My February Rides (week 4)

Monday 22/2/2010 - Train I got up intending to ride today but it was absolutely chucking it down so I chickened out and trained. Stats - day 53/365, rides 14.5 = 7.6 weeks/13.5 rides = 1.9 per week Tuesday 23/2/2010 - Bike Although it was generally feeling like rain it was in fact dry going in and coming home. It rained quite hard during the day. Good crowd of bikes coming South through Peckham and a lot of bikers without lights tonite. Stats - day 54/365, rides 15.5 = 7.7 weeks/15.5 rides = 2 per week - in = 00:59:15 (12.36 mls) out = 1:10:16 (12.61) odo after weekend reset = 164 Wednesday 24/2/2010 bike to work but train home

Set off really early today; last day for preparing for the Annual Meeting. Was absolutely amazed at the number of cyclists I saw. I spotted one chap in Scotts Lane as I was mounting up and then kept crossing pathe with him on a parallel route. When I chatted to him in Peckham I learnes he was on his way to Kings Cross.

Stats - day 55/365, rides 16 = 7.9 weeks/16 rides = 2 per week - in = 00:57:09 (12.32 mls) out odo after weekend reset = 176

Thursday 25/2/2010 train to work but bike home

It was 19:30 before I set of for home in very heavy rain. I was soaked by the time I got to Waterloo Bridge, where it was really throwing it down and blowing a hooley to boot. By this time I was beginning to understand the value of high wicking clothing it wet weather. I was just wearing ordinary track-suit bottoms and once wet these just clung to me - horrid. The rain eased a bit by Peckham but I'd have to say this was one of my more miserable rides. If I hadn't of been so wet I think I would have caught the train. But if I hadn't of been so wet I wouldn't have wanted to.

The river Ravensbourne was roaring underneath Catford Bridge. It must enter a culvert here. The river was high and fierce all through the parks towards Lower Sydenham. It was actually lapping over the banks at the back of Saver Centre.

Noticed the the stem of the bike has developed a wobble. Could be just the bearing come a bit loose or perhaps something more serious. Will be investigating today.

Stats - day 56/365, rides 16.5 = 8 weeks/16 rides = 2.1 per week - out = 01:17:10 (12.55 mls) out odo after weekend reset = 189

Friday 26/2/2010 - day off

Discovered that my rear brakes were worn down to the mountings. I went down to the bike shop and spoke with the owner who said that the biked is worn out out beyond repair and I should strongly think about changing it. He recommends a new bike but I am always tempted to something second hand. I know he is right really but I am always loathe to spend on a new thing.

I quite like the look of the Trek 7.1 FX 2010 Hybrid Bike at £350 but its more than I want to spend just at the moment.

Stats - day 57/365, rides 16.5 = 8 weeks/16 rides = 2 per week - odo after weekend reset = 191

My February Rides (week 3)

Monday 15/2/2010 - Bike

It was just getting light as I set off from home so winter is at long last in retreat. Though it was so cold you wouldn't have thought so. The Roads were very icy. I was actually quite nervous and very tentative. Despite this it was a quickish ride. Also saw a lot of other bikes about this morning. The benefit of using my route is that it is quiet; but when the conditions are like today you just know there is no chance of them gritting or salting. So you takes yer chances.

Stats - day 46/365, rides 13 = 6.6 weeks/13 rides = 2 per week - in = 00:57:12 (12.32 mls) out = 1:10:27 (12.56) odo after weekend reset = 99 Tuesday 16/2/2010 - Train I Must say when I came out of the office this evening the rain was absolitely pelting down so I was rather glad not to be on the old bike. Stats - day 48/365, rides 13.5 = 6.9 weeks/13.5 rides = 2 per week Wednesday 17/2/2010 - Bike in but train home

The ride into work today left me really knackered. I can't think of any particular eason why. The journey seemed pretty easy going - no wind or weather.

Taking the the bike on the train is a bit of a palaver. I took up four seats on a very crowded train service, so I really felt a bit of a heel with people standing all round me. They didn't complain and I didn't budge, but would have had to give way to someone disabled or pregnant. The lack of bike carrying facilities is a problem that train designers need to address. Stats - day 48/365, rides 13.5 = 6.9 weeks/13.5 rides = 2 per week - in = 00:58:21 (12.34 mls) out = 0:17:03 (2.70) odo after weekend reset = 114

Thursday 18/2/2010 - Bike

A very good enjoyable ride in today. It was very cold and there was plenty of ice about. Very few cyclists to be seen this morning. Nothing at all until the Surrey Canal tow path which seems a bit unusual.

An imbecile in a car pulled out of a side turning in front of me in Forest Hill I was travelling slowly so was able to avoid him. Having pulled out he them immediately stopped in the middle of the road. Naturally enough I informed him of his error of judgement. No harm done though

At 18:00 I emerged from the office into a cloud burst. Oh woe. By the time I got Elephant and Castle it had stopped but I was drenched. A cold wet ride home. It must of been a day for idiots, another one tried to pull out on me in Cornwall Street underneath Waterloo East. He was tsing a mobile phone but realised his error when I yelled at him. He stopped in time. I could not have done.

Stats - day 49/365, rides 14.5 = 7 weeks/14.5 rides = 2.1 per week - in = 00:56:53 (12.33 mls) out = 1:09:0327 (12.58) odo after weekend reset = 139

Friday 19/2/2010 - Train in this morning and a lift home

Stats - day 50/365, rides 14.5 = 7.1 weeks/14.5 rides = 2 per week

My February Rides (week 2)

Monday 8/2/2010 It was very cold when I set off this morning. I had spent some time searching for my face muffler which I have misplaced so I was a bit later than usual. The wind was very much in my face all the way and the ride seemed pretty hard going. A bus decided to carve me up turning out of the junction opposite the end of Brenchley Gardens. He knew he'd done it as he gave me some flashes on his hazards. It wasn't quite close enough to consider it a near miss so I will not be reporting it. Although I was running a little late I was aware of the first streaks of dawn before I reached Lower Sydenham. The days are at long last beginning to lengthen. This evening I came out of the office to find it snowing, but not settling. This was the first time I had ridden in snow since I was a kid. The snow was quite heavy at times and by the time I got to Forest Hill it was beginning to settle on vehicles. Really missed the old muffler. There were a lot of bikers about this evening too. I didn't get the feeling they were just there because of the weather. Most of them looked like serious regular commuters.

Stats - day 39/365, rides 10 = 5.1 weeks/10 rides = 1.8 per week - in = 1:00:08 (12.33 mls) out = 1:07:34 (12.61) odo after weekend reset = 24

Tuesday 9/2/2010 - Train

I'd rather be on the bike.

Wednesday 10/2/2010

There was a strong head wind this morning. Pedalling into it was hard work. In addition it was very cold there was quite a wind chill factor. There seemed to be quite a lot of cyclists about. It's good to see and feel part of the greater cycling community. It was definitely getting light at Lower Sydenham and I was earlier than on Monday. When I set off the evening there had been some snow which had not settled on the road but had left a powdering on the grass. Once again a lot of cyclists about. The wind had either dropped or was behind me. Either way it was much easier to ride home. I have found the muffler on the end of the banister.

Stats - day 41/365, rides 11 = 5.3 weeks/11 rides = 1.9 per week - in = 1:03:37 (12.42 mls) out = 1:07:57 (12.63) odo after weekend reset = 49

Thursday 11/2/2010 - Train

Rotten. I just wish I had the stamina to ride every day.

Friday 12/2/2010

I set off a bit earlier day in damp and gloomy riding conditions. By Lower Sydenham there was a few large drops of rain/sleet in the air. But nothing too bad. Daylight by the time I got to Forest Hill but you could hardly see the difference.

Once again plenty of bikes around on the way home particularly on the top end of the journey. There were still four of us going up Rye Lane. But no-one else after Forest Hill. Nearly got taken out by a lass at Peckham. A car came out of a side street to far and frighened her she swerved into me as I was overtaking her. Fortunately she straightened up in time so only a near miss. I actually don't think the car was at fault really it was no more than a couple of feet across the give way line trying to clear a way for a car from the main road turn in past it. She had plenty of room really but was just a bit nervous. Anyhow no harm done. Smart front light ran out of juice at Catford so straight onto the charger on arrival at home.

Stats - day 43/365, rides 12 = 6 weeks/12 rides = 2 per week - in = 1:01:10 (12.33 mls) out = 1:07:01 (12.58) odo after weekend reset = 74

My February Rides (week 1)

Monday 1/2/2010 Dawn in Burgess Park at c.0720 hrs . It was very cold. Roads are in a pretty poor state after the recent cold weather; I don't remember them being that much better before the freeze, but at least the local authorities have an excuse at the moment. Rye Lane seems particularly poor I think I will report this. there was a serious 'sink' type hole in Surrey Rd last week but that seems to have been patched up now - it didn't look a very permanent job I must say. It seemed to be a popular day for cycling. On the run home I found I was amongst a group of 5-6 in the Old Kent Rd. All together ignoring each other. What are Londoners like. Stats - day 32/365, rides 6 = 4.6 weeks/6 rides = 1.3 per week - in = 1:00:41 out = 1:08:?? Tuesday 2/2/2010 Train Stats - day 33/365 rides 6 = 4.7 weeks/6 rides = 1.3 per week Wednesday 3/2/2010 Two very ordinary rides today. Made quite good time this morning. I was really surprised to discover that SavaCentre in Sydenham is ¼ of the outward journey. On the way home there were quite a lot of cyclists at the bottom of Bow St going onto Waterloo Br. Waterloo Bridge is undergoing repairs for the rest of the year which has resulted in lane closures. Lanes are coned off and the bus lane is closed. The cyclist numbers depleted the further on I went on the route. And the ones that remained, were not always the same ones. We were down to just three by the community centre at Peckham and by the ½ way point I was on my own. Both rides were a bit damp but apart from some very light rain at SavaCentre on the ride home. I remained dry both ways. Stats - day 34/365 rides 7 = 4.8 weeks/7 rides = 1.5 per week - in = 0:57:17 out = 1:09:09 odo 13193 Thursday 4/2/2010 Train Got my health regime out of kilter today. I gave blood in the morning (donation 39) but then through my own poor time management missed lunch. When I got home my kids cooked me a couple of burgers - life savers. Stats - day 35/365 rides 7 = 5.0 weeks/7 rides = 1.4 per week Friday 5/2/2010 It was damp this morning. The roads were really quite wet but it didn't actually seem to be raining. Anyway it was a dry run in. Couple of little incidents: Coming out of the service Road to Wickes in Catford and turning across the entrance to the Halfords car park I had a near miss with a car turning in from the main road. I have long been nervous about this manoeuvre and thought that this might happen. There really needs to be a better connect between the end of the path in the Wickes car park and the ramp leading down to the tunnel under the South Circular. I will report this on SMIDSY as I think there will be a problem here before long. On my way up the Surrey Canal tow path as I passed under one one of the road bridges there came a loud tinkling sound and I thought I ridden through broken glass or something had fallen off the bike which was just ahead of me (he had a good look back). Anyway when I got to Burgess Park I realised that my wing mirror was missing. Judging by the sound I guess it had shattered. I couldn't find it when I stopped to look this evening. I do not understand that despite using exactly the same route on the return journey my mileages are 1/3 ml different. Stats - day 36/365 rides 8 = 5.0 weeks/8 rides = 1.6 per week - in = 0:58:40 (12.32 mls) out = 1:10:10 (12.63) odo 13217