|
| Author |
Message |
Monty Dog
Joined: 14 Dec 2006
Posts: 10429
Location: Fleet, UK
 |
 Posted Fri Nov 6, 2009 7:46 pm |
Everytime I ride the Forest of Arenberg or the Oude Kwaremont - knowing that so many great riders have shared the same piece of road. Does more for me than the umpteen mountain climbs.
Riding down a country lane early one morning and sharing the road under the cover of trees with a sparrowhawk by my front wheel or flushing barn owls at dawn whilst on the South Downs Way.
Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side.. |
|
|
APIII
Joined: 16 Aug 2007
Posts: 908
Location: Leighton Buzzard
|
Posted Fri Nov 6, 2009 9:01 pm |
| plonk wrote: | | I live on a small island off the coast of Essex, and the road onto the island gets covered by the tide every so often causing big traffic jams. My perfect moment was one such day, cruisng past about 3 miles of backed up traffic, then whipping off my SPDs, sticking my bike on my shoulder and wading home, whistling a merry tune. I was perfectly aware about how smug i looked and it didnt bother me one bit. |
Mersey?
A couple of rides stick out in my memory:
First ever big climb in France, at the end of a holiday, I tackled Ventoux in the July heat. I had to pull over about 2k into it as I was starting to feel really sick (I don't do too well in the heat and it was in the 90's). Anyway, I perservered due in part to some banter from a passing cyclist, and some time later I rounded that famous last bend and crossed the line. I felt quite emotional at the time, having never climbed anything higher than Box Hill previously. Even better was the 20 minute descent on billiard table smooth tarmac, taking the racing line, hurtling down faster than I'd ever managed before. Great stuff.
Like some of the others, I have vivid memories of the Aubisque. The first time I climbed it was on a beautiful sunny September's day. Most of the tourists had left, so my pal and I had it virtually to ourselves. There was very little conversation on the way up, just mutual appreciation of the stunning scenery, laughing as we got near the top because it just seemed so perfect. Once over the summit, the link road up to the Soulor is one of the most stunning roads I have ever ridden, the views are just amazing.
|
|
|
a_n_t
Joined: 21 Nov 2007
Posts: 1284
Location: Manchester
|
|
|
kayakerchris
Joined: 07 Jul 2009
Posts: 20
|
Posted Fri Nov 6, 2009 10:43 pm |
Doing the C2C with my son 4 weeks ago. First time I had done over 60 miles and did it for 2 days. Came down the path into Sunderland and as we dropped onto the riverside the sun came out and there was the most glorious double rainbow. The feeling at that moment of having done something I never thought myself capable of.
|
|
|
velocitizen
Joined: 14 Dec 2005
Posts: 241
Location: United Kingdom
|
Posted Fri Nov 6, 2009 10:55 pm |
The descent from Crich to Lea Bridge and Cromford every time I ride there, and any silent, sunrise 'road to myself' moments.
|
|
|
Sicknote
Joined: 20 Aug 2008
Posts: 749
Location: North London
|
Posted Sat Nov 7, 2009 12:10 am |
Riding a round France and Belgium a round are battle honers when I was in the TA and going down the biggest hill I have ever gone down on the ride to Dover ( just wish I knew which one ) plus the squeeky bum moment when I noticed the round a bout at the bottom but did not need to slow down and the feeling of just going for it ( one of the Land rovers with us block it and pointed the way ) 
|
|
|
bianchi777
Joined: 17 Jun 2009
Posts: 76
Location: Lytham St Annes
|
Posted Sat Nov 7, 2009 1:57 am |
For me, it's a hot day on flat terrain cruising at around 22mph...no struggling, just efficiency...
Or riding on Manchester Velodrome, being the fastest guy on there because I'm 20 years younger than pretty much everyone else...right on the top of the banking, heart racing and teasing my Dad who is down right at the bottom of the turn scared to death. I've never felt more alive in my life.
|
|
|
Garrigou
Joined: 17 Apr 2009
Posts: 18
Location: Pyrenees, France
|
Posted Sat Nov 7, 2009 12:01 pm |
Spinning a brand new wheel in 2006 after 15 years away from riding and thinking they had perfected perpetual motion machines while I'd not been looking.
Glancing over my shoulder to find I had actually 'made the break' (only in the fast final 10km of a club ride; not in a race  ) when the bunch was travelling at 42kph+. Then staying away.
Cresting the Tourmalet after a huge sustained effort and (for me) big sprint finish to set a PB on that climb.
Most Columbia lead-outs for Cav in the last two years' Tours & Giros.
Riding a Pyrenean Tour de France climb before the pros on race day, alongside my wife who was wearing a Euskatel shirt. The Basque fans just absolutely loved it and were fantastic fun.
Seeing the look on my neighbour's 9-year old's face when he got his first 'racer' for his birthday a few weeks back.
GB Men's Team Pursuit Gold medal-winning performance in Beijing
Being the first kid on our estate to ride 100 laps of the estate when I was 12. The 'record' still stands, I believe!
Summiting Alpe d'Huez to find my 'last hairpin' photo already in the photographer's shop window. OK; nowadays the technology behind that is a doddle, but when I rode it, that seemed 'like magic' and was so cool.
Crumbs.......you seem to have started me off! Better go and ride.
|
|
|
Nax-ian
Joined: 15 Apr 2009
Posts: 62
Location: Naxos Greece
|
Posted Sun Nov 8, 2009 7:28 am |
Posting the fastest time ( by 40 seconds) in a team triathlon, back in October , even though our/my team only came 4th overall.
I was stoked.
I Ride Alone |
|
|
Cumulonimbus
Joined: 01 May 2008
Posts: 721
Location: Balham/clapham, london
|
Posted Sun Nov 8, 2009 11:10 am |
For me its those moments where you suddenly seem to have jumped up a level. Where on a training circuit you find yourself suddenly able to maintain 1mph faster than you could before, where you are now able to sit down on the climb that had you both out of the saddle and weaving slightly before, where you feel fresh on the third hill of the day whereas before you found it difficult to recover after the first. Normally these moments are spoiled though, by some other cyclist passing you about 5 mph faster
Topping the Tourmalet was one of the biggies for me. Another was descending the Soulor to the north. Managed to tag onto some keener cyclist's wheels and follow them down the mountain - never realised you could push a bike that far over!
|
|
|
NapoleonD
Joined: 16 Jan 2008
Posts: 4618
Location: Cheshire
|
Posted Sun Nov 8, 2009 11:19 am |
1st time I rode the bike on the road, 6 weeks after royally smashing my leg.
Was really sunny and I had been immobilised for ages and getting really down. Just rode up to my mum's in the neighbouring village for a coffee. The look of surprise on her face when she saw me was grand!
Yesterday was pretty damn good too! Went to Coed y Brenin for some MTB action. Weather was absolutely awful. On the first couple of climbs I just kept saying to my mate to keep it steady as there was a lot of climbing. There were a number of people overtaking us on the first big climb.
Caught them up and overtook them on the descent, then took it steady on the next big climb again. The same lads overtook us, they were blowing hard.
Overtook them again on the technical sections.
They overtook again on the last climb but blew up. They looked dejected and just stared up at us from their heads hanging low, arms draped over the handle bars as my mate and I cruised past chatting away, giving them a cheery 'alright' having paced ourselves nicely... They couldn't respond due to the panting.
Epic ride that and very very wet, cold and exhilarating.
OCP President
OCP Guidelines
NapTwit |
|
|
pottssteve
Joined: 07 Apr 2008
Posts: 1259
Location: Hong Kong, PRC
|
|
|
Grrram
Joined: 02 Apr 2008
Posts: 15
|
Posted Sun Nov 8, 2009 11:35 am |
Perfect moments:
1) Went back to visit friends in Marin County, California and was so stoked to be back and desperate to ride, that i borrowed their old clunker (complete with shopping basket) and rode it from sea level to the top of Mt. Tamalpais. Fresh air and redwoods - its not about the bike 
2) Finishing the TdF London to Canterbury sportive. At the time, this was the longest distance I'd ever done and it was a real accomplishment. Plus, I gained a greater appreciation of what the pros do for 2 weeks.
3) Spending a day on the trails in Stirlingshire on my stag do and finding the lure of the trails greater than spending the afternoon in a pub we stopped at in Sherrifmuir. Best part was weeks later, a non-cycling mate told me that he'd had so much fun that he bought a MTB and was hooked.
4) Early rides on a bright, crisp morning. Very still, no one's up yet, roads are clear and you just have that hunger to get out there and ride...tarmac, trails or whatever.
Rides: Marin Novato, Specialized Roubaix Elite, Raleigh Pro Racer (rebuild in-progress) |
|
|
MadammeMarie
Joined: 12 Sep 2007
Posts: 55
|
Posted Sun Nov 8, 2009 11:39 am |
Too many to count!
The first time I climbed up Alexandra Palace Hill without stopping, or cycling through Richmond Park, iPod on shuffle mode and Sprintsteen's version of Shenandoah came on as I was watching the sunset. Awesome! Or, similar situation, but the Stone's Moonlight Mile comes on.
Or, cycling to work over London Bridge and seeing the sun come out behind Tower Bridge! Stopped (bus driver not happy), and took this photo.
[img][/img]
|
|
|
Grrram
Joined: 02 Apr 2008
Posts: 15
|
Posted Sun Nov 8, 2009 12:28 pm |
Great photo MadammeMarie, love the way you've framed the sun - I also commute over London Bridge and slow down whenever I catch that view.
Rides: Marin Novato, Specialized Roubaix Elite, Raleigh Pro Racer (rebuild in-progress) |
|
|
Grrram
Joined: 02 Apr 2008
Posts: 15
|
Posted Sun Nov 8, 2009 12:28 pm |
Great photo MadammeMarie, love the way you've framed the sun - I also commute over London Bridge and slow down whenever I catch that view.
Rides: Marin Novato, Specialized Roubaix Elite, Raleigh Pro Racer (rebuild in-progress) |
|
|
johnmclean
Joined: 31 Dec 2007
Posts: 4
Location: Brunei
|
|
|
Carl_P
Joined: 11 Jun 2008
Posts: 189
Location: Norwich
|
Posted Sun Nov 8, 2009 4:55 pm |
Well I've only been cycling since May last year so completing the Norwich 100 in June in absolutely foul conditions stands out.
Funnily enough this morning's ride had a mega feelgood factor. Cool, bright and hardly a breath of wind. Nothing special, nothing fancy, just a delightful ride in the countryside. For me that's what it's all about.
|
|
|
Giant Phil
Joined: 15 Sep 2008
Posts: 53
Location: Devon, England
|
Posted Sun Nov 8, 2009 7:08 pm |
The best two weeks of my life was cycling LEJOG, sooo many amazing memories. Over Dartmoor, the Penines, Fort William and John O'Groats being just a few of them! Finishing it was the most incredible feeling ever.
Phil
If love is blind, why is lingerie so popular? |
|
|
capilinconnemara
Joined: 03 Dec 2008
Posts: 83
Location: connemara
|
|
|
|
Search
