Today's Ride

Today's Potter in pictures from the old fart in Derbys.
 

Attachments

  • 20251105_110847.webp
    20251105_110847.webp
    299.2 KB · Views: 25
  • 20251105_113204.webp
    20251105_113204.webp
    285.8 KB · Views: 18
  • 20251105_123423.webp
    20251105_123423.webp
    546.7 KB · Views: 16
  • 20251105_125318.webp
    20251105_125318.webp
    830.1 KB · Views: 16
  • 20251105_131627.webp
    20251105_131627.webp
    416.4 KB · Views: 17
  • 20251105_134650.webp
    20251105_134650.webp
    664.5 KB · Views: 21
  • 20251105_140859.webp
    20251105_140859.webp
    756.1 KB · Views: 25
Nice day today and as work is a little quiet, I took off for an attempt at a route which in my mind has assumed epic proportions, especially one long, slow climb on a gravel farm road about halfway through. I chose the Jake because it just seems to be going rather nicely at the moment, and set out at lunchtime.

I took it really easily on the tarmac section leading to the gravel, which is a hotly-contested Strava segment. I won't have disrupted the leaderboard for that one, but it was a pleasant ride and I told myself I was saving my legs for the later climb. The other thing that bothers me about this route is the frequent cattle grids, which fill my head with images of nasty crashes. This time, though, I took them on rather than dismounting and tiptoeing across, and it was fine!

As was the nemesis climb. I'm not sure now why it had assumed such epic proportions in my imagination -- possibly because it's so gradual, it's deceptive and tempts you to tackle the early stages too fast. Also, the Jake is lower geared than my other road bike, so I was able to spin my way up without too much trouble or spots before the eyes.

The trip home was a bit of a drag as by that time the ever-present wind had increased and I headed straight into it for about 10km. This is another Strava segment which won't have a new King of the Mountain today.

Overall, a nice enjoyable ride and a mental giant slain -- I'll be doing this route more often from now on!


IMG_4627.webp
 
Ah Chantelle's Paradox.

Those Cornish lanes are dead scary at this time of year - a summer of baked on rubber and grease and then a light coating of rain, combined with steep hills on tiny lanes - all with sharp turns at the bottom over a stream.....slippy slidey
 
Ah Chantelle's Paradox.

Those Cornish lanes are dead scary at this time of year - a summer of baked on rubber and grease and then a light coating of rain, combined with steep hills on tiny lanes - all with sharp turns at the bottom over a stream.....slippy slidey
Good quality rubber is key ;) 👍

To be fair, it's been heavy rain with constant 20-30mph wind so that grease has long gone, replaced with leaves in the valleys and of course, a few more potholes!
 
GP5000s haven't let me down yet (bar riding into an ice patch earlier in the year), no qualms going out when it's wet and the roadside is full of foliage etc. Just had a short spin out to break in a fresh set for the season. 19.5 miles, hair over an hour, 13c and a bit of a breeze. Could've got away with shorts and a jersey/arm warmer combo instead of thermal tights and a longsleeve jersey.

Noticed roadworks ahead within the first minute of being out, took a diversion to avoid them...waste of time that turned out to be 😂

IMG-2321.jpg

IMG-2331.jpg
 
Back
Top