3 Days on my Bike

Prep miles for Sue & myself for next weekends Great Big Bike Ride.

Saturday - 15.5 miles of the 50km route - Coalport to Bridgnorth along the NCR 45 trail - this was with Sue on the Mountain Bikes.

Sunday - 35 miles - rode the last section of the 100km route from Lilleshall to Blists Hill with Lee - then from Blists Hill up thru Madeley, Dawley & down to home - last 2 miles in a torrential downpour - tired, wet but happy.

Monday - 16.5 miles - rode the Telford section of the 50km route with Sue on the mountain bikes again - Blists Hill circuit Telford back to Blists Hill.

A weekend total of 67 miles for me & Sue blazin' a trail with 32 miles!

More GBBR prep miles

Great ride today - more prep miles for the Great Big Bike Ride - Rode down into the Ironbridge Gorge then out through Buildwas - at Leighton we turned up to Garmston - a bit of a climb up the south side of the Wrekin which averages at about 6%. Continued on the GBBR route to Wrockwardine village & out to Shawbury -> Stanton upon Hind Heath -> Peplow etc etc & back to Lilleshall before spinning home through Preston-on-the-Weald Moors.

A total of 57.6 miles in great weather - a bit tired but really enjoyable - add this to the 7 miles I did with Sue on the mountain bikes yesterday at thats a weekend grand total of 64.6 miles.

Quick Sprint before Tea

Did a quick sprint before tea tonight, out to Wroxeter then back up the A5 turning to go down Charlton Hill - then along the back lanes to Wrockwardine village. From Wrockwardine I took the back lane into Wellington and out toward PRH before the sprint back home. Only 16 miles but an excellent buzz of a ride.

Not quite what was intended

Reconnaissance ride for the Severn Hospice 100km Great Big Bike Ride today, at least that was the plan when I set out. Met up with Darren at 10.00 & off we went - No Gpx download - No map & that's where it all went wrong.

I had a basic idea of the route we intended to do but its always the little detail, missing or taking the wrong turn can have a big impact on the actual ride that you end up doing & that was certainly the case today.

We ended up near Cosford Air Base??? so turned at Albrighton & headed towards Beckbury, about 10 miles off route. Never mind what else could go wrong??? We were back on track as we dropped into Coalport spinning nicley through Ironbridge we climbed out of Buildwas & at Leighton we turned up the south side of the Wrekin - immediately onto an 11% climb - this wasn't in the script - after cresting the tough 11% section the climb continued at about 5% for quite a distance before leveling out. I found out later that we turned too soon & should have gone up the Wrekin via Garmston & Rushton a max of about 6% - despite the errors a good 40+ mile ride never the less.

More prep for the 'Great Big Bike Ride'

This morning Sue & I cycled the Telford side of her 50km route for the forthcoming 'Severn Hospice Great Big Bike Ride'. Cycling from home we picked up the route at Horsehay then cycled up to Little Wenlock [a 13% Gradient], next we dropped into the Ironbridge Gorge along national cycle route 45, a great descent through Coalbrookdale. After crossing the Ironbridge we cycled route 45 all the way to Coalport before crossing the Severn & connecting to national cycle route 55 [Silkin Way]. This took us past Blists Hill [the start & finish for the GBBR] & into Telford Town Park Where we rode a small circuit around Randlay pool before riding out along West Centre Way & back home - Nice ride.

The Great Big Bike Ride III

Sue is now up & running with 1 month to go before the 'Great Big Bike Ride'. Today we cycled a 3 mile section of the 30 mile route so that she knew where she was going come the day. Starting from home & back, we actually cycled 14 miles which, was pretty good considering she hasn't been out in a while. The 1/2 energy bar eaten at 10 miles must have done some good because when we got home she immediately went out for a further 4.2 miles along the Silkin Way with Barney running behind! Well done Sue a grand total of 18.2 miles - keep it going.

The Great British Summer

You have to just love the Great British summer, went out this afternoon for a ride, just after a sharp shower had finished, roads wet but bright sunshine, nice I thought. A couple of miles in & a few rain drops hit, nothing to worry about as the sun was still shining. 12 miles in & I'm cycling through the 'Mother of all showers' wandering what the hell I'm doing. 17 miles in & the rain has stopped & the sun has come out again, glorious, now I know why I'm out cycling - I just love it.

Total ride was 32 miles at an average of 17 mph - the route part of the northern section of the 'Great Big Bike Ride' event on September 5th, so doubled as a bit of reconnaissance.

The Great Big Bike Ride II

Mike & Clare are in training & will be doing the the Great Big Bike ride with Sue & myself on September 5th.

I've managed to rope in a few from work for both the 30 & 60 mile events - to date: Lee, Darren, Mick, Nathan, Graham, & Shaun have definitely registered, whilst several others [Dave, Jo, Richard, Chris, Andy, Steve, Kev & Stu] have registered their intent - they just need a little more persuasion.

Mick, Graham & Kev have recently purchased new bikes - things are getting serious on the 30 mile event.

The Great Big Bike Ride

OK its not quite as big as it sounds, but Sue & I have registered to do this years 'Great Big Bike Ride' around Telford to raise funds for the Severn Hospice. Sue will be doing the 50-km event whilst I will be doing to 100-km event, both events start at the Blist Hill Museum on Sunday September 5th 2010.

The 50km event then follows cycle path towards Telford Town Centre & on to Horsehay climbing up to Little Wenlock, - before the run down into Ironbridge via Coalbrookdale.. Continuing on through Jackfield Sue will follow the old severn valley railway to Bridgnorth & with a quick about turn back along the same pathway to Coalport before finishing back at Blist Hill.

The 100km event runs out of Ironbridge & Buildwas before climbing around the Wrekin, after a brief stop at the Severn Hospice Telford we continuing out towards Shawbury, passing several outlying villages before coming back through Edgmond. A small climb over Lilleshall then heads towards Sherrifhales & the villages of Grindle & Brockton, before returning to Blists Hill via Coalport.

We are hopefully being joined by friends Mike & Clare who will be doing the 100 & 50-km events as well.

Look out for more updates as the event gets nearer.

Great ride today!

Did a great ride today, from home had the steady climb to Horsehay before meeting Lee in Dawley, we then descended into Ironbridge via Lightmoor, Cherry Tree Hill & Coalbrookdale. Passed through Ironbridge & then had the tough drag of a climb up & out of Broseley following the undulating back road to Bridgnorth - great countryside views.

We climbed out of Low town B'north up Hermitage hill on the Wolverhamton road - tough at better than 12% - but once off the main road we had a steady spin around the country lanes of Beckbury, Grindle Forge etc before riding through the back end of Shifnal to Sherrifhales & finally heading for home via Preston on the Weald Moors. A grand total of 49.2 miles - most enjoyable - although I was a more than bit tired at the end.