Cycle

Confession time: I’ve bought a new bike - codename: "New Puppy". Well, not a NEW bike, but a second-hand one. It’s a Brompton, which is something I’ve wanted for some time . . . Actually I bought it a couple of weeks ago, but with the weather I’ve not really been out on it. Then...
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Socks? Yes - sporty towelling ones under a pair of close-knit synthetic ones. Gloves? Yes - track-mits for wrist comfort under a pair of skiing mittens. Jersey? Yes - an air-trapping base layer under a regular jersey. And a windstopper on top. Trousers? Yes - fleecy-lined leggings over cycling shorts. Underpants? No. Drat. Owing to that omission, I got...
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With the weather this week I’ve been a bit of a wuss. I admit it - I really don’t enjoy riding in torrential rain and a 30+ mph headwind. Maybe it’s a getting older kind of thing. Or maybe I’m just going soft. The trouble is that if I don’t ride I get irritable....
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Back on the bike today after some truly pigging awful weather for the last couple of days. Rain, 30mph crosswinds, and a lack of determination kept me off the bike. But today was BEAUTIFUL, if more than a little chilly - windstopper, fleecy-lined leggings, skiing mittens and a huge grin as the sun rose...
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I’m becoming increasingly paranoid about not being seen by drivers on the road. This is getting worse as the days get shorter, and I’m spending more and more time riding at night. To compensate, I’m getting towards being dressed up like a Christmas tree . . . Two very bright white lights on the handlebars...
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That’s the milestone I passed today. According to Google Earth, it’s 3,540 miles from my study to the Oval Office, and that’s how far I’ve ridden this year. So how far can I take it this year? November looks like being a full commuting month (call it 6-700 miles) plus I’m riding from Edinburgh...
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It looks like winter’s chasing hard on the heels of autumn - this morning it was COLD. The forecast was 4°C, but there was frost on the edges of the road, and despite my scrummy fleecy-lined leggings & skiing mittens, it felt a whole lot colder. By the time I got to work, my...
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So. Tuesday was parents evening at Daughter’s new school. A chance to meet her form teacher & convince him that we’re nice, and he should give her better grades. But the appointment was at 6pm - how to get home in time to get everyone up to the school? Two things conspired to help...
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Bah. I didn’t get elected to the CTC’s National Council - found out by email on Monday just before I left work in the evening. I was pretty cheesed off about this - both because it’s something I wanted and because the overall number of votes cast was so small. Just a little extra...
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The fields I pass on the way to work are getting ploughed at this time of year - there’s probably some farmerly reason for this. Something to do with crops and agriculture and stuff like that. Anyway. After a hard day’s driving a tractor up and down a muddy field, Mr Farmer drives...
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