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I'm really pleased with my composting this year. It's gone from this overloaded stack in March/April to harvesting 7 or 8 barrows of lovely brown stuff last weekend just from the open left hand side and distributing it around the various beds.

No turning at all and I didn't even bother using my compost aerator on this one either as it was always overflowing and I couldn't really get sufficient access to it.

Restacked all the semi-composted stuff I cleared off the top and this should be ready soon as well as the right hand side.

Here's a route my mate devised that we rode last Friday.

Mainly aimed at not only getting some new roads in but also taking advantage of the 20 kph+ south westerly that was blowing along the south coast we used planes (almost), trains and got buzzed by automobiles on a nice loop.

Posting here as although I live in Epsom and started the ride there it should be available to all who are London based too (you just join the route at a different point).

I can share the route on Strava but for me it was roughly:

• ride 30km to an eerily quiet Gatwick
  
• train to Haywards Heath (ten minutes/£6.60)
  
• ride 150km to Folkstone
  
• train back to St Pancras (one hour/£23 - regular fast trains)
  
• ride across town to Waterloo
  
• train out to Stoneleigh
  
• ride home from there
  
  

I clocked 207 km on strava but I think some of that was a train journey, It should be circa 190 km total.

Although I used my road bike there were a few gravel/beach sections so a gravel bike can be used too. Having said that it's very doable on a road bike but perhaps don't take your best one.

Here's my vid of the day to give you a flavour of the ride

Down by the Seaside

#timetogettheledout

.

Whitstable is one of my favourite destinations and I always head for The Lobster Shack for fresh oysters once I'm there.

Here are two routes I use albeit from Surrey rather than London but they are tried and tested bangers. Train back from Whitstable via East Croydon, Clapham Junction and London Victoria:

Pilgrim's Way - follow in the footsteps of Chaucer and his pilgrims. A beautiful route, quiet country lanes and rolling terrain. some video highlights from February 18 to give you an idea of the route - Summertime Boy

Classic route - despite being longer than above and with more climbing this is actually a faster route but still has its share of beautiful country lanes

I also have a route to Whitstable and back which is circa 200k+ but I'm struggling to find it ATM. Takes you through the shite part of north kent though.

#nomorevacantplatitudes

no more moaning about things you have the capacity to change

#lookingshittyfeelingpretty

I think #notestostrangers is a darker version of #livelaughlove

it's all bullshit apart from who you are

glad you enjoyed it and it has inspired you to ride. let me know if you have any questions. key points already mentioned a few posts back up there.

I got near to it but never quite found the spot

Or that time I entered a Marathon.

I got peanuts all over my knob.

(you have to be of a certain age to get that one).

reminds me of an old mate 'Shagger' Smith. I mean what a great nickname to have. We all thought it was great.

She hated it.

Full descent on da 'gram (separate day)

Glad you enjoyed it. Yes that's the route I posted recently.

@2.14 is the descent from the Pillbox at the end of Ranmore Common heading into the valley (Skids) between Ranmore and Leith Hill. I think the Strava segment is called Whitedown Descent

Here's my Brighton ride to hopefully inspire you to try again.

A slightly unsatisfactory edit as my video editor is playing up. It keeps on crashing and won't allow me to make anymore changes hence the botched ending but it gives you a great idea of the trails further south.

48 Reasons

that's a real shame.

two key things to note and a couple of other points:

• when I rode it there was a section closed just after southwater requiring a painful on the hoof diversion. Check whether this is still closed and plan an alternative. There is a downs link site somewhere,hopefully there is an update on this
  
• you can enhance the final descent into Brighton. Just after the two roundabouts that cross the Brighton & Hove bypass you turn right into Three Cornered Copse. Go straight across and down the open space and this leads into a wooded trail that then leads you into Hove park. More off road, less road
  
• there are a few watering points along the route. The lake at Southwater park has a nice cafe for hot and cold food and a few miles further on is Stan's Bike Shack. You only need to do one of these as they are so close together. I usually choose Stan's as it is bike specific and has track pump and tools etc.
  
• just after you cross the small bridge over the river Adur and before you cross the fast road to get onto the first South Downs climb (in my pic up there) is a water tap and trough to the right of the trail on a tight corner. C'est potable.
  
  

Weather looks fine, enjoy

EDIT: added link which details the closure but it looks like it finishes today but be prepared in case of works overrun.

I always preferred this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4NLuLNfDZs

I have a dumb turbo trainer. I don't have Zwift or Trainerroad or anything. On the few occasions I've used it I've found it boring as hell.

I'm a 55 year old man, I ride for fun. I don't bother training.

I can ride for 15 hours at 22 kph and get wherever I want (lap of the M25, L2P in 22 hours, L2Bruges in a day etc). Getting there a bit quicker might be nice but I CBA to put in the effort.

looks pretty good to me

Gravel bike?

thanks matey, not bad considering I was cycling off-road, uphill, one-handed whilst grabbing my phone from my back pocket, giving it a quick wipe to get rid of the sweat, unlocking it and putting it on the camera app before clicking the shutter ;-)

https://www.strava.com/routes/26629344

#26aintdead

I posted my Cheam/Epsom to Brighton off road route on here a few months ago and tackled it again today. It's a great ride of 100k+ on what was a great day weather wise even if tree-felling at Southwater gave us a hefty detour

talking of manuals (or are they wheelies and is there a difference or have they just been rebranded) one of my riding buddies was pulling a pretty good manual last Thursday evening

https://www.instagram.com/p/CCuCx1vFzw9/