Lidl Mice in Hailstorm Date 108

11.5 miles to the Harrow Road via Clapham. Top speed 17.7 on the Brommie.

The expression "local showers" took on their true meaning today.  First stop - Lidl in Clapham for their Special Offers Day.  Really worth keeping a look out for these.  My favourites were:

The Lidl Luggage Rack £8.99 (if only I needed more luggage...!)

 The Lidl light set £5.99 - both front and rear lights with fittings and batteries - duly purchased!

The Lidl Cable Lock £2.49 - for when you are standing by your bike talking to friends - not for leaving on its own somewhere

The Lidl Spoke Reflectors 36 pieces £3.99.  I do need to check with friends whether these are good things or bad things. Update  - these are a good thing and I have been advised that a friend wont ride GMT without them.  I could be going back to Lidl tomorrow...!

The Lidl Tool Kit £24.99 This looked ok as a starter set but sometimes it is better value to buy a la carte rather than the set menu as it gives you the choice to buy exactly what you need.  

The Lidl Luggage pannier bag £8.99 This was a really good piece of kit. It seemed to be well made, a good design and clips to the rack.  How I stopped myself from buying it I have no idea!

The Lidl Rucksack £8.99.  Again, it seemed very well made for the price -  I am not really into rucksacks and I have learned how much more comfortable it is to have the luggage on the bike and not on me. 

Lidl had some Ladies shorts and t-shirts which I, personally, didnt really like the look of, along with a very green lightweight jacket that would have been a boil in the bag experience.  

Their gloves always concern me because if they don't fit they can be more trouble than they are worth. There was  also a chain cleaning gadget which again can end up being a waste of money as there are better ways (apparently!) to clean a chain. 

Like last time they did have helmets for £12.99. They also had tyres but I am not sure of the quality so left them behind.  

Having been to a couple of Lidl Special Days I highly recommend them and at the very least are  worth checking out.

I then spent half an hour chasing the blue sky that was just ahead of me - whilst I was actually being hailed upon.  Hailstones hitting my helmet making a real racket!  By the time I was at the Westway  my over-trousers had proved what a great investment they are as although they were soaked I was bone dry!

Luckily the sun came  out and stayed out!

Mice Log Summer Day 107

10.5 miles, top speed 16.8, average speed 9.1 on the Brommie to the West End and back via Hyde Park.

An appointment in the West End followed by a visit to  Velorution in Great Portland Street (and also Selfridges).  It is one of my favourite bike shops because in addition to what you'd expect - knowledge, stock, in-house mechanics - it also always has really interesting and unusual bicycles and accessories.

For instance.... What's the Time, Mr Wolf?  It's time for a bike ride.....

and less than a week after The Tweed Run,  a limited edition Carradice saddle bag in Tweed with a reflective thread

and I found the perfect small Carradice to add to my collection - the Zipped Roll.  This is ideal for my road bike. It has a 2L capacity so can look after my pump, spare tubes, over trousers, extra layer, batteries and food.

So, less Goldilocks and the Three Bears more the5milecyclist and The Three Bags - small (Zipped Roll 2L as just bought!), medium (Nelson 15L) and large (super C 23L) that will fit on all my bikes (except the Brompton) and I have the quick release system so I don't have to faff about undoing buckles in the rain.

 

Then this caught my eye!  The owner explained that at a bike fair in Rome, the bicycle manufacturer had branched into luggage.   

Perfect for the summer, not too big or too small and a really neat design.

Prices for bicycles and accessories vary like mountain ranges - for me, some are way too steep, some can only be dreamed about, some are such fun they have to be bought on the spot and some are real bargains! I shall continue to keep Velorution on my radar as every time I go there I find something that I haven't seen anywhere else that, for me, is well-designed and different.  And it stays competitive in terms of pricing.

Tomorrow is Lidl Day!   Their special offer day (or whatever they call it) which is really good for total bargains.  A great place for new cyclists to start as all the bits and pieces you need - kit for the bike, kit for the cyclist - can be quite expensive when added together.  Last months Special Offer day had cycling shoes for £12, a set of lights for £3.  I went to two stores and made these observations. I will be haring off there tomorrow as I think a set of lights for £3 even as back up cannot be sniffed at.  

I don't think I need any more luggage.....!

Mice in the City

Star Log 106. 12.5 miles, top speed 17.9, ave speed 6.8 in 1hr 54 on the Brommie (I think traffic lights and having to do a bit of walking lowered my average speed!)

The novelty of cycling in sunshine never wears off! Two days running the sky had blue bits and the temperature in double figures! Wowser! Is this still London?!

Cycling along The Mall it seems the preparations for Margaret Thatcher's funeral are keeping many people busy.  Railings are going up along the pavement, lamp posts are being crowned, the TV outside broadcast trucks are parked up and ready.

As I went past Australia House on the Aldwych I swerved to avoid a road sign that was lying in the middle of the road. It was being crumpled by buses but would definitely take a road bike out if hit.  It was unsafe to stop so I found a policeman and asked him to help.

On to Fleet Street. I love Fleet Street. It is narrow, the buildings are higgledypiggledy and the road is sweeping as it drops down then up to Ludgate Circus.  With the magnificent St Pauls Cathedral as a backdrop.  Gets me every time.  It was a bit full of extra traffic and a lot of police.

I rode past St Pauls, stopped to wonder at its serenity, history and iconic effect on London's skyline.  Sir Christopher Wren drew a legacy that in turn made me draw breath in awe.

 

Up to London Wall and along to the Barbican where the architecture is a whole different ball game.  Tall, skinny and concreted.  

Hard, cold lines glaring down.  I did find a bit of a route that would have been a great helter-skelter.

 Sadly the authorities have got there first - spoilsports!

On to Liverpool Street Station - suits everywhere! Only me and a delivery guy wearing jeans!  Cycling past vistas not seen before, buildings old and new, spaces where demolitions have been completed and the sous-terrain pillars are being whacked into the ground. I am sure I saw a concrete lift shaft in the mix.

 

Down to London Bridge for a coffee and then home.  

Mice the Tourist rides around London in The Springtime

Mice Log Date 105.  20 miles in 1hr 45, ave speed 11.7 max speed 23.3 on  the Marin.

For me, there is no better way to explore a city than on a bicycle.  Especially when it's a city in which I have lived for quite some time - it is full of things I have never seen before, nor would ever see unless I was on two wheels.

From Admiralty Arch and along the Strand, up through Covent Garden and onto Tottenham Court Road where the pot holes are so big they should have a Council Tax Banding.  

Ambling along just taking in the views, I cycled past this and thought of a friend - who to be honest was probably in there!!  

Just along the street I saw this - I have no idea what it is or means but it was quite striking.

Then I was overtaken by this catering organisation.  Darwin Deli have been delivering sandwiches by bicycle to offices for a decade and this company  is probably one of many more since.  Slowly but surely the bicycle is becoming a standard asset for many businesses. Huzzahhhh!! 

 As I headed east along Oxford Street towards Tottenham Court Road the bus in front stopped at the red lights.

 

It was a 73.  "Hmmmph" I thought, "the 73 used to go to Warren Street so should be turning left here." I stayed behind it.  Was it indicating? Was it heckers like?  Nothing. Nothing at all.  I watched in horror as a cyclist went down the inside of it.  Thanks to absolutely nothing other than incredible luck, the lights stayed red.  The cyclist carried on past the bus.   The lights changed, the bus pulled forward and then  - and only then - did it indicate left.

I find that absolutely shocking.  Indicating is a warning, a notification of intention - what on earth is the point of doing it after the manoeuvre? What was worse was that the No.10 bus did exactly the same thing.

 I find this unacceptable. Transport for London should be ensuring that their drivers indicate.  Who to write to I wonder?

On to Charlotte Street and found this company (which is probably a sort of Snappy Snaps) but it caught my eye.

I then came across someone with a birds eye view of what his colleagues were up to - a reminder of the ever changing and evolving buildings that make up this great city.

My next discovery was a bike shop!  What's not to like??!

I headed home via Hyde Park - the air was slightly cooler than anticipated but the daffs were happy!  And indeed - so was I!!