A big ride

[RobF]

In this case, the Sunderland Big Ride which I've just completed.

About 45 miles, including the ride to and from the start.

Very mixed going, road, cinder track, single track, cycle path, rutted mud, you name it, there was a stretch of it.

One downside was the large number of those 'pro-horse, anti-motorcycle' gates.

Drove me nuts having to stop every mile or two, and a heavy ebike is not so handy to get through them.

I was called a cheat by three or four of the other riders, but only one rather nasty lad appeared to mean it.

Two plus points.

The Rose never missed a beat, and I have only the slightest amount of soreness despite five hours in the saddle.

One slight minus point, the distance is towards the limit of the battery, which while not exactly causing me anxiety, meant I didn't have free use of the assistance levels.

First bit of serious climbing I've done on the bike was a long pull up to some wind turbines.

Got up there nicely in sport mode at about 6-8mph, passing quite a few on the way.

The finish was a non-event - no medal, no goodie bag, not even a 'free' bottle of water, banana or Mars bar.

I saw one other ebike at the end, looked like a neatly converted mountain bike with a large, black, front hub motor and a larger than usual bottle battery.

Was the rider anyone on here?

 

[Jackyh]

Well done on completing your ride. It sounds great. I too have had comments about cheating from complete strangers who do not know, and have no business knowing about any physical constraints that the cyclist may have.

Riding an ebike means freedom and fun. So I like to concentrate on the positive comment I received from a lycra-clad cyclist who said "well done" as I reached the top of a hill even after I told him I had a battery on board. It gave me a real boost that day. There are far more nice people than nasty, I find, and a lot of them ride bikes.

 

[funkylyn]

Hey...a huge well done Rob, that was some ride......you are obviously going to leave us all standing when we finally do the Waskerley Way

As for your question.....no, it wasnt me lol

lynda

 

[Rab C Nesbitt]

Well done on completing that run - it will have done you a world of good.

As for the clowns that chip in with the "cheat" jibes - I always remember a while back when I was back on the normal bikes (long story but trying to keep fitness levels up) I clocked an older guy at the lights with a home made ebike (with kit not at all camouflaged) - cycled a bit with him asking how he was getting on with it etc and he said he loved it as it allowed him to get out.

We stopped at another set of lights - there were about 5 cyclists including us - this toss says to him , "cheatin there I see, pal" - the old guy turned to him and said, "how many chemo sessions have you been to this week , son ?" . . . the guy nearly shrivelled up like a salted snail.

As Jackyh says above, we have no idea of what limitations the person on the bike has

 

[RobF]

There are far more nice people than nasty, I find, and a lot of them ride bikes.

That's true.

Apart from the one idiot, all the other riders I exchanged a few words with were friendly, whatever the topic.

As were the marshals.

In that respect the ride was a heartening experience.

I usually ride alone.

Having to interact with others meant I didn't enjoy, or at least take in, the ride and scenery as much as I would have done on my own.

Without being too philosophical about it, when riding alone I often get into a pleasingly calm, almost neutral mental state - that was absent today.

I also felt strangely compelled to keep going, only allowing myself two brief stops.

What I'm trying to get at is doing a route as part of a big group is a much different experience to doing that same route on your own.

 

[103Alex1]

That's true.

Apart from the one idiot, all the other riders I exchanged a few words with were friendly, whatever the topic.

As were the marshals.

In that respect the ride was a heartening experience.

I usually ride alone.

Having to interact with others meant I didn't enjoy, or at least take in, the ride and scenery as much as I would have done on my own.

Without being too philosophical about it, when riding alone I often get into a pleasingly calm, almost neutral mental state - that was absent today.

I also felt strangely compelled to keep going, only allowing myself two brief stops.

What I'm trying to get at is doing a route as part of a big group is a much different experience to doing that same route on your own.

I'm with you on those feelings, Rob ! But that's possibly because I invariably get on my bike when it's not a necessity to get away from people and enjoy nature, not to seek others out .

Great achievement completing the trip though - must require a different mindset to a solo ride I guess... and does no harm to try something different to see how you take to it.

Having other people riding a longer route would help motivation to keep going though.. I find even on a long climb, coming up behind others compels me to push it and push on ... usually to get clear and gain some distance