2014-05-31 An Other Observatory Ride

Was too lazy to get up at 7 to get out to Redhill to meet up with the LFGSS crew starting there at 9. Had a bit of a lie in followed by a tasty bacon & avocado baguette and a nice coffee then hit the road at 11:40. Talk about giving them a head start. At that point I didn't really think I'd catch up.

Bombed it along the usual route south out of London down the lovely lanes to Turner Hill. New shoe insoles were making my feet numb in different places than the usual painful hotspots, not that promising but still a nice ride none the less. Got past Turners and the feet were adjusting and the legs were feeling good. Had a nice average of 18 mph through there and up into the Ashdown Forest where I stopped for a quick bite to eat whilst looking at the view and also a quick pee break. Then kept on through rolling farmland until Horam where I stopped for more bacon! Bacon & egg baguette and a chocolate milkshake at a biker cafe. Needless to say I was the only one in Lycra in the place. Wessons Cafe, highly recommend it.

Pushed on into more rolling countryside and quite lanes. Really nice around this part of East Sussex. Had to take it a bit easy after the late lunch but the landscape was so pleasant this wasn't a chore. The miles just rolled by until I spotted the sign to Hesrtmonceaux Observatory.

Decision time. What chance did I have of meeting the others? Chances are they'd be long gone. Ah fuck it, I've come this far I'll take a look at the observatory anyway, I thought. Rolling along I see these rusted domes through the trees like something out of a scene in a video game. Went in to take a look and low and behold there are a bunch of fixie skidders sitting on the grass out front drinking beers. Feeling slightly dazed, I said Hi and sat down for a wee rest.

After a suitable time we cruised off to saunter through the lovely Pevensey Levels and the not so lovely clouds of midges. Was a nice change of pace to roll along chatting as opposed to bashing along on my own. Arrived in Polegate, grabbed a couple of beers and a couple of pork pies and got on the train. Ahh, relax. Top quality day out.

Tl:dr Was lazy missed start of forum ride. Rode by myself for a while. Met fixie skidders sitting around drinking beer. Caught train home.

t'was a social ride not a training ride, slow and relaxed ftw. was impressive you caught up an good seeing you though :)