Bicycles , ebikes , dirty pics and other stuff.

[nigel s]

Due to mileage concerns on the 650 took the gasgas down to Bacton woods to meet up with a friend and his 12 year old son to crash about in the wild.
I fell off in a bomb hole , to much amusment.
While we were laughing about it at the bottom a bunch of enduro types came flashing through at great speed , the leed rider called out a cheeky "OI OI " ,and with an enviable skill  they whipped past getting good air.
Some on e bikes , some on regular.
After they had passed my mate's son looked about , shook his head , and said  under his breath "PRICK"
Cue more amusement 

Ho Hum

[UK_Vstrom650]

Today I went to Hamsterley Forest and rode the black and red routes. Covered just over 12 miles with 1,854ft of climbing in just under 2hrs.
Hamsterley has a lot of uphill slogs but the trails are worth the effort.

[UK_Vstrom650]

Went out on the road bike on Monday in the monsoon. Was going to use my 2008 mountain bike but got shamed into using the road bike by the missus as I'd be too slow to keep up with her ebike, especially on the climbs (still didn't keep up).
It's now Wednesday and I think the shoes have finally dried out. Must invest in some waterproof/winter cycling shoes this year.

[nigel s]

It's  that time,I just ordered some warmer leggings, the mx socks I was using won,t cut it now.

[nigel s]

Evening run out on the gasgas.
Past 750 miles now and am starting to get the hang of riding it off road, it is  still better than I am though.
I have "rediscovered " the auto  power setting. It has 5 plus auto. I have been riding it on std ( 3/5) which gives 100% assist , ie doubles what you put in,and only using boost (5/5) on steep offroad climbs.
The auto switches between settings depending on what you put in up to 350% and was a bit too much sometimes, giving me more than I wanted getting me into trouble on gnarly tracks, but now I am getting a handle on it, it is a LOT of fun and only knocks the range down to 65 miles as opposed to 75 in std.
Got cold quick as the sun set, but all good.

[Asmith61]

Great picture nigel s 👍

[nigel s]

Ta Asmith61,
It is a pity pics have to be resized, and that I only have a cheap phone for pics
I like the little house on the left of the view, it seems to be abandoned in the middle of a field, but IS lived in . In the original you can make out the hint of the track running up to it, and the water tower on the horizon is lit up more by the sunset.

[Asmith61]

Nigel s.   I expanded the picture and did see the little house, and it does look like it is in the middle of a field 🤔

I do like sunset pictures, they remind me of what I call heartbeat skies ( the television series) 🤣

[nigel s]

What with the clocks changing, I have not had much time on the gasgas bar commuting , so threw it in the car and rode Marriots Way today.
Bit muddy in parts, lots of leaves but no one about so plenty of wildlife.
I tried to get a pic of the 20 or so grey squirrels I saw, but was too slow, at least the swans were still.
The Kestral that whumped into the hedge just up from me got unlucky and had to drop the mouse he had caught as he took off and saw me coming, but lucky for the mouse.
There are seats/sculptures made from the original railway tracks that also act as mile posts dotted about.
There was even a live badgers set, it was one of three on the way , and a sign said this one was live and to be careful not to disturb them after dark.
I didn't do the entire 52 mile round trip, as the Way reaches Norwich it turns into a regular cycle path ,  so cut this bit off,I prefer getting muddy, and turned round and headed back.
Coming back, 30 miles in and 15 to go into a headwind , so flagging a bit, I repassed the old station house that has been turned into a cafe , for about a mile or 2 before I got to it I could only smell bacon sarnies, should be some law about that .......Normaly I would have been unable to pass that up...but 15 more miles on a bacon sarnie ?.......

Ho Hum

[Asmith61]

Great pictures nigel s

[nigel s]

Say what you like about mountain biking v motorcycling, mountain biking does keep you warm............... all except my bloody ears 
Got me some new non fingerless gloves after my pinkies were feeling the chill on  the Marriots Way ride the other day, so out " field " testing them today

Obligatory church in the background.

Ho Hum

[nigel s]

Ohh........and 10 points ( that's all I've got ) to the first person with a pic of their Strom in a ploughed field  ( 5 for any other bike) another 5 for a church in shot 

Ho Hum

[Asmith61]

 nigel s
Not a ploughed field but how’s this ?

[nigel s]

Near enough for me ,

Nice pic, nice bike, nice church, what's not to like.
Where is that?

[Asmith61]

It’s in Appledore Kent  a strange church as you can see it’s right in the middle of a field surrounded by water, I have also flown my drone over it.
Here’s a few more churches & windmills sorry if not of interest to you nigel s

[Asmith61]

A few more nigel s

[nigel s]

Nice ...I love a windmill me, and a windpump ( most are windpumps in Norfolk , or we would have flooded back then), I live near Sutton windmill, the tallest in Norfolk and maybe the UK.

[Asmith61]

I will google Sutton windmill now nigel s

The 2 windmill photos are Stock & Mountnessing both in Essex.
The other one with the v-Strom I cannot remember I came across it while riding ( like you do )

[nigel s]

" I came across it while riding, ( like you do ) ".....always the best way

Ho Hum

[Asmith61]

nigel s
Another place for you to visit on your travels ( if you haven’t been ?) is Thaxted  which has a beautiful 18th century windmill and also a stunning cathedral, and some lovey biking roads to 👍