My daughter finally got the hang of a two wheeler a couple of weeks ago.
I've been cycling around a few local cycle paths with her in the evenings and last weekend to help her get the hang of it.
Today she wanted to go to a park with a zip line which is in a village about 5 miles away. I suggested we cycle there and meet SWMBO and our son who go in the car, should she be tired then we can throw her bike in the back and she can come home in the car.
Cycled there, she ran around the park for an hour or so then cycled home. Ten miles for a five year old who's only been riding a couple of weeks I think is pretty good going.
Let's hope this good weather continues. Getting out and about on the bikes beats being stuck in watching the rain run down the windows listening to the gloom and doom in the news.
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Yup perfect day.
Went for a 4 mile alk in the Surrey Hills, -Albury - with Nicole and Fifi. The Hills were gorgeous, still resplendent with Autumn trees in the soft sunlight, Found a great spot for filming on the Surrey Downs line, Chatted to a woman outside her 600 year old cottage and played with her 4 month old (already HUGE) Pyrenean Mountain dog, had a late lunch in the sun at Polesdon Lacey, and toodled home through the back lanes with the windows open.
Stunning day.
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Not a part of the world I'm familiar with, sounds great though.
When I lived in South London (St. reatham) I always went straight through on my way to the airport or south coast and never stopped to explore.
My loss, though who knows where we'll be in five or ten years time ?
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Yay, another cyclist!! Full marks gmac. Too many parents class cycling anywhere off trails as too dangerous. It's not it just needs a bit of training.
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I agree, it's a wonderful moment, sharing the child's joy and wonder that it actually works, you really can balance on two wheels.
All our three learned at the same caravan park - we went back there almost deliberately so that they could practice. It had a series of winding circuits, very little traffic, and plenty of smooth grass each side so it didn't matter veering off the road, or taking a diversion if a car did come.
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It's a rite of passage here when a child goes to school taking a bike.
I want to teach her roadcraft from the off so she knows what she is doing. I went everywhere on a bike when I was at school and want her to have her freedom but with the volumes of traffic these days want her to know what's going on.
She's a sensible little thing so I have a lot of confidence in her.
Her 3 year old brother though, I don't know what I'm going to do there...
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>> She's a sensible little thing so I have a lot of confidence in her.
But however sensible, 5 is quite young to be properly aware of dangers from all angles. Of course you will know this and ride protectively, as it were outside and a bit behind her. I can only applaud your attitude though, proper training for early independence.
The country roads round here are a bit scary for nippers on bikes. The lanes aren't so bad because most people drive at sensible speeds, but the main roads have a few places where there are fast bends between high banks and the road itself is quite tight. I wouldn't fancy riding a bike there myself to tell the truth.
Last edited by: Armel Coussine on Sun 13 Nov 11 at 18:05
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You're quite right AC and I doubt if we were in the UK I would have her out on the road.
The difference here is the traffic is separate from the bikes other than at junctions which cycles have the right of way at anyway. The few places where road space is shared, cycle lanes are well marked though little ones are allowed to ride on the footpath.
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>> I doubt if we were in the UK I would have her out on the road.
Sorry gmac, I hadn't registered that you lived in a civilised country with proper traffic segregation... How nice for yr little girl.
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>> You're quite right AC and I doubt if we were in the UK I would
>> have her out on the road.
What country are you in gmac?
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Germany.
When they build new roads, the old roads appear to be adopted for cycles/walkers/non-motorised transport between the villages.
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>> Not a part of the world I'm familiar with, sounds great though.
Its really nice, being chalk it drains well so is great for biking, walking, and Equestrian.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Downs
The page does not do it justice, villages like Shere ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shere ) in its valleys, most have fine pubs and cafes and tea shops.
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Funny how, as years advance, the teashop becomes an important part of life. Particularly for bikers.....and cyclists, I'm sure.
I know a goodly number around Cheshire and Derbyshire. A favourite is close enough to home to call in at if I'm just knocking about locally.
You wouldn't really know where it is if you didn't call in at a local plant nursery but round the back is a large portacabin, little kitchen at one end and, perhaps, ten tables...cracking cakes to be had. It's right at the end of the main runway at Ringway.......shakes every 5 minutes !
Spinney Caravans, at Allostock on the A50, seems to be a favourite with the Lycra Lads...always a few over 60s in there enjoying tea and cakes !
Ted
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I am in London tomorrow to pay my respects to my grandfather by visiting places connected to him (like the church they got married in etc) and sods law as always happens when I am in London, the weather is forcasted to be nicer in Manchester.
Really was lovely today though for November. Reached 15c here amazing really considering the time of year it is. The trees near me still have a lot of green left too, although crime is down so I assume the chavs are all locked up so can't knick the leaves on the trees....
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>> Really was lovely today though for November. Reached 15c here amazing really considering the time of
>> year it is. The trees near me still have a lot of green left too
I've been enjoying the yellows and golds of autumn on my travels around the country this week, so it surprised me a little to notice the few small trees around the war memorial were completely bare this morning. It's the first time in a week that I've stood still long enough to notice, I suppose.
15C here too this afternoon, with a gentle mist gathering in the hollows at dusk. Glorious afternoon for a walk.
Last edited by: Dave_TDCi on Sun 13 Nov 11 at 22:21
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...Glorious afternoon for a walk...
Fallen leaves and damp conditions present a traction hazard for my crutches.
If it freezes I shall have to get winter-spec ferrules.
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>> If it freezes I shall have to get winter-spec ferrules.
>>
>>
I wonder how many winter tyre users have those ice gripper gadgets for their shoes?
www.gritbins.co.uk/glasdon_ice_grips_tm.html?gclid=CMPgkPzNtawCFUdB4QodrnVeGA
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Sadly ON - I bought a pair last year - no quite as hefty as them, but effective nonetheless, I had a dog to walk and lived on hill.
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>> Sadly ON - I bought a pair last year - no quite as hefty as
>> them, but effective nonetheless, I had a dog to walk and lived on hill.
>>
Although the dog is a 4X4 I bet it didn't get winter wellies.:-)
tinyurl.com/c52jfbw
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Nah, he was perfectly suited to conditions - absolutely no trouble. He had a number 1 rural cut last month - the groomer was under pain of death to leave the clumps of hair between his pads - these are nature's traction control, ASC and winter tyres rolled into one.
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>> Nah, he was perfectly suited to conditions - absolutely no trouble.>>
I must admit the dog in the link does not look too happy.
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Sort of thing they buy in Surrey ON.
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>> Sort of thing they buy in Surrey ON.
>>
:-) Zero must still be in bed.
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>> >> Sort of thing they buy in Surrey ON.
>> >>
>>
>> :-) Zero must still be in bed.
Is it light yet?
Of course that dog dont look Happy, its a malamute/husky, they dont do "happy". They have three states - Manic, Angry, and asleep.
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...Sort of thing they buy in Surrey ON...
They buy anything in Surrey - provided it's over-priced.
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>> ...Sort of thing they buy in Surrey ON...
>>
>> They buy anything in Surrey - provided it's over-priced.
We can afford to.
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...We can afford to...
People living in Northallerton, North Yorkshire, have one of the highest spending powers in the country because they earn almost as much as those in the south east, but have much lower general living expenses.
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Harrogate blows the myth of "it's grim up north" - house prices and smart shops....don't get to go there on benefits.
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>> If it freezes I shall have to get winter-spec ferrules.
>>
>>
These tungsten tipped poles should help. :-)
tinyurl.com/cxeq3x9 (Amazon)
Last edited by: Old Navy on Mon 14 Nov 11 at 08:00
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>>
>> Funny how, as years advance, the teashop becomes an important part of life. Particularly for
>> bikers.....
>>
>> Spinney Caravans, at Allostock on the A50, seems to be a favourite with the Lycra
>> Lads...always a few over 60s in there enjoying tea and cakes !
>>
>> Ted
>>
Funny how many of us must have crossed paths at some time.
I did a contract just up the road from there at Stocks Lane, Peover Superior.
That was a cracking drive in from Sheffield every morning over Winnats Path, Chapel-en-le-Frith, Kettleshulme, through Macclesfield and off down the lanes just before Chelford.
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Mmmm - revived memories Zero - Watercress soup for tea at Gomshall Mill, followed by scones and all the rest. Perfect after exertions on the hoss!
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A mate of mine says most of his family days out consist of driving from one tea shop to another.
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Bit of a wild child is he?
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...Bit of a wild child is he?...
We can't all be eager beavers like you, Humph.
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>> A mate of mine says most of his family days out consist of driving from
>> one tea shop to another.
>>
>>
Not just a UK thing, we stopped at a coffee shop which we discovered was popular with motor cyclists on a day ride out of Perth, Western Australia. Many were on his 'n hers Harley Davidsons, and most bikes were ridden by "mature" riders. The coffee shop knew its market, there was a table set up as a helmet and visor bugwash, consisting of paper towels and squirty bottles of soapy water. We were made most welcome although there was no windscreen wash facility. :-)
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Can't go into a tea room without thinking of the Penrith Tear Rooms scene in "Withnail and I" Absolute classic.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBxnFG9UhjE
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We had a lovely day here too. Only 3 deg, but sunny, and warm in the sun. We were trying to hunt moose, but it was their lucky day. The social side is just as important as the hunting, so we have a nice fire somewhere in the forest, cook sausages, and drink coffee (although I have tea). Obviously we talk a lot of crap about hunting as well.
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Rotten, grey, damp, misty day in North Notts.
Mind you, it meant I didn't have to go out for a walk. (Bonus)
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Perfect day... - Zero
