The last time I took the bike out of the garage it was still April. I haven't been on it for three weeks and I've started to notice things. I feel sluggish and fat basically. I've had a week in the USA where I've tried to eat sensibly, but sometimes 'looking after myself' goes out of the window and is replaced by chocolate chip cookies and fizzy drinks, French fries and cheese and if you take into consideration that I've lapsed a bit on the walking sessions at lunch time, then you might have some idea of the way I'm feeling.
Not going cycling for three weeks isn't good on any level and when it comes to getting up at the crack of dawn (well, 0600hrs) then it's even harder. I had the alarm set for 0630hrs, which was a mistake as it didn't give me any time to chill out and slowly wake up while making my porridge. So I went without, which is rare for me, and instead had cold Weetabix sprinkled with a dash of sugar. It wasn't the most appetising of breakfasts, I can tell you, especially as I hadn't really put enough milk in the bowl, leaving the second biscuit dry and crumbly. "Roughage, that's what you need," as my dad might have chipped in had he been standing there.
I got out around 0710hrs, unpadlocked the bike and headed off in the direction of Warlingham Green. Andy was there and we decided to ride to the bus stop via Slines Oak Road and the golf course, turning left instead of right when we reached the road. We cycled past what might still be Al Fayed's house, although I have a feeling he's moved on. Past the road that dips down into Oxted and onwards towards the mini roundabout at the top of Titsey Hill. We sailed down Clarks Lane in the direction of Westerham and swung into the bus stop, and then out came the tea, the best part of the ride.
The grass in front of the bus stop had become overgrown, but that didn't stop us from flinging our teabags off a spoon and into the long grass. It's a game we play every week. "Teabags are biodegradable, so it's okay to discard them irresponsibly." Yeah, right, Matthew, that's why you always see huge piles of banana skins and teabags littering the country. Andy's better at it than I am (flinging tea bags) but today I think I did well having slung my two teabags almost into the road, which is the Holy Grail in this game. I haven't the foggiest idea what the locals think of us.
Tea finished we headed off, vowing to visit the Tatsfield Churchyard for Sunday's ride and possibly Westerham for bank holiday Monday. It all depends on the weather.
I was going to ride back with Andy, but thought I'd get back quick and get on with the day so I rode down the 269 and half way along - well, probably not even half way, more like a quarter of the way - I jumped on to the off-road path, which meant I was risking a puncture. That would scupper me, though, and I really didn't want to fix a puncture as that would mean a visit to Halfords to buy some leeches. In fact, I'm hoping I can avoid a puncture this weekend as I've got no means of repairing it. Let's not even go there.
I reached home before 0945hrs and got on with the rest of my day.
* Pic by Andy Smith.
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| My bike taking it easy at the Tatsfield Bus Stop, Saturday 26 May 2019* |
I got out around 0710hrs, unpadlocked the bike and headed off in the direction of Warlingham Green. Andy was there and we decided to ride to the bus stop via Slines Oak Road and the golf course, turning left instead of right when we reached the road. We cycled past what might still be Al Fayed's house, although I have a feeling he's moved on. Past the road that dips down into Oxted and onwards towards the mini roundabout at the top of Titsey Hill. We sailed down Clarks Lane in the direction of Westerham and swung into the bus stop, and then out came the tea, the best part of the ride.
The grass in front of the bus stop had become overgrown, but that didn't stop us from flinging our teabags off a spoon and into the long grass. It's a game we play every week. "Teabags are biodegradable, so it's okay to discard them irresponsibly." Yeah, right, Matthew, that's why you always see huge piles of banana skins and teabags littering the country. Andy's better at it than I am (flinging tea bags) but today I think I did well having slung my two teabags almost into the road, which is the Holy Grail in this game. I haven't the foggiest idea what the locals think of us.
Tea finished we headed off, vowing to visit the Tatsfield Churchyard for Sunday's ride and possibly Westerham for bank holiday Monday. It all depends on the weather.
I was going to ride back with Andy, but thought I'd get back quick and get on with the day so I rode down the 269 and half way along - well, probably not even half way, more like a quarter of the way - I jumped on to the off-road path, which meant I was risking a puncture. That would scupper me, though, and I really didn't want to fix a puncture as that would mean a visit to Halfords to buy some leeches. In fact, I'm hoping I can avoid a puncture this weekend as I've got no means of repairing it. Let's not even go there.
I reached home before 0945hrs and got on with the rest of my day.
* Pic by Andy Smith.
