Show us what you did today, thread

[Jamiedyer]

Got a bit of a soaking yesterday on the Mercian when I rode into town to get some bearings for a wheel rebuild. beautiful and sunny when I left only for the rain to envelope the whole county and come down hard. Stayed in for most of the afternoon as well.
Today though, started quite wet once again so I settled in to watch the Tour of Flanders, thought I would watch the start and then go for a ride, come back and watch the end. That plan went out the window as things heated up and it was clear that the Dyer houses favourites, Tom Boonen and Philippe Gilbert were working together near the front and were soon in the break. So after a mammoth couple of hours watching the race live and cheering Gilberts win I thought I better get my backside out and put a few miles in. So circular route was devised and the Merckx was readied, seen as it was Tour of Flanders and it is after all, my Sunday best . Sun was out and it was a lovely couple of hours out just riding for the enjoyment of just riding, great way to close a nice afternoon. Merckx was it's usual flawless self.
Hope everyone else had a nice Sunday and hopefully managed a ride.

Jamie

DSCN3636 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

DSCN3644 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

DSCN3639 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

Look Ma' no hands
DSCN3640 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

DSCN3642 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

DSCN3650 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

DSCN3652 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

DSCN3660 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

 

[clubby]

Sharron had fancied going to the Kelpies for a while, so we borrowed my nieces bike for her and headed down to Falkirk for a poodle about. Had ride out to the Helix park then headed round part of the Hartt circular route. Stopped at Callendar park and took a short cut back to the car, but a nice morning out.

Need to harass ZZ and Dynacol to get a local knowledge ride sorted.


Kelpies day out by Steven Clubb, on Flickr

Untitled by Steven Clubb, on Flickr

 

[Jamiedyer]

Looks nice mate. Must get down to the Kelpies so I would be up for a ride down that way.

Jamie

 

[velomaniac]

ZZ's trails are pretty good on the two occasions he's lead us around.

 

[Jamiedyer]

Out late this afternoon with the little man for a few hours on the Big Dummy.
He wanted to see a few of the harbours and then wanted to have his snacks up at the lookout at Dunnet Head.
Was a nice day and the wind dropped off by the afternoon, so we slowly wound away along, stopping here and there as is the way on these rides out. We sat at the lookout as the clouds built and came in from the north west and with them the temperature dropped a good few degree as well. Had to shift on the way back as Caleb had a fundraising party to get to and as is my way, time had slipped by. It was also getting quite cool and I had to give him my jacket to put over his as he was starting to cool. It is hard to notice all the time on this as I have to work quite hard so I end up hot and don't realise he is sitting there cooling down in the wind.
A good ride was had by both of us, and depends on a few things but will hopefully get down to the retro/vintage road ride in Inverness tomorrow.

Jamie

Leaving home and heading for the highest point on the headland to the left (just above the house)
DSCN3662 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

DSCN3669 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

DSCN3666 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

the road goes on
DSCN3671 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

Looking west
DSCN3679 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

looking across to Hoy
DSCN3686 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

the heavy beast
DSCN3691 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

looking back towards home
DSCN3692 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

Sun getting lower to the west
DSCN3694 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

Looks like he's about to do the robot or moonwalk
DSCN3683 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

 

[highlandsflyer]

Re:

Always nice to see my home turf! We used to play Colditz to the search of the lighthouse when we stayed at the house by the cliff. The fields beneath were full of our sheep back in the eighties, as they qualified us for a hill farming relief subsidy.

Many happy memories, and great to see some more being created!

 

[Jamiedyer]

Thanks mate, we ride these roads often
Was supposed to be joining Brian, (epicycle) down in Inverness for another groups retro road ride on the Mercian but with so many things happening and start of school holidays I was needed at home. After sorting Caleb, myself, animals etc and also watching the start of Roubaix, it was time for a quick ride on the Merckx before the riders hit the first section of pave. With Heather having a lie in and feeling better, she was going to take Caleb down to his school so he could have a ride on his bike while I got an hour or two out on mine. The forecast was for rain at about 1pm and I was about up till 12 and it was certainly closing in. I went south cross country from here and did a loop back along the coast and the headwind was directly in my face on the open few kilometres and made it very hard going, not as hard as climbing hills on the Big Dummy, like I was doing yesterday, but still. It was a good ride, a few drops of very light rain a sign of things to come. Made it back for the second sectuer and changed and sitting here with Caleb cheering for Boonen.
Hope everyone else had a decent weekend. Hope you had a great one as well Brian

Jamie

I am heading down this hill straight into a very strong headwind, just turned round for a photo
DSCN3700 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

In honour of Roubaix I did a short section of gravel
DSCN3703 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

DSCN3707 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

Looking dark
DSCN3710 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

pretty exposed when the weather turns
DSCN3711 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

Getting dark now
DSCN3713 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

DSCN3716 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

 

[epicyclo]

On the Flying Scot ride today I was trying to interest the lads in a wee gravel ride.

Start at Garbat (Ben Wyvis carpark), ride the track over the hump past Ben Wyvis to Evanton, bit of road to Ardross, then along Strathrusdale to Alladale, and then back across to join the Ullapool road near Inchbae lodge and a short road hop back to the carpark. About 60 miles gravel, and 20-ish on road.

Might have to do a recce with Jamie on the Merckx seeing as he likes Roubaix riding.

 

[epicyclo]

The Flying Scot ride. Inverness to Dores (Loch Ness) and back.

I was supposed to take my Flying Scot, but I really wanted to take my Andre Bertin, so relying on the Auld Alliance, I took that.

There were a couple of drool worthy Flying Scots there, and all were well used.

Until today I didn't know there was a cycle path almost all the way from Inverness to Dores. That's a shame because I've been avoiding that road because of the traffic.

The weather played ball, the rain obviously didn't want to sully the Scots, but you can see from the pic it was just waiting.


We stopped at the Dores Inn for refuelling purposes, but the wind was chilling so we left our bikes to enjoy the view of Loch Ness.



BTW my prejudice against derailleurs is fully justified. Proof herewith - ceased to function and had to set it to singlespeed to get home.

 

[jimo746]

Re:

I've been to "Inners" today, not the DH tracks, but the xc loop instead.
I'm down that way with the Mrs for a few days, so whilst she was enjoying the hotel Spa, I drove a few miles down the road to Innerleithen

I parked up in the almost empty car park and looked at the hills and quickly decided I'd use the Mrs's 1998 Zaskar which has 3x9 gearing rather than take my Singlespeed on-one!!
It was a good choice too as pretty much the first half of the loop was all Uphill, the payoff being that most of the latter half of the loop was downhill, and there were some great sections of trail to be ridden.
I think I might actually prefer the Innerleithen xc loop to some of the routes I've done at Glentress tbh.
Anyway, I had a good time, the bike was good and I didn't have any mechanicals, oh and the sun came out for a while too. Perfect :mrgreen: