Bloody kids !! Grow up or you will both end of facing the wall in the corner !! ( our science teacher always used this punishment !!)

62.2 miles for todays little outing, yesterdays rain seems to have left some bog prone tracks as near impassable with ground conditions quite thick. Not helped by equestrians, with them it doesn't matter how wide the bridleway is they have to *uck it all up completely. Its a similar route I did end of last year but the ground conditions then were absolutely atrocious today the ground was 60% better.

 

The bridge to nowhere at the Vachery, Chelwood.

 

 

Also at the Vachery a red leafed oak.

 

 

One of Eddie's haunts 'Pooh Sticks Bridge' also the oak tree that EPJ mentions that can draw you to it like a magnet.

 

These handsome boys came over to say hello at Hartfield as I was transiting the farm bridleway for the dull ride home on the old rail track.

 

 

Edited May 19, 20169 yr by Nealh

I certainly know that area very well.

 

I had in mind to go past the Vachery this coming weekend, as I assumed that the Rhodo's would be out, but looking at you photo, it appears not? I've had a couple of confrontations with walkers whilst being down in that area. Even with the main track through being a bridleway, people don't like you using it.

We also have a bit of hassle at the moment on another forest bridleway, with one particularly person stating that they are going to set up booby traps, and even set up a gun! The stupid fool has posted as such on FB several times over the last few months, using his real personal details. Schoolboy error on his part! It still makes me a little nervous about wire being strung though.

 

The oak tree that you mention is actually at about the 37 second point of this clip, not the one near to the bridge in your photo.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48EPxtoc9hI

 

Anyway back on to rides. I've been out twice so far this week in the evening, but haven't really been feeling that great, so the rides have been fairly short.

Nothing exciting, just the usual local routes. Still nice to have everything to myself though.

 

http://s32.postimg.org/uh4duerk5/image.jpg

 

http://s32.postimg.org/un5oeebd1/image.jpg

 

http://s32.postimg.org/t3xguhb0l/image.jpg

Edited May 19, 20169 yr by EddiePJ

I've been missing both my night rides and also riding in the rain, so decided to get my fix of both this evening. Sadly it stopped raining within just a few minutes of leaving home, so I had to settle for second best.

 

I stayed reasonably local, and ventured into a piece of woodland that used to be a regular haunt as a child, and later in my late teens when I helped manage the woodland. I used to hate the place! It used to be a monastery, and water mill, and the feeling that the place lets off can be quite nasty. When working there, sometimes it would feel fine, then other times I wouldn't even get out of the van. Interestingly I recently bumped into someone else that work down there many years ago, and they said exactly the same, that sometimes that they would get out of the vehicle and went to a different area of the woodland to work. I've yet to meet anyone that has anything nice to say about the feeling of the place.

All but one of the mill ponds have now gone, and I recall falling into one of them as a child, sinking down below the water, then nothing. The next thing that I recall is standing up, on the bank and soaking wet. To this day I have no recollection of pulling myself back out, and I certainly couldn't swim. The mill pond sadly also took the lives of two children in just one day. One in the morning, and one in the afternoon.

 

Anyway, it was kind of good to be back there again, and for once the place felt fine, even if now very overgrown and run down.

 

http://s32.postimg.org/uxackmyx1/zr5.jpg

 

http://s32.postimg.org/ga0nuv2h1/zr4.jpg

 

http://s32.postimg.org/abipq9b2d/zr6.jpg

 

http://s32.postimg.org/6wwefr77p/zr3.jpg

 

http://s32.postimg.org/86z9rx7b9/zr1.jpg

 

My nemesis. I've been trying on and off for three years to get through this ride section, and still haven't made it!

It's actually narrower than it looks, and I get psychologically beaten before I have even started, as there is a drop to side of some 5 metres or so. I'll make it one day.

 

http://s32.postimg.org/pnunexa9x/zr2.jpg

 

Good to be out in the dark.

 

http://s32.postimg.org/jz6foftc5/zr7.jpg

I get that feeling on here sometimes Eddie...

Took bike to east coast today but enough wind to windsurf...

Fantastic group of pics Eddie, the first few have a Jurassic look about them, although I don't remember a KTM in the film.

Edited May 22, 20169 yr by Nealh

I only wish that the lighting had been better. It was just starting to get dark, and the poor old camera, is getting as old and temperamental as me!

The poor/fading light though gives the shots an eerie/menacing feel to them almost as if you were lucky to get out a live avoiding any lurking raptors.

One more from yesterday.

 

http://s32.postimg.org/pz4gkmpyt/zzr4.jpg

 

The ride yesterday has got me thinking about possibly building a pedelec based upon something like a jump bike or trials bike.

I possibly get as much, or if not more fun just out of riding up an over objects at walking pace, weaving in and out of tight trees and terrain, as I do for faster riding. I see another thread starting!

Edited May 22, 20169 yr by EddiePJ

todays ride.. along part of the Dunfermline alloa railway ,down through devilla forest to culross and back along the coast

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Red Lion culross

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Distance run 20 miles..mostly power 2 ~90 watts with occasionl bursts of 3 / 4. average speed 11.6 mph.. time cycling 1hr 41 mins. 13 ah battery start 41.5 v.. end 37.6 v

Edited May 22, 20169 yr by electrickery

Very nice electrickery.

 

I've had a couple of short rides, and popped out earlier this evening for something a little bit longer, but I was being lazy and didn't want to fit the lights, so cut the ride shorter than I intended.

I also took a look in at Hornshurst Woods, to try a bit of downhill riding, but didn't get it to flow that well this evening, and decided to pass it by. To be honest, it doesn't really float my boat.

 

http://s25.postimg.org/hgtk017r3/240515.jpg

 

http://s25.postimg.org/yvds8b4vz/image.jpg

 

http://s25.postimg.org/5hi1sq267/image.jpg

My wife and I did 10 miles round Credenhill Woods this morning. She outpaced me on this steep climb. Good going, as she's not been on the bike for 3 weeks due to the arrival of our new Grandson.

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My wife and I did 10 miles round Credenhill Woods this morning. She outpaced me on this steep climb. Good going, as she's not been on the bike for 3 weeks due to the arrival of our new Grandson.

that's the way !

and congratulations on your grandson

that's the way !

and congratulations on your grandson

Thanks very much. We're both very proud of baby Ted.

I had a full weekend of riding planned, but as things go, I'm still feeling crap.

 

I shouldn't have bothered today, and nearly gave up after just ten minutes. Sadly a full days riding cut short to just a few hours.

 

http://s25.postimg.org/70rq9u6bj/image.jpg

 

Urgh!! Is that a KTM? Take it away!

 

http://s25.postimg.org/gzcowbfr3/sr1.jpg

 

Normally I'd have been straight into here. It must be bad.

 

http://s25.postimg.org/pvs2dzvr3/sr2.jpg

 

One side of Lewes castle.

 

http://s25.postimg.org/5pokf403j/sr3.jpg

 

http://s25.postimg.org/c4nlbs6tb/sr4.jpg

 

Kingston windmill.

 

http://s25.postimg.org/bgeqsu83j/sr5.jpg

 

Kingston church.

 

http://s25.postimg.org/41pf0gm7z/sr7.jpg

 

Climb out of Kingston.

 

http://s25.postimg.org/yx6lrltof/sr8.jpg

 

Telscombe. Such a lovely little hamlet.

A bit of a conflict of heritage with this one

 

http://s25.postimg.org/jpqm791tr/image.jpg

 

Back to typical summer South Downs bridleways.

 

http://s25.postimg.org/f54fsbi4f/sr10.jpg

Thanks very much. We're both very proud of baby Ted.

My grandson is also called Ted.!

Congratulations. More fun when you can hand them back..my Ted is on a Weerider now..just out of chariot trailer.

was away in the van at a party last night ...

after a few pints of strong cider things turned a little weird...

 

 

 

 

 

 

so resolved to clear my head next day,,

stopped off at loch leven

 

 

 

nice cycle, a lot of walkers, and hordes of midges on one side of the loch

 

castle where Mary queen of scots was kept..

 

 

me bike

 

 

 

a glider

 

 

the sluice gates

 

 

through the woods

 

 

 

 

 

 

and of course loch leven is a bird sancutary so a lot of wildlife including

this rather chilled swan

 

 

 

So only 13 miles but ok for an easy day except for the puncture 2 miles from home.. a hot push back... that will teach me to get blasé after not having one for over 2000 miles and leave the repair kit in the van..

My wife and I at Hopton Woods a few days ago on our Haibike sduro's...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8KQK7Il1K0

Certainly a lovely dry day for it, and so quiet.

 

Just wish that I could persuade my wife to ride a bike. She is missing out on so much.

Our first date was a cycle ride during which we had a race, the loser buying a curry. It was me who paid for that first meal together. She hadn't told me at that point she had been a triathlete.

I've been very lapse this week, and haven't been out. I didn't really feel like going out this evening either, but things felt good, and I ended up really enjoying it.

Not an overly long ride, as I just wanted to check out a few more new local ride sections, and ended up taking my once a year over the handlebars trip!

Bloody annoying, as I'd walked the section first as well.

 

http://s25.postimg.org/3pzbqnwxr/image.jpg

 

Almost to the day of last years trip over the bars.

 

http://s25.postimg.org/56au8szun/image.jpg

 

http://s25.postimg.org/ymqgb867z/image.jpg

 

Not so dirty for a change.

 

http://s25.postimg.org/8sgnlg67z/image.jpg

Now that was too close for comfort. A delivery driver using a mobile phone pulled out in front of me this afternoon. The road rapidly seemed to run out in front of me in mili seconds, and when I went back later and measured the skid, it was 49' long! F**k knows how fast that I was going, but the forks were fully compressed and I couldn't give the bike any more front braking!

 

http://s25.postimg.org/g5gxgljsv/image.jpg

 

http://s25.postimg.org/jdletn62n/image.jpg

 

http://s25.postimg.org/6q123e1rz/image.jpg

 

Things improved after this little incident, as I was on my way to an Orange Bikes demo day that a friend had organised. I rode several different bikes, but have to say that the full monty Orange Five had my grinning from ear to ear. I didn't want to give it back!

 

http://s25.postimg.org/6nh6gjy4f/image.jpg

 

Back home again on the KTM.

 

http://s25.postimg.org/f70keb6gv/image.jpg

Edited June 5, 20169 yr by EddiePJ

You need slick tyres to stop shorter on that surface! Do you have a bald spot now? The bike I recovered has a nice bald spot from braking but it is a cheap Chinese tyre.

Do you have a bald spot now?.

 

Perhaps not, but I'll bet he's got a brown patch.

 

 

 

Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Tapatalk

Do you have a bald spot now?

 

I never looked to see, but I do have a new set of tyres order, and would have been a bit miffed if they had been fitted.