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More commuting. Yesterday's MTB Commute home:
And then today's morning commute to an off-site meeting. Lovely day for it, but feasts of greenflies and other bugs!
Hot, hot, hot out there today but a bit cooler down by the river.
Overnight on the Long Mynd. Hoping for a great sunrise. 
Finished work early, went for a local loop on the ebike, bumped into a biking mate at the pub, got a KOM I wanted. Absolutely beautiful evening.
didnt work
High Cup Nick was quiet yesterday morning.
Amazing gorse flowers below Murton, best I can recall ever seeing (and smelling).
Best of Brenin
Stopped off in Asti for a couple of days on our trip for a bit of R and R
Hit the local trails today. They were fast and dusty. It was HOT
It felt good to be back out on the Italian trails. Even better when exploring new ones
Moving on tomorrow to Massa
Little bit slippy in places, but amazing bluebells and garlic.
The bluebells and wild garlic are two more things that make me love springtime on a bike! Both out in full bloom on Tuesday night's ride for me: woods above Stirling University. The best/biggest area of wild garlic seems to be on Darn Walk / BofA but it was dark by that point of the ride and I was tired and wanted to get home, so nae pic.
Sunset later on the same ride:
It was so hot this evening I did consider lying down in this stream! Tyre stayed inflated (see another thread), no K.O.N. for me but I did get nettled when I stopped to watch two short eared owls.
Chatsworth and Bakewell loop tonight. Bloody lovely out. Best spring/early summer for years
Commuting yesterday then steep tech and features tonight.
The dust was so deep in places tonight it was unreal. I actually wouldn't mind it at all if it rained a bit - it would definitely improve the grip a lot!
Amazing wildlife spotted in Suffolk last night. Polar Bears, Highland Cows and lots of Bluebells.
48km yesterday on the HT. XC-ish ride really, but excellent. Was a bit overwhelmed (in a good way) by the vibrant colours and smells ... Bluebells, wild garlic, gorse, and such a stunning day. This might have been my best ride so far this year ...
^^^ Wow, Citroën DS. Amazing cars but you're staring bankruptcy in the face 😬
Shit the bed. Thats not something you see on a trail very often in the UK.
They're a newish 'attraction' at Jimmy's Farm, about half a mile from my office.
As @jimmy748 commented on my Strava, hopefully the fence is stronger than it looks - I'm sure it is but I wasn't going to hang around too long to find out! 😬
Another day in paradise for me today 😉.
And another 1000Meters added.
First day out on the trails in Punta Ala 🤔. Did 25 miles of great riding however the trails that have been so much on our to do list are unridable due to fallen trees and overgrown to the point you can't push through them. I dont think they have been ridden in quite a while.
Managed to salvage the day with a more xc ride.
Going to try some more exploring tomorrow 🤞
Awesome horseshoe ride over Fan y big and Pen y fan this evening. Stunning light and dusty trails. Perfect
Weekly group ride last night, Dumyat and local trails 😎
Snuck in a nice after work spin this afternoon.
The clay track up to the quarry had nearly lost all traction so had to reroute. Nice to see so many roos out enjoying the sun.
Another K of climbing in the bag.
The Troot is gone.😠And the end of Steep Loam is blocked ATM.
I've decided I quite like being retired. Quick trip to Halfords for a new rear light, then through Telford to Little Wenlock, down the always excellent Buildwas Lane into The Gorge, coffee and cake in Ironbridge, home for tea. Quality.
2nd day in Punta Ala and we finally found the trails that we had come to ride. Spent the day chasing each other down the blacks and then back to the top to hit some more. Even when the rain arrived we went back up for some more. The roots and rocks were a bit iffy in the wet but the new Butcher Gravitys worked well.
Wonderful that we have a second extended dry spell so soon after the last one. It’s biking heaven here in Belfast!
Some people say there's no gravel riding in the UK.... downhills in the Settle area running insanely fast, and the Stockdale Lane climb was so grippy I did it twice... railway station at each end and a few pints scooped up en route. Great day.
Hour and a half XC last night after tea ...
Then extended gravel commute in this morning ...
Ride out from the caravan on the ebike up to Leamington Spa, couple of beers and back along the Grand Union Canal for a good chunk of the way. Very pleasant
This week has been filed under F for 'F it all'. Took the rest of the week off and went for a head clearer.
On the plus side. The Druid is awesome.
Travelled inland today to see what Massa Marittima trails have to offer.
Small campsite at the foot of the hills but it's geared up for bikes including bike wash and fully loaded workshop if needed.
Fingers crossed the rain keeps away
Tonight's Experienced group from Ilkeston Cycle for Health group. Nice pictures from Dave B rather spoilt by my fat arse in front of him. My shot of the mid ride flapjack stop. Perfect evening ride. 
Too late for the weekend thread, too early for the mid week thread. Anyway...
It was a lovely evening yesterday so took the hardtail out for a spin after work. Spent some time sessioning a little rock & roll feature that is steeper than it looks in the pictures! The rock itself is quite easy, but it sends you straight into some big roots and then a double drop. Great fun though.
Another glorious day here in the valley and another K of vert to add to my totals.
Another 40 miler and 2200m of descent above Finale on the trails above and beyond Osiglia. These trails are so sweet and flow perfectly. They don't get many riders on them, as lots of climbing to get to them, so are in prime condition. Finished up dropping into Roller Coaster from the trail above. Didn't have enough left in me to pedal up to X Men for the last drop into Finale Borgo so went for a drink instead.
Today, extended commuting on the gravel bike. 15km mix of trails and streets on the way in (no photos, as running late), then 30km of mostly trails and quiet country roads on the way home ...
Did a lap of Follow the Dog/Monkey today. Much more fun on a HT than the enduro bike I took last time. Still got a bit bored of the trails after lower cliff though so won't be back in a hurry! Then to Stile Cop for a few runs before home time
I love this time of year. After work ride from Keswick to Threlkeld around the side of Blencathra and Skiddaw. The bargain GT eGrade gravel bike from Paul’s Cycles continues to impress. Riding up a blease road has never been so pleasant.
it is great descending I really didn’t miss the hardtail, I think the 160mm brakes were the limiting factor. GRX has great feel but they were fading a bit but nothing bad.
Nice and quiet in the evenings only saw one MTB, two fell runners and four walkers on the hill sections
bloody dusty though 😁
Easyish recovery ride around my local reservoir today. Perfect weather for it.
I took the day off work today to enjoy the glorious weather. I headed up Beinn a' Bhùird as an out and back and it was absolutely stunning. The burn at the base of the climb was just a trickle, so no wet feet. I managed most of the climb, I just haven't got the power for the steeper bit by the shelter.
Another big day out in the hills to the East of Finale Ligure with Mario from Trails Adventure.
A mixture of smooth flowy singletrack mixed in with some great rocky descents. Weather has been perfect so keeping fingers crossed that we get more of the same 😎
Flew home from Nice yesterday, back to work today meaning I did a few emails between rebuilding, cleaning and general twiddling with the bike, out for a lap of the coastal path and a pint in the Square & Compass recovery ride.
A spin over to the Roman barracks at Caerleon.
I never tire of looking at these remains and wondering how they looked nearly 2,000 years ago.
Forgot to take any pics again on this morning's ride, but did get to see the fella catch a couple of fish when I was having a five minute chill after I'd finished.
Another big day out in the backcountry above Finale and Pietra with 2200m of descent
It was a hot one, climbing was hard. The trails are in pristine condition and although twisty, rocky and rooty were still fast and flowing
Finished on some sweet trails from the col down into Pietra
Ilkley today, stainburn tomorrow
Early finish yesterday and 23 mile local loop. Beeley, Chatsworth, Bakewell, Stanton.
No stunning biking pics, but cleared a couple of runs with the trusty Bacho Laplander
I’m going to class Monday as midweek, XC tyres fitted (DHR2 DD Max Terra, High Roller 3, Exo+ Max Grip) saving over 1/2kg and a lot of rolling resistance.
The usual half-way coffee shop. Found a nice bit of gravelly bridleway that brings me straight here today.
An old mucker is up visiting us for a few days.
He's a full time ebike****er these days but still pretty sociable and polite so I'll forgive him.
Mrsstu also booked a few days off to coincide with his visit.
Sunshine,dusty trails, no one else around then ice-cream to finish.
Almost like being on holiday.
XC tyres fitted (DHR2 DD Max Terra, High Roller 3, Exo+ Max Grip)
XC Tyres ... 😂😂😂😂
Just Tuesday MTB (extended) Commutes today - 36km in total. Surprise surprise, the trails were dry & dusty ...
In ...
Out ...
Tuesday morning and we'd lasted a couple of days without any rain so went for a look see. And also wanted to try out my Reeksy1 's new rig.
Started in the dark and headed over to get a look at a pirate line I'd spotted on a mate's Strava.
Holy crap someone had done a lot of work. Rock to rock gaps, rock benching and all sorts of sketchy steep shuts and linking up to another established pirate track.
I now have to decide whether or not to give it a stupid segment name as the builders don't bother. Last one I called Mr Potato head and Schnell Schnell Kartofflekopf. Maybe Buckaroo or Rocky Horror this time?
Mate did a root slip stall and broke her lever 🤦♂️
Just another steady 15.5 mile loop while I'm working away for a pint and a ride back along the canal at Leamington Spa
18 mile loop around the local forest after work yesterday.
I readjusted the forks and they feel much better now... that is to say I wasn't thinking about them when riding which I'll take as a good thing. They were a bit divey before.
Some more local ebike****ers joined us today to ride with the visiting ebike****ers.
Took a half day off to head to the Lakes and make the most of the good weather.
Got rained on and pretty cold up the top of Yoke, but it was hot and sunny again by the time I got down the bottom of Nan Bield.
(hope Insta link works)
give it a stupid segment name as the builders don't bother. Last one I called Mr Potato head and Schnell Schnell Kartofflekopf. Maybe Buckaroo or Rocky Horror this time?
No - I firmly believe that trail names should suggest the opposite of what the trail is like. Steep, sketchy, gaps, rocks etc? Go for "Fluffy Kittens" or "Pink Unicorns" or something. Double track with great views and birds singing in the trees? That'll be "Armageddon" or "Zombie Attack"
I like that.
Or maybe it would be fun to use song titles...especially ear worm types so people can't ride without humming them.
"...every now and then I fall apart"
The trails above Pietra Ligure are named after the gelato in the town. Or it could be the other way round 😂
At the end of the day you can have a scoop of what you've ridden. More than four trails and you have to have seconds.
I had to go to inspect a bridge
Colins Howff - just about still standing.
The bridge in question
The River Feshie fords. As low as I've seen them, only ankle deep.
Another steady 18 mile pootle round some Warwickshire lanes and bridleways, courtesy of some routes sent to me by @kayak23 (thanks) - a pleasant evening was had
I stole a trip to the lakes this week
Was brutal and brilliant
Is it me, or are there far fewer riders in the lakes fells nowadays? I rode what used to be revered classic descents but surprisingly few segment attempts this year despite the incredible weather.
Is everyone in the bike parks?
Some excellent / epic photos as ever 🙂
Wednesday is our normal ride night. As we'd been away for four days over the last weekend, not a lot of enthusiasm. Still rode to the pub and back the long way, just didn't do the MTB ride in between.
Pretty much like riding into a Turner or Constable painting 🙂
the forecast rain never arrived so the local woods are more dust than dirt
Dust, mud and s****s for me this morning. Dark start and into deserted forestry for a flat 42km before breakfast.
Rode the gauntlet through an active forestry zone...****ing cyclists.
S****s are forestry equipment that have an unfortunate ending to their name apparently
Ignore, STW formatting screwed up my post...
Was meant to be heading out for a post-work XC-duro ride across the Chevin and Ilkley Moor last night with a mate, and then get the train back to Leeds, but he had to pull out ... Dithered and umm'd and ahh'd for a bit, and then set out on more of a solo XC loop with no real clear plan. 55km and 3.5 hours later, I got home. Another stunning evening ...
