Author: james

The weather forecast for today had improved substantially by this morning, to the point where I thought I might be able to get a fondo in without getting rained on. I set off at about 1045 to do the Upper Westbound route. That’s an option that’s fallen out of favour recently for apres-work rides due to the irritation of having to share the Beloved A Road with rush hour traffic, but no such reservations apply on a Sunday.

I stocked up on food at the petrol station near Hatton. Crisps, a sandwich and a Fry’s Peppermint Cream. Then, rather than turning south into Hatton I decided to keep on – I suspected that my way would be blocked by a flooded road near Scropton (again) so I wanted to do a bit of exploring. I continued on to Foston, then took a road north called Hay Lane. I’ve been up there before. It’s a bit narrow, twisty, bumpy and gravelly but I perservered until I came to impassable water. Then I came back south onto the main road again. Then I tried a road north called Woodyard Lane until, once again, I came to a watery impasse. I turned back south again.

By the time I was back on the main road I’d decided not to bother going down through Hatton and Scropton at all. I decided just to head for home, but add a few miles some other way. I took a detour through Etwall from Hiilton, and after Swarkestone, I came back the long way via Weston, Aston, Shardlow and Castle Donington.

A nice mild day. Sunny when I set off, then gloomy for a bit with a faint hint of drizzle. Then nice sunshine again. I didn’t get rained on but I went through water on the roads so many times that the bike was filthy when I got back. I actually gave it a cursory hose down and clean with some car shampoo before putting it away, which is a very rare turn of events for me. Only took ten minutes, not a proper clean by any means. But I should do that more often.

I took the first pic at the left turn onto the main road, after Etwall. Water was gurgling into the drain at about a litre a second (at a guess). Both wheels were up to the spoke nipples in it.

Arrived at the road next to the runway at East Midlands just in time to see a plane take off, going west. A 737 I think.

Listened to footy on 5 Live and the rest of the Reacher novel, 61 Hours. Definitely better than the last two.

Back on 65.24 miles, about 45 minutes before sunset. 298 done this month.

https://www.strava.com/activities/10788995520

Sunny, dry and mild by the time I downed tools this afternoon. A bit windy though. I set off to do 20-odd of the Lower Westbound route, then come back. Got as far as Handsacre then came back.

Quite a bit of standing water from heavy rain overnight, and some of the fields had been transformed into shallow lakes.

Listened mostly to more of the Reacher novel, just a few hours from the (no doubt righteously brutal) climax now. Back on 49.54 miles.

https://www.strava.com/activities/10775648899

Hadn’t been out on a bike for a few days so I was glad to get an opportunity after work today. Nice and dry, but windy and rather cold. I did a Bypasser, with a bit of exploring at the south-eastern end near Dordon. I’d been over that way once before, there’s a nice view looking back into Leicestershire from the high ground there. But I took a different route last time, along a horrible narrow gravelly road (Dordon Hall Lane I think).

Comfortable enough before sunset but very cold after that. Listened to another couple of hours of the Reacher novel.

Back on 40.15, 183 this month. Really looking forward to longer days and warmer weather. But quite enjoying a bit of night riding for now.

https://www.strava.com/activities/10749507606

Would have been a lovely day for an eastbound fondo – very light winds, no chance of rain and mostly bright and sunny (albeit I’d have been coming back in the dark). But I had scheduled work late this afternoon so I couldn’t. So I took a long lunch break instead. I did a Twycrosser.

Once again I saw a helicopter apparently headed for the field near Measham and sure enough it was parked there when I passed the field fifteen minutes later. I saw a well-dressed lady in her 50s in a Range Rover pulling away from the gate, a man of a similar age in a business suit was walking along the path to the helicopter.

Quite an enjoyable run out, if brief. Nice to do the whole thing in daylight, at least. Back on 26.35.

https://www.strava.com/activities/10715495867

Wasn’t able to abandon my desk as early as I wanted due to a meeting but it was mild and dry, if a bit windy and gloomy. I thought I’d do the usual 30-odd after work. I did a Bypasser.

Saw a helicopter travelling in a south-westerly direction not long after setting off and wondered if it was headed to the “helipad” field near Measham. Sure enough when I passed the field it was there, red lights flashing and spinning up the rotor blades. I stopped and watched it take off.

Even better, I saw an old steam locomotive on a huge trailer being pulled along Gallows Lane.

Tested a new torch that I bought at Tesco on an impulse – it takes 4 AAs and is quite heavy so not practical for longer rides but great for these shorter jaunts. Very bright.

Listened to 5 Live and more Reacher.

Back on 37.27 miles.

https://www.strava.com/activities/10703141853

A dry, very mild day was forecast (about 13C) so I took the afternoon off with a view to doing a long one. I decided to do the Lower Westbound route, but to take the turn for Rugeley rather than Abbots Bromley. In essence my Wales route, although I wasn’t going to go nearly that far today.

I set off not long after 1100 but had a false start – After about half a mile I realised firstly that I’d forgotten to adjust the saddle on the Boardman like I intended (it came slightly loose and after I’d tightened it, it was about a centimetre too far forward), and secondly that I’d forgotten my phone. So I turned back, adjusted the saddle, went in the house for the phone and set off again.

Bit of a bothersome headwind on the way out. But the sun came out, which I wasn’t expecting. I stopped after about 38 miles (including the superfluous mile at the start) and turned back. I’d done about half of the Wales route.

I missed the turn for Armitage and King’s Bromley on the way back, but only realised some time later. I’m sure I did the same thing on the way back from Wales, last time. But I saw a turn for King’s Bromley a bit later on and took that. My unnecessary detour added about four miles but I didn’t mind – it was well-surfaced and mostly flat, and I had a decent tailwind so I was flying along.

The A51 was resurfaced in part a couple of years ago and it was pretty rough for a few miles but I’m glad to say it’s bedded in nicely now.

I listened to 5 Live, and started the next Reacher novel, 61 Hours.

Back two hours after sunset, on 79.71 miles. Very enjoyable trip.

https://www.strava.com/activities/10683138934

Wasn’t expecting to be able to ride a bike today but the forecast improved considerably, so I did. I had scheduled work at 1800 so I abandoned my desk rather early to be back in time. But I only wanted to do 30-odd anyway.

Dry and sunny, but cold, about 5C, diminishing rapidly after sunset. Windier than advertised, as well. I did a Twycrosser.

I meant to take the same road between Sibson and Shenton that I did on the 19th, but I took the wrong turn and went through Upton instead. But that was a road I hadn’t done for a while, and pleasant enough in its own way.

Back 45 mins after sunset, but it was still just about light enough to see the road.

Another 33.21 miles and that’ll be it for January.  Pretty pleased with 481 miles this month.

https://www.strava.com/activities/10661737487

A stiff wind was coming from the south but it was a dry and sunny day. Not too cold. Agreeable conditions for a southbound fondo, to get another neighbouring county box ticked (Northamptonshire).

I was up at about 0800 and expected to have set off by 0915 or so, but I dawdled a bit over breakfast and didn’t leave until 0950. Probably for the best, because it was a bit warmer by then and I had plenty of time.

Stopped for a wee after 11 miles. Unfortunately the farm gate I’d leaned the bike against wasn’t secured, the wind caught it and pushed the bike over. The bike was fine though except that the mirror popped out of its ball joint. I assumed I’d have to do without it for the rest of the ride. The last time I did that (by exactly the same method) I was unable to push it back on. I think I resorted to using a vice or something. This time though I did manage to get it back on by brute force when I stopped and had a go a few miles later.

I was very happy to find the shop at Gilmorton open – they close at 1pm on a Sunday apparently, and I got there at 1230. So I treated myself to lunch on one of the tables outside. I bought some stuff to eat on the way back, as well.

I took the left to Sibbertoft Gliding Club, to cross the boundary there rather than Welford. Kept going into Northamptonshire for half a mile or so then turned back. It’s an unusual county boundary, at least at that point. Doesn’t have a natural feature like a stream or an old road. It just crosses a field.

I tried a modification to the route. One negative about the southbound route is having to slog up a hill into Earl Shilton both ways. But while experimenting with a route planner yesterday, I found that I could avoid this by taking the bypass. It circles round the hill. This involves taking a short, winding, narrow cycle path between the usual route and the bypass, which I’m not keen on – I did notice a few thorny creepers straggled across the path, and I know from unfortunate experience that a thorn can give you a puncture. But I avoided them, and it was very nice not to have to pedal up that hill.

Quite often a strong wind dies down in the afternoon but not today, which was nice as it meant I had a noticeable tailwind on the way back.

Listened mostly to 5 Live – the Australian Open mens’ singles final and some very entertaining FA Cup footy. I also listened to 45 minutes or so of David Hepworth’s Uncommon People, not bad. He writes well but he waffles.

Back nearly 3 minutes before sunset. 66.83 miles.

https://www.strava.com/activities/10648921031

I did a Twycross Bypasser, always a nice option on a Friday after work. Dry and sunny to start off, but uncomfortably cold after sunset. Quite a strong wind from the west.

Lovely along Atterton Lane at dusk. Tranquil.

Only wanted to do 35 miles really, but I ended up with another 40.15 in the bag.

The weather looks thoroughly decent for Sunday, dry and about 10C. Northamptonshire and back, I think.

https://www.strava.com/activities/10634750796

Hadn’t been out on a bike for a few days so I was very much looking forward to downing tools early this afternoon and getting 40 miles or so in. Bright, dry, mild (about 8C) but the wind from the west was pretty stiff.

I decided on the Lower Westbound Route and did that, except that I went up to Ashby and through Packington on the way out west. Also, bizarrely, I took the wrong turn from Measham, through Oakthorpe and Dinisthorpe. I’ve done this once before – deliberately, and decided I wasn’t going to do it again. But I have done it again, out of absent-mindedness.

Got as far as King’s Bromley, then turned back. The wind was supposed to have dissipated a bit by this time, meaning I’d only have a weak tailwind on the way home. But I don’t think it had, or not by much. It definitely gave me a decent push along the flat bit from Bromley to Croxall.

Really nice out there – makes a big difference having dry, mild conditions. A few puddles and wet patches on the road, but not much. Nice to have a bit more daylight in the afternoon as well.

Back on 44.85 miles which takes me over target for the month (the 2024 target is 4550).

https://www.strava.com/activities/10622296894