The "Photos From Today's Ride" thread...
Discussion
did this on thursday and didn't realise how big a gash it was at the time. A mile from home and another tube went pop. Changed it, went home and had to switch to the road bike..Daveyraveygravey said:
I regularly ride past this without thinking, but I stopped and read it today, hit me hard. 
For those that can't see the full words of that poem..."I can't forget the lane that goes from Steyning to the Ring
In summer time, and on the Down how larks and linnets sing
High in the sun. The wind comes off the sea, and Oh the air!
I never knew till now that life in old days was so fair.
But now I know it in this filthy rat infested ditch
When every shell may spare or kill - and God alone knows which.
And I am made a beast of prey, and this trench is my lair.
My God! I never knew till now that those days were so fair.
So we assault in half an hour, and, - it's a silly thing -
I can't forget the narrow lane to Chanctonbury Ring."
2nd Lt John Stanley Purvis, 5th Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment.
Later John Stanley Purvis, Canon of the Cathedral Church, York.(d.1968)
...I've recently discovered another two WW1 era training trenches on a local army training area. One even has a 'barbed wire picket'
still in the ground.
While I can't visit the actual battlefields, it's still sobering to know that men trained here before being shipped out to the Western Front, and many would not return.
Edit: I've noticed that I quoted another version of the poem, in which the last line was altered. I think it's the original, definitive version that has the last line as a repeat of the first, as inscribed on the stone.
Edited by yellowjack on Sunday 30th April 20:21
It's very rare that I just go for a ride with no purpose, direction or speed in mind. I've been struggling a bit recently and was feeling especially Low after having to pull out of Mike Hall's memorial (today) at the last minute. So today I tried to 'get unlost' by getting lost in the city with an aimless ride for no purpose but the ride itself.
This is the River Lea, next to the Olympic Park. Pretty much on my doorstep, in a part of the city I've never explored. I should do more rides like this.
This is the River Lea, next to the Olympic Park. Pretty much on my doorstep, in a part of the city I've never explored. I should do more rides like this.
Max_Torque said:
Well it seems the better weather has brought my local Trail Pixies out of hibernation as some rather nice jumps have unexpectedly popped up in my local woods:
However, judging by the broken helmet peak, and massive 'case' mark on the front of the landing ramp, someone has made a real mess of them already......
Where are they mate?However, judging by the broken helmet peak, and massive 'case' mark on the front of the landing ramp, someone has made a real mess of them already......
Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff