So What Riding Did You Do the Weekend?

Gazzaputt

Interested to know who here rides at the weekend as well as comutting.

All this SCR must make for some good riders!

Me? I did the Gran Fondo Luciano. Very hot but a great route. Garmin gave me a ride time 4.09 over the 69 miles which I was disappointed with but the heat did sap me towards the end. Some big climbs in as well. Leith Hill, Abinger Common and Ranmore Common were killers.

Roastie

All the weekend riding stories posted here.

jonginge

3 weeks since I did any weekend riding and the guilt is building bigtime
Can't say I like the heat or the scorching sun much, though. *rails to the sky* damn you fair skin *shakes fist*

roger_merriman

JonGinge wrote:

3 weeks since I did any weekend riding and the guilt is building bigtime
Can't say I like the heat or the scorching sun much, though. *rails to the sky* damn you fair skin *shakes fist*

while i don't burn and am sporting the very sexy farmers/cyclist tan i'm another hater of heat i'm debating a early morn ride this week just to get out before the sun does.

lost_in_thought

JonGinge wrote:

3 weeks since I did any weekend riding and the guilt is building bigtime
Can't say I like the heat or the scorching sun much, though. *rails to the sky* damn you fair skin *shakes fist*

I don't like it either, and while quite fair, I rarely burn. It's just too bloomin' hot. Grumble.

Rich158

I had a gentle 50 miles on Sunday morning, in spite of my back screaming in agony on Saturday night. Strangely the pain went when I got on a bike

Then in the afternoon it was a little off-road action, and in fact there was very little action as I got talked into running a coaching session for a bunch of 10 year olds :? It was great fun though, I think I've found my calling, now all I have to work out is how I make a living wage from it

Stuey01

Stop all this bl00dy whinging. Jees, it isn't even that hot. Just about right I'd say.

It's about time we had some summer weather in the freaking summer. Long may it continue.

Was up visiting family this weekend so took the opportunity to have a nice spin around the Northamptonshire lanes on Sunday morning, beautiful weather, very few cars, roads as smooth as glass - awesome. Bit more "undulating" than dear old London so I felt the effects of it this morning.

gtvlusso

Mountain biking with the dog.....road riding has tailed off to allow time for working on the house....I hate it!

salsajake

agree, love this weather, did a local 23 mile ride with the 18 month old as co-pilot (and ballast), absolutely loved it, found some nice new climbs and peachy descents - had a stiff back later though, not sure if that is from the extra effort needed to keep the bike stable and upright with junior on the back?

Deadeye Duck

http://www.bikehike.co.uk/mapview.php?id=10876

That was my first proper weekend ride. I'm dead chuffed with myself for doing it and can't wait to do more next weekend.

It says 22 miles, but I actually did just over 25, due to a few unintended 'hang on, that was my turn off wasn't it...' detours. :oops:

salsajake

Deadeye Duck wrote:

http://www.bikehike.co.uk/mapview.php?id=10876

That was my first proper weekend ride. I'm dead chuffed with myself for doing it and can't wait to do more next weekend.

It says 22 miles, but I actually did just over 25, due to a few unintended 'hang on, that was my turn off wasn't it...' detours. :oops:

get yourself a GPS - I love exploring local roads, but hate the faff of stopping and checking maps all the time - a GPS and mapping software allows you to plan the route so you know how far you are going, what the height gain is, look at the route profile, tinker with it and download it, then you just follow it, knowing (as long as you do it right) where to go at each junction. It has really enhanced my riding experience, plus you can then download all the data and look at your speed profile (and Heart rate profile on fancier models)

nicktheluddite

Clevedon chip shop run with panniers on the back to get legs a bit used to the weight before holiday. A bit over 35 miles.

Roastie

JonGinge wrote:

3 weeks since I did any weekend riding and the guilt is building bigtime
Can't say I like the heat or the scorching sun much, though. *rails to the sky* damn you fair skin *shakes fist*

Don't worry - the last two weeks were pretty much my first weekend rides, races aside, in about 6 months!

Massimo

Yesterday did 50 miles in just under 2hrs 45mins - I left at 7am to beat the thunderstorms and the heat

Soul Boy

A blast round some of Swinley Forest's superb singletrack.

Milage unimportant, big smiles all round.

But boy, was it hot!

Deadeye Duck

salsajake wrote:

get yourself a GPS - I love exploring local roads, but hate the faff of stopping and checking maps all the time - a GPS and mapping software allows you to plan the route so you know how far you are going, what the height gain is, look at the route profile, tinker with it and download it, then you just follow it, knowing (as long as you do it right) where to go at each junction. It has really enhanced my riding experience, plus you can then download all the data and look at your speed profile (and Heart rate profile on fancier models)

Wont that include spending more on a bike computer than I payed for my bike though?

salsajake

Deadeye Duck wrote:

salsajake wrote:

get yourself a GPS - I love exploring local roads, but hate the faff of stopping and checking maps all the time - a GPS and mapping software allows you to plan the route so you know how far you are going, what the height gain is, look at the route profile, tinker with it and download it, then you just follow it, knowing (as long as you do it right) where to go at each junction. It has really enhanced my riding experience, plus you can then download all the data and look at your speed profile (and Heart rate profile on fancier models)

Wont that include spending more on a bike computer than I payed for my bike though?

Bearing in mind it appears your bike was free - yes! I ummmed and arrrred at the price (I paid £150 for an edge 205, but they are quite a bit cheaper I think now) but I have to say it is one of the best biking accessories I have ever bought. There was one peachy welsh descent we were on with roads forking off every 200m or so, the sort of thing you'd have to keep stopping and checking a map, because you would NOT want to miss the turn and up in the valley having to climb it again. A quick glance down at each junction and no worries, 40mph+ all the way, turning off and carrying on. Also useful for fell walking too. Mapping software varies in price, I use memory map and it is fantastic and again, great value when you consider what you are getting (1:50,000 regions is fine for most purposes)

Deadeye Duck

salsajake wrote:

Deadeye Duck wrote:

salsajake wrote:

get yourself a GPS - I love exploring local roads, but hate the faff of stopping and checking maps all the time - a GPS and mapping software allows you to plan the route so you know how far you are going, what the height gain is, look at the route profile, tinker with it and download it, then you just follow it, knowing (as long as you do it right) where to go at each junction. It has really enhanced my riding experience, plus you can then download all the data and look at your speed profile (and Heart rate profile on fancier models)

Wont that include spending more on a bike computer than I payed for my bike though?

Bearing in mind it appears your bike was free - yes! I ummmed and arrrred at the price (I paid £150 for an edge 205, but they are quite a bit cheaper I think now) but I have to say it is one of the best biking accessories I have ever bought. There was one peachy welsh descent we were on with roads forking off every 200m or so, the sort of thing you'd have to keep stopping and checking a map, because you would NOT want to miss the turn and up in the valley having to climb it again. A quick glance down at each junction and no worries, 40mph+ all the way, turning off and carrying on. Also useful for fell walking too. Mapping software varies in price, I use memory map and it is fantastic and again, great value when you consider what you are getting (1:50,000 regions is fine for most purposes)

The bike I'd be using it on wasn't free no, it cost me just over £300. I'll have a look into it, most definitely. I just remeber being advised to get a 705 in the past, looking at the price, then laughing and disagreeing. Maybe if I have a £2k carbon wonderbike, and I do 200 miles a week, maybe.

gert_lush

Deadeye Duck wrote:

salsajake wrote:

Deadeye Duck wrote:

salsajake wrote:

get yourself a GPS - I love exploring local roads, but hate the faff of stopping and checking maps all the time - a GPS and mapping software allows you to plan the route so you know how far you are going, what the height gain is, look at the route profile, tinker with it and download it, then you just follow it, knowing (as long as you do it right) where to go at each junction. It has really enhanced my riding experience, plus you can then download all the data and look at your speed profile (and Heart rate profile on fancier models)

Wont that include spending more on a bike computer than I payed for my bike though?

Bearing in mind it appears your bike was free - yes! I ummmed and arrrred at the price (I paid £150 for an edge 205, but they are quite a bit cheaper I think now) but I have to say it is one of the best biking accessories I have ever bought. There was one peachy welsh descent we were on with roads forking off every 200m or so, the sort of thing you'd have to keep stopping and checking a map, because you would NOT want to miss the turn and up in the valley having to climb it again. A quick glance down at each junction and no worries, 40mph+ all the way, turning off and carrying on. Also useful for fell walking too. Mapping software varies in price, I use memory map and it is fantastic and again, great value when you consider what you are getting (1:50,000 regions is fine for most purposes)

The bike I'd be using it on wasn't free no, it cost me just over £300. I'll have a look into it, most definitely. I just remeber being advised to get a 705 in the past, looking at the price, then laughing and disagreeing. Maybe if I have a £2k carbon wonderbike, and I do 200 miles a week, maybe.

surely people with £2k carbon bikes don't actually ride them much, just a few miles on a sunday and then spend the rest of the time polishing them

Rich158

gert_lush wrote:

Deadeye Duck wrote:

salsajake wrote:

Deadeye Duck wrote:

salsajake wrote:

get yourself a GPS - I love exploring local roads, but hate the faff of stopping and checking maps all the time - a GPS and mapping software allows you to plan the route so you know how far you are going, what the height gain is, look at the route profile, tinker with it and download it, then you just follow it, knowing (as long as you do it right) where to go at each junction. It has really enhanced my riding experience, plus you can then download all the data and look at your speed profile (and Heart rate profile on fancier models)

Wont that include spending more on a bike computer than I payed for my bike though?

Bearing in mind it appears your bike was free - yes! I ummmed and arrrred at the price (I paid £150 for an edge 205, but they are quite a bit cheaper I think now) but I have to say it is one of the best biking accessories I have ever bought. There was one peachy welsh descent we were on with roads forking off every 200m or so, the sort of thing you'd have to keep stopping and checking a map, because you would NOT want to miss the turn and up in the valley having to climb it again. A quick glance down at each junction and no worries, 40mph+ all the way, turning off and carrying on. Also useful for fell walking too. Mapping software varies in price, I use memory map and it is fantastic and again, great value when you consider what you are getting (1:50,000 regions is fine for most purposes)

The bike I'd be using it on wasn't free no, it cost me just over £300. I'll have a look into it, most definitely. I just remeber being advised to get a 705 in the past, looking at the price, then laughing and disagreeing. Maybe if I have a £2k carbon wonderbike, and I do 200 miles a week, maybe.

surely people with £2k carbon bikes don't actually ride them much, just a few miles on a sunday and then spend the rest of the time polishing them

I race mine, but then everybody think's I must be mad :roll:

Kieran_Burns

You could of course get a HTC Touch HD and IGO8 (like moi 8) ) and not worry about a separate Sat Nav box.

sampras38

Gazzaputt wrote:

Interested to know who here rides at the weekend as well as comutting.

All this SCR must make for some good riders!

Me? I did the Gran Fondo Luciano. Very hot but a great route. Garmin gave me a ride time 4.09 over the 69 miles which I was disappointed with but the heat did sap me towards the end. Some big climbs in as well. Leith Hill, Abinger Common and Ranmore Common were killers.

Did a 58 miler round all the main Box Hill climbs.

Clever Pun

I got guest passes to Hard rock calling yesterday and drank myself stupid before watching the Boss

free beer > cycling.... sometimes

Rich158

Kieran_Burns wrote:

You could of course get a HTC Touch HD and IGO8 (like moi 8) ) and not worry about a separate Sat Nav box.

How do you find the battery life? it's bloody awful on mine and I've got the extra large battery :shock:

I've not tried it with IG08 yet though

hambones

I did my usual Saturday morning 6am start - 50-odd miles nice and easy.

Sunday was visiting my mum in Herne Bay with family and took the bike. Went out at 6.30 for a gentle 40 miles.

All my road miles are on my Scott CR1 Pro - including my winter commutes!!

sampras38

hambones wrote:

I did my usual Saturday morning 6am start - 50-odd miles nice and easy.

Sunday was visiting my mum in Herne Bay with family and took the bike. Went out at 6.30 for a gentle 40 miles.

All my road miles are on my Scott CR1 Pro - including my winter commutes!!

Another Scott CR1 Pro user here..0/

although I'll sometimes use my older Trek 1.2 in the winter if the weather is particularly bad.

Fireblade96

Not strictly weekend, but I commuted to work on the new roadie last Thursday (actually, since Thursday is the new Friday, it *is* the weekend) and decided to take the scenic road home. 23 miles from Theale to Caversham, via The Bell at Aldworth for a well-deserved pint :-)

I know 23 miles isn't much, but I was wearing a rucksack with big D-lock and laptop in it, and I have to say I'm finding this road bike lark hard going on the hills. I miss my MTB granny gear but do enjoy the 40mph descents

Apparently there was 1300 ft of climbing included in the ride, is that a lot ?

salsajake

Do you guys ride skinny tyres when the roads are frosty? I couldn't commute for weeks this winter because of frost and ice - I came off twice within a week on the same stretch of road where there is a pronounced crown and I couldn't keep the bike going in a straight line. Then again, I doubt wide or nobbly tyres would have made any difference on ice - am thinking of MTB'g to the train station in the frosty days, not as good as riding all the way in, but a compromise

Kieran_Burns

Rich158 wrote:

Kieran_Burns wrote:

You could of course get a HTC Touch HD and IGO8 (like moi 8) ) and not worry about a separate Sat Nav box.

How do you find the battery life? it's bloody awful on mine and I've got the extra large battery :shock:

I've not tried it with IG08 yet though

Adequate is the best answer but you NEED to turn all the excess apps off. You forget that just tapping the x does not unload the app just takes you back to the home page.

Plus you forget about bluetooth and wireless that are also switched on. I've got a desk mounted docking station at work and at home so I have no issues charging during the day (plus it can charge a spare battery if you are so inclined)