I’m writing this all in one go at the end of the week, not the usual way you do a blog I know. I approached bike week with the intention to use my bike as much as possible for work and leisure. I bike whenever I can anyway but not in bad weather!On Sunday the normal drive to church became a bike ride, much quicker than I thought it would be. Must do that more regularly.Our Sunday walk which sometimes involves a short drive became a bike ride. We had a lovely ride along country lanes to the West Woodhay Garden Show. Just enough room in the saddlebags for the plants we bought.Back to work on Monday, at Eastfield House Surgery. It’s raining so out with the waterproofs! I’d normally pick up the car keys. On a good day I often wish my trip to work was a bit longer! My little burst on the bike helps to wake me up! Tony’s fixed a metal rack to the back of my bike to carry my scales and the other equipment I may need. Many of my visits are in the town centre where using my bike saves time and means fewer parking problems.I...

Read More »

.....(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...

Read More »

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

Did a run to Pinchington Lane recycling centre this afternoon to offload a month's worth of paper, cardboard and plastic bottles - it all squished into a sports bag which went on the rack without a problem.  Went up Pyle Hill (why does the cycle lane begin so far up, and why does it peter out short of The Cedars?  Answers on a postcard please) and came back across the footbridge and down to St John's Road roundabout (path in an awful state).  Abbotswood will be inaccessible to bikes (it'll be bad enough in cars), and it does seem to be the wrong facility in the wrong place at the wrong time.

The gardens near St John's Road roundabout look loads better since the tall trees were removed and it was tidied up - nice to see some kids enjoying the park - another Town Council success story.

Only 6 kms on the day - now 320 kms for the week.  Will probably wimp out of the Newbury RC club run tomorrow (the forecast isn't that good, and I've got a Year 11 Physics course to produce).  Might get out a bit later...

Read More »

Just about there - avoided all the downpours yesterday, but there are more this weekend if the forecast is anything to go by.  Popped out and did the weekly supermarket shop on the bike yesterday evening - no problems getting it all on the bike racks and in a rucksack, and it was probably quicker than doing it by car.  Daily total was 17km, making the overall now 313 kms for the week.  Nearly two hundred miles - based on 40p a mile travel costs (that's the normal rate for car travel), that's eighty pounds.  It's probably nearer thirty pounds saved in terms of my car, but still a decent saving.  Got a very large chocolate bar in celebration!

Might try and take some cardboard and plastic to Pinchington Lane this weekend - will let you know how I get on.  But lots of schoolwork marking to be done first - teaching certainly isn't a 37 hour 9 to 3-30 five days a week job! 

Controversial thought for the day - cycling helmets for kids.  Wearing your lid might be inconvenient and make you look like an uncool space...

Read More »

At last it's Friday - yabba dabba doo!  End of a very wet week - perhaps the longest day yesterday was really the longest wettest day!  The waterproofs have seen a lot of service this week.  Wednesday's trip to and from school involved a lot of water - the shower at around 4-20 certainly found me!  Hey ho.  Did 1 hr 33 mins and 1 sec for the 30 miles in the time trial on Wednesday night - happy just to have finished, frankly.  Day's total was 80 kms, making the running total 274 kms.  And various intimate parts were hurting on Thursday morning!

Thursday involved cycling to school, then to the Donnington Valley Hotel for a pastoral conference, then home afterwards to freshen up and then back up to the Hotel (via the Golf Club) for dinner in the evening.  Plenty of slopes to get the blood flowing (especially from Oxford Road up to the golf club - now I know why they use golf carts a lot), but a day of excellent company, a very useful conference and a very pleasant dinner.  Day's total was 22 km, so now up...

Read More »

About cycling - but not doing it!

Read More »

Tuesday - feeling fitter already.  Pleasant ride to school in the sunshine this morning, although needed to be on guard to avoid a bit of broken glass on the cycle path near B&Q.  Saw a few Kennet pupils riding in too - good news.  Rode back around 4-30 for a meeting in the Town Hall, then home and out again to pet shop on London Road for some budgie millet and wild bird seed.  Just got back before the thunder and lightning started. Day total is another 17 kms bringing the running total to 194 kms.  Thought for the day - is Lycra a Good Thing?

30 mile time trial on the A4 tomorrow evening - riding to the event and back adds another ten miles.  Target time is 1 hr and 30 minutes. 

Saturday 16th - here goes, have checked the bikes out for brakes (got a couple of pairs of new blocks from our friends at Banjo's, with the 10% SPOKES discount), gears, tyres and general roadworthiness (me as well as the bike).  Got to the Town Hall for 10 and met up with the rest of the gang for the World's End to John O'Gaunt ride.  Nine of us, with a couple of tandems to add to the spectacle - looks good.  Bit of rain as we set off up Northbrook Street, but it soon stopped.  Seems like one moronic motorist can't cope with the concept of cycles - nine turning right down Station Road in Speen after signalling properly, so he decides to try and barge us out of the way coming out - dear oh dear. But apart from the odd speed-kid in a sports car, no problems with the drivers - shows we can all coexist if we all give and take a bit. A lovely ride up through Winterbourne and Chieveley for a photo at World's End - all very picturesque.  Then down to Leckhampstead (pleasantly surprised by the ease of coming up the hill),...

Read More »

Give a lift to old friends or bike?

Read More »