Mice Star Dates 22 to 31

The Fourth Week of January and beyond. My cycling (AKA Mice) Log Snow Day 22. 1hr 24 mins to do 15.22 miles, 10.8 average speed and 18.3 max. 

The BBC website said 1 degree from midday so I took this as the moment to go for a pootle. Grey was the order of the day with grey skies and grey snowmen languishing above and in Hyde Park. It was fun to be out but poor robin, the east wind did blow. 

 

 I am a wuss - unlike friends of mine there is no way I would have gone out any earlier! And I suspect several others I know and care about are on that list (actually that goes for everyone out about in these conditions) so please be careful out there. As it was a little earlier in the day the orange sky is missing but I took some pics anyway

My Cycling (AKA Mice) Log Snowstorm Date 23. 12.26 miles in 1.16hrs, average speed 9.6 max speed 15.6 with the air temperature at 1 degree (according to the BBC website). Above freezing! I headed out on the Brommie and cycled three laps around Hyde Park.

On the way there the snow fell out of the sky so heavily and in such big fat snowflakes I could hardly see where I was going! "What am I doing?" I asked myself. "Am I turning into Ian Euk Ianrauk or Andy Allsopp or something?!" Actually I realised I must stop reading anything in Cycle Chats Commuting Section written by Crock of Gold!!  

Mice Log Snow Cold Out There - Date 24. Thank goodness for a fab elevensies with friends at  Gail's Bakery. We managed to avoid the temptation to eat - calorie levels could have gone through the ceiling! 

  

The last time I saw Jennie was in The Hague in November after a ride to Schalke  with Olaf Storbeck. The photo of Jennie and I on our Dutch bicycles generated a few comments about the little bag on her handlebars!!  Apparently not quite suitable for FNRttCs!!

 

After coffee I set off for Hyde Park and did three laps. it was cold which is probably why I managed 20.3mph as a maximum speed with an average speed of 12mph during my 15.49 mile pootle.

Mice Log Brrrrrrrr it's Cold Date 25 A trip to London Bridge followed by a visit to Borough Market. 11.43 miles, ave speed 10mph during 1.14hrs.

It wasn't entirely without incident however....! On discovering a traffic jam I got off my bike and crossed the road as a pedestrian. As I picked up the handlebars to turn the bike away from the main road the front wheel rolled away on its own and lay down like a dropped coin! Oh Gawd!!!

The lights were changing, there were people and traffic next to me and it was all a bit perturbing! Luckily a very kind pedestrian retrieved the wheel for me. He then helped me work out what to do next. The missing bolt was long gone and apparently the only option was a walk to the bike shop.

The pedestrian must be a cyclist because when I asked "Can I ride it to the bike shop?" his immediate and emphatic response of "No" was so quick that I laughed out loud. So a walk it was and I am now the proud owner of Pitlocks!

Very happy to know that there are some really kind people out there who help complete strangers. Thank you very much, whoever you are.

Mice Log Woohoooo Spring is here for one day at least Date 26. Temperatures in double figures, bare legs in the Park - (slightly mad I'd say) lots of people out and about and still the remnants of snowmen lying about the place. I wore SPDs and it definitely affected my average speed which was 11.7 with a top speed of 22.1 during 1.19hrs and 15.37 miles.

On my way to Victoria I saw confirmation that Friday Night Rides were . The Gates to the FNRttC were closed. It was alarmingly symbolic and I very much look forward to them opening again soon.

According to my heart rate monitor which I switched on half way round I burnt 722 calories!! Excellent!  

Mice Log Windy Sunday Date 27. 10.5 miles around London with a train trip to Hampton Wick to Sigma Sports. The weather was a bit localised as a friend in Hammersmith asked me how I was coping with "the showers?" to which I replied "What showers?"! The view of the sky from the station platform summed up what was happening!  

                                                                       Cloudy or not?

Mice Log Star Date 28. A trip to Marylebone via three laps of Hyde Park (obviously!). Total Distance 16.99, ave speed 11.7, max speed 24.3 in 1.26hrs. It was a bit windy! Snowdrops were out and the daffs are having a go! 

It's that time of year! On the way home I bought two bunches of tulips. I love tulips. One bunch of pink and one bunch of white - my absolute favourite. They are so simple. No fuss, no frills. Lovely! Chacun a sa fleur as they say...!

Mice Log Star Date 29 - the wind was about and I was out on the Brommie! 15.38 miles in 1.36hrs with a top speed of 15 which was a bit pathetic but hey, did I say it was windy?!

Hyde Park was much deserted, the swans, duck and geese were huddling together probably having a right laugh about a guy on a Boris Bike who was so busy looking at them he didn't bother looking where he was going and nearly collided with another cyclist. All ok tho'. 

  

The restaurant/cafe on The Serpentine looked very pretty. Might take a closer look one day. Am not sure winter has gone - tomorrow is looking a bit chilly again. Be careful out there peeps.

I ate well! I found this Warm Baked Goats Cheese Salad and made it - it was delicious - I ate the lot!!

Mice Log Star Wowser its Windy Out There Date 30. 11 miles. Average speed 9.1 mph.

A trip to south London via Victoria Station and back then around and about - it was too windy to be out in the Park so I explored squares and streets I live near which protected me from some of the gusts.

My windows are rattling and the lamppost opposite is behaving like a yachts mast. Am glad to be inside now. Hold on to your handlebars peeps!

Mice Log Star Date 31. 15.25 miles during 1.21hrs, average speed 11.2 with a max speed 25.1 mph!! Thank you tail wind! 676 calories burned but many more eaten. Oooops!! The blue sky out of the bedroom window looked perfect. What a shock to see the rain battering the windows in the sitting room! I ventured out anyway and missed the rain but the wind was definitely out there.

 

 

My total mileage for January is 416.75 all flat but miles all the same! I love riding my bike!

Mice Log Star Dates 15 to 21

My Cycling Log star date 15 = 30 mins on turbo up to 122 rph but not for longer than a minute followed by a 10 minute warm down and some Pilates. 

My Cycling Log Star Date 16 was out in SE London in -2 on bike! Too cold to cycle all the way there. Spent 30 mins on Turbo to make up for the loss of miles

Ooooo! Started falling in love with my Brommie again (although they do need to sort out the seat post height issue). My knee is not recovered but hurting less and less.  

My Cycling Log Star Date 17.  40 minutes on the Turbo as it was too cold to go too far. Met a friend for coffee - here is my Basil bag on the brommie gadding around town!!

Then on to the Bike Show in London's Excel which is miles away.  Too cold to cycle but I am glad I went to the event.  

My Cycling Log Snow date 18. Managed 10 miles to Tower Bridge and back using the main roads. Went past Channel Four/5 building and wondered where all the lovely Windows and Death ride peeps are. Was wearing many layers but stayed warm when moving. Once the temperature drops its going to be a whole different ballgame. Be careful out there peeps, on wheels or on foot. And I bought a lightbulb on the way home!!

My Cycling Log Snow Date 20.  35 miles around snowy London. Ave speed 11.2 max speed 28.2 funniest moment: pootling around Regents Park enjoying how lovely it looked, how I had seen giraffes in the snow, daydreaming about life when I was overtaken by a 24 year old on a........Boris Bike!!!

                                                 Giraffes in the snow at London Zoo

                                            A silent cyclist in the snow

 

That woke me up!! Looked at my speedometer which said 8.1 miles an hour. I upped my pedalling and overtook him saying "I'm sorry but that's too insulting. I can't be overtaken by someone on a Boris Bike" and we both laughed out loud as I shot ahead!

Popped into Evans on the way home then Cycle Surgery where I bought these really cool lights! 

 

 http://www.evanscycles.com/products/moon/comet-100-front-light-ec042055

Home in time for tea!

My Cycling Log Snow date 21. Managed 30 minutes on the turbo with 20 seconds at 128 rph!! Then 10 minute warm down.

But it looked so pretty outside I couldn't resist a pootle to the West End and back including Hyde Park. Was lovely! Made sure I was home by six tho' as the temperature is dropping. Tomorrows London forecast is 1 degree at midday. Be careful out there peeps!

Mice Log Star Date 8 to 14

My Cycling Log 2013 Star date 8 01 13.   15.7 miles in 1.57 hours, max speed 22, average 12.3 and I saw the sun for a second or two!  Then on to watch some friends play Polo!

My Cycling Log 2013 Star Date 09 01 13.  13.39 miles during 1.19hrs, max speed 18.3 ave speed 10.1 Hardly speedy but definitely fun!

Brrrrrrr ...... My Cycling Log Star Date 10 It's cold out there! No sunshine today. 14.04 miles, Ave speed 10.2, Max speed 18.4 during 1.22 included a few laps of Hyde Park and then on to a recommended supermarket in Chinatown so that I can now attempt to make some Vietnamese Spring rolls as I am the proud owner of rice paper! Could be delicious, we shall see!!

DDDDDDDouble Brrrrrrrrrrrrr!!  My Cycling Log Log Star Date 11 - three laps of Hyde Park and on to Marylebone High Street. The Cateye computer stopped working for about a lap so the mileage isnt the total but it says 12.53 miles, Ave 9.3 during 1.19hrs. Met a friend on the way home to compare Vietnamese Spring Rolls recipes!

  

The weather forecast for tomorrow and next week is looking arctic/antarctic - at what point is it silly to cycle? Like everyone else, I really don't want to come off my bike.

 

My Cycling Log Log Star date 12. Wowser it's cold!!! Too cold for me to do the intended ride around Luton for the Lovely Housewarming Ride with friends that I was hoping for as I had to wait until midday for the air temperature to improve!

Pootled 15.82 miles in 1.32 hrs up to Oxford Street via Hyde Park at a gentle pace with an average speed of 9.6 Was very pleased to be home.

My cycling total for 2013 is 215.57 miles. It may not increase for a while as I think I may be on the turbo for the next week!

My Cycling Log Star Date 13. 13.75 miles, max speed 16.9, average speed 9.4 during 1hr 27 minutes. It was 3 degrees at 1pm which gave me an opportunity to pootle to Hyde Park for a few laps. A really wintery day!

Not that much Speaking at Speakers Corner but there were quite a lot of people about taking exercise - a Boot Camp, a football game and others playing American Football (looking like Martians). I was home before the temperature dropped back down to 2 degrees! 

My Cycling Log Star Date 14. Miles - Zero, not onesimple  mile! The sleet and snow put me right off so I went for Plan B which was 30 minutes on the turbo at 68-85 rpm followed by five minute warm down. Then some stretches and some Planks - Yikes! This was all set right by a stroll to the shops and back. I now need to work out how to inflate my Reebok Gym Ball. Any (ideally not too silly) suggestions?!!!

 

Mice Log Star Date 1 to 7

New Year's Resolution Star Date 1.  Tuesday 1st Jan. The resolution was to push myself from being a five mile cyclist to do a minimum of 10 miles a day. This may or may not work out but it was a challenge.  If the weather was too awful ie icy or windy the compromise was to do 30 minutes on the turbo. 

Inspired by a friend, Ross Chestney, who was cycling a 50 mile run in and out of London the least I could do was a pootle round Hyde Park. 24.25 miles in 2 hours, average speed 11.5, max speed 20.9. Sunny and fun. And well over target.

Not sure it justified an enormous piece of carrot cake from Gail's bakery but hey, it's New Year's Day!

My Cycling Log 2013. Star Date 2nd Jan. Wednesday. (No Photos as visibility was unfunny and unsunny). The Guilt of the Carrot Cake pushed me out on two wheels along with the opportunity to do some shopping in the sales. Three laps of Hyde Park, a couple of laps of Belgrave Square and home with a few bargains. 12.3 miles, Average speed 12.3, max speed 21.10 in 59 mins 57 seconds! Was soaked through at least one layer in the Park but it was worth it!

Now have 2013 Diary so filling it with FNRttCs and Cyclechat rides amongst other noncycling but good things. Hopefully seeing the dates will spur me on to increase fitness. Not least as I'm already double booking myself!

I also keep hearing about how hilly the Cardiff/Swansea FNRttC is going to be!

My Cycling Log 2013 Star Day 3rd Jan. (No photos again) 16.28 miles, av 11.9, max speed 22.1 during 1hr 21 mins. Met a triathlete who has an 18 year old steel Colnago with the old fashion gear switches.

My Cycling Log 2013 Star Day 4th Jan16.01 miles, 11.5 average speed, 24.5 max speed, during 1.21 hours. Oooo I seem to have been a weencier bit speedier today! 

My Cycling log 2013 Star Day 5th Jan 32.27 miles, Av speed 10.2. All good fun!What a lovely Saturday.

Met two friends on Westminster Bridge where Cormorants were sitting on buoys apparently stretching their wings to dry.

We headed over the Bridge, down past The Old Vic, past a butchers and into Bermondsey where we found a foray of food emporiums under the arches.

Coffee was served, bread was bought - mushrooms were noted in Druid Street for the return visit on a Saturday.  

Over Tower Bridge and into St Katherines Docks one of which is being dredged (or semi-dredged) and out along a canal and eventually alongside the river to Canary Wharf.

A visit to John Lewis followed by lunch in Leon then up to Brick Lane to see if we could go to the limited annual open days of 1 Princeton Street. The queue was rather long so we headed into a Beigel shop instead! What a fun day.   

 
I headed west and found myself in Hyde Park so couldnt resist a few laps.  All good fun!

My Cycling Log Day 6. 22 miles around Stevenage with 15 lovely other peeps from CycleChat Dot Net.

My first ride on my road bike since Germany with Olaf Storbeck at the beginning of November. Was foggy but fun and a couple of mini hills. 

                                             My bike needs a clean! There was mud!! 

Max speed 26, no idea re average speed but cake, company and conversation were tops! 

My Cycling log star day 7. A pootle in the park on the Marin, 14.13 miles, 20.8 fastest speed, ave 10.8 in 1 hour 10. Also included millionaires row and a trip to High Street Ken to a locksmiths. Chores eh?!