how things change

[ajva]

Well, I've been cycling to work for nearly a month now, and I've worked up to four days a week (Wednesdays not being possible due to evening commitments and my unwillingness to cycle in the dark just yet). The commute from Thistle is 5.2 miles, and from stefanc's is a bit less, about 3.5 miles.

During the month of May I clocked up over 100 miles by commuting little bits here and there, and because I don't go particularly fast, that meant over 13 hours' riding. Blimey.

I really thought I'd find it unsustainable, but I'm becoming hooked. I really thought it was the drink talking when I said I'd do it, but goddammit, I seem to be taking to it. I've already fallen off once and badly grazed and bruised myself, but it didn't put me off. The whole procedure is becoming gradually less terrifying. I read in the paper that on Tuesday afternoon, a cyclist died on Kingsland Road, which I cross on my Thistle route. So complacency is not and should never be an option.

However, I have cancelled my gym card, which counts as some kind of commitment, I think; I'll just need to work some resistance training in somehow. Maybe I'll check out what the local leisure centres have to offer.

And two days ago, I managed to ride to the top of that killer hill on Wharton Street for the first time.

Go, as they say, me.

Comments

[jhg.livejournal.com]

Hooray!

[adjectivemarcus.livejournal.com]

Well done! I'm glad it's going well. (c:

[kelemvor.livejournal.com]

Congratulations! Welcome to the club!
(Go for a ride around Bristol. Then you won't worry about the hills in London so much!)

[juliet]

Hurrah for cycling!

(now, you could always consider the Dunwich Dynamo... :-) I do actually have a coach ticket back for this year, which counts as some variety of expression of intent; pulling out may yet occur if a) my test 50-70mile ride spanners my knees; b) something else spanners my knees; c) it rains (this is not just wussiness; cycling in the rain, guess what, spanners my knees) )

Really Must start going to the gym at work, though; cycling v good for the legs, less so for upper body. Unless you regularly go across the river at Greenwich after 7pm & therefore have to carry yr bike up & down the stairs to the foot tunnel. I didn't really expect that to be the way in which sailing might be good for me...

[ajva.livejournal.com]

What happens if you get lost?!

[juliet]

I think they recommend you bring a map for this possibility (I certainly will be; I don't like going unknown places without a map, even with the directions sheet that gets dished out). I guess if you get *really* lost, & cycling around a bit doesn't get you anywhere, you phone directory enquiries & locate a local taxi firm. It's supposed to be pretty hard to get lost - there's nightlights out on at least some of the route, & with 500-odd other cyclists heading in the same direction, lots of little glowing red rear lights to guide you.

(I'm slightly more concerned about the possibility of my knees actually giving out in the middle of the night; may take Pete's ultralight sleeping-bag & one of those space-blanket thingies so I can crash on the verge if need be.)

[ajva.livejournal.com]

By gum, you're a hardy one, aren't you? :o)

[trishpiglet.livejournal.com]

Yes! Go you!
: )

[lolliepopp.livejournal.com]

Gosh - the best I can come up with is that I haven't missed a Tai Chi lesson since I started the new job and this week I have been to two of them.

And I appear to be able to take my jeans off without unzipping them - but that is always happening.

L
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