Not a natural born Cyclist

Unlike a lot of people in this community I didn’t start riding a bike when I was a kid apart from a three wheeler which was similar to this one except mine was red and had what I can only describe as a bread bin shape container on the back for putting items. The container was approximately 20 inches across by 12 inches high. It was fitted with a proper bike chain. I remember riding it around the garden in the the late 50s but it possibly dated back earlier than that.

I didn’t learn to ride a bike till I was about 14, I remember a mate from school said to have a go on his bike, we was in a park at the top of a hill I got on and went down the hill coming off a few times, then bingo I managed it.

In about 1968 I was riding to work on my bike I stupidly had a bag hanging from the handlebars which caught in my front wheel over the bars I went, I ended up in the casualty department of Bollingbrooke Hospital just a few cuts and bruises no broken bones.

In the 80s I purchased a Tony Doyle Viscount Road bike to be honest I don’t remember riding it that much.

Move on to August 2009 I bought off ebay my £56 cheapo Mountain Bike

The idea being to use the bike for my very short commute to work less than two miles but that was it I was bitten by the cycling bug. In January 2010 I purchased my Scott Sub 10. As they say the rest is history.

London Skyride 29.05 miles in total

Got up just after eight had me shower, then fueled up with Porridge, left home just after 9.30 to cycle to Buckingham Palace a journey of just over nine miles, which took about forty-five minutes.

Route to Buckingham Palace

If the video don’t work this the link Here

I waited there for Pat and Keir my wife and Son, on their arrival we walked round had a look at a few things, we queued up to get my Bike marked by the Metropolitan police, but unfortunately they ran out the stuff they needed, but they gave me a form to use online.

After looking around and eating a sandwich, I bid farewell to Pat and Keir, and set off on the skyride.

By now it was just before 2pm and to say the route was very congested in parts would be an understatement, there was times where we came to a complete stop due to the volume of Cycles. Hence that is why it took 1 hour and 14 minutes and the average speed was 8.3 mph.

Skyride Route

Before leaving for home fuelled up on an energy bar, the journey was fine except my legs were starting to feel it a bit. Maybe because I done twenty miles in almost one hit . I had a really enjoyable day except for an epic fail on my Muvi footage I am not use to the controls so failed to record the footage I wanted

One positive though I have finally got the cadence to work properly on my Garmin Edge 500

Route Home

London Skyride

Off to the London London Skyride today

Met up with Toby afterwards I done 29.79 and cracked 30mph

Got up at six this morning so I could meet up with Toby

Had a bowl of porridge had a shower got myself ready.

The journey to Crystal palace is just over four miles, but there are a couple of steep hills, I must admit these beat me twice, got of and pushed twice I am afraid to say.

Eventually got there met up with Toby and his mate, who are taking part in the London to Hastings charity Bike Ride.

We chatted for about twenty minutes before they went to the start line

Route to Crystal Palace

I bid them farewell, I decided that I would cycle into Bromley it was on the steep decent from Crystal Palace I managed to crack 30 mph first time ever to be more accurate it was 30.07, as you get close to Bromley there is another steep climb once again another defeat, another pushing the bike uphill. That just sounds so wrong.

Route to Bromley

One of the reasons for cycling to Bromley was because I wanted to go to the Giant cycle store. Before trying to find the store I saw a costa coffee, Where I had coffee and an almond Croissant.

While drinking my coffee I found out that the Giant store doesn’t open on a Sunday, but decided I would still look for it. After my refuel cycled of in search of the Giant store, I saw a policeman on a Mountain bike asked if he knew where it was. He replied no idea I told him the name of the road better success now, he directed me to the road. Anyway I found The Giant Cycle store

Bit small ain’t it !! but I suspect it will be like Pearson Cycles in Sutton. Will have to pay another visit when it is open.

Decided that I would make my way home via Croydon where I stopped at Evans Cycles to pick up another set of Cateye SL120 Orbit Spoke lights to go on my mountain Bike. Two more stops before home my B&Q to pick up some white cable ties to secure the spoke lights to make them a bit harder to steal, well thats my theory. Then from there a quick stop at Asda’s for provisions for dinner tonight.

Bit disappointed on three hill failures but pleased that finally cracked the 30mph mark also pleased with the distance I covered today. 29.79 to go onto my August 150 still not enough though

Route Home

Toby’s Just Giving Page

Cateye SL120 Orbit Spoke Light Set Ordered

I have taken the plunge and ordered one set of Cateye Orbit Spoke Lights £17.99 free p&p from wiggle, depending on if it’s a bit of a faff to keep changing them from one bike to the other will determine whether to purchase another set.
My thoughts on these in another post

Mainly in the winter time my chosen bike will be my Appollo Mountain Bike has the Scott’s skinny tyres are very skittish.

Commute to and from work went without any drama’s which is how I like it.

To Work

To Home

Physio at 8am tomorrow

My first Commute for eleven days

My trip to work went without drama”s as I am doing this on my phone Garmin stats tomorrow.

I think my fastest time to work.

Route to Work

Can confirm this is my quickest time to work

Route to Home

Cateye SL120 Orbit Spoke Light Set

I have been looking at these spoke lights as can be seen in the picture and the video’s they are highly visible anything that makes you stand out at night can only be a good thing.

One reviewer stated he thought the best way to mount them for the best visibility was to face the front one to the kerb and the rear away towards the traffic.

All the reviews I have read have been very favourable I was wondering if anyone had tried them, whether you have or not your opinions would be most welcome.

Read reviews Here

Happy Birthday Cycle to me, Don’t Judge A Book by it’s Cover, 10.82 Miles

I cycled to Sutton today only a journey of just over five miles still more miles for my pathetic August 150 ride was fine till I got to the roundabout in Middleton road, when an idiot in a car thought because I was going straight on and he was turning left he better turn left across in front of me, just another day in the life of the moonwalking Bear got to Sutton without further incidents.

I met Tammi, Kevin, and George, we went for a coffee and a nice chat, after quick walk round we bid our farewells.

I decided to have a look around Pearson Cycles

Don’t look much from the outside does it to be honest, as you walk in the door you think yeah another bike shop, but you must go further, go to the back of the shop through the open door, what greets you is a sign that say’s Pro Shop wow racing bikes to die for if you have plenty of spare cash 3k 4k bikes not all are that price but the ones I was looking at were, maybe I will get one of these for my birthday

So walked back through the shop still excited about the bikes I had just seen when I see a sign saying Bike Showroom upstairs, make my way up the stairs heart pounding wondering what was going to greet me, a long narrow showroom with bikes on the floor and on racks on the wall I am guessing sixty to eighty bikes then it dawned on me they were all Specialized mountain crosstrail stumpjumper bikes, these varied in price a few not so expensive and a lot of expensive ones. A guy came over to me and said “could he help me” I replied “no mate am just perving over the bikes” he said “have you looked out the back” I said “yes mate awesome” Has the saying goes don’t judge a book by its cover. Pearson Cycles

After the bike porn decided it was time to cycle home, just left Sutton met another idiot of a driver who decided it was ok to cut across me to do a left turn. Anyway got home without further incident but was gutted my average speed was 15 mph never ever achieved that before but just as I stopped my Garmin 500 said average speed 14.9

Route To Sutton

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