Part one of the Cycle Adventure and this weekends home brew

Posted by Andy Hamilton - 10/11/08 at 02:11:29 pm

Part One of the 677 mile journey Bristol to Swindon October 20th 2008

I got up early in the morning and walked Emma part way into work so that I could say my goodbyes to her and drop my bike off at a bike shop in Clifton (posh bit of Bristol). It was a very sunny day and rather warm too despite the forecast of rain in the morning clearning for the afternoon.

I was informed at the bike shop that it would be ready by 5pm, I asked if it could be ready sooner as

previously disscussed and proudly announced that I would be cycling to Aberdeenshire that day. Instead of sharing my excitment as I thought they would I got a small lecture about leaving things to the last moment. Which had only happened as this bike shop would not take my bike the week before. I bit my tounge and left them to it and was informed that my bike would be ready by 1.30pm and not a moment sooner.

When I picked it up I got another lecture and was told that I needed to know some basic cycle mechanics as my bike was more likely to fail after a service (I wondered why I bothered) and I would have to bring it back to that shop should this happen. “but I am cycling to Aberdeenshire this afternoon”.

“You should leave tomorrow”. – I did not like the owner one bit, it was more than just this attitude towards me the owner of the shop was just a conceited ass, he did not seem to have much respect for his workers either. In hindsight I should have gone to the Kebele cooperative just up the road from me. Next time I will, that bloke is never getting a penny of my cash again. I won’t be petty and mention the name of the shop as others might have a better experience. But there are not many bike shops opposite the BRI and close to the Christmas steps on the edge of Clifton.

I left the shop grumbling to myself for a second, then the task ahead hit me. I was to cycle to Scotland, I grinned to myself and forgot the pettiness of some people (including myself). a little feeling inside my chest reminded my that this was to be exciting, hard work and potentially dangerous. Fantastic!

As soon as I got on my bike the heavens opened, so much for the forecast. I took the Bristol – Bath Cycle path turning off onto route 17 the Avon Link. I knew I had to come off this path at some point, unfortunately the map holder that I had on the front of my bike that I assumed was waterproof was not. In fact worse than not being waterproof it seemed to collect water turning the map I was using into a soggy mess of papier mache.

I cycled around some of the villages between Bristol and Swindon for the next couple of hours looking for signs to Swindon and a bus shelter to read my maps, the rain was far too heavy to do this any other way. But, just like buses, there is never a bus shelter around when you need one. By the time I eventually found a shelter my map was way beyond any use other than an emergency water supply or a modern art sculpture. Luckily I had picked up a very crude cycle map from Sustrains (who were very helpful incidently), it basically stated that I had to get to Marlmsbury and then stick to a B road straight for Swindon.

Night was beginning to fall, my soggy socks reminded me that my shoes were not water proof  and I was shivering but at least now I knew where I was going.  I had invested in some puncture proof tyres before leaving they were twice the price of normal tyres but I thought worth it. I noticed my back tyre kept deflating, I kept pumping it back up and due to the prospect of taking off the back wheel in all that rain I was deluding myself that it was not a slow puncture and the valve was just playing up.  After nearly swerving into an artic due to my flat tyre I decided that I could delude myself no longer and had to fix a puncture. I stood by the side of this busy B road and proceeded to take off my back wheel. My hands were numb with cold, it was hammering with rain and night had not just fallen by was refusing to get up; this simple repair was to be harder than changing them in the living room as I was used to.

The camber of the road had caused some puddles to form and it seemed that every BMW driver thought it hilarious to splash me. After about the 7th time I thought to myself I can get no colder or wetter than this and it became pretty funny after that with each splash. In hindsight I am guessing that I was laughing to stop myself crying.

So now aching, cold, hungry and tired I arrived at my first stop for the trip Lower Shaw Farm, Matt Holland met me on the path on the way there and it was so great to see a friendly face. It was 8.20pm so everyone had already eaten but some of the shepherds pie was left for me and some pasta. I had three portions, a scone and one the nicest tasting cups of tea known to man. Granted a cup of warm urine could have tasted good at that time, well a cup of Dave’s tea anyway which is not always distinguishable from warm urine.

Rather Zombie like I sat up for a bit before retiring for bed and a thoroughly deserved nights sleep.

Part two – I wish I had learnt some basic bike repairs will follow very soon (today or tomorrow depending on how long I spend up the allotment).

Home Brew Beer (From this Weekend)

Just before I left on my cycle ride I brewed some beer using the hops I have grown on my allotment the recipe I used can be found here. We invited our friends John and Garth over to sample some and they loved it so much we finished off a batch between us that evening. I was feeling somewhat happy about this until Garth drank a bottle of Cherry Lambrini that had been given to me by a neighbour with equally the same relish that he gave the beer. I wondered if it was just the alcohol content that was getting the thumbs up.

In the beers defence Dave and his new girlfriend also liked the beer and I know that they are not Cherry Lambrini drinkers, so I do hope I have grown a good brew. The trick I think is using just the best ingredients, I used youngs brewers sugar, fresh home grown organic hops and an organic malted barley. I would have liked to use spring water too and in fact might for the next brew as I plan a trip to Bath fairly soon and I know of a spring over there.

2 Comments

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1. Shame you are too far away – I’d give you an honest verdict on the beer… once I’d drank it all )

   Where is the photo – is that one of the Sustrans tracks?

   Comment by Shirley — November 10, 2008 #

2. Yep and it would be good to get your verdict on 12 bottles!

   The Photo is a Sustrains track it is when you turn off the Bristol – Bath cycle track at the point of the disused station, the one with the green suitcase attached to the platform.

   Comment by andyhamilton — November 10, 2008 #

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