The day finally arrived but I couldn’t leave until after noon as I couldn’t check in to my AirBnB in Dursley until 5pm. I had to keep myself distracted after I got up, to ward off some anxiety, so I fitted some mudguards as rain is forecast tomorrow, something I would regret. And I vacuumed … Continue reading Babbacombe Day 1
Babbacombe beckons. On Wednesday I begin my three day ride to Torquay so I’ve had to make some mods to my gravel bike so it’s better suited to road touring. After a clean, off have come my (worn) Conti gravel tyres for nice, wide fat touring tyres. If you know me I like to try … Continue reading Gravel to Touring
Yesterday was my big ride of the week. I’d decided to nail a couple of cycling numbers I occasionally aspire to achieve on my rides. 100km + 2000m elevation. A decent day out wherever you ride. I set out just before 9.30am and there was a real chill in the air. Under 10 degs. The … Continue reading All Weathers
Sometimes, when I get bored at my PC I begin to randomly search for shit that just pops into my head. My most recent internet rabbit hole started with an innocuous search for local cycling events. Races, sportives, gravel events + news. That type of thing. I use a few sites but this time I … Continue reading Flirting with Madness
I woke up like a coiled spring again but a hot bath and an extended stretch before and after breakfast sorted that. I left at almost 11am on the dot, the time counting from zero when I pressed the button which weirded me out for a sec. I rode out of the Premier Inn onto … Continue reading Babbacombe Day 3
I woke this morning quite woozy. Broken sleep due to a different bed and the room being too hot meant I was up a few times in the night. I showered and rolled over for Breakfast at 9.45am. The restaurant was nearly empty. I smashed a full english washing it down as, annoyingly, the (decent) … Continue reading Babbacombe Day 2
The Prologue Before I even started my little foray down to Torquay today, I had to do a days work. So at 7.45am I left the house, bike fully loaded. Picking it up in my hall it felt like a lump so I was surprised when I shot away from the house, the bike was … Continue reading Babbacombe Day 1
Last Tuesday I did a ride to work across Brum with my bikepacking rear bag. A kind of dress rehearsal for this week’s ride to Torquay. Its the first time I’ve had a real chance use it loaded with kit. Despite being a bit wobbly and swaying it was fine and much lighter than a … Continue reading Rack, bags and how much rubber?
Accommodation booked. Routed sorted. My 3 day amble down to Babbacombe in 3 weeks is on. After spending a bit of time on the routes, my favourite bit of this sort of stuff, I decided riding 90 miles from Gloucester to Taunton on Day 2 was a bit much and unnecessary so I’ve moved things … Continue reading Babbacombe on down
Finally I get to do a bit of touring on my bike this year. I’d planned a mini 3 day tour to Radnorshire in April but COVID killed that idea off sadly. Luckily though, Sally had booked a self-contained apartment in Babbacombe, Torquay in September for a long weekend with her mom and we were … Continue reading Down to the Downs
