Today I decided...

[MrB1obby]

...To go to somerset on my bike tomorrow.

At about 2pm my friend said he was going camping, he has recently moved over there. He's got an old mountain bike and is planning on going to this place about 20 miles from his house on it, instantly I thought cycle! I have until tuesday/wednesday off work so why not

So at that point had committed to a 120 mile cycle fully loaded the next day, even though my biggest cycle to date is approximately 51 miles. So on goes the research for a pannier rack and panniers for my bike as I don't fancy a 20kg rucksack on all day. Found a couple of shops that do them local to me so left about half 2. First shop was pretty rubbish and not very helpful. Goodbye.

Second was good, decided to get a seatpost, inner tube and puncture repair kit from there. My seatpost has always been a couple of inches too short but always had put it off, £6 and it's MUCH better!

Third place had exactly the sort of panniers and racks I was looking for. £40 in total got me a 'triple' pannier where it has a tail pack included and a bog standard aluminium rack that took 5 minutes to fit.

Since that point I've gone over the bike, adjusting/lubricating things.

Now I'm packed, alarm set for 5am and I'm too excited to sleep!

Any bits of advice before I try and put my head down?

 

[Pat "5mph"]

Have a BIG plate of porridge for breakfast and enjoy your ride

 

[MrB1obby]

I don't like porridge Thanks! I'm also thinking of calling in at the coast while I'm down there.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

I don't like porridge Thanks! I'm also thinking of calling in at the coast while I'm down there.

Ok, then, eat chocolate and enjoy both (your ride and the chocolate)

 

[growingvegetables]

Enjoy!

 

[BigonaBianchi]

Cool!....jelly beans have two uses in my barbag...petrol and earplugs....ignore this advice and enjoy your trip!

 

[jay clock]

fantastic!

 

[nathanicola]

Where abouts in Somerset are you heading?

 

[Peteaud]

Come on down, the Scrumpys great

 

[marshmella]

Sounds great, don't forget your pitch fork and customary piece of straw for Zummerzet

 

[MrB1obby]

A trip to remember!

Well, I ended up not getting to sleep until about 2am because I was too excited which made me sleep through my alarms. I woke up about 8, checked everything over, had scrambled egg on toast and then after a bit of apprehensive wandering around aimlessly, I pedalled out of my close at half 9.

First thoughts were that it was surprisingly 'easy' until I came to my first hill...

I made a few adjustments about 10 miles down the road and headed through bishops itchington/gaydon/kineton and onto the fosse way. Had a meal and a couple of cokes at moreton-on-marsh which was about an hour break in total which got me leaving there about half 1. After another hour of cycling the rolling hills just above cirencester started to kick in and I was forced to push the bike up one in particular which is a 40mph limit and all of the usual use low gear signs and what not.

Had another 10 minute break at cirencester so I could stuff a couple of flapjacks down me and on to find a way of missing those dual carriageways as I only had a map which showed more major roads and some B roads.

Malmesbury came up suprisingly quick as that was going to be a proper food stop so I continued on and had a half hour break at the M4 roundabout at about half 5 whilst waiting for the rush hour traffic to die down a bit. This point was about the 100 mile mark so I was sat on the busy roundabout, watching all of the stressed commuters and smiling to myself whilst eating tuna sandwiches. Safe to say I was happy for breaking that barrier!

Smiles soon went though, about 5 miles down the road, CLONK. Even though I'd taken most of the tools my bike needs (not a lot considering it's an 80's road bike) this was one thing I couldn't fix. Turned out to be the rear hub collapsed which is apparently rather common on the old steel wheels. An old chap stopped to help and ended up taking me to the train station, so I could meet my friend. Turns out he used to do the exact route I had just taken to go and see relatives up the road from me and as he was the cycle club kit holder, gave me a pair of socks as a souvenir.

I then got a train for the last 15-20 miles and my friend came further on his bike to meet me. We carried the bike out of the town, found some woods and just decided to 'wild camp' as at this point it was gone midnight due to all of the things happening.

The weekend was then spent travelling around the local towns on his mountain bike asking people where cycle shops are. It wasn't until I spoke to allen on monday who worked from home and had converted it into a little shop. Top guy and very knowledgeable, his workshop had some lovely bikes in there including a super carbon time trial bike and an immaculate 1984 Raleigh which he bought brand new. I bought a wheel off him for £30, which after 3 days of looking wasn't bad at all.

On tuesday I left my friend and wanted to have a swim in the sea and see some boats so I headed over to lymington via the cranbourne chase and new forest. It was a very nice route and I'm glad I went the scenic route instead of the quick main road, albeit it was probably more tiring! It was very surreal going through burley on my push bike which I'd pedalled there as I've been on family holidays in the area. Then I saw a sign, lymington 9 miles and I suddenly found some speed. I couldn't stop smiling again!

Hearing the masts tingling was such a satisfying noise, I'd ridden to the sea! I sat there for a good hour on this bench just taking it in and having a bite. I found a campsite after asking a couple of people and got into my sleeping bag at about 11pm after a much needed shower!

Spent the morning looking around lymington, which is smaller than I remembered and then something big and white caught my eye...£17 later I'd got a next day return to the isle of wight. Spoke to a local who recommended I go around the military road, I stopped at blackgang on top of the hill for the night. Which was a bad idea as it was a massive storm, I thought I'd my tent was going to come down at one point!

Continued on the next day with a stop at bembridge for a fresh crab jacket potato. I was in no rush whatsoever as it was only midday and had about 20 miles to get to the ferry, perfect time for a swim! Just had to glance over at my bike to 'check' every so often but no one even took a second look at it.

At this point, I realised that the southampton boat show was on this weekend, as me and my dad go every year I phoned him and we arranged to meet in hamble the next day. I got the ferry back over to lymington early evening and stopped at the same campsite.

On the saturday whilst at the boat show I got a text saying that I had to be back at uni on monday for enrolment! So I was absolutely gutted when I realised the only viable solution for me getting back home/packed and back to uni was to go back in the car

Absolutely horrible way to end a fantastic trip. There's only two things that I think made me get through it - if the road goes up, look down. And Cadence, I changed the way I cycle over this trip, going atleast a gear lower than I would normally and spinning like a hamster! Sorry for the long post and if you've read it this far down well done!

Overall though, absolutely amazing! I do not regret making that decision and if you ever have a few days off from work, just go!



Did someone say scotland?

 

[MrB1obby]

Oh yeah, I'm a rubbish photographer but if you want to see some pictures of the same bike with scenery I'll upload them later/tomorrow

 

[HovR]

Sounds like you had an awesome trip, unlucky about the rear wheel though! Out of interest, how did you carry your luggage? Rear rack only, or does your bike have provisions for a front rack?

Pictures would be great.

 

[MrB1obby]

Even more annoying that I'd recently done the bearings in it! I suppose it just wasn't up to the weight I was carrying and I'll just put it up to experience. Yeah just a rear rack, had the panniers on which actually gives a very surprising amount of space, I didn't even fill them completely! Then the tent attached to the back of the seat post to take weight off the rack a bit and the sleeping bag on top of the panniers. Worked well and everything can come off/on within 5 minutes.

 

[HovR]

I've been thinking about a trip/mini tour to the Brecon Beacons. It's not as far as you've ridden, but there's some fantastic riding around there. Need a long weekend to enjoy it fully really!

I'd be camping with only a rear rack as well, so good to hear it worked well for you.