No point in keeping two blogs really. This one has been duplicated on another site that is run by myself and two mates who cycle regularly. If you want to carry on and see what me and the bikes are getting up to go to this site :-
https://the3cyclistsblog.wordpress.com
See you over there. Thanks for supporting this one.
Ken
Saturday, 30 November 2019
Saturday, 23 November 2019
Not such a good day!
Out with the Old Git 'Friday Riders' for a 'training' ride, aimed to improve us for any events that may come up in the future, especially the Great Weston Ride, a 60 miler, in July. This time of year though we tend to ease off a bit, especially during the winter months. The forecast today was not perfect, rain showers with some sunny periods so worth going out. The plan was to go to Sweets Cafe on the Somerset Levels going through Burnham on Sea in case the weather was not as forecast.
The day did not start too well however, a puncture in my rear wheel. I hadn't even got out of the garage when I found the tyre was completely flat. A quick call to the other three riders who were meeting just around the corner and they came to my rescue. A thorn in the tyre was the problem and a new tube was quickly fitted. Ironically the one that I had been carrying round with me as a spare for the last few months had a split in the side and couldn't be used. Lucky I had another spare indoors, that could have been a real issue out on the road.
The Rescue Squad
The ride itself was not much better. The showers promised were more a constant shower and the wind was quite chilly and there was certainly not any sun, far from it.. For that reason we didn't go as far as planned and stopped at the Reeds Hotel in Burnham for tea and a snack. When the rain subsided a bit we carried on but headed back to Weston via Mark and east Brent. After just over 29 miles with cold wet hands and feet it was good to get back home.
Thursday, 21 November 2019
A red letter week
A bit of a me, me, me page today. Successfully completed 5,000 miles for this year and the photo was taken by a fellow Old Git about half a mile before the actual point was reached. Note the 'high five'! In the background is Birnbeck Pier, sadly, a rather dilapidated Victorian Pier (the only one in the UK to go from the mainland, to an island) and it has reached the point where court action is being taken against the company that own it to get it back to a viable building again. Sadly, each time a storm occurs, bits of it fall off.
Back to me. After a stay in hospital at the start of 2019 for a fairly serious operation I signed up to the challenge of riding 5,000 miles this year not really expecting to achieve it but determined to give it a go. With cycling becoming more and more difficult as the ageing process trundled on I decided to 'go for broke' and purchase an electrically assisted bike. What a difference that made. It opened up new horizons, like hills not normally attempted, and enabled me to ride further than before. It was a pleasure to be out and about without it being a chore. Over the summer the mileage built up to over the 100 a week that I had set myself, and frequently clocked up 150+ miles a week. That reeled in the deficiency caused by the slow start to the year. With several Old Gits also attempting a similar option, an element of friendly competition set in. It has been a challenge to maintain the discipline but the enjoyment of being out on the road, often with good company, the miles have rolled by and by the start of November the end was well in site. Starting off this morning for the usual Old Git's Tuesday ride I had 6 weeks to cover 2.5 miles. It was done in ten minutes. Thanks guys for helping along with this challenge, same again next year? Hmmmmmm.
Back to me. After a stay in hospital at the start of 2019 for a fairly serious operation I signed up to the challenge of riding 5,000 miles this year not really expecting to achieve it but determined to give it a go. With cycling becoming more and more difficult as the ageing process trundled on I decided to 'go for broke' and purchase an electrically assisted bike. What a difference that made. It opened up new horizons, like hills not normally attempted, and enabled me to ride further than before. It was a pleasure to be out and about without it being a chore. Over the summer the mileage built up to over the 100 a week that I had set myself, and frequently clocked up 150+ miles a week. That reeled in the deficiency caused by the slow start to the year. With several Old Gits also attempting a similar option, an element of friendly competition set in. It has been a challenge to maintain the discipline but the enjoyment of being out on the road, often with good company, the miles have rolled by and by the start of November the end was well in site. Starting off this morning for the usual Old Git's Tuesday ride I had 6 weeks to cover 2.5 miles. It was done in ten minutes. Thanks guys for helping along with this challenge, same again next year? Hmmmmmm.
Sunday, 17 November 2019
More news from Somerset.
Compared to some of the serious flooding in the Midlands, the SW of the country has not had anything like the rainfall of those up't'north. The main feature of the weather down here has been a cold NE or NW wind, or as the BBC like to say, a 'moderate breeze'. Yeah right, doesn't feel like it heading into it. A direct result of this , of course, has been a scrabbling about in the chest of drawers getting all the thermal stuff out. Welcome back Michelin Man. Below is a picture of the Old Gits at the usual Tuesday tea stop at Caffles Garden Centre. The wife of one of our late members, Les, paid for our refreshments in honour of his memory (it has been three years now since cancer took him in his mid 60s.) and here we are raising our cups of tea to Les.
This one was taken last Wednesday, the 13th, at the Reeds Hotel in Burnham. This was the second tea stop on a 42 mile ride, one that the BBC forecast would be dry all day and we ended up getting soaked in quite a violent hail storm. We sat in wet clothes (not having taken suitable clothing with us) at Sweets Cafe on the Levels, arriving there just before a group of about 10 other riders which meant we had bagging rights on hanging some wet stuff on the radiators. When this was taken some 15 miles later we had dried out quite a lot.
This last one was on a ride to Clevedon by four of the club's 'Friday Riders'. Another 40+ ride taking in two stops, cake at each. This really has to stop. This was at the little community run cafe at Clevedon Cottage Hospital before we took off with the wind behind us to a bakery we have found at Congresbury.
On a personal note, I have just 2.5 miles to go before I complete 5,000 for the year. This has been a good week (164) although the knees have taken a bit of a hammering. At least with 6 weeks to go I can ease off a bit now! Managed to get to see a lung specialist today, yes, on a Sunday morning, who informs me I have bronchiectasis. Not much they can do for it other than an inhaler to help occasionally and the good news is carry on cycling. Yay.
This one was taken last Wednesday, the 13th, at the Reeds Hotel in Burnham. This was the second tea stop on a 42 mile ride, one that the BBC forecast would be dry all day and we ended up getting soaked in quite a violent hail storm. We sat in wet clothes (not having taken suitable clothing with us) at Sweets Cafe on the Levels, arriving there just before a group of about 10 other riders which meant we had bagging rights on hanging some wet stuff on the radiators. When this was taken some 15 miles later we had dried out quite a lot.
This last one was on a ride to Clevedon by four of the club's 'Friday Riders'. Another 40+ ride taking in two stops, cake at each. This really has to stop. This was at the little community run cafe at Clevedon Cottage Hospital before we took off with the wind behind us to a bakery we have found at Congresbury.
On a personal note, I have just 2.5 miles to go before I complete 5,000 for the year. This has been a good week (164) although the knees have taken a bit of a hammering. At least with 6 weeks to go I can ease off a bit now! Managed to get to see a lung specialist today, yes, on a Sunday morning, who informs me I have bronchiectasis. Not much they can do for it other than an inhaler to help occasionally and the good news is carry on cycling. Yay.
Friday, 1 November 2019
Catch up time.
Apologies for the long time between posts but not finding any new routes or photos to write about. Be assured, getting the miles under my belt, with only 323 miles to go and 8 weeks to do it in.. 323/8 = 40 miles a week. Easy peasy. The highlight since the last post has been a ride out with Graham on the 24th Oct when we went a fairly short circuit around Leamington and Warwick stopping for tea and toast at the Tuckery Cafe near the Museum in the centre of Warwick. A few rides around North Somerset kept up the mileage and this last Monday went out for a longish ride, got as far as East Brent, 9 miles away and had to turn back because it was quite cold and lack of forethought and preparation meant that there were a few layers missing, 'the wrong gloves on Grommit', and I couldn't feel my hands and feet.
Put that right for the rest of this week with the result that today, nearly double the temperature, layers had to be shed at the second, yes second, tea stop. The photo below was taken today when 6 Old Gits went out for a Friday Ride. We didn't think we would get far as the forecast was rubbish but it turned out fairly good all round, no rain or wind, fairly warm plus the bonus of some sunshine. The cafe, a bakery at Congresbury was a new venue for us and it was a treasure. Reminiscent of La Felicia at Balsall Common, it was in a bakery. Heaven.
Put that right for the rest of this week with the result that today, nearly double the temperature, layers had to be shed at the second, yes second, tea stop. The photo below was taken today when 6 Old Gits went out for a Friday Ride. We didn't think we would get far as the forecast was rubbish but it turned out fairly good all round, no rain or wind, fairly warm plus the bonus of some sunshine. The cafe, a bakery at Congresbury was a new venue for us and it was a treasure. Reminiscent of La Felicia at Balsall Common, it was in a bakery. Heaven.
Sunday, 6 October 2019
A record breaking week!
.
Missing out on the Old Gits Friday Ride due to high winds, Yesterday, Saturday 5th Oct, was a much better day so 3 of us went on a trip to see Chew Magna Lake over to the south of Bristol.
A bit chilly to start out with but it was fairly bright with not too much wind. After about 15 miles we were not far from one of our favourite watering holes, the Mother Hen tea room at Wrington. Couldn't pass that by without calling in for a cuppa. Carried on east from there through Nempnett Thrubwell (still didn't find it!) heading to Chew Magna. Found this to be a hilly part of Somerset, quite undulating so changed our target from the lake at Chew Magna to turn back at Chew Stoke. Looking at the map on return we were only a whisker from the lake and could have done it easy! On the way, came across this obelisk in a field, nothing on it at all to say what it was but Google came up with :-
Breach Hill Obelisk. Decorative column housing an air vent
from the 'Line of Works', the original gravity-fed system taking waterfrom the source of the Chew to Barrow settling tanks. (1)
Obelisk, said to be waterworks marker. Early-mid C19. Limestone
ashlar, plinth of rusticated V-jointed ashlar. Square plinth c.1m
high, obelisk c.10m high with pyramidal top. Grade II. (2)
So now you know.
Sat outside in the sun having our vittles L to R. Andy, Ian and the good looking one.
A few more hills to negotiate before we reached Bristol Airport, just off the A38 and we encountered this at the side of the road, obviously carved from an old tree. A nice piece of work with a chainsaw perhaps but, a bit weird to be honest.
From there it was past the airfield and a good ride back down to the levels, spoilt by a couple. of very impatient motorists not content with following us at 30mph down a steep hill. It was an easy ride back to Weston after that on familiar ground along the Strawberry line (More tea at Yatton Station). Got home on 51 miles and 10% battery left. Had a good week this week, two records gone, the most miles on one trip, nearly 64, and the best total for the week, 209. In smug mode for the rest of the weekend.
Thursday, 3 October 2019
More Old Git's trips.
Yours truly in the shadow of Glastonbury Tor. Taken today at what will be the last ride this week. There are the remnants of Hurricane Lorenzo hitting the south west over the weekend so time to get some miles in.
Tuesday 1st was an Old Gits day down to Burnham on Sea. The forecast was atrocious and it was debatable whether not go or not. On with all the wet weather gear, give it a try, and never saw a drop of rain! 9 turned up for tea and toast at Wethersppons on the sea front.
Wednesday 2nd was a decent sunny day but a lot chillier. 5 Old Gits decided to get an extra ride in and we headed into the Mendips to the little village of Shipham. Quite a climb from the Levels, up to about 460', but worth it for the tea and huge piece of cake at the little community cafe on the village green. Round the table we all agreed to try a 60+ miler the following day. Madness!
Thursday 3rd. 5 Old Gits (and a wife) started off from the promenade at 8.30 on an even chillier day (12 degrees. Longs on) to go over to Somerton to the south of Glastonbury. Into a head wind leaving Weston we climbed off the levels to the long ridge at 200 feet that follows the A39. A bit miffed that we could not get a cup of tea before our destination when we spotted a sign outside Edington village hall. "Cafe open the first Thursday every month". Hang on, that's today. A quick turn round and a nice cup of tea(£1) and a free biscuit. Bargain. How lucky is that. Suitably refreshed, we carried on to Somerton to the Buttercross Cafe near the old market place for tea and cake. No names mentioned but a full English was consumed whilst we were there.
Back to Weston after that and a THIRD stop for refreshments at Sweets Cafe. Well, after 47 miles couldn't really go sailing past one of our favourite watering holes. Personally, I can say those big sofas felt really comfortable. A pity to leave them to be honest.
Returning to Weston we came across this mud across the Mendip Road just past Rooksville. Needless to say, this has been reported to the local council. By this time it had started to rain and the road surface for the next 500 yards was very slippery.
Finished at Weston in a shower without further incident. Our target was 100K or 62.6 miles and we all achieved that. I had a personal best for distance, 63.8 miles, and 158 for the week, so far. On a technical note, careful management of my bike's battery use on the way out to Somerton meant I finished with 33% battery life remaining at the finish.
Tuesday 1st was an Old Gits day down to Burnham on Sea. The forecast was atrocious and it was debatable whether not go or not. On with all the wet weather gear, give it a try, and never saw a drop of rain! 9 turned up for tea and toast at Wethersppons on the sea front.
Wednesday 2nd was a decent sunny day but a lot chillier. 5 Old Gits decided to get an extra ride in and we headed into the Mendips to the little village of Shipham. Quite a climb from the Levels, up to about 460', but worth it for the tea and huge piece of cake at the little community cafe on the village green. Round the table we all agreed to try a 60+ miler the following day. Madness!
Thursday 3rd. 5 Old Gits (and a wife) started off from the promenade at 8.30 on an even chillier day (12 degrees. Longs on) to go over to Somerton to the south of Glastonbury. Into a head wind leaving Weston we climbed off the levels to the long ridge at 200 feet that follows the A39. A bit miffed that we could not get a cup of tea before our destination when we spotted a sign outside Edington village hall. "Cafe open the first Thursday every month". Hang on, that's today. A quick turn round and a nice cup of tea(£1) and a free biscuit. Bargain. How lucky is that. Suitably refreshed, we carried on to Somerton to the Buttercross Cafe near the old market place for tea and cake. No names mentioned but a full English was consumed whilst we were there.
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