Hi yall,

Just got back about 3hours ago from a epic ride, would like to share the experience with you... Ferris and I left London on Friday afternoon. Here's one snap out of a selection on pics and footage we are editing.

Shins

ps. its good to be back...pps. i love my surly.

Nice one Ray, looks very romantic ;)

Where's the write up? And more pics. You gotta keep your fans happy, mate.

And a route map.... :)

what's the pannier thang?
looks useful....

Looks like a lot of fun (although I bet there was stretches with a nasty headwind?) What gi were you running with the panniers?

i agree. What is that and how much weight can it take.
Would love to see the route map and more pics.

Should I start getting jealous of you and Ferris yet?

Looks good ray more pictures please.

I did 65 G.I round loire atlantic with 15 kg in panniers and my rucksack half filled. Biggest loaded day was only about 40 miles though.

well done Ray, looking forward to a lot more pictures and some good footage.

How many miles you cover in the end?

he rode to the edge of the M25, took the pic then got the train straight back to Liverpool St, knackered.

i bet you didn't ride out of Lyme Regis!

My home town (Exeter, not Lyme Regis)!

It's hilly down there. Well done.

gabes you are are a gent... for letting me brag about this yes we rode out of...


It was epic we must of covered 250 tops miles...some of which we walked... steepsombitch!

The panniers only took a max of 9kg and tent (2.7kg) on my back... it wasn't all that difficult. Thing is, it just makes me want a tourer.

I've been working on the footage today at work... Some really fantastic weather, and great views.

A day after, i feel great and that cycling is the only way to travel.

In writing...

I will definitely plan a few more rides which may span a few days. Not too taxing but fun.

Shin

ps any one wants to borrow the panniers they are more than welcome PM Me TFU!

pps a shot on the way to marshwood...


ppps the panniers were attached to seat post... which for that amount of time was perfect, quite hard on the legs. Cos you couldnt get outta the saddle on hills... had to swap my normal carbon seatpost out for the ITM.


pppps bit pissed last night so ignore the above if you want.

47T 18T GI 68.6

Ferris has the route link.

Looks great...I have a similar pannier set up on my mtb but added some extenders of plain aluminium down to the wheel axle, which stopped some of the sideways flex....

I rode to Exeter in one day once.....great sense of achievement but tough on the knees!

Yeah, i was planning on extending the arms on mine too... unfortunately i couldn't be bothered.

I rode with the pannys for the first time the night before for 18miles was fine.
Forgot i had to ride through london to meet ferris and murtes at hammersmith... alot slower no squeezing...

and never really ridden that distance before... and ups and downs... must remember to breathe.

This is the route...ish

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=2208923

Epic ride! Enjoyed every inch of it....

I plotted that route the night we got back... pretty accurate as far as I can remember... the bit from Bournemouth to Poole was on a boat... we had to get the fuck outta that place...

Highlights:
- New Forest at 6am just after the heavy rain broke and the sun came out.
- Passing out on Lyme Regis beach.
- Climbing the Dorset hills in blistering sunshine.
- Pitching our tent in the middle of a village green.
- The last couple of miles into Exeter.
- Eating alot of food and alot of fruit pastiles!

so how many miles did you do per day?

it ranged from 30 - 50miles a day I think...

Nice route you guys took.

Looks excellent. I want a touring too after riding around France. As you say Shins taking a few multi day trips is great fun. Well done.

yeah a tourer... next bike... got my eye on one from Jos.

My lowlights:

- Spinning into lulworth, and watching ferris freewheeling down at ridiculous speed.
- Walking up Steeeeeeeepppppp hill on the way to marshwood.
- Lack of energy due to lack of food.
- Off guinness at the second pub.
- Not being able to stand on hills.
- Stopping to change clothes.
- Realising there was no where to stay in lulworth and having to go back to wool.

I think sometimes the lowlights are as important as the highlights. What doesn't kill you... makes you aware for next time you might get killed...

AND NO PUNCTURES!!!!!!!!

NO PUNCTURES! Get in!

How long did it take overall?

We left Hammersmith at 1400hrs on Friday... and arrived in Exeter 1530hrs on Tuesday... we stopped off at various places and fucked about... so in terms of how long the actual riding took... i have no idea... probably ranged from 3 - 6 hours of riding a day...???

More like... 6-10hours... when the sun was out we were riding pretty much.

And like my brother says we fucked about a bit skimmed stones... took the piss out of the locals... high fived... swore at hills... yelped at the down hills... admired views!!!!

Nice. I need to get out of London for some riding.
Still Yorkshire in two weeks on Sunday. I just might mange to get a few hills under my wheels before September is a hazy memory fading into the periphery of my minds eye.

Time for another photo....marshwood to lyme regis bit...

Great route guys, especially from the New Forest onwards. And you even made it down to Durdle Door!

DOWN....down...no not down!

17% up!

Ah ah ah, don't approach the Door from Wool ;)

cheers tom.

great stuff shins and ferris. shame about that Bad G but other than that sounds awesome.

Actually its the first time i almost shit myself, the road surface between 221-223miles into sidford i see a sign in the distance and its a sign 15% down...fuck me, up to the sign i was a head of ferris then i hear this crrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr (freewheel) and seriously no cars were passing us. shit me that was fast!

Dont even go there dark times!
Slow pour fine, settles, no head... fucking gutted.

best G i had was in east lulworth after lulworth castle on the road down to the cove.

epic journey, well done guys, you know i wanted to keep on going with you :)