Well it was a nice evening yesterday so a gentle post work ride was in order. As the queens backyard is near to were I work, I thought I would turn over a couple of circuits of Windsor park. After almost getting side swiped by a van (thanks for that) the roads in the park are a welcome change. No cars allowed, so the only obstacles are horses and other cyclists. Loads of wildlife in the park, deer, pheasants and loads of water birds. The lack of traffic means they get a fair chance of not ending up as road kill. Loads of joggers and other people out enjoying the sunshine.

Evening Ma’am, is it Gin o’clock yet ?

Called in on her Majesty but no one was home. Gentle ride tomorrow and then on to the Isle Of Wight at the weekend.

Apologies on the lack of posts, been running about the last few weeks. The bees are out (as the weather has decided to warm up) so I have been sorting them out and making sure they are all good after their winter break. Last Wednesday (24th) I rode up to London for a front row seat at the Regal Room in Hammersmith to see Billie Myers – unscripted). It was a really great venue, small and very social. Billie did a great set of new and old material with a load of funny banter and anecdotes from her career. A real great night out – Music in my ears, I rode back to Richmond and picked up the last train to Ascot.

Billie Myers at the Regal Room (Hammersmith) – fantastic venue, fantastic voice.

A bit of a training session coming up this weekend !! I am entered in the 100km Isle of Wight Randonnee. The IoW Randonnee was established by the Wayfarers cycling club in 1985, and uniquely follows a route around the whole of the Isle of Wight taking minor roads and lanes where possible. The event attracts around 2000 participants each
year. If you don’t know already, the Isle of Wight is not exactly the flattest place, there are a number of climbs to test the legs and the sea breeze is going to make things interesting I am sure.

Photos and report after the event. Watch this space.

Well time to get the bike out and clock up some more miles (But the weather gods had other plans). The proposed script was supposed to be 60 miles through the beautiful country roads of the New Forest National park. Light traffic, the sun on my back, beautiful views of the countryside, ponies, wildife and fresh air. What I actually got was 60 miles of flooded roads, mud, rain, freezing wind (mostly in my face), wet clothes, wet socks, wet feet and a weathered scoul on my face for most of the course.

Lining up at the start. (the clouds are looking angry)

In the early group waiting to get away before the rain. !!

The course was great, but not in these conditions. I almost chickened out and was going to take a short cut back to the car and have done with it, but I told myself the weather may be like this on the day and so its a good test of my will to ride in all conditions. After 4 wonderful rain soaked hours, I managed to get round the course in one piece. Some others were not so lucky as a few of the locals decided to sabotage the course. I am just a rider, I am not going to get into arguments like this. (although you should have seen the speed of the some of the idiots flying round roads with horses on them – I am talking about cars not cyclists – and some idiot throwing tacks on the route, I don’t mind the puncture but some poor New Forest pony is not going to be able to remove a pin in its feet)

Eventually I got back to the car, hid inside with the heater on full blast and turned my bike into a clothes horse to try and dry stuff out before heading home.

The only thing not wet was the inside of the innner tubes.

AND just to prove the weather gods really hate me !!!! My boring old commute ride to work gets the best weather yet – and I get to wear a pair of shorts for the 1st time this year. PROOF BELOW

Yeah it was warm enough.

I blame that Sian Lloyd woman… must have upset her in a previous life 😉

So not much to report in the last few weeks. The usual commutes to work and a few extra miles here and there. Got a nice break in the weather last Saturday and got some time in the afternoon to get out in the sun. Just so nice to actually ride without wearing 4 layers of clothing.

So the next big news is I have currently reached £497 of our English pounds in sponsorship so a huge thanks to all my sponsors so far…. am working on getting that total up higher before August the 4th. So if you can spare some change and sponsor me then I and Mind would be most grateful.

This Sunday is another longer ride. “The New Forest Spring Sportive” Hopefully the weather will be kind. I will try and get some more footage on the camera while avoiding the ponies.