Out the door at 0630 and back in three hours after completing 47 kilometres, the benefit of being out so early is that you get to see much more of the local wildlife; At the Fullerton Cross road there was a young fox ambling along the middle of the road, he soon disappeared into the hedgerow when he saw me coming. The highlight was a Barn Owl in the fields around Mottisfont, I had flushed the owl out of the hedgerow which runs along side of the Test Way, it then flew off over the fields into an distant copse. So south out of Andover on the N264 route and kept on it until it ended at Mottisfont, where the cycle route merges with the N24 route. We then headed north towards Boughton and turned east once we hit the roman road which goes toward Buckholt Farm, we then dropped into Broughton on a very chalky byway, i was surprised to find a 4x4 pickup coming up the climb at one point, but didn't see anyone else.
Through Broughton and onto Spitfire lane, past Danbury Down. At this point we passed a fallow field which was covered in Poppies as far as the eye could see. Home via RedRice and Upper Clatford.
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Fathers Day - quick blast around Abbots Ann, Monxton, Kentboro and Red Rice. 18.8 kilometres in an hour. Highlight was a Roe Deer standing on the trail before me, it then dashed across the fields into a nearby copse.
Early start on a very grey Sunday morning though it was still warm, four hours in the saddle covering just under 40miles and loads of wildlife to be seen. So out of Andover to Weyhill, then up through Clanville to Conholt Park on a steady climb, all the way up to the Chutes Causeway which we cycled along until we got to Scotts Poor and we dropped down into Hippencombe on a very overgrown nettle infested bridleway. Shins got a real beating but once we broke out of the treeline it was a very pleasant, cycle down to Verham Dean, and a long loop back to Andover, taking in Hurstbourne Tarrant, Hurstbourne Priors, Longparish, Werwell, Chilbolton Common and the Clatfords.
Being up so early we got to see a lot of wildlife, Hares and Red Legged Partridge at Hippencombe, further down the Bourne valley a flash of blue in the shape of a a Kingfisher. The most unusual sighting was a pair of Ravens wheeling over head, which I had always thought of as a moorland/high peaks inhabitant. A gloriously sunny June Day for the annual Test Valley Hot Challenge which is based out of Vernham Dean. There is a selection of 30km. 50km and 80km rides (The 80km being a combination of the 30km and 50km). Registration was easy, number plate with a map and torq energy bar. The map was just a general guide as the way marking is always very good and easy to follow. We chose to do the 50km route which ended up being a combination of quiet country lanes, bridleways which follow at times very flinty trails and the tradition run through Collingbourne Wood which is a combination of fire roads and muddy single track, I often wonder if Collingbourne Wood ever dries out. Once again the Nobby Nic tyre on the front failed to cope with the mud, and didn't clear the mud until we got back onto a flinty track on our way out of the woods. The suspension again worked well with no issues, locking the front fork out for the numerous climbs, and letting it open on the downhilly bit. The was a great piece of singletrack which dropped down from the top of the Chute Causeway at Scot's Poor into the Hippenscombe Bottom, which was quite blind but enjoyable none the less. It was a great day as I rode some bits around Combe Wood which i hadn't considered before and will add to the list. My GPS app declared the route to be 51km long and I completed it in just under four hours, which included two stops at the drinks station which was located just north of the entrance to Collingbourne. It also was the day i recorded my 4000 kilometre rode since i purchased my original mountain bike.
The Cyclist seems to be getting some very bad press at the moment; a very good response is this column article on the Singletrackworld website and not no greater reason that we are a minority exercising our right to be outside and partaking in some physical exercise. North West Hampshire is crisscrossed with quiet country lanes, bridleways and footpaths, so there is always the chance that you will come across Horse riders and Walkers. Simple courtesy would be that we give way to the other parties we meet along the way, in fact it is outlined in the following statute: Section 30 of Countryside Act 1968 30 Riding of pedal bicycles on bridleways. (1)Any member of the public shall have, as a right of way, the right to ride a bicycle, [not being a mechanically propelled vehicle], on any bridleway, but in exercising that right cyclists shall give way to pedestrians and persons on horseback. I have found it's much easier to stop and yet the approaching Riders and Walkers pass you by and then continue on your way. Coming up on riders and walkers from behind is another kettle of fish, as the use of a bell is not something I'd use to warn a Horse Rider as the sudden noise could set the horse off. (Something my partner has experience when out riding her horse.) The nature of the Horse cannot be determined, either can the competency of the rider, so depending on the situation a wide berth at slow speed seems the best course of action. The British Horse Society has a handy Code of Conduct which covers the interaction between Cyclists and riders. Walkers I find are very random and the use of a bell or shouting 'Rider' sets them off into the 'Walkers two step' with the group scattering to both sides of the way, and then some times deciding to cross back over to the other side while you approach. Segregated walking and cycling routes reduces the chance of any interaction which could cause trouble, but even at Swinley Forest I have come across dog walkers walking up the trail in the wrong direction as a short cut back to the car park. In Holland which is always held up as a great example of how to manage the cycling population - it is in fact illegal to walk on a designated cycle way. Strava has a part to play in the negative view other's have of cyclists, mountain bikers and roadies etc, as there is nothing worst than some one hurtling along try to get their KOM or QOM and not looking ahead of themselves, this along with Sportives and Mountain Bike challenges which are on and off road on ways which have not been closed for the event again raises the negative perception of our activity.
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