Why am I here?
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@pakman said in Why am I here?:
@Crucial said in Why am I here?:
OK, thought I should add to my rather pathetic exercise log in case it helps keep me motivated..
After the pain of the first gym session I followed up with a ride through the bush at the common and over to Richmond Park for a couple of laps before back up the hill (reasonably good work as its a soft sandy track)to the car.
Down to Surrey Hills the next day for a blast on some mtb tracks, trying to go hard downhill then work it off heading back up.
Quiet week, couldn't make it to the gym but did my usual 10,000 or so steps of walking each day.
Then my son tried to kill me again at the gym yesterday morning. I swear he was a medieval torturer in a past life as he seems to work out exactly where your weaknesses are and target them without mercy.
Anyway, I need to loosen up after that so about to throw the bikes on the car and head down to the hills again. This may help my fitness but I'm not so sure about the tummy as the sun is shining and I'll probably have to have a post ride pintWhich common?
The one where the wombles live.
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@pakman said in Why am I here?:
@Crucial Watch out for my dog when you're madly cycling!
If your dog doesn't have the smarts to get out of the way....
Went down to Surrey Hills again on the weekend, did a couple of the usual circuits with the missus then sent her further afield in the car to wait for me at a pub we had been meaning to check out for a while. That gave me the opportunity to do a decent downhill/singletrack halfway there (standing on pedals the whole way) followed by a series of nasty up and downs across a couple of valleys to reach her (and my pint).
Frankly I was very surprised how fit I was feeling and toughed out all of the hills. Put it down to the amount of riding done the previous week. Need to try and keep these miles up now that I'm feeling the progress. -
@Crucial said in Why am I here?:
@pakman said in Why am I here?:
@Crucial Watch out for my dog when you're madly cycling!
If your dog doesn't have the smarts to get out of the way....
Big talk when you don't know the size of the dog...
What was the name of the pub BTW?
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@Catogrande said in Why am I here?:
@Crucial said in Why am I here?:
@pakman said in Why am I here?:
@Crucial Watch out for my dog when you're madly cycling!
If your dog doesn't have the smarts to get out of the way....
Big talk when you don't know the size of the dog...
What was the name of the pub BTW?
The Abinger Hatch. Wasn't that impressed to be honest. Set up to cater more for the Sunday Lunch crowd and lost the local pub aspect. It was just one in the vicinity that we hadn't checked out. Beer was well kept though and looked like it could be worth another look in the winter.
Our usuals in the area are
The Plough - Coldharbour: This where we park the car for our rides so usually gets the reciprocal drink or two. Gets a lot of business from passing lycra clad roadies. Has been tarted up a bit much for my liking but still attracts the locals and has a decent bar zone away from the food with a nice vibe. Have even stayed the night there which was quite good.
The Parrot - Forest Green: A rambling place with loads of outdoor area as well. Again has a decent bar area away from the restaurant. Some tables right out front overlook the local cricket ground. Some decent cask ales. Seems to get a fair bit of business from car enthusiasts on a weekend drive and has a good butchers/farm shop in the car park.
The Surrey oaks- Newdigate: I really like this one. Has kept the old pub half as is with massive fireplace etc. Great selection of beers and ales. Has a huge garden area and does really good food in a wood fired oven. Shys away from the standard 'Roast Beef and Yorkshire' toward things like twice cooked woodfired short-rib. seems to be run by a younger hipster management but they have got the balance of trendying things up while keeping the traditional parts the same right.
The Dolphin - Betchworth: This is probably our regular (as the missus really likes it). For a chain (Youngs) pub it is surprisingly more like a free house and usually has local ales on cask. Food is excellent but mainly it's the vibe of the place that we like. Well used by the locals and we usually mix in with them at the front of the pub away from the family restaurant types. Great dog pub too. The dogs often seem to outnumber the people and our two enjoy the socialising and attention.Always keen to try out other places on recommendation....
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@Crucial It's been a long time since I went to any pubs in that area. I do remember going to a great place in Ockley, not so far away, but as it has likely gone through about ten changes of ownership since then I cannot honestly say how good it was. Cricketers Arms or something from memory. However (again from memory) so many lovely pubs around there.
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@Catogrande yep, there is a Cricketers arms in Ockley. Might need to check it out.
While I have diverted to pub talk, found an absolute cracker in the High Weald near where I was riding in that event. Bit of a fluke, just selected closest nearby with a good rating on the GPG app. Coach and Horses near Danehill. If ever in that area it is well worth a detour.
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@Crucial Ha! It suddenly struck me. The irony. A thread on fitness descending into which pub is best.
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@Catogrande said in Why am I here?:
@Crucial Ha! It suddenly struck me. The irony. A thread on fitness descending into which pub is best.
probably why I'm not very good at this fitness lark
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@Crucial said in Why am I here?:
@Catogrande said in Why am I here?:
@Crucial said in Why am I here?:
@pakman said in Why am I here?:
@Crucial Watch out for my dog when you're madly cycling!
If your dog doesn't have the smarts to get out of the way....
Big talk when you don't know the size of the dog...
What was the name of the pub BTW?
The Abinger Hatch. Wasn't that impressed to be honest. Set up to cater more for the Sunday Lunch crowd and lost the local pub aspect. It was just one in the vicinity that we hadn't checked out. Beer was well kept though and looked like it could be worth another look in the winter.
Our usuals in the area are
The Plough - Coldharbour: This where we park the car for our rides so usually gets the reciprocal drink or two. Gets a lot of business from passing lycra clad roadies. Has been tarted up a bit much for my liking but still attracts the locals and has a decent bar zone away from the food with a nice vibe. Have even stayed the night there which was quite good.
The Parrot - Forest Green: A rambling place with loads of outdoor area as well. Again has a decent bar area away from the restaurant. Some tables right out front overlook the local cricket ground. Some decent cask ales. Seems to get a fair bit of business from car enthusiasts on a weekend drive and has a good butchers/farm shop in the car park.
The Surrey oaks- Newdigate: I really like this one. Has kept the old pub half as is with massive fireplace etc. Great selection of beers and ales. Has a huge garden area and does really good food in a wood fired oven. Shys away from the standard 'Roast Beef and Yorkshire' toward things like twice cooked woodfired short-rib. seems to be run by a younger hipster management but they have got the balance of trendying things up while keeping the traditional parts the same right.
The Dolphin - Betchworth: This is probably our regular (as the missus really likes it). For a chain (Youngs) pub it is surprisingly more like a free house and usually has local ales on cask. Food is excellent but mainly it's the vibe of the place that we like. Well used by the locals and we usually mix in with them at the front of the pub away from the family restaurant types. Great dog pub too. The dogs often seem to outnumber the people and our two enjoy the socialising and attention.Always keen to try out other places on recommendation....
My dog is 13 and can't be expected to avoid ballistic Counties types!
Know most of those pubs. I knew the former landlord at The Parrot, a guy who used also to run The Alma in Wandsworth. Killed in a tragic accident involving a tractor about seven years ago.
Slightly further away but good food in The Red Lion in Shamley Green.
The Windmill Inn in Ewhurst used to be quite good, with great views. Have heard mixed reports since. Eric Clapton lives just down the road.
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@Catogrande said in Why am I here?:
@Crucial Looks like the training is stepping up a notch. Thank God for @pakman
God's work is a serious matter!
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@Crucial said in Why am I here?:
@Catogrande yep, there is a Cricketers arms in Ockley. Might need to check it out.
While I have diverted to pub talk, found an absolute cracker in the High Weald near where I was riding in that event. Bit of a fluke, just selected closest nearby with a good rating on the GPG app. Coach and Horses near Danehill. If ever in that area it is well worth a detour.
Danehill? That's getting dangerously close to Royal Tunbridge Wells chap. Be sure to be on your best behaviour.
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@Bones said in Why am I here?:
@Crucial said in Why am I here?:
@Catogrande yep, there is a Cricketers arms in Ockley. Might need to check it out.
While I have diverted to pub talk, found an absolute cracker in the High Weald near where I was riding in that event. Bit of a fluke, just selected closest nearby with a good rating on the GPG app. Coach and Horses near Danehill. If ever in that area it is well worth a detour.
Danehill? That's getting dangerously close to Royal Tunbridge Wells chap. Be sure to be on your best behaviour.
I am careful to stay on the peasants side of the city walls.
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@Crucial If you do make it this far, appears there might be some decent tracks.
A few good spots for a drink too. Compasses is my local, good pub actually with a large outside area, pretty decent food and a great chippy across the road.
The Tap in The Pantiles would be a good spot to check out if you want to get all jazzy with your beer.
The Black Horse in Pembury is a great spot for food (Sunday Carvery) and a drink.
Don't bother with Sankeys unless you have a real hankering for Seafood, it's well overpriced - as is The Black Pig which would be a decent spot otherwise.
Cassidy's is a crappy, cheap pub and it's great for watching rugby - cheep booze and can bring your own food in from anywhere as they don't serve any.
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Any other good reason to visit?
TBH as the wife and I both work in London we use our weekends as much as possible to get away from large numbers of people and therefore avoid towns of any size.
A village pub with a few village idiots is more appealing than a town full of them. -
@Bones said in Why am I here?:
@Crucial If you do make it this far, appears there might be some decent tracks.
A few good spots for a drink too. Compasses is my local, good pub actually with a large outside area, pretty decent food and a great chippy across the road.
The Tap in The Pantiles would be a good spot to check out if you want to get all jazzy with your beer.
The Black Horse in Pembury is a great spot for food (Sunday Carvery) and a drink.
Don't bother with Sankeys unless you have a real hankering for Seafood, it's well overpriced - as is The Black Pig which would be a decent spot otherwise.
Cassidy's is a crappy, cheap pub and it's great for watching rugby - cheep booze and can bring your own food in from anywhere as they don't serve any.
Was my old local many years ago. I still pop in whenever visiting friends in Pembury. Glad you didn't mention the Camden....