Mice Log Day 61

2nd March! 12.5 miles, max speed 20mph, average speed 9mph and apparently I have burnt 802 calories??!  Not sure about that last stat tho'.

A lap or two (well, three) around Hyde Park in cold air but lovely sunshine! Despite the temperature being about 7 degrees there were a lot of peeps in the park. Mainly walking, some cycling and quite a few on skates - even playing hockey!

The large group of skaters were under the helm of a friend who teaches skating. 

I am not sure what the lesson of the day was but there was much pointing the foot upwards - a bit like Telemarking but on skates not skis! 

 

Sometimes in the week I see a DHL courier on a bicycle laden with DHL branded panniers which always gives me hope that some time in the future the majority of deliveries around London will be fuelled by porridge not petrol! Mr DHL was out and about today too - clearly deliveries made at weekends too.

As I was pootling about I found myself being overtaken by a Boris Bike. I can't cope with that - even on the Brommie! I was doing 14mph (the speed I was doing when I was overtaken by a road bike last week!) so I shot up to 18mph and overtook!!

Then I saw something I have never seen before - there is a new way to ride a bike - if only I had caught it on camera.  A chap was sitting on his handlebars and pedalling backwards - clearly on a fixed bike! He was looking over his shoulder to see where he was going as his whole body was facing backwards and he was steering with his butt.  Not something I will be trying anytime soon but quite impressive to see (even if a little odd).

I headed to Old Bond Street to have a quick look at the new collection in one of my favourite shops and was overtaken by a car with a number plate that made me laugh. Tango India Tango Uniform Sierra! 

I cycled past the church where not only my parents were married but also my sister - by the same vicar who came out of retirement for the day! My parents' photos are in black and white and my sisters' are in colour.

Through Grosvenor Square and back into Hyde Park and into Gails Bakery.  I am going to have to stop doing that. The girl behind the counter said "Oh I remember you, you were here on Thursday"!  My addiction to their carrot cake has been noticed!! But it is soooooo delicious!

Mice Log 60

Wow it's The Ides of March! A Pootle to a Party via Islington.  01.03.13. 17.03 miles, 9.7mph average speed, 20.5mph max, in 1hr 47 on the Brommie!

I hate being late. Hate it! I will often arrive at a destination 45 minutes early to ensure I am on time.    

It's a trait I have inherited from my father who if he had his way would leave the day before for a party at the neighbours to ensure he arrived on time! Luckily my mother is brilliantly five minutes late for everything so between the two of them there is an (almost) acceptable compromise!

Today however I took my eye off the ball - or the clock - and was so engrossed in admin that in order to be at a meeting in Islington on time I had to pedal like the wind and not stop and take one single photograph.

If I had left earlier I would have taken a photo of: the Barclays Bike plate leaning against a fence implying an incident of attempted theft or even an accident (hopefully the former, obviously): the No 38 bus that overtook me so fast only to do an emergency stop in front of me 10 yards later;  the traffic light man who was busy chatting to his boss reporting that the temporary traffic lights weren't working and he couldn't fix them (well that made me laugh!).

Thankfully I arrived in time for the meeting - just as the others were being ushered into the lift! Perfect. Afterwards we left together and I should have retrieved my camera as one of my colleagues did something I have never, ever seen before.  Track standing with no hands! No hands!! Awesome!

I pedalled south and arrived in Trafalgar Square at 6.50pm on my way to a Birthday Party in Clapham. 

 The CS's (Boris and his Blue Paint Cycling Superhighways) are not things I use in rush hour. I don't like their narrowness, their drain covers, broken glass, litter, the close passes and the undertaking by other cyclists, the fact that traffic doesn't know what to do at junctions and the fact that large vehicles may have their wheels outside of the paint (just) but their wing-mirrors clearly are and can quite easily whack you on the head. 

So rather than head over Westminster Bridge I chose Vauxhall Bridge instead.  What a mistake! Trying to work out where to cycle to head to Clapham - which lane - was a complete mystery.  Luckily a kind cyclist in the ASL removed his headphones and gave me guidance.  It was pretty hairy tho' as moving across two lanes of traffic both of which are speeding towards green lights is not my idea of fun.

The other side of the Clapham Road I passed an awful accident where a large part of a car was on the side of the road - it was so big that at first glance I thought it was a motorbike.  But it wasn't, it was definitely a car part.

As I neared the Party Pub I heard my name being shouted down the street so turned round and accompanied friends to what was to be a really, really great night.   Fabulous peeps. Some of whom had cycled there too.  This basket was on a brommie. Very pretty!

 

 

Giggles galore, Shepherds Pie and Prosecco with friends who had travelled afar from Brighton, Luton, Northampton, Portsmouth, Wales and even some from Wandsworth!  

                                       Shepherd's Pie!

                                                                                       

The absence of some were noted and glasses were raised - it was a fine night indeed.