The "Photos From Today's Ride" thread...

[james7]

Eddie Strohacker said:

Nice. Did you take the trail you're facing there? It's short, but properly sharp at the other end.

That was looking back at where i had come from so i went down the sharp bit.

I kinda went a bit wrong really. I looked at google maps and a trail website and it looked like i could do a loop round near the top and end up going back towards worthing college but i ended up at the bottom on the other side. So i went back up and cut across where i took that picture instead.
I was going to go to the lane by the garden centre and up to long furlong but i ran out of energy, and it was kinda hot 30 ish degrees, insert any credible excuse here please next time though

[Eddie Strohacker]

Ah well, there's always next time. From where you're looking, you can head left up the short hill to the kissing gate, straight on up through the gap in the ramparts & on to the middle of CR, follow the obvious mowed path to the trig point & bear right down through another gap in the rampart, lift your bike over the fence, turn left down the north side of the ring - nice & fast to the car park at the bottom, turn left & head down the country lane toward Findon village, turn left at the crossroads, heading out of the village & you'll see the garden centre on the other side of the A24. The long Furlong climb is behind there.

[flight147z]

Daveyraveygravey said:

flight147z said:

How do you find climbing on a propel? I'm considering one for my next bike

It's fine; I Everested Boxhill on it a month after I got it, 27 hours and 9000 approx m of climbing. I changed the saddle from the stock one, and it now has an 11-32 cassette and long cage derailleur. In my head I'm a 53-39 and 11-25 kind of guy, but not in my legs! Plus I have 25 mm tyres on it - the original came with 23's back in 2016. Giant adapted the brakes to allow a little more tolerance for the trend for wider tyres after I got mine.

A friend has a Synapse, I really should take that out for an hour to compare how much more cushioning it gives.

When I plumped for it back in April 2016, I had a good long look at the kind of rides I do. I cycle to work 2 or 3 times a week, anything from 20 minutes to 2 hours, plus weekend rides tend to be around 3-4 hours; I do the odd century but no more than 3 or 4 a year. I took the decision that a comfort geo wasn't really what I needed, and I just like the way it looks. I still get that nagging to jump on it and go for a spin if I haven't been out for a few days.

Just seen the price of the 2018 models... Even the basic ones... Think they are off the table for me but glad you like yours!

[Johnnybee]

Enough of all these hills

I had a very pleasant ride from Woodhall Spa to Lincoln and back yesterday. The weather really made it but when I arrived at Lincoln there was a "Steampunk" festival on. I had to Google it but it seemed to consist of mainly middle aged people and pensioners wearing over the top Victorian era based fancy dress, or something.

[james7]

Eddie Strohacker said:

Ah well, there's always next time. From where you're looking, you can head left up the short hill to the kissing gate, straight on up through the gap in the ramparts & on to the middle of CR, follow the obvious mowed path to the trig point & bear right down through another gap in the rampart, lift your bike over the fence, turn left down the north side of the ring - nice & fast to the car park at the bottom, turn left & head down the country lane toward Findon village, turn left at the crossroads, heading out of the village & you'll see the garden centre on the other side of the A24. The long Furlong climb is behind there.

Thanks. I will do that next time.
I got to that car park at the bottom but turned round and went back up as i was not where i thought i was. I should have just carried on!

[Craikeybaby]

hyphen said:

Have you considered a front mounted seat?

Asking as I have one, and the experience is so much better than a rear seat, as they are in front of you so they have a clear view ahead, enjoy ringing the bell, you can talk to them, adjust helmet and so on.

We have a lovely time with it, we had another 2 hours riding on it today, loves it.

Yes, that would have been my first choice, but I was given this one free and the wee man seems to enjoy himself anyway. Most of the time we're riding in a group, so he is still able to interact with everyone.

[Eddie Strohacker]

james7 said:

Thanks. I will do that next time.
I got to that car park at the bottom but turned round and went back up as i was not where i thought i was. I should have just carried on!

No wonder you ran out of puff if you went up the north side of Cissbury twice in this heat! The only thing I'd mention is don't ride the ramparts, it's forbidden & the South Downs ranger gets the hump when people do.

[rs4al]

Mt Teide from Chio, 4500' in 15mi, avg gradient 5.5%. No flat bits ! I did this as part of the Club Activo group ride, which I fully recommend, great banter and reassuring to know you have water freely available from the support van. Shame the bike was a bit too small for me as made the descent a bit twitchy especially at the brown end...

[Kawasicki]

rs4al said:

Mt Teide from Chio, 4500' in 15mi, avg gradient 5.5%. No flat bits ! I did this as part of the Club Activo group ride, which I fully recommend, great banter and reassuring to know you have water freely available from the support van. Shame the bike was a bit too small for me as made the descent a bit twitchy especially at the brown end...

Bike looks great! Twitchy handling can be tuned out with different tyres. What are you using? I switch between two wheel/tyre sets on my road bike. One is a narrow rim with a 23mm Michelin Power Competition at 90psi, the other is a wider rim with a 28mm Specialized Espoir at 60psi. It is like riding two completely different bikes.

[snobetter]

yellowjack said:

ride

I did a lot of that route the day after you, Haytor is a regular for me but I don't often get the time for an extended moors jaunt.

https://www.strava.com/activities/1151520565

[timnoyce]

I had the opportunity to cycle to Bath on Sunday morning from Portsmouth. It's rare that I get a weekend ride in due to family commitments but I sorted out riding there whilst the family went in the car. The route is fantastic having ridden it a few times before (albeit going further on the previous occasions) but the weather was great .

https://www.strava.com/activities/1154377286



Pic from my only notable stop in Salisbury for drink and continental style pastries... the only reason I ride this kinda thing is so I can eat whatever I want for the day without feeling bad!

[Eddie Strohacker]

Picked up a bit of the Monarch trail tonight for a change. Forecast is for rain tomorrow & there were loads of people out & about, I suspect getting a ride in before the weather closes in.



ETA it was 26 degrees when I set off, still haven't cooled down.

Edited by Eddie Strohacker on Tuesday 29th August 19:50

[rs4al]

Kawasicki said:

Bike looks great! Twitchy handling can be tuned out with different tyres. What are you using? I switch between two wheel/tyre sets on my road bike. One is a narrow rim with a 23mm Michelin Power Competition at 90psi, the other is a wider rim with a 28mm Specialized Espoir at 60psi. It is like riding two completely different bikes.

It was a hire bike, my usual bike is a 54cm synapse and this was a 51cm roadmachine, headtube was at least 5cm lower than I was used to...

[snobetter]

[ianstoker]

A little under 10 miles according to mapmyride

Mostly nice and steady along the Grand Union Canal

2017-08-31_06-43-31 by Ian Stoker, on Flickr

[Daveyraveygravey]

After a ten hour drive from Pescara (it got to 35 degrees in traffic around Bologna) made it to the hotel near Prato allo Stelvio. Trouble is the weather is lousy and the forecast is worse! No mudguards no wet weather gear...10 degrees tops and rain from 5 am for 4 hours

Edited by Daveyraveygravey on Friday 1st September 19:22

[DJFish]

This week I've had a change of scene and have been commuting though Hyde Park, a bit of greenery has made a refreshing change.

[Eddie Strohacker]

Had a ride round Chanctonbury & Windlesham school today, maybe the last sunny Saturday of the summer?

[HoHoHo]

Eddie Strohacker said:

Had a ride round Chanctonbury & Windlesham school today, maybe the last sunny Saturday of the summer?

I went out with a mate just after 7am and went from Ashington to Devils Dyke via the Washington roundabout entrance to the Downs







What a fantastic way to spend Saturday morning and as you suggest there may not be many more days like today this year

[Eddie Strohacker]

Irritatingly, Strava lost signal in Findon & straight lined me, cutting off about two thirds of the ride,


[uurl]|https://thumbsnap.com/ngQypA0Z[/url]

P.s. A photo of Devil's Dyke from a past life of mine.

Edited by Eddie Strohacker on Saturday 2nd September 18:13

Edited by Eddie Strohacker on Saturday 2nd September 18:15