Thursday, 11 June 2015

Off To GreenLand....Docks

Hello blog lovers.

Another day, another bike ride!  I am resting, honest!  I am not running! None of that high impact stuff. What a day for cycling though!  The sun is out, it feels warm, even the breeze that was around felt warm!  This is the day for cycling!

Bims called me about 1 ish to check that we were still going out, and I said yes.  "Going to London?" she said.  I ummed and ahhed, as that is going to be a thirty mile ride!  Was I up for that yet.  I have still only been doing 15- 20 miles.  And then there are those hills....on the way home!

"Yes we're do London" she said, breaking my moaning.  So London it was, I got it in my head, I thought about, I cogitated, I planned, not that there was much planning, and I got it in my head that London is where we are going to go.  I was prepared! When I got to Bims house she said "We won't have enough time to get there, so we shall just do another route"

I wasn't having that, I had it in my mind that we are going to go to London!  So I told her we will have plenty of time! She agreed, she likes that ride into London, I like that ride into London too!  Ok so it's not a fast ride, and there are some arseholes out there in their cars!  Why would drivers try and squeeze past you through the bollards?  They wouldn't do it if we were on a motorbike or another car, or even sat on a horse, so why on a bike?

We had to go via Roger's garage, as silly Bims had forgotten to leave her car key while they look at her car! Fortunately it's not too much of a detour. We headed for Beckenham, and Cator Park.  Yes, we are going on one of the Breeze routes that Yvonne showed us!  I love this route.  Once you get to Cator Park we just followed the WaterWay Link!  Love it.  So,there are pedestrians around, it don't matter, we haven't got plane to catch! And besides, my cycling is not about speed, it's all about the company, the going out, the pleasure!
At Cator Park

The route seemed to come back to us as we pedalled along, turn by turn!  There was just that one little place we always miss, just coming out of a path and then we need to turn right to go over the bridge. We always miss it!

It didn't seem to take long, but then again, we were no Laura Trott either!  It just felt so good cycling about that time and distance, at that moment didn't matter!  On the way home it will!  Bims spin classes are definitely working!  There was a time when I use to tell her to ride in front of me so that I can keep an eye on her, and now I am having to stay in front so that she don't cycle off and leave me!

We got to Greenwhich and I decided to text a friend "I'm outside your office" and he came out and had a chat!  We did try and persuade him to pop down the pub but that horrible stuff that we have to do on occasions, work, kept him from joining us!  I always thought that the pub we were heading for was in St Catherines dock, but it's actually in Greenland dock!

Enjoying the suntrap!

Bims enjoying the suntrap

Totally enjoyed!


Just another 15 minutes and we had 'found' the pub (we can never find it straight away) after going down this way and that!  I was just expected a pint and a packet of crisps but Bims went for the whole panini thing!  So I settled down for a long wait!  We also chatted away to a chap sitting at the next table, John, just about this and that, like you do.  He said he didn't live far.  Back in the old days, Surrey Docks, as they were then called, were full of council housing!  Hardly anyone owned their homes then, but these days, there is hardly and council houses left, and with all the development going on the homes are worth a ton of cash.  Hence the new name of Surrey Quays!

After being suitable fed and refreshed we made our way home.  Still smiling, still totally enjoying the day, and then Bims starts "Come on, I gotta be home by 7"  I didn't realise that time are really flown!  But to think that now she also wants to 'rush' getting home......oh well!  I shall try!

Just a couple of photos on the way back.




It was a great ride, loved it!  Love going into London, for just a nice pootle about!  I couldn't live back here anymore though, but it's still great to come back for a visit!

Geeky stats, not bad for a Thursday afternoon and early evening! Not the faster ride ever, in fact probably one of the slowest, but it sure was good!


Wednesday, 10 June 2015

Get Your Ass Out!

Hello blog lovers.

Wednesday evening and I was falling asleep on my chair!  I was so tempted to stay there, the weather had been blooming chilly all day, the wind was up, and the sun was being hidden!  Oh Summer, where are you!  I long for warm sunny days, riding with my pals, long summer evenings, just poodling about!  Yet here I was, snuggled under my blanket, snatching some stolen zz's.

But the Old Boy persuaded me to go get into my cycling gear! Again it was my long pants, and I even dug out my full finger gloves!!  I don't like being cold!  And trying to ride my bike while feeling cold is just not my idea of fun.  But the thing is, when we were ready to leave the sun did indeed come out!  It felt quite warm as I stepped out of my house!  Oh well, at least I wont feel the cold. But just as I got out of the gate the wind just blew again, I decided I was dressed just right.

We were only going to do the Downe Village route and back again.  I am trying to build up my bike fitness again.  I felt every single one of those 16 miles we did today.  Every single one, all that uphill climbing.  My legs were hurting.  I thought about Bims, when she does her spin classes.  Don't get me wrong, they are good, they do make you sweat and work hard.  the get the muscles working.  But they are also so easily 'cheatable'.  Take today for instance!  There I was pedalling up hill, trying hard to not think about stopping for a breather.

If I had stopped pedalling, uphill, I know I would have come to a full stop as I was that slow, and then I would have fallen off. Everyone could see that I had stopped pedalling, not working hard, not doing it, but if that was in a spin class I could so easily cheat! And sill look like I was working hard!  When I'm on my bike riding on these hills there is no cheating, there is only continuing, to the top, back down again and then home!

Yeah, I was feeling better about going out this evening.....once I had got to Downe village of course.  Looking forward to the 'sweeties' at the top of Jail Lane, the sweeties being the lovely down hill speedier section!

We stopped off at the George before riding home through Normans Park.  Yeah, I am glad I went out on my bike today, so much better to be tired for doing something rather than not.  Although running around after kids is fun, it doesn't get the heart rate up! But at least I did get my ass out there!

I wish I could share the geeky stats, but waiting for the Old Boy to download them!  I should have taken my Garmin!




Tuesday, 9 June 2015

Summer...Where Are You?

Hello blog lovers.

I didn't get to go on a ride with the Panagua ladies yesterday, I had childcare duties to do yesterday.  So I thought this morning I would go by myself.  Not as much fun, but can still be enjoyable.  I was walking back from dropping off at the local school I was thinking "It's bloomin cold!" I was pulling my cardigan around myself to keep warm.  "Long pants I should think" were my thoughts.

I also thought two layers on top as well!  I can't believe I am thinking this almost 10 days into June! Where is our summer?!  I come home, pottered about the house before going to get changed into my cycling gear.  And then procrastinated some more!  The weather outside is just not 'doing it' for me.  My disappointment about not being able to run is getting to me, and it's not as if I have even missed a run yet.  But by the time I have finished writing this, then I would have missed my Tuesday group 0 run and group 1 run.

I have asked PhysioMike about what I think I have, shin splints!  The symptoms are exactly right, and he has told me about how to stretch out the affected muscles and also that running should be avoided until it's all mended!  Believe me, when he said that if things get real bad they can cause stress fractures!  So, you can imagine, I am just a tad disappointed.

It could be that which is putting me in this procrastinating mood, feeling sorry for myself.  So i quickly got my bike out of the door before I went back upstairs to get changed again.  I rode just up to the end of my road "Oh my goodness, it's bloody cold" I thought "And this wind, this is not going to be pleasant!"   I really wanted to go back home.  And if it wasn't for the people in the garden then I would have done a U turn there and then.

I carried on up to Oxhawth.  "I will just go up to here and then back down Lovelace, just go home" I told myself.  My logic for that was that I wouldn't see the people in the garden as I would come in from the other end!  But once I got passed there I rode up to Southborough Lane.  The plan I had was to go through Jubilee park, and then all the other parks. But I was too cold.  I convinced myself to ride up to the Harvester and then I can through my local park.

But I didn't stop there.  Although I still wasn't 'Feeling it' I carried on right to the end and turned right towards Bromley, and then went through Normans Park. "At least it's further than around the block" i thought.  I went through Hayes,and I was tempted to stop off at the cafe, the cafe!! Really two miles in and I was seriously thinking about it.  I hadn't even worked off enough calories to even think about a coffee let alone stop and order one.....with a cake!

So I carried on, My plan now was to go along Barnet Wood Lane and turn left along Oakley and then go home via the path.  But when I got as far as the end of Barnet Wood Lane I turned right instead.  I knew if I went the other way I would have gone home.  But now my plan was to stop off at the cafe.  The cafe that I missed out on yesterday, I so want to try the raspberry and white chocolate muffin again!

With my new plan in place that is where I ended up!  No raspberry muffins thoough!  But I did sample the brownie with a coffee!  I also chatted with another lone cyclist.  He had come from Bermondsey and was just out for a jaunt like you do!

No geeky stats, as I didn't want the embarrassment of it being on my activities on my Garmin site. With hind sight I wish I had, after all, 5 miles on a bike is better than no miles on a bike! Right!?


Monday, 1 June 2015

It Feels Like The First Time!

Hello blog lovers.

Well today I went out with a new group of ladies, I do like to share the love!  I was made aware of this group by a guy called Darren, a British Cycling Coach, who had noticed that I had done the marathon this year (how clever of me to get the London marathon mentioned on a cycling blog!) and he wondered if I would like to have a place on the Prudential 100!  That's a London cycle ride of a 100 miles, taking in Box hill! Well, I thought about this for a good few seconds, and then  declined his kind offer!  But he did tell me all about a ladies group who go cycling on a Monday morning!  So I thought why not!  I love meeting new people, and it's not as if I am the shy and retiring sort of person!

And anyway, everything is always nicer in a group, so I thought I would go join in.  The first week that I made plans to go I had to stay in, I had the roofers coming on that day!  The second week I planned to go it was cancelled due to inclement weather! The following week, well the following week I had the Bupa 10k in London!  I was beginning to think that maybe the stars were conspiring against me!

But this week!  This week I managed not to have any commitments, the weather was ok, at least the sun was shining.  I hadn't had any contact from Darren or anyone from Panagua,  so I thought I would just turn up and say "hi!"  I hadn't thought about the fact that it might not be on today, or if I needed to register, like the Breeze rides, I was just going to plonk myself among the ladies and hope for the best.

I got up early, had a quick shower and donned my cycling gear "Longs or shorts?" I was thinking.  I opted for the shorts, be optimistic! I looked at my Spesh, and noticed that my bits and bobs bag wasn't on there so I quickly went to the shed to grab my bike bag.  Before I put it on I noticed that my back tyre was a bit soft!  "Oh no, I can't have a puncture"  I thought, "not now."  I didn't have time to check whether it was a puncture or just gone down, (I have not been on it since I changed the tube anyway, but I guess I could have missed what caused the puncture in the first place!)  I had to go down to the shed again to get my Giant!

I quickly put the bag back on and then out of the door, I hate being late!  There was still plenty of time to get to the rendezvous point at Panagua Bikes, in Hayes, but I wanted to get there unflustered!  I didn't think it would be a good look to turn up looking worn out straight away!  When I got there I still had about 8 minutes before the 10:00 start.  I was the only one there!  Maybe it wasn't on today, maybe it has been cancelled!  I asked in the shop to see if they knew anything.

But after a couple of minutes I saw a lady rider pull up, and then another, and yet another came from inside the shop!  I knew then it was on.  I also knew that this was probably not going to be anything like a Breeze ride!  The ladies all looked very sporty, not that the Breeze ladies don't look sporty, in the named jerseys and Lycra, but they were all riding on road bikes!

You know how you feel when you turn up at a party and feel totally under dressed or you are the one that is dressed up to the nines while everyone else is in jeans and sloppy tee? Well I felt like that just then!  Although I had my lycra and jersey on, my Giant looked totally out of place!  I am sure 'she' (my bike) almost shrunk against the bike stand!  The ladies all seemed friendly though, and one of them assured me she would be the slowest one!  I was thinking, "That will be me now!"

Another lady had joined us, I had found out that she was the ride leader, so now we had them all here waiting to start.  Their names, and I hope I have remembered correctly, were Fiona, she was the first one to turn up, the Lynn, followed by Sian and then Vari!  I am not quite sure of the spellings!

So now we were ready, we set off towards Keston, up hill!  I couldn't help thinking that I am usually coming from the other direction, and that it's all down hill!  I knew we were going to Downe Village so it's not as if I wouldn't have done hills anyway.  We started riding out, and before we got barely a 200 meters we were surprised with a deer crossing from left to right across the road!  What a lovely start to our ride!

It seemed strange heading to Downe Village this way, at least I won't have any 'mile markers' to think about, we were even going to go up the other road to get to the village as well!  I was put behind the leader, as these rides always go at the slowest persons pace.  I just hoped that I wasn't too slow!  Fiona was the sweeper, or tail ender!

It wasn't too long before we got to Shire Lane, and I was already feeling those hills!  I followed the leader as she turned right heading up the road to the village.  I was plodding along, trying hard to keep up, or at least to keep up a reasonable speed!  The other two ladies, Lynn and Sian had better legs than me and cruised on up,  Vari and Fiona kept me sandwiched between them, or came side by side to chat and find out about me.

I was pleased that I got to the village without stopping and without walking, I don't think I could have hidden my blushes if it did, mind you, my face was probably crimson anyway!  Although I wasn't under any pressure from the other riders, I put myself under pressure to at least keep a good pace going.  From there we turned right down Single street.  I was thinking, "Ok, so this is going to be a short ride!"  Of course I was presuming that we would be going all the way to the end of Jail Lane and then turn right to go through Biggin Hill!

I was feeling a bit more comfortable as I rode up one of my regular routes!  Although I was still just plodding along.  Fiona was very reassuring, that it was ok. And Vari had obviously told the other ladies to ride on at their speed to a specific place, and then she came back to join me at the back!
It really did feel like the first time in a group, the first time in my running group that is.  I was always at the back (still am now actually but I volunteer to sweep after running group 0!) And I was always apologising for being at the back, and for being slow!  Fortunately my running club is all about encouraging and including beginner runners!

I also knew that I did improve, I did get faster and I was even in with the front runners of group 1!  I hoped that these ladies have the same patience while I build up my strength and stamina to keep up.

When we turned left, before we got to the Main Road, I was a bit surprised.  I shouldn't have been really, as I was told we would be doing about 17 miles ish and going right would have made for a very short ride indeed.  But I couldn't think where this road would take us, maybe it takes us to that Berry Green place, with the huge hill, or maybe up to the Shampan on the Main road!  As we rode along my bearings suddenly kicked in (quite unusual for me, as I can get lost on a straight road), but just to check. I asked Fiona behind me.  She told me that the Shampan would be on the left hand side just further up the road.  I was right, thankfully not Berrys Green though, which meant of course we were heading away from home!

We took the road on the left that took us past the Shampan, but the rain had started to fall and we took shelter for a couple of minutes in the car park there, while the worst of the rain came down.  A great photo opportunity I thought! Here are my riding party today!
The Panagua Monday Group


It wasn't that long before the rain stopped, just a few minutes and we headed on down Grays Road, an undulating road but after that it is mainly down hill till we get to the A21!  Grays Road felt different to me, as usually me and the Old Boy are riding in the opposite direction.  The road was still a complete mess, with pot holes all over the place thankfully it looks as if they will be doing something with it soon as there are white marks all around the pot holes.

Going down Cudham North Lane was GOOD!  The last time I was on my bike on this road, I was riding in the opposite direction!  "I hate hills!"  That was my mantra as I rode up it!  And now it was "I love hills"  I wonder why!

It wasn't long before we were at the bottom and turning left along the A21.  There is a turning on the left that goes straight to Farnbourough Village, UPHILL of course!  My legs we letting me know that they had done some cycling.  My focus was now on coffee and cake!  AmeriCarlos Cafe in Farnborough village.  The last time I was here I was with Denise, as I out took her on her first bike ride for some time!  I wonder if there is any of those delicious muffins today?

"Just pull up behind the red car on the right" Said Fiona.  Now what I had forgotten to let the ladies know that without my left hand outstretched, making the 'L' shape with my thumb and pointy finger, left and right mean nothing to me!  'Driver side and passenger side' usually helps me when I am driving my car!  But on a bike, well, I shall have to try and think of something!

It was a great ride.  I just hoped that I wasn't to slow for the other ladies, including Lynn, who said that she is usually the slower rider! Not today! That position was held by me!  I wonder if I get a wooden spoon?

Geeky stats.

https://connect.garmin.com/activity/791304273



Tuesday, 19 May 2015

A Breeze Of A Ride

Brenda, Yvonne and
Charlene, Normans Park
Hello blog lovers.

I saw on line that Yvonne, a Breeze Champion, was starting a ride from my neck of the woods!  I thought this would be brilliant for Charlene, she can pick Yvonnes brains for info at the coffee stop (because there is always coffee on a Breeze ride!). Charlene loves her trail ride, and mountain bike still riding, all down hill, heading head long into trees and bushes! Not my sort of thing, way to scary, give me lorries and buses any day!  But she also likes organised rides, and also learning confidence in group riding on roads (albeit very quiet roads) is always a welcome bonus.

So we both signed up the same night.  My bike ride that I had planned for Monday had been cancelled due to the weather, and this mornings weather was planned for some rain too, but we woke up to blue sky and sunshine!  Well that's a bonus, so much nicer riding in the sunshine!  We were there early, and I had a go on Charlen's bike. I sat on it, and I felt like I was on my grandsons bike!  She had the saddle so low, my knees were hitting my chin when I pedalled.  I thought maybe this is the way mountain bikers do it! Maybe they are so much up on their feet that a saddle is probably a nuisance anyway!

But for todays ride, a nice sedate ride around some quite roads and through parks and stopping for tea she needs to be comfortable.  She raised her seat and she rode around the car park at Normans Park (Hayes end) and she said "Oh wow, yes that feels so much better!"

Soon Yvonne turned up and we waited for two other ladies, Brenda was next but the other lady just didn't make a show.  After a brief outline of what Breeze is all about, specifically for our Charlene, and then we were off!  Yvonne did give a brief out line of our route, and it seems we are going ........ home!

The parks and routes that Yvonne had planned will be taking me and Charlene back to our estate! Just goes to show, we do have some lovely parks near by! We are so fortunate!  Through Normans park we rode towards Hook Farm Road, and then we turned left and road along the cycle path for just a couple of meters before crossing over and heading for our second park, Whitehall Rec.  It's a bit like De Ja'Vue as so far it's also like my Marathon training I did, only in reverse!

We followed a path all the way to a cul de sac!  Some where here, there is another path! It seems to have disappeared!  But then it was spotted a car had parked in front and we just couldn't see it! From there we carried on to Blackbrook Lane, (sound familiar?) and then through Jubilee park!  It was then I tried to take another picture but my silly phone said storage full!  So Yvonne took a brilliant selfie! See..

L to r   Yvonne, Brenda Charlene and me


We carried on with our ride as we came out of Tent Peg Lane, I was trying to figure out what little park was next, when she gave a brief outline earlier she said something about a park down Southborough lane, and it was until we were heading down there that I suddenly remembered about the little park, the Dump as the Old Boy and his generation called it, Scarborough Rec was what Charlene her generation no it as! Of course, how could I forget this little park.  It is one that I hardly use actually, is probably why, I don't even use it as a cut through, or short cut, because the way it's situated it just isn't!

We were on our way back now to have our tea, so through our local park and then up the path to Princes Plain, out at Church road and down Oakley road.  The only busy part of today's ride was this end!  We turned right into Barnet Wood Lane and then right and right again to finish our ride at the Village Cafe!  One bacon and egg sandwich and a cuppa and scintillating conversation!

What more can you want from a Breeze Ride!

Geeky stats, oh and I kept my Garmin going from home, along to Halfords after our ride and then back home again.

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Monday, 11 May 2015

Fresh Air!

Hello blog lovers!

I am getting a new 'lid' on my pad!  Scaffolding went up on Friday, so no cycling, I had planned to join Panagua ladies only ride this morning, (apparently it was a very lovely sun shining ride!) not that I am a bit Jel! but the New Lid men were coming today! I was not pleased!  Of course I am pleased I am getting a new roof, but still, when life interrupts your running or cycling it is a pretty damn inconvenience!

You could imagine that I was looking forward to getting out from these four walls and to get my heart rate up a bit.  As you know, since becoming a fair weather rider of late, my saddle ass and bike fitness has somewhat disappeared, so our route was one that we always do, up to Downe village.  At least I know I can get up there without getting off my bike, it is a bit of a work out, well it would be with those hills! And besides, it is a lovely scenic route.

We left our house a bit earlier than usual, and got all the way to the ally......and came back!  I had a puncture! We came back and the Old Boy quickly changed it and we started again!  Through the ally and up the A21 and through Farnborough Village.  Already I felt as if I was a tad quicker than the last time I was with the Old Boy, but it's too soon to tell, and besides, it doesn't matter.  I was getting that 'I must get quicker than last time' moment, and quite frankly, for me, it doesn't matter!

I am sure I will get quicker again as time goes one, I did last time, but I was trying to, and beating myself up if I wasn't as quick as last time.  Always pushing harder and harder, instead of having fun.  I pushed a little harder today, but it was fun!  I thought to myself "Just see, see if you can give it a little bit up this hill, doesn't matter if you can't"  Until I download the Old Boys Garmin I won't know if I was or wasn't.  But the thing is.....I don't care!

I really had fun this evening, pushing a little when I wanted to, slowing down when I couldn't.  Now that is what its all about!  At one point I really thought "I want to stop getting up this hill now" but after a saw the road on the right, which I just can't remember what it is called right now, I knew that there wasn't far to go.  It was a bit of a struggle today, but I have come to expect things like that.  All days are different, whether I am running or cycling!

Something I have learned over the few years I have been doing physical exercise is that, Monday may follow Tuesday, followed by Wednesday etc, but things that happen in those days are different.  You may have not eaten as much, or eaten too much!  You may have had an awful night sleep, being slightly off colour, or your partner may have kept you awake, snoring! The weather deffo can affect you!

Anything, anything can have an adverse effect on your day, whether running, cycling or even doing a days work!  Which in my mind, every ride, ParkRun, fave Solo run, race, well it can only mean a PB! I feel as if I have spoken about nothing, but these are the things that went through my mind today, on my way round this course, and after I got back, feeling bloody brilliant!  A most pleasant ride indeed!

Geeky stats.

These will have to wait!  As the Old Boy used his Garmin today I will have to wait until he uploads them!

Tuesday, 5 May 2015

Bike, Coffee and Cake!

Hello blog lovers.

A friend of mine has just bought herself a bike, she has the week off, I am free, so that makes for a perfect opportunity to take it out for its maiden voyage!...well ride!  As it's been a while since she been on a bike I decided that a trip to Farnborough Village would be just perfect.  It was my first destination when I started getting on my bike, my old Raleigh Jaguar!

There are several ways to get there, and I was trying to figure out which way would be best.  The short sharp steeper hills, or the long steady climb, which is just one road, the A21.  The plus for that route is it does have the cycle path and after the hospital we could use the shared path.

I arrived at her house about 10 ish.  The weather had take a turn for the worse!  The wind had picked up and the rain had started to come down again.  I was hoping that it wouldn't get any worse, and maybe even the sun would come out, it had tried earlier!

I had thought that the long straight road would be the best way to get to Farnborough.  I took her through our local park, and we chatted all the way through, We then turned on to Magpie Hall lane and we cycled along in silence, well this is quite a busy little road. The drivers use it for a short cut. I cycled along towards the A21, thinking that Denise was behind me. Oh Denise is my friend by the way.  I looked behind me and she wasn't there!  I stopped and got on the pavement and waited.  I could see her as she cycled up to me!  I think I must have forgotten the first time I was on a bike.  Must remember to take it easy! Probably explains the riding along in silence too!

We walked the rest of the way to the A21 while she caught her breath.  I told her that this time she should go in front so that I can keep an eye on me.  I told her that we are going to ride all the way to Starts Hill and then we shall take a right.  She started riding along the cycle path, looking quite confident even with the traffic going past.

We got to the hill and Denise had to walk.  When I rode up this road I had to do it in 3 sections!  Although I didn't walk, I did have to stop, catch my breath and then get going.  We got to the crest of the hill and then we started again.  If she can get the speed right she should zip up the other side of the smaller hill and probably not even notice it!  I kept well behind her, I didn't want to put any pressure on her and just let her do it at her own pace.

It worked a charm, I saw her fly up the other hill, I called out to her to go straight ahead.  I watch while she turned left!  "Maybe she will get off her bike and cross over the junction on foot.  It can be a bit intimidating going across this junction for the the first time on a bike!  With the left hand lane turning left, you have to keep your line and go straight!  Cars should know that you intend to go ahead and so not try and turn left in front of you.

I took the left hand lane so that I could join her as we crossed over, but I couldn't see her!  I got off my bike and just walked a little further into Locksbottom, and leaned over and looked down the road.  I could see Denise had rode down to a turnoff for the posh houses.  I just stood there and pointed to the way that we should have gone!  She walked back up to me laughing, saying that she though I had said turn left!

With just one more hill to negotiate we were almost there.  Going down the other side was lovely, Denise was flying down.  I told her to stop at the traffic lights and we will cross on foot to go through to the village.  This is where we were going to stop for a coffee and cake.

Here's a picture of Denise, and our coffee and cake,  Most delicious, a raspberry and white chocolate muffin!
Lovely cake!

Denise



After I took her home via Tubbenden lane, with just Tile Farm Road and Newstead Road as our challenging hills on the way back, it was mainly a down hill ride all the way home, with practise to ride along with traffic.

Most enjoyable ride.  Here is Denise with her new bike, the beginnings of many a happy times cycling!


New Bike!

No Geeky stats as i had forgotten to bring it along!