Showing a clear two fingers to the thugs who stole my Kona, I’ve picked my life up and before you know it there’s a new bike on the scene. Yeah yeah i know, its soon. Very soon. But a man’s got to move on.
Unforutnately I’m too lazy to get the SLR out so you’re going to have to make do with a camera phone photo for the moment.
So today was a slow day in the office, a really really slow day. There was kit to put away, and as much as a looked at it, it wasn’t going to move itself. I was out of options. Kit was being prepped for a job that was heading out next week, but as i wasn’t going with it. I left them to it. By 3pm we’d had enough and decided to call it a good days work (who was anyone to know?)
With the over excitement about the new bike i’d cycled in this morning, which had left Glenn high and dry as he normally catches a lift. However with him living so close to me a plan was hatched….
A full on Topgear style race, bike vs. public transport Barking thamesview estate all the way back to Hither Green.
As 3:15 turned a corner we were all winding up for home time, i’d put my shorts back on ready for the ride and computers were being turned off. CHEATING of the highest order out the blocks. Glenn had been offered a lift to the station. This was going make it really close. I knew from the ride in that my previous time (on the Kona) of 50 mins was a distant dream to the 1hr 15 it had taken me to get there in the morning. Maybe the new bike was slower ? The rear suspension could be sapping some of the power, plus it was heavier. More than likely though it was the extra mince pie i’d had at Xmas and the month away from riding that had really taken its toll. I knew that this was going to be close 1h15 Barking station to Hither Green was an achievable target on public transport.
As the guys bundled into the car i shook hands (like the good sportsman i am) and got straight on the pedals. Thames road was flat and i was surprised how long i held onto my lead. Inevitably the car did what it knew best but by the junction onto River road the cars queued up and i shot round the corner and up towards the A13. Back in front! By the time we joined the A13 traffic flow had evened out and we were neck and neck. This was where our routes separated and i was glad to be on an even field at this point. There had always been the chance that i’d be behind already even after so little ground had been trodden.
Despite battling the wind on the way in, directions had changed and i was going to have to battle it as i headed west on the A13 cycle path once again. This really wasn’t going to help. Mostly the route was flat and i settled into a steady cadence. 15mph was the goal, but as the track wandered up and down a steady 12 was the best average i could muster. The bike was performing well, but even with the fork on its stiffest setting i’d still got 115mm of travel, far too much to take racing on road seriously. But we all know thats not what the bike was bought for!
I burned up past the blackwall tunnel turn off and across over towards the greenwhich foot tunnel. This would be my route under the thames and back into SE London. Pace was steady, and although i was having fun, the falloff in my fitness since Nov 08 was blindingly obvious. I’d lost a lot. As i pulled into the lift at the North side of the tunnel all was going well. Valuable time was lost having to walk (read the signs!) through the tunnel and the climb with my bike on my back up what seemed like 10,000 steps at the south side really hurt. Damn broken lifts!
Still, pooped, heartrate was a steady 180 by now and the last leg to conquer i moved on up to the centre of Greenwhich. Dammit, i’d forgotten the one way system that would take me completely the wrong way. I knew that time was tight and i opted for a short, but naughty, pavement stretch up through Greenwhich to rejoin the route at the other side. Now i’m normally a fairly courtious cyclist, walk on paths etc…but this was a race!, so carefully i weved my way up through the streets and parked at pedestrian crossing ready to bounce at the light and head on my way.
As i wobbled a trackstand out trying to keep the balance at the kerb a tug on my jacket all but pulled me off the back of my bike. It was an oldish man, who politely informed me that the nearest bookshop was just round the corned, and reccomened the highway code as delightful read. Specifically rule 74 (i’ve not taken him up on the offer) Something to do with cycling on the pavement ? Well that was it. I’d put my foot down so might as well stay and join in. “You see sir” i said “there’s still hope that i may one day learn the highway code, but YOU will forever be a monumental twat” and with a good long flick of the V’s i was dust and heading up into Lewisham. Yes i was in the wrong, but a stationary man on a bike at a crossing was hardly knocking small children over.
Hither Green lane was the last stretch, and the hill was about as much as i could cope with by now. Superlow gears were in order and lost valuable time spinning up the hill. As i rounded the corned to my flat i threw the backpack from my back and fumbled for the phone. The first back had to ring. That was the rule. As i pulled it out my bag and struggled to get it out its case with my gloves on a text message came through. It was Glenn. Pipped to the post by mere seconds. Gutted!
