A day in the country with my two new toys

[kingwilly]

Lovely little ride. Probably not doing a Cannondale justice. Never mind.

[somtamslap]

Probably not doing a Cannondale justice.

2800 feet of climbing on an 80 km loop isn't bad. Especially for a fat lad.

[ltnt]

^Non-stop? No wanking inbetween?

[wasabi]

Just warming up Tesco finest chicken Kiev , with ciabatta- style crumb
Yum yum
England .
These posts just encourage more refugees.

[somtamslap]

Out in the Surrey Hills with my new toys today. Another 80km of hurt featuring lots of draggy ascents and culminating in an altercation with a recalcitrant youth who decided to rev his engine behind me in what one could only assume was an attempt at intimidation. Well let me tell you - that spotty little oik won't be doing it again. Ever had a fuming ball of Lycra-clad fat call you a silly fucking wanker? No? He has.

I got a little carried away today and ended up in Sussex, and with night closing in I didn't have much time for pictures. But here's a few I managed to snap...

Shere - the hub of the Hills and a very quaint little village





The top of a three mile slog uphill . I stripped naked and ran through the bluebells in celebration...





Somewhere in Sussex...

[palexxxx]

Great pics, slaps.

[nidhogg]

Shit slaps, long time since I have missed blighty, but had pangs looking at those recent photos. The stream one is gorgeous.

[ltnt]

Lovely lanes there Slap. Do you ever take the little Slaps on a ride through the countryside? I assume they can ride bikes now?

[somtamslap]

Great pics, slaps.

Cheers Pale. I'd like to say they were a by-product of my photographic knowledge and ability.

The stream one is gorgeous.

Cheers Nidd. Yes, you don't tend to get such clean running water back East, do you. Not unless you pay premium rates for a water sports show in Silom.

Do you ever take the little Slaps on a ride through the countryside?

I don't. We did quite a bit of riding through the fields back in Isaan, but I'm yet to buy them bikes here yet. I'll splash out if/when they show any interest.

[ltnt]

Really terrific thread. One of the best this year.

[somtamslap]

^ High praise indeed.

Planning a south-coast sortie this Sunday, weather permitting of course. Our spring seems to have fucked off and been replaced by winter. Which is a shame.

[Dapper]

Really terrific thread. One of the best this year.

^ High praise indeed.

Not much competition though really mate

Still, being at the top of a steaming pile of shite is better than being at the bottom.

[Mathos]

Some nice photographs there Somtam.

Get pedalling more often and keep the camera ready to go!

[toslti]

will you be joining the London - Brighton cycle ride this year?

https://www.bhf.org.uk/get-involved/...hton-bike-ride

If so, you'll love Ditchling Beacon (not)

[klong toey]

In honour of the bluebells i have ordered 2 pallets of chang.

[somtamslap]

will you be joining the London - Brighton cycle ride this year?

Not on the agenda. My solo Land's End to John o Groats ride, however, is.
I'm now deciding whether or not I should camp or b&b it. Must admit I'm erring towards proper lodgings at present.

In honour of the bluebells i have ordered 2 pallets of chang.

Useless without a carafe of ya-dong

[Chittychangchang]

Defo need a good nights kip if your doing all them miles slap.

will you be setting yourself a daily target and booking your lodgings in advance.

The logistics for the ride are interesting.

will you be hauling saddle bags and a rucksack with your spare inner tubes and cycling lycra. Maybe a bike trailer tent(seen this in Wales last year)

The devil is in the detail.

[somtamslap]

will you be setting yourself a daily target and booking your lodgings in advance.

Yes, I wouldn't say the ride will be planned to the mile - punctures will be suffered, pubs will be drank in, precipitous ascents will be sworn at and possibly negotiated on foot.

To give you an idea, I'm using Sustrans (national cycle network) mapping for the most part, and below is my preliminary route for the first day, from Land's End to Bodmin. This traverses 80 miles of what can only be described as a fucking mountain range - OK, about 7500 feet of climbing. But for a fat person I may as well be in the bastard Andes.

will you be hauling saddle bags and a rucksack with your spare inner tubes and cycling lycra. Maybe a bike trailer tent(seen this in Wales last year)

Panniers, handlebar bag and a rucksack.

The devil is in the detail.

I reckon the devil's in Devon, and Cornwall, and Somerset...

[Stinky]

You're going to be fitter than a fit fing after this epic jaunt Slaps, although I reckon your liver is going to take a battering. My uncle Tony was a keen cyclist, he rode across America East to west then a few years later North to South, he rode across Australia twice and once to the Artic circle, I wish I knew where he found such masses of energy.

[somtamslap]

Happened upon a marvellous little village this afternoon while out a-wheel.



The soothing tones of running water were combined with that dulcet knock of leather on willow preceding a gentle ripple of applause. The village cricket match was in full swing.






Check out spectators Edith and Bob. Edith is banging back the Pimm's cup like it's going out of fashion. And Bob. Well, Bob is clearly a sucker for a sensible pair of shoes.

[somtamslap]

I wish I knew where he found such masses of energy.

I think you can pretty much ride yourself fit. Three/four days of suffering followed by mental and physical numbness for the remainder.

That's the plan anyway.

[Stinky]

The only thing that gonna numb those arse sores is copious amounts of alchohol

[somtamslap]

Pub stops have been factored into the overall duration.

I'm expecting it to take several years.

[Neverna]

will you be joining the London - Brighton cycle ride this year?

Not on the agenda. My solo Land's End to John o Groats ride, however, is.

Please take at least 2 amulets along with you in order to ensure a safe trip and safe passage through north west England.

[Topper]

Shere - the hub of the Hills and a very quaint little village

Ah..that's why it's called the atmoshere....can't wait to explain in my science class this term.