The Midweek Ride Picture Thread.

Tough but spectacular riding in the Mustang Valley today

Sacked off my usual Friday morning swimming club for another bike ride - when conditions are like this it's hard not to ride! 

Don't think I need to explain the location of this one 😀 

Is Monday midweek?

Don't think I need to explain the location of this one

The plains of Rohan?

Al fresco lunch in spring sunshine yesterday.

Posted by: davros

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Is Monday midweek?

 

I reckon so... 

Quick eeeb blast with the hound to enjoy weather and conditions while they last. 

A wet afternoon on tracks. It's about to get much wetter so enjoying it while I can.

Had a great day on the bike near to Chatel in France. I was initially bummed that, after climbing for an hour, I couldn’t get to the lake I was aiming for - there had been an avalanche on the only trail leading to the lake. But after going back down the road, and taking an alternate route(which doesn’t go all the way to the lake) I found some local biker-built singletrack! And even better, when I arrived back at the apartment, I met the biker who had built some of the trails. So a great day, all in all.

The biggest negative is the huge number of trees down across so many of the trails here.

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Epic dawn chorus from the comfort of my bivi bag this morning.

Reckon that midday on Wednesday counts as midweek! As the weather was so nice, I took an extended lunch break - 1.5 hours and 27km. Trails are mint again!

75km ride out to the end of lovely Strathconon and back. Fantastic tailwind, downhill return had us whooping with delight.

An enjoyable few miles after work. Should have brought lights as it got dark rapidly after this photo!

Wednesday before and after work. Nae bad 👍👍👍👍👍

How many times did you gap to flat down the stair set Fabio?

Gapped the lot innit

Even the gravel is gonna need some time to dry out, so a mainly tarmac ride today. Up to the mountain lookout. Shame I didn't have panniers...

Well. Two rides today!

Local 47km loop / 1100m climbing. Sorta XCish with some fun bits thrown in. The promised sun only made a half-arsed appearance!

Then, as Mrs HTO also managed to book some time off work, we went for a gentle gravel ride and some lunch ..Mrs HTO very rudely stuck her tongue out on one of the photos!

Legs weren't keen after yesterday running race, but I've been missing out on these amazing conditions. I never ride this trail until May normally as these are wet woods with lots of horse traffic. But it's like summer out there- T-Shirt and sunnies! Also tested out the new 11-51 on a 11 speed GRX mech (with 12 speed cage). Works great, going to be very happy to have those extra ratios on our Marches/castles tour end of April.

Hope the weather is like this. I think I'll nip out tomorrow as well 🙂 

First ride in nearly a month, for various reasons. Amazing conditions only found a couple of bits of slop. First beer garden pint of the year as well 😁

Quick local spin tonight trying out gravel again on my quite inappropriate Langster with 28c tyres at road/rollers pressures. Actually had fun this time and think maybe I should get a proper gravel bike. It was quite fun flying along the canal paths at speed, imagine with proper tyres and gears it'd be better!

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Took the dog for a E-bike power hour up the hill above the farm. Took this pic only to realise later that she had eyeballed the fire that was raging on the other side of the Sugar Loaf. You can just make out the smoke.

After work light free rides are here again.

Absolutely fabulous ride tonight with @hardtailonly of this parish. Some of West Yorkshire's finest in my opinion, and it's a ride I can do straight from the door. Conditions all time.

Even got a 2nd place trophy on Strava on a not particularly hotly contested climb (because it's quite horrible) BUT it's a great test of both fitness and technical ability there are some proper steep bits and nadgery bits and I cleaned them today. 1st place is Tom Pidcock's brother Joey who is also pretty handy on a bike - so I'm well happy with that

It's definitely Spring. Apparently, it's not to rain for the next 10 days. 

Just to add to @el_boufador 's post up there ... As he says, brilliant ride from North Leeds out north-west. Prime trails. Tailwind. Brilliant light. Techy climbs, Spicy descents, stunning moorland vistas. All from the door. And then train back into Leeds ...

Dry trails and no lights needed. Loads of deer about.  

Quick play after work yesterday, local trails are prime!  

Tuesday night group ride in outstanding conditions last night. Ride started at 16degC, ended at 9degC although the windchill on Dumyat summit was considerable - a brisk easterly. Made the top half of the descent pure magic though: tailwind-assisted meaning little-to-no wind noise, hearing the tyres humming the hard ground, with the very occasional slop patch. Just brilliant.

I think @big_scot_nanny was enjoying the new bike too 😀 

And final photo shows some of the new fencing being erected on Dumyat to protect planned new tree planting by Edinburgh Uni. Not ideal but meh. Mature mountain bikers indeed. 

Despite some very tired legs - from 2 successive days with 45km / 1100m MTB rides, I took an extended SS Gravel commute in this morning. Chilly 4°c, but another stunning morning ...

Didn't take any pics last night, but had a good yomp around both sides of the Yat. Have actual dust on my bike. Finished on a steep trail I do not like riding in the wet. Was almost too dry (!) with lots of wheel scrabbling noises even with big tyres running low pressures. 

Arrived in the light at the pub. Cold beer to finish. 

Off again tonight. Legs are going to be writing me a strong letter of complaint.

Awesome day, in awesome weather, and on awesome trails in a beautiful place (Tollymore, Northern Ireland).

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Not posted anything on here in a while as I just couldn't be arsed with it.

Sun was out again today though and a spin round with Mrsstu at a more leisurely pace so I took a couple of pics.

28KM/1200 Meters.  

It was all going so well until it wasn't.

Mrsstu trying to get my attention on No Social.🤣

Don't worry the bike only had minor damage.

It had a soft landing.

Spent the day at Friston yesterday. 2nd time going and had a great time exploring new trails. Good workout on the single speed, too!

We had just left the road and joined a heathland trail, in the dusky half light I couldn't see the half-inch thick steel cord supporting a telegraph pole and running diagonally across the path.

I hit the steel with my neck at about 15mph, which was enough speed to pick me and the bike about 4ft off the ground. I then pirouetted 180 degrees around it, horizontal to the ground, using my neck to pivot on, then flew through the air, before hitting the ground and rolling to a stop.

Ow 😩

Ouch! 😳

Rode the Curtis to our local woods yesterday, my little secret loop has been destroyed by fallen trees during the Winter 😞 Oh well pedal on to the pub for a glass of apple juice instead 👍

First visit to Exmoor this year coming up today 👍

Jesus! That could have been a lot worse!

Posted by: Tom83

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Jesus! That could have been a lot worse!

As someone who broke his neck 10 years ago, and spent 3 months in a halo brace, believe me, I know! 😩

Frozen fingers this morning - got my clothing choice slightly wrong and didn't realise there was a slight frost! Glorious sunrise though and great that all trails at Callendar Estates (Falkirk) appear to be cleared now following Storm Eowyn. 

18 mile loop yesterday along the coastal path and then along the beach.

Usually do this one on the gravel bike but I'm enjoying the HT more at the moment (apart from the tarmac sections!).

A slightly windier than expected jaunt to collect my Van.  Took the scenic route, and got back in time to not need lights.

First “proper” ride with my new Ebike, Hopton, which was great fun even though there are LOTS of trees down. Then I was on my way home and the Long Mynd looked inviting 🙂 Minton Batch, don’t mind if I do!

Another after work ride today. Found the limit of what I feel comfortable riding on 28c slicks, although it looks smooth on the photo, I felt every tiny bump of the farm tracks! Crawled down the last of it wishing for bigger tyres. So still undecided on gravel bike vs lighter wheels and xc tyres for the hardtail! Or maybe a rigid xc bike like the Whippet.

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NeBD it arrived this afternoon, quick setup and out on the maiden voyage.

A dusty ride makes a change but I really need to get my Vybe seat post and pedals off my old bike. Harsh ride improved part way round when I let some air out of the tyres.

Pauls Cycles had set it up very nicely 

A cracking few hours of gravel and back lanes along the Shropshire/Powys border. Crossing Offa's dyke and a section of the Kerry Ridgeway ancient drover's road. Ride no. 25 from Jack Thurston's Lost Lanes Wales "Blue remembered hills". Epic scenery and perfect spring weather.

First evening social ride of the year with the bike club. 

Awesome 20c start.

All that's left of the snow

Chilly 6c finish after the sun set