Sir_Name 

I got out for a short ride in the woods between the day’s plans, had a blast.

JaccoW

This weekend and unfortunately the snow was gone before we could get some actual riding in but it was still a nice ride through the woods of the East of the Netherlands;

Took the train home.

Prowler 

It was a very nice day on the Schuylkill River Trail. Clear and sunny, temps in the low 40s. The Ersatz Gran Prix was running beautifully - quiet, strong, confident. When suddenly out of the corner of my eye……………..

Cursing like a New Bedford whaling ship captain, I dashed off the trail and into the woods. A terrific thump kicked the front wheel well into the air and we launched off an embankment. I cannot say how long it took but the front wheel did slowly come down. And it was as it did that I first noticed the pile of logs……………




OK, not all of that story is true. Actually the bike ended up pointed the other way. But, knowing the fog of BMC that would arise if I didn’t, I turned the bike around for a drive side shot.

Oh, I’m fine. Barely a scratch.

Sir_Name 

And you stuck the landing, @Prowler. I’m holding up a card with a “10” on it. I’m sure you can picture it.

curbtender

ExPatTyke

Shortish ride yesterday - the rain stopped mid morning, so I went out quickly (at least, as quickly as it's possible to go on an AO-8) to pick up a Veloviewer square a short way up the coast. I got the square, and I learned not to trust Google Maps.

The route was through Uphill village, up to then end of Weston seafront, then up the old Toll Road into Kewstoke, turning off into Sand Bay, then following the lanes to Woodspring. Over the Bristol road into Hewish, then through Puxton, heading for Sandford. This was when it started raining, and I had the bright idea of using a lane I'd seen on maps but never ridden down, to cut a couple of miles off the return home.

The lane started off as tarmac, rough in patches, but not as bad as some, 200 yards up this lane the tarmac started deteriorating; half a mile further and I was riding through a quagmire that was pushing the description of cart track. Puddles as deep as the bottom bracket, and mud deeper than tyre and rim. This section was less than a quarter of mile long, but by then I was wetter and more tired than I would have been sticking to my original route. Back on proper roads, I headed straight home through Banwell (the rain had stopped of course by now) and Hutton. Shoes, overshoes, and socks removed before entering the house!

A look on Strava later on that afternoon showed the section I'd ridden was titled Havage CX. We live and learn.

Top of the Toll Road, looking north across Sand Bay.


View from Woodspring. Welsh coast straight ahead, Clevedon to the right.


Havage CX. At least I stayed upright.

jonwvara 

Although it's almost two years old, I can't resist posting this muddy-road pic--an ill-advised shortcut (based on Google Maps) between Selma and Demopolis, Alabama.



I was still scraping dried red clay off my shoes two weeks later.

malcala622 

This morning I decided to bike ride home after work. While my Gios was tucked all the way in towards the corner I pulled on the brake hoods and ended up with this. Both hoods gave way.




I ended up riding the Giro home.

scozim 

Now that's some "fun" looking mud - glad I wasn't the one getting soaked.

northbend 

I celebrated inauguration day by riding fixed. Overshot 46 by 10 miles by noodling too much around the upper and lower valleys.
Celebrate 46 ride by Matthew Pendergast, on Flickr

smontanaro 

Thanks for the reference. I was unaware of that group. I suppose I'll have to start making more of my Strava rides public.

Spaghetti Legs 

Sunny and mid 50’s today but, not apparent until I was out on the bike, very windy, so it felt colder. I did 22 miles, about 1/3 gravel. 2 of the 3 gravel segments were pretty smooth with some tailwind and all was right in the world. Last stretch was up and down with a long pitch into a stiff headwind and some newer coarse rocks laid on a packed surface, so a little unpleasant.



Indeed, although I bet the rest of the living behind this gate ain’t so bad.

malcala622 

Morning ride to work

curbtender

Hadn't been on the China Camp loop in a while. Got a beautiful day.


Marin Civic Center

Cal Park tunnel, also known as the freezer.

zukahn1 

Fairly nice riding weather for winter yesterday so I took the Hardrock for a nice snow ride in Pike national forest.

Sir_Name 

Frozen water bottle ride.

ExPatTyke

The sun was out today, and the sky was blue, so I went out on the AO-8 intending to do a few miles. I was back earlier than expected.

I went out along the sea front again, past Birnbeck, through Kewstoke and Wick St. Lawrence, then onto Hewish, Puxton and Sandford, and onto the Strawberry Line cycle trail, which was quite muddy after the rain of the last few days. It was about a mile along when the chain started skipping, before going completely slack and dropping off the chain ring.

A quick look confirmed what I thought - the lower derailleur spring broken. Luckily the long dropouts made a quick single speed conversion simple, and I was able to ride home without dropping the chain once. Nice day for a bike ride, and it makes a change not to do roadside repairs in the rain.

Birnbeck Island & Pier. The pier was built in the late 19th Century to serve steamers putting into Weston. It went into disuse in the 1970s and has been derelict since. The RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institution) have recently announced a plan to purchase and renovate the pier and reinstate the lifeboat station at the pier end. Steepholme Island on the left, Flatholme Island in front, and the snow covered welsh hills in the far distance.


Wick St. Lawrence church, complete with reserved parking space for the Vicar!


My AO-8 single speed!

DMNHCAGrandPrix

Nice break between storms this weekend in the San Francisco Bay Area. On Saturday I solo-rode the route that Bay Area vintage enthusiasts normally do as a Dave Martinez/Fausto Coppi Memorial Ride in January.

Our usual starting point at Woodside school was closed because of the pandemic,


But there were still various people out riding in Portola Valley, or hiking at Arastradero Preserve.



Horses were out enjoying the sun too, and were intrigued by the sights and smells of a vintage 1958 Alex Singer (with an energy bar wrapper in the handlebar bag).



Just a 23 mile ride, but great to get out on a classic route and classic bike as the new year gets underway.

obrentharris 

A fine ride on a fine bike!
Enjoyable to see photos of my old haunts. In the mid seventies my usual training ride took me through Woodside, Portola Valley, lower Page MIll Road, and Cañada Road. Looks like they are still great places to ride. Thanks.
Brent

northbend 

Another dry, frost free Monday. Went out on one of my standard loop rides that takes advantage of our regional trail system for most of the route.
LAST COVID LOOP OF 2020 by Matthew Pendergast, on Flickr

Preston Trail by Matthew Pendergast, on Flickr

Snoqualmie River View by Matthew Pendergast, on Flickr

Looking twords home in the upper valley by Matthew Pendergast, on Flickr

Nearly finished, I turn off the Snoqualmie Valley Trail taking a little catch trail to access my Neighborhood.
Passing through a little stand of trees I must have sucked up a stick into my front fender.
UP my rear wheel goes immediately - I’m looking at the ground and had just enough time to tuck my head in before landing on my back.
OOF!
No damage except the front fender. Have a few aches and pains this morning but nothing serious.
Glad I was pedaling slow.
Oof! by Matthew Pendergast, on Flickr

Johno59

Yeah right...as if. Admit that you had a little ol leaf rubbing away under the fender, doing no harm to nobody and you decided to clear it with the tip of your shoe without bothering to stop.

merziac

^^^^^ ouch!!!

northbend 

Yea, there goes my New Year Resolution

fender1

Wow! Glad it ended up not being too serious. Curious what brand of fender you are using?

northbend 

Velo Orange Zeppelin's.