Beaten

So when I set off on the home leg, I was pleased to see that the weather had stayed dry but wasn't quite so pleased to see that the wind had changed direction and that I wasn't going to get the 30mph push home that I'd hoped for.

The journey was fairly mellow, certainly not the battle that the morning trip had been and was only marred by the fact that I was beaten in my first road race of the new year. Gutted.

For anyone who hasn't experienced the thrill of commuter racing, you might not understand that its not generally a fair race, its a low down dirty fight - a street fight, if you like. The general idea is that as soon as you see the tail lights of your combatant up in front of you, you gently start to wind up the pace, carefully selecting the right gear so that you're firing on all cylinders by the time you pull alongside the unsuspecting cyclist. At this point you race past your opponent, giving him/her no chance to react to the racing signal (anything that you choose it to be) and therefore allowing you to win the race. Simple.

This time round though, I was the unsuspecting cyclist and the only time I realised I was about to be raced was when I heard him change into a bigger gear as he pulled up alongside me and by the time I had changed down the gears and started pedalling like a madman, he had already powered past me and was through the next set of traffic lights. Bastard.

I'll get him next time though (and there's no way I'll forgot those green leggings in a hurry).

Weekly Total: 22.50miles

Windy today

I made a decision last night to try and cycle in conditions that are
less than perfect this year... so when I saw Metcheck reporting that
winds were going to be kicking around the 30mph mark and some rain was
forecast too, I thought it was a perfect test of my resolve.

Up this morning and there was no sign of the rain predicted. It wasn't
too cold so i even decided to attempt the journey in shorts!! My peelly
wally legs were feeling good after last weeks exercise and I couldn't
see where this wind was going to come from.. it was lovely.

Then I hit Great Western Road.... and for the entire cycle along that
bastard road i had to pedal into a head-wind that, at times, had me
pedalling downhill in my granny gears!!!

I'm bloody knackered, my legs are like jelly, but it really is a
beautiful day and the thought that I might have a 30mph tail wind for the
journey home is making me grin like an idiot!!

weekly total: 10.65miles

1st week is over

OK, I've managed to get through the first week and I managed to cycle in to work 3 times. I didn't cycle in on Wed or Thu cos I went snowboarding in the Cairngorms on Wednesday and really didn't feel like my legs could handle cycling in on Thursday.

Anyway, its over, I'm back in the saddle and I've managed to notch up a few miles towards my target.

weekly total: 63.75miles
total distance: 63.75miles
Max speed: 32.4mph

2005 - the challenge begins

Thats it - I'm back!!

My first commute in on the bike in 2005 and its a cold one.. fecking freezing in fact.

I was given a Buff as a Christmas present and I have to say, I really did think it was the most impractical thing I had ever seen (I'm practically bald). Well, I take back everything I said about the Buff - it was tightly wrapped around my neck and head and keep me relatively toasty. Maybe a polar buff will be required next time.. maybe not. ;)

I was pretty worried that the roads were going to be icy and pretty slippy but had no issues whatsoever and made it in to work in record time - 41mins.