Today I was out on the bike again; making a total of 26
miles this month. Indeed, 26 miles in the last 7 months. Not
quite the 100 commuting miles a week I did once or even the
50 commuting miles I was doing until just before Christmas.
But, hey, it's progress.
Hurts more than a little but the physio says cycling is
good. She also told me not even to think of driving yet.
I dabbled with the A27 today and found it really quite
scary. Never been bothered by traffic before but was not at
all happy this time out. Multi-lane roundabouts were
particularly buttock clenching; my barely noticable left-
signal meant that I was using road positioning and faith to
indicate lane changes. However, I'm sure that with enough
practice the joy of traffic jamming will return.
The bike is proving fine. Maybe I should have gone for one
with a totally upright riding position but I'm sure I'll get
used to it. I'm still very happy with the hub gears. The
only quirk I've noticed is that changing into 4th
occasionally gives an odd click and a slight jump. Most
importantly, they get me up all the hills round here without
any drama.
I am utterly unfit. On a particularly obnoxious "hill"
(short but just before home) I was overtaken by paperboy.
The shame. I was sweating buckets by the time I got home.
This never used to happen.
I called in at Halfords (for a multi-meter and a 12 volt
hoover; boat, not bike, related) and was amazed to see the
bike rack full. Interestingly, not a single one of these
actually ridden utility bikes was a Halfords bike (except
mine). Good to see that when a shop does provide parking, it
gets used.
My destination was the marina where my boat lives. No bike
parking there so the guardrails at the end of the pontoon
were requisitioned. Returned after a couple of hours[1] to
find bike a bit salty. Aluminium frame, hub gears and roller
brakes are probably more likely to last in this environment
than the alternatives.
Just got back after a superb day. Hope you don't mind me
boring you with it but I'm chuffed.
[1] No sailing; too windy. Also engine has ceased doing what
engines are best at; making a din and smelling. 7 months
of condensation in the fuel is my current theory.