A ride with a view

[MightyMitre]

Here's some pics of where I rode this weekend. The area is called the South Downs and runs parallel with the the south coast of England for about 100 miles. It's all chalkland and in a lot of places you can see the chalk on the track. There's also lots of cows and cow pats to be avoided.

[caligurl]

GORGEOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[CorsairMac]

A little too green for this desert rat - we don't have colours like that here in the SW but what a gorgeous ride anyway! How did you keep from crashing with all the neck craning? Thanks for sharing! Ahhh Merry Ol England!

[fasteryet]

Very nice. Are those specific biking paths, or those famous English footpaths? And are you allowed to go wherever, on whomever's land, or is that just a myth?

[MightyMitre]

The official rights of way are public footpaths and bridal ways which are for horses. You're allowed to ride on bridalways but not on footpaths. Not sure why.

It's true that there's a huge network of little footpaths and bridalways that criss-cross all over the place. A lot of them are marked but sometimes you come across ones that are all overgrown and forgotten. A few years ago I went on a footpath clearing day and helped open up some of them. Best thing is you can get views that you can't see from anywhere else.


Landowners are legally required to allow people access to these rights of way but some have been know to do things like put scary big bullocks in fields to ward people off.

Because they cross over people's farmland walker and especially mtb riders are encouraged to be responsible, only stick to the proper route, close gates behind them etc. Helps keep everyone happy.

[Jennifer Gallow]

Those photos are beautiful. I love England ... well, all of Europe, actually.

That brings up an interesting question ... do any of you take a camara along on rides for the opportune photo? Lately I've been in some pretty scenic sunrises and I'd like to document it -- maybe paste the photo into my training log ...?

[CorsairMac]

I never photo anything - not only does the pix Never look like what my eye sees - I"m one of those dodos whose finger is always in front of the lens - or I move when I click - or I forget to focus - or or or......but I sure do envy the people that do and I LOVE seeing the pictures they share!........so snap away hun and share em! (waiting to see some more biking beauty)