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With sun forecast it’s a case of getting out for a decent couple of rides. Road today, off-road tomorrow.
I actually started last night. After being stuck at a screen all day I popped out to Tesco at 7 for milk but it was so good that I just kept riding. Ended up coming back at 10:30 under a glorious moon. Trouble was the clear skies meant the temp was dropping and I only had t-shirt and shorts on. Still fun and I even remembered the milk.
Out north of Oxford today, but no idea where yet. Just play it by ear...
I’m “working” this weekend so a loooong Hertfordshire cx commute home. Then a lig on the sofa ,hoping hogynd has a bad lunchtime 😉
My first cold ride in ages, back tomorrow morning.
Also taking jnr J to Trent park tomorrow for some trail clearing and haribo. 🙂
No 'Ard Moors or The Ex for me this weekend, so usual local bimbling. Couple of gentle jaunts with the dog, and a quick sprint round the local woods last night so far. All with usual lofi photography aesthetic in tow...
Proper ride in the morning and then another with the dog tomorrow afternoon, assuming my dicky foot holds up (and the Naproxen kicks in).
Out all day, rode 31 miles to watch the Tour of Britain ride past, that took literally 2 seconds then rode 40 miles back and went to a beer festival
Driving myself cycling nuts again this morning, trying to decide what to do after leaving myself snookered due to procrastinating on bike maintenance...
Fatbike shifting has been wonky for weeks, effectively stuck in 17T*, but with 24/38 rings it has been fine for commuting. Charge Spoon is comfy, but I only have one effectively bottle cage, as the seat tube on the 18" is crazy short. Fitted the fat rear wheel/tyre for first time in ages, switched the 29er front to 2.35" G One.
* The shifter clicks, but won't shift derailleur in either direction, barrel adjuster on derailleur will change cable tension. Thinking new RD-M310, or cable is sticking somewhere between shifter and derailleur.
Road bike rear derailleur snapped inside shifter last week, screwed high limit screw all the way in to get 16T sprocket to use with 34/50 rings (which is fine for turbo use, especially with ERG mode), but isn't too practical for my usual cat4 hills that typically ramp up in places to ~10-20%. Having a mare finding a saddle and saddle position that doesn't feel like a torture device after ~60mins riding despite padded shorts. But it has two bottle cages and will be faster due to less aero drag.
Feel like I'm running out of opportunities to get over to Milland Hill for first time and South Harting for first time this year, the fatbike currently has more appropriate gearing but it will be slower average speed and one bottle will not be enough for a 4hr+ ride.
I should just be sensible and do a shorter ride on the fatbike on the more local stuff, maybe riding the Meon Valley Trail for the first time since 2017, or up the offroad paths to Cheesefoot Head.
Just seems like everything is against me riding outdoors recreationally this year. 🙁
Nice. I did 40 miles in a big circle made up on the spot. I’d called into Behind Bars in Abingdon and chatted with Lee and in a discussion about The Bell at Aldworth he mentioned the Eight Bells at Eaton. So now I have another favourite pub a reasonable distance away.
Ain’t life grand? Been sweeping up apples this morning and now out to mow round the trees then off up The Ridgeway.
Edit: this was a reply to Rocketdog
Some Dales ride or other. Interesting headwinds at times.
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Lakes on Friday, rare shot of me riding...

Andy checking out a tricky bit...

Rivi last night...

Been for a run and then a cycle around the local brambling spots with mrs_oab. Very relaxing.
Blackberry and elderberry jam is on its way....
I managed 1.5hrs around the Cathkin Braes on Friday.
Apart from that I've spent what feels like forever in the garage playing about with the fork on my hardtail which I was excited about riding today. But fork is going back for warranty 🙁
That must have been fun getting the motorhome onto that transporter!
@cha****ng - nice pics
For the 2nd week running, I took my decent camera and for the 2nd week running, I was having far too much fun to actually use it very much! Afan W2 with a cheeky extension to bypass the rather dispiriting Darkside descent and ride round the valley to the final blade descent instead. That was a good call.
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48736693126_695c7ba0b2_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48736693126_695c7ba0b2_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2hfGhUw ]Afan W2- Sept 2019[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/alexleigh/ ]Alex Leigh[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48736693021_cf4009626f_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48736693021_cf4009626f_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2hfGhSH ]Afan W2- Sept 2019[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/alexleigh/ ]Alex Leigh[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48736872992_3b4c3e2a6f_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48736872992_3b4c3e2a6f_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2hfHdnE ]Afan W2- Sept 2019[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/alexleigh/ ]Alex Leigh[/url], on Flickr
44 miles from Wollaston to Cleobury Mortimer then back through the wyre forest, sat aching in the pub now 👍
Out last night for a short, local bivvy. I'm blessed with having so many great spots just a short ride away so it's nice to tick them off without having to make every ride an "epic".
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Went to Swinley for the first time in a year (to the day, now I look at Strava). At risk of starting something again, I actually had a really good time. I've improved as a rider since last time and I've ridden in some more popular locations, I won't be heading there every weekend but I'll be visiting from time to time for a workout on some flowy forest trails.
Due to negligent dereliction of maintenance I only had the crosser to play with today. It was fun, for a bit of something different.
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We have spent the week road-riding in the Alps and the Jura.
At the start of the year we decided to try and compete the 100 best climbs of the Tour de France (as per the Simon Warren book) and to date, we have completed 14 of them.
Which isn't bad as we
A- prioritised mountain biking over the summer.
B- I'm unfit and overweight and
C- live in Buckinghamshire which is miles away from any of the finest climbs of the TdF.
Highlights of the week were La Plagne.


Cormet de Roseland


Col de Tamie


And the surprisingly pleasant Col de Croix de la Ford Sierra
(check spelling before posting)

Only a local spin as wife working nights so on dad duties for the two crazy kids.. trails running so nice really could of kept on pedalling all day..
Not sure if links will work.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/YdCpASMkkg3JuWKU6
https://photos.app.goo.gl/RtktY5tW9Ma3TX9k6
Jay
Strange day , plans to ride Ullock were put paid to by the gale blowing accross the top of Skiddaw so has a tour round Skiddaw house and Bassenthwaite


Nice lunch break view 
Spent the last two weekends in the Lakes so kept it local this week, Headed over Judy woods way with afew local lads
Did a loop of the Black Mountains. Great weather. This is the top of the Gospel Pass, where John Landis shot the opening sequence of ‘An American Werewolf in London’ - you know, the ‘don’t stray from the path’ bit.
Finally took my 10yo to our local trail center, Cardinham, to ride their blue-with-red-bits trail. He was awesome considering the most technical we've ridden before was the CyB Minotaur and that was only last month.
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He also made me take the GoPro.
Lads weekend in Coniston. Aces.
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48736926663_7afbd0f148_h.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48736926663_7afbd0f148_h.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2hfHuk2 ]IMG-20190914-WA0015[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/dave-lowe/ ]Dave Lowe[/url], on Flickr
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[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48737427372_cd52901457_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48737427372_cd52901457_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2hfL4aW ]20190913_234015[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/dave-lowe/ ]Dave Lowe[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48737423992_10a3589b5f_h.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48737423992_10a3589b5f_h.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2hfL3aE ]IMG-20190913-WA0019[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/dave-lowe/ ]Dave Lowe[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48737249216_e4a8d80049_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48737249216_e4a8d80049_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2hfK9dh ]20190914_151711[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/dave-lowe/ ]Dave Lowe[/url], on Flickr
Riding Saturday but no pictures so here's some of me walking the dogs to the pub on Sunday.
Had a cracking weekend in the Lakes. Friday I was on my own so headed to the top of Sticks Pass from Thirlmere, down Sticks/Seldom Seen to Glenridding and then to the summit of Helvellyn and back to the car via Birkside.
Saturday I meet up with everyone else and we rode a Walna Scar route and Sunday a route from Hawkshead which went into Grizedale and over Claife Heights back into Hawkshead.
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