London to Wootton Bassett and back again

[MacB]

53.5 I thought you had taken it off the bike after returning home last night, Luke, and it just picked up the reading as you headed towards the bed.
We were lucky in that corner of the world, look what is happening 'just down the road' at the moment!

you want to believe it, the Beebs forecast of light showers today has turned out to be short gaps between prolonged torrential downpours...we bought new garden furniture a couple of weeks ago, that's what's to blame

 

[arallsopp]

What model is your GPS? I think I may need to purchase a new one!!

Its not the model. Its the power source.

Etrex (and Luke's Dakota) takes AAs. Whilst your proprietary cell is dying a little on each charge cycle, ours can always be replaced.

Although mine is over 2 years old now, its powered by 2011 battery technology and a fresh charge (if I need it) is only ever a garage forecourt away.

I'm using energizer rechargeables at the moment. They're not brilliant, but will do me 24 hours straight without complaint.
I think this set cost me about £9 for 4, including a charger.

Andy.

 

[martint235]

Its not the model. Its the power source.

Etrex (and Luke's Dakota) takes AAs. Whilst your proprietary cell is dying a little on each charge cycle, ours can always be replaced.

Although mine is over 2 years old now, its powered by 2011 battery technology and a fresh charge (if I need it) is only ever a garage forecourt away.

I'm using energizer rechargeables at the moment. They're not brilliant, but will do me 24 hours straight without complaint.
I think this set cost me about £9 for 4, including a charger.

Andy.

That's true. And power source is one of the things I'm looking at as well. However the batteries don't explain the fact that Luke's managed to follow the route accurately while mine insisted on being stupid! I lost count of the number of times it told me to "Make a U Turn as soon as possible"

 

[Aperitif]

a late response from me but after I got in and ate dinner I promptly fell asleep.

That was an excellent ride which I'm glad I did. 220 miles is bar far my longest ride and boy am I feeling it today. I haven't ached like this for a long time.

I didn't go all the way back to the start as the temptation to stop when we passed my house was too much.

GPS route

Well done to Martin for the idea and raising money, and to everyone else who made the ride as enjoyable as it was.

Well it was almost all enjoyable. After about 150 miles the torture device that is my saddle got too much to bear and so my hands and feet started to suffer from having extra weight to carry. Time to try yet another saddle.

Try a 'Rolls' Luke. In my opinion, they are really comfortable. I have one on the Solo, and I put a new one on the P-X. This ride was its third use. First, Bognor. Second, London - Cardiff, then Swansea. Not a too expensive mistake to make if it all goes pear-shaped (I don't reckon it will). Otherwise, if you want to try a Thoork, then I have one of those - one year old, specially chosen by moi etc... but I don't rate it much - possibly because I'm an old fat arse, not a potential race whippet like you.

 

[Aperitif]

That is the druids' new god, Mr Marmite!!

Who he?

 

[Aperitif]

But what better way to see Wiltshire than to get above it? And why spend an eternity looking for the best vantage point when somebody's clearly marked it by cutting a white horse into its side?

No need to get on your high horse - just get somewhere near it! Luke leading out Martin(XL), going for the summit.

Edited to add that the 'hill' was a mare, dunno about the horse.

 

[Aperitif]

Davy has two big buns whilst simultaneously receiving a text from his proctologist.

 

[Aperitif]

Sailing past a garage... VW = "Vere's Walnuts?"



More tomorrow.

 

[redjedi]

[/b]

Try a 'Rolls' Luke. In my opinion, they are really comfortable. I have one on the Solo, and I put a new one on the P-X. This ride was its third use. First, Bognor. Second, London - Cardiff, then Swansea. Not a too expensive mistake to make if it all goes pear-shaped (I don't reckon it will).

I think that will be the next one. Shame they aren't in stock at that price otherwise I would have snapped it up. They're £50 every where else but it's probably worth it.

Unless I get one from Condor which are under £40 but not in black or white. I know I like my bikes a bit colourful but I don't think I could pull off one of those colours, although the red is tempting

 

[martint235]

Right the horror and exhaustion are now wearing off so I think it's time to start planning the next ride. Someone mentioned the Severn Bridge which should bring up 250 miles...... but we're not coming back down the 'Teef variation.

 

[redjedi]

Right the horror and exhaustion are now wearing off so I think it's time to start planning the next ride. Someone mentioned the Severn Bridge which should bring up 250 miles...... but we're not coming back down the 'Teef variation.

Sounds good. How about next weekend?

 

[frank9755]

Well done, guys!
Sounds like an epic ride. Must have been great to see the sun come up at Stonehenge, but hard to drag yourselves away from that party!
I did that stretch from Wootton Bassett to Marlborough a few months ago. A couple of sharp climbs up the scarp slopes but a long, glorious descent into Marlborough!

 

[Aperitif]

Right the horror and exhaustion are now wearing off so I think it's time to start planning the next ride. Someone mentioned the Severn Bridge which should bring up 250 miles...... but we're not coming back down the 'Teef variation.

I have just been considering a 'Mercers Company to Dauntseys' and back ride! (This time we'll go up the slope from Marlborough and swoop down the petites collines)
Why? - you may well ask.

When we arrived at Stonehenge, Mr Plod 'advised' us to "just go to the top of the road and turn right at the roundabout. from there you'll be able to get into stonehenge. This road is closed and needs to be kept free for emergency access blah blah blah..." OK I said, and we took off. Three miles later, a right turn, followed by another long straigh brought us to an impasse with Wiltshire's finest, Private Security and a hoarde of fluorescent coated officials with walkie- talkies.
And a muddy walk that would have not done Luke's sartorial prospects any good at all.
Anyway, as we arrived, we coincided with a group - I think they were all boys - from Dauntsey's School, along with their Master in charge. They had started out on their bikes at an early hour and made the 15 miles to Stonehenge in good spirits - only to be faced with the 'No Go' problem that was also ours.

A bit of subtle wrangling, a lorra lorra walkie-talkie-ing and "We're on our way!" The Council official had been persuaded that there was a big group of Help for Heroes Charity Riders and he was prepared to escort us along the approach to Stonehenge (sun up had happened already - behind the clouds) with his amber lights - a - flashin'. A cool peloton! The Boy's Master was a real gent and ALL the lads we had a chance to speak with were a credit to their school. It was a lovely experience to share time with this group, and, eventually, we cycled past the school on the way to Wootton Bassett. The Master even looked after our bikes while we wandered over to 'inhale' the atmosphere of Solstice.

He's on the right here, just before the group set off, back to lessons!

We need to get a group of them + Master up to town for a FNR experience and give them the taste of night cycling! Andy is on the case

I gave the official who 'led us in', a wristband - he did a good job. And we were in that sacred place...

 

[Aperitif]

Well done, guys!
Sounds like an epic ride. Must have been great to see the sun come up at Stonehenge, but hard to drag yourselves away from that party!
I did that stretch from Wootton Bassett to Marlborough a few months ago. A couple of sharp climbs up the scarp slopes but a long, glorious descent into Marlborough!

Pancake flat, Frank! As in a 24" pancake in a 10" pan

 

[arallsopp]

I've often wondered why the phrase "its all downhill from there" has an entirely opposite meaning when you get on or off a bike.
Under Frank's handy system, these disparate interpretations can be united once again.

Or to put it another way, its a tap (the final nail in the coff) in.