Confrontation

Rode in yesterday as well (too busy to write in here though) which was cold and blowy but mostly uneventful. Confronted a driver who cut me up on the way home but he was so apologetic, obviously hadn't seen me, there was nothing much I could do.. A 6'3" bloke in a fluorescent yellow jacket riding a pink bike...what exactly does it take for people to notice you?

In other news, car cost 240 quid to get through it's MOT. I could buy a nice new commuting bike for that..sadly still need the car for weekends..

Headwind

20 mph headwind all the way in to work, so what you might think, at least I get a free push home... Oh no. Sodding thing has just changed direction 180 degrees at exactly lunchtime...Grr. This intelligent design argument might have a point, but I tell you, if there is a god, he's a cantankerous sod..

Blue skies and only one major threat to my life..

Lovely morning to cycle in today. Despite feeling knackered from climbing and biking in the evenings this week, the blue skies gave me enough encouragement to make the effort. One pillock tried to turn right across me, but apart from that it was a lovely ride in..

Back on the bike

Well I'm back on the bike. It's been quite a long lay off, due in part to the freezing winter weather, partly due to having to put in long days at work and partly due to training for the toughguy event.
That's all behind me now (and the Toughguy was great fun if you like mud, water, barbed wire and more mud..) so I can finally get back into the rythm of commuting under my own steam.
A nicely non-eventful ride in to welcome me back. The roadworks at the Newport end of the old A48 are still in progress and stil have a long single lane stretch meaning cyclists must rely on the patience of car drivers to avoid unpleasant overtaking related disasters. It was damn cold too, my toes were like ice cubes when I got to the office..
39minutes 37s door to door, I want to get that under 30 minutes by the summer.

Riding home in the dark was scary

Even with 35w of Halogen goodness and a reflective jacket, I still had a few close calls..

Nice ride in this morning though, hot and sweaty but harmless in terms of traffic..

Dancing the light fantastic

Brought my lumicycles in with me today so I can ride home later than usual.. The sky is looking ominous though, storm's a brewin'...

Christmas bash

Led me to leave the car in St Mellons last night. Gave me a good extra kick to ride in today, well worth it. Lovely weather and no homocidal motorists.

Finally

Back on the bike today finally. Early meething got cancelled meaning I could wait til daylight broke through the murk before dodging BMWs on the A48.
Noticed I've got a broken spoke at the back when setting off this morning, didn;t have time to sort it so just zip tied it out of the way. I predict it will still be held together with zip ties til some time next year...oh well.

Being really slack

Didn't ride in at all last week. Must try harder... :-(

New targets

Back in the car today, have lots of work to do so really can't afford as short a day as I get when I cycle. I would ride home in the dark but the fog at the moment is intense. I nearly got wiped out 3 times last night on the way home (2 different builders vans and a big beemer), scary stuff.
My new target is to ride in at least once a week. Until the daylight picks up, that'll have to do sadly. I'm climbing two nights a week and riding off road one night a week (plus weekends) as well as running at least once a week. Hopefully that lot should keep me in shape til the days get longer..

Finally

Cycled in this morning. Absolutely freezing, but I was well wrapped up. The only real problem was my ankles getting really cold (I usually wear trainer liners instead of socks). I might have to get some wooly socks for the winter..

Blimey I'm rubbish

I blame the lack of cold weather gear, but really it's just a lack of motivation. We've had nearly a week and a half of the nicest cold crisp winter weather, and I haven't ridden to work once. Tomorrow is the day though, and this time I mean it..

Drove today too...

..and the weather is lovely and dry. Bugger.

A terrible record

Didn't bike in at all last week, and drove in this delightful monday morning too.. Hopefully work pressures will back off a bit now and I can get back to it. Rode off road sunday and went for a run on saturday (training for the Tough Guy in jan).

Bad week for cycling

I've not cycled in at all this week so far, and given committments for the next few days, can't cycle in until friday. Not happy about it, feeling fatter already.

On the bus today

This week has seen me do the least cycling of any week since I got back from Africa. One day's cycle commuting and no evening or weekend rides, shocking. Next week is looking pretty mental workwise too, hopefully I'll be able to squeeze in a few pedals though.

Commuter jacket works

Finally got back on the bike today, despite miserable weather. Luckily my new commuter jacket kept me lovely and warm/dry all the way to work. Result.

Drove every day this week so far

The weather has been terrible and I've been ill. Hoping to be back on two wheels tomorrow though.

Drove in today

Because we're off to the Registry office straight from work (only for a chat, not getting married til next May).

Overcoming lack of motivation

I very nearly didn't ride in today, just couldn't be arsed.. Then I remembered how dull the middle of winter is with cold wet grey days, and realised that I should really make the most of our current bearable weather. So, I forced myself to ride in, and it was fine.. I'm glad I did.