Basingstoke, Reading and home

Saturday took us through Hampshire up to Basingstoke, where we camped on the floor at a friend's flat. The roads weren't anything like Friday. Unfortunately the National Cycle Network hasn't extended that far yet so we were stuck on A and B roads most of the way. They were mostly straight and undulating with long gradients - so pretty boring, and busy. Probably more akin to what we'll see in Argentina than the Wiltshire lanes of the day before.

Sunday we took the NCN route 23 all the way from Basingstoke to Reading. It's a great route which keeps you off main roads all of the way, and even includes some unpaved sections. We hardly met a car all day! After a quick pizza lunch, we jumped on a train back to Ealing.

So that's the training done. We survived (though Marion's bruise count is in double figures), learnt a bunch about how to optimise our packing and, most importantly, really enjoyed it which bodes well for September. Bring on Argetina!

(That's me, trying to get the bike through one of the gated sections on the cycle network route 4 near Reading. It was impossible without lifting the bikes over - take note, cycle network people!)

Things we didn't have that we will take to Argentina:
Bungee cords
Zip ties
A puncture repair kit and spare tubes (yes, we failed to remember either of these on this trip)
Compressible pillows - Inflated water bags just don't cut it.
Lots of spare space for food

The road to Salisbury

Our second day ended in a lovely hotel in Salisbury. We cycled most of the way along part of the national cycle network (24 - the bit from Frome to Salisbury) which was amazing compared with the A-roads we were stuck on yesterday. It was another relatively easy day and I'm sure our calorie intake has greatly exceeded anying we've burnt off. Tonight we ate the most fantastic steak, with Chilean wine. It almost feels like we're in South America already.

Otherwise, I trod on a tent peg last night. One of those Y cross section aluminium ones. I can highly recommend not doing that, it really doesn't help with cycling, or walking. And my Brooks saddle looks like it's starting to break in! Which is great as it's pretty hard at the moment.

Tomorrow it's off to Basingstoke.

First day with the new bikes.

We have bikes! We picked them up this morning from the Thorn shop in Bridgwater and they're pretty great... aside from a slight mix up with the rims. They've put Mavic EX721s on instead of the Rigida Grizzlys. It shouldn't be a problem but i'd read some stuff about people cracking them by using too high tyre pressures. They're downhill rims so strong, but designed for low pressure tyres and, according to the sticker on them, rated to 54psi. The guy at Thorn assured us we could run them at higher pressure so I guess well see how it goes!

It ended up being a late start after a great deal of faff at Thorn, but we did 35miles or so today, to a small campsite outside Frome. The tent looks much better than it did in Glastonbury, mainly due to the fact we have space to put guy ropes out.
Now, off to the local pub for some carbs and a pint.