Riding Throught the Wheatfields at Bartholomeus Klip To aclimatise myself to the temperature forecast for Sunday (30 degrees +) - a big change from the near freezing temperatures I'd been training in- I rode round the wheatfields at Bartolomeus Klip on a mountain bike. It was actually 41 degrees when I returned! Bartholomeus Kip is a spendid game reserve and hotel, about 70 km out of Cape Town. I'm a regular there and they look after me very well. See http://...

Norman's first outing The first stop was Activ Sports to look at a new bike for Norman as his other 20 were still in his cellar in France. Following expert advice from Activ and a promise to return from Norman, the ride started with Norman riding John's old bike. This soon changed to Norman riding John's new Activ supplied bike - an indication of Norman's negotiating skills. Along Hythe seafront, the Royal Military canal, we sped following cycle route 2, to b...

Training for the Cape Argus Cycle Tour Peter has only two weeks left for final training for the "Event of the Year" (see http://www.cycletour.co.za/ ) which takes place on the 8th March 2009. Recent rides to prepare for cycling round mountains in over 30 degrees Centigrade include: The coldest ride ever. Up Stowting Hill to Stelling Minnis, doubling back through Bodsham and Hastingleigh to meet John in Wye for a visit to the New Flying Horse. Follow...

Up and Down to Elham After a week of terrible weather - snow then torrential rain and floods - the day was sunny and warm. What luck! A Land Rover ride to Farthing Common cut out the first climb and we started from the car park overlooking Romney Marsh. Turning our backs to this, John, Peter and Rosemary took a circuitious route though Lyminge, Exted, narrowly missing Upper Hardres, and finally arriving at Elham. There are plenty of steep climbs on this rout...

West Hythe to West Hougham and back. Despite FDR's assertion that: "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself", my fear of ice on Lympne Hill could not be dismissed and led me to start my ride from the car park by West Hythe canal bridge.Along the canal to Hythe, seafront to Seabrook, Sandgate and Folkestone Harbour, passing the red telephone box,up Wear Bay Road to the Valiant Sailor, the route finally took me through Capel to West Hougham.In all...