November ride for food - the Chilterns, Saturday 19th November

[frank9755]

(i'll let the forum settle first)

Very wise!

 

[gbs]

Now that granny has been placated I will complete the ride at next opportunity. The pub received good notices - where was it?

 

[gbs]

Another cracking day after a rather ropey start. Got to the station in time for the 5.32 train, only to discover that on account of South West Trains switching to their leaf-fall time table, it was the 5.27. Aargh...next train didn't get into Waterloo until 7.53, so went for the shortcut-to-Gerrards Cross option. Made fairly rapid progress across town, 13.4 average (total not rolling) and made it to the pub rendevous at 9.40 or so. Then at Great Missenden I managed to lead Marks One and Grant astray after wrongly assuming that a guy on a Boardman was on of us (I did not at that point have the full route loaded onto the Garmin, hadn't had time at the RV). Whoops...so we ended up going direct to the pub. Superb catering at reasonable prices. Well picked there Frank! Whiteleaf was taxing but not overly so, the triple was handy though. We all made good time getting back to the smoke, and I made Waterloo in time for the 6pm train. On account of above mentioned timing and navigation fails, didn't get the ton but still 92.1 from Waterloo and back. Thanks to Frank for organising and everyone for (as ever) excellent company.

Nice report, Stu. To help my planning for light touring - what is the weight limit for a rucksack? Any does/don'ts that you care to mention will be helpful. GBS

 

[Aperitif]

Nice report, Stu. To help my planning for light touring - what is the weight limit for a rucksack? Any does/don'ts that you care to mention will be helpful. GBS

About 12 kilos lighter than Stu's I reckon...

 

[frank9755]

Now that granny has been placated I will complete the ride at next opportunity. The pub received good notices - where was it?

This is the pub

 

[martint235]

Dave, you were lucky you weren't on Big Mart's expedition to Rye last month.
85 miles without a coffee stop, then only one chip for every nine miles!

But the chips in Rye are very, very good!!! Now stop going on about the chips!!

 

[CharlieB]

I had a lovely day; thanks everyone for coming.

Before I forget them, some particular highlights for me:

- The Chiltern beeches, particularly on the descent after the big climb straight after lunch

- The views on the descent into Chesham, swirling misty views with interesting sunlight effects, before Davy fell off

- The Chesham postman, a marathon runner who trains by running round his round with a heavy mail sack

- Getting back to London before dark

- Getting September weather for a ride in late November

The postie is Geoff - a lovely man!

Many thanks Frank for a fabulous day out. The timing perfect for a lucid day that brought out the colour in the beech woods that mark the Chilterns out as special in the late autumn. The other thing was the sight of 10+ Red Kites circling at low level at the top of Whiteleaf Hill. We see them all the time in Chesham, but never quite in that number or that low.
Nice lunch stop choice - the apple crumble was scrummy.
Davy, hope you're not too damaged or bruised. Thank you for lending me a bidon, after leaving mine at home - I still have safely and will return it en route to Southend-on-Sea.
…and thank you all for the company, as ever. Good to meet jayonabike at last, by coincidence another Royal Mail employee.
Only 96 miles for me, I'm afraid.

 

[StuAff]

Nice report, Stu. To help my planning for light touring - what is the weight limit for a rucksack? Any does/don'ts that you care to mention will be helpful. GBS

Weight limit? Whatever you're comfortable with for the distance you're planning. For touring I'd say put whatever you can on the bike. On climbs in particular the weight on your back can be more noticeable than if it were in panniers etc.

 

[topcat1]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/62382682@N07/sets/72157628060448531/

here's the pics

 

[Davywalnuts]

Great photos TC!

My war wound picture doesnt show the full extent of my damaged body, but it will do.. And.. is my arse really that big??

 

[frank9755]

Those are excellent, Dave. You captured some of the wonderful light that we saw, and that one of the Red Kite is superb!

 

[jayonabike]

Nice pics Dave.

 

[topcat1]

thanks, the first one is my fav

could you believe the size of that burger?

 

[jayonabike]

I might have to go back there to have one of those burgers

 

[Davywalnuts]

I might have to go back for the barmaids..