Fifty Plus (50+) - Pictures of the UK (Some bikes involved)

Week since I did the South Downs Way and I have finally got The pictures of the ride- or what we did of it. Instead of the ones taht were passed over to me- I have tried on this selection to show you some of the local scenery. Unfortunately- the camera could not get to the Wilder parts of the ride, as the photographer, my daughter, did not want to get her boots muddy.

Couple you may wonder about- One of them shows a chalk flinty path. This was where we should have appeared, but this was where the wind caught us at the top of a 15% climb and stopped us dead. You can see the type of trail we had to treverse- if it wasn't mud- but it was so windy- she could not wait for us to appear and just took a pic and went back to the car. Another one, poor picture but the weather was just setting in, you can see a large medieaval building that is Lancing College. Its not that old by the way. Picture of me on the Tandem and the pilot just getting on was taken after we had washed the bike for the first time. Couldn't spare any water for my back though.

Still- just a few more pics but of the scenery.

Week since I did the

Um, the quote above is the entire post, and there were no pictures. BF drives me crazy sometimes! Lately it's been soooo hard to log on and stay connected! :mad:

Um, the quote above is the entire post, and there were no pictures. BF drives me crazy sometimes! Lately it's been soooo hard to log on and stay connected! :mad:

See again for the edited version!!!! Bloody computers. Or operators sometimes.

Took a little mud up the backside, eh Stapfam? I do like all that greenery...great pics. Things are turning brown already here in Central CA. I half expect to see Robin and some merry men peeking out of the woods. Keep the pics coming!

Thanks for the photos. The UK has such great cycling traditions. Your photos remind me of those as well as of a timeless line from William Blake: "Improvement makes straight roads, but the crooked roads without improvement are roads of genius." (If I haven't got it exactly, I think I'm pretty close)

What a great set of pictures - the one of you & the Pilot mounting the trusty machina is especially informative. :)

So, if I show up in Sussex to visit St. Richard of Chichester's burial stone in the cathedral, is there an opportunity to ride such beautiful countryside? St. Richard is my family saint (the last really holy person in a long subsequent lineage of sinners...). I've looked at Chichester's website and there is a ride from town center out along the marshes. But your ride descends from the upper Downs to the coast and back, yes? Does the local cycling club have guides or routes posted?

Thanks for posting. Yes, your vegetation is definitely better-looking than the army issue stuff we get around here (southern California).

great photos stapfam, I always love the english countryside.

I love the thrid picture in the post. Yes, indeed a typical biking experience. Just rolling along minding your own business, you make a left turn and get greeted with a mud bath.

What a great set of pictures - the one of you & the Pilot mounting the trusty machina is especially informative. :)

So, if I show up in Sussex to visit St. Richard of Chichester's burial stone in the cathedral, is there an opportunity to ride such beautiful countryside? St. Richard is my family saint (the last really holy person in a long subsequent lineage of sinners...). I've looked at Chichester's website and there is a ride from town center out along the marshes. But your ride descends from the upper Downs to the coast and back, yes? Does the local cycling club have guides or routes posted?

The South Downs are North of Chichester and they run East to west, Or vice versa, From Winchester to Eastbourne. Chichester itself is down on the marshes- or very nearly and it will be relatively flat down to the Sea. As to Clubs in the area- I have looked at the C.T.C. website andCannot really find a local club but it is in the South Hampshire region. Look at the website as below to find Clubs and rides in the area, but if you are thinking of the South Downs- Be prepared for Hills, mud, no grip, hills, rain, brilliant sun and hills. Besr way to view the scenery is by Car and Quite a few parking areas on the Downs where you can get out and view the scenery. One of the best- If you can Walk up hills- Is at Queen Elizabeth Park at Petersfield. Bike Hire- Cafes- Gentle- or even gentler if you want them, Woodland trails- Or travel 5 miles each way on the SDW to find out what it is really like.
Attachment is of the Sign post at QE Park and of the start of the park in the rain.

http://www.ctc.org.uk/search.aspx

thanks, Stepfam for the CTC website reference.

I'm teaching in Bonn, Germany 1st half of fall term and flying through Heathrow each way with my bike. Since I don't have to be back in Texas to teach until Oct 13, I have contemplated getting the bike out of checked baggage and going by train down to Chichester for a few days. I'll investigate CTC and Chichester more thoroughly.

centexwoody

I love the thrid picture in the post. Yes, indeed a typical biking experience. Just rolling along minding your own business, you make a left turn and get greeted with a mud bath.


I could not take a camera with me on the bike and our back up crew could not get offroad in the car. So all of the pics are taken at the road crossings, and are a bit limited in showing the severerity of the hills, and the ruts,and the water and the MUD. Luckily wet mud falls off easily, but That Front fender on the Tandem works. It kept the front of the Pilot cleanish-You should have seen the other riders-- But any water or mud from the back wheel was only shielded a bit by the rear pannier. And as for wet feet, I think I was quacking after about 5 miles.