As the year draws to a close...

When I looked out on Sunday (last week) there was a persistent rain and it didn't look as if it was going to stop. In days gone by, an abort text would have been sent, but because our mindset on cycling has changed, it was still 100% game on. The plan was to go to Westerham, but we couldn't remember whether the Costa Coffee was open. There was only one way to find out: ride there and see for ourselves. Andy texted the plan: whoever gets there first, checks out the Costa and then, if it's closed, sets up shop in the small memorial gardens next to the Co-op. Well, I knew it wouldn't be me that got there first. For a start, I was faffing around doing something I haven't done for some time: making a flask of hot water, finding some teabags and some milk and basically preparing like I used to for a pre-pandemic ride. To be honest, I was hoping that I wouldn't be using the flask. I was looking forward to my large English breakfast tea, and being as it was Boxing Day, I was already considering a cake of some description. But then I remembered Sheree's Tea Rooms in Tatsfield Village. I knew it was open on Boxing day so all I had to do was text Andy and ask him to meet me there. But it wasn't that easy. Andy had already left his house and, like me, would not be looking at his phone until he reached his destination.

Seasonal decorations on the Nobbler...

After all the faffing about, I was finally out of the house and on the bike around 0815hrs, so that's a quarter hour behind my originally scheduled arrival time. It normally takes me around one hour door-to-door so now I'd be getting there around 0915.

The rain continued, but I was wearing my parka, hood up over my crash helmet, and it was good. So good that I didn't really notice the rain. I was, however, wearing a pair of green cords over my cycling shorts and sooner or later the rain would soak through. In fairness, it was a slow process. I stopped and took shelter momentarily when I reached Sanderstead Waitrose, a chance to see if Andy had responded to my earlier text about Tatsfield. He hadn't. Then I set off for Westerham, heading initially for Warlingham Green and then, of course, the 269 to Botley Hill and beyond. Halfway along the route Andy sent a text. He'd reached Westerham. I told him I'd get there by around 0930hrs and he said he'd be there, which was good. I had thought about going to Tatsfield village and a cup of tea and a Millionaire's Shortbread at Sheree's, but once I knew that Costa was open and that Andy would be there when I arrived, I 'put my feet down' and continued on my way to the Northern Kent market town of Westerham. The rain slowed a little and as I powered down Clarks Lane had almost stopped.

I felt good because I hadn't aborted the ride and, as with most things, riding in the rain isn't as bad as it seems. It was fine, although my trousers were getting damper and damper, but it was nothing a bit of warmth couldn't cure. Andy was already sitting at a table enjoying his coffee when I bowled through the door. We were two of around six people in the shop and that felt good. I wasn't THAT wet either, only my legs were experiencing a mild dampness and that slowly disappeared as I warmed up. There was no queue either so I ordered a large English Breakfast tea and a Bakewell tart and joined Andy at his table. We talked about a variety of topics: decent rear lights, cheap bikes, giving up cars altogether, living a more minimalist life and the commercialism of Christmas. 

Nativity scene in Arundel Avenue

Andy left around 1022hrs I and continued to slob around for another 10 minutes before heading for home. The rain had all but stopped and I followed the road towards the Velo Barn, taking a left on to Pilgrims Lane and then crossing Clarks Lane and continuing along the next section of Pilgrims, turning right on to Rectory Lane and then rejoining Clarks Lane. I rode into Woldingham along The Ridge and then down Slines Oak Road and up the other side towards the 269, taking the steep climb at the end of Sline's Oak in my stride. It was then a case of riding into Warlingham and around the green, through Hamsey and onwards to Sanderstead.

There was a fair amount of fog around too.

More Christmas lights in Arundel Avenue

Shorter daily rides have now become a regular habit. Today, as I write this, it is New Year's Eve, 0946hrs and I make no pretence of the fact that I'm slobbing around on the lap top, but rest assured that I will be out there later on, probably after dark, riding around amidst the Christmas lights of Norfolk and Arundel Avenues. I've mentioned these rides before, they're 5.94 milers and they take around 35 minutes. I think I would be faster if I went out earlier in the day. 

There's nothing better than riding after dark over the Christmas holidays as there are plenty of decorations on display as I ride my circuit and they all add a dreamlike quality to the ride that I don't get at any other time. That said, other seasons, like the summer and the autumn, have their own attractions and I love them all.

Happy New Year to all my readers!

Christmas Eve 2021 ramblings...

Last Sunday, 19 December 2021, I rode to Westerham to meet Andy in the Costa Coffee on the green. As you all know, this is a weekly event, the highlight of the cycling week. We meet, we eat, we chat and then we say farewell, until the next week, which just so happens to be Boxing Day. Today, as I write this, it is Christmas Eve morning, 0844hrs to be precise, and I'm sitting here, drinking tea and listening to BBC Radio Three, Dawn Over the Moscow River, by Mussorgsky. I now consider myself a regular listener and the great thing about listening to classical music in the morning is this: It's so chilled out. In fact, give me BBC Radio Three, Caffe Nero and a decent book and I'd be in heaven.

Outside, the weather is dull and grey and overcast. Rain is on the agenda later today so I'd better get out there and do my six-miler, my 'round the block' special, the Nobbler, single lap. Yesterday I modified it a little bit: I rode two loops, bringing the total to something like 8.5 miles instead of the usual 5.94 miles. I don't know why I modified it; probably because I was riding earlier in the day and felt more alive. Today I'll probably stick to the usual distance as there are things to do, people to see.

The fog started to clear on Clarks Lane, Sunday 19th Dec 2021.

The ride to Westerham last Sunday was thick fog from the moment I set foot outside the house. Fortunately, I had my lights, front and rear. I was amazed to discover that the fog was everywhere, but it thinned when I was travelling along Clarks Lane. At one point the fog was below me, in the valley. Cyclists were stopping to photograph the spectacle as I sailed down the hill and into the mesmerising fog itself. Andy was sitting inside the Costa. I ordered a large English Breakfast tea (my regular order). No cake, no Billionaire's shortbread. As always, cake is always around. I can't remember now, but prior to Sunday I must have eaten some cake, normally a slice of coffee and walnut cake, possibly in a National Trust property somewhere, Polesden Lacey if I recall correctly. Either way, I refrained from eating anything at the Costa in the full knowledge that there would be plenty of occasions in the coming days. It is, after all, the festive season, Christmas time no less, and that means mince pies, chocolates, cake and, of course, Christmas Pudding. I'll be getting my fair share over the next few days and that's a fact.

During the week I continued with my regular riding. I normally miss a day, meaning I ride six days a week and have one day off, not intentionally, just circumstantial. Yesterday, for example, was Thursday 23 December. I didn't ride on Wednesday night so the plan was to ride twice, like I did last week, once in the morning and once at night. But I only managed the one ride, meaning that if I don't ride twice today, my total rides this week will be six out of seven. I'm happy with that. It's been the case ever since I started regular (almost daily) rides.

The Nobbler, single lap is good. I've mentioned before it's roller coaster qualities, the ups and downs, the fast and slow. The first big climb is when I turn left out of Barnfield and on to West Hill. I ride up hill to The Ridgeway where I turn left, then right on to Hook Hill, which I follow to the triple junction with Arkwright and Briton Hill Road. The latter is a hill, all the way to Church Way where I turn left and head towards Morley and the turn opposite Madeleine House (a new and unwelcomed block of flats). Here I double back in a sense, back on Church Way until I turn left on to Norfolk Avenue and the next hill. At the top I bear left and roll down towards a left turn on to Arundel Avenue and then it's a downhill roll towards Ridge Langley. I pick up a fair bit of speed riding down Arundel Avenue and by the time I reach the Ridge Langley turn-off I have enough speed to push me around the loop ahead, eventually emerging on Arundel Avenue again, heading uphill and turning left onto, I think, Arundel Avenue. It's very confusing, but I soon turn right on to Norfolk Avenue again and ride uphill and then down until I'm back on Church Way and then heading towards the Selsdon Road along another section of Arkwright that isn't connected to the earlier stretch. This bit is fast and punctuated by sleeping policemen and parked cars, but soon I'm on the Selsdon Road, which is downhill all the way to West Hill, arguably the most daunting uphill ride as I pass Barnfield, continue towards The Ridgeway and then ride the length of it until I reach the earlier section of Arkright Road where I turn left and head towards Church Way. I turn left, race towards Morley, turn left, then right on to Elmfield, left on to Southcote, right on to Ellenbridge, then right and then I'm home.

I'd better get moving as I've got to get out there now, in the next 10 minutes, to do the above. Whether I get a ride in tomorrow is debatable. By rights I should do, even if it's a short one, a Nobbler, single lap. I've never been on the bike on Christmas Day before but let's see if I can change that. 

Mild weather, regular rides...

There's been cold weather and there's been mild. Of late, the latter. But I've managed to rise above it, thanks to my Parka, a balaclava and a beanie hat. I've finally kicked myself into gear with a daily exercise regime, in other words, regular cycling. I've worked out an almost six-mile, single lap route (5.94 miles) and it's a roller coaster of hills and dips, nicely balanced, and I now ensure that I go out every night, in the dark, lights flashing front and back. Andy was right, I do get a decent night's sleep as a result. I feel good too. Last night was a case in point, I slept through from 2300hrs to 0600hrs and probably could have gone to bed earlier if the truth be known. I had a relaxed dream and awoke to the sound of birdsong emanating from my iPhone and now, here I am, listening to Radio 3 and writing a much-delayed blogpost.

Return journey along Pilgrims Lane, Sunday 12 December.

The weekend rides have been kept up, although last Saturday I rode the Weeble rather than head for Westerham, which had been my plan. The reason was simple: lateness. I had dawdled and by the time I got outside in the fresh air it was gone 1000hrs and I didn't really want cycling to take up the entire day. In truth, I hadn't riden the Weeble for a while either, but it's of no consequence, the key is daily riding, keeping that heart rate up and generally feeling good about things. It's been awhile. My recent trip to the doctor, incidentally, turned out alright. I explained to him that when I relax my blood pressure eventually dips to an acceptable level. He even allayed my fears about a low pulse rate, accepting my diagnosis in a sense, that was based on the amount of cycling I've been doing (well over 3,000 miles in a year - hence that huge repair bill when I took my bike in for a service recently (see previous post).

Andy and I have been keeping up our Sunday meetings in Westerham, a kind of high point of the riding week. That said, the week before last I couldn't make it as I needed to be in London for a family meeting. We met in The Engineer pub in Camden, which seems to have taken a dive in quality terms and nowhere near what it used to be like 15-20 years ago when Michael Palin name-checked it during an interview I conducted with him 'back in the day'. We all had roast chicken, which was alright, but I've eaten better; and the service lacked something. We sat upstairs in the Brunel Room (geddit, The Engineer pub, engineering, Brunel?). Anyway, it wasn't that brilliant is what I'm saying. It was the first time I actually felt tempted to order a beer, a pint of Doom Bar no less, but I resisted (of course I did!) and settled for sparkling mineral water instead. It's rare that a temptation to drink arises and I'm always rather glad when I resist it, which isn't difficult. Occasionally I dream about drinking again and when I wake up I feel mildly anxious until I remember it was a dream, not reality.

Egg, mushroom, tomato for lunch

The local six-milers are good for one reason: they're just one lap, there's no repetition. If I get bored doing laps then the appeal of regular exercise will wane pretty quickly, so I'm keeping it simple and it's working. The route is familiar, but it's the knowledge that I'm always progressing forward and not thinking that I've got to do another lap; every revolution of the pedals takes me closer to the finish rather than just to the end of the first lap. Night riding is good too. It's dark around 4pm now so by the time I reach home I have to rely upon the street lights to illuminate the ride. The great thing about riding at night is that you can see the cars coming. Add to that my own lights and it's fairly safe. And when it's over I'm both relieved and elated. Relieved that I've done my daily exercise and elated also that I'm actually doing it and that I can relax, safe in the knowledge that I've riden another six-miler. The key thing is that it's becoming part of my routine, something that I have to do, but also, strangely, something that I enjoy doing. I'm familiar with the route and at this time of year my albeit brief ride is accompanied by Christmas lights. At roughly six miles per ride, by the end of the week I've covered almost 30 miles and I'm also trimming minutes off of my time, which started at something like 37 minutes and is now around the 33 minutes mark, I think I've even managed 32 minutes, I'll have to check on Strava. For some reason I don't feel the need to wear a crash helmet, although I did last night. The mild weather (which I'm told will be short-lived) has meant no balaclava.

I had my booster jab on Friday (my birthday) and fortunately no side effects, bar a very mild pain in the upper arm. While walking around M&S immediately afterwards, looking for a Christmas present for mum, a friend called and when I told him I'd just had my booster jab, he calmly informed me that he was an anti-vaxxer. I wish I'd quizzed him as to why, but I didn't, preferring instead to simply accept his position and leave it there; that said, I feel that anti-vaxxers somehow like to put across an air of being the enlightened ones, the people in the know who know best, and that left me momentarily feeling a little deflated because I thought back to my two Astra Zeneca jabs and, a few moments ago, my booster, and I wondered whether I was guilty of blindly following Government instructions without a thought for personal liberty and so forth. But it didn't last long. I'm glad I was vaccinated as the last thing I want is to die from COVID. I don't want to be one of those statistics they read out on the television. The problem with not being vaccinated is that, sooner or later, you won't be able to do anything. Rock concerts? No. Eating out? No. Staying in a hotel? No. Air travel? No. You'll be completely stuck. But I guess if you live in a fairly remote farmhouse in the middle of darkest Wales, well, as long as you live the life of a hermit, you won't be affected.

M&S soup and a roll for lunch during the week

It's Wednesday night, 15 December 2021, and I'm watching Michael Palin walk to Base Camp at the foot of Mount Everest. He moves on to Lhasa and then swims in a hot spring, making me realise, perhaps a little fretfully, that I need to start swimming again. How COVID-friendly are swimming pools? Tonight I missed my 6-mile ride, largely because my phone was out of power. Now that might sound really daft (and it is) but it all boils down to Strava and the notion that 'if it's not on Strava, it didn't happen'. So I didn't go out. And besides, it was getting late. I made the mistake of having dinner first and that kind of did it for me. I wish I'd remembered that my phone was out of power, but I didn't and while I was planning on going out around 2030hrs I discovered that I hadn't fitted the charger properly and my phone was still dead. At that point I gave up. Perhaps I'll go in the morning, although, for the past two weeks prior to today I've had one day off (from cycling) per week. I think last week I rode four of the five days and the week before possibly the same, or it might have been three out of the five days. Mustn't fret about it, just get out there tomorrow and do it.

Birthday present from Max...

Something I have been fretting about is eating rubbish. Crap in the shape of Quality Street chocolates, biscuits and cookies at work. The custom at work is that you buy the office 'stuff' when it's your birthday (normally chocolates and cakes). My problem is that I can't help myself and it's something I need to address. I managed to address my weakness for alcohol (by giving up completely) and now I really ought to consider doing the same with cakes and sweets. To be fair, with various lockdowns and three-days a week in the office (working two days at home) there hasn't been much in the way of celebrating colleagues' birthdays. So I guess it's been few and between, thankfully. But that doesn't stop me feeling a little guilty, especially when I missed a ride. I'm off now until the new year (again, thankfully) so I can focus on a bit more riding, although I think I'll maintain the daily night rides of the Nobbler, single lap. That's what it's called on Strava, 5.94 miles with a few ups and downs and then it's over, exercise done. I always feel good on my return. I'll be back on it tomorrow.

The mild weather is set to continue, right through to Sunday when Andy and I meet for a chinwag in Westerham, something we both look forward to. While I know that Christmas is only 10 days away, I know that I won't be over-indulging like I used to and for that I'm thankful. I'm going to spend my time off reading and riding, walking and chilling and while I'm not going to deny myself the odd cappuccino or the occasional slice of coffee & walnut cake, I will keep a weather eye on things. Here's hoping.