Mice Log Star Date 59

A Pootle around SW London! 28.02.13. 16.07 miles, 9.7mph average speed, 21.4mph max, in 1hr 38.

An appointment at midday presented the opportunity to cycle through Brompton Cemetery which I don't do very often.  I have been on a guided ride through it with an architect who pointed out the graves of lives gone by. It's a very humbling place, quiet of course and a reminder of how lucky we all are to not yet be a resident.

 The sun was visible again - that's two days running which was a bit of a treat.  

I headed east and crossed the river - destination Clapham - to collect something from a friend. I only usually see Clapham Common on my bicycle with about fifty others, cycling to Brighton or Bognor on Friday Night Rides to the Coast (aka The Fridays).  

A magical group of peeps led by the kindest and hilarious duo who make sure these rides are the most fun you will ever, ever have on a bicycle. So it was very odd to be in the middle of the common in broad daylight.

On the way there I saw something that made me grin like a Cheshire cat! Last June I cycled from Hyde Park Corner to Scotland with The Fridays.  It was incredible. The people, the route, everything.  I went through places I have only ever - and indeed some I have never - ever heard of.  One that I knew was The Forth Bridge

 

When I saw this I nearly fell off my bike I was laughing so much.  I then noticed the neighbouring streets which are all places I cycled through last year and which brought back many, many happy memories. 

 

And then there was the road to Wick which I am sure will forever remain in the minds of all of us on that trip as:

 

I reached the rendez-vous point and caught up with a friend who is busy on a hectic schedule for a while then pootled homewards back across the Common.

The traffic north of the river was at a standstill and I was shocked by how impatient and reckless people were with their lack of indicating and heavy revving.  If only they knew how much fun they would have if they swapped their 4 x 4s with a 1 x 1.  

The day ended on a sour note when I learned that a friend of mine has had her bicycle stolen.  If only Lord Sugar and his Amstrad innovators could come up with an anti-theft device for bicycles.  A friend has designed a gadget but it relies on powered-street furniture which means relying on local councils.  But it would be a start. 

On the way home I couldn't believe how lovely and blue the twilight sky was.

Mice Log Star Date 58

Woohoo Sunny London! 27 02 2013.  16.83 miles, Ave speed 11.6, max speed 20.6 in 1hr26

Timing is everything in life!  A few distractions prevented me from leaving before 1pm and as I pedalled to Hyde Park there was a break in the clouds - the sun was out!  The air temperature was decidedly nippy but the sunlight lifted everything.

On my way I was aggressively overtaken by a Range Rover who did a particularly close pass and then swerved in front of me to stop at the Give Way junction.  Really - although I suspect this happens all day long - what a ridiculous manner in which to drive. As I overtook him at the lights I saw one of the problems - he clearly couldn't find the correct number he was looking for in his Iphone.   

A few years ago someone called Opera Winfrey started a campaign to make cars a No Phone Zone. Mobiles are left in cubby holes or in the boot. I think it's something to think about, at least. 

As I began my laps of the park I couldn't believe the difference the weather made in a day. The park was full of people! 

 

Jogging, walking, Personal Training, dog-walking and many just strolling through the sunshine.

                                    There were also quite a lot of people cycling through. 

Whilst cycling along the South Carriageway I was scalped by a chap on a Trek road bike in a Campagnolo cycling top. It made me wonder how fast I was going - oooops 14mph on the flat! Hardly a workout! So with a naughty grin on my face I pushed up the pace and followed him. Hilariously I then scalped him (well, overtook - I dont do scalping as it's too close)!!

 A bit further down the road there was quite the most fantastic sight.  

The Household Cavalry were out - but they had forgotten their horses, they were on foot!

 

An RSM (Regimental Sergeant Major - I have an ex Boyfriend who was in the army!!) was accompanying them - well hollering at them. It was fab to see.

The Hyde Park Farmyard works continued. The peat had arrived and was being laid down in the hope it will all be back to normal in time for summer.  

What a big operation this has been. The damage from last years' concerts, Glastonbury in W1.

Cycling in Hyde Park is fun because it has less traffic but it's not perfect.  The main cycling route is a circuit - you have to cycle round it as it is not possible to cycle straight down the middle.  

The expression "No Cycling" appears often in worn out paint at the beginning of paths.  I can understand that given the number of pedestrians in the summer it is possibly no bad thing although a review would be helpful, particularly as the cycling numbers increase.  

If I was writing to City of Westminster I would also ask them how many of the chauffeurs sitting in their parked cars on South Carriageway near Exhibition Road really need to have their engines running whilst they wait for their bosses to come back from shopping or wherever. The CO2 emissions level must be on a par with The Marylebone Road.  Thankfully South Carriageway is being closed from 11th March which means the cars are going to have to park somewhere else.

In my imaginary letter to the City of Westminster, I was feeling very lucky, I would also ask them to reduce the speed limit to 20 mph, like Richmond Park and to educate drivers that cyclists who cycle a meter and a half from parked cars aren't doing it to be irritating - they are doing it to avoid hitting car doors that are opened by people not checking for cyclists.  It's called being doored and it can kill people. 

With my letter finished I tuned back in to the beauty of Hyde Park on a lovely day.

 

By the end of my third lap the grin on my face was so big I didnt want to go home! I pootled across to Kensington Palace Gardens and down Millionaires Row. 

I weaved my way south and found the sun making these houses look so bright! Lovely jubbly!

Mice Star Date 57.

A Foggy London. Tuesday 26 February. 11.51 miles, Ave speed 8.3, max speed 21.2 in 1hr 18. What a grey day!  The cloud was low, the air was damp and if the sun was is in the sky it certainly wasn't speaking to London.  The weather forecast said 2 degrees so I took the Brommie which would allow me to return by train if I needed to.

I headed to an appointment in South London where over lunch I was given tips to trackstanding!! Look out Nielsen!! (being the trackstander I met a couple of weeks ago who makes it look sooooo easy!)   I haven't tried it yet and certainly not on the Brommie but I am loving the idea of being able to do it.  We shall see!

On the way back I weaved my way across the Commons from Clapham to Wandsworth.  

The Cateye computer counts miles and whizzyness but not calories. I was told once it was 50 calories for every mile cycled - I have no idea if that is correct. 

I am pretty sure it doesn't warrant the cheese purchases made at Hamish Johnston in Northcote Road. 

 

 These shelves were perfect drinking and non drinking refreshments!

I only go there once every blue moon - but boy do they know their cheeses!

 

I saw some porridge biscuits which I thought might be healthy and cycling related (porridge is often a really good way to start the day for long rides) but felt that 10 miles didn't quite warrant the extra purchase.

I limited myself to two cheeses - a Tomme de Chevre and Beaufort D'Alpage. However, I may be back!

When I crossed over the River I couldn't believe it looked exactly the same as it had done nine hours earlier!

Am looking forward to seeing sunshine  very soon!

Mice Log Star Date 56.

Brrrrrrrr That East Wind Doth Blow! 25.2.13.  22.21 Miles  11.8 ave speed, top speed 22.1, duration 1hr 53. A pootle with a couple of chores and a blithering idiot!

A day of appointments! My planning had been careful - a local appointment, another in Marylebone allowing time for a pootle in the park and the third near home again.  Rocket science, clearly!

It looked pretty cold outside so I wrapped up well.  Nothing, however could prepare me for the power and the "Oh My Giddy Aunt" chill factor of the wind.  Good grief!  I pedalled a bit harder to try and stay warm.

There were very few people in the park - apart from the City of Westminster's new farming strand which was in full force.  What are they doing?!  I was scalped by a Brommie which was a bit galling but on the other hand the owner was wearing a very snazzy cycling top over a lean machine of a body so I let him (like I had a choice!!) whizz by!

Two and a half laps later I shot off to my 2.15 appointment.  Except it wasn't at 2.15 it was at 2pm and I had missed it. Durrr! (Look no further for the blithering idiot, obviously)!

It wasn't all bad tho as it meant I had more time on my bike!! Two years ago if someone had said I had two hours to hang around Marylebone I would have popped into Le Pain Quotidien for a cappuccino and one of their treacle tarts then gone shopping.  Lots of shopping.   

These days however - no fear!  I have a bicycle! I went straight back to Hyde Park for a couple of laps, some pics and some research into how long a metre is.  I think it's about three feet.  Definitely not the sort of room a couple of Taxi cabs gave me and one car actually tried to squeeze me into the curb.  He needs to ride a bike.  

I headed along the Serpentine and thought this seagull was affirming the message he was sitting on!

I must have cycled past this practically every day and never really noticed it before.  It looked like something out of Mid(winter's) Night Dream.

The sun (not that I saw it all day) was disappearing so I headed home via an enormous piece of Gails Bakery Carrot Cake.  This is not good news for the calorie consumption by wowser it's delicious!

Im not sure of the weather forecast for the rest of the week but will be checking it often.  Thick gloves are essential. Stay warm peeps!

Mice Log Star Date 55

Sunday London Ride 24.02.13 32.45 miles, ave speed 11.5mph, top speed 23.2 in 2hrs 48mins.

A text from a friend on Saturday night asked if I was going to do this ride. I hadn't decided but that spurred me on - yes, I replied and agreed - subject to ice. 

At 7am the alarm went off and I stuck my nose above the duvet. Brrrr,  it was cold. The BBC weather website said it was -1. Minus 1! Well that's the end of the ride thought I.  20 minutes later a text arrived from Becs "Am up and about, heading for station, see you at 9.30". Gordon Bennett, this was going to happen after all!

Minus 1 was still ringing in my ears - that means there could be ice. So this would be a hybrid ride and no cleats - trainers were deployed.  My cleat learning curve had reached the stage that if you don't unclip your feet fast enough you land on the ground like a sack of potatoes and can really hurt yourself.  And I learnt that the hard way on my first or second group ride at night when I didn't unclip my foot fast enough and not only held up 35 people for three quarters of an hour whilst I recovered from the fall but also fractured my arm.

  

Not my finest moment especially as this happened at 2.45am ie in the middle of the night in the middle of nowhere - about seven miles outside Blackburn. Best not think too much about that! Suffice to say that stopping on a bicycle is basic and involves using the brakes - an automatic reaction learnt many years ago.  However  incorporating swivelling your feet at the same time takes practice.  I think I have mastered this now and wouldn't dream of cycling long rides without cleats - but not on ice.

I layered up and headed to Hyde Park Corner at 9.25 where I found three others - looking very cool of course but also rather cold! 

They were all in cleats and lycra - this was a longer than 5 mile ride and indeed one of them had been up since 7 and cycled 30 miles up and down hills near to home. I said that if I was not able to go the speed they wanted I would turn back without a worry.

Becs arrived a few minutes later and we were both happy to hear that the original plan to Alexandra Palace was revised to go to The Olympic Stadium instead (which is a flat route).  Wooop Wooop!

We waited for the Household Cavalry to go by. It always takes my breath away and I take too many pics!

We cycled down Constitution Hill behind them, along the Mall and into Trafalgar Square, down to the Embankment and along to Blackfriars Bridge following a friend called Ian.  

                                                              Becs is in yellow

Onto Commercial Road, into Whitechapel and all the way to The Bow Flyover.  This junction is well known to cyclists and non cyclists but not for good reasons.  Two people in separate incidents were killed within three weeks of each other using this junction - on their way to work.  Shocking and inexcusable.   

Transport for London  have redesigned the junction and this was the first time I have seen it.  I'm not really in a position to comment - it was  a Sunday morning, with fairly empty roads, as part of a group. On a Monday morning in rush hour or on a regular basis I have  no idea what it's like. I do wonder how many people in TFL and the Department of Transport actually, genuinely commute to work on a bike.  I hope they know what they are doing - the price paid in lives lost - any life - is too high.

We made our way towards the Stadium - the security guards were very helpful and even operated a human level crossing for us - opening gates as we arrived and closing them behind us.

  We reached the cafe where the door furniture was unusual!

Since my last visit a year ago, a conservatory has been added.  Nice and warm - I look forward to being back there soon.

                                        Brunch was excellent.

The Manager chatted with us about cycling and he confirmed that the bicycle racks that were missing would be returning soon!

Meanwhile we had some wheels to admire

  

                                                               Very nice!  

Possibly not quite as clean as this bike though

Down to the Woolwich Ferry, a route I cycled on my very first Sunday London Ride two years ago when I was on a low racer recumbent.  We were not at one, the recumbent and I, but that's another story.  It did mean that being so low I had no idea that we cycled past the City London Airport runway - it looked not unlike (although I have never been there!) Hong Kong Airport.  Next time I will take some pics.

We reached the Woolwich Ferry terminal just as the ferry was unloading - perfect timing!

Once across the river and along to Woolwich Arsenal to do play hide and seek (somewhat unsuccessfully) amongst some statues!

 

 

   

 

Along a busy road to Greenwich, straight out the other side and back over the river using Southwark Bridge.  We arrived at The Aldwych - Ian had already left us, Dave headed South, Eddy West and Becs and I weaved our way to Portland Place and said our goodbyes.  I headed to Victoria for a very important purchase of bread - I was starving!  It may have been cold (understatement!) but it was a great day with fab peeps.