.....(continued) Martha also challenged not to use a car was left with a bag of my clothes for the evening to possibly bring on her bike later!I used the A4 from B&Q to Woolhampton, managing to stay off the road all the way. It is all very well having cycle lanes on roads in 30mph limits but when its de-restricted there's no way cyclists should be on a main road. The cycle/footway on the north side of A4 is just about acceptably surfaced. There was only one place where a side entrance didn't have dropped kerbs either side (kennels just west of Woolhampton) but the worst thing was the overhanging branches. At one point I ducked to avoid a branch (which struck my helmet) but it glanced across my neck before I passed by. On arrival at Douai Abbey the tenor next to me pointed out I had blood all down by neck and staining my shirt!I rode back along Bucklebury Common and down through Ashmoore Green, which was a bit longer but much more pleasant. By the time I got back to Newbury I was knackered (well I am a pensioner...

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They say: "Don't tear the arse out of it!" Well, we all know what bike seats do!!
I sang in a concert at Douai yesterday evening, starting 7.45. There was a rehearsal there from 1.45 until nearly 5pm too, so I was facing two 20-mile round trips if I was going to stick to my pleadge not to use a car. Or do I pack up my penguin suit and wash things and prepare to spend the two hours in between rehearsal and concert warm-up at Douai? If so, when do I eat.
I decided to bike there without my stuff for the evening, report back to my wife Martha (who had a ticket

About cycling - but not doing it!

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Give a lift to old friends or bike?

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