What is your cycling perfect moment?

wilshawk

had a good moment speeding down some hill near crystal palace (lots of hills near there) it was a nice empty residential road with not many cars driving or parked. Shaded by lots of trees with sunlight peaking through, and the hill had some curves on teh way down. I hit my fastest ever speeds down this nice hill, a very uplifting ride.

Another good time was cycling alongside the Thames around Chelsea and Battersea on a lovely sunny day.

I ihavent ventured much outside London on bike, will have to try and do some countryside cycle trips sometime and hear birds singing and all that :-)

silverpigeon

My favourite cycling moment is that bit, a few seconds in, when you first set off and get settled on the saddle. Even better when it's early morning or you when you really had to make yourself get out and ride.

Bunnyman 5.5

Coming back to cycling when you've had an off and your confidence is feeling a bit fragile...Nantgwynant to Betwys-y-coed early on a perfect crisp sunny day in february- and then not having to change trains at Bham New St [total PITA]. Also 45 mile offroad epic round Burford and Charlbury way on another perfect sunny day in may when the leaves were that lovely fresh green and the bluebells just coming out...not techy but a nice workout to blow away some emotional cobwebs! Peak/Lakes/Scottish epics in rain and shine...too many to mention but loved the neverending rockfests on my big Grasmere, Troutbeck, Ambleside, Loughrigg, Black Fell, Elterwater and Loughrigg Terrace MTB 8) ride back in november...just enough daylight for that one! Anytime I've been out in foul weather and still done a big day. Getting out and enjoying the freedom after working in the kitchen all day and knowing that you've done a good job but you're as free as a bird now. Feeling the need....the need for speed. The first post ride pint. Living in the moment. Nailing a really tough climb [Bealach Na Ba, The Cat and Fiddle, Innerleithen...and that nasty one in between Crowdecote and Earl Sterndale to name a few]. Getting boxes of bike stuff from CRC, Wiggle etc. Picking up your new bike ...better than a new GF and less expensive to run lol :P :twisted: Chatting about it all afterwards.

Bozman

I missed mine!
Early one sunny July morning i was out on the bike and everything was there, the legs felt great, the weather was perfect and the miles were flying by, i could've cycled forever but..... i was getting married 4hrs later,
I should've just kept going! :-)

Theomerchant

I'v had two instances, the first a few weeks after I started riding, I was cycling down an Idyllic country lane in the Midlands surrounded by green fields and all of a sudden I turned my head to see a big hawk (don't know what it was) flying no further than 10 feet parallel to the left of me for about 20-25 seconds, felt like forever and it was absolutely amazing!!

Another more recent not so special moment was riding on my lonesome on a new route I decided to take and turning onto the widest straightest longest country road Iv ever ridden on, must have been at least 5 miles!, not one car passed me cruising all the way down at 30+.

I love riding my bike!!

chalford

going to the pyrenees in september , riding the soulor via ferries then riding to st savior and not seein a sole, awsome

Chiggy

Not being eliminated in the Devil take the hindmost.

Bronzie

Christmas Dinner club run - today. Haven't laughed this hard in ages.

P_Tucker

My stag do - went to watch the Classica San Sebastian in Spain - after the bunch went up the Jaizkibel for the 2nd time, my mates and I hammered back into the town to make sure we caught the finish, and got to ride the last 5km on closed roads, flat out at 50kmh (thanks to a helpful tailwind), with the assembled fans hammering on the hoardings. Since it was my stag do, my mates (who were all in matching team kit, which is OBVIOUSLY more pro) were leading me out to take the "win", when 100m from the line I got diverted by a policeman. That I stopped is the single biggest regret of my life.

This even beats two days previously, when we stumbled across FILIPPO POZZATO on a leg loosener and rode with him for about half an hour. He is even more EURO in the flesh, if it's possible to imagine.

zpin

hmm, best, overtaking a Bugatti Veyron while out on a traing run. Admittedly he was looking fairly lost, and his missus was poring over a map, but nonetheless

crumbschief

That's a great pic Bronzie,i'd like to have seen that lot going down the road.

nevman

Not riding for once but watching Bradley Wiggins leading a group up the Hollinsclough climb in the Tour of Britain this year.
Its a steep pull,sustained and comes after a 20% shorter climb yet to see the look of determination,no hint of pain,concentration yet easy in the saddle ,a joy to watch such strength in action.
The fact that he wasnt riding for himself made it all the more impressive-never felt the gap between amateur and professional more than this.

Lion-O

representing suffolk in the scholars international stage race was awesome. and meeting nicole cooke and realising she WAS JUST AWESOME i mean really awesome! head and shoulders above most of the male riders. ALso winning a div champs ranks high on my list.

Extralight

Riding in the French Alps in the summer - always fantastic. Suffering on the cols on the way up, and being inspired by the history painted on the roads. Swooping down the descents. Best climbs for me: Telegraphe (not hard - almost pleasant!), Bonnette (very high), Alpe d'Huez (iconic), and Galibier (insanely hard). Best descent: Bonnette (until my front tub rolled off whilst overtaking a car on a hairpin). Awesome memories, and friendly and supportive locals - it's great to be beeped at and have people leaning out their car windows shouting 'Bon courage' and 'Allez', rather than being abused like in the UK! Camping at the end of the day, feeling like a King of the Mountains, and enjoying some wine with bucket loads of pasta in preparation for the next day's adventure... good memories indeed. Haven't got the legs or the time for it now, sadly.

iPete

Descending the Simplon pass and breaking 50mph...




... with a tent on the back :twisted:

andyrr

1 Racing - The rare occasion that on a road race I am heading into the finish with the prospect of a good placing. Managed a couple this year, 1 being race near Perth, had tried a few minor attacks but couldn't keep away from the pack so was situated on the inside of a slightly dodgy LH bend which lead to the downhill (!) sprint for the line. Lineout on the RHS heading for the line going for 2nd place (solo rider well away a lap earlier), I figured there was no way I'd achieve anything by shifting to the right side of the road so I jumped hard keeping on the left side and passed all barring one, got myself 3rd place behind a very classy returning rider.

2
a - Probably getting to the top of the final climb of the Etape Legend, Ballon d'Alsace. That climb in particular had been dreaded as the final sting in the tail, coming at the end of 130miles of a mountainous stage having covered numerous big and small climbs over a distance I'd never ridden before. Major relief crossing the line.
b - Riding a Fondo in Tuscany with Andrea Taffi as the star lead rider and we left San Gimignano old town with full police escort and closed roads pretty much the whole way along with helicopter TV crew. Mental Italian riders, including females, that dropped me down the hill but I gained revenge on the ascents.
c - Riding whilst on holiday in France or Italy : having that little bit more time than at home to initially follow a planned route but deviate where the fancy takes me, with the sun beating down. Especially great if I can arrange it so that I've sufficient time near the end of the ride to drop in to a local cafe for an espresso and cake !

Does spectating count ?
Watching the Tour of Flanders in 2006
So I stood in the Oude Kwaremont bar which is situated on the Oude Kwaremont climb, and I had in my hand a Kwaremont beer - perfect !
To see the pros cruise up that nasty cobbled climb, that we'd had difficulty just walking up was something else.

bigjim

In Mallorca one winter afternoon [like one of the other posts] a large hawk like bird flew alongside me keeping pace for ages, about a mile, then just decided to veer off. A fantastic moment it was virtually on my shoulder.

Also Mallorca, being somehow stuck in the middle of the peleton of the Shimano team, frightening and exhilerating at the same time, trying to keep pace, not daring to brake and staying an inch away from the wheel in front. Looking to the the rider alongside, totally focused and ignoring me as we screamed downhill into Luc Mayor. they soon realised I was a tos..r holding them up as they dropped me and shot off into the distance followed by their team car. One not to be forgotten.

navrig

I live and mostly cycle in East Lothian. There is one particular corner which is an up and LH turn which opens up a view of tarmac to a view the open fields of East Lothian in the foreground and the Bass Rock in the distance. It lifts my heart everytime I go round that corner, especially when the sun, is out as it is such a beautiful view.

stifflersmom

I have no shortage of great moments from summer cycling, but winter cycling can be hard work. However, this morning was truly brilliant. Out on one of the roads between Sheffield andHathersage in the Peak District at about 7 a.m. There was snow piled up on each side of the road, the moon lit up the road brilliantly, and very few cars. Just me, the wildlife, and the sound of tyres going through slush as I was pedalling. The light was astounding, the scenery fantastic, and the lights of Shefffield behind me looked magical. I felt so good when I got home, such a contarst to the chaos of Christmas. Have a good one all...

AndyF16

Navrig wrote:

I live and mostly cycle in East Lothian. There is one particular corner which is an up and LH turn which opens up a view of tarmac to a view the open fields of East Lothian in the foreground and the Bass Rock in the distance. It lifts my heart everytime I go round that corner, especially when the sun, is out as it is such a beautiful view.

That could be classed as a rare moment too then? Akin to Halley's Comet almost

stevewj

Finishing my first 50 mile TT this year inside my most ambitious finishing estimate feeling good having had a ding dong over the last twenty + miles with a bloke from Rugby where we overtook each other around five times each. Most enjoyable race of the year.

don simon

A couple of years ago I finished a 50 odd km MTB race in an HRM recorded time of 2 hr 16 mins putting me well up the field, what made it complete for me was that I didn't feel tired at the end and felt like I could have done it all over again. A bit different from the previous year where I was T-boned and left on the floor with a broken thumb, damaged shoulder and nicely cut legs.

stronginthesun

getting up early on a warm summers day before anyone else and riding with no noise except birdsong . gets no better

cooldad

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Discowheels

Ive had loads however the one that sticks in my mind is cycling down the Cat and Fiddle in to Buxton getting upto round 80kph and keeping up with the flow of traffic..............

marusches

finally breaking the 50 mph barrier down lythe bank (near sandsend) while riding to whitby

Gazzetta67

Perfect Cycling moment :

Climbing the soller in Mallorca - descent into town then climbing the Puig major and then the road down to Pollensa 80-90 degrees. shades = BLISS 8)

Diogenes

I have so many, riding the Moorfoot hills as part of the coast and castles ride, one of the most beautiful places I have ridden through, then stopping at Traquir house for scones and home made beer before ending that day in Melrose. Wonderful.

Riding the Somerset levels and ending up on Burrow Mump on a mid summers evening. Sitting with friends watching the sun go down quaffing a glass of wine and then riding home.

Getting up Winlater and Hartside on the C2C.

Any of the Summer Sundays with the group slipping through the North Yorkshire lanes with the birds singing, a breeze on my back and excellent company.

I could keep going for hours.


D

Diogenes

Discowheels wrote:

Ive had loads however the one that sticks in my mind is cycling down the Cat and Fiddle in to Buxton getting upto round 80kph and keeping up with the flow of traffic..............

Reminds me of an insane member of our weekend warriors hurtling off the North Yorks moors and complaining because the cars were getting is his way!

D

rake

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTO3VCTK ... re=related