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. 

Mice Log Star Date 59

A Pootle around SW London! 28.02.13. 16.07 miles, 9.7mph average speed, 21.4mph max, in 1hr 38.

An appointment at midday presented the opportunity to cycle through Brompton Cemetery which I don't do very often.  I have been on a guided ride through it with an architect who pointed out the graves of lives gone by. It's a very humbling place, quiet of course and a reminder of how lucky we all are to not yet be a resident.

 The sun was visible again - that's two days running which was a bit of a treat.  

I headed east and crossed the river - destination Clapham - to collect something from a friend. I only usually see Clapham Common on my bicycle with about fifty others, cycling to Brighton or Bognor on Friday Night Rides to the Coast (aka The Fridays).  

A magical group of peeps led by the kindest and hilarious duo who make sure these rides are the most fun you will ever, ever have on a bicycle. So it was very odd to be in the middle of the common in broad daylight.

On the way there I saw something that made me grin like a Cheshire cat! Last June I cycled from Hyde Park Corner to Scotland with The Fridays.  It was incredible. The people, the route, everything.  I went through places I have only ever - and indeed some I have never - ever heard of.  One that I knew was The Forth Bridge

 

When I saw this I nearly fell off my bike I was laughing so much.  I then noticed the neighbouring streets which are all places I cycled through last year and which brought back many, many happy memories. 

 

And then there was the road to Wick which I am sure will forever remain in the minds of all of us on that trip as:

 

I reached the rendez-vous point and caught up with a friend who is busy on a hectic schedule for a while then pootled homewards back across the Common.

The traffic north of the river was at a standstill and I was shocked by how impatient and reckless people were with their lack of indicating and heavy revving.  If only they knew how much fun they would have if they swapped their 4 x 4s with a 1 x 1.  

The day ended on a sour note when I learned that a friend of mine has had her bicycle stolen.  If only Lord Sugar and his Amstrad innovators could come up with an anti-theft device for bicycles.  A friend has designed a gadget but it relies on powered-street furniture which means relying on local councils.  But it would be a start. 

On the way home I couldn't believe how lovely and blue the twilight sky was.

Mice Log Star Date 58

Woohoo Sunny London! 27 02 2013.  16.83 miles, Ave speed 11.6, max speed 20.6 in 1hr26

Timing is everything in life!  A few distractions prevented me from leaving before 1pm and as I pedalled to Hyde Park there was a break in the clouds - the sun was out!  The air temperature was decidedly nippy but the sunlight lifted everything.

On my way I was aggressively overtaken by a Range Rover who did a particularly close pass and then swerved in front of me to stop at the Give Way junction.  Really - although I suspect this happens all day long - what a ridiculous manner in which to drive. As I overtook him at the lights I saw one of the problems - he clearly couldn't find the correct number he was looking for in his Iphone.   

A few years ago someone called Opera Winfrey started a campaign to make cars a No Phone Zone. Mobiles are left in cubby holes or in the boot. I think it's something to think about, at least. 

As I began my laps of the park I couldn't believe the difference the weather made in a day. The park was full of people! 

 

Jogging, walking, Personal Training, dog-walking and many just strolling through the sunshine.

                                    There were also quite a lot of people cycling through. 

Whilst cycling along the South Carriageway I was scalped by a chap on a Trek road bike in a Campagnolo cycling top. It made me wonder how fast I was going - oooops 14mph on the flat! Hardly a workout! So with a naughty grin on my face I pushed up the pace and followed him. Hilariously I then scalped him (well, overtook - I dont do scalping as it's too close)!!

 A bit further down the road there was quite the most fantastic sight.  

The Household Cavalry were out - but they had forgotten their horses, they were on foot!

 

An RSM (Regimental Sergeant Major - I have an ex Boyfriend who was in the army!!) was accompanying them - well hollering at them. It was fab to see.

The Hyde Park Farmyard works continued. The peat had arrived and was being laid down in the hope it will all be back to normal in time for summer.  

What a big operation this has been. The damage from last years' concerts, Glastonbury in W1.

Cycling in Hyde Park is fun because it has less traffic but it's not perfect.  The main cycling route is a circuit - you have to cycle round it as it is not possible to cycle straight down the middle.  

The expression "No Cycling" appears often in worn out paint at the beginning of paths.  I can understand that given the number of pedestrians in the summer it is possibly no bad thing although a review would be helpful, particularly as the cycling numbers increase.  

If I was writing to City of Westminster I would also ask them how many of the chauffeurs sitting in their parked cars on South Carriageway near Exhibition Road really need to have their engines running whilst they wait for their bosses to come back from shopping or wherever. The CO2 emissions level must be on a par with The Marylebone Road.  Thankfully South Carriageway is being closed from 11th March which means the cars are going to have to park somewhere else.

In my imaginary letter to the City of Westminster, I was feeling very lucky, I would also ask them to reduce the speed limit to 20 mph, like Richmond Park and to educate drivers that cyclists who cycle a meter and a half from parked cars aren't doing it to be irritating - they are doing it to avoid hitting car doors that are opened by people not checking for cyclists.  It's called being doored and it can kill people. 

With my letter finished I tuned back in to the beauty of Hyde Park on a lovely day.

 

By the end of my third lap the grin on my face was so big I didnt want to go home! I pootled across to Kensington Palace Gardens and down Millionaires Row. 

I weaved my way south and found the sun making these houses look so bright! Lovely jubbly!