Monday - kept up with someone on a mountain bike between Tooting Bec and Kennington. I feel like a proper cyclist now. On the way home, same thing, only this one was wearing lycra (which means he must be fast!). 16 miles as usual, plus 3-4 extra miles popping to Kings Cross to sort out cycle reservations for Tue and Thu.
Tuesday - early start, I needed to make Kings Cross for the 8.40. All went smoothly, to Kings Cross in an hour. Out from Peterborough Station to the Business Park in about 25 mins, and back in 20 (was worried I'd miss the train). Last leg was actually almost the magic 15 mph I've been aiming for! Took it nice and easy back to the office in London for the afternoon, as I didn't want my jeans to stink, and wasn't particularly fast on the way home later. But I'm keeping up with other people, still!
Wednesday - legs hurt, and was tired, and had drunk a little more champagne than is strictly necessary the night before, in celebration of my wife's employment situation. Didn't cycle. I'm up silly early in the morning to get to Peterborough again though.
Thursday - set off in the dark, at 6am. Up to Euston just in time to hear the clock strike 7. On the train in plenty of time for 7.30am departure. Found a way out to Lynch Wood without using a single road, from the Ramada onwards, and got into the office for the 9am meeting. On the way back through London I suffered a pucture at Stockwell, so grabbed a new inner tube and sat outside a cycle shop changing it over, so I could use their pump afterwards. Took 2 hours to get home from Kings Cross, as I walked for about 45 mins before I realised the back wheel was quick-release.
Friday - not after yesterday...
80 miles in total. And getting just a little quicker all the time.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Monday, September 20, 2010
Second week on the bike
Monday - both ways. It seems to be settling on an hour at a time now, but I'm not having to pause for water and rest halfway, or slow down as much up the hills.
Tuesday - cycled in, then went to Nandos with Elissa and friends
Wednesday - cycled home.
Thursday - slacked off, on the premise that I was up in Peterborough in the day, and in Surbiton for evening drinks. Poor excuse.
Friday - slacked off again. Putting it down to the previous night's drinks and food, none of which was good for me.
Saturday - come on! It's the weekend!
Sunday - went to meet Paul and Michelle in Kingston for lunch. 45 mins for 6 miles, without pushing too hard.
Week's total - 44 miles. Could do better. Still only averaging 8-9mph.
Tuesday - cycled in, then went to Nandos with Elissa and friends
Wednesday - cycled home.
Thursday - slacked off, on the premise that I was up in Peterborough in the day, and in Surbiton for evening drinks. Poor excuse.
Friday - slacked off again. Putting it down to the previous night's drinks and food, none of which was good for me.
Saturday - come on! It's the weekend!
Sunday - went to meet Paul and Michelle in Kingston for lunch. 45 mins for 6 miles, without pushing too hard.
Week's total - 44 miles. Could do better. Still only averaging 8-9mph.
Friday, September 10, 2010
First week on the bicycle
Monday - to work and back - about 16 miles.
I was sat between the lanes on a roundabout, ready to feed into the cycle lane on the inside lane of my turning, when a motorcyclist came screaming round the roundabout, and shouted "Get out the lane, man!". No swearing! What a nice chap. Still needing a short break for water at Clapham Common.
Tuesday - home to Kings Cross, Peterborough Station to Lynch Wood office, office to Corby Glen - about 41 miles.
This was a silly thing to do this early. My legs are still feeling it 3 days later. But very satisfying to get into Corby Glen after 26 miles and about 3 hours. I'm beginning to understand why Miguel Indurain had a resting heartbeat slower than an elephant. The paths round to the A47 were beautiful though, and up until Stamford, it was a beautiful day and lovely countryside for a bike ride.
Wednesday - Lynchwood to Peterborough Station - Kings Cross to home - about 15 miles.
Slow. I discovered some really nice cycle paths across Ferry Meadows and along the rowing lake by the Ramada. Not perfect for a road bike, but tarmac, so not too bad either. Lots of flies on some of the paths though, it was like being hit with a garden sprinkler at one point. On the way home through London, I managed to pace myself ok, so I didn't have to stop. It's doing me a little good already!
Thursday - home to London office. About 8 miles.
Finally found the route to the IMax at Waterloo, after three goes. A little bit damp. I don't mind the rain, but the spray up off the road is pretty disgusting.
Friday - office to Streatham, Streatham to home. About 10 miles.
Making it about 90 miles this week. Still only averaging about 8-9 mph, but it's getting less painful, so I hope to start pushing that up a little bit. And I'm still being passed by middle-aged Brompton riders, which is fair enough, as they've been riding longer than me.
I was sat between the lanes on a roundabout, ready to feed into the cycle lane on the inside lane of my turning, when a motorcyclist came screaming round the roundabout, and shouted "Get out the lane, man!". No swearing! What a nice chap. Still needing a short break for water at Clapham Common.
Tuesday - home to Kings Cross, Peterborough Station to Lynch Wood office, office to Corby Glen - about 41 miles.
This was a silly thing to do this early. My legs are still feeling it 3 days later. But very satisfying to get into Corby Glen after 26 miles and about 3 hours. I'm beginning to understand why Miguel Indurain had a resting heartbeat slower than an elephant. The paths round to the A47 were beautiful though, and up until Stamford, it was a beautiful day and lovely countryside for a bike ride.
Wednesday - Lynchwood to Peterborough Station - Kings Cross to home - about 15 miles.
Slow. I discovered some really nice cycle paths across Ferry Meadows and along the rowing lake by the Ramada. Not perfect for a road bike, but tarmac, so not too bad either. Lots of flies on some of the paths though, it was like being hit with a garden sprinkler at one point. On the way home through London, I managed to pace myself ok, so I didn't have to stop. It's doing me a little good already!
Thursday - home to London office. About 8 miles.
Finally found the route to the IMax at Waterloo, after three goes. A little bit damp. I don't mind the rain, but the spray up off the road is pretty disgusting.
Friday - office to Streatham, Streatham to home. About 10 miles.
Making it about 90 miles this week. Still only averaging about 8-9 mph, but it's getting less painful, so I hope to start pushing that up a little bit. And I'm still being passed by middle-aged Brompton riders, which is fair enough, as they've been riding longer than me.
Monday, September 06, 2010
Cycling to work again
I have just resumed cycling into work (at the top end of Shaftesbury Avenue) from home (somewhere near Colliers Wood). It's about 8 miles and there are no really serious hills, so it's a nice gentle start, especially for someone as unaccustomed to exercise as me. And the new cycle superhighway makes for a nice smooth surface.
On the way home on Thursday, I got from Parliament Square to Colliers Wood in exactly 45 minutes (call it 50 mins in total, as it's all downhill to Parliament Square from work). On the way into work this morning, I got from Colliers Wood to Evans Cycles (just round the corner from work) in an hour. So, those are the target times to improve on. Watch this space if you want to see me turn into a cycling bore, talking about cadence, inside leg measurements and, because old sailing habits die hard, wind speeds.
On the way home on Thursday, I got from Parliament Square to Colliers Wood in exactly 45 minutes (call it 50 mins in total, as it's all downhill to Parliament Square from work). On the way into work this morning, I got from Colliers Wood to Evans Cycles (just round the corner from work) in an hour. So, those are the target times to improve on. Watch this space if you want to see me turn into a cycling bore, talking about cadence, inside leg measurements and, because old sailing habits die hard, wind speeds.
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