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Another bump for this thread as not as many folks are posting on it with all the shitty weather this time of year brings.
A 1000 meters descending wet, wind and occasional moments of sun for us this morning.
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52622218992_da322faf86_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52622218992_da322faf86_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2ob3CnN ]Repeat.[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/stu-b/ ]StuartBrettle[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52623220023_b8c0d3d4b3_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52623220023_b8c0d3d4b3_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2ob8KWX ]Wolf Turns.[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/stu-b/ ]StuartBrettle[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52623222098_a6e4a4727e_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52623222098_a6e4a4727e_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2ob8LyJ ]Wolf Turns.[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/stu-b/ ]StuartBrettle[/url], on Flickr
OK. I'll contribute.
Monday evening, hour and a half on the SS HT, keeping off the mud and mincing down steps instead ... this time last year I was nursing a broken finger from having overcooked a take off on one flight of steps, so was taking it very easy.
And a quick hour between showers on Wednesday on the gravel bike ...
nice nightime pics @hardtailonlly
@singlespeedstu- every time I see your pics I want to come back and ride those trails again.
I'll post something later/tomorrow. It's probably be a very muddy bike and us all drinking a well earned pint!
@Alex
I've said it before but I'll repeat it again. It'd be great to get out for a rip round with you up here.
Please shout us up when you're heading up again.
Humphrey the gravel bike up the 6km climb, which is a good run for the dogs, then an easy roll back down.
From this point I can usually see kielder, the eastern hills of the lake District and the eildons.
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[url= https://imgbb.com/ ]post a pic[/url]
@singlespeedstu you have and I really want to take you up on it. Got to find a way to fit it in this year.
Filthy. That's the only word for it. But still bloody good fun. Except for the sound of the drivetrain eating itself.
It was pretty grim on last weeks night ride so I wrote a thing: https://www.pickled-hedgehog.com/the-grim-returns/
Enjoyable little read that, thanks 🙂
Thanks. I might be writing another one after I backed my bike trailer into my wife's car last night 😉
For complete honestly, I should declare this is not the first time this has happened!
Back in Italy for a fortnight, single figure temps and drizzle the last few days, but nicer than at home.
Yesterday.
Today, there are some horribly new water channels cut into the rock on the top sections that certainly focus the mind, pictures from the tame sections.
It’s a decent sized hill.
Keeping it real with another sunny Scottish ride.😉
Just shy of 1500 meters of descending and the sun even came out while I was washing my kit off.
Not bad for a Tuesday morning in January.
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52646596339_70e6485178_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52646596339_70e6485178_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2odcyUT ]Out of the gloom.[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/stu-b/ ]StuartBrettle[/url], on Flickr
Last ride before packing up and heading home, final class had to leave at 2pm to get to Florence for their flight home, so we stayed late yesterday and started early today, meaning I go to ride in the daylight, beautiful day, but colder than it looks.
Another day another ride. The sun was out so took a few pics
1000 Meters descent on the hardtail.
I'm battered.
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52650579858_c6ac040961_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52650579858_c6ac040961_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2odxZ5f ]Hardtail Fun.[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/stu-b/ ]StuartBrettle[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52650097341_003faeebae_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52650097341_003faeebae_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2odvvCZ ]Ruts.[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/stu-b/ ]StuartBrettle[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52650372359_8e6e687b51_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52650372359_8e6e687b51_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2odwVoF ]Wardell Way.[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/stu-b/ ]StuartBrettle[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52650373794_ede5868fbd_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52650373794_ede5868fbd_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2odwVPq ]Shale.[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/stu-b/ ]StuartBrettle[/url], on Flickr
Morning ride with Mrsstu and a mate out on an XC bike she's doing a review on.
It seemed to cope remarkable well with the unmarked trail considering the scary steep head angle and almost slick tyres on it.
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52662223307_9a1dd8c193_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52662223307_9a1dd8c193_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2oezEgn ]Xcists.[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/stu-b/ ]StuartBrettle[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52663216218_410fc42284_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52663216218_410fc42284_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2oeEKqw ]Leaf it.[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/stu-b/ ]StuartBrettle[/url], on Flickr
Two weeks ago it was GSD (Greasy Snot Death) on our local trails. As muddy as I've seen for quite a few winters. Last night it was nearly all dry with even the mud being of the not splatter-y sort. Like summer except for it being dark. Wasn't even cold. Fantastic ride followed by a beer.
I'll take that 1st of Feb!
First ride of the FS for about 4 months. Definitely a smoother ride than the HT 😉
Took the kenevo sl up ruberslaw nigh on impossible climb without a bit of assist.
[url= https://i.ibb.co/j8sCV0t/IMG-20230130-191142-164.jp g" target="_blank">https://i.ibb.co/j8sCV0t/IMG-20230130-191142-164.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
Wrote a quick thing on how fantastic an unexpected dry ride in mid winter is: https://www.pickled-hedgehog.com/a-chink-of-light/
Went for a ride with a couple of riding buddies not seen for at least a year. Some fantastic trails I've not ridden in the Malvern hills before. Some proper steep and rooty stuff if you know where to look (I don't so was very happy to be guided around)
Stunning day. So many great photos I should have taken but was too busy riding. Or in two cases, crashing 😉
Out taking some photos and checking a route for a magazine write-up (not STW). I did have to walk through a freezing cold river but it was still worth it.
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I might have some drone shorts to share too.
Hmm. Difficult light. Low sun made getting a good angle very awkward. I reckon this is the best shot.
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I definitely need to go back later in the year when the sun is higher and not casting such a shadow over the pass.
Midweek Golfie rip today with an old mate that's just moved to Inners.
1200 Meters of decent and another brand new fresh cut trail found lurking in the trees.😁
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52677176540_0cdb2c3980_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52677176540_0cdb2c3980_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2ofUikJ ]INZO[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/stu-b/ ]StuartBrettle[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52677244748_f7a652086f_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52677244748_f7a652086f_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2ofUDBJ ]Baws[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/stu-b/ ]StuartBrettle[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52677030679_4a62f53d28_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52677030679_4a62f53d28_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2ofTxYT ]No Content Top.[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/stu-b/ ]StuartBrettle[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52677031739_e8e2ddff01_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52677031739_e8e2ddff01_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2ofTyia ]No Content Bottom.[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/stu-b/ ]StuartBrettle[/url], on Flickr
Beautiful morning for our regular Wednesday ride, although only two of us braved the sub zero temps for the 8am start...
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[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52677364265_f9366e1fae_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52677364265_f9366e1fae_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2ofVg9n ]Specialized Diverge[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/brf/ ]Ben Freeman[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52676419012_7ac0409180_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52676419012_7ac0409180_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2ofQq9U ]Crisp midweek ride[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/brf/ ]Ben Freeman[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52677213394_25c7df54f7_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52677213394_25c7df54f7_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2ofUui9 ]Crisp midweek ride[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/brf/ ]Ben Freeman[/url], on Flickr
A second Tuesday skive in Feb.
Seb (from the other mag 🙂 )
Somewhat different to the death march of Dec 28 last year. 95% dry. A few more people unsurprisingly.
Managed to 'lose' the rear brake between home and car park. So that made for an entertaining ride. I expected it to come back a bit. It really didn't. So just rode slowly and enjoyed the views.
Nice pictures @Alex.
May I ask where that is please?
I also rode today but it was rather dark in the woods so my phone stayed in my pocket.
Just imaging some dark woods with steep ruts in them that are half full of rocks and roots.😀
That's the classic gap ride @singlespeedstu - lots of options to extend/change it but we start from Talybont, up the old tram track, over the moor, descend to close to heritage railway, then up the old roman road to the Gap itself and down the otherside into the Talybont valley. Finsih with 5km of canal path.
Route profile there, if you want a GPX let me know. If you're ever down this way I'd be very happy to show you round if you don't know it.
I find those rutted, rocky trails ride better in the half light 🙂 I don't want to look at them!
You know what, I've done the Gap ride several times but i don't think I've ever done it when there was a view.🤣
We've always started in Brecon though and done a slightly different route.
We even did The Brecon Beast one year when they sent us up the Gap. It's OK though I've mostly blocked that climb out of my mind now.
Ah it's okay. I have a one-off ridiculous time up there when I broke myself trying to see how fast I could do it. Nowadays I am far more relaxed. On a day like today, just spin and take in the view. Lovely.
The views for first.3 photos and last one is new to us (both in terms of not being mid winter and being sightly higher) pointed out by a lovely fella we met who we'd seen above where we were riding. He showed us the track to get up there (and pointed out a few others). I'll definitely be back later this year to try out some alternatives.
I love riding in the forest, but there's something about a big sky day.
oh sorry they sent you UP THE OTHER SIDE. Jeez, they were lucky to escape alive 🙂
UP THE OTHER SIDE
Yep. ****ing sick bastards. It took me a long time to block that one out.😂
It's giving me palpitations just thinking about it. We saw an ebiker on his way up that way but he'd snapped his mech hanger. I'd be taking that as a sign 😂
Valentines Night was cold & moody, so a bike ride with some mates in the freezing fog was a timely distraction! 😁
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No pic from the ride, but did a night ride last night, it was so dry (including the leaf covered trails which were running really fast) that I found dust on my fork stanchions afterwards. I cleaned the bike the day before so it wasn't dust from not being used...
Dust!! It's bloomin' February!! 😲🤣
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52691606937_0b85198847_h.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52691606937_0b85198847_h.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
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Regular service has resumed here in south east wales, the unseasonably dry conditions and hero dirt have finally buggered off. Still, it was fun while it lasted!
Lovely ride of the classic loop from Clapham with grown up son. We thought I it was a great route
https://strava.app.link/grr4sh7Rsxb
Quick sprint round at lunch time.
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52702706596_c23aa166a9_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52702706596_c23aa166a9_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2oia9x7 ]2023-02-21_04-47-22[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/stu-b/ ]StuartBrettle[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52703195808_365a0e8fc9_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52703195808_365a0e8fc9_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2oicDXN ]2023-02-21_04-48-02[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/stu-b/ ]StuartBrettle[/url], on Flickr
Dutton viaduct over the River Weaver
https://flic.kr/p/2oif885
I had a job to do in Balvicar near Oban yesterday, so drove up from Bournemouth Monday morning, and back down to Penrith last night after finishing the job, so I rode the Borrowdale bash route with the time I’d gained, before finishing the drive home, home just in time to put the boy to bed.
Strava with video clips.
https://strava.app.link/S2JinussDxb
Solo Golfie ride this morning.
Half frozen half thawed.
Wasn't really feeling it but still managed 1000 meters of descent.
A ride's a ride though so can't complain.
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52706757250_7f10f5111a_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52706757250_7f10f5111a_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2oivUDY ]Half Ice Half Mud.[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/stu-b/ ]StuartBrettle[/url], on Flickr
Another tootle out to make the most of the sunshine.
Something about that image almost makes it look 'painted' @sofaking esp the wall and planters! (Or maybe just me)
Just a phone shot turned black and white and upped the contrast a bit