Cycling 2025

[Nickslikk2112]

Got out today, longest ride of the year for me, but still not even 34 miles. Bit more climbing involved than of late though, almost 2,500 feet of elevation gain. Rode a similar route at the end of last year and managed my best one hour power output. Today I stuck another couple of Watts on top of it, which made me feel better as I was feeling like shit.

It involves a long draggy climb up to the tops. Because of its up and down nature, Strava reckons my biggest climb of the day was 268 feet, but from bottom to top it's really a 750 foot climb with 1,000 feet if elevation gain in total.

Was surprised by how few cyclists I saw out today, OK it was a Tuesday in January, but I was riding some of the main routes that cyclists use to go in and out of Sheffield on. It wasn't that bad a day, on the coolish side and I was surprised to see along Spitewinter Lane that there was still some snow hanging on. Perhaps that's where the name comes from as it holds onto the snow well.

https://www.strava.com/activities/13413665522

[Nickslikk2112]

It all looked a bit wet grey and dismal when I peered through the curtains on getting up, but the day settled down to just being grey and dismal, although the roads stayed wet.

Looking at the weather forecast as it stands, only Saturday looks like being a dry day so getting out today was a must. Did a lengthened Tibshelf run today, had to plot a route carefully as there are too many sets of traffic lights at roadworks at the moment. I ended up going along a road I only normally do the other way, forgetting that what normally starts with a sharp drop ends up with a sharp climb going the other way. A sharp climb which exits straight onto a main road. Luckily there was no traffic coming from the right - held up by roadworks I'd missed.

Had a bit of a shout at a driver later on, I was turning off right onto a side road and a middle-aged bloke in a Range Rover was going to come out. In fact as I turned off he did come out forcing me to take a wider turn. I queried what he was doing and he shouted back, but I couldn't tell what he said, I just hope he could tell I said "FOAD PILLOCK IN A WANKPANZER!"

Anyway, that was 35 miles in the cycling bag.

https://www.strava.com/activities/13422756725

[Slim]

Didn't think I was going to ride a bike today but the forecast improved enough to allow a window of decent weather in the afternoon. Wasn't sure what to do really .. I did sort of an odd combination of a trip up towards Donington, but only as far as Tonge. Back down through Lount and back to the main road to Ashby. Went along that (not pleasant, busy traffic) for 3km or so then left to Packington.

I planned to do a Twycrosser from there but the weather was a bit rubbish. Not wet but slightly damp, and getting colder. Actually I'd been a bit too warm an hour earlier. So I cut it short by taking a left homeward through Swepstone from Snarestone.

Only 44.87 km but considering the conditions, enough. Quite enjoyed it but I wouldn't have enjoyed another half hour. Back about 13 minutes after sunset, but I didn't need lights.

https://www.strava.com/activities/13424411408

[Slim]

A cold day but forecast to be sunny in the afternoon. I thought a Bypasser would do, but wanted to do a reasonably long one, 65km or so.

So I did a bypasser, with a bit of an excursion toward Polesworth at the bottom. Along to Witherley and Atterton Lane. But on the way back up, I cut in to Sheepy Magna and Twycross. Then back via Gibbet Lane.

Highslide Image Viewer

Noticed a light aircraft taking off in the distance as I stopped near Orton. Hadn't seen that before. But looking at the map, there is a little aircraft logo 2km north of where I was, with the text "Cottage Farm Airstrip".

Beautiful sunny day, wish I'd worn a peak cap under my woolly hat. The glare on the flip-up shades I'd attached to my old varifocals was pretty irritating. I was getting cold over the last few km though, or at least my feet were.

I listened to LBC, then a new audiobook: The Collapse of Yugoslavia 1991-1999 by Alastair Finlan.

Back on 72.90 km. Looks like rain for a few days now.

https://www.strava.com/activities/13450113897

[Nickslikk2112]

Made the most of today's sunshine, well, I didn't because I was only out for two hours, but I was up too late and had too much cycling to watch!

I had a route planned in my head before setting off, but didn't take it as on looking on Google maps the supposedly inconsequential roadworks nearby were causing gridlock on the way I'd intended to go. So another ride out to Tibshelf and back it was.

I hadn't realised it had got so cold overnight because a couple of roads I went down still had a coating of ice on them. I had been avoiding them a lately for that reason. (memo to self, ask Mrs S what weather was like when she got up as she rises much earlier than me)

As ever a couple of days off the bike leaves me feeling like I'm starting over, but I got more into it after an hour. Kept getting my average speed up to 16mph and then having it fall back by being held up by traffic which can't move because of all the cars parked at the side of the road. You can get eight bicycles in the space of a car. Just sayin'.

Back on 33 miles which gets me to 415 for January. Six days to get to 500 but the weather doesn't look like playing ball at the moment.

https://www.strava.com/activities/13448444577

[Nickslikk2112]

The sun was out this morning, so I thought I better be. Took some thinking about though as my guts were in a bit of turmoil early on - I blame Mrs S's undercooked crumble from yesterday. Not feeling 100% with it now.

I was wondering how many of the 85 miles I need for 500 in January I should do, being as Tuesday and Friday look like being rainy. I thought a steady 20 would do, that would leave a couple of days at 32 miles a day.

It was still a bit breezy out there though, a real headwind on the way out, but that's the way it should be to get the tailwind on the run home. But it did mean it was one of those rare occasions when my average speed dropped on the ride from Holmewood up to Tibshelf.

Riding back from Tibby would have got me to 20, but I pressed on through the Tibshelfian fleshpots and went round Pewit lane a couple of times and back up through Pilsley. Nearly got caught out by a gut on the way back, I indicated to turn left and got caught by a crosswind gust which nearly took the back wheel out, but I managed to rectify it.

Anyhoo back on 27.5 miles, which will do.

https://www.strava.com/activities/13465302109

[Nickslikk2112]

Sun was out again. My guts were in turmoil again. Maybe it's a sunshine thing. Still I had both legs attached so out for a ride it was.

Out later than I'd hoped. Switched on the Garmin, it started up then switched itself off, it started up again switched off and on and on. Did a hard reset. Switched it on again, same thing. Did another hard reset, it came back on - eventually. Just found out that Garmin watches aren't working today and also on the list is the Edge 1040 cycling computer. We'll see what tomorrow brings.

Also on the blink is my Heart Rate Monitor, my HR went up to 171 going downhill, not very likely. It eventually settled down, but still seemed a bit high, but that could be my digestive troubles. Another moan is it was well windier than the BBC forecast, more like 16mph than 8mph. Definitely held me back.

Thankfully I was able to get 32 miles in, so down to under 26 needed for 500 miles in January, I'll try the flatter lands tomorrow.

https://www.strava.com/activities/13483484608

[Slim]

Nice day today, mild, dry and intermittently sunny. But I didn't want to go far, because I want to do a fondo tomorrow. I thought 35-40 km would do nicely. Just a quick run out.

I decided to do part of a Twycrosser then turn and come home the same way (instead of the usual circular route). Down as far as Twycross, then back up. I did come a different way out of Packington though. Then I took a left for a quick visit to Ashby. Then home.

I listened to 5 Live mostly. Bob Harris was a guest on Matt Chorley's politics programme.

Quite a pleasant 40.31km. Only 25 miles in old money but that's fine.

When I got back to the garage I decided to have a go, on the spur of the moment, at realigning the bent hanger on the Planet X, which has been languishing on the stand in there for a week or two. It was pretty easy, the alignment tool worked very well. Just takes a bit of patience and force. I put the rear mech back on and it seems to be changing through the gears nicely on the stand, so we'll see how it does on the road.

https://www.strava.com/activities/13485269161

[Slim]

Out later than I'd hoped. Switched on the Garmin, it started up then switched itself off, it started up again switched off and on and on. Did a hard reset. Switched it on again, same thing. Did another hard reset, it came back on - eventually. Just found out that Garmin watches aren't working today and also on the list is the Edge 1040 cycling computer.

That's interesting. I read about that yesterday but forgot about it, and used my Vivoactive 3 today. Worked fine, maybe because it has old firmware.

https://www.tomsguide.com/news/live/garmin-outage-jan-2025-blue-triangle

[Nickslikk2112]

That's interesting. I read about that yesterday but forgot about it, and used my Vivoactive 3 today. Worked fine, maybe because it has old firmware.

https://www.tomsguide.com/news/live/garmin-outage-jan-2025-blue-triangle

Everything back to normal today. I'm not though.

Went out and got up to my required mileage for 500 miles in January - and a bit more - and was nearly home, but decided just to get up to 32 miles in 2 hours, so as I normally do I turned off down Swaddale avenue, now there was a bit of a barrier there on the left had side of the road because they'd done a bit of resurfacing.

Now, it didn't say the road was closed and even if it did it wouldn't apply to bicycles unless explicitly stated. So off I went, but slowly, then when I hit the new Tarmac my back wheel just slid out in me and I fell heavily on my right hand side. Picked myself up, dusted myself down, still had all limbs present. Holes in right sleeve on elbow of jersey with blood coming through, but didn't feel like anything broken or dislocated and chozzled bar tape on the right side of the handlebars, so a slow last mile back home.

Got home found I'd lost my Oakleys. Never thought to check for them, so I got back on the bike to see if they were still there, but no, no sign of them. Arse.

Don't know when I'll get out again now, I expect some aches will come out.

https://www.strava.com/activities/13492366820

[Slim]

I'd intended to do a fondo today. But when I woke at about 0800, my bedside Echo Dot claimed that the outside temperature was 2C. I dozed and slept intermittently after that and didn't get up until 1030.

I think the Dot was wrong actually, I think it was probably warmer than that. But I decided to do a shorter ride anyway. I set off at about 1205, giving the air temperature a chance to climb a bit.

I took the newly-adjusted Planet X, to see if the gears were working properly following the hanger realignment. And they weren't, quite. Up-changes were very laggy. But I lowered the tension in the cable with one of the barrel adjusters after a few km and got it spot on. Nice and slick.

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I was going to do part of the Upper Westbound route and I guess I did, except that after Swarkestone Bridge I took a right up into the nether regions of Derby, along Infinity Park Way. Disappointingly busy with traffic up there, don't know why it would be, early on a Thursday afternoon. I thought of coming back via Weston and Aston but I was short of cycling food - I'm overdue a trip to Tesco - so I headed back to Swarkestone to take advantage of the Texaco garage there. I came back home via Ticknall and Ashby, which meant that I had to face Bastard Hill. But it's been resurfaced and it didn't seem so bad as usual.

Oh yes and this was the maiden voyage of the X's new saddle. It's nicely padded, but it's not as comfortable as the old one. Looks like the old adage "buy cheap, buy twice" probably applies. But I might get used to it, or adjusting the pitch might improve it. Or it might wear in. I'll give it a few more goes before the next round of retail therapy. Actually I might give the fibreglass-reinforced plastic saddle I bought about eight years ago another try.

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Back on 52.37 - not a lot really. Felt like more than that, maybe because it was a bit climby, maybe because it was a bit unusual. That'll be it for January anyway I'm sure. 738 km or 459 miles. I did 12 rides this month, same as January 2024, but despite having to work for a living I did 37 km more last year.

https://www.strava.com/activities/13493589056

[Slim]

That's interesting. I read about that yesterday but forgot about it, and used my Vivoactive 3 today. Worked fine, maybe because it has old firmware.

https://www.tomsguide.com/news/live/garmin-outage-jan-2025-blue-triangle

Everything back to normal today. I'm not though.

Went out and got up to my required mileage for 500 miles in January - and a bit more - and was nearly home, but decided just to get up to 32 miles in 2 hours, so as I normally do I turned off down Swaddale avenue, now there was a bit of a barrier there on the left had side of the road because they'd done a bit of resurfacing.

Now, it didn't say the road was closed and even if it did it wouldn't apply to bicycles unless explicitly stated. So off I went, but slowly, then when I hit the new Tarmac my back wheel just slid out in me and I fell heavily on my right hand side. Picked myself up, dusted myself down, still had all limbs present. Holes in right sleeve on elbow of jersey with blood coming through, but didn't feel like anything broken or dislocated and chozzled bar tape on the right side of the handlebars, so a slow last mile back home.

Got home found I'd lost my Oakleys. Never thought to check for them, so I got back on the bike to see if they were still there, but no, no sign of them. Arse.

Don't know when I'll get out again now, I expect some aches will come out.

https://www.strava.com/activities/13492366820

Hope it's not too painful in the morning and you're back in the saddle soon. The bar tape on the X got a bit chewed when I came off earlier in the month but I'm just going to leave it.

[Nickslikk2112]

That's interesting. I read about that yesterday but forgot about it, and used my Vivoactive 3 today. Worked fine, maybe because it has old firmware.

https://www.tomsguide.com/news/live/garmin-outage-jan-2025-blue-triangle

Everything back to normal today. I'm not though.

Went out and got up to my required mileage for 500 miles in January - and a bit more - and was nearly home, but decided just to get up to 32 miles in 2 hours, so as I normally do I turned off down Swaddale avenue, now there was a bit of a barrier there on the left had side of the road because they'd done a bit of resurfacing.

Now, it didn't say the road was closed and even if it did it wouldn't apply to bicycles unless explicitly stated. So off I went, but slowly, then when I hit the new Tarmac my back wheel just slid out in me and I fell heavily on my right hand side. Picked myself up, dusted myself down, still had all limbs present. Holes in right sleeve on elbow of jersey with blood coming through, but didn't feel like anything broken or dislocated and chozzled bar tape on the right side of the handlebars, so a slow last mile back home.

Got home found I'd lost my Oakleys. Never thought to check for them, so I got back on the bike to see if they were still there, but no, no sign of them. Arse.

Don't know when I'll get out again now, I expect some aches will come out.

https://www.strava.com/activities/13492366820

Hope it's not too painful in the morning and you're back in the saddle soon. The bar tape on the X got a bit chewed when I came off earlier in the month but I'm just going to leave it.

Thanks James.

Might be a few days before I'm back in the saddle, picked up a groin strain which suddenly kicked in late yesterday and now I can barely walk.

[Slim]

This weekend's cycling strategy was to take it easy today and do a fondo tomorrow. But the weather forecast for Monday improved to the point where it was a bit nicer than tomorrow's, so I decided I'd do a short one today and have a day off tomorrow instead.

Cold and gloomy out there, but dry. Unfortunately the wind made the temperature a bit unpleasant so I decided to keep it even shorter than I intended.

I did an unusual sort of route. Down to Kirkby Mallory as per the usual southbound, except that I had a big old detour along Beveridge Lane, past the enormo-warehouses and distribution centres that must be visible from the ISS. But after Mallory I went west to Sutton Cheney and along Fenn Lanes.

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I'd intended to cut north to Bosworth rather than do the whole length of Fenn Lanes, but I had to anyway (see photo). On the way up from Bosworth I did a detour through Nailstone and Ellistown.

I listened to footy on 5 Live. Forest beat Brighton 7-0, quite a comeback considering they got tonked 5-0 in their previous game.

Back on 50.68 km (31.49 miles) but given the conditions that's good enough. Quite enjoyable but I wouldn't have wanted to stay out another half hour. Back about 15 minutes before sunset but the light was already starting to dim and my extremities were a bit icy.

https://www.strava.com/activities/13512089815

[Slim]

I got up before 0800 today, which is rare for me these days. But conditions looked pretty unaccomodating out there - gloomy and damp - and an hour later, I'd gone back to bed. But I'd got up again, clothed myself and mounted a bicycle by 1055. The sun was due to set six hours later. Plenty of time for a fondo.

I decided to do the southbound route - was going to go down to Sibbertoft gliding club again. But on the very spur of the moment, at Stoney Stanton, I decided to go down Fosse Way instead. I'd already gone a couple of metres down the left turn, so I u-turned back to the roundabout and took the road down through Shamford.

Nice to go down that long, straight bit of Fosse Way south of High Cross. It's always unaccountably quiet along there, despite being a fairly wide and decently surfaced road. Unfortunately, not long after I passed High Cross, a persistent cold drizzle set in. Particularly annoying since I'd avoided going cycling yesterday on the basis that today's weather was going to be nicer. It definitely wasn't. Wouldn't have minded so much if I'd put contact lenses in, but I could barely see through the moisture pebbling on my specs. Horrible.

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I went down as far as Bretford. Did a little bit of exploring along the road to Rugby rather than carrying on down Fosse Way. Then I turned for home. Had a bit of a feast outside the village shop at Brinklow. The weather dried up very nicely after Stoney Stanton. Actually I suspect I'd hadn't rained that far north, so maybe the forecast was right after all. The sun came out. Really quite pleasant after that.

I tried a more economical route over the last 25 km through Barlestone. I was going to come straight up the A447 from there but I chickened out when I got there. Wrong time of day. Too busy. So I went straight over at the crossroads and came up through Odstone and Heather.

Listened to LBC and 5 Live.

Back on 101.95 km, a few minutes after sunset. The bike was a bit filthy and I was tempted to hose it, but I settled for a good seeing to with a bathroom wipe.

https://www.strava.com/activities/13529690520