Mice Log oooooo What's Happened to the Weather?!

Star Date 69 14.50 miles, average speed 9.2 top speed 21.6 in 1hr36; on the Brommie!  Someone seems to have stolen Spring.  The daffodils are on ice. The crocuses may croak before the end of the month. It's all gone mad!

None of that stopped me from riding my bike tho'!  I chose the Brommie in case I needed to take a train later and travelled South to lunch with friends.  I popped into M&S on the way, couldn't be bothered to fold the Brommie so just trundled around with it as though it was a trolley!  

I went past a tennis court and there were not only people playing tennis but one of them was actually in shorts! Shorts?! I tried to take a pic but the snowstorm upset the focus!!  Then I saw a guy cycling with a Bass on his back!!

The plan for the day was to rock up at a friends' house, she was to provide the space, drinks and fine hosting - we were to provide some of the food.  One of us said he'd cook.  The rest of us all cyber-spacically looked at each other going "Really??"  "Oh yes, no  problem.  You're vegetarian.  I'll bring an aubergine".  Gulp!   

As it happened he arrived with an aubergine and a puncture.  He was unamused - that's the second in three days (puncture not aubergine).  Our lovely host took over the kitchen and magically produced the most delicious risotto.  Another friend brought home-made apple biscuits.   If either of these two peeps offer to do any kind of cooking just say yes.  It was all delicious.

 

The puncture was fixed, conversations took off about all sorts.  There are some things in life I'd rather not know.  F'rinstance gelatine.  My face is all screwed up just thinking about it.  Suffice to say that non vegetarians have been eating gelatine for centuries and it apparently hasn't done us any harm.  Just don't ever, ever, ever ask what it's made of...!

 A really lovely afternoon that went into evening. We carried on eating, drinking, laughing right through to 9pm.  One hell of a lunch I'd say.  As we left, the Cook (and I use that word loosely) said he'd show me a good route home.  This turned out to be more of a good route to his home as I missed the "turn right at the lights" moment!  Thankfully he showed me another route, we went our separate ways and I pedalled on as fast as I could - the cold was colder than cold.

                                          The Cook - too cool for Skool! (He may prefer Skol!)

But another lovely day.  Thank you peeps.

Mice Attempts to Show London to Friends

Star Date 68 15.12 miles, average speed 8.8 in 1hr56; laughs - too many to count.  15 fabulous miles with friends - also known as London Hybrid Rides.   

A few months ago, a couple of friends who live in Brighton and I thought it might be fun to play host to each other in our respective cities. We could then show and share our favourite spots, cafes, routes and give a sort of insider tour of our neighbourhoods.  The only rule is that there is no rule - the host has a vague plan as a sort of default but it can all change on the day the moment someone wants to cycle somewhere else (although Birmingham isn't an option - yet!).  The only reason there is a plan is to avoid standing on the side of the road saying "where shall we go?"!  

Today's tour started at Victoria station from which a beeline was made to breakfast at Look Mum No Hands in Old Street just north of The City.  They do a very good breakfast and are totally bicycle-friendly (but bring locks).

 

 

On the way there as we weaved our way through quiet streets we found ourselves stopping every so often for a photo or just to have a look at a building or a view.

  

We took in Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament before heading down to the Embankment which has a cycle lane along it (in part).  The sky was grey and St Pauls was barely visible in low cloud. It was cold but it didn't rain. 

I got lost a couple of  times but the great thing about being a guide is that noone notices when you actually get lost!  (Or rather nobody cares - it's a bike ride!)  Once at Smithfields Market we were back on track and at Look Mum No Hands.  With the bicycles locked up we sat down to Brunch.  As is de-rigeur the first thing we all did was to take photographs and post our location and status on Facebook and Twitter! 

Half way through scrambled eggs and mushrooms on toast we were joined by another friend. Two hours later we were still there, eating, chatting and generally having a good time.  A geeky techno moment occured as we turned our table into a Carphone Warehouse store comparing Iphones, Samsungs and Blackberrys.  The Blackberry lost on several counts - not least because it was unable to connect to the wifi during the entire time we were there!  Whatever the topic of conversation, we all found ourselves laughing loudly and very  frequently.  True friends are worth their weight in gold and carbon!

Eventually we managed to tear ourselves away and headed west.  For some reason the Brigtonians wanted to see Hyde Park so they could compare it with my photos...!  Into Trafalgar Square where there was an International Womens' Day March.  A reminder of how things have changed thanks to the stoic and humbling efforts of women in the past.  

We cycled through Admiralty Arch which is always special and as we made our way along the Mall, Sahar spotted a friend of hers who had come up for the march.  Timing really is everything. 

We stopped for a Hello before making our way to Buckingham Palace (as you do)!

Along Constitution Hill from where we popped into a shop to have a look at a spinning bike.  This is no ordinary bike. It is the Tour de France bike and has been designed to enact every inch of the Tour de France - it has hydraulics so that it can put you in the actual position of any part of the route matching the exact ascent or descent.  Amazing.

Time had flown by and we were thinking of food again!  Hungry in Knightsbridge is expensive so we popped along to South Kensington where the eaterie options are plentiful and not quite so pricey.  After a recce of about eight restaurants we settled on Le Pain Quotidien where we ate hot soup, followed by salmon with couscous and roasted vegetables. 

Real food, healthy, freshly prepared and delicious.  Topped off with carrot cake or in my case Apple Crumble and an enormous pot of clotted cream!  Calorie ratio intake:burnt not ideal.  The day however had been fantastic.

As a footnote, these rides are a real opportunity to discover your own manor. You see sights and streets that you that you have noticed before -a great way to share it with friends and to spend time in fine company with a bit of a bike ride.  Bring locks, puncture repair kits, a spare tube, pump and lights. (see basic kit).   But they are definitely days to remember. 

  

A Day to test waterproofness!

Date 67 17.5 miles Max 18.8 in 1hr56 Average 8.8.

 

What a day of drizzle! A perfect day for a bit of performance testing for waterproofs! Cycling in rain is all about the wardrobe. If your clothes keep you dry the rain is incidental. Today, Goretex waterproof trousers were essential - worn over trousers/jeans/leggings and they passed the test - as did my Gore jacket (a "shower proof" raincoat was left behind).

Yesterday's purchase of the Basil bag cover from The Bicycle Workshop in All Saints Road was added to the test list.  It's a bit red but I like it! (They have others)

I headed to Highbury, having met a friend in Islington, to see the new housing complex that was once home to Arsenal.   

 Is that a bit of pitch I wonder...!

Then on to The Emirates Stadium - the last time I was here I was on my way to  Germany 

It's amazing what you see on a bicycle.  I didn't really have a clue where I was going but that's one of the things that makes cycling such fun - if you are just pootling af few miles from home and you have time to spare it doesn't really matter. I did use the destinations on Bus Stops to check which direction I was heading.

As I cycled past the old Highbury I noticed these chaps.  What a job, I thought. I stopped for to take a pic and one of them came over for a chat. Apparently in the summer they paint the windfarm windmills in the sea.  They travel by boat, climb up a ladder to a hatch and then stairs to the top of the mill.  From there they can drop down over the outside and paint away.  Apparently each windmill can sleep 10 in case they are stuck in bad weather.  Learn a new thing every day I thought.

I couldnt help notice the steam coming out of the tarmac - it was like something out of a film.

As I cycled towards Essex Road, I was about five feet away from the pavement when a BMW came past, wound down the window and shouted "Move Over. Move Over" pointing at the kerb.  I grinned hugely and shouted back "Pot holes. Pot Holes". 

"Whatttt?" he shouted "POT HOLES" I replied "I'm avoiding the pot holes.  I'm not cycling to just be in the way I'm trying to avoid potholes. Do you ride a bike?  You seem very stressed".  He acknowledged my smile and grinned back at me. "Oh, I see" he said. "You would have much more fun if you rode a bike! I said, still grinning.    And he smiled back!  Result!

I spotted another bike shop which I will pop back to another time.

Once home I could check my waterproofing. The Gore cycling jacket was soaked through but I was dry.  My gloves and Doc Martens however failed completely and I had cold, wet hands and feet.  A hot shower followed by hot soup resolved the norm.

The Basil Bag wins hands down!  Everything in my Brompton bag was bone dry! (Or would have been if I hadnt kept opening it!)

Mice Log Mood Changer Date 66

12.2 miles Max 16.1 in 1hr28 Average speed 8.1.  The sky was Excel spreadsheet grey, it had just stopped raining, my brain was weighed down with issues that I couldn't fix.  Do I really want to go for a ride? I asked myself.

The reality of course was yes.  It's just a question of holding your breath whilst you get ready and are outside but once on the pedals with the feet moving things change.  It did take a bit of time - about three miles - but once I had switched into the changing surroundings, the architecture, the flashes of the taxi cab headlights letting me turn across his path my mood started to brighten.

I headed for Kensington Palace Gardens where the few pedestrians out and about were under umbrellas. It was raining, very slightly and I hadn't really noticed!

 As I stopped to take the pictures a large crow started jeering at me, really, really loudly

I cycled up Millionaires Row and to Ledbury Road.  I am meeting a couple of friends on Saturday and this is one of our potential destinations.  I managed to avoid Daylesfords (fabulous organic cafe/restaurant/best bakewell tart on the planet) and found myself at a bike shop!

They were closing for lunch so I carried on for a pootle around Westbourne Grove and returned an hour later.  Ninon who owns/runs it really knows what she is doing.  Not only does she have a brilliant team of mechanics but they all think out of the box as she is forever looking at new brands and products to work out what will and won't work. 

For instance, I have been using my Basil Bag on my Brompton because I like how it looks and it's easy to attach and detach.  Unfortunately it has been making its own breaks for freedom recently and three times this afternoon I heard it land in middle of the road - narrowly avoiding being run over! 

Ninon suggested using a Brompton shopping bag (that I already have) but with a Basil cover over the top. Apparently at a recent bike show in Germany she took the Basil cover to the Brompton stand to see if it would work.  It does, so she now sells them along with the bags.  Sorted!

Instead of trying to sell me the most expensive thing possible, Ninon found me the perfect and practical solution. That put a big smile on my face! She told me that she has also sourced wheel guards recently for a group of people who have to wear full length skirts. Now that's what I call a really good local bike shop. And here it is on my Brommie!

I then went shopping in Westbourne Grove, continuing my quest to find garments that I can wear whilst pootling around town without being all lycra'ed up.  It's not always easy because they need to stretch to allow pedalling but without being ruined in the process.

Once the sun comes out I hope to take some photos of styles being worn by fellow cyclists, for inspiration.

As I returned home the skies were still grey but my mood was definitely lifted. It is true to say, I love riding my bike!