us from the east persistently of late, and today was no exception.

I had the idea to go up through Donington, west over Cavendish Bridge, through Shardlow then maybe up to Elvaston. So I did that until I got to Isley Walton, where - alas - Leicestershire County Council have been up to their loose gravel resurfacing tricks again.

So I turned left toward Melbourne and made it up from there. Up over Swarkestone Bridge, up over the A50 and up into the nether regions of Derby along Infinity Park Way. I randomed around up there for a bit, then came back down. Extended the ride a bit by going over to Ticknall which meant facing Bastard Hill on the way to Ashby, but it wasn't horrific.

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There's something a bit poignant about passing a Rolls-Royce site, and seeing people coming and going. I wonder how my career would have gone if I'd stayed there. Certainly, I do miss some aspects of that job.

Back on 58.83, less than I wanted. But hopefully there's a long cycling day coming up soon before the warm weather fades away. Listened to 5 Live and more Reacher.

https://www.strava.com/activities/14480068250

[Nickslikk2112]

After heading for the hills yesterday, I took a lower level route today and did another of the seemingly endless variations of the Tour de Tibshelf.

Yes, another nice day, but with a nagging North Easterly wind, which was fine on the way out - making me feel on form - but a bit wearing on the way back.

Got a bit pissed off when close to home. Was heading up Brimington Common knowing that there was a bus ahead of me. At one point someone got off and was waiting to cross the road, but he couldn't because of the traffic on the other side of the road. When that stopped he stepped out just at the moment I was about to occupy that spot on my bike, luckily I could move out and he stepped back, but he shouted "OH FOR FUCK'S SAKE!!!" I wish I'd stopped to ask him why as he obviously wouldn't have gone if I were in a car. Did he not think a bicycle has the right to be on the road? Did he think I was going too fast? I sometimes think that cyclists are a minority group that it's OK to hate. Ho-hum.

https://www.strava.com/activities/14477155103

[Slim]

I bought a new saddle for the X (again). The last one is just too well-padded and uncomfortable over anything more than 40km or so.

This one is a Fizik Aliante. As you can see it's a test saddle - Saddle manufacturers send these out to equipment retailers so that serious riders can try them out before they buy one. They aren't supposed to be sold. And yet they do end up on eBay, which is where I got this one.

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It's very lightweight, made of carbon fibre. Only lightly padded. Looks like it's been fitted to a bike (there are very faint marks on the rails) but never ridden. Can't see so much as a speck of dust on the underside and there's no wear to the surface.

The cheapest Fizik saddle I can see online is more than £85, but I got this one for £19 + P&P.

Not tried it yet but so far the only thing I don't like is that it's not vented - which would have made it a lot easier to fit. Much easier access to the forward seat clamp bolt.

[Nickslikk2112]

And out again today, but where was the sun? Oh yes, it was behind clouds. I'm OK with that, tanlines have come on nicely. Cooler? Yes, but that's OK too, I don't like sweating.

Today's annoyance(s) came early on. Going the the other way down Brimington Common I got behind a learner driver, I kept pace with it, at no time did it go over 21mph. I left a gap behind it as I would if in a car. Of course some pillock had to come by - it's a bicycle, Must Get In Front (MGIF) - so I dropped back a bit. A Mini Countryman then came by - MGIF - had to brake sharply as learner had stopped behind a parked car. I shook my head. At the end of the common it turned right at a mini roundabout and went round the wrong side. I flicked the Vs. I'm still behind the learner so turned right to escape it and at my next right turn it had got there by going off at the next right. Sigh. Luckily it then turned right to my left at the next junction.

Next fun was a road with a "Road Closed" sign. Normally it's OK for cyclists as it only applies to motorised vehicles. No such luck today. Ho-hum.

Didn't really make much difference in terms of distance for me so that's OK. Made my second ascent of the hills this week, forgotten how steep the last bit was of the way I went, but just settled in to a rhythm and got up. Then over to Beeley Moor for the first time since the beginning of last October! Can't believe it has been so long as normally I go there all through the Winter. Must have been some serious roadworks round and about for me to miss it out.

Anyway, another 35 miles done and "good" to get more climbing in the legs.

https://www.strava.com/activities/14487888906

[Slim]

Yet another warm, sunny day. We've already had a fantastic summer, and we're only halfway through May. My ambition for today was to do a bit more than a fondo. Didn't want to get up early or endure early morning cold conditions. And I set off at about 1040.

The idea was to do the eastbound route, maybe as far as Waltham or a bit further. In the event though - I pressed on past Eastwell without taking the Waltham turn. Then I came to a left turn to a place called Barkestone. I took that. I knew it would involve a brutal descent - any left turn from the main drag between Six Hills is like a ski slope. And so it proved. Bit hairy.

From Barkestone, which was a nice little village, I oriented myself toward Long Lane via Plungar. I love Long Lane. Nice and flat, quiet, nicely surfaced and a nice view. One of my cycling happy places.

I took a detour to Stathern to visit the village shop. Hadn't been in there before. Very friendly place with a nice seating area outside like a little pub beer garden. Alas - they'd run out of sausage rolls, sandwiches and similar. So I had to improvise. A packet of crisps, a pain-au-chocolat and a tub of ice-cream with a flake.

So from there the plan was to come back what I could tentatively call the "usual way" from Long Lane since I've done it quite a few times, though only twice in the last few years. But I took a wrong turn after Long Clawson and found myself climbing the hill back up to the regular eastbound route. And I came back by what I could definitely call the usual way from there.

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Did a a bit of exploring on the way out by taking a left along Paddy's Lane. Didn't really seem very interesting. But I think I will explore around there (south of Nottingham) a bit some time. Probably nice and flat.

Also on the way out, near Six Hills - noticed a troubled-looking cyclist attending to his bike by the side of the road. Stopped to ask if he was OK, his pump wasn't working so I lent him mine. Told him to take his time and had an impromptu picnic while he inflated his spare inner tube. But it looked like the valve core wasn't seated properly. He managed to tighten it, then get enough pressure into the tyre to get himself home, 15 miles away. Or so he hoped. But I insisted he took my spare spare inner tube with him.

Since I had two punctures (or inner tube failures) on a ride in the winter I usually take two inner tubes with me. But I felt sure one spare would do for the rest of the ride. Besides, how could I get a puncture with that sort of karma?

The headwind was annoying going east, but it was just glorious out there and I especially loved gliding along Long Lane in the warm sunshine. Must figure out the best way to get over there that doesn't involve rattling down a steep hill over a dodgy road surface.

Listened to a bit of 5 Live, but mostly the Reacher novel. Much better than the last one unless the plot unravels spectacularly.

Back on 120.65 km. And that's 20 fondos done this year now.

https://www.strava.com/activities/14501666528

[dom]

2nd Fondo of the year taking in the steep(ISH) climb to Tara then onto Dunshaughlin where we stopped for a breakfast roll and a coffee before continuing on to Ratoath and the longish stretch to Summerhill. Stopped there for ice cream and Lucozade. Then Kilmessan, and Bective before arriving back in Navan at about 2.30 having started just after 9. Only 91kms on the clock though. The ice cream and fizzy glucose must have been kicking in as I had the energy to go past home and put another 10 in the bag and complete the 100kms. Simply sensational day and probably as good as it gets for cycling. Can't remember seeing a single cloud at all. The slight cooling breeze meant I never felt uncomfortable except for the final reaches of the Hill of Tara. Legs did feel it a little on the stretch between Ratoath and Summerhill but never enough to make me stop moving

[Nickslikk2112]

After not going out yesterday despite it being perfect weatherwise, I awoke to a grey, cloudy, cool day. But what do I care? It's Saturday, all day and I've got a Giro stage to watch.

By the time the Giro had finished all the clouds had disappeared and it was a perfect day again, so out I went. Well, not that perfect, even though it was still high in the sky, the sun was a bit bright in the old peepers heading West making it necessary to slow down a bit, but hey, what's the harm in that, I'll never be up there getting a Maglia Rosa.

Did a riff on last Saturday's ride, going off down Clodhall Lane though after ascending the Col du Wigley. Actually managed the second fastest ascent of Wigley today, only 3 seconds slower than the kid who came 43rd in last weeks Liege-Bastogne-Liege Junior race.

Still got nowhere near a Fondo this year, but I'll just take things as they come. Riding 30 miles or so 5 days a week feels good enough to me at the moment. I need to find some nice flat roads.

https://www.strava.com/activities/14511149728/

[Slim]

Didn't want to go far today. Partly because I wanted to test the new saddle I fitted to the X yesterday, partly because I want to preserve my energy for a potential long ride on Tuesday. The weather's still coming from the east, and I thought about 50k along the eastbound route and back would do. I thought I'd loop round through Sutton Bonington before turning for home.

Still very nice weather, a bit cooler and cloudier than Friday so I applied a bit more clothing.

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So I set off at about 1210, and after I got to Trowell Lane, I took the left toward Sutty. But I reached the crossroads north of the village and thought I'd pedal a few km toward Gotham. Very nice along there in the warm sunshine. I turned back after about 3km when I came to a public footpath sign. Always like to make a u-turn near a recognisable landmark, in case I have to synthesise the track due to an equipment failure.

Unfortunately I took a wrong turn on my way back down and ended up in Kegworth, so I had to come down the A6. But it wasn't too busy on a Sunday afternoon. Back on 54.28 which takes me to 806 done this month.

After the right turn onto Ashby Road I had the good fortune to find myself following a young woman cyclist in DHB shorts that hugged her curves perfectly. Hypnotic. I kept up with her for about 4km, discreetly enjoying the view until she turned off for Shepshed.

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The new saddle is spot on - incredibly comfortable, and it looks like I got the adjustment right first time as well. Tempted to buy one for the Roubaix if I can get another one, or maybe I'll just swap them round.

Listened mostly to the Reacher novel. There's a scene in the film set on a plane that's a bit implausible, but in the book it's a lot more implausible. Fascinating to see how much of the plot and detail in the book was just discarded for the film, but I suppose it would have lasted about 10 hours otherwise.

https://www.strava.com/activities/14520222784

[Nickslikk2112]

Another nice day in May. Next week possibly not looking so good though. I thought 40 miles would be enough for today, with a trip up to the tops. Going the indirect way as for some reason my legs were just feeling a bit jaded today. Probably the stress of doing ten minutes of gardening yesterday...

I managed to make a woman driver jump today; I'd just gone up through Holmesfield and saw her stop at a junction to wait for traffic to clear. As soon as she'd stopped she lifted her mobile up and started tapping away at it "PUT THAT PHONE DOWN" I shouted and she didn't half jump. Doubt it'll make her do any differently, but maybe one day she'll drive into a lamppost.

Also scared a Red Grouse today. I thought it was a female Pheasant that had shot out from the grass at the side of the road, but it's red eyebrows and reddish plumage alerted me to its true identity. Don't get to see many Grouse so it was a good spot. Still not seen any Curlew this year.

https://www.strava.com/activities/14538938708

[Slim]

Looked at the weather forecast for today and thought - Wales and Back! Then I remembered that I had to be home by 1830. So - I thought I'd do the same route, but only as far as the Cheshire border. The one modification I made was to avoid the turn off to Audlem over the last km - because you get to the border a bit quicker if you keep going.

Intended to start at 0700 but I got up earlier than I expected and set off at about 0620. A bit too cool for comfort for the first couple of hours but I didn't want to take too much clothing with me. Was going to be warm later on.

The outbound leg was a bit stressful, with rush hour traffic around Rugeley. For some reason I found myself on a temporary one way system on the Rugeley bypass. Busy traffic as well. But further on, the nearside lane of the A51 was coned off for about 5km. They hadn't started the road works so I used it as a sort of private cycle lane. Handy.

Got to the Cheshire border, only a few km after hitting Shropshire. Went over it for a bit, turned round, came back. Conditions were much warmer by this time and I'd backpacked my fleece and tights.

Came through the centre of Stone rather than using the bypass, as I had going westward. Stopped at a bench and ate while listening to Starmer and Badenoch going at it in the Commons. Fight!

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I wanted to avoid the Rugeley bypass on the way back as I had no idea what sort of diversion might be in place to circumvent the temporary one way system. So I confected a detour along much quieter (if rougher) roads to the north. Stopped at the petrol station at Colwich and bought a black pudding roll, to honour my northern roots. The guy behind the counter used to work for Specialized (he'd noticed the Roubaix parked outside) and we had a chat about bikes for a bit. He was banging about Mark Cavendish and competitive cycling so I nodded amiably and pretended to know what he was on about.

The wind was very light. If the forecast had been right I'd have had a tailwind on the way out, and a tailwind for the second half of the return trip as well, but that didn't happen. I enjoyed the second half a lot more than the first though. Quieter, and (much) warmer.

Apart from 5 Live I listened to a few hours of the Reacher novel. Back on 182.40km. That was a breeze really, even the brutal hill after Stone wasn't too much of an ordeal. I think I'm at a relatively high level of fitness at the moment, presumably because I've cycled more than usual this last few weeks. 988km done this month now - wonder if I could get that up to 1302, to beat my monthly record? The weather's not that promising nearer the end of the month.

https://www.strava.com/activities/14541165071