Had my first proper ride in a while on Saturday - 15.5 miles and 2700ft round Ladybower. Devoid of anything resembling fitness, pushed most of the climbs, got cramp, fell off, but had an absolute blast with some mates
Plan A was to ride from Winchelsea beach to Hastings. I'd only researched this from Google Earth but it looked doable.
The tide goes out a long way but on the points 90% of the beach is rocks leaving you very little window of cycling opportunity.
Rather than have a very long scramble over rocks in spd shoes I thought I would head in the direction of Rye instead.
Amazingly the going was firm and child hood memories of getting stuck in the mud over our knees ignored. Until....
[img] 
[/img]
[img] 
[/img]
Luckily it was only up to my shins as I fought my way to the shore.
Knowing what I know from years ago it can get very dodgy. I was merrily going along with the wind at my back then off we slide.
Some amazing pictures in this thread. Haven't managed to get out on the mtb this weekend, but did manage to follow my brother round some of the Surrey Hills on the road bike (Staple, Leith etc.) finishing off with lunch at the top of Box Hill before time trailing it back to west London via Epsom and Kingston.
[img] 
[/img]
Cracking ride for us last night. Absolutely dry bone trails. very nice.
[img] 
[/img]
Nice 60-miler up through the Dales. Some 'interesting' headwinds up Cam Fell. Legs a bit hurty today.
Hired a shockingly clattery Trek Fuel Ex on my first visit to Coed Y Brenin with a mate who used to ride there loads, "back in the day" obviously.
Twice around the MBR trail ended up cramping my knees as the seatpost kept slipping down ever so slightly, taking the shine off an otherwise cracking ride. I'll be going back though, for sure...
[img] 
[/img]
[img] 
[/img]
No riding this weekend as I did more than enough over the last week 😀
Had a full week off so did:
Cardiff to Cwmcarn and back last Sunday.
Tuesday was the Climachx amd Mach 3 trails.
Wednesday was the Marin Trail (now called Gwydir Mawr).
Thursday was the Beast and Tarw Du at CYB.
Friday was two loops of the red/blacks at Llandegla.
After 150 miles in 6 days my legs couldn't take any more 😀
Did plan some natural stuff in the Clwyds but the weather forecast wasn't playing ball so stuck to the trail centres. Might go for a play at Cwmcarn on Wednesday but right now I would struggle to get up any climbs 
Had a belter up Bredon hill today.
I seem to be spending a lot of time on the fatbike of late 😀
[url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2813/34252424871_91676cf527_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2813/34252424871_91676cf527_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/UbLCzv ]Bredon Hill. 1st May 2017[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/79912681@N06/ ]Kayak23[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4176/33573061453_37e59f3894_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4176/33573061453_37e59f3894_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/T9JHv8 ]Bredon Hill. 1st May 2017[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/79912681@N06/ ]Kayak23[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4167/34252416771_d9aaefa516_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4167/34252416771_d9aaefa516_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/UbLAaR ]Bredon Hill. 1st May 2017[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/79912681@N06/ ]Kayak23[/url], on Flickr
Finally got out just after midday, planning to do same route as yesterday, after deciding meteorologists know diddly. But after 110% effort from Fishers Pond to Winters Hill, my legs were spent, not helped by only taking a small water bottle in my jersey pockets instead of having ~1Kg bounce up and down as and when I got out of the saddle! So a shortened, lower gradient homeward leg was called for.
Still, 19 miles is better than not getting out at all considering the bad predictions of rain, plus I was shocked to have such a decent average speed for me considering I did 25 yesterday.
[img] https://imgur.com/gallery/T3slM [/img]
No real plan, so rode around a few footy grounds. Windy home which made the slog uphill a bit more sloggy than normal.
Just back from setting lots of PBs at hamsterley, thanks to new found fitness 😀
Working most of the weekend, just a local blast this eve - but it was bloody lovely...
[img] 
?oh=4713f63f6a270a0a202854117890bc37&oe=598AF6BE[/img]
I did a solo local ride to Macclesfield forest yesterday (very windy!) and today went to Llandegla for some fun with Mr Pea. Had a good ride despite dodging loose dogs on the trail and people walking with their bikes on the black trails.
Due to childcare, social commitments and a blistering hangover, only got one ride in (well after work on Friday got a couple of hours on the road bike but that doesn't count) and it was a cracker.
Family day out in Grasmere then I pedalled the long way home. Nice.
(Still can't link pics)
No pics, but I've managed a long local ride with the kids, all of family_oab to the top of Upper Coul hill, ripped out an ovesize garden hedge, smoked out most of Dunblane with the resulting bonfire, and half installed the new fence... And seemed to have spent half the weekend arguing with recalcitrant kids...
Against all odds I squeezed in a ride the evening. Nowhere special, just a 20 mile spin around the woods on my old CX bike. But it felt bloody great.
[img] 
[/img]
Finished my budget eBayed Trek rebuild, new BB/cranks/NW ring, wheels trued, hanger straightened and took it out for a 10 mile shakedown - nothing fell off, and neither did I (first time out on SPDs for years) but still a little work to do tweaking the position.
[IMG] 
[/IMG]
Ended up with a nice road ride Saturday morning, the Mini Enduro @ Fod on Sunday, which was that dusty it made my throat by the end. Came 52nd of 90 in Masters, not great but felt I rode ok. Then a pretty wet and gritty ride at Cannock with the wife yesterday.
[url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4180/34360714206_2a62c8da01_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4180/34360714206_2a62c8da01_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/UmkDe1 ]randr-photo-1995212-3000px[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/91843706@N08/ ]Sam Dexter[/url], on Flickr
Sunday morning commute.
[url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2857/34402469005_9053e2da6d.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2857/34402469005_9053e2da6d.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/Uq2Dtk ]Suffolk May 1 - 1[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/mycams/ ]Mike Hams[/url], on Flickr
Riding a new route
[url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4158/33592604243_14e9cc202d.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4158/33592604243_14e9cc202d.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/TbsSTM ]Suffolk May 1 - 2[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/mycams/ ]Mike Hams[/url], on Flickr
Langdale over to Troutbeck. Down to Ambleside up over Loughreg back to ODG for cider.
Dropped the car off for a service this morning, was looking good out so threw the bike in the boot to ride home. Was looking so good I decided to head up the Taff Trail for abit and come back home via back lanes. 24 miles instead of 4 😀
[url=[url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4186/33594665003_d515f31b64_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4186/33594665003_d515f31b64_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/TbDru8 ]20170502_090700_Richtone(HDR)[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/91448594@N04/ ]Da_Milky_Bar_Kid[/url], on Flickr]Long Way Home[/url]
Lantern rouge in the three-day Surrey League. Racing my age 😀
[img] 
?oh=547761f4f9c42507452751706e626589&oe=5976DB54[/img]
3 day weekend around Todmorden / Hebden Bridge
[img][url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2838/34275012211_330b10910b_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2838/34275012211_330b10910b_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/UdLp1p ]IMG_0735[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/146888534@N08/ ]Kevin Brennan[/url], on Flickr[/img][img][url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2838/34275012211_330b10910b_k.jp g" target="_blank">
https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2838/34275012211_330b10910b_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/UdLp1p ]IMG_0735[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/146888534@N08/ ]Kevin Brennan[/url], on Flickr[/img]
Monday
[img][url= https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4181/33595802773_b257cf26ba_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4181/33595802773_b257cf26ba_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/TbKgGR ]IMG_0731[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/146888534@N08/ ]Kevin Brennan[/url], on Flickr[/img]
Sunday
[img] https://flic.kr/p/Ubgb3G ][img] https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4156/34246677372_2ae2c150f2_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://flic.kr/p/Ubgb3G ][img] https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4156/34246677372_2ae2c150f2_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/Ubgb3G ]IMG_0733[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/146888534@N08/ ]Kevin Brennan[/url], on Flickr[/img]
Saturday
@mcnultycop I've gambled on a 58cm for £900 from Rutland last night in their bank holidays sale, reports suggest go a frame size bigger unless you want a lower front end and more drop, fingers crossed it fits! 😀
