Bicycles , ebikes , dirty pics and other stuff.

[nigel s]

The thing about the lights is that although most horses most of the time are fine, they are animals. And just like us ,have good days and bad days. Covering them like you do, shows respect for the rider and lets them know that you have seen them . I try to be polite and considerate riding the trails,duty of care to others and all that , the last thing we need is the Militant Arm of the Ramblers Association getting all uptight. Besides ,I like to stop and have a natter. 
I am NOT one of those riders who will hold up and annoy other road users just because the law says I can , A Pox on them I say

Nice bike, that weighs , what.. half mine 
What is that rear mudguard, SKS? I have fitted one on the front but am debating about the back, or whether just to fit  a rack/tail bag 

[UK_Vstrom650]

I think it comes in just under 13kgs - pretty light compared to my old MTB (17+kgs) which is the bike I tend to use the most to be honest.
The mudguard is a Mucky Nutz one - it has an extension bit you can add to cover the rear wheel for wet weather, and a short mode for summer.
I tend to wear a hip bag on the MTB rather than attach stuff to the bike, mainly because I can't fit one to my full sus, but a bonus is the bag also has a water bladder for longer rides.

[nigel s]

Ta for that.
Googled the mucky nutz and it got good reviews, I like the idea of adjustable  lengths so found one on fleabay.
If it starts to piss down 10 minutes after I have fitted it........not my fault

[nigel s]

Evening ride exploring some new trails that weren't there a few years ago.
Midgies in clouds pelting me like foul tasting hail.
Weirdly , considering all the off road I have done since getting the bike, my dodgy right knee feels the best it has in years 

[nigel s]

Wet all morning, so took the gasgas down to Bacton woods.
My yard manager rides there and recommended it.
All good fun, rode Sunny The Snake , a nice open trail, must paint up a rock to bring along next time.
In the trees it was a lot tighter with stumps and dead falls.
Did get a surprised look for going UP a steep bit from a couple at the top, till I got to the top, stopped and they realised I was cheating 
New mudguard seem to be doing the job nicely
Came back along the Dilham canal and Ebridge Mill.
E Mountain bikes rock.
But notice the empty water bottle cage, forgot to bring one and was gasping by the time I got back

[UK_Vstrom650]

Sounds like a good ride out. Rookie mistake on the water bottle though - you won't forget it again.

I had a ride to Harewood House today. Went out during the England match so the bits of road I had to go on were empty. I did regret being in shorts on the overgrown Bridleways though - too many nettles and brambles so may need to find alternate routes until autumn.

Stopped for a photo with the deer - shame they look further away in the picture than they were.

[nigel s]

Are those deer farmed?
We have a couple of captive farmed herds round here and I always thought it odd considering there is 1000s of them running around wild .
You are right about the water though, had the bottle ready in the fridge and wasn't till 7 miles in ,down Weavers way I noticed.DOH.

[UK_Vstrom650]

Yes, I think they are farmed - I know the farm shop there sells venison.
They also film Emmerdale out the back of the estate - not one I watch, but there's usually the odd coach of tourists going up/down the steep road if I'm out on the road bike.

I usually forget food rather than water when I'm going out, and it's very hilly around here so you suffer a lot when that happens.

[nigel s]

The food I remembered.
I am partial to cherry bakewell flapjacks (also venison sausages   ). A little bit of sugar for the rush and oats for the slow release energy.
Always have one in my toolkit on the strom too, and they last for ages , just in case.
Emmerdale, is that the one with the plane crash or was that The Archers.......... you may be able to tell , also not a follower of soaps .


I got filmed the other day in Norwich, walking back to the bike park near the market I passed  Alan Partridge ( Steve Coogan) looking goofy,
makeup on ?
WTF,
Looked back and there was the camera crew rolling.

So if you see a tall biker in that shot........Twas ME.

Ho Hum

[nigel s]

Peeing down..............

Still peeing down........

STILL peeing down.....

Feck it .......take the gasgas out for a wet ride to test the mucky nutz rear mudguard with the extension on.
Does it work ...yep. No splurge up my back
Rest of me absolutely soaked through though'........but still ........got a grin out of it so.........

Ho Hum

[nigel s]

Gasgas beachbeach,
Deserted ....don't know why.
Got back to watch the last two kicks of the footy.
Spent my time well .........I think 

[UK_Vstrom650]

Took the mountain bike to Dalby Forest on the V-Strom. Weather forecast was for rain, but apart from a downpour on the ride over was sunny the entire time.

22.08 miles with 2,192ft of climbing in 3hrs 10mins of moving time. Only stopped once for a sandwich. Average heat rate was 165bpm though 😱

Got a lot of looks with the MTB on the Strom...

[Sir Trev]

Finally uploaded my pics from our break in Devon.

Beside the River Exe


Exmouth

[nigel s]

Nice 
That is one of the things I like about pedal power compared to motorbikes, you can get right up close pretty much anywhere and no one bats an eye.

[nigel s]

So....exploring some overgrown paths  on the bike near me I found a ....thing.
It is about 3 /4 feet across and must have some deep foundations 'cos it is in a swampy area near the river.
What it is ..no idea 

[Barbel Mick]

It looks like a Mortar or machine gun base?

[nigel s]

Good call Mick, plenty of that sort of thing in Norfolk.
Or possibly an Ordnance Survey/Water authority ( it is near the river ) reference point.
No idea really , just a guess on my part.

[cooltshirt]

Pretty sure it is a spigot mortar.
There is one in East Lothian which I have seen and this webpage describes some to the North of London
https://www.northmymmshistory.uk/2018/01/brookmans-parks-spigot-mortar.html

[nigel s]

Thanks cooltshirt,
Yeah, that is what it is.


Interesting link. Reading it I realised that the emplacement would have been overlooking the railway line just down from Stalham station. The station was closed in 1959,and the line torn up, part of the Beeching cuts probably.
Though the station building was taken down brick by brick and moved to Holt on their line when it was relaid.https://www.nnrailway.co.uk/portfolio-items/holt-station/
Got to say that is some high quality stainless steel forming the spigot ,not a spot of rust.I think that is what threw me ,age wise, must be fairly recent I had thought. 
Thanks again, it would have bugged me to not know what it was

[nigel s]

This is reassuring, 50/60 thousand miles out of a motor and £300 ish for a full rebuild when out of warranty.
As long as you keep the water out. Just like my strom then  .  I  clean both with GT85.
This channel is like a lot on YT and don't like to upset the manufacturers , but it has some  good bits.