Forestman Bike Recce

Thngs that went wrong

• Got up too late
• Decided it was a good idea to true my wheels in the hotel
• Decided it was a good idea to write out the instructions in Audax language, not realising they would still be unintelligible on the road
• One nipple crumbled to dust
• Long drive to Fordingbridge
• Didn't bring a map and had to buy one
• Ate half my lunch and forgot to carry any food.
• Looked at the sky and thought "it will just be the odd spot of rain"
• Light weight waterproof and No mudguards.
• Got too wet to stop and make use of the heavy lock I packed Eg. Tea stop, beer, pub dinner, cry into pint
• Following the instructions. Not following the instructions
• Leaving my Garmin balanced on the bike rack whilst I drove up to Oxford (considering the state of Britain's roads, it's a miracle it stayed put to be rescued 2 hours later)

Things that went right

• County lanes
• Trepid-friendly technical course                                        
• Ponies every where
• Herd of donkeys
• Retired policeman who rode and chatted with me when I most needed it - when I was soaking, cold, unable to read the soggy toilet paper that was my directions and ready to give up and go home
• The misty sunset over the New Forest national park

• Still finding the motivation to ride 100m up the road to trip the distance over to 80km
• Having a Vanu to change and get warm in
• Getting to know the area and the terrain, even if I wasn't on the right roads.
• Finding Sandy Balls unusually pleasant for a family holiday resort and looking forward to returning