Our bikes, complete with their latest conversions, have had a good run out around the New Forest and have performed remarkably well. The only issue we had is that Moe had a puncture after the first day, despite having only recently swapped our tyres for the latest Continental anti-puncture versions.

Repeated new inner tubes all failed very quickly despite being unable to find any evidence of any objects damaging them. We *think* that because the inner tubes (and our spares) are all in excess of 15 years old that the rubber had become weakened with age and having bought a new one, this has remained inflated without issue…

See the latest details here Electric conversion Version 2.

The weather has been predominantly dry over the last few days but the temperatures remain un-seasonably cold. Our first ride out was a circular route from the campsite to Minstead, via Rhinefield Ornamental drive and returning through Emery Down.

The Fitbit didn’t record the entire journey, running out of battery whilst we “enjoyed” lunch at The Oak Inn, Bank, Lyndhurst.

They seem to have taken the cost of living crisis to a new level, with no evidence of any ham in their ham sandwich. This was rectified but it was an expensive and not great experience.

Sunday we cycled around the Eastern side of Brockenhurst, enjoying a picnic at the side of a railway bridge. Normally, such bridges have very tall sides as a deterrent for “jumpers”. This bridge seemed to have a wooden rail to more easily lean over the bridge and spot the trains. Remarkably, there were trains running!

Someone has a sense of humour in respect of this “carving” of Rudolph!

Our route around the New Forest on Sunday.

Tuesday we cycled to the Sir Walter Tyrell, near to Rufus Stone where we met our friends for lunch. Great company, the food was good and the Abbott Ale nicely kept..