The Audio-Talk Cycling thread.

[jack]

I don't post my rides any more, but SWMBO and I did a short 30-miler yesterday in just fantastic conditions - lovely day for a ride. Whilst we were doing that, #2 son & some friends did an impromptu half-marathon round some of the same route, plus #1 son did a 138km ride from Central London down into Kent (beyond Sevenoaks) and back - big loop with 3,000ft of climbing. Daughter had a curry. Busy family day out.

Also just signed up for next year's Beachy Head Marathon - all cross country/off-road and 3,500ft of climbing. Did it last year, couldn't this year for various reasons, but will do 2021...

[Ray P]

Hey Dave, I'm sure Scobswell and Capsey will be waiting patiently for you...

During the week with the short days/dark evenings most of my riding is done on the smart trainer - last evening I rode the short version of the UCI world championship circuit in and around Innsbuck - it includes a 5mile climb, a lot of which is over 10% gradient, Phew!

This afternoon was jst an easy 20mile local loop. It was nice to be out on the roads but it was pretty chilly with a real winter feel to it. It was pretty spooky riding through some wooded stretches as it was completely still and very quiet with a mist shrouding the trees.

[IslandPink]

Another day, another bogus weather forecast. It was a good job I put on the waterproof jacket as a windproof and for visibility. It rained for half an hour on my way back ( usual 17 mile out & back route ). Worth getting out of the house though, as ever.
Roll on February !

[Ray P]

Weather Forecast down here was wrong too, not that I'm sorry as I've just got back from a pleasant Sunday afternoon pootle - fresh but not too cold, light winds and sunshine!

It was nice to get out on the roads, first time since last Sunday - Zwifting most evenings in between.

[jack]

Did a short 61 km yesterday with 500mtrs of ascent - no sun, really cold (4C), icy roads.

Great fun. Was my first time leading a club ride and it seems a good time was had by all...

[IslandPink]

Did a short 61 km yesterday

Were they fun-size kilometers ?

[Ray P]

With the grotty weather and short days I've been continuing with most of my riding being virtal on Zwift - I do a ride most weekday evenings.

Last evening I was short f time so decided to really push myself - pleased with the stats;

[Ray P]

Another big Zwift effort this afternoon, how's this for a ride profile;

with these stats;

I took on the 'Alpe du Zwift' - got all the way up without stopping.

https://www.zwift.com/news/5753-climb-a ... _znl=en-eu

It was a bit daunting so I started steady and rode well within my 'comfort zone' so I know that if I do it again I can go faster.

[Ray P]

I'm going to do it again - the Alpe ride that is.

There's about half a dozen of regular Zwifters at work and we've arranged a group ride for Christmas Eve morning. Zwift will be configured so it's just us, all other riders will be hidden. I'm giving away at least 20yrs to all of them so I expect to be shed out of the back fairly quickly.

[IslandPink]

Good stuff, and the weather really has been terrible, mostly, so understandable to concentrate on that.
I managed about 20 miles on Sunday, actually some nice low sun. Enough to admire the new floods. Bike got dirty, of course
I have a picture of a river with the sun glinting off it, i will dig it out of the camera and post tomorrow.
It's been a stressful and hectic three days, have had no chance to catch up, but now finished work for a few days, phew.

[IslandPink]

From Sunday afternoon -
One of the few days with any sunshine recently. This taken with my old (small) camera so has its limitations !

[Ray P]

I rode the Alpe du Zwift again this morning in the company of about half a dozen cycling colleagues - company being relative as I was dropped soon into the climb proper. But, I wasn't the last one to summit and I improved on my previous ride time by 20% - 69mins this time, 85mins before (see my post a couple back). I think the improvement was because;

(a) I knew what to expect this time so could measure my effort better
(b) The motivation of riding in a group

Anyway, I'm pretty chuffed with the ride. Here are the stats;

[IslandPink]

Good effort !
I went out for a walk on the hills. Had it in mind the route would take about 2 hours. Unfortunately it was 2 hours 35min in the end, I finished in the dark ! Cold too, no sun - just grey , probably about 2°C high up. Good exercise though, nice to have been out and had a good workout.

[Ray P]

Feeling even more chuffed about my Alpe du Zwift rides...

[jack]

Seeing as how the weather was so nice, went swimming at Camber Sands. Air temperature was 1C.

It. Was. Cold.

(Daniel Craig I am not!)