Show us what you did today, thread

[ajm]

Re:

I could have done this Saturday but am doubtful for the 11th as away with the family around then.

Ah well, I have similar issues with next Saturday, family arriving from overseas... maybe later in August we can arrange something that will suit?

I took a test ride this afternoon to check the state of both the old roadster and the old back... both more or less passed the test I think, neither quite 100% but good enough for 17.5 miles today.

Hopefully we can increase that a bit next week - my planned Pictish route would be about 30 miles which is more than I've ever done on the roadster but I'm sure it's up to the job if my back recovers.

 

[Jamiedyer]

Looks good mate.
I am away for a couple of weeks but would be happy to join in if I'm about when you ride it.

Jamie

 

[ajm]

Decided I'd had enough of working at my desk by lunch time and thought I'd make the most of the sunshine by heading out for a few more miles on the roadster this afternoon. The rain started to fall just after I left but wasn't too unpleasant, I was enjoying the unusual experience of having mudguards to keep the tyre splashes off me... for ten more minutes, before it turned into a torrential cloudburst downpour which was like cycling through a massive power shower, turned the entire road into a sea of water and soaked me to the skin.

Thankfully it only lasted another five minutes or so before the sun came back out and started to dry things up... by the time I got home both the bike and me were quite dry aside from my feet.

Anyway, I managed a record (for this bike) of just over 29 miles without my back giving any significant signs of unhappiness and had an enjoyable run on the rusty but reliable antique. I really will have to get back to rebuilding the hub to fix third gear some day...

 

[epicyclo]

That's a good effort. It's pretty hard to beat the retro roadster vertical riding position for comfort. It's a good way to reel off the miles.

Talking about being retro, all you need now is a cycling cape. They are far better than expensive goretex etc but they only work on a bike with proper mudguards. You can get cheap ones (Raleigh) or pay the hipster tax and get a posh but better one from Brooks. (Mine is a cheap one. ) Rain will never bother you again. The beauty of them is they go on in seconds so you can put off the decision to don it until the last minute instead of cooking inside a waterproof that you have put on too early.

 

[ajm]

Re:

Hmm, I have never considered a cape before but on this kind of bike I can see how it might work - I might well try one. My main concern would be that it might act like a massive airbrake on a windy day?

I don't think I'll be trying a Brooks one anyway - I'd expect a built in fan heater powered by a perpetual motion generator for that kind of money!

 

[epicyclo]

Re: Re:

Hmm, I have never considered a cape before but on this kind of bike I can see how it might work - I might well try one. My main concern would be that it might act like a massive airbrake on a windy day?...

It's not aero, that's for sure.

But it's rare you get high winds combined with rain, and when it does the best thing is to seek shelter. If you have a cape, you're wearing shelter.

I've been out on some belters with the cape, and I'd sooner have it than any other system - more breathable, and ridiculously cheap for the job it does.

 

[clubby]

Not been posting much, just riding away doing my own thing.
Been back revisiting old haunts around the Sidlaws, and also exploring new areas in southern Aberdeenshire. Lots of places I've driven past many time on my way to Ballater, but never stopped at. Today was a loop round and up Clachnaben as recommended by my mate Andy. Lovely loop topping out with some amazing views on top of a rocky outcrop. Descent wasn't my favourite having been armoured for walkers with rock steps and never-ending water bars. Good part is Andy has just told me there is an alternative track down if you backtrack for 1km after the summit views. Sounds like a return visit is in order once the grouse season quietens down a bit. Whole hillsides covered in shooting butts which won't be much fun once Sunday rolls around.

A few pics from today to enjoy.

Untitled by Steven Clubb, on Flickr

Untitled by Steven Clubb, on Flickr

Untitled by Steven Clubb, on Flickr

 

[Jamiedyer]

Re:

Looks like everybody's getting some good riding in. I am away in Germany at the moment but have been getting some vintage singlespeeding in and am heading to the Hartz mountains tomorrow on the mtb, so will hopefully get some photos.
Jamie

 

[epicyclo]

Great thing about Scotland. Find a trig point and you have a view.

 

[mk one]

Not been posting much, just riding away doing my own thing.
Been back revisiting old haunts around the Sidlaws, and also exploring new areas in southern Aberdeenshire. Lots of places I've driven past many time on my way to Ballater, but never stopped at. Today was a loop round and up Clachnaben as recommended by my mate Andy. Lovely loop topping out with some amazing views on top of a rocky outcrop. Descent wasn't my favourite having been armoured for walkers with rock steps and never-ending water bars. Good part is Andy has just told me there is an alternative track down if you backtrack for 1km after the summit views. Sounds like a return visit is in order once the grouse season quietens down a bit. Whole hillsides covered in shooting butts which won't be much fun once Sunday rolls around.

A few pics from today to enjoy.

Untitled by Steven Clubb, on Flickr

Untitled by Steven Clubb, on Flickr

Untitled by Steven Clubb, on Flickr

That looks so nice around there. The track on the first pic looks like a fun descent

Great thing about Scotland. Find a trig point and you have a view.

Most Trig points have a view, thats the point