Our Rides in Words, Photos & Videos

I'm in England and Wales from 26th Oct to 2nd of November 2022. Attending a concert of The Original Damned at the Eventim Apollo in Hammersmith on Oct 29th. Anyone? :)
  • 26th Oct: Cotswolds (LHR - Cheltenham)
  • 27th Oct: Wales (Caernarfon, Llanberis)
  • 28th Oct: Mt. Snowdon, Buxton in the Peak District
  • 29th Oct: London Hammersmith (The Damned concert)
  • 30th Oct: Isle of Wight
  • 31st Oct: Stonehenge
  • 1st Nov: Brighton
  • 2nd Nov: Return from Heathrow.
@Chargeride, @DiggyGun: What do you think?
Sounds like fun. Have a great time in good old Blighty.

DG…
 
We went for a ride around Grafham Water on Saturday. This is an Anglian Water reservoir and the last time we were there was in July.

We noted then, that the water level was very low. But we’re very surprised to see it even lower.

This was it on Saturday.
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This was it in in July.
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Hopefully it will fill up over the wetter, winter months.

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DG….
 
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After almost a week of incessant rain and wind, I was really determined to get out today! It was a murky overcast day with rain threatening as always but it wasn't stopping me today, I wasn't expecting to get any photos in the murky conditions but to my surprise it actually brightened up a bit after I reached my destination at Kirkmuirhill! It was pretty mild for near the end of October, around 12C and just a 10mph wind for a change!

This is brighter, honest! ;) I enjoyed a lovely big descent just before this climb, its a tough climb going the other way!

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Looking back towards Kirkmuirhill!

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The autumn colours are really coming through now!

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I continued the climb up to Auchenheath where I would have a lovely descent down into the Clyde Valley! The dark clouds were still looming but I still hadn't seen any rain so that was a bonus!

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The climb ends here at this farm and I was looking forward to the descent now, the roads were very quiet so I was in cycling heaven!

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Ready for the descent! We ride on the left over here but I prefer to take my photos facing the traffic, just after I took this photo a car came speeding round the tight bend and luckily there wasn't anything coming the other way! I was poised to throw the bike at the hedge just in case...

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Part way down the descent I always like to stop here for photos of the valley below, amazing colours to enjoy today! I wouldn't mind living in this little cottage and seeing that amazing view every day! 👍

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I reached the valley and crossed over the River Clyde at Crossford, it was so good to see the river in full flow again!

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The bridge at Crossford!

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Looking west down the valley!

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It has been quite some time since I have seen the river flowing so rapid!

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Time for the big climb out of the valley, I elected to take the easier climb up to Carluke today as the steepest part is known for flooding down in the valley and I didn't want to chance it! It started to get pretty dark as I climbed up the hill and I really thought I was going to get wet, I turned the assist up and put the hammer down to get past the threatening clouds! I was in luck and managed to outrun the rain, I decided to stick to the main roads mostly on the way back home with the threat of rain all around!

I reached Newmains and took to the back roads again as it had brightened up thankfully! I had an uneventful ride home from there and I arrived home dry but with a very filthy bike, its all clean again and ready for a ride on Thursday which is looking hopeful so I might do a longer ride! It is looking a bit windy though but it will be mainly from the south which isn't a problem given the route I intend to take! It was so good to get out on the bike again, I did get out for some walks while the weather wasn't playing ball but its so much more fun on the bike!;) I only have around 160 miles to match last years total of 5037 miles so I'm pretty sure I will surpass that by quite a margin this year, I'm not sure if I will reach my 6223 miles from 2020 but it is possible if the weather plays ball...only 343 miles so far this month which isn't helping!
 

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View attachment 138647

After almost a week of incessant rain and wind, I was really determined to get out today! It was a murky overcast day with rain threatening as always but it wasn't stopping me today, I wasn't expecting to get any photos in the murky conditions but to my surprise it actually brightened up a bit after I reached my destination at Kirkmuirhill! It was pretty mild for near the end of October, around 12C and just a 10mph wind for a change!

This is brighter, honest! ;) I enjoyed a lovely big descent just before this climb, its a tough climb going the other way!

View attachment 138648
Looking back towards Kirkmuirhill!

View attachment 138649
View attachment 138650

The autumn colours are really coming through now!

View attachment 138651

I continued the climb up to Auchenheath where I would have a lovely descent down into the Clyde Valley! The dark clouds were still looming but I still hadn't seen any rain so that was a bonus!

View attachment 138652

The climb ends here at this farm and I was looking forward to the descent now, the roads were very quiet so I was in cycling heaven!

View attachment 138653

Ready for the descent! We ride on the left over here but I prefer to take my photos facing the traffic, just after I took this photo a car came speeding round the tight bend and luckily there wasn't anything coming the other way! I was poised to throw the bike at the hedge just in case...

View attachment 138654

Part way down the descent I always like to stop here for photos of the valley below, amazing colours to enjoy today! I wouldn't mind living in this little cottage and seeing that amazing view every day! 👍

View attachment 138655
View attachment 138656
View attachment 138657

I reached the valley and crossed over the River Clyde at Crossford, it was so good to see the river in full flow again!

View attachment 138658

The bridge at Crossford!

View attachment 138659

Looking west down the valley!

View attachment 138660

It has been quite some time since I have seen the river flowing so rapid!

View attachment 138661

Time for the big climb out of the valley, I elected to take the easier climb up to Carluke today as the steepest part is known for flooding down in the valley and I didn't want to chance it! It started to get pretty dark as I climbed up the hill and I really thought I was going to get wet, I turned the assist up and put the hammer down to get past the threatening clouds! I was in luck and managed to outrun the rain, I decided to stick to the main roads mostly on the way back home with the threat of rain all around!

I reached Newmains and took to the back roads again as it had brightened up thankfully! I had an uneventful ride home from there and I arrived home dry but with a very filthy bike, its all clean again and ready for a ride on Thursday which is looking hopeful so I might do a longer ride! It is looking a bit windy though but it will be mainly from the south which isn't a problem given the route I intend to take! It was so good to get out on the bike again, I did get out for some walks while the weather wasn't playing ball but its so much more fun on the bike!;) I only have around 160 miles to match last years total of 5037 miles so I'm pretty sure I will surpass that by quite a margin this year, I'm not sure if I will reach my 6223 miles from 2020 but it is possible if the weather plays ball...only 343 miles so far this month which isn't helping!
Your images portray such beautiful scenery regardless of the season. 👍Good to know that you were finally able to escape the wind and rain for a change. Nothing worse than riding in those type of conditions.

My analog ride yesterday was far from perfect as I donned an extra layer, leggings and did my best to stay warm as the temp dropped steadily to just above freezing. Such a drastic change from just a few days ago. Meanwhile, my wife who had just logged 10km on the indoor roller trainer decided to join me on another 18km ride with just a pair of lycra shorts, short sleeved jersey, short finger gloves and a light windbreaker on. Amazing. I almost felt sorry for her but she calls her own shots when it comes to dressing for the conditions. At least she was plenty warm and lithe after her indoor session. No snow to speak of but a brisk head wind made it feel even colder. The short-term forecast looks more promising this week and I’m hopeful that we can venture out a few more times before the first significant snowfall.

Screenshot 2022-10-23 at 22-46-12 Garmin Connect.jpg
 
Your images portray such beautiful scenery regardless of the season. 👍Good to know that you were finally able to escape the wind and rain for a change. Nothing worse than riding in those type of conditions.

My analog ride yesterday was far from perfect as I donned an extra layer, leggings and did my best to stay warm as the temp dropped steadily to just above freezing. Such a drastic change from just a few days ago. Meanwhile, my wife who had just logged 10km on the indoor roller trainer decided to join me on another 18km ride with just a pair of lycra shorts, short sleeved jersey, short finger gloves and a light windbreaker on. Amazing. I almost felt sorry for her but she calls her own shots when it comes to dressing for the conditions. At least she was plenty warm and lithe after her indoor session. No snow to speak of but a brisk head wind made it feel even colder. The short-term forecast looks more promising this week and I’m hopeful that we can venture out a few more times before the first significant snowfall.

View attachment 138667
She is one tough lady, I had 4 layers on today! 🤣 I hope the weather holds and you can both enjoy more rides before the snowfall!🤞
 
She is one tough lady, I had 4 layers on today! 🤣 I hope the weather holds and you can both enjoy more rides before the snowfall!🤞
It’s unusual for her to be out when it’s that cold so I guess the extended ride outside was just an excuse for her to cool off as a result of the indoor workout. It appeared to work as she didn’t seem to be suffering from any ill effects afterwards. I advised her to dress accordingly but she was off to the races before I even could put my cycling shoes on. :rolleyes:
 
a nice ride on a newly paved road that I wish had some shoulder. usually its to this busy on Sunday. along the Clacamas river. lots of farms including a rock farm. no waterfalls going yet but soon. we had to stop with a landslide last year. I finally checked out the end of the Oregon trail location. its a giant covered wagon stage and a few other displays and I guess a education center? to as much as I thought. right at the start of this run is a bar with almost no parking. seems a very bad location.


 
I'm in England and Wales from 26th Oct to 2nd of November 2022. Attending a concert of The Original Damned at the Eventim Apollo in Hammersmith on Oct 29th. Anyone? :)
  • 26th Oct: Cotswolds (LHR - Cheltenham)
  • 27th Oct: Wales (Caernarfon, Llanberis)
  • 28th Oct: Mt. Snowdon, Buxton in the Peak District
  • 29th Oct: London Hammersmith (The Damned concert)
  • 30th Oct: Isle of Wight
  • 31st Oct: Stonehenge
  • 1st Nov: Brighton
  • 2nd Nov: Return from Heathrow.
@Chargeride, @DiggyGun: What do you think?
Well firstly, thats an epic tour.
28th, Snowdon - Buxton, whos flying the helicopter?
If youre talking Snowdon on 28th, are you visiting the top?
Im only 50 mins away
 
Here a few pics of my ride last week on the BD rated Top Notch during my first day in Banff. It wasn’t pretty but I made it through this very tough and technical single track. It has a little bit of everything from tight rolling switchbacks, to a number of tricky TTFs (technical trail features), to gnarly rock gardens. There are not many technical trails within the townsite so this one ranks pretty high with the local folks.

Fortunately, there wasn’t a soul around and so I was able to take my sweet time negotiating the tight hairpins and steep descents. A tumble or two along the way was expected and I didn't disappoint. :oops: The climbs were no issue as the Levo was able to make quick work of them with the exception of a few tricky corners. Slow and easy was the mantra of the day.


Screenshot 2022-10-25 at 21-53-16 Topp Notch Trail at Banff.jpg

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Oct 19, 2022 - Top Notch_Moment(2).jpg

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Project 4 Top Notct_Moment.jpg

Project 2 Top Notch (Cont)_Moment(2).jpg

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