Tell us about your weekend ride

You haven't failed at embedding, I can see it perfectly. Looks a great route.

oh that's odd, coming up blank for me. ah well, glad it's working.

oh and I met a Rollapaluza dude called Jonathan who is on here but doesn't post on Blacksmiths on the way back in. On the offchance he sees this: good to meet you, thanks for the company.

Hm. Did you try to get into the castle or just the observatory bit? Apparently they had a science and engineering week activity weekend on so it should have been open from 10am to 5pm. It does say on the observatory website that if you use google maps to put in their postcode it'll take you to a closed entrance instead of the correct one, though :(

Yeah the observatory was open but I was in it for the castle (I would've felt cheeky doing the observatory before the ride has done it).

I had a banana next to the 'castle and grounds closed' sign and watched excited sciencey types going into the observatory. It was fun.

Blank for me too, the suspense is killing me! I think its Firefox, this happened in my ride the tube thread recently, for some reason Firefox shows ridewithgps routes but can't show ridewithgps trips.

Though now I can see you did the planned observatory ride, suspense over...and relax.

Bummer. Looks like a fun place overall, though. Geodesic domes and everything!

I highly recommend the route, it was all stunning (or it was when I wasn't being hailed on). I would however bring some legs that are better than mine as everything hurts now.

Tempted to borrow this for tomorrow although I have no idea what condition my legs are in so might hold off.

I usually have issues seeing embedded maps and can see yours fine so definitely no fail

Yeah it looks brilliant/bonkers. I took a couple of pictures but I won't spoil the surprise. Here's moody Sussex instead (I bet this doesn't work either)

^ chapeau on your ride TB, big day out! Definitely stealing that route. Any shitty bits you'd suggest changing?

^ chapeau on your ride TB, big day out! Definitely stealing that route. Any shitty bits you'd suggest changing?

Hmm... The only really unpleasant bit of road is the a21 between Flimwell and Goudhurst, but there aren't really many options around there (also annoying if you want to go mountain biking at Bedgebury Forest). It's pretty short though.

I still don't use a garmin and do everything with route directions so my route as far as Penshurst was based on the straightforward one I know for simplicity's sake - there are probably nicer ways to get there. I have no complaints with the straightforward route (although the right turn onto Kent Hatch is always a bit tedious).

You could probably pick a more scenic route than East Peckham, but I always go that way if I'm in the area because the petrol station on Branbridges Rd is a useful point for a non-field based pee stop. Plaxtol is lovely though so I'd recommend going through there; if you've got time I recommend a trip to the Golding Hop (where they make their own cider, get all their water from a well and refuse to fill up cyclists' water bottles because they need to prioritise cider making) or the Papermakers' Arms which does tasty food. Not sure how much success I'd have had at finishing the ride if I've done either of those at the 100 mile mark today mind.

I had a bit of a tantrum about Cotman's Ash Lane today and violently resented myself for not routing my Polhill default, but Cotman's Ash is definitely a nicer route when you're not having a tantrum. Plus it puts you at the top of Bower Lane which means you can sail down to Eynsford (and you may see one of the two chasey collies. It's fun, they're quick. Didn't see them today, sadly).

TB your ride looks amazing.. Well done
#stolen
;-)

40+ New forest circuit. Super sonic tail wind n.w .
Perfect timing for coffee at brock.
Then some of the coldest hail ive ever felt with the headwind..character building stuff, or something. ..

I rode to the New Forest. They have wild horses wandering around.

didnt see you but if I had would have shouted Hippy!

I wasn't there for long. It was a 320k round trip and I was going to run out of daylight if I hung around. I did get a photo of Nomanslands which I thought was cool. #csb

bet the way back to S.W London was cool, banging tail wind
#fuckheadwinds

I was expecting to just sit back and see 45-50kph on the computer.. nuffin'. Bollocks.

(I bet this doesn't work either)
You've lost that bet. :)

I was expecting to just sit back and see 45-50kph on the computer.. nuffin'. Bollocks.

You've lost that bet. :)

moral of the weekend story?
compooters dont always do what we want,
but bikes do,
the most energy efficient machine ever invented

moral of the weekend story?
compooters dont always do what we want,
but bikes do,
the most energy efficient machine ever invented

I wish I could say the same about my legs.

TB, you go from no miles to 1000s of miles.....
maybe get a job with a cycling charity (again)
you sorted me with 2005 Bikeability course with CTUK!
#Hugs #drunk
they will come around - yeah.

spent Sunday afternoon testing gear ratios on Heol Senni,all these historic rally cars kept coming passed (past?) me, was like my own private Mille Miglia,absolute bliss with the sun shining

I rode to the New Forest. They have wild horses wandering around.

Horses which lead to many 'oh shit' moments on the descents as I remember, especially at night on a heavy touring bike.

Just spent two days riding easy gravel paths along the Clutha River in New Zealand. There-and-back route of 160km (100 miles) and camped at the turnaround point. The start is only an hour's drive from my house so I'm quite spoiled.

Aw, seeing that reminds me of stopping to buy milk at Balclutha before turning southwards to camp at Curio Bay, and getting stuck behind about a thousand muddy cows being moved along the road.

My weekend ride: no great drama, but perfect in its own way - Mrs Ludd and Luddlet #3 and I pootled up through Honor Oak, Nunhead, Peckham, Camberwell and Vauxhall to Westminster Cathedral. Solemn Mass followed by coffee and pain au chocolat at Browns, a little wander around and then the same route in reverse. No rain, no hail (excpet for the Mary variety, of course) , very agreeable.

I wasn't there for long. It was a 320k round trip and I was going to run out of daylight if I hung around. I did get a photo of Nomanslands which I thought was cool. #csb

Many years ago, I did a road race on a circuit in Nomansland. Danny Axford got away early on and my team mate and I spent most of the rest of the race trying to bring him back. I went so hard up the climb on the penultimate lap that I was sick all over myself.

Danny won by 3 minutes I think.

/csb