A day out with the V.C.C.

Sunday 30th October 2016.

Only one ride this week as I have had to take it easy due to a sore left knee. Cycmon had invited me to join him on a ride with the VCC Hampshire Lightweights. So we drove to Fishbourne to meet the other guys and gals. We were all mounted on veteran bikes. My mount was one of Cycmon's a 1967 Viking Severn Valley.

There were 38 of us in all when we set off just after 10.30. We did split into a couple of groups to minimise the effect on traffic. The terrain was very level, so I was not seriously affected by the lack of gears and toeclips. 

It was a most enjoyable day out with the focus being firmly on enjoying both looking at the old bikes and riding them too. After less than ten miles we stopped for a break. I was not hungry so made do with a pint of John Smiths and a bag of crisps. We had a long break to enable everyone to enjoy refreshments and chat and of course to inspect one another's bikes.

Boaters Cafe with some of our group enjoying their break.

 Some of the views of the day with many interesting boats in the nearby marina.

After our break we continued a very zig-zag path along the very interesting coast. At Bosham I had a Cornish pastie and a coffee as I had not eaten at our first stop, meanwhile most of the others had ice creams. It was fortunate that the tide was out in Bosham as it allowed us to ride the road which is covered at high tide.

Bosham Quay and Church.

Back at Fishbourne we enjoyed yet another refreshment stop and chat before setting off to return home with a fantastic sunset to admire on our way with the red sun light beautifully making the autumn trees glow.

Thanks Cycmon for taking me out of my rut! 

The knee did not cause me too much of a problem, I will see how it feels tomorrow before deciding if I am riding on Tuesday.

I have added another bike to my Bikes page. One I had forgotten about as i had it for such a short time.

Gridironman.

Two Rides with Cycmon this week.

Thursday 20th October 2016.

Near Mottisfont a very dark deer ran along the road in front of us and dove through the hedge when it spotted two cyclists coming the other way. 

Saturday 22nd October 2016.

A para-glider spotted near East Meon making good use of the very sharp drop from near the aerials.  
Lots of other riders enjoying the fine weather in the lanes, most exchanging greetings and we got to chat with a couple at the pub. The guy was riding a Cannondale fully sprung mountain bike with disc brakes. He said he had got it for £1,700.

Looked like this one but finished in green.

Surprise PB.

Gridironman.

A New Coffee Stop and My Furthest Yet in a A Year.

My Week.

It has been another busy week for me both on and off the bike.

In addition to my rides I have been active coordinating the plans for the future management of the Hampshire Cyclists' Midweek Fellowship and attending the Winchester CTC AGM.

Managed to get myself elected as Welfare officer. What have I let myself in for?
I have now ridden over 5,000 miles this year, well past my previous best so what do I do now, retire, keep going to let you all have another go at "Guess my Miles" in aid of Forever Projects/Angels.

Tuesday 11th October 2016.

Hill Farm Caravan Park Coffee Shop.

I decided not to join Winchester CTC ride as their route was on roads close to home that I ride regularly. It was another great day for cycling with sunshine for most of the time. We sped along so well that I managed a few more PBs. The café was not one most of us had been to before. It is at a Caravan Park so was quite quiet at this time of the year. I guess it would be busier in summer. 

We had a nice break and at my suggestion we started back via Newtown and Awbridge. Two of us left the others near Kimbridge to head home via Braishfield while the others returned to Crawley.

Making the most of the fine weather to complete
drilling next years crops.
Near Farley Church.

I parted company with my friend in Braishfield taking the very picturesque and quiet lane past Farley Church. I stopped to take pictures, leaning my bike against an open farm gate. Of course while my back was turned a farmer had come out of the field, moved my bike and locked the gate. I apologised and we had a nice chat. He told me that the field they were drilling was the last one to do. The field he had just left was already showing green winter wheat shoots.

I was getting a bit peckish now. It was gone one o'clock by the time I got to Hursley, so I popped into the Dolphin to enjoy a tasty lunch with a refreshing pint. Good move, it was very pleasant sitting in the sunshine and relaxing.

Not wanting to go along the B3047 that I ride so often, my chosen route home was via Owslebury. Near there I spotted several very large fungi. 

Another super fast descent into Cheriton and I was home via the ford footbridge.

Don't forget that you can view the  map and other  pictures full screen if you click on them.

Thursday 13th October 2016.

It was an important meeting at the Tchborne Arms where we spent some time finalising the arrangements for the future of the HCMF. We have now decided to split the county into 4 sections with one or more of the members arranging the pubs for our meetings. Details will then be forwarded to me as coordinator and I will circulate the programme for the next 17 weeks. This arrangement will start in 2017.

As the meeting was only 2 miles from home I took a short loop via Bramdean and Cheriton.

Saturday 15th October.

We had a good day out with Sheelagh leading us over an innovative route. We did have some minor problems. Just near Micheldever Station my friend Paul lost a pedal and left crank, fortunately some of the more mechanical minded of us managed to reattach it. This proved not to be a permanent cure for after 67 miles in Itchen Abbas just one mile from home it came undone again. I went to get my car to rescue Paul but he managed to ride the last mile with one pedal!!! Another member of the group also had a problem, a flat tyre. Some riders continued while a small group stopped to help and this was soon fixed and  they arrived at the George in Vernham Dean only a few minutes behind the rest of us. After lunch the dreaded Conholt Hill, 14.5% at the steepest, nearly 8% overall.

On the way home the group fragmented near Fullerton when a large group being ahead of the leader took the direct route down to the village. Only four going the right way to Longstock. I joined the breakaways as my friend Paul was with them. 

In any case I wanted to leave the ride at this point to go a more direct way home to Alresford. 

We had got to Stoke Charity before the rain started and we were pretty damp by the time we got home. A very enjoyable ride despite the late rain and the mechanicals! Thanks Sheelagh.

Gridirnman.

Autumn Sun and my eighth Gridiron.

Tuesday 4th October 2016.

Winchester CTC ride to Whitchurch & Wherwell.

Thursday 6th October 2016

Sunday 9th October 2016.

PinkPal Near Hyde.

I decided to drive alone to join the ride ahead of my two pals Cycmon and PinkPal to enable them to ride at their own pace and not have to hang around for me. The plan worked well with them starting half an hour behind me, they caught up with me at the second check in Hyde. 

My Garmin decided not to co-operate switching itself off twice. I did however manage to edit the details by other means. 

It was cold at first, but I soon warmed up with riding in the lovely sunshine.  

Nearly there!

I enjoyed riding with some other participants and chatted to some as we rode. The hardest hill of the day came after we had passed through Brockenhurst and across the A35 to climb Bolderwood Drive and I dropped back from two of them I'd chatted with, but I did see them later. It was hard work riding across the old Stoney Cross airfield as we had a strong headwind. This worked to our advantage when we turned west along Roger Penny Way. I tucked in behind a group of Venta riders for a while and was amazed how much easier it was drafting behind them. 

My Two Pals Get Cracking.

I had to stop for a short personal break when I felt a bit "wobbly" in need of a snack bar and another drink. The refreshment and a stop of about 5 minutes worked well and I had no further problems. I was pleased to be Joined by my two pals at Hyde, it was great to ride together for the last 23 mile.

Alresford Groupetta Trio at the finish.
(Is that my star award on my bike?)

I was very happy with my performance, although I had no idea until I looked at the data afterwards that I had managed so well. Not quite as good as I did two years ago, but better than the other 6 times.

Gridironman.

A damp start to the week, a cooler and sunny end to it.

Tuesday 27th September 2016.

We enjoyed an early coffee at our start point, Poppies, while waiting for the rain to abate. All who had opted to join the ride had turned up despite the forecast for light rain. By 10.35 we decided it was time to get going even though it had not stopped completely. 

Our leader had chosen an interesting route into Wiltshire including a number of roads I'd never ridden before. Some I had ridden when staying at the Youth Hostel in Salisbury a few years ago. The rain was mainly more of a drizzle than real rain, but there were some heavier periods and the roads were wet and in a couple of places very slippery. I had a little scare on the descent into one village where I had to brake as the hill was 14% and I had a small skid. In another place mist and smoke from a bonfire drifting across the road was so dense that we came to a complete stop before groping our way forward in the company of a car.

We passed close to Old Sarum and in the fields below the ramparts we spotted three deer standing in a large field of stubble. They watched us as we rode by. 

We had lunch at the Bridge Inn in Upper Woodford leaving our bikes in the garden area on the other side of the road under a gazebo. Most of the group chose soup, but I had whitebait which was very good and although it was a "starter" it was almost too much for me.

The sun came out while we were in the pub and so most of the roads were dry for our return journey which was via High Cross, Porton Down and Winterslow. I managed to ride all of the hills and even led the group for some of the time having to wait over 3 minutes at the A30 traffic lights to let the sluggards catch up. (Maybe someone had a problem, how else would I be that far ahead?)
However I was a minute behind PP on that climb to Winterslow.
A few more spots of rain as we rode the last miles but not enough to spoil what had been a good day out despite the inclement weather. 
We rewarded ourselves with tea & cakes at Poppies before PP drove me home feeling very happy. Slept well last night not waking properly until nearly 9 o'clock this morning.

Thursday 29th September 2016.

A gentle solo ride on Sporty. I thought it was time I rode a bike fit for the wet conditions with mudguards and a rack bag big enough to stow a waterproof jacket. 

Do you know where this is?

As the direct route was short I decided when I got to Ovington to carry on up the hill over Gander Down to Owslebury. I was lucky at the A31 to be able to cross without stopping. The roads were still very wet after the early morning rain so I was glad I had chosen Sporty.

The sun came out as I neared Owslebury and by the time I got to Otterbourne the roads were drying nicely.

I had not been to IBM clubroom until last Friday and now I have been there twice! It was busy with a lot of IBM employees as well as our group.

View from Long Walk.

For my return route home I meandered my way through the city, climbing Quarry Road to join the Alresford Road. Made it easily without needing the lowest gear. Top marks Sporty. Nice views of the countryside and clouds from the Long Walk above Easton.

Late roses at Ovington Mill.

It was such a lovely afternoon that I stopped a number of times to enjoy the sunshine and the views. 

My Birthday Ride 2015

Of course I couldn't resist taking my favourite route over the footbridge by the ford to complete my day. 

Sunday 2nd October 2016.

Fancy Shapes!

More Flowers.

Old Winchester Hill.

Gridironman.