RIDES 2017 — add yours here

[John Saxby]

Starting my Spring tour today.

Hi Matt, looking forward to your story!  This is part of a route I'm hoping to do in the next 2-3 years, so I'll read with interest.

Safe journey, and enjoy.

John

[Andre Jute]

Thanks, John. Photo not here yet. It might have the same problem with the PM as with the forum generally. You could try andrejute at coolmainpress with the standard commercial extension, which is my mailbox at my publisher, hosted on a service I've found compliant to standards I haven't even heard of...

Hey, Matt, don't get lost in those parts. After a night in the bar of the Albert (?) in Nairn, I decided to get some fresh air and became so lost in the middle of the night, the next day people said I walked (walked!) 18 miles, apparently towards Lossiemouth.

[John Saxby]

Thanks, Andre.  I'll try your coolmainpress addr - the PM setup doesn't include a photo-attachment option.

Cheers,  J.

PS a few minutes later:  OK, that worked :-)

[Danneaux]

A lot going on at my end, so I've squeezed in some longer day rides as I can. In the last 10 days, I got in a couple 257km/160mi "utility" day rides -- simple, direct high-mileage rides north up the flat Willamette Valley and back to get some miles in my legs as training for my next tour.

Just scenery pics this time as I wasn't on my Nomad, instead taking one of the rando bikes. The photo with the red arrow (below) shows one of my favorite logging-road rides high above the Valley on the Coburg Hills. *That's* a Nomad ride far better taken when it isn't snowy. 

Lots of new lambs, unsettled skies and flooded fields, but Spring is definitely upon us, despite some snow lingering in the draws and canyons on high last week.

Best,

Dan.

[Andre Jute]

Thanks, John, that did indeed work; super photos.

Dan, those are amazing skies, turquoise one moment, phtalo blue or purple clouds the next moment.

[Danneaux]

Dan, those are amazing skies, turquoise one moment, phtalo blue or purple clouds the next moment.

Thank you, Andre. Typical unsettled springtime storm-skies here in Oregon farm country.

All the best,

Dan.

[Matt2matt2002]

I managed 8 days away earlier in the month to the Outer Hebrides.
Hostels and 2 front Ortlieb on the rear rack with a top box and bar bag.
Weather was as good as it gets at this time of year over there.
Raven ran well and generally a pretty flat 400 miles.
I'm slowly writing up the trip on Crazyguy but pleased to offer tips to anyone considering this part of the world.

https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?o=1fs&doc_id=19332&v=3t

[John Saxby]

Loved the panorama shot, Matt -- wild brooding sky & sea.

[Matt2matt2002]

Thanks John. Yes, that sums up the weather.
If a high pressure front hadn't been coming in for the week I wouldn't have gone. It can be pretty bleak with poor weather.
Few trees or shelter to break up the gales and showers that sweep in across the low lands from the Atlantic.
I reached the top of the Hebredes just as the weather broke and was able to head east from Stornoway to Ullapool and then Inverness
But I liked the sense of remoteness.
A good trip and almost on my doorstep.

Maybe this link will work?

https://youtu.be/0xujFUTVYfY

[jags]

great photos lads  what a wonderful planet we live on  .

Dan epic miles going on there your idea of going for a spin is a tad different than mine.
biggest spin (ride) i ever done was 110 miles fully loaded and completly knackered when i finally got home .
got 60 miles in last saturday great spin solo on my road bike .haden't time to take photos i was going way to fast 

anto.

[Photos added by Dan on Anto's behalf].

[geocycle]

It's spring, and the north of England is at 'peak bluebell'

[ridgeback63]

I'm an ex soldier and at least once a year I have a ride down to the National Memorial Arboretum at Alrewas to put some crosses down for my old friends and comrades who have died in the last year,I usually go the road way and come back along NCN 54,I'm all set to go on the 24th May it's a short one by your standards about 80 mile round trip,but I'll put some pictures up when I get back,apart from a short stretch alongside the A38 that part of NCN is very nice,happy riding everybody.

[jags]

enjoy the trip Janet i'm away all going to plan on the 23 may  fingers crossed the weather is good

anto.

[Andre Jute]

Today I rode out into the countryside to a Tree of Life to photograph it before the buds grew into too many leaves, too thick to see the branches giving it shape. I’ll put the photographs aside to use as inspiration for a painting I’ll make in the winter.

More at my blog at http://coolmainpress.com/ajwriting/5525-2/

[Andre Jute]

Yesterday evening before dinner I rode out to go check on the tree of life, photo in post above. Overcast, 30+kph winds. But it wasn't actually cold and the wind was kept off me by long underwear. Still, it's awful that on 21 May one still has to wear long underwear and a winter cycling jacket.