Cycling Back From Hebden Bridge
Sunday 28th July 2013
Having spent the weekend in the company of Bryn with a day out at the Indietracks festival, I decided to cycle back home from Hebden Bridge on Sunday afternoon.
I set off at 12:45.
I decided to take the road out of Hebden to Heptonstall and then go over the tops via Blackshaw Head (past the wind farm) to Burnley. The worst bit was the immediate climb off the A646 up to Heptonstall. What a killer! I was in first gear for ages, grinding upward at little more than walking pace with sweat pouring down my face. The climbs after that were easy in comparison. When I got close to the wind turbines, I stopped to put my yellow jacket on because it was grey, felt like rain and I was getting a bit chilly. A minute later it started drizzling, then rained quite steadily for 10 or 15 minutes. I was soon descending on the Burnley side so this wasn't so bad.
2 pm I reached Townley Park in Burnley. It was drizzling a bit.
I navigated out of the park (following NCN 68 signs) and amazingly found the canal towpath with no problem. The sign for Finsley Gate was clearly there. Why did I sail past this on Friday? It's a mystery.
I began retracing my steps from Friday, reaching the bit where the canal goes into a tunnel so I had to climb up some steps, go through a few underpasses and then get back to the canal on the other side. Easy.
Once back on the canal tow path, I was soon making good progress. I had to slow down for a group of friendly walkers just outside the town and had a chat with some woman who was interested in buying a new bike.
At this point I made a slight diversion, having inevitably missed / not spotted a sign telling me to leave the canal and get on the Padiham Greenway (ie the old railway line). You'd expect that with me really. It became obvious when I came to a bit of the canal path that was blocked off with wire fencing for some building work and I had to take a diversion around it.
"Hmm, this wasn't here on Friday." I thought to myself.
I stopped just after this when a sign pointed to an exit from the canal for Hapton. Looking at my map, I'd come about a mile further than needed. No big trauma though, I just left the canal, cycled up the road a bit and spotted another sign for "Padiham Greenway". I actually joined this with only about half of the mile of it to go.
Soon I was on the A671 Whalley Road. I decided to just go for it down the main road to Whalley for a couple of miles, rather than faff about up and down those hilly lanes again.
3:20 arrived in Whalley. I'd been looking forward to visiting the deli / restaurant that's just by the railway station. I'd previously bought a sandwich there and with lunch on my mind, had been salivating at the prospect of a tasty tuna and cucumber butty for a good half an hour. Alas! It was closed! Oh, the disappointment. The newsagent on the main road was closed as well (this was Sunday afternoon after all) so I made do with flapjack instead. It just wasn't the same.
3:35 set off again after a bit of a rest. It started to drizzle a bit as I plodded on to Ribchester.
4:05 Arrived in Ribchester. I had a manic craving for chocolate milk so went to the Spar shop and bought a bottle. Took my jacket off because it was getting warm.
4:35 reached Longridge after the tortuous slow grind of Preston Road.
4:55 Inglewhite. It was drizzling on and off.
5:10 crossed over the A6. Hooray! Maybe the flat terrain made a difference, but I put in a burst of speed for 30 minutes and was cruising along nicely after the grind from Whalley to Longridge.
5:20 reached St Michaels. It started raining quite heavily. The jacket went back on. It was only a short shower, but the roads going forward were very wet so it must have put down a fair bit of rain before I arrived.
5:55 arrived in Hambleton. Back home! Get the kettle on.
Stats: exactly 55 miles from Heben Bridge. 117 for the round trip. 185.6 for the week.
Next time I'm getting the bloomin' train.
Sunday, 28 July 2013
Friday, 26 July 2013
Cycling To Hebden Bridge
Cycling To Hebden Bridge
Friday 26 July 2013
For a number of years I harboured the idea of cycling over from the Fylde Coast to Hebden Bridge in West Yorkshire. It's a part of the country that I know quite well. My mate and occasional cycling partner Bryn lives there so I've driven there or taken the train over plenty of times. Cycling there was a slightly trickier prospect due to uncertainty over the route, but at a distance of around 55 miles it would make a decent afternoon's ride and be enough of a challenge to make it worthwhile doing. The extra miles would give my weekly total a boost, of course.
To be continued.
Friday 26 July 2013
For a number of years I harboured the idea of cycling over from the Fylde Coast to Hebden Bridge in West Yorkshire. It's a part of the country that I know quite well. My mate and occasional cycling partner Bryn lives there so I've driven there or taken the train over plenty of times. Cycling there was a slightly trickier prospect due to uncertainty over the route, but at a distance of around 55 miles it would make a decent afternoon's ride and be enough of a challenge to make it worthwhile doing. The extra miles would give my weekly total a boost, of course.
To be continued.
Monday, 29 April 2013
2013 Week 17
Week 17 (w/e 28 April 2013)
Miles: 110.5
No photo for this entry I'm afraid as I've used up my cache.
The week got underway with drizzle, although the skies cleared later. I took myself out for an hour in the afternoon, coming home with 15 miles despite the fierce south westerly gale that was blowing. I went back out in the evening for the usual 8 mile loop, thus ending the day with 23 miles in the bag. Tuesday was a running day ahead of the fun run, so I didn't get out on the bike at all. Wednesday afternoon was cloudy but fine, so 50 minutes in the afternoon brought me home with 36 miles. I went back out at 9:30 that evening even though there were spots of rain in the air, moving on to 47 miles in the process.
Thursday was fine and sunny once earlier rain had passed over. An afternoon ride took me to almost 59 miles. I topped this up in the evening to 67 miles. Friday was another scheduled run day, so no cycling was achieved in the afternoon. The evening saw me go to the pub, so I moved into the weekend requiring 33 miles to chalk up the obligatory ton.
Saturday was sunny and warm. I cycled into town as usual that afternoon, coming home with 77 miles. I didn't bother with the supplementary ride once I'd got back, but did nip out in the evening, coming back with 86 miles before sloping off to the pub again. Sunday was a bit grey and drizzly - not enough to prevent me from going out in the afternoon though. An hour later I was back home with 102 miles. Despite the lurking presence of more showers off the coast, I nipped out for the final time that week on Sunday evening, eventually rolling home with 110.
The stats
Time taken to get 100: 6 hrs 44 mins
Total for 2013: 1861.4
2013 average weekly mileage: 109.49
Consecutive 100s: 13
Miles needed for 6000: 4138.6
Percentage of target reached: 31%
Required average weekly mileage: 118.25
Meanwhile, back in 2012
101 miles exactly took me to 2004.3, a lead of 142.9.
And 1998?
133.1 meant a total of 1921.3, a lead of 59.9
Miles: 110.5
No photo for this entry I'm afraid as I've used up my cache.
The week got underway with drizzle, although the skies cleared later. I took myself out for an hour in the afternoon, coming home with 15 miles despite the fierce south westerly gale that was blowing. I went back out in the evening for the usual 8 mile loop, thus ending the day with 23 miles in the bag. Tuesday was a running day ahead of the fun run, so I didn't get out on the bike at all. Wednesday afternoon was cloudy but fine, so 50 minutes in the afternoon brought me home with 36 miles. I went back out at 9:30 that evening even though there were spots of rain in the air, moving on to 47 miles in the process.
Thursday was fine and sunny once earlier rain had passed over. An afternoon ride took me to almost 59 miles. I topped this up in the evening to 67 miles. Friday was another scheduled run day, so no cycling was achieved in the afternoon. The evening saw me go to the pub, so I moved into the weekend requiring 33 miles to chalk up the obligatory ton.
Saturday was sunny and warm. I cycled into town as usual that afternoon, coming home with 77 miles. I didn't bother with the supplementary ride once I'd got back, but did nip out in the evening, coming back with 86 miles before sloping off to the pub again. Sunday was a bit grey and drizzly - not enough to prevent me from going out in the afternoon though. An hour later I was back home with 102 miles. Despite the lurking presence of more showers off the coast, I nipped out for the final time that week on Sunday evening, eventually rolling home with 110.
The stats
Time taken to get 100: 6 hrs 44 mins
Total for 2013: 1861.4
2013 average weekly mileage: 109.49
Consecutive 100s: 13
Miles needed for 6000: 4138.6
Percentage of target reached: 31%
Required average weekly mileage: 118.25
Meanwhile, back in 2012
101 miles exactly took me to 2004.3, a lead of 142.9.
And 1998?
133.1 meant a total of 1921.3, a lead of 59.9
Tuesday, 23 April 2013
2013 - Week 16 Graph
2013 - Week 16 Graph
Graph for the four weeks 13 - 16:
For this update I've added in 1998, since it overtook me in the last week of this phase. You can see on the graph that 2013's line flattens out in week 14 - 16 while 1998 curves up sharply thanks to scores of 168 and 165 in weeks 15 and 16.
Total figures after 16 weeks:
2013 - 1750.9
2012 - 1903.3
1998 - 1788.2
So 1998 inches ahead by 37.3 miles. I'm afraid that once ahead, the lead keeps growing.
Graph for the four weeks 13 - 16:
For this update I've added in 1998, since it overtook me in the last week of this phase. You can see on the graph that 2013's line flattens out in week 14 - 16 while 1998 curves up sharply thanks to scores of 168 and 165 in weeks 15 and 16.
Total figures after 16 weeks:
2013 - 1750.9
2012 - 1903.3
1998 - 1788.2
So 1998 inches ahead by 37.3 miles. I'm afraid that once ahead, the lead keeps growing.
Monday, 22 April 2013
2013 Week 16
Week 16 (w/e 21 April 2013)
Miles: 104.4
On Monday afternoon I travelled over to Yorkshire to see Peter Hook & the Light play in Holmfirth. I stayed overnight, returning home mid-afternoon. When I got back I decided to go for another training run for the local pub fun run. To save my legs, I didn't go out on the bike in the evening either. Thus, Monday and Tuesday were cycle-free. Not a promising start to the week. Typically, the weather had been sunny and spring-like too.
I finally kicked off the chase on Wednesday, when the weather had turned grey and blustery. I managed 9 miles in the afternoon and pushed on to 19 miles in the evening, even though the wind had me wobbling all over the road. Thursday was mostly sunny, although the south westerly gale was still howling in. I took myself out for an hour in the afternoon, returning home with 34 miles. After waiting for a brief shower to pass over in the evening, I went out again and moved on to 42.5. Friday was similarly sunny but windy. I'd planned on going for a run at around teatime, but I also needed to cycle some more miles to have a reasonable chance of getting the ton this week. So I went out on the bike a little earlier than usual and only for 40 minutes, rolling home with 52 miles. Then I did the run. In the evening I went to the pub, so that was that as I headed into the weekend.
Saturday. Sunny! I cycled into town as usual, then nipped out again once I'd returned home. That took me to 68 miles. There was nothing to distract me in the evening, so off I went on the bike again, ending the day with 76.5 miles. So into Sunday with 24 or so miles still to get. When I got up, it was raining steadily. Bah. Fortunately, the rain stopped by 4 and the remainder of the day was fine. I got out for an hour at 5:30, coming back with 91 miles in total. I mopped up the remaining 9 miles later in the evening, eventually finishing with 104 for the week.
The stats
Time taken to get 100: 6 hrs 52 mins
Total for 2013: 1750.9
2013 average weekly mileage: 109.4
Consecutive 100s: 12
Miles needed for 6000: 4249.1
Percentage of target reached: 29.18%
Required average weekly mileage: 118.03
A relatively poor week means that my required average for 6k moves back to 118 for the first time since week 8. It's a bit like paying off a 25 year mortgage. For years and years your payments make no dent on the original capital until suddenly the figures start shifting downward, and quite quickly too. It usually happens around week 30 (the beginning of August).
Meanwhile, back in 2012
I did 115.3 miles, moving me along to a total of 1903.3. That's a lead of 152.4 miles.
And 1998?
This time that year I managed 165.8 miles, bringing the total to 1788.2. So I've just been overtaken.
Miles: 104.4
On Monday afternoon I travelled over to Yorkshire to see Peter Hook & the Light play in Holmfirth. I stayed overnight, returning home mid-afternoon. When I got back I decided to go for another training run for the local pub fun run. To save my legs, I didn't go out on the bike in the evening either. Thus, Monday and Tuesday were cycle-free. Not a promising start to the week. Typically, the weather had been sunny and spring-like too.
I finally kicked off the chase on Wednesday, when the weather had turned grey and blustery. I managed 9 miles in the afternoon and pushed on to 19 miles in the evening, even though the wind had me wobbling all over the road. Thursday was mostly sunny, although the south westerly gale was still howling in. I took myself out for an hour in the afternoon, returning home with 34 miles. After waiting for a brief shower to pass over in the evening, I went out again and moved on to 42.5. Friday was similarly sunny but windy. I'd planned on going for a run at around teatime, but I also needed to cycle some more miles to have a reasonable chance of getting the ton this week. So I went out on the bike a little earlier than usual and only for 40 minutes, rolling home with 52 miles. Then I did the run. In the evening I went to the pub, so that was that as I headed into the weekend.
Saturday. Sunny! I cycled into town as usual, then nipped out again once I'd returned home. That took me to 68 miles. There was nothing to distract me in the evening, so off I went on the bike again, ending the day with 76.5 miles. So into Sunday with 24 or so miles still to get. When I got up, it was raining steadily. Bah. Fortunately, the rain stopped by 4 and the remainder of the day was fine. I got out for an hour at 5:30, coming back with 91 miles in total. I mopped up the remaining 9 miles later in the evening, eventually finishing with 104 for the week.
The stats
Time taken to get 100: 6 hrs 52 mins
Total for 2013: 1750.9
2013 average weekly mileage: 109.4
Consecutive 100s: 12
Miles needed for 6000: 4249.1
Percentage of target reached: 29.18%
Required average weekly mileage: 118.03
A relatively poor week means that my required average for 6k moves back to 118 for the first time since week 8. It's a bit like paying off a 25 year mortgage. For years and years your payments make no dent on the original capital until suddenly the figures start shifting downward, and quite quickly too. It usually happens around week 30 (the beginning of August).
Meanwhile, back in 2012
I did 115.3 miles, moving me along to a total of 1903.3. That's a lead of 152.4 miles.
And 1998?
This time that year I managed 165.8 miles, bringing the total to 1788.2. So I've just been overtaken.
Monday, 15 April 2013
2013 Week 15
Week 15 (w/e 14 April 2013)
Miles: 105
Warm, hazy sunshine dominated the start of the week, then it became greyer and more blustery from Thursday onwards.
Although Monday was as described above, there was also a gusty east wind blowing. I got myself out there for an hour in the afternoon and came back with 14 miles. I dragged myself back out later in the evening, coming home with 21.5 miles for the day. Tuesday was pleasant, so 40 minutes in the afternoon took me to 31.5 miles, becoming almost 40 miles once I'd been out for the customary supplementary evening trundle. I didn't add to this total on Wednesday because another form of exercise began its annual interruption: I went out for my first run of the year with thoughts at last turning to the local pub fun run at the beginning of May. I could have done with starting my training a week or two sooner, but better late than never eh?
And so the weather changed. Thursday was grey and occasionally drizzly. My legs were also stiff from the previous day's exertions. I got back out on the bike in the afternoon though, moving on to 54 miles in the process. Cycling was actually comfortable. It was just walking that made me look like an old man. I didn't get back out in the evening because a band of rain had moved in. Friday's weather was better, with warm, hazy sunshine. The best part of an hour's ride in the afternoon saw me head home with 67 miles. I went to the local pub that evening because there was a live band on, so no further miles were added.
Into the weekend with 33 miles required for the ton then. Saturday was grey with rain on the way. It arrived at 3, just when I'd be thinking of cycling into town. So that put an end to that idea. The rain hung around until mid-evening, but I eventually got out at 9:30 for 50 minutes, ending the day with 79 miles. Sunday morning was wet, but the rain had cleared by noon and it remained fine for the rest of the day. So I got out in the afternoon for an hour, rolling home with 95 miles. I mopped up the remaining 5 miles in the evening when I went out on my familiar 35 minute loop and back, with a little extra tacked onto the end so that I eventually finished with 105. Just made it in the last ride of the week.
The stats
Time taken to get 100: 6 hrs 56 mins
Total for 2013: 1646.5
2013 average weekly mileage: 109.7
Consecutive 100s: 11
Miles needed for 6000: 4353.5
Percentage of target reached: 27.4%
Required average weekly mileage: 117.6
Meanwhile, back in 2012
I did 125.2 miles, moving me along to a total of 1788 exactly. That's a lead of 141.5 miles.
And what of 1998?
That's a good question. I can feel '98 breathing down my neck. This time that year I managed 168.1 miles, bringing the total to 1622.4. Only 24.1 miles behind.
Miles: 105
Although Monday was as described above, there was also a gusty east wind blowing. I got myself out there for an hour in the afternoon and came back with 14 miles. I dragged myself back out later in the evening, coming home with 21.5 miles for the day. Tuesday was pleasant, so 40 minutes in the afternoon took me to 31.5 miles, becoming almost 40 miles once I'd been out for the customary supplementary evening trundle. I didn't add to this total on Wednesday because another form of exercise began its annual interruption: I went out for my first run of the year with thoughts at last turning to the local pub fun run at the beginning of May. I could have done with starting my training a week or two sooner, but better late than never eh?
And so the weather changed. Thursday was grey and occasionally drizzly. My legs were also stiff from the previous day's exertions. I got back out on the bike in the afternoon though, moving on to 54 miles in the process. Cycling was actually comfortable. It was just walking that made me look like an old man. I didn't get back out in the evening because a band of rain had moved in. Friday's weather was better, with warm, hazy sunshine. The best part of an hour's ride in the afternoon saw me head home with 67 miles. I went to the local pub that evening because there was a live band on, so no further miles were added.
Into the weekend with 33 miles required for the ton then. Saturday was grey with rain on the way. It arrived at 3, just when I'd be thinking of cycling into town. So that put an end to that idea. The rain hung around until mid-evening, but I eventually got out at 9:30 for 50 minutes, ending the day with 79 miles. Sunday morning was wet, but the rain had cleared by noon and it remained fine for the rest of the day. So I got out in the afternoon for an hour, rolling home with 95 miles. I mopped up the remaining 5 miles in the evening when I went out on my familiar 35 minute loop and back, with a little extra tacked onto the end so that I eventually finished with 105. Just made it in the last ride of the week.
The stats
Time taken to get 100: 6 hrs 56 mins
Total for 2013: 1646.5
2013 average weekly mileage: 109.7
Consecutive 100s: 11
Miles needed for 6000: 4353.5
Percentage of target reached: 27.4%
Required average weekly mileage: 117.6
Meanwhile, back in 2012
I did 125.2 miles, moving me along to a total of 1788 exactly. That's a lead of 141.5 miles.
And what of 1998?
That's a good question. I can feel '98 breathing down my neck. This time that year I managed 168.1 miles, bringing the total to 1622.4. Only 24.1 miles behind.
Monday, 8 April 2013
2013 Week 14
Week 14 (w/e 7 April 2013)
Miles: 142.3
April arrives. Sadly the weather was still in winter mode.
Easter Monday. It seems that the warmer weather at the weekend was just sent to tease us, as it turned cold again for the start of the new week and that east wind was back. I got things underway with a good hour's ride in the afternoon, coming back with 17 miles in the bag. Another half an hour in the evening moved me on to 25 miles. An excellent start to the week. Tuesday afternoon was cloudy but fine. An hour on the bike took me to 39 miles. That became 47 miles once I'd been out in the evening on the usual loop. Wednesday was cold but fine so that afternoon I moved myself on to 60 miles. That became 68 miles once I'd been out in the evening. A three-day 68? Good effort.
Thursday afternoon had sunny spells with broken cloud. The wind changed direction though, this time whipping in from the north east. It was still cold. An hour in the afternoon pushed things along to 82 miles and this became 90 when I'd been out again that evening. Friday was overcast but fine. A 40 minute trundle got me to 99 miles. I went to the pub that night, so stayed on 99 until Saturday. Bonkers.
Saturday was a beautiful day. Sunny and warm! I cycled into town that afternoon, passing the 100 mile mark on my way out. Having returned home, I dashed out again for 20 minutes, progressing to 113 miles in the process. There was time for another ride in the day and I accomplished that mid-evening. It was cold though under clear skies. 121 miles was the total. Sunday was mostly cloudy but fine. An hour's ride in the afternoon lifted my total to 134. Three hours later I was back out there for the final ride of the week, rolling home with 142 big ones. A satisfactory performance.
The stats
Time taken to get 100: 6 hrs 54 mins
Total for 2013: 1541.5
2013 average weekly mileage: 110.1
Consecutive 100s: 10
Miles needed for 6000: 4458.5
Percentage of target reached: 25.69%
Required average weekly mileage: 117.3
This week felt that I was back in the groove. 25% of the way to 6k, with the summer ahead of me.
Meanwhile, back in 2012
A total of 113.2 took me to 1662.8. The lead is cut to 121.3.
Miles: 142.3
Easter Monday. It seems that the warmer weather at the weekend was just sent to tease us, as it turned cold again for the start of the new week and that east wind was back. I got things underway with a good hour's ride in the afternoon, coming back with 17 miles in the bag. Another half an hour in the evening moved me on to 25 miles. An excellent start to the week. Tuesday afternoon was cloudy but fine. An hour on the bike took me to 39 miles. That became 47 miles once I'd been out in the evening on the usual loop. Wednesday was cold but fine so that afternoon I moved myself on to 60 miles. That became 68 miles once I'd been out in the evening. A three-day 68? Good effort.
Thursday afternoon had sunny spells with broken cloud. The wind changed direction though, this time whipping in from the north east. It was still cold. An hour in the afternoon pushed things along to 82 miles and this became 90 when I'd been out again that evening. Friday was overcast but fine. A 40 minute trundle got me to 99 miles. I went to the pub that night, so stayed on 99 until Saturday. Bonkers.
Saturday was a beautiful day. Sunny and warm! I cycled into town that afternoon, passing the 100 mile mark on my way out. Having returned home, I dashed out again for 20 minutes, progressing to 113 miles in the process. There was time for another ride in the day and I accomplished that mid-evening. It was cold though under clear skies. 121 miles was the total. Sunday was mostly cloudy but fine. An hour's ride in the afternoon lifted my total to 134. Three hours later I was back out there for the final ride of the week, rolling home with 142 big ones. A satisfactory performance.
The stats
Time taken to get 100: 6 hrs 54 mins
Total for 2013: 1541.5
2013 average weekly mileage: 110.1
Consecutive 100s: 10
Miles needed for 6000: 4458.5
Percentage of target reached: 25.69%
Required average weekly mileage: 117.3
This week felt that I was back in the groove. 25% of the way to 6k, with the summer ahead of me.
Meanwhile, back in 2012
A total of 113.2 took me to 1662.8. The lead is cut to 121.3.
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