Friday, February 6, 2015

Tonbridge to Penshurst Cycle Trail on YouTube....

....and as promised here is my video production of my own version of Happy Tonbridge. I'm never happier than when I'm out on my bike getting some exercise, fresh air and getting caked in mud in the process. So I thought it might be useful for some to see the whole route, start to finish, from Tonbridge to Penshurst village. If you've never done it just get on yer bike and give it a go. The Leicester Arms is very welcoming at the other end but don't forget that you still have to get back! As for the quality of the video and the audio for that matter? Look I never claimed to be Spielberg did I?! I'm just a novice with a new toy!...

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Viewers of you vid may like to know how to contact mad dog productions.

Paul Bailey said...

I much prefer cycling the Tonbridge to Penshurst Cycle Trail in summer. I must admit to fast-forwarding your video at several points. No offence, or anything, but jerky and crooked camera footage is not my thing, so I wouldn’t give up the day job, if I were you!

A few observations: people seem oblivious to the fact they are walking on a clearly marked cycle path. Invest in a bell; they are only around a fiver, to give them warning that you are bearing down on them at speed. Alternatively, how about a really loud horn? That would really make them jump. Dogs, off the lead, are also unpredictable, with a potential to cause a nasty accident, so it’s best to be wary, especially when approaching from behind.

You were right about stopping talking; all I could hear were a load of strange mutterings! That stretch along the straight mile, through the woods, looks completely different in winter.

Well done though, for getting out and about during the depths of winter, but weren’t you tempted to pop into the Leicester Arms at the end, for a quick pint?

Tonbridge blogger said...

You see PB there you go again criticising before you have the full facts! The "clearly marked cycle paths" are virtually non- existent in the winter so you can't really blame the Happy People of Tonbridge for not realising. If you hadn't been in such haste to fast forward my superb cinematography then you would have clearly heard my bell on several occasions. As for bearing down on them at speed you ain't seen nothing yet. Just wait for the footage of me whizzing down the other side of Spring Hill if you want to see speed. Try not to fall asleep watching that epic movie! Speaking of which a first for me was last night when, and I'm a little ashamed to admit this, I actually fell asleep watching the England Wales game. I think I missed most of the second half. I can only explain this by the fact that I'd had about two and a half pints and a (very) small whiskey before and during. I must have been tired as well and I'm not sure it was that exciting a game. Certainly not up to half time. At least we won, albeit by the slimest of margins...

Tonbridge blogger said...

....PS. and PB. yes I was sorely tempted to have a pint at the Leicester Arms but, these days, I'm more of a Velo House man! That was my next stop. So in actual fact my ride that afternoon was about 20 miles round trip. After Penshurst pretty much all on the back lanes...

Anonymous said...

PB a bell for a fiver! You should go to the 99p shop, well whilst its still in town. Poundland have had a £55 million bid for the 99p stores accepted subject to the regulatory body's approval. They plan to convert the 99p stores to Poundland so it looks like curtains for the Tonbridge 99p store. On the stores front the Beales family have lost control of the 29 store group. Unable to raise funds under a complicated shares arrangement they were forced to sell the group for £1.3 millions to one of their existing investors. Not a lot for the size of the group but I guess it was not mking a lot of cash.

Anonymous said...

Thank goodness for youtube html5 viewer! I watched at 2x speed.
Thanks for the video, I've never known how to get onto the path from Tonbridge - we usually walk from Penshurst half way along & back.

Paul Bailey said...

Steady on, TB. There was no criticism in my comments, implied or otherwise. I merely made the observation about what can happen when pedestrian traffic and cyclists are mixed. As for your bell, well the sound on your video was so poor that anyone could have been excused for missing its faint ting, ting.

I wasn’t aware of Velo House, until I looked them up on line, following your comment. It all looks very nice, if a trifle expensive. Are ordinary, non-cycling people allowed in the place? Or is it that throw-away line, “I'm more of a Velo House man!” which sums it all up?

Anonymous said...

I thought unwritten rule of road was give way to the right. I am sure the driver of the 4x4 at the Library roundabout would agree, or are bikes exempted.
Any way well done to alert the public to the Cycle Trail.

Tonbridge blogger said...

Nothing personal of course PB!

Tonbridge blogger said...

Anon: if you study my video very carefully you'll notice a shake of the camera at the junction you speak of. This was in fact me waving the 4x4 through by using my head as we cyclists are prone to doing. I remember thinking that he was going to cut me up so stopped and played safe, averting a potentially nasty incident...