My Tokyo and I - on the Cuckoo trail

From the cool streets of Shoreditch my new Tokyo C S set off towards Hastings. Tentatively leaving the big smoke, stick and handkerchief carefully balanced, it made the journey across the Weald and into Sussex. 

Despite having owned alot of bikes, I've never had a new bike..... so the arrival of my lovely Tokyo C S was an absolute treat! One of the happy perks of shop keepering is showing your support for the products you sell by owning them yourself. I was thinking of this responsibility as I ordered both my Ally Capellino rucksack and my Tokyo CS!

The 8 speed gears are perfectly ratioed for my daily commute across St Leonards into Hastings Old Town (tackelling some serious hills and bracing sea winds along the way) and the sleek mustard frame with straight bars look great againt any urban back drop. So, having conquered Hastings hills I thought it high time I took this city cycle into the countryside. 

Cuckoo trail, here we come! 

 

 (Just to make it clear which way we were headed)

The Cuckoo Trail is a really popular local ride which gained its name from an old Sussex tradition of releasing a cuckoo at the Heathfield Fair. My first observation was how beautiful the Cuckoo trail is at this time of year. The low lying winter sun lit up the surreal landscape beautifully. With the morning dew still present, it was perfect weather for a winter ride. 

I'm still not sure if this is country side humour or a genuine road sign?

 

My Tokyo bike and I putting on a brave face at the top of a really steep climb. The trail runs through a mixture of broadleaf woodland, open grassland, and pasture with verges full of vetch and willowherb. Along the way are dramatic sculptures and carved wooden seats to stop and rest.

Cuckoo riding chum