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[Closed] Do you sometimes feel like 'just going for a potter' on your bike?

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[#9419215]

I know that this forum is populated by finely honed athletes and technically masterful GNARRRRRRRR-monsters, but do you ever just think "I fancy just leisurely riding down a bridleway to the pub, having a pint, then moseying back'?

No Strava. No rocky descents. In fact nothing technical at all. So no pads, or owt. No brutal climbs. No mahoosive road loops. Just shorts and t-shirt, turning the pedals (slowly), taking in the scenery, and generally being at one with the world?

I do. But I've not done it for ages. in fact... I think I'm going to nip out and do that right now.

Have a good afternoon you lot ๐Ÿ˜€


 
Posted : 05/07/2017 2:39 pm
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All I do is potter atm whilst my wrist heals, peaceful riding without my lungs falling out of my arse is definitely refreshing


 
Posted : 05/07/2017 2:42 pm
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I live in the south, 90% of my riding when outdoors is exactly that ๐Ÿ™‚


 
Posted : 05/07/2017 2:42 pm
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Very often

The feeling usually lasts for a few turns of the pedals until I realise how much faster I can go. Can't help it


 
Posted : 05/07/2017 2:47 pm
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It's pretty much all I do.

see also: the Bimble Thread
http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/the-bimble-thread


 
Posted : 05/07/2017 2:47 pm
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I quite often like going off in a directions and seeing what I can find, looking for hidden interesting bits of trail.


 
Posted : 05/07/2017 2:52 pm
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Just got a hardtail and fitted a bottle holder and flat pedals so I can do exactly this. My full suss is ace but the effort and time required to get ready often make a quick blast impossible with that so I was missing out on bike time.


 
Posted : 05/07/2017 2:59 pm
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Reminds me that I must get the pub bike off the wall sometimes...


 
Posted : 05/07/2017 3:00 pm
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rarely. not exactly as you describe. i'll probably wear kit & i'll definately strava it; i log [i]EVERYTHING[/i].

I quite like finishing a long week at work - particulary before a week off with a gentle ride across the downs for a pint.


 
Posted : 05/07/2017 3:00 pm
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Yep. Sometimes I don't even wear a helmet. ๐Ÿ˜‰


 
Posted : 05/07/2017 3:01 pm
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Yup, a nice ride round a chat with mates is good


 
Posted : 05/07/2017 3:03 pm
 IHN
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Yep. Generally down country lanes rather than bridleways (just cos of the location of said pubs) but, yeah.


 
Posted : 05/07/2017 3:05 pm
 IHN
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Oh, and do some work you crayon-touting tosspot ๐Ÿ˜‰


 
Posted : 05/07/2017 3:06 pm
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Exactly this.

The only problem is that I have three pubs within quarter of a mile of my house, which means that any bimble will take less than two minutes before reaching a satisfactory conclusion.


 
Posted : 05/07/2017 3:13 pm
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Yes, all I have been able to do is potter for the last 5.5 weeks since I smashed myself up racing.

It's been different, I enjoyed it at first, but now i'm literally itching to ride a bike properly...


 
Posted : 05/07/2017 3:18 pm
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I'm gonna have a potter round the old colliery with me whippet later.

So northern. Might have a pie for me tea too.


 
Posted : 05/07/2017 3:20 pm
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Yep, I never race and never have. I don't do strava, so every ride is a nice bimble around.

To be honest even when i go for a big ride with mates in the peak or lakes i'm not trying to brake any records, I ride a bike cos it's nice.

Most of my riding these days is with my kids any way so i'm not going to be breaking any KOM's!!


 
Posted : 05/07/2017 3:20 pm
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Don't mind a nice bimble from time to time - especially on rest week (every 4th week), but t-shirt, shorts and flat pedals are taking things a step too far.

Not to mention that with the current weather conditions if I tried to do anything low intensity wearing only a tshirt i'd be found curled up shivering at the side of the road.


 
Posted : 05/07/2017 3:21 pm
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Yep..


 
Posted : 05/07/2017 3:28 pm
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I treat every uphill incline as a bimble to be conquered through a combination of patience and scenery. Downhills not so much.

I'm not in a hurry.


 
Posted : 05/07/2017 3:35 pm
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All the time since I became a southerner

Single speed - no cleaning just go


 
Posted : 05/07/2017 3:44 pm
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All the time!

I maybe get to properly play once a week when I'm at home, the rest of the time we have an abandoned railway line beside us which is good for a quick fix.


 
Posted : 05/07/2017 3:47 pm
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Aye, often, so I often do. My car's been sorned since February so the bike has become my only mode of transport. My 'proper' bike hasn't left the garage in all that time because my '91, rigid Kona with rack and panniers is just more practical. Sadly, car comes out of the garage this week...


 
Posted : 05/07/2017 3:55 pm
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Until my knee is sorted, if ever, this is all I can do and it beats sitting on the sofa. If you ride somewhere nice, it's good to take in the environment, woods and wildlife etc.


 
Posted : 05/07/2017 4:22 pm
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Staying on the Isle Of Wight with work tonight. Pretty sore and got some decent road rash from an off last week but the weather is stunning so I'm going to go and bimble around the lanes, look at the views and find a nice pub for a pint of cider. Maybe two. Bye!


 
Posted : 05/07/2017 4:22 pm
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Yep. Inevitably results in me mucking about on the bike to and fro pub.


 
Posted : 05/07/2017 4:42 pm
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There is no excuse for a ride of any description not to involve a pub and a gentle pootle home at the very least, it's usually the best part of an already ace* hobby.

*growing up when i did, i always wonder which came first, doctor who's sidekick or the colloquial use of ace to mean very good.


 
Posted : 05/07/2017 5:06 pm
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I often intend to do this, then once out on the bike just keep turning away from home, following tracks etc and end up doing an epic (for me).
If I encounter a technical climb, I find it really difficult do anything other than try and clear it at the cost of every ounce of energy.

Ah well.


 
Posted : 05/07/2017 5:33 pm
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Nope.

Any pootle around here involves hills and therefore doesn't fit my definition of a pootle.

When I lived on a canal, it's something I did regularly (to the pub, natch).


 
Posted : 05/07/2017 6:23 pm
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Sometimes. Sometimes I fell like going for a shred on my bike.

To a casual bystander both are pottering, though.


 
Posted : 05/07/2017 6:25 pm
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No Strava

I see you couldn't help yourself ๐Ÿ™‚


 
Posted : 05/07/2017 7:15 pm
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I'm not sure what using/not using Strava has to do with pootling. I use it and almost always pootle.


 
Posted : 05/07/2017 7:18 pm
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All the time. It's what I do best.

In fact, think I might do as binners and go right now. See if I can catch the sunset from the top of the Chilterns.


 
Posted : 05/07/2017 7:23 pm
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I find that walking the dogs scratches that pootle-to-the-pub itch.

Most the pubs round where I live are about a mile or more away so they make a nice fulcrum to an hour-long dog walk.

If I go out on the bike it's generally to cover a bit more distance and get a bit more out of breath. Ye cannae whack a nice pub stop, though.


 
Posted : 05/07/2017 7:40 pm
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davosaurusrex - Member

Staying on the Isle Of Wight with work tonight. Pretty sore and got some decent road rash from an off last week but the weather is stunning so I'm going to go and bimble around the lanes, look at the views and find a nice pub for a pint of cider. Maybe two. Bye!

Top three beer gardens for bimblers from out of town on a sunny summer's evening:

Blacksmith's Arms, Calbourne Road
Dairyman's Daughter, Arreton
The Woodvale, Gurnard

Honourable mentions to the Sun Inn, Hulverstone and the Wight Mouse, Chale, but they're a bit further away.


 
Posted : 05/07/2017 7:47 pm
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I don't potter, I pootle.

Frequently just like getting out and have a wander about. I like exploring and I like doing miles. Not for the sake of the miles, but because I keep thinking I can go a bit further and see what's down there or over there. And usually it's a mission of trying to get from A to B and back with as much off road as possible and possible discover some fun stuff. But it's not about hurtling down some gnar. Just a pootle.


 
Posted : 05/07/2017 7:56 pm
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I never even change gear when I go riding.....


 
Posted : 05/07/2017 8:07 pm
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Well that was all rather lovely. 10 miles through our desolate post-industrial wasteland

[img]

Then obeying the usual rule: all rides finish at the brewery ๐Ÿ˜€

[img]


 
Posted : 05/07/2017 9:16 pm
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Probably most of my rides now a days are a bimble, poodle, wee potter about..


 
Posted : 05/07/2017 9:20 pm
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Stevet1 - Member
I quite often like going off in a directions and seeing what I can find, looking for hidden interesting bits of trail

I do this loads. Especially on my fatbike for some reason.


 
Posted : 05/07/2017 9:34 pm
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Pottering is all I really ever feel like doing on a bicycle.


 
Posted : 05/07/2017 9:46 pm
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I'm definitely pootling more recently. Combination of bad fitness and time restraints. A nice pootle down the Middlewood way rather than getting my gear together and heading to Macc Forest. Strangely, the Stache is good for pootling as well as riding like a possessed mad man.


 
Posted : 05/07/2017 10:19 pm
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Fatbike lends its self to pootling imo. I like riding round the endless paths where I live, as I used to do as a school kid. Pumping the bike on the drop kerbs and seeing how far I can go without peddling ๐Ÿ˜€


 
Posted : 06/07/2017 2:58 am
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I tried to potter last night but with 500metres of climbing in 20km, it's difficult to potter up hills when I just want to be at the top, so had a potter through a farmyard and cause the cows some amusement


 
Posted : 06/07/2017 6:42 am
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Went for a nice pootle last weekend, just along some old railway lines. Quite nice to switch brain off, admire the scenery and not worry about line choices or traffic.


 
Posted : 06/07/2017 7:59 am
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