Sat, Apr 30, 2011 - 44.63 mi Firth of Forth Bridges Loop

Sat, Apr 30, 2011 - 44.63 mi [Cycling]
44.63 mi in 03:15:58 hours at 13.66 mi/h on Bianchi Nironne 7. [Cycling] Lovely ride over the Forth road Bridge and down through Rosyth, Crombie & Culross (which is beautiful) to the Kincardine Bridge - back across the Forth then one hell of a tough undulating ride back into quite a strong headwind through Grangemouth & Bo'ness back to South Queensferry.

Videos
Cycle across the Forth road Bridge - watch out for a mad woman lurching to the left and staggering directly on front of me as I approached at about 2 minutes 50 secs

Cycle across the Kincardine Bridge back across to the South of the Forth

 

Posted from My Cycling Log

Photographs

0 miles : The Forth Road Bridge Cycle Path

3 miles : And I'm in Fife

5 miles : The mothballed aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious which I saw launched
on the Tyne in 1979 - not sitting in Rosyth

5 miles : Look carefully at Rosyth and you can see the first bit of the hull
of the 1st of the new aircraft carriers

10 miles : a view up the Firth looking at Grangemouth

7 miles : The cycle path along the north shore of the Firth near Limekilns.

14 miles : The old village of Culross

During the 20th century, it became recognised that Culross contained many unique historical buildings and the National Trust for Scotland has been working on their preservation and restoration since the 1930s.

Notable buildings in the burgh include Culross Town House, formerly used as a courthouseand prison, the 16th century Culross Palace, 17th century Study, and the remains of theCistercian house of Culross Abbey, founded 1217. The tower, transepts and choir of the Abbey Church remain in use as the parish church, while the ruined claustral buildings are cared for by Historic Scotland. Just outside the town is the 18th-century Dunimarle Castle, built by the Erskine family to supersede a medieval castle

14 miles : Culross Town House

14 miles : Another view of Culross Town House with the statue
of Thomas Cochrane who was a famous Scottish Admiral.
1775 - Admiral Thomas Cochrane born. Scotland's greatest
naval hero spent his formative years in Culross
and his bust stands in the town.

14 miles : still in Culross and this building with the crow step
gable design is part of the 17th Century Culross Palace.

15 miles : An anchor on the promenade just leaving Culross.

15 miles : The view from Culross across the Forth to Grangemouth.

16 miles : Longannet Power Station which was the largest Coal fired Power Station
when it opened in 1970 - to give you an idea of scale the chimney is 600feet high.

17 miles : The Kincardine bridge which was my route back to the South side
of the Firth

17 miles : A closer view of the Kincardine Bridge

18 miles : The south side of the Kincardine Bridge.

18 miles : The new M876 motorway that forms the new Kincardine Bridge which
opened in 2008.

28 miles : Now on the south side of the Forth this is the view looking over
Grangemouth refinery. The road was about to start a series of climbs -
three 300feet climbs with a 20mph headwind lay ahead of me.
The next 17 miles was not pretty !! 

Thu, Apr 28, 2011 - 9.66 mi Tadcaster York

Thu, Apr 28, 2011 - 9.66 mi [Cycling]
9.66 mi in 00:41:10 hours at 14.08 mi/h on Pinnacle Hybrid. [Cycling] Headwind on the way home and I felt like I was labouring along the A64 but a very respectable time of 41 mins and an average speed of over 14mph - never bad !
Posted from My Cycling Log

Thu, Apr 28, 2011 - 8.23 mi Dringhouses to Tadcaster

Thu, Apr 28, 2011 - 8.23 mi [Cycling]
8.23 mi in 00:35:11 hours at 14.04 mi/h on Pinnacle Hybrid. [Cycling] Nice morning for cycling but just a little bit on the cold siide at 7:30 to be out with short sleeved top and lycra shorts only !!
Posted from My Cycling Log

Thu, Apr 28, 2011 - 1.73 mi York to Dringhouses

Thu, Apr 28, 2011 - 1.73 mi [Cycling]
1.73 mi in 00:06:56 hours at 14.97 mi/h on Pinnacle Hybrid. [Cycling] Short ride just a bike pick up from thee station back to the Holiday Inn so it's ready for my commute in the morning
Posted from My Cycling Log

Sun, Apr 24, 2011 - 36.57 mi Jarrow Seaton Sluice Coast Loop

Sun, Apr 24, 2011 - 36.57 mi [Cycling]
36.57 mi in 02:44:24 hours at 13.35 mi/h on Bianchi Nironne 7. [Cycling] A lovely afternoon - up the Don Valley, through the Tyne Tunnel & then up the Wagonway cycle route to Seghil. From there it was across through New Hartley & Seaton Delaval to the Coast north of Seaton Sluice.

Then down to St Mary's Lighthouse and along the coat to Tynemouth and along t the Tyne ferry at North Shields which of coursewas shut on easter sunday. So it was back through the tunnel and then a blast up t Heworth & down the Bowes cycle path for a blast.
Posted from My Cycling Log


Photographs :

The view across the fields towards Blyth

A more panoramic view looking North to Blyth with the windmills in view

A view looking slightly inland and straight acros to the Cheviot through a
very clear sky - yes you can see straight up to Scotland.

Seaton Sluice Harbour

St Mary's Lighthouse

Another shot of the Lighthouse

Another view of the Lighthouse 

A low level view of the Lighthouse looking from close to
ground along the causeway.

Tynemouth and a sign pointing you to cyclepaths in every
direction - whilst  a dredger enters the river.

A closer look at the dredger which was called the Crestway.

Sat, Apr 23, 2011 - 3.15 mi Heworth GC Jarrow

Sat, Apr 23, 2011 - 3.15 mi [Cycling]
3.15 mi in 00:12:12 hours at 15.49 mi/h on Pinnacle Hybrid. [Cycling] Fast cycle home in the rain and boy did the temperature dropp once the rain came ... quite chilly !!
Posted from My Cycling Log

Sat, Apr 23, 2011 - 6.08 mi Jarrow Heworth GC

Sat, Apr 23, 2011 - 6.08 mi [Cycling]
6.08 mi in 00:22:38 hours at 16.12 mi/h on Pinnacle Hybrid. [Cycling] Cycle to the golf club along Follinsby Lane for a few extra miles. Followed by my best round of the year and a second place finish :-)
Posted from My Cycling Log

Tue, Apr 19, 2011 - 9.54 mi Tadcaster York

Tue, Apr 19, 2011 - 9.54 mi [Cycling]
9.54 mi in 00:39:16 hours at 14.58 mi/h on Pinnacle Hybrid. [Cycling] Left my meeting in Tadcaster far too late to try to catch the 5:58 to Newcastle which was the last train in time to get me to the match (Newcastle v Man Utd) in time for kick off.

Add to that a headwind from the east (It never blows from the east !!!) so it was head down and full out for 40 minutes and hey ....

Made it with 5 minutes to spare .... Phew !!
Posted from My Cycling Log

Tue, Apr 19, 2011 - 9.67 mi York Tadcaster

Tue, Apr 19, 2011 - 9.67 mi [Cycling]
9.67 mi in 00:40:51 hours at 14.20 mi/h on Pinnacle Hybrid. [Cycling] Nice morning for an easy cycle into Tadcaster from York - just perfect cycling weather
Posted from My Cycling Log

Sun, Apr 17, 2011 - 10.40 mi Newcastle to Jarrow via Wrekenton

Sun, Apr 17, 2011 - 10.40 mi [Cycling]
10.40 mi in 00:45:10 hours at 13.82 mi/h on Bianchi Nironne 7. [Cycling] Cycle home from Newcastle but as it was a nice day I thought I would come home via Low Fell & Wrekenton just to get som hills in these legs.
Posted from My Cycling Log

Sun, Apr 17, 2011 - 20.15 mi Jarrow to Newcastle via Tynemouth

 Sun, Apr 17, 2011 - 20.15 mi [Cycling]
20.15 mi in 01:24:15 hours at 14.35 mi/h on Bianchi Nironne 7. [Cycling] Beautiful morning so I was off intoo South Shields and across the ferry to North Shiields - along the river past the fish quay and the promenade along to Tynemouth stopping at Lord Collingwoods statue to take some pictures.

It was then along the front and the Broadway to Monkseaton and down through the Silverlink, Battle Hill, Wallsend, Walker & Byker where I picked up with the River Tyne again and stopped at the Milllenium Bridge for a well earned drink and a Chilli Beef Noodle salad in the Pitcher & Piano.
Posted from My Cycling Log



Photographs :

5 miles - South Shields a view looking up the river from the Customs House

5 miles - This statue is the Merchant  Navy memorial by
local artist Bob Olley  which was erected in 1990.
The depiction of a sailor at the wheel, on a sloping base to
 give the impression of what it is like to stand on a ship's deck
 in a choppy sea. Overlooking the Tyne he gazes keenly ahead
 to the dangers that may come. It was unveiled by the
Duchess of Mountbatten, widow of the distinguished naval
 commander, Lord Louis Mountbatten.

A view of Mill Dam 

5 miles : Still at Mill Dam this is the Steamboat and Waterside pubs both of
which I would recommend especially good at the weekend if you want
to get away from the madness on King Street / Ocean Road

5 miles : Not sure what this is but its been there since 1865
so it must be important - you can just see the ferry ramp
behind to the right. 

5 miles : A different view of the Customs House with lots of
forthcoming events.

5 miles : You can see the ferry is approaching South Shields
so it's time for me to head to the landing.

5 miles : The Amsterdam ferry on the Commissioners Quay Berth in
North Shields.

5 miles : An alternative view of the Amsterdam Ferry.

7 miles : The High Lights at North Shields - two sets of lights
called the High Lights  and the Low Lights were used as
a navigational aid to traffic entering the River.

7 miles : The Low lights on North Shields Fish Quay

7 miles : A closer look at the Low Lights

8 miles : An old buoy which was recovered from the River
and is now used as a marker to show us cyclists the National
Cycle Network Route 72.

8 miles : Looking down the River towards the North Pier - the exposed rocks
are known as the Black Middens and many a ship has met its fate on them.
This is one of the reasons the High & Low Lights were built to safely guide
traffic through the safe water into the River. 

9 miles : Tynemouth Priory & Coastguard station.

9 miles : The Collingwood Memorial at Tynemouth -
Lord Collingwood was a local lad born in Newcastle who
went on to be Vice Admiral of the fleet and fought with
Nelson at Trafalgar.

9 miles : A look at the whole of the Collingwood memorial which
stands high on the hill on the North side of the river.

Sat, Apr 9, 2011 - 10.95 mi Jarrow Heworth GC Loop

Sat, Apr 9, 2011 - 10.95 mi [Cycling]
10.95 mi in 00:41:55 hours at 15.67 mi/h on Bianchi Nironne 7. [Cycling] Cycle up to the Golf Course before a round when just couldn't put the ball in the hole shooting a 92 which was so close to being an 82 !

Anyway the weather was fine so it was back via Follinsby Lane & Boldon to get a few more miles in.
Posted from My Cycling Log

Thu, Apr 7, 2011 - 9.54 mi Tadcaster York

Thu, Apr 7, 2011 - 9.54 mi [Cycling]
9.54 mi in 00:37:31 hours at 15.26 mi/h on Pinnacle Hybrid. [Cycling] Fast ride home after another late night at Tadcaster - managed to get to York station in time for the 8:50 train north to Newcastle.
Posted from My Cycling Log

Thu, Apr 7, 2011 - 9.81 mi York Tadcaster

Thu, Apr 7, 2011 - 9.81 mi [Cycling]
9.81 mi in 00:48:42 hours at 12.09 mi/h on Pinnacle Hybrid. [Cycling] Yet another tough morning into yet another headwind along the A64 - Deja vu !!
Posted from My Cycling Log

Wed, Apr 6, 2011 - 9.79 mi Tadcaster York

Wed, Apr 6, 2011 - 9.79 mi [Cycling]
9.79 mi in 00:38:20 hours at 15.32 mi/h on Pinnacle Hybrid. [Cycling] Fat ride back into York with a tailwind - lovely weather - thisnk the shorts will be out soon and the short sleeved cycle top.
Posted from My Cycling Log

Wed, Apr 6, 2011 - 9.67 mi York Tadcaster

Wed, Apr 6, 2011 - 9.67 mi [Cycling]
9.67 mi in 00:47:37 hours at 12.18 mi/h on Pinnacle Hybrid. [Cycling] Bit of a head wind and feeling a bit fatigued having started the day at 6am in York travelled to a days work in Manchester then returned to York at 6:30pm to then cycle to Tadcaster.

Gonna be a late one tonight.
Posted from My Cycling Log

Mon, Apr 4, 2011 - 8.55 mi Jarrow Newcastle

Mon, Apr 4, 2011 - 8.55 mi [Cycling
8.55 mi in 00:40:21 hours at 12.71 mi/h on Bianchi Nironne 7. [Cycling] Extremely windy day but blustery - although it was tough it wasn't constant and the hardest part was the sudden path changing side swipes of wind.
Posted from My Cycling Log

Mon, Apr 4, 2011 - 8.61 mi Newcastle Jarrrow

Mon, Apr 4, 2011 - 8.61 mi [Cycling]
8.61 mi in 00:33:07 hours at 15.60 mi/h on Bianchi Nironne 7. [Cycling] Cycle home from the garage after dropping the car off for a service - strong wind which was mainly behind helped.
Posted from My Cycling Log

Sun, Apr 3, 2011 - 6.48 mi Jarrow Heworth Golf Course Jarrow

Sun, Apr 3, 2011 - 6.48 mi [Cycling]
6.48 mi in 00:26:50 hours at 14.49 mi/h on Bianchi Nironne 7. [Cycling] Start of the golf season with 2 qualifiers for the knockout competitions - Qualified for the singles yesterday and this ride was back to the GC today for a doubles match which went well and a Nett 70 should see us qualified hopefully - very very fast ride home in 11 minutes.
Posted from My Cycling Log

Fri, Apr 1, 2011 - 7.50 mi Newcastle Jarrow

Fri, Apr 1, 2011 - 7.50 mi [Cycling]
7.50 mi in 00:28:00 hours at 16.07 mi/h on Bianchi Nironne 7. [Cycling] Ride home from Central Station after a journey home on the worlds slowest train - 3 hours 5 minutes from Manchester to Newcastle.

Garmin still falt so not logged
Posted from My Cycling Log

March 2011 - Monthly Stats

Number of Rides = 18
Total Distance = 208.13 miles
Time in Saddle = 15hrs 54mins 51s
Average Speed = 13.08 mph
Total Elevation Gain = 8418 Feet
Calories = 10728

Longest Ride in the Month was 42.67 miles on Saturday 19th Ulverston to Coniston & Windermere Loop

Thu, Mar 31, 2011 - 9.60 mi Tadcaster York

Thu, Mar 31, 2011 - 9.60 mi [Cycling]
9.60 mi in 00:36:00 hours at 16.00 mi/h on Pinnacle Hybrid. [Cycling] Un logged ride as my garmin battery was flat which was a same because although the wind had died down from the morning it was a very fast ride back into York - timed at 36 minutes
Posted from My Cycling Log

Thu, Mar 31, 2011 - 9.60 mi York Tadcaster

Thu, Mar 31, 2011 - 9.60 mi [Cycling]
9.60 mi in 00:56:07 hours at 10.26 mi/h on Pinnacle Hybrid. [Cycling] What a hard ride this was along the flat a64 cycle path with a headwind gusting between 30 - 50 mph all the way to Tadcaster - Tough Tough Tough that's all I can say !!
Posted from My Cycling Log

Thu, Mar 31, 2011 - 7.07 mi Jarrow to Newcastle

Thu, Mar 31, 2011 - 7.07 mi [Cycling]
7.07 mi in 00:31:33 hours at 13.45 mi/h on Pinnacle Hybrid. [Cycling] Early morning cycle up to Central Station to catch a train to York - all fairly standard except a Merc trying to take me out approaching a mini roundabout from his left I suspected he wouldn't stop so I eased off only to be astounded - Not only did he not stop he cut the corner turning right round the roundabout on the wrong side coming within a whisker of taking me with him - a second quick evasive action and a late swerve by him avoided a 30 mph head on - I did get a wave of apology though - So that's all right then !!!
Posted from My Cycling Log