Bored? Get Lost!
02-27-02, 12:16 PM
#1
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Bored? Get Lost!
Another thread about finding new roads to relieve the boredom got me thinking. This wouldn’t work for Dutchy because he knows all the roads around his area, but I’ve found (quite by accident) how to make a ride more enjoyable - getting lost.
A couple of times I was riding in areas that are far from home. Once I was following a cue sheet, and about ¾ of the way through the loop the cue sheet lost me. Well I knew the general direction I had to go so I just started picking roads. Some worked and some didn’t. I had to stop and ask directions at one point and I went about 20 miles further than I thought I would. When I got back I realized that I had more fun than I expected to. I certainly had more fun than any time I got lost in a car.
The next time I was in unfamiliar territory I followed a map for a big U shaped semi loop and then headed in the direction that seemed right. I again got turned around a little but discovered many new things and had quite an adventure.
Next summer I plan on getting lost in some other areas,
Has anyone else had any experiences like this?
A couple of times I was riding in areas that are far from home. Once I was following a cue sheet, and about ¾ of the way through the loop the cue sheet lost me. Well I knew the general direction I had to go so I just started picking roads. Some worked and some didn’t. I had to stop and ask directions at one point and I went about 20 miles further than I thought I would. When I got back I realized that I had more fun than I expected to. I certainly had more fun than any time I got lost in a car.
The next time I was in unfamiliar territory I followed a map for a big U shaped semi loop and then headed in the direction that seemed right. I again got turned around a little but discovered many new things and had quite an adventure.
Next summer I plan on getting lost in some other areas,
Has anyone else had any experiences like this?
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It's better to cycle through life than to drive by it.
02-27-02, 01:43 PM
#2
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Originally posted by MikeR
...I’ve found (quite by accident) how to make a ride more enjoyable - getting lost.
Has anyone else had any experiences like this?
...I’ve found (quite by accident) how to make a ride more enjoyable - getting lost.
Has anyone else had any experiences like this?
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02-27-02, 06:37 PM
#3
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One of my favourite rides in a S&M sort of way was when I was about 15. I left my house in Liverpool to ride to a place called Rivington Reservoir which was a trip of 60miles there and back. Being at school I had little money to spend in those days so I got £1 off my dad and set off. I got to Rivington and stopped in a cafe for a can of Coke and a Mars bar. When I left to go home I decided to extend my journey by taking in the climb of Winter Hill - about 2000ft - and looping around back onto my original route. It was the first time I'd climbed Winter Hill. I got to the top and started the decent, which was a very quick and very smooth road. After about 2 miles I came to a junction with a road which would let me get back home, but across the junction the road continued to descend so I followed it, thinking that I'd be able to find another road to get back to my route home.
After the descent I had another climb and then a descent into a valley. I headed up the valley aiming in the rough direction I needed to go, but no roads turned directly in the direction I needed so I continued riding up the valley. I ended up a town called Blackburn and ended up doing 100miles+ possibly even 120.
I didn't eat anything else due to lack of money from the 30mile point and I finally bonked about 10miles from home and took over an hour to cover the last 10 miles which was pretty flat. I was out for something like 12hours on that single pound.
After the descent I had another climb and then a descent into a valley. I headed up the valley aiming in the rough direction I needed to go, but no roads turned directly in the direction I needed so I continued riding up the valley. I ended up a town called Blackburn and ended up doing 100miles+ possibly even 120.
I didn't eat anything else due to lack of money from the 30mile point and I finally bonked about 10miles from home and took over an hour to cover the last 10 miles which was pretty flat. I was out for something like 12hours on that single pound.
02-28-02, 09:22 AM
#4
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Liverpool to Rivington to Burnley to Liverpool 
!!!!
Maximum respect to the nutter they call 'Campag Fetish Boy' -
.
!!!! Maximum respect to the nutter they call 'Campag Fetish Boy' -
.
02-28-02, 11:39 AM
#5
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Thread Starter
Well, One thing I do before I intentionally get 'lost' is I stake out an area on the map. Something like "don’t cross the river to the west, don't go further south than the turnpike, don't go further east or north than a specific mountain chain.
The boundaries I note enclose an area with enough room to explore and get lost in but not so much that I could wander too far, so I should be able to get back without too much hardship.
I'd rather map out an area to ride in like this, than to map out a route the usual cue sheet way.
The boundaries I note enclose an area with enough room to explore and get lost in but not so much that I could wander too far, so I should be able to get back without too much hardship.
I'd rather map out an area to ride in like this, than to map out a route the usual cue sheet way.
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It's better to cycle through life than to drive by it.
It's better to cycle through life than to drive by it.
02-28-02, 11:53 AM
#6
where's the summer!?
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Originally posted by Campag Fetish Boy
One of my favourite rides in a S&M sort of way was when I was about 15. I left my house in Liverpool to ride to a place called Rivington Reservoir which was a trip of 60miles there and back. Being at school I had little money to spend in those days so I got £1 off my dad and set off. I got to Rivington and stopped in a cafe for a can of Coke and a Mars bar. When I left to go home I decided to extend my journey by taking in the climb of Winter Hill - about 2000ft - and looping around back onto my original route. It was the first time I'd climbed Winter Hill. I got to the top and started the decent, which was a very quick and very smooth road. After about 2 miles I came to a junction with a road which would let me get back home, but across the junction the road continued to descend so I followed it, thinking that I'd be able to find another road to get back to my route home.
After the descent I had another climb and then a descent into a valley. I headed up the valley aiming in the rough direction I needed to go, but no roads turned directly in the direction I needed so I continued riding up the valley. I ended up a town called Blackburn and ended up doing 100miles+ possibly even 120.
I didn't eat anything else due to lack of money from the 30mile point and I finally bonked about 10miles from home and took over an hour to cover the last 10 miles which was pretty flat. I was out for something like 12hours on that single pound.
One of my favourite rides in a S&M sort of way was when I was about 15. I left my house in Liverpool to ride to a place called Rivington Reservoir which was a trip of 60miles there and back. Being at school I had little money to spend in those days so I got £1 off my dad and set off. I got to Rivington and stopped in a cafe for a can of Coke and a Mars bar. When I left to go home I decided to extend my journey by taking in the climb of Winter Hill - about 2000ft - and looping around back onto my original route. It was the first time I'd climbed Winter Hill. I got to the top and started the decent, which was a very quick and very smooth road. After about 2 miles I came to a junction with a road which would let me get back home, but across the junction the road continued to descend so I followed it, thinking that I'd be able to find another road to get back to my route home.
After the descent I had another climb and then a descent into a valley. I headed up the valley aiming in the rough direction I needed to go, but no roads turned directly in the direction I needed so I continued riding up the valley. I ended up a town called Blackburn and ended up doing 100miles+ possibly even 120.
I didn't eat anything else due to lack of money from the 30mile point and I finally bonked about 10miles from home and took over an hour to cover the last 10 miles which was pretty flat. I was out for something like 12hours on that single pound.
ahhhhhhhh school boy error! too far on no food! riding the last 10 miles dreaming of all the foods you shouldn't eat...'when i get back i'm gonna raid the biscuits, cakes, have a hot bath, never ride my bike again...bla bla bla...' then get home and say 'that was great!'
one of the last places you want to 'bonk' is around rivington and blackburn, i don't think there's a flat road in that area - nice area though if you're fit!
cabledonut
Last edited by cabledonut; 02-28-02 at 11:55 AM.
02-28-02, 12:05 PM
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The other day I was riding home. I arrived at my house, and just rode right past. It was an amazing feeling at the moment, as I realized I just wasn't ready to quit riding. I went for about 3 more hours. It was one of those magic days where the wind always felt at my back, and I felt like I was getting way more out of the ride than I was putting into it.... really soaring, you know? I must have been lost for most of the day, but spent hardly any time worrying about being found.
Manderax
I ride. I fall down. I get up.
Meanwhile, I keep dancing.
Manderax
I ride. I fall down. I get up.
Meanwhile, I keep dancing.
