[Closed] Bank Holiday weekend riding and photos 25 05 2018

Should have been heading to Ballater with pals from Sunday for 4 nights..but had to pull out a little while back ..hope you have a great time ..Heartbreak Ridge will just have to wait .

My only chance of riding is Sunday ..if at all.

Heading out on the road bike this morning for 40-50miles. Tomorrow me and the Mrs are hopefully doing Cutgate in the Peak. Not a clue about Monday yet, will see what the weather does.

Oh, cool web pics, never seen anything like that.

Down to London today on the motorcycle to the Bike Shed MC show at tobacco dock. Lots of awesome custom bikes.

Fatbike tomorrow I think.

Ours started early - I had promised eldest two_OAB boys some 1:1 dad time post exams.

Eldest has knackered his knee, so Torridon was cancelled.

Middle_OAB and I just spent two days around Argyll in 25*c, no midges(!) testing ice-cream suppliers for quality. Amazing trip, and I think I just inspired him to go do more on bikes. Job done.

(As an aside, the hostel is at Torran Bay, southern tip of Loch Awe. £25pppn, breakfast included.  It's a hotel that has been allowed to run down a bit - but well comfy and perfect for bike touring....)

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[url= https://farm1.staticflickr.com/889/28486982438_ca03466907_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm1.staticflickr.com/889/28486982438_ca03466907_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/KpiepC ]Argyll bike tour[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/matt_outandabout/ ]Matt Robinson[/url], on Flickr

[url= https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1753/40552982110_198acae5eb_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1753/40552982110_198acae5eb_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/24MwCJJ ]Argyll bike tour[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/matt_outandabout/ ]Matt Robinson[/url], on Flickr

[url= https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1734/27490354207_0aa7fdf5dd_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1734/27490354207_0aa7fdf5dd_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/HTefyg ]Argyll bike tour[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/matt_outandabout/ ]Matt Robinson[/url], on Flickr

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Having originally planned to do it last weekend but then having to postpone, I ticked off my first ever ton ride yesterday, including 11(?) cat3/4 hills for ~8972 feet of climbing. A fair chunk of it was in unfamiliar territory to the east of Butser Hill, I hadn't researched where I could stop to make use of cafes and/or pubs, so had a lumpy rucksack on my back carrying food and water!

I'd visited the Butser cafe area once before, but went up to the summit stone for the first time.

Being way outside my training ride "comfort zone" of ~40 miles, plus the rucksack really interfering with losing heat, I had to reign in the power up climbs an awful lot compared to a training ride... But managed to knock out a decent effort up my final two inclines of the day on my local hill rep playground.

Surprisingly, I'm not walking like a saddle-sore cowboy this morning and my legs aren't that bad considering I'm now at -37 "form" on the   https://cricklesorg.wordpress.com/ fitness trend

Clova to Prosen on the Ministers path and back on the Kilbo Path. Awesome day in the hills.

no photos but hill of fair for a sun downer after me mates finished work last night

and 9 am this morning heartbrake ridge and mastermind in the lovely sun . car was reading 26deg when i left ballater. Drank a whole three litre bladder and thats unlike me - hell its unlike me to take a full 3 litre bladder. #

Cooked alive.

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Great day out on Cut Gate for the first time

https://www.strava.com/activities/1597274382

Did a there and back option and saw a few bikers out there but a very quiet day for the first of the B Hol weekend, then right at the end around the final boggy bit got on a high line that ended so just casually rolled down to the lower one where the front sucked into the mud and flung me over the bars onto my shoulder and I think I punched myself in the ribs. Slow painful roll back to the van and then decided to come back home for a bath rather than another night on the thermarest!! Lets see how I feel in the morning

I paid a visit to Cademuir forest on saturday.  Was hot, sweaty and great fun.  Will return to ride the trails I didn't do today.

No proper riding for me as the missus is away all weekend so I'm on dad duty, I've put the weeride on the 29er though and there's already been plenty of balance bike action.

I'll have to cheat and use a picture from a couple nights ago.

The sign is wrong!

All over Hassop, Bakewell, Beeley Moor, Curber etc etc with my brother from the front door, good day. Have a great bank holiday all 😁

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We spent the day playing in the Peak, it was hot and dusty. Loads out walking but didn't see many on bikes.

Last ride on the Sherpa (top of the singletrack Glen Einich) to the left of here....

Took a while to convince myself that I really needed to get out there after a session yesterday at the Hollybush , Greenhaugh ..Live band playing in the garden , beer & sunshine ..and lethargy this morning .

I got there in the end ..a Bolts Law there & back..and I've got to say I don't think the trails have ever been so dry ...fantastic !

The peak in the distance to the left of centre is where we are heading

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[url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/156204930@N03/27520136787/ ]20180527_142905[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/156204930@N03/ ]Neil Hodgson[/url] - [url= https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dariogf.flickr2BBcode_lite ]Flickr2BBcode LITE[/url]

The gate at the top of Bolts Law ..I kept going to the Rookhope road where the singletrack runs out had my sarnie ..turned around and then realised that the cool breeze was stronger than I thought  and was a bit of a spoiler on what is usually a fast blast back

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[url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/156204930@N03/28517011638/ ]20180527_152541[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/156204930@N03/ ]Neil Hodgson[/url] - [url= https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dariogf.flickr2BBcode_lite ]Flickr2BBcode LITE[/url]

Great to be out though ..

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[url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/156204930@N03/42390341951/ ]20180527_162525[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/156204930@N03/ ]Neil Hodgson[/url] - [url= https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dariogf.flickr2BBcode_lite ]Flickr2BBcode LITE[/url]

Maximum schralp on teh Hampshire GNARRR!

Rather annoyingly, much of the road parts of the route I had planned was following the same roads as a Samaritans charity ride/sportive type thing. So, lots of traffic. Roadies really can't descend, can they?

Almost all of them were a delight, including the lovely ladies at one of the stop points, not far from the second picture, who saw me emerge from the woods, clearly not a part of the ride they were there to support, and offered me a cold drink! Delightful.

There was one entitled asshat among the "race" (full crabon, aero, Rapha) who rode up fast alongside, and yelled at me to turn my lights off. I run Moon Shields as daytime lights, as many of the lanes around me are either very dark and wooded, or in that awkward dappled light/shade. He then sped off, and I continued at my merry pace. Caught up with him, overtook with a cheery hello, and carried on at the aforementioned pace. He sped up again, overtook me, huffing and puffing. Repeat. Three times! I then turned off up a farm track.

Asshat aside, a glorious day.

Bikes and guests

Jacob's ladder yesterday with dad and a mate. A little windy in places but great conditions otherwise. Cracking ride 🙂

Yesterday was working at Cambridge Beer Festival, today was pressure washing the patio (with hangover). Tomorrow we're off to Sherwood Pines for a week, shame the bike carrier I just borrowed to take the bikes doesn't fit the car. So no fat bike tomorrow or next week... 🤬

Sunday spin round the woods.

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Not too many photos of the jank but a couple of the beautiful rock spine and exposed ridge near the end of my weekend ride in Squamish.

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Now thats just rubbing it in whatnobeer !..

Not sure what the jank is ..was that a predictive txt for bike ?

Some great pics overall though ..

Small group club ride yesterday in the Stroud Alpes. Misty beyond the Beech woodland, whilst beneath the canopy the wild garlic blanketed the ground and heightened the contrast with the trails. Off-camber slippery roots lurked along the otherwise grippy trails.

We're having a family break in Shropshire. We're in Church Stretton today (The Long Mynd) and I have no bicycle and 2 children to supervise 😩😩

Gaick pass on saturday

Glamis road ride sunday am

Family visit to Glenshee and Braemar sunday pm

Great weekend, weather was fab

There's been the "yellow warning" of localised heavy rain and thunderstorms all bank hol weekend on the south coast, but for some inexplicable reason, I'm more concerned about it today and cannot decide where to go, on which bike and whether to go at gentle/training pace.

... I've only been driving myself madder about this first world problem, on and off, since I got up at 0530. 😈

Taking No1 mini Jek up some of The Long Mynd. Lovely and warm. Mtbers keep coming past...

Pretty much the same as Saturdays ride, but by myself and a bit further 😁

Ooh I can play

Dunno what this on the left is but it sure is empty

Ben Alder single track on the Highland Trail on Saturday.

Ridden every day, which is a rarity for me.  No pics though

Family ride for a pub lunch on Saturday was the best one; lovely quiet roads & tracks, relaxed pace and a pub with half a dozen poncy beers to choose from.

PSA for holidaymakers: Forest of New is in lovely nick scenery-wise was as dry as I've seen it, at least up to Saturday night and the majestic thunderstorm.  I expect it'll suck up all that rain pretty quickly if we don't get much more.

Looks like a crackin' weekend by all

I enjoyed a trip over to Dent in West Cumbria on Sunday, followed by a trip to the Peaks today.

[url= https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1722/28543068208_20764198d3_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1722/28543068208_20764198d3_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/KufFKE ]Dent[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/123339003@N04/ ]LittleNose[/url], on Flickr

Some pics from our Peak ride

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Best weekend of the year and I couldnt get out. Combination of dad duties and chest infection.

Gutted doesn't cover it.

Conquer the Cliff on Saturday. Nant Y Arian Sunday. Ice cream and paddle boards yesterday.

Never got much cycling done, went over 2 arran, burst my free hub within the first 8 miles or so. Bugger. Was too warm for cycling anyhow! 😆

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spent the rest of the weekend boucing about on a womans hybrid bike! 😆 was all the hire place had left!

Better late than never  ..Kentmere /Nan Bield paddle 

Hell, I'm on half-term so I'm extending the weekend for the purposes of this thread...

Did the BHF Peak Challenge a few weeks ago but only did the short route. Went back today to complete the longer one just because...  Beautiful day and great riding - don't think I've ever ridden around Hope and Ladybower and seen it so dry (Lockerbrook descent was dusty to the point of slippy scariness). Have to admit my legs are currently feeling the hilly 67km...

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Littlenose ...you had me reaching for my map there when describing the location of Dent ..as I was of the impression that it was in Yorkshire ...but Cumbria it is ( although S.E.Cumbria ..not Western )..however it is also described as being in the Yorkshire Dales ..and that being the case it would be in the North Western corner ..

Quite clearly it doesn't know where it wants to be ..but all the same there is some great mountain biking to be had from there !😁