bikes

Bikes are such a pure form of transport, not changing a huge amount since being invented in 1817.

Bikes are a tool, you (mostly) need one for a specific job. Whether fixed gear for ruining your knees on the downhill, a slick tyred road bike hammering out the miles, a touring bike with pannier racks for exploring the beautiful land we live on, or a Penny Farthing to see where you're going.

Whatever the type of bike, and for whatever reason, get out a ride more!

mountain biking

If you're going to go Mountain Biking, do it in the mountains. Here are some videos of a few mates and I messing about in the Alps;

Dunwich Dynamo

The Dynwich Dynamo is a 112 mile overnight ride from London to Dunwich in Suffolk... which doesn't actually exist, it's a few miles out to sea because of coastal erosion!

It's chilled out, meet at a pub about 6pm, leave at some point and try to get to the beach before sunrise.

The Hebridean Way

What a bloody great honeymoon! We cycled the Hebridean Way;

staying in BnBs along the route
swimming in the sea
talking to lots of interesting locals, wondering what they eat as there are hardly any shops on the islands
it was sunny and not very windy (until the last day up to the Butt of Lewis Lighthouse
cracking scenery and landscape
used our midge repellent once whilst sitting outside watching an owl hunting for supper
the only rain was on our 50 yard dash for the ferry as we were leaving

Such a great trip, highly recommended for anyone!

PLEASE DON'T TAKE A FULLY STOCKED CAMPER AND DO SOME AMERICAN TOURISM!

Penny Farthing

My Grandmother kindly left me a Penny farthing in her will. I'm planning to ride the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run one day - after the bike's had a rebuild. I also need to find some 'moustash handlebars', so there's enough space for my legs to operate!

My wife bought me a Penny Farthing lesson on a modern PF. They are a wild ride, so different to any other bike, and surprisingly easy!

Ben PF Start.mp4

Ben PF Ride

The Penny Farthing / High Wheel / High Wheeler / Ordinary is an early bicycle, popular in the 1870s and 1880s. Sprockets, chains and gears as we know them today weren't prevelant, and personal transport was usually a horse - hence the large front wheel. Speed and distance were a combination of the radius of the front wheel, and how fast (cadence) you could pedal.

If you fancy a go yoruself, check out the Penny Farthing Club.

Chase the Sun

Every now and again, it's good to challenge yourself.

Chase the Sun is an awesome event and highly recommended. c.200 miles in a day, sunrise to (before?) sunset.

I did the UK South route in 2024 with a couple of friends to celebrate a big-0 birthday of mine - looking forward to doing the other 3 rides now.

and then...

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