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I'm out tonight, localish XC over Parkhall and back through the Urban sprawl. Also, there are plans for Saturday night out near Congleton, with a mate, to explore some trails that a group have been making descending from the only large hill in the area.
Weather looks to be cracking all over and with sunset back to half 9 it's all awesome. I always like to consider the contrast to winter evenings where you go out at 7 and need the big lights on straight away and covered up with scarfs and base layers ..... I'll be out tonight in short shorts and jersey and lights needed perhaps for the final 10 minutes if you're out past 10... as I say... it. is. awesome.
Where you off?
Skived odd today and got a surf in
Haldon with boy tomorrow and lanhydrock on Sunday to watch the dilly cart racing.
And I think I even saw the mighty surfmatt...
Hexhamshire Common ..
Reversing our normal route ..up over Broadway ( which is a really hard call as it's a superb technical down ) ..over to Fell View ..which just about makes up for it ..along to Sinderhope and over Stobs Cross ..and a great fast sustained grassy blast back to Whitley Chapel where we start the ride ..
Jaco & myself are definite ..Dave & Jean if they can get a dog sitter ..Colin tied around his visiting daughters little finger and Russell will be mid air flying out to the Pyrenees with Ian on an MTB trip ...but I'm sure they would rather be with us ..obvs.
Pics to follow ..
No pics but I took the Arkose out for a road ride. Used Strava for first time and was pleasantly surprised to find myself in top 10 all time for Keys Lane descent (and quickest this year) and generally quick on climbs despite commuter tyres, rack and mudguards!
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bjz0YD3BKEi/?taken-by=smithmichaelw
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bjz1Cd4BJNL/?taken-by=smithmichaelw
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bjz30gYhFhj/?taken-by=smithmichaelw
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bjz4lQxB7Kn/?taken-by=smithmichaelw
More Manchester exploring
https://www.strava.com/activities/1627607597/
Though I'm not sure I'd go back to everywhere... interesting dirt crit lap around the wetlands and the flat out sprint along the Irwell by the Uni
First ride since I bashed up my ribs on Cut Gate B/Hol weekend, only hurt on the bigger bumps and everytime I crunched on those pinchy bridge climbs on the canal
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Coulags to achnashellach , that descent is so good!
Did an uplift at inners but managed to brake my gimbal so no video
You are right there Vongassit ..
We had a great day on Hexhamshire Common ..brilliant weather , dry & dusty ..
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[url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/156204930@N03/42647934432/ ]20180609_115952[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/156204930@N03/ ]Neil Hodgson[/url] - [url= https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dariogf.flickr2BBcode_lite ]Flickr2BBcode LITE[/url]
The drop from Fell View to Spartylea right down below ..
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[url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/156204930@N03/27828309107/ ]20180609_133504[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/156204930@N03/ ]Neil Hodgson[/url] - [url= https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dariogf.flickr2BBcode_lite ]Flickr2BBcode LITE[/url]
Jean left , Ant right ..Dave sorting out a flat..and the oldest naughty schoolboy in the ( Jaco ) world sent to sit on the naughty stone until he learns how to behave ...
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[url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/156204930@N03/41797459785/ ]20180609_144530[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/156204930@N03/ ]Neil Hodgson[/url] - [url= https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dariogf.flickr2BBcode_lite ]Flickr2BBcode LITE[/url]
Only he never learns ...
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[url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/156204930@N03/40887389540/ ]20180609_154621[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/156204930@N03/ ]Neil Hodgson[/url] - [url= https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dariogf.flickr2BBcode_lite ]Flickr2BBcode LITE[/url]
Cheers folks ..another memorable day out..
blindin conditions 👌 sweet riding out tonight
A road bike ride from home in Oldham up Blackstone Edge, an ice cream at the top then straight home.
Thoroughly enjoyable.
Always love reading this thread.
Despite the cracking weather, I haven't been out since Wednesday, but have almost finished the new bike build...
[url= https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1744/41991285994_2af053def6_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1744/41991285994_2af053def6_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/26YCjny ]IMG_4207[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/123339003@N04/ ]LittleNose[/url]
Back out riding tomorrow evening
Very nice !
Usual local Sunday morning ride. Couple of PRs and segment goals hit. Good weather. Legs still nettle throbbing
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The bike
So many colours in the hedgerows. Everything in flower, it's a lovely time to be out in the outside on a bicycle.
Racing at the Nationals yesterday, training this morning but all that topped by my boy's first CX ride on his new bike:
[url= https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1752/41816451315_a63a652e30_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1752/41816451315_a63a652e30_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/26Hbf7x ]IMG_0322[/url]
He took to it like a duck to water and we had some great fun on gravel, Essex roads and woodsy single track. His first time on a drop bar bike and he loved it also.
Walna Scar - contender for most enjoyable ride of the year so far, even though there was a bit of a push involved.
From Wollaston across to Cosford to watch the airshow from a field with 4 friends named Stella.
Oh and Tim, Tom, Paul and si aswell
Couldn't decide what to do after the world cup so thought I'd check out some of the trans pennine trail out towards Liverpool
Sat on the train back from Liverpool
28 miles around Dartmoor, taking in Trendlebere Down, Lustleigh, Hound Tor, Hamel Down Tor, Challacombe Down and then back to Lustleigh
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No pics I'm afraid.
Ride from Roman Lakes over to Rowarth and back.
Only moved up here at the beginning of the year and still finding my way around so used a route guide.
Great ride out in great conditions with a welcome lunch stop at the Little Mill!
[url= https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1759/27851630197_79f2b713e6_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1759/27851630197_79f2b713e6_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/Jr9TjD ]20180607_155735[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/dave-lowe/ ]Dave Lowe[/url], on Flickr
Camping weekend in Coniston. Two days of absolutely top class riding.
And drinking.
Offered to take the boy out on Saturday to get his new bike dialled in. The bike sat unused in the garden all day Saturday and all day Sunday, most disappointing. There's only so may times you can prod them before they start getting sarky. I did get out this morning before work though...
No riding - just running....
smallest_OAB took part in the 2018 Kilbryde Hike with 35 other teams.
Two day team mountain marathon (32 miles!) with self navigation, cross country and challenges at each checkpoint, carrying all your overnight kit. Blazing sun, thunderstorms, hail, downpours and so, so many midges.
Some of the younger 'Expedition' Teams have an adult or junior (14/15 yr old) leader to support them on the way around - the Junior category winners included an 11 year old and a lad with dwarfism.
s_OAB and team placed second in Juniors, 6th overall.
If ANY of you are BB's, Guides, Scouts, Athletic club or similar - do come and enter next year!
Being 50th Anniversary next year, you can enter an adult team...referred to as 'Veterans', despite being only 18+ in age. I am not sure we will have enough defibrillators...
Howgills and Bowderdale for us on Saturday.
Midges at the top of the Calf where a nightmare
[url= https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1739/27851167587_08e9daecae.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1739/27851167587_08e9daecae.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/Jr7vNB ]Untitled[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/17059060@N00/ ]eastham_david[/url], on Flickr
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[url= https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1752/42728372101_e438343098.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1752/42728372101_e438343098.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/286L5oH ]Untitled[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/17059060@N00/ ]eastham_david[/url], on Flickr
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[url= https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1749/27859370997_447db800dc.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1749/27859370997_447db800dc.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/JrQyoH ]Untitled[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/17059060@N00/ ]eastham_david[/url], on Flickr
What state was the Bowderdale descent in? If it was completely dry then this is officially the driest spell in history.
Nearly completely dry, just a couple of those streams running down from the hillside, but the singletrack was sublime.
Now is the time to do it, if you are going to give it a go. A very enjoyable (but hard) ride.
Just watch out for those midges, they get you just s you are pushing to the top of the Calf, little sods 🙁