To work.....and a little bit of magic coming back

Cycled to work in Basingstoke (19 miles there and back). A bit wet getting to work this morning. Fine on the return and very mild. Almost all of the return was after dusk. On the quieter lanes there is something quite special about cycling in the dark, though need to take care. Venus was bright and scimitar-like in the Eastern sky even before it was dark. Magical!

Earlier Ride Re-visited

As we career towards short days, and the clocks go back robbing us outdoor types of opportunities, it might be a good idea to post some previous excursions.

I was lucky enough to have the time to plan and ride some wonderful routes during the Spring and Summer of 2010. These rides have significantly improved my knowledge of the back roads and lanes of North Hampshire and I took lots of photos and some videos on a number of these.

Let's start with a ride from a few weeks ago, from Basingstoke (Down Grange Sports Ground) to Winchester:
41 miles over a time span of  2 hours 54mins at a pace of 14.1mph. The route taken was via Oakley, Overton, 
Micheldever, & Kingsworthy with a return journey that differed only on the last 6-7 miles where I veered north east through Steventon to Oakley. 

Overton 

Micheldever

Thatching in Micheldever

Looking towards Stoke Charity

Pudding Lane, Winchester

The Long Road back from Kingsworthy

The Pub that sounds a bit Rude!

Reward - Micheldever

Wellow - New Forest

Having worked from 10am until 3pm in West Wellow, I got on the bike and with, only a cursory glance at a Google map print out, proceeded on a ride around the northern fringes of the New Forest.

In this part of the world one needs to be careful not to turn a corner and collide with any of the 'free range'  Donkeys, Ponies, Cattle and Sheep which roam freely over the lanes.

A paltry 9 miles rounds off an unusually low mileage week for me. Back in the saddle big time next week, weather and daylight allowing!

Half day - chance for more riding!

I worked at Sherborne St John for the morning only. Weather is colder but still settled, giving me the chance to take a ride and cover some country lanes I am not familiar with. 

Parked up on the South side of Basingstoke before work and cycled to Sherborne via Oakley, Newfound, Wooten St. Lawrence and Monk Sherborne.

Returned the long way via Charter Alley, Ibworth (great views from here back to Basingstoke to the South East), Malshanger and back to Oakley. The return journey re-traced some of the roads I encountered on the Basingstoke Big Wheel (50 miler for Charity) back in July. I'm really begining to love this particualr part of Hampshire!

The pics aren't of great quality as I took them on my mobile. 

Christ Church, Ramsdell

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 I'm making this route up as I go......so which way now?!

 Stopped for a pint of Dick Turpin (a really Chocolatey ale!)

A view across fields near Oakley

Here's the Route
First Part from Sherborne St John.

Second part

Diary & Cycle Routes

Hello, 

This is new for me.

Never blogged before so this could be an interesting experiment. 

As a keen cyclist and one who is addicted to the buzz of adrenaline, I thought I might divert from my 'bulletins' on Daily Mile and allow myself the indulgence of more considered and detailed description of the cycle routes I plan and ride. 

I am based in Hampshire, England and so most of my rides are within this beautiful county but sometimes I go further afield. My job locations change frequently but are close enough for me to cycle to work, weather allowing. I'm averaging over 100 miles a week and I'm fitter than I've ever been.

I hope this will be the start of something interesting and a more structured way of keeping a record of my miles and the places I ride to. Most important of all, will be the pics and routes I will post: much more interesting than my training regimes!

Photo taken by my good friend and fellow peddler - Karen H