Monday Moan!

Hello blog lovers.

For some reason I am feeling a little on edge! No idea why, the weather is gorgeous, the kids were not too bad today, my son.....well, he is what he is! But I was itching to get going. The Old Boy feels its because I got my new 'profesional look', my new jersey and new cycling shorts! It could be, but I was still itching to get out.

The OB said he wasn't feeling in the best of moods himself and we will just got for a plod around, somewhere local. By the time we were changed the 'somewhere local' was up at Downe Village! I can do that, these days, a piece of..... what am I talking about! It's gonna hurt! But hills are good for you, so the Old Boy keeps telling me "we don't live in a flat country" he keeps telling me "no matter where you go there will be some hills!"

I will just have to do what the OB has done, embrace the hills, love the hills, challenge the hills, hurt myself on the hills!....Yeah right! I will moan like anything on each and every one, but just try my best to deal with each and every one!

I started up the hill to Downe village "Now the hard work starts" I said to the OB. It seems the small, less steep hills of the A21 are just a minor nuisance to me now, for me to be able to say that!  I thought I was doing really well, non stop peddling, fairly steady pace going, not stopping.  Downe village was soon in sight! People standing outside the local pub enjoying their pint, but we rode straight on through. I did notice that we got there in under 40 mins, I am not sure if that is a PB on, I shall have to check!

After this we headed for Biggin Hill, with a view to heading towards Hayes! It's a route we have only done in the car, which in turn we only did to check it out for a cycle ride! The only thing I can say about that is that I wasn't paying attention when I was in the car!

We rode on down into the Vally, very nice you say, as we normally ride down after we have emerged from Grays lane at the Spinning wheel. But....... we don't ride down and down and down. We normally stop just by the airport to admire the valley below us before we continue our way home!

There we were, at the bottom of the valley, we now have to go up again. There was one hill stretching upwards just like Ditchling Beacon, it had a sign on it saying 15%!!! The other way didn't look as steep, but it still going up and up!! But we didn't know if this is the way we needed.  A kind lady, who had stopped at the junction next to us, said that we could always hang on to the tail of her car as she drove up the less steeper of the hills. But she also told us this is the way that we needed to go to get to Hayes! I was so relieved, not that we actually took up her offer of holding on to her car, but that we needed the less 'steeper looking' of the hills.

But after we climbed just about ten yards of it I just failed! Miserably! The OB managed to cycle the whole of the hugely steep hill while I walked up it! I was not a happy bunny!

Hill training! Yuck! Is it really necessary, just to get to Brighton! Is it necessary to get fit! Is it necessary to beat Nagging Sister up Fooking Hill! Well, so far I seem to be doing ok! I hate Hills!!!

Geeky stats, oh, we managed to get to Hayes, and the the George, where I again failed miserably (at my diet) and had a pint, shared some  crisps and a bowl of olives!

By the way, the hill we took was a 15% as well! It wasn't any less steep! it was just hidden by the trees. The picture above is of the actually junction that we stopped at and looked at the right and then the left. We chose the left, and that is the hill you can see stretching up!

Sunday Bloomin Sunday!

Hello bloggers!

It's Sunday, the Old Boy had already been out 'loosening the legs' while I was at church, thanking Him above for .....well everything!  So I wasn't really expecting to go out out for any sort of mileage today, well nothing to write about.

When the Old Boy said he fancied at pint, after his 16-17 miles this morning and mowing the lawn, I didn't even bother getting changed into cycling attire. I only changed my shoes, I thought sparkly sandals would be slightly cumbersome on a bike, not very helpful or indeed safe!  He did mention just popping off to the George, 2.5 miles at the most away, hardly worth changing for.

As it happened, we ended up at a pub even closer to home! The Chequers!, and then after that we rode on into Bromely! We happened to ride past the Giant bike store, which was still opened! I couldn't help but pop in, after all, I was wearing a non cycling top, (very girly girly, lacy edged thing, see yesterdays blog for photo) and jeans. Jeans are not very cycle friendly. they don't let you get on your bike, at least mine don't, they are too tight fitting. They also don't stretch while you peddling your bike!

I was only going to look, maybe try on for size, but I ended up buying a new cycle jersey, (mens one, cos I just liked it!) and some new cycling shorts, (womens shorets, and women cyclist will know why!) After, we rode on to the Red Lion. I had on my new jersey, with snazzy numbers down the sleeve, I look like a proper cyclist now (well apart from the jeans!) If I didn't have silly socks on I would have had my cycle shorts on as well! It was so, so, so hot out!

After here though, to make it worth while writing a blog, we rode on to Hayes, stopped for half and then came home to a delicious roast beef and salad dinner!

No geeky stats today, but, does it matter! He has given us a glorious day to enjoy, the sun is warm, the sky is blue, I have my Old Boy! Perfect!

A Tale of Two Starts! - Featuring Duff Man!

Hello bloggers.

What a glorious day! Its days like this, that you thank the good Lord above for being healthy and able to do what we can do! The sun was well up in the sky and wanting to do as much shining as it could. Now here is the two starts part explanation.

The Old Boy wanted to do a long hilly ride, but we had said that we would go riding with Nagging Sister, depending on weather! Well the weather, was fantastic, but the OB still wanted to do a hilly route, so he decided to go first thing in the morning and we would meet him at a pre arranged pub for lunch. and then carry on for a few more miles together.

So he went off, I turned over in the now empty bed for another few more 'winks'.  Then I texted NS to make sure that she was still coming.

Me and NS met along the A21 and then headed in the direction of Greenstreet Green and beyond! The place we were meeting the OB was in Shoreham village. A lovely little pub called the Kings Arms, where we will have lunch before hitting the roads again.  We arranged to meet that at 12. I wanted to beat the OB there, so me and NS left our respective homes about 10:30 ish to make sure we were there in plenty of time.

What I wasn't planning (but should have) is that is, hot, it's Saturday and it's a 'pleasure; ride. So of course it wasn't go to be a fast ride up to Halstead!  When we got to the top, at the roundabout. we had a quick stop for a glug of water and a breather and then we took the second left towards Shoreham.

There were some pretty good down hill sections, which NS was very appreciate off. I just took my brakes off and flew down each one! I almost missed the turning for Shorham! Riding through the village I was trying to remember where we were going to meet the OB. I ended up asking someone (because that what us women do!) and we soon came across the pub. The Old Boy was sitting outside, looking very warm and very thirsty.  "Why you not got a pint in front of you" I said, trying to hide my disappointment that we didn't beat him, although if he doesn't have a pint in front of him, he could only just have got here! "The pub don't open for another 5 mins" he said!!  He had been there for a bout 15 mins!

Here is us at the pub

Lunch over and done with, which was very nice by the way, and we made our way through the village and stopping to take pictures at the river. Here they are, such a lovely pretty place to be.

And now for the 'Duff man' explanation.  You will notice in the top picture of me and Nagging sister that I am wearing a rather fetching 'bum bag'. As we were meeting the OB on route I had to make sure that I was fully 'road worthy' i.e. puncture outfit, tyre levers, and gas pump. Also I had my train ticket and phone and hair brush all packed in there, oh and a lippy of course!  The OB thought I looked like 'Duff man from 'The Simpsons!' So that is what he called me for the rest of the day!

We decided to take NS to Eynsoford Castle as she has never seen it before. So onwards and upwards. It is not that far from where we had stopped actually, and we we there before I even got into full moan mode!  NS took herself for a walk around the castle while me and the OB just stretched out on the grass to wait for her.  The he mentioned next stop for a pint!  "Whey hey," I thought, "The Plough he we come!" But then he said "The Tigers in Chislehurst" Sigh, hills before thrills then!

NS has renamed Crocken Hill Lane, 'Foo King Hill, after we took her up it the first time. When she saw it I could hear her joy as she called out the new name very loudly!  Last time we were on here, NS was well in front of me, and the only way I could get past her was while the OB was giving me a push! But this afternoon, and after a very nice lunch, I managed to pass her. "Bi-atch" she called after me.

But not only that, by the time we got to the bridge over the motorway me and the OB were having to wait for her to get to us. It definitely is working, all this exercise!

We got to Chislehurst to find the pub really busy! No place for us to sit down! But fortunately there are several pubs in this area and we went over to the next one!

After our refreshments we decided to go into Bromley, I desperately need some new summer cycling gear, and there is a bike shop there. Not only that but we can drop NS off en route as she was meeting friends in a couple of hours.  But I wasn't so lucky on the clothing front. We decided to try one more shop. In Hayes!  Of course while we were there, we couldn't help but visit the George for one last drink before we go home.

We noticed that we both only had about 3 miles to go before I reached 30 miles for the day and the OB reaches 60 miles. We headed up towards Keston and then turn to go to Locksbottom. That should do the trick!

So here is my geeky stats, and a few more pictures off our day. The last two is of me and the OB, don't we scrub up well :-)

A Nice Pleasant 20 miler

Hello blog lovers.

What a gorgeous day today. It just called out for a nice pleasant, easy paced (i.e. my pace) ride through the lanes. I am still suffering for the quick blast from Monday! my legs are aching! I have even been dreaming about my legs, which I know sounds weird, but I just remember dreaming about my legs. I wish I knew what I was dreaming about! It's weird when you know you had a dream about something but cant remember details!

Anyway I digress, as usual. As I am still on the ridiculous diet, with just a couple of mishaps so far, yesterday (and today!) I didn't think I would have enough energy really to give it a good blast. But we took to the roads and headed up to Halstead.  I knew it was a lot slower than it was on Monday, but that is only to be expected. I was trying to keep a steady pace going, if not in speed then at least keeping the legs going at a steady pace, and would you believe the song that I was singing while riding up to the roundabout in Halstead. It was the ABC song!

I took at break at the top. I needed it. And fortunately the Old Boy bought some water along! A huge glug of water, if only to rinse out the bugs, and then it was all go again. Destination.........off the waggon at Keston! Yup, it's a warm evening, and the call of Mr. Forsters is just too much!

After we got through Halstead, we were on the road that takes us to Cudham North Lane.  Coming in the opposite direction were quite a few cyclists with numbers on their backs, weird head wear and wearing all their 'colours! They are obviously on some sort of time trial competition.  All were totally focused and no doubt relieved to be going down hill for a bit.  I am presuming they are all coming up from that dreaded hill!

When we go to Cudham North/South Lane we waiting for a while to see how many other cyclist were going to be coming through.  We saw number 36 then number 38. We waited a bit longer and then left. Maybe that was all that was doing this competition.

Up the road now, heading towards the Spinning Wheel and then down to Biggin hill.  The sun was still in the sky but it was starting to set, a lovly golden ball glowing in the sky!  I am sure that it will look stunning as it sinks behind our landscape, I just hope we get to somewhere nice before it does. Over the Valley maybe. A stunning view there, but when I got there, the sun was still not setting and it was on the right hand side of the Valley, I was never any good at geography and stuff like that!  But we did stop to watch a small jet take off from Biggin Hill airport!

Now for the last bit to Keston.  This bit of the journey used to really bother me! There are a few lumps and bumps still to do, but nothing like what I have already done!  I smiled as I remember last week when Nagging Sister came up this part of our trip out, and the way she was moaning and groaning, and saying this like 'I thought you said there were no more hills!" and "Argghh I hate hills, who made these hills" Yes, that was me some time last year! Now I know that I am getting stronger and faster, even if I don't feel it!

A stop off at Keston, the Greyhound, where I fall of the waggon again! Even having a packet of popadums! Oh wow, did they taste soooo good!

Geeky stats for you, oh, and I did forget to start my Garmin after my refreshing visit with Mr. Forsters! but its only a couple of miles or so back to my house from there!

A Rest Day!

Hello blog lovers.

Now I wasn't going to write a blog today, considering this evenings ride is only going to be a very short, under ten miles, stretch of the legs, just because the sun is shining ride. But...... when we cycled on through Bromley  we came across the 'Wednesday Weekly Mauraders' as the Old boy called them. I had to gently let him know that they were the Bromley cyclists out on their 'Wednesday Weekly Wander'. Only this evening they were all on shiny clean bikes, togged up in their finery, make up, hairdos, and that was just the chaps! As they were having a photo shoot!

It was absolutely lovely meeting up with this group, and if we didn't have an agenda then we would certainly have joined in with their photo shoot, (well only after I had my hair done, make up and complete new wardrobe) What a great bunch of people they are. From the very young, well, at secondary school age, but then I am never good at guessing ages, to the, mmmm ..... ok, my aged group, the Old Girl and the Old Boy!

And the range of different bikes as well, was quite interesting. I noticed this 'frame with small wheels' being used, in fact there were two! (not two wheels, two bikes) a kind of green colour and a pink one! I was informed by one of the young dudes that these were called 'Bromptons', I hope I have spelt that right. 

Me and the Old Boy have made a definite decision to join these guys for a 'Maurading session' one Wednesday evening, and maybe even join in on one of the long rides! Eve did mention the 'Viking Way' a route that me and the Old Boy have decided to take Nagging sister on soon!

Keep up the good work in promoting bike riding Bromley cyclists! These guys can be found on the 'tinternet'  When I get permission, I will ask,  I will add one of the pictures to this blog! They do make a lovely picture!

Oh by the way, the agenda was with a 'Mr. Fosters' at the Red Lion, broke my diet  at the end of day 3!

No geeky stats, well, the Old Boy had his Garmin going, which told us that we rode for 9 miles at and avg pace of 9 miles an hour or so.

20 miles Spin!

Hello blog lovers.

Serious training again today, although, I wouldn't call last Saturdays ride a walk in the park!  For this week only its a non stopping cycle ride out! Abstaining from alcohol until at least Friday! Lots of prayers needed to keep me out of the pubs!

Todays ride was going up the A21, the Old Boys fav route I think! And then turn right to go to Halstead.  I was thinking, (which I know I shouldn't do) that we were going to go to Biggin Hill. All those lovely down hills. I know there is a long up hill, but some how I seem to manage this ok (ish) maybe its because of the undulating nature of this road. Its not a constant up hill as I have already done. But we didn't go that way, we turned left at the roundabout.

This can only mean one thing! Crittals Corner! It's not my favourite hill.........hmmmm,......do I have a favourite hill? No, no I don't think I do! But once we get there it was just a short ride to Chislehurst, we used to head for the Tigers Head, with their lovely olives! But for this week it's heading straight for home, and my egg salad dinner, with grapefruit for afterwards.

It was tough going, the Old Boy behind me telling me to keep on going. You can tell I was getting tired. I saw his wheel at the corner of my eye as I looked down, and I yelled at him to get back. By this stage we were heading up the steep bit towards flyover! I am on the path, not the road, and I am wobbling a bit, from side to side. I have this fear that I will crash into anyone next to me! Especially after last year when Big son and me had a crash because I was overtaking him! It hurts!!  "Get back, or get in front" I yelled at him!" And we had this 'conversation', me yelling at him, him not listening and telling me to save my energy for getting up the hill! Both of us talking over one another!  Typical husband and wife double act!

It was a tough ride, did I already say that! From Chislehurst we went directly to Pettswood, and then through the high street and to the local mini-supermarket. We just needed some extra bits for a salad  for when we got home.  This little stop didn't stop the Old Boy from nagging me once we had our shopping. "As fast as you can not Old Girl, till we get home"  I am sure I heard him say, as we were going through the local park, that we were above average mph! I was feeling a little tired, but I dug deep, as the OB kept telling me to do so and rode as fast as I could to get home.

As we were putting the bikes in the back gate, for the first time in ages, the OB says "I think you put in a bit of a effort there Old Girl" High praise indeed!

Now, wheres me dinner?!

oh, yes, geeky stats

Saturday, Sun, and Sea Fish!

Hello blog lovers.

After an early morning mist, the sun burnt  through and gave us a lovely morning.  "Lets do some miles today" says the Old Boy, "with a nice stop for lunch, maybe a bit of seared tuna"

Well there is only one place, so far, that does a lovely bit of seared tuna and that is Eynsford.  Last time I was there having seared tuna was when I was with Nagging Sister and the Old Boy, and that time we took the train to Sevenoaks and rode to Eynsford to get home!

This time there was no train tickets, there was no bike rack, it was just me, the Old Boy and the roads! I wasn't sure of the route and which way he was going to be taking us.  But it started off with the A21! Not only that but it took in Cudham North Lane! I was not expecting that so early in the morning. But I did think about the lovely place where we will have our lunch. But until then, it is a hard, long slog!

We set off, me with my non breathable, wet coat, just in case, and the OB with his 12 quid Karimor rain jacket! Just as the ride before I had to remove my jacket as we took on Cudham North Lane! It's like a bloomin sauna! Is there anything out there on the market, which is perfect for wet weather, and is breathable, and is a windproof jacket. more or less exactly what was said on the labels! But that's beside the way, one mistake is allowed, surely! This time though, we didn't turn left to go to Halstead, or turn right to go to Biggin hill. We carried on straight up the road. Then a lovely down hill section.

Now on this road, this Cudham North Lane, there were many cyclists, but it appeared that so far, there were only two complete nutters going up it. All very friendly people, flying past us, going down hill. But now, as we are riding the rest of the road, it changes its name to Cudham South Lane! We are riding down hill. All those cyclists have already 'done their hill' and they were having the pleasure of cruising down the other side!

Along here I took a stop! Thats right, I took a stop to just take a look at the view! It looked just so lovely. I just had to photograph it, so here are some shots, of course I am in the pictures, just to add prospective.

After here it was heading down towards Brasted, with the promise of a cup of tea! It was still quite a ride to get there! With a few hilly 'lumps' just to let me know that we don't live on a boring flat Island! The tea, which actually turned out to be a latte with a delish chocolate cookie was a very welcome refreshment. But the place we had our coffee was obviously a place where cyclists hand out after riding up and down the hills around here. A lovely cafe, called Ninetysix degrees!

We left there about 11:30 I am sure the Old Boy said we would be in .Eynsford for about 12:00, but I must have missed heard him.  As you will see from the geeky stats, its a bloomin long, long road just to get to Seal, and then we still had a few more miles to go after that! And Its all hilly! Do I not love hills! The OB did say that he had cut out one particular nasty bit of hill, apparently I always moan about it!  I was looking forward to my lunch!

I was just happy and relieved to see the signs for Eynsford! I knew then that I could relax a bit, take the weight of my posterior! Rest these old knees! Plus get sub delicious food inside me with a lovely pint of lager!

And it was delicious too, here take a look

A very healthy meal, and yes, there are some chips on there, well, we do need our carbs! 

We decided to take a look around, have a look in the river at the fish. I have these polarised sunglasses and I could see directly through the water at the fish, the Old Boy had on ordinary sun glasses. He asked to borrow mine so that he could look into the river at the fish.  As we swapped sunglasses I dropped his! Straight into the river!  He did managed to fish them out again though!

We also took a look around at Eynsford Castle.  I didn't even know there was a castle here until last year. But today we thought we would take a look around here. Here are some pictures.

And now for the journey home!  Nagging Sister had noticed my 'check in' on facebook, and she was quite disappointed in not being here with us. The OB told us that our trip today would finish at Hayes, so that is where we arranged to meet Nagging sister.  We still had a nasty little hill to do, Foo King Hill as Nagging Sister affectionately calls it.

I struggled up here, and I was pleased that I didn't have a huge lunch inside of me, because going up here then I believe my lunch would have ended up on the road as well!

We finally reached the end, and we had choices to make, left or right. I chose left.  I was thinking that maybe there were fewer hills this way to get to Hayes! Going right meant going up to Chislehurst, and then Summer Hill!  What I didn't bank on was Shire Lane!

This hill almost had me. This hill almost made me get off my bike and walk.  The OB was behind me, encouraging me, nagging me, trying to get me to push harder up the hill. I was hating this hill. But I was determined not to get off my bike! I am not walking up hills, not today. The tears were brimming at my eyes, I was puffing and yelling and cursing the hill.  I finally got to the top, turned right and took a short breather.

As I looked back at the road we just came up and silently said to myself  "You done it Old Girl, you done it!"

There was just one more hill to negotiate, the one just before the left hand turn towards Keston, and Hayes! 

We made it to the George, just as Nagging Sister, her daughter and a daughters friend arrived as well!  Another great piece of timing from us all, and a well deserved pint to end our day.

Geeky stats.