Andrew
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realspleen.bsky.social
Andrew
@realspleen.bsky.social
200 followers 880 following 120 posts
Interested in Active Travel, Architecture, Arts, Hospitality Design, music. Frustrated by the failure of the UK on most things I care about.
Instagram: @spleenster
creeddesign.co.uk to see how I spent my working hours
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realspleen.bsky.social
The Outsiders Store (which I do like btw) seem to be competing with SMWS (which I also love) for pretzel prose
Tasting notes for whisky. Such as ‘The nose was a new car tyre dipped in bramble jelly and orange marmalade…’ Description of a clothing brand that says ‘fusing Stonemaster like dirtbag flavour with east coast infused ruggedness
November 14, 2025 at 6:16 PM
realspleen.bsky.social
💥💨 This time I'm ready
A screenshot of solaredge system diagram showing unusually high current being drawn from the UK grid to make use of Octopus Energy's 2 hours of free (surplus) energy
October 4, 2025 at 11:32 AM
realspleen.bsky.social
This little fella was spotted at the top of a narrow alley in Bern, Switzerland
Small electric utility vehicle with brooms attached and small cargo bay for street cleaning
September 2, 2025 at 8:42 AM
realspleen.bsky.social
#TCRNo11 Victor Bosoni is the first rider to complete. The field is still spread out across Europe, an amazing endeavour for all participants. VB stats are epic, taking 10days, 16hours and 46minutes, the average moving speed was 26.66km/h over 4835km of mixed terrain. Chapeau! is an understatement.
A map of Europe showing the start of TCR No 11 in the north west corner of Spain and the end on a beach on Romania's Black Sea coast. A string of dots represent the passage of riders along the course still strung out along the self selected routes.
August 7, 2025 at 12:00 PM
realspleen.bsky.social
My first trip to Portugal in May for a week of cycling off road was amazing. After higher than expected rainfall the trails and hills were full of wild flowers. So well organised by Paradise cycling tours too.
#cycling #gravel #portugal
A gravel bike leans on a signpost next to a rough track in Portugal, surrounded by yellow wildflowers A gravel track winds between banks of rock roses (?) and yellow wild flowers under blue skies. A view along the coast near Faro, Portugal sand, sea and blue skies Cyclist runs out of track on an uphill track that is overgrown with wild flowers
August 6, 2025 at 12:24 PM
realspleen.bsky.social
?
Feathers McGraw
July 11, 2025 at 5:17 PM
realspleen.bsky.social
Summer solstice picture from telegraph hill, London
Sun hides behind a cloud with the skyline of London below.people picnic on the hill in a summer heatwave 21.6.25
June 21, 2025 at 11:07 PM
realspleen.bsky.social
Meanwhile in Basel and many other enlightened cities ( inc Leicester! ) parking facilities for cycles are fully monitored, giving confidence your cycle/tricycle etc. will be there when you return
@rideleicester
Cycle parking under Basel station has an attendant present. Image shows wide access to enclosed cycle parking and attendants office
June 11, 2025 at 12:46 PM
realspleen.bsky.social
Some images from 200km of the Old Chalk Way, UK, a mainly off road cycle route following the chalk ridge from Lyme Regis, Dorset to Holme-next-the-Sea, Norfolk. One day of drizzle and mist and another of sun and epic skies on the way to Avebury.
#bikesky #worldbicycleday
Mist rolling through the trees around a woodland track. On Lewesdon Hill Lane A bicycle leans against one of two fallen trees blocking a misty woodland track. On lewesdon Hill Lane A bicycle leans against the fence separating the public footpath from the paid visitors route to Stonehenge (seen in the distance). Sunny blue skies and big clouds above A view from an overgrown cart track as I drop down off the ridge into the vale of pewsey. Lush verges and distant green and yellow fields under a sunny sky with big clouds. Near Chirton, Wiltshire
June 4, 2025 at 1:49 PM
realspleen.bsky.social
One for @mrtrevmccarthy.bsky.social
A large wall of scotch whisky. Only part of the offer at the pot still, Glasgow
April 14, 2025 at 8:48 PM
realspleen.bsky.social
Some quality time on the bike this morning, sunny and cold.
Bicycle leant against an oak tree on a dirt track with grass up the middle. Sunny blue skies A wide gravel track around the edge of a man made lake. Gorse bushes and grass. Sunny skies
March 29, 2025 at 8:39 PM
realspleen.bsky.social
This month I took a trip to Lausanne from the UK, by train. Should be unremarkable, except for the ease, punctuality and integration of Swiss trains. Awesome.
March 20, 2025 at 5:31 PM
realspleen.bsky.social
A quick post for #bikesky this image is of my commuting bike on a bridge over the canal in Leicestershire, Uk. I ride to work around 200 times a year, around 10km each way. This is one of the nicer parts of the route after I have left the city and traffic behind.
A red drop bar bicycle with rack and pannier leans against the old brick wall of a hump-backed bridge over a canal with a lock gate seen in the distance
February 12, 2025 at 12:42 PM
realspleen.bsky.social
Up on the A43 near Silverstone (no reckless driving round there I’m sure) it’s also designated as a cycling route-with those slip road crossings…
Google map view of A43 dual carriageway with a narrow painted margin marked as a cycle way. Google street view of the A43 with a narrow painted line demarcating a cycle route. Slip road crossing signage in blue.
February 3, 2025 at 7:45 PM
realspleen.bsky.social
A little bit further south on the A34 around Newbury, google tells us that the painted lines at the side of the 70mph road are dedicated cycle tracks...
February 3, 2025 at 4:56 PM
realspleen.bsky.social
If you see this post, quote with a bridge from your gallery.
A sombre curved footbridge in Glasgow spans a motorway, caged in railings. Single figure in the distance
January 23, 2025 at 11:39 PM
realspleen.bsky.social
…and that’s the lot for last year. Lots of commuting, very few longer rides
An image of the Strava year round up screen. 206 active days, 6599km distance, 51k m elevation and 338 hours on a bicycle
January 5, 2025 at 10:46 PM
realspleen.bsky.social
See also, Pont de Normandie. One of the scariest bridges to ride . The paint protected route narrows quite a bit. Moderate side wind added to the peril, along with trucks and buses. I was glad to get down the other side
The start of the pont de normandie, built 1995 with a narrow painted section alongside a dual Carriageway for bicycles over a massive cable stayed bridge
December 29, 2024 at 6:20 PM
realspleen.bsky.social
The last commute of the year required a small detour. The River Soar has covered the meadows and my route to work
The river Soar has burst it banks and covered the path across the meadows at the bottom of the ramp. No way through without waders
December 21, 2024 at 8:20 PM
realspleen.bsky.social
I spend my working hours with my colleagues creating commercial Interiors for our clients in the Hospitality, Leisure and Workplace sectors. I thought I would share some of what we do. Here are some visuals we created for a hotel project...
Hotel room visual showing a bed adjacent to a partially dressed window bathed in soft natural light Hotel room visual showing a dining table and small desk area in front of an oak panelled wall. Views through the adjacent door to a rich red tiled en-suite bathroom Hotel room visual with a view of the en-suite bathroom, including wash basin, mirror, WC and level access shower Hotel room visual showing a small desk/dressing table area in front of an oak panelled wall. Views through the adjacent door to a rich red tiled en-suite bathroom
December 16, 2024 at 3:51 PM
realspleen.bsky.social
If you see this, post a pic from the last place your passport was stamped

Portugal
Porto, an image of people walking up a hill past old buildings with the high level bridge over. At Sunset
December 13, 2024 at 11:51 AM
realspleen.bsky.social
Cover of XO by Elliott Smith
December 11, 2024 at 11:32 PM
realspleen.bsky.social
December 4, 2024 at 3:20 PM
realspleen.bsky.social
Re-posting as I forgot the alt text!

Guided bike ride in Vancouver in October. Impressed by the dedicated routes that seemed to make up a decent network. Still ongoing works to enhance the provision too. Nice!
A view of a segregated mobility lane in Vancouver with signs added to include skateboards. Pedestrians wait at a signaled crossing A road through trees in Stanley Park Vancouver. Two cyclists ride away from the camera. Sunny, Autumn ride after rain. Cyclists riding over a large bridge on segregated track with elevation footway to right and concrete barrier to vehicles on left. A track through trees in Stanley Park Vancouver. A cyclist rides away from the camera. Sunny, Autumn ride after rain.
November 15, 2024 at 4:00 PM
realspleen.bsky.social
Scenes from my bicycle commute this morning
A view of a canal and lock gates from a brick bridge. Trees with few leaves left against a largely Bluesky A view of a canal the other direction from a brick bridge. Trees with few leaves left against a largely Bluesky. Still water reflects the trees
November 15, 2024 at 3:51 PM