But not for your beers & Spirits. On every adventure through the fields, footpaths, bridle ways, even in forests and along canals there is usually something in my mind that keeps me focused on pedalling further.
Mostly it's the wonder of what terrain is beyond the next horizon, or is there a freshly harvested field of corn generously scattered with bales of hay or even a beautiful lake stretching across the landscape.
One thing nearly as pleasing to the eye as the British Countryside in all it's glory is a good ol' pub. Man's drinking hole placed conveniently within a village to celebrate, to forget, or even just because it's there. I like to think that for centuries beer & pubs have provided a big part of what makes Britian as great today as it always has been. Very old but lovingly cared for buildings that are often cottages with thatched roofs and big black exposed beams or constructed with the famous red bricks and stained glass windows.
However beautiful, there's another reason I'm happy to see the pub but it's not for the beer.
Traipsing up and down hills and across rough singletracks burns evidently and noticeably more calories than a days road riding, mainly because of the extra resistance against your legs (particularly in bad weather).
There may well be room in my backpack for an additional sandwich amongst the couple of energy bars stashed away for a quick fix, but it's not easy to get that excited over a tuna salad sandwich.
Even on a Sunday our British heritage has provided us with the 'Lunchtime Menu' that even the popular foreign takeaways still haven't quite grasped yet. A Sweet & Sour pork is certainly welcomed in my book after a long hard day, granted.
But whilst battling against ploughed fields, overgrown brambles and nettles, for me, nothing quite beats the thought of a beautifully cooked Steak & Ale Pie with chips in a beer garden on a Sunday afternoon.
It gives me a warm feeling knowing you're never far from a pub in the Uk.
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