September 2024 Rides

A page featuring galleries and links for cycle tours undertaken during September 2024.

I ride regularly, and I do not necessarily post a web page for each tour I do.

I do post to Facebook, Garmin Connect, Strava and occasionally to Komoot and Instagram.

Monthly Tours

Konstantin’s Birthday Gravel Ride in Gö – September 28 2024

We celebrated Konstantin´s birthday by visiting three German Federal States and huge thanks to him for a cool ride, cake, coffee, and ice cream! Also, for his kindness.

The sun shone and we got hit by high winds and rain, but it was glorious, and I do like to ride with people in rain I do not know why. Probably because of the flecks of dirt flicked onto our faces…

On Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/12524541286

Blown in the Wind in Gö – September 26 2024

No rain was falling and instead of gloom it was bright, and I jumped on my bike spontaneously.

But here´s the rub as Shakespeare put it, a fierce head wind was bad for most of my ride data but fantastic for my cardiovascular system.

On Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/12508913001

Weather Window in Gö – September 25 2024

I jumped through a weather window of no rain during a day of heavy downpours, for a short ride in the gathering gloom.

On Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/12503014972

Hoher Hagen – September 22 2024

Soup, cake and coffee atop the Hoher Hagen, the highest point in the Gö area.

On Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/12476016246

Tan Lines in Gö – September 19 2024

I recently went naked at the Gö Sauna baths and when I merged with others, I made a note of people’s swimsuit tan lines and the like. My nakedness revealed my cycling tan which for me is a badge of honour.

I am amazed that I visited a sauna for the first time in my life.

On this ride I rode my neglected gravel bike, and I enjoyed riding on a warm late summer evening followed by ice cream. It was a slim last chance to top up my tan before it fades over Herbst (Autumn) and Winter.

Do look at your own cycling tan and then regard yourself with awe.

On Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/12453120175

Not Held Back in Gö – September 17 2024

What holds us back? Lack of motivation? Bad weather?

When I lived in London I would get dressed and be set to start a tour only to stop myself because the ride out involved threading my way through endless suburbs and monstrous vehicle traffic for seemingly ages.

Here in Gö it takes only a short time to be riding on quiet roads and trails and I naturally venture out on my bike so much more.

We can form barriers in our head so easily and our inhibitions can stop us in our tracks… I´m going to a sauna for the first time in my life this week, what excuse might I use to shy away being a repressed English man? But I am also a bit Welsh and although I cannot sing, I do have some ´Men of Harlech´ passion in me…

This was a nice solo road ride on which I can keep a regular tempo this being good for building strength, and I avoided too much big chain ring action. I rewarded myself with ice cream.

The ride included three sectors of mild gravel and one of cobbles.

On Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/12435700639

French Connection In Gö – Schloss Berlepsch – September 15 2024

A road ride up to Berlepsch Castle, which was attacked and destroyed in both the 30 Years and 7 Years Wars.

We climbed steadily to the castle and then returned to Gö downhill upon exhilarating roads overlooking the city.

On route we went through Diederode which was one of datum points for Gauss when he measured the size of the Kingdom of Hannover, it is also where the B17 bomber Lassie Come Home crashed during World War Two, the village additionally features a medieval watchtower come church and finally it was the headquarters of the French Arms during the 7 Years War.

The latter was the first world war when the British began to assault the French colonies across the Globe and they paid Frederick the Great to fight the French in Central Europe.

The French built an earth bank from the Werra to the Liene River, and there remains a fragment at Dahlenrode.

The wind today was harsh at times, but it was much warmer than recent rides. This was also a ride I had intended to do prior to my heart attack and so it was great to ride it this day.

On Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/12416791871

Chasing Swedish Wheels on Gö Asphalt Feldweg – September 14 2024

After two weeks of riding the mountain passes of the Tirol, Anna and Hans from Sweden were happy to ride the Gö asphalt feldweg.

Anna is a motor bike and cut into a cutting head wind with the likes of me hanging on for dear life.

We rode into three German Federal States and across the redundant International Border that once was the physical manifestation of the Cold War.

Danke Anna and Hans.

On Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/12408852772

Chasing My Shadow and Imaginary Wheels in Gö – September 12 2024

Herbst (Autumn) is here and whilst it is nice not to fry, I would like it just to be a bit warmer….

I rode alone chasing my shadow and imaginary wheels, it was cool, but chasing a real person would have been more fun.

Eating ice cream at ride end in the cold is something I will have to accept from hereon.

On Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/12394080416

Café Society in Witzenhausen mit Sandra und Andrea – September 8 2024

Sandra chose a wonderful road route taking us from Gö to Witzenhausen, the smallest university town in Germany. It is also famous for its annual cherry festival being a renowned area for the crop.

We journeyed through Hessian villages riding along quiet roads and upon smooth asphalt to enjoy cake adjacent to the Werra River.

Sandra rocks and she is also recovering her cycling form and mojo.

On Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/12359275449

Gö Gravel Strade Bianche 40km Social Ride – September 5 2024