Hi there,easyriders...
,my name is Carlos Tavares,i am an ambulance medic,i am portuguese,settled in London and i am looking for fellow riders to explore the south coast of england with me,in preparation to then explore Europe main land later in the summer,maybe in a month or two.
For now i plan to explore the south coast of england for 10 to 15 days to get bike touring experience,i am also looking for acomodation on the south coast,floor space or even your front or rear garden were i can erect my tent,
i intend to depart on the 15th or 16th of June 2011
My direct email is [email protected]
Regards.
Carlos Tavares
Hi there Easyriders,Carlos Alberto Lopes Tavares here to share wth you a brief report on a tour to the South coast of England,yesterday the 10/06/11.
I have decided to embark on this expedition in order to gather experience to undertake longer journeys.
I want to find out how the bike and all related equipment would perform under continous use for long hours and also what my strenghs and weaknesses are as a cyclist. CLIF
I had two puntures at the same time and their repair did cause me delay.
i DEPARTED FROM sOUTH WEST lONDON IN wANDWORTH,sTOCKWELL AREA AT AROUND 2AM AND HEADED SOUTH VIA THE A23 GOING TROUGH STREATHAM-CROYDON-REDHILL-CRAWLEY-AND STRAIGHT TO BRIGHTON BUT WACHT OUT FOR DITCHLING BEACON FOR THOSE OF YOU JOYNING THE LONDON TO BRIGHTON BIKE RIDE,FOR IT IS A VERY VERY STEEP CLIMB THAT I HAD TO WALK THE BIKE AND RELATED EQUIPMENT UP IT,IT IS A MOUNTAIN,A CLIFF AND IT IS SITUATED JUST EAST OF THE A23 JUST BEFORE THE A27 ON SUSSEX DOWNS.
I THEN WENT WEST ALONG THE SEA FRONT ON THE A259,AFTER A SHORT BREAK ON THE BEACH AND ANOTHER PUNCTURE REPAIR,THE SUN WAS SHINING BUT IT WAS VERY WINDY ON THE BEACH THE LIFE GUARDS WERE ON STAND BY BUT THERE WERE NO SWIMERS IN THE WATER.
I CONTINOUED WEST AND CME ACROSS A GERMAN MAN,FIXING A PUNCTURE TO TE REAR WHEEL ON A SORT OF RACER BIKE,I THEN "POPED IN "HALFORDS BIKE DEPT TO GATHER IDEAS IN "BIKE BITS".
I THE BEGAN THE RETURN TO LONDON VIA A SMALL VILAGE CALLED KINGSTON-BY-SEA TOWAR4DS THE A283 AND WNT RIGHT AT SORRINGTON INTO THE A24 AND HEADED NORTH TOWARDS HORSHAM,MANY MANY STEEP HILLS TO OVERCOME,FROM HORSHAM TO DORKING STILL ON THE A24,WERE I KEAPT ALL THE WAY HOME.fROM DORKING TO LEATHERHEAD AND OVER THE M25,THIS IS STREACH OF TH A24 THA IS PICHT BLACK,THERE IS NO STREET LIGHT AT ALL,YOU MUST HAVE BIKE LIGHTS TO DO THESE FEW MILES AT NIGHT,ENSURE YOU HAVE FULLY CHARGED BATTERIES BEFORE YOU DO THIS STREACH OF ROAD.
FROM LEATHERHEAD TO EPSOM,BACK TO SOUTH WEST LONDON AND HOME AT LAST.
lESSONS LEARN:
REGULAR BREAKS EVERY TWO TRHEE HOURS.
wALK THE BIKE IN VER STEEP HILS,EVEN IF YOU THINK YOU CAN RIDE IT,IT WIL SAVE YOU VITAL ENERGIE ON YOUR LEGS MUSCLES.
DRINK WATER REGULARLY AND EAT VERY LIGHT SNACKS.
CHECK THE LEVEL TO WICH YOUR TYRES ARE INFLATED AS WELL AS THE TYRES THEMSELVES.
HAVE YOUR RAIN COVER GEAR AS READY AS POSSIBLE.
TRY TO WORK OUT FROM THE MAP WERE THE BIG HILL ARE BEFORE YOU DEPART AND LEAVE EXTRA TIME IF YOU HAVE A DEADLINE TO GET TO ACCOMODTION OR SET CAMP BY A PARTCLAR TIME NAMELY BEFORE DARK.
LUBRICATE THE CHAIN AND THE VARIOUS MECHANISMS.
KEEP MAPS DRY.
KEEP YOURSELF DRY
HELP OTHER CYCLISTS THAT YOU MAY COME ACROSS ON THE ROAD IF YOU FEEL THE IS THE RIGHTT5HING TO DO,BECAUSE SOME OF THEM IS CLEARLY NO.
DO NOT JUMP RED LIGHTS IN TOWNS AND CITIES YOU DON'T KNOW.
DO NOT IGNORE SIGNS THAT SAY "CYCLISTS DISMOUNT"
I SENTING OUT TO ANOTHER TRIP NEXT WEEK ON THE 15/6/11 AND WILL REPORT AS I GO ALONG.
UNTIL THEN HAPPY BIKEING.
CARLOS ALBERTO LOPES TAVARES