Superb all round Sir.
Thank you. It was a good confidence booster ahead of the 170 mile coast to coast in a day on 22nd. Great testament to the 200mile gg plan
22 May was a day to remember. Successfully completed the 170mile way of the roses cycling route from Morecombe to Bridlington in a day.
The route was spectacular covering multiple surfaces cyclepaths, flooded roads and tracks, farmers field tracks, silt tracks. tarmac and a good few manual level crossings.
2863 metres of climbing and more 17% hills that I ever want to see again in day. Even 6% hills became welcome climbs. Happy to have managed to stay seated and climb the 20.5% segment out of Settle.
Weather started OK but had heavy rain in parts which towards late evening dropped the temp so low I couldn’t feel my fingers to change gears. Garmin showed a drop from 6 degrees to 1 degree.
Witnessed amazing wildlife including 2 owls hunting following the cycle path and some amazing landmarks. Including fountains Abbey and York minster
The 200mile gravel grinder plan works 
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Whenever the goat sees a descent like this coming, she shoots little laser beams into my kneecaps - just to remind me where I come from.
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@Winterswim Awesome effort!
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Okay, it’s not a “riding” photo as such, but I picked up my new bike this weekend, first new bike in 11 years and first one that was bought just for the joy of riding since childhood (only other one in intervening years was for commuting alone).
A Basso Palta, built up with Campagnolo Ekar groupset, Campag Shamal Carbon wheels and Specialized Pathfinder Pro tyres for both on-road and off-road use.
I’ve been tired this week and the weather has been, let’s call it “sub-optimal”, all weekend, but I rode it home from the store (46 miles away, mostly uphill and into the wind the whole way) and then on a casual group ride today (based 12 miles away from home, so had to commute there and back also).
Even though I was tired and just riding for riding’s sake, never pushing as hard as I could, I’ve set new PRs on almost every single sector I’ve ridden. A couple of sectors today I’ve set top-5 all year and top-10 all-time (age group) Strava times on despite the fact I was just riding for joy, not even pushing.
Loving it so far, I have to say. Still plan to chuck a second set of wheels on it for pure road riding performance in future (when the components market returns to something resembling sane) which should really kick it on another step.
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@jon That is a great looking bike!
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Wow, you already have a newly designed decal with a laser goat on it!
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The uncomfortable have nothing to fear! 
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Thank you.
Yes, I’m rather partial to the way it looks and also the rarity, I’ve never seen another Basso in the flesh on the road, let alone another Palta (though I am aware that there is at least one more in Cambridge).
It’s going really well, super happy with it. Really comfortable and just so effortlessly quick. I chose it as an attempt at the “one bike fits all” approach, wanting something that could keep up on even fast group rides, but could also then be taken to play down the trails with my little boy or a couple of friends.
My intention was to have at least two wheel-sets, the Campag Shamals that are on currently with an off-road tyre and probably a 60mm or so set with 25/28s… I’m running it on Specialized Pathfinder Pro 38s, though, and I’m starting to question the need for the “road” wheelset. Last Sunday I got asked to ease off on the group-ride when leading out and I’ve PRd almost every single Strava segment I’ve ridden on it so far even though I’ve just been cycling for fun and some of the old records I actually made an effort to set.
Yes, it’s my first time on a 1x setup. It’s not something I would have gone for prior to Ekar, the choice was between that or an electric setup. Ekar won out in the end because it gives me the range of most 2x setups, really close ratios at the business end of the cassette, no need to think about ratio mixes between front and rear and with that, ease of maintenance. I don’t think I’d have gone SRAM or Shimano 1x currently, but Ekar is great.
I’ve been having a bit of a quiet week this week, though, as I’ve been smashing the miles for the last couple of months and needed a rest week. Still done a couple of rides, but planning on doing Cambridge to Southend and back on Monday.
A couple more photos. In the sun the colour really starts to change, goes from a deep blood-orange to a very sparkly “hot lava”.
She can also really shift. This was a commute ride, after what had been a heavy day at work, on a stretch with lots of rolling hills and a couple of slightly sharp climbs, plus road junctions and two major junctions to have to cross, while carrying a backpack with computer, peripherals, towel, change of clothes and toiletries. This was also just “fun” pace, not head down and dig… (speed is mph)
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@ErickT That looks pretty fresh - hopefully your tires can get through it without melting.
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It was dicey.
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Had a rather eventful ride yesterday.
Three of us decided to cycle from Cambridgeshire down to Southend-on-sea for some drinks on the sea front. ~140 mile round trip, it was a beautiful day.
We had to stop at this roundabout on the way back for a photo, if you look in the background there is a huge cyclist statue on the roundabout…
(We also had to stop to let the adrenaline drain a little as Morgan and I (Morgan in blue and peach, me in “The Punisher” skull top) had enjoyed a little “moment” at ~35 mph downhill where someone had pulled out on us, he was slightly quicker on his brakes with both of us swerving and we’d banged shoulders as we passed… Thankfully the only incident on the whole ride.)
Cracking day out in the sun, but with a few beers at the half-way point and it being uphill most of the way home I think we can also say we suffered
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Not actually a photo, but a collection of them in the form of a video 
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