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Pooh, of course, was fictional (or so we're told) but Hundred Acre wood in Hampshire is real, part of the Forest of Bere (link), and I've just been for a ride with the wife and friends (route). It was a short ride, and very muddy, but fun; there's loads of hard-packed track and a fair amount of muddy single-track, so it's worth a look if you're in the area.
Not the most successful ride ever. I have never found riding in heavy rain to be parcticularly enjoyable and today was no exception. It was dull and overcast when I left, it started to spit after I'd done a few hundred metres, then it darkened as soon as I entered the woods and the heavens opened. Extreme wetness ensued and, although I struggled manfully on my hired bike, I gave it all up for a bad idea and slogged back to the apartment having done only 5.5 miles.
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And what a bike it is! A red Gitanes hardtail with the elegance and sophistication of a brick. And probably the speed of a brick. Time will tell, but I strongly suspect that it will prove to be a less than satisfactory ride; should have brought my own, dammit.
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We have put together a selection of fantastic rides with options for all levels, including the famous 70 mile Cycle the Wight and the ultra-tough Hills Killer Mountain Bike challenge to family rides and forest trails.
Unfortunately, I'll be away on holiday during the festival and that's a pity because I quite fancy having a go at the 26 mile Hills Killer Mountain Bike Challenge.
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To be honest, I'm not sure if it's "lots" or just "many" but some of them seem fairly big when you're halfway up and the sun's beating down like a musically-challenged drum major. It's been 17 years since I've been riding on the Isle of Wight and I'd forgotten how many hills there are. It's also been a while since I've been on the hovercraft, which is definitely the best way to get to the island, and they seem to be fairly casual about taking bikes.
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Sunday morning, bright and sunny, off on the bike. Pretty good route (link) along the Hamble, through the woods around Whiteley and back along the dismantled railway line. Just under 20 miles - really good ride.
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I've got a problem; I've been wondering over the last couple of days if I should have bought a road bike instead of a hardtail mountain bike because there aren't all that many places to ride offroad near home.
I've spent hours researching routes but most of the decent ones are a train or car ride away; riding to them isn't really practical. Then I had a revelation - if I bought a road bike, I could go anywhere, without a car, no problem.
And that was fine, until I realized that all I really wanted to do when I reached the destination was head offroad, so it looks like the mountain bike was the right choice after all. Much joy.
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To celebrate the start of summer, The Times is giving away a collection of guides to the great outdoors, showing you how to make the most of the British countryside. Your next instalment, inside The Times this Saturday, June 13, is a superb guide to cycling, filled with ideas, advice and wry observations from Times journalists.
I'm always suspicious when newspapers use the word "superb" about their own writing, but you never know. We normally buy The Times on Saturday anyway so I'll be giving this guide a glance.
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Apparently it rained last night, quite heavily. I hadn't really noticed (I snored through it, apparently) but it was pretty obvious on the tracks that quite a lot of the English Channel had dropped in for a visit; they were wet, puddle-strewn, muddy and messy. Marvellous.
I popped out this morning to do a quick lap around my default local route (which I've mentioned before, a couple of times) and by the time I got back the bike was covered in crud (I really need a rear mudguard) and so was I. In fact, even my phone was caked because I forgot to use the wet weather cover and it sat in its pouch on the cross bar, nicely open to the elements, picking up, it would appear, every stray piece of mud.
So, between the mud, the water and the dozens of people out walking their mutts, I wasn't really expecting to be all that quick but it turns out I did the 7.48 miles in 44:30, a minute faster than a fortnight ago. Woo hoo! Ok, so that's still only 10.3 mph, not exactly quick, but faster than last time and maybe next week, on dry trails, with fewer walkers, I can go a little bit faster.
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There are loads of sites with cycle routes or route planners, many of dubious quality and usefulness. Google Maps (maps.google.co.uk - select Walking directions if you want to avoid motorways) works really well for road routes but it's not so good off-road. These sites also have some really good stuff:
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