youramericanlover

Most recent activity

• Gravel / Gravé / Gnarmac / Groad / ATB

  in Bikes & Bits • 8 hours, 40 minutes

  

  Salsa Stormchaser, which is what is in my hallway atm while I work out which new avenue of dumb to explore

• Gravel / Gravé / Gnarmac / Groad / ATB

  in Bikes & Bits • 13 hours

  

  Tracklocross like skateboarding is not a sport

  😂

• Gravel / Gravé / Gnarmac / Groad / ATB

  in Bikes & Bits • 13 hours, 23 minutes

  

  There is no gravel in the UK, only Audax and CX. MTBs are dangerous, people who ride them do things like 'stop' which can infect you with 'vibes' or 'being chill' which is a direct route to corruption.

• Hard Day in January '25

  @youramericanlover started

  Jan 18th cm19 5eq

  • 102 comments
  • 7,535 views

  @clubman replied
• Hard Day in January '25

  in Rides & Races • 2 days, 12 hours

  

  Oh and like the zoned-out plum I was I forgot to hand out patches! All the people on the ride who want me dm your address.

  Once they have dibs I'll offer them here and then if more left in the Audax thread. Free

• Hard Day in January '25

  in Rides & Races • 2 days, 14 hours

  

  Ride Report '25
  The Self-Reflective one? It's easy to take this view with the forum threatening to close down in the spring and be nostalgic about past rides, friendship and temporary alliances made on the road while churning out miles. Maybe there is a wee sense of loss in the mix as well.

  But I'm not feeling wistful. Certainly I'm thankful for all the great rides we've done in the past - some wetter, hillier, colder (somehow). And the thought of the forum shutting made me feel a bit funny. But right now I'm only feeling satisfied because every part of this ride fell exactly into place. I wanted fast and flowy spinning on open quiet roads with good views, tight group riding, a hard pace and a cafe that was restorative instead of offering some additional adversity. Bam bam bam. The roads were great (ah shucks, no stop it, oh ok you got me) and the mist and freezey cold added to the atmosphere and effort, the café was tasty and warm if not cheap, but of course quality of the day came down the people who showed up.

  Everyone arrived on hot bikes, shared the work up front, watched out for each other, helped with the two punctures, and everyone was super strong. Saturday was really cold and I think that made it all the more satisfying, it’s what gives it that extra bump into Hard so as to meet agreed advertising standards to do a 99 mile loop at pace on sweet fixies in January.

  It’s fine to admit that @Po is on another level to the rest of us but he showed it through perfect tempo and ease along the road, which, dare I say it, is very classy. @cagimaha moaned and whined about his fitness and then spent aaaages up front and finished strongly. @andyp chatted about feeling hesitant but he was gold all day long. Did @WhitleyJay get out of breath? We’ll never know. We had @falconvitesse Golden Era bike, two swish Paddy Wagons, two wide bar rippers, and @elgonzo Bespoked-worthy Mash, among other classy builds. Solid rides all around.

  Everyone wheel-up and rode fast, the misty visibility probably helping concentration since it was hard to see much beyond 1km, but the trees and undulating snake roads were great. The route integrated some of the TNRC Roydon and Welwym Garden City loops – verifiable classics for a reason. Only one notable climb which was pretty straightforward and we had long downhill sorta section as a reward. I had a grim final 25 miles which I can only explain with useless excuses, but was very happy on the day and working hard to help us get to the café in good nick. Brilliant riding everyone. Seriously, mega thank you.

  M.M.Rider

  @jmg412 won, and certainly worthy of the award. He did plenty of work up front, rode well in the pack, and had a nice long patch of suffering and feeling ready to blow up until getting his shit together and getting to the pub with pace and a smile. He had an emotional journey worthy of holding The Cog this year. Also it was hard to see anyone else in any sort of difficulty other than me (sad!).

  So yes, not wistful backward looking one, but rather HDIJ as it should be: switched on riders churning out pacey miles together in the deep winter. This was the Nailed-On Fast and Flowy One.

  I got one useless picture of some non-descript scrubland so have turned it black and white for mood and to distract you from the poor mise en scene.

  What a ride.

• Hard Day in January '25

  in Rides & Races • 2 days, 14 hours

  

  Think I've just pipped you here with my 46x19!

• Hard Day in January '25

  in Rides & Races • 3 days, 20 hours

  

  Waiting room is so warm!!!

• Hard Day in January '25

  in Rides & Races • 3 days, 21 hours

  

  Oh nice! @cagimaha and myself are already here scouting for Greggs

• Hard Day in January '25

  in Rides & Races • 3 days, 22 hours

  

  Yes Po! No judgement here.

  Slightly messed up the 758 arrival, we should be there about 8:40, roll out sharpish as it's fucking chilly