The weather was kind for this year's randonnee – warm and sunny but with a stiff breeze. We expected large numbers of cyclists and we were not disappointed. 2089 people took part with the vast majority riding the 100k route and only 257 opting for the 55k circuit. Full details of the event can be [...]
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Brown Bike disapproved of my brilliant idea of strapping bananas to his rack. As we whizzed down Madingley Hill into Cambridge, he dropped them into his rear wheel, chewed them up and spat them out. We were joining the Cambridge Cycling Campaign and Cycle Cambridge ride to Reach Fair. It was a decent turnout, perhaps [...]
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Two Bank Holidays bolted each side of a weekend, not the tandem Boris gave Wills and Kate as a wedding present. Four days of unbroken sunshine and, it has to be said, a national feelgood factor in the air. Plus smoke.
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The (proposed*) Yorkshire Wolds Cycle Route is a loop of more than 140 miles including two off-road sections that can be avoided fairly easily if required. There seems to be no specific start to the well-planned route developed by ‘Visit Hull & East Yorkshire’, but we completed this course as a one-day ride in a [...]
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The Tints mainland ride this month was to the New Forest. Great! Straight off the ferry and into beautiful countryside. No city centres to work your way out of, just miles of quiet lanes, bliss! I happily cycled the familiar 20 miles to the ferry at Yarmouth on a beautiful sunny morning that promised to [...]
Read all of Boldly to go, where no sane cyclist has gone before »
Boxers hang up their gloves, footballers their boots and tennis players their racquets. What do cyclists hang up? Their bikes? Their wheels? My wheels are coming off the bike to be taken back to their builder to be trued. I've done a few hundred miles on them so they are ready for a bit of [...]
Read all of A heavyweight hangs up his… wheels? »
I have no experience of group riding and how this works alongside motorists. I work out theories of how to do this but wanted to see how it actually works. So I went out with a CTC Senior Cyclists' Group. At 53 I may not be particularly "senior" but nor am I massively fit. Starting [...]
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'South to meet the Spring' is the title of an article on the Isle of Wight that appeared in the CTC Gazette in February 1958. The article was illustrated with sketches by Frank Patterson from an earlier era. On a day more like summer than spring, I cycled to the places mentioned to see what, [...]
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Dancing with the Traffic. Great expression for describing riding in the city! I can’t claim the rights on the saying as it was told to me by a biker-lady we know. She rides a Suzuki Bandit with a huge 1200cc engine. There’s nothing of her, so how she handles all that power is beyond me! [...]
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The Tints, or to give them their full title, The Autumn Tints Over 50s Cycling Comrades have 6 sections in the north of England and one on the Isle of Wight. Founded by 'Owd Tom' Hughes in 1924 membership is open to anyone over 50 and so, as I reached this sorry milestone last year, [...]
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Big Skies Bike Rides is the name given to eight cycle loop rides 'launched' in 2010. They take their name from the phrase used by David Hockney when he compared the sky over the Yorkshire Wolds to 'the big sky' he experienced in the American West. This 24-mile route starts in the centre of Driffield [...]
Read all of Big Skies Bike Rides: Burton Agnes and Kilham from Driffield »
I'm a day late celebrating the equinox but I've had toothache. It started when the dentist fixed a problem I didn't know I had, and this became infected. Up, down, left, right, you name it. Sorry, too much detail. Instead of an antibiotic, I'm on an antimicrobial. Is that a different name for the same [...]
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Finally spring is getting under way here on the Isle of Man. The sun had his hat on for the Saturday Scone run. So long as Jack Frost stayed in bed, I was bringing out the Hetchins for her first ride of 2011. She was purchased last April (Her birthday is 10th April 2010) and [...]
Read all of Hetchins, Scones and Audaxing… »
The big sky – Yorkshire Wolds, March 2011 On Saturday I joined up with Chris at Stamford Bridge near York to cycle another Big Skies bike ride in the Yorkshire Wolds: my second in about a month. By 'join up with' I mean I met him 40 miles into a ride of almost 130 miles, [...]
Read all of Big Sky Cycling – a loop from Stamford Bridge near York »
I have a weight problem. Yes, I'm carrying perhaps a stone of excess weight – mostly around my midsection – but my main problem concerns how much kit I carry on day rides. What to leave at home? This is what I routinely carry on my Kinesis bike, minus the grub (typically three bananas, cashews, [...]
Read all of Cycling kit: how low can you go? »
I've been a bit worried about the prospect of an upcoming Century ride on a borrowed bike. There is no reason for me to worry, the first Century ride I ever did was on a bike like this. Mine was actually bright yellow but this is the same model, a Puch 'Touring' from the 1970s.
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The Yorkshire Wolds Cycle Route is a loop of more than 140 miles using mostly NCN-marked roads. As far as I am aware there isn't an official starting place, but for no other reason than my own convenience I see Beverley – the most significant point closest to my home – as the beginning of [...]
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I've had a whole month away from my bike. Someone wanted 'a normal holiday, like normal people have'! So in between sunning and gorging myself I pined quietly as Roberta went into hibernation. She was fast asleep when I got back – it said so on her computer! Strange things seemed to have happened while [...]
Read all of A lot can happen in a month… »
Yesterday Chris and I met up in Market Weighton and cycled a 38-mile loop in some of the best cycling country I've been to in the UK. My first ever visit to the Wolds in the East Riding of Yorkshire, although I've been to York many times. The Yorkshire Wolds lie east of York and [...]
Read all of A cycle ride in the Yorkshire Wolds »
Inspired by Mick's semi-century, I tried to have a go. However, I didn't get out of the house until 11 am and wanted to be back in daylight, so I didn't have the time. That's my excuse. Besides, I spent a while exploring the delights of Cambridgeshire's Guided Busway. And my odometer has a manual [...]
Read all of Of Kissing, Car Traps and Hoggin »
I havent written to the blog for AGES.... I am missing my cycling. Its not even as if I am NOT cycling, because I am. But doing miles fewer than I manage when the weather is milder, like many other cyclists of course, and the days longer... soon the season gets underway again, and I [...]
Read all of GPS Audax February, an island in the sun! »
The weather is supposed to be fine and clear tomorrow, and I need to get out and ride. The winter seems interminable and it's grey and damp here now. I've been busy indoors these past few days, and my conscience is clear – chores complete, jobs done – even the ironing! So I can ride [...]
Read all of Where to tomorrow? »
The day the Humber Bridge opened we had a day off school. At least that's how I remember it. The 17th July 1981 was a Friday and I do have vague recollections of the event. Yesterday's planned CTC ride was across the bridge to Messingham on the south bank. I was too pushed for time [...]
Read all of Danny's Humber Bridge Cycle Ride »
Fenstanton is the birthplace of John Howland (c1591). He may have worked in Leiden, Netherlands, before at the age of 29 sailing with his boss on the Mayflower to the New World. On the voyage, Howland fell overboard but was rescued. If he had drowned, the world would now be very different. He married a [...]
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All these potholes. Someone should look in to them. After making it out on New Year's Eve I wanted to ride on roads I hoped would be clear of ice, but avoid retracing too much of the same route. It was very misty that day and, although there had been a thaw since, the temperature [...]
Read all of Yorkshire Wolds cycling: the first ride of 2011 »
It is two degrees Centigrade, there was rain overnight and now it is foggy. The roads have salt, slush and that slippery black stuff I dare not name. My larder is still well-stocked, and my hip has been in "discomfort" (as the medics euphemistically call it) since I went by bus to the supermarket before [...]
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I'm not too keen on this latest weather. Previously the roads were cold and dry but now they're cold and wet. When the temperature crawls above zero all my favourite routes are covered in thick sticky mud. When the mercury falls below zero, glaciers lurk in my path. I can either stay at home and [...]
Read all of Oh I do like to be beside the seaside! »
Tory Hill to Paudash Lake is a lovely run of 24 kilometers that goes over the rolling hills of the Canadian Shield on a twisting road. Last Sunday I rode this route for my first training run of the season. It was one of those monochrome days when the gray is punctuated only by the [...]
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Big Skies Bike Rides is the name given to eight cycle loop rides 'launched' in 2010. They take their name from the phrase used by David Hockney when he compared the sky over the Yorkshire Wolds to 'the big sky' he experienced in the American West. This 20.5-mile route starts at the William Bradley statue [...]
Read all of Big Skies Bike Rides: South Dalton, Lockington and Lund from Market Weighton »
I got on my bike yesterday for the first time in almost four weeks. The gap was on account of physical separation, not health, injury or illness (knock on wood, twice). I found myself consciously having to remember the morning routine – the pack-up of my office kit, the equipment checklist (tyres, chain, water, lights). [...]
Read all of Remembering Instant Karma »
Big Skies Bike Rides is the name given to eight cycle loop rides 'launched' in 2010. They take their name from the phrase used by David Hockney when he compared the sky over the Yorkshire Wolds to 'the big sky' he experienced in the American West. This 19.5-mile route starts at Beverley Minster and has [...]
Read all of Big Skies Bike Rides: North Newbald and back from Beverley »
The Gridiron is a 100k audax style ride organised by Wessex CTC and takes place almost entirely on minor roads in the New Forest. The name 'Gridiron' comes from the fact that it takes in as many cattle grids as possible. If anything is loose on your bike before you start, it will have fallen [...]
Read all of A Gridiron and a Century »
I'd been busy the past few weeks and although I was able to get out cycling, I couldn't spend many hours at a time doing so. I feel guilty when there's stuff to do, and can't really get my head relaxed and concentrate on a good ride. Yesterday, I was ready! I'd had a few [...]
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Or so it feels like... Met yesterday with Tina and Caroline as we were joining the Scone Run ride up north. They don't half cycle fast do these Scone run cyclists, and when I got home my legs are pretty well jelliefied and I was pretty well finished off, but I keep telling myself its [...]
Read all of Cycling the Isle of Man in a weekend »
The daily commute accounts for most of my miles. It's not much of a story, but Monday morning was gorgeous so I took a camera with me.
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Anyone who fancies raising money for a good cause by cycling on the Isle of Wight was spoilt for choice last weekend. Saturday offered 'Recycle the Island', 15 or 50 miles to raise funds for the Air Ambulance. Sunday offered 'Pedal for Parkinsons', a choice of 8, 16 or 26 miles to raise funds for [...]
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“Where do you plan on going?” asked the lady behind the desk. “Kirkut?” I replied, which was a question as much as a statement.
Read all of A Stranger in a Strange Land »
I eventually rode out for another of my Century Rides. I've been busy over the last couple of months or so, and couldn't take a whole day out for "just riding my bike". However, the opportunity arose and the weather was going to be good, so off I went. I was tired for some reason [...]
Read all of Century Ride – failed! »
There are a number of established coast-to-coast cycle rides, including the most recent "Way of the Roses" which was launched this month. That National Cycle Network route stretches between Morecambe and Bridlington, and covers some of the ground of a ride I attempted to complete in one day with another cyclist at the end of [...]
Read all of A Coast to Coast cycle ride: Morecambe to Mappleton »
What a day! It was the hardest 40 odd miles I have ever ridden, the most frustrating, the most challenging and the most muscularly tiring ride of my life! Makes doing a 100 mile Audax road ride feel like a walk in the park by comparison. Do not underestimate this ride if ever you fancy [...]
Read all of Manx End to End Challenge 2010… »
Its one of THE bestest places to cycle in my opinion that is, although there is a lot of Britain, that is very much untapped territory for me. Cumbria though, what a wonderful county, I consider myself so very lucky to live so close, full of scenery, and of skies, and of sheer beauty of [...]
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We had a couple of glorious days last week which were just ideal for a long bike ride. I don't often take the ferry over to Portsmouth as it can be hard to avoid the major roads and urban sprawl en route to pleasant cycling on the the South Downs but I'd had this route [...]
Read all of Meandering round the Meon »
Hi everybody, I've been neglecting my duties on here for a while, sorry. We've been busy here over the last couple of months. Our younger daughter got herself married in July, we went on holiday to Brittany in August, and now we're in the throws of major kitchen decorating! I've been able to get out [...]
Read all of At last! A long ride! »
Its all in a day for us multi taskers I suppose! My friend Tina joined me today, to ride 150km for Audax UK (using the GPS system). Except this time, we were adding a bit more to see if we could both cycle 100 miles. My usual route for this ride is 98 miles. Today, [...]
Read all of My first Century, a bit o' Cyclocross and Shopping… »
Mrs Taylor and me cycled to Southport yesterday, on one of the few sunny days we've had in Lancashire this wet August. It's about 26 miles due west from where we live and is the place to go for the shortest distance to the coast. But you'll be lucky if you see the sea at [...]
Read all of Cycling to Southport »
This excellent little book, 100 Greatest Cycling Climbs: A Road Cyclist's Guide to Britain's Hills, has prompted me to put some words to a few photographs I took one day last Easter. The book lists two of the roads we cycled that day (although we managed to ride down both hills: # 49 Buttertubs Pass [...]
Read all of 100 Greatest Cycling Climbs (# 51 Tan Hill) »
Yesterday my son Nick and I cycled the Rivington 100. The ride is a tough one and includes climbs from the 2002 Commonwealth Games road race and the Tour of Britain. The Rivington 100 is officially an annual event held each June to raise funds for Bolton Lads & Girls Club but we rode it [...]
Read all of Rivington 100 (mile bike ride) »
I've been quietly gloating, hearing about all these rides in the pouring rain. Until this week we've had no significant rain since May. The lawn gave up growing a while ago, so thats one less job to do, although the weeds in it need hacking down occasionally. When the morning of the Wayfarers' Breakfast Sizzle [...]
Read all of A Soggy Sausage Sizzle »
My first Sportive. I am now at the stage of my cycling that I fancy having a go at a 200km Audax. None exist on the Isle of Man, and my two 100km rides share similar hills. For a 200km I could go round them twice I suppose. In the meantime I received an email [...]
Read all of Appleby Sportive – Isle of Man, 1st August 2010 »
Yesterday, I finally made it out for another Century Ride. The weather had been unsettled for the past couple of weeks, and when it'd been ok, I'd had other things to do. So yesterday came, I was ready, and the window in the weather was almost perfect. I planned to ride out to the south [...]
Read all of Fish, Chips and Mushy Peas »
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