First ride of 2024 – photos

2023 was a shit year.
2024 must be better surely.

Set off with a mate this morning at 5.45 on a mixed road/gravel/singletrack adventure aiming for 100km around the Glasshouse Mountains.

I’d heard some of my planned route might be compromised by the recent storms we’ve had but the grey weather meant we would have a cooler ride at least.

We knocked off the first 35km of climbs, downed trees, 4×4 mud pits and tracks that had turned into rivers and stopped at a bakery. It was slow going but genuinely great fun- riding with an adventure racer is fantastic, nothing phases her whatsoever.

Then got smashed by heavy rain and knee deep crossings as we made our way to a downhill track at our halfway point.

We stopped to plan the second half of the ride – it was going to be a faster way home on long flat stretches of gravel.

Halfway down the DH track my back wheel locked up (luckily not in a rock garden!)

It was still a fun morning… but my luck isn’t too good at the moment.

I’ve smashed derailleurs before but I actually had to get a lift home today for the first time.

I hope your first ride of 2024 goes a little smoother.

Here’s me thinking why is it light in those pics! Doh.

Good write up.

Quick hour on the damp roads

Nowhere special today. Just riding to work with the noisy mutt, but it’s beautiful out and so lovely and peaceful with so many of those pesky humans still in bed sleeping it off 😊

River Avon in Warwickshire getting a bit lairy out of its banks.

Tree down across the towpath.
It’s all kicking off round here!

Chilly hour around the Auchencarroch road. 

First ride of the year and there wasn’t water falling from the sky!

Under the wheels however..

Aberdeenshire alpine resort 

Golfie ride for us and a couple of mates this morning.
Minging wet and a puncture for Mrsstu.

Still great to be out though.

Right up the Trossachs

First 10 laps of Newbold Comyn in 2024. Thought I’d come back through St. Nicks park, but as Kayak has already pointed out, the Avon had other ideas.

A few flooded back roads in the Peak District on the gravel bike. Pretty quiet except for the cafe at Hope which was heaving!

Nice first ride of the year. Grey, but no rain. Plenty of mud, but Woodbury being sandy it was still surprisingly dry.

I’m a sucker for a proper Devon hollow way (sunken lane) and I discovered a new one today…

No pictures but me and the other half went for a gentle pootle up to Darwen tower. Nice to get out and spin the legs, got many plans for bike parks this year including a honeymoon in morzine, after a poor year of riding last year we are determined to get more done this time round. 

Cold and wet couple of hours this morning fortified by the water of life and a cold fritatta/hot chocolate.

I didn’t fancy being de-breeked for a coffee and bun at the old Carbeth Inn. 😎

Bah humbug the lot of you – still covid ridden here on such a nice day…

Not what was planned, but Fazzini-jnr-jnr was ill so today’s trip to see friends was cancelled, therefore a first pedal of the year was in order.

Traditional New Year’s Day bimble for a beer.

Followed by pizza.

2024 already >2023.

@sillyoldman

I passed you just after the Khyber.👌 I was following a woman who was riding pink semi slick tyres, absolute baller.

@Merak 👋

Local recovery ride after lunch. Felt a lot better after than before!

Was a little moist underfoot.

Pure slop but nice to see some blue sky for a change.

Nearly didn’t get out of the house, thanks to apathy and the rain. Nearly turned round after a mile as legs felt naff. Kept going on the promise to myself of a ride to Ilkley for a coffee and the train back up the hill. Spent 5 miles trying to keep ahead of a roadie that had nearly caught me on a climb, on my gravel bike (stupid game really – but I did win :-P). Next train was cancelled, so rode home via the cat 4 Cow and Calf climb (yes there were easier options, but my bike just seemed to turn right!). And was delighted by the ride that nearly didn’t happen…!

A quick blast around the red at Mabie.

Just a local bimble for me.

Was lovely to get out without the rain though.

1. 

A midnight ride to see the new year in on a bike… crap photo.  The ride was short but good; along the beach and around the woods. 

Couple of hours at Golfie to start the year.

Local loop for a quick ride

Always try ti make sure I ride on NYD, even if it’s just a quick roll round the local.

An hour and a bit sliding round mugdock. Saw a few bikes out, but no one i recognised.

Sorry, didn’t take the phone. Good to see some STWers really do ride bikes though.

A hack around Rossendale in the brief gap of biblical downpours to start the year of “best intentions”

Happy New Year Everyone!

Only meant to pop out for a quick spin with MrsReady yesterday, but as conditions were surprisingly pleasant – the sheep were in a good mood, and even the many walkers were friendly – we stayed out for an extra 1.5hours.

Soria down to Mogan GC

A soggy ride over Beeley and Chatsworth this morning. Rode yesterday on Stanton Moor, but no pics

IMG_20240102_104625~2 by davetheblade[/url], on Flickr

IMG_20240102_104650~2 by davetheblade[/url], on Flickr

IMG_20240102_094317~2 by davetheblade[/url], on Flickr

Had a run out on the gravel bike. Met family here for a paddle and cool down after. Saw 33deg in the Blue Mountains yesterday (rubbing it in on purpose!)

Saw 33deg in the Blue Mountains yesterday (rubbing it in on purpose!)

Saw 260mm rain in 24 hours here… tracks will be closed for a while now 😩

Run today ride yesterday, bloody damp.

Saw 260mm rain in 24 hours here… tracks will be closed for a while now

Crikey. I’ll stop complaining about the showers we’re having then. It’s a bugger to get your washing dry though!