So I rode out towards Woking as it was about the best day of the year so far. I took the round-about route and followed some of the back roads. Sky was blue and the sun was a welcome sight, even though you can only just feel its power on the bike. Hopefully things will warm up soon. I had a long stop and a few coffees over near the sports centre and then thought about getting back. (this is where the problems started)

The sun had already gone down and this was not a problem as I rode through Woking and Horsell which are well lit. The problems started as I hit the back lanes. It was completely pitch black. My LED light on my bike does not throw much light onto the floor. It is designed for me to be seen (not to see the road) Some of the lanes have not a bad surface, but some are horrendous. My ride back was a very cautious one. Unable to see the verge for most of it I had to ride close to the white line, ducking back into the kerb every time there was a glow of headlights behind me. I hit a few big pot holes, the state of the roads are terrible after all the rain we had. There were more than a few clunks as the front wheel took a number of hits.

This morning as I am about to set off on my morning commute I get that tell tell noise of the wheel against the brake rims. Yep its knocked out of true.
On goes the spare wheel and we make it to work. Trip to get the wheel pulled out now planned for the weekend.

A horrible feeling of de ja vu

A ride out yesterday, nothing crazy just something to try and get me in the right frame of mind and getting used to sitting in the saddle again. I took a spin through the Great Park and onto Old Windsor. I didn’t get far, roads shut and traffic in chaos. The Thames was pretty close to busting its banks at Old Windsor and the Runnymede Lodges were a few feet under.

The Thames at Old Windsor (Before and After)

I took a few photos and retraced my route for a coffee at my using cyclists cafe.

Before and After

Many thanks to GreyPea, digital artist of the Polypeloton (a low res view of the cycling world). I now have a Ridelondon Polypeloton banner for the blog. Check out the polypeloton website for some of his other work. Including my favourite “memories of past races”

Follow on twitter @greypea for more Polypeloton moments.

So between dodging the rain / wind and various elements, I managed to get a few miles in. A spin round my old haunt of Windsor Great Park showed just how much fitness I lost during my period of “Pie eating, beer drinking and general lack of activity” over Christmas. I huffed and puffed my way round the park attempting to blow out some of the cobwebs in the legs. The level of the lake is really high and in some places has flooded the paths. I stopped at the Waterfall Cascade and took a photo of the torrent of water. (it is usually a gentle trickle)

Virginia Water – Last summer / Now.

Saturday afternoon was a quick spin before the rugby.

No ride with Woking CC this Sunday it was just too windy for my liking, and I will get back into the longer runs when the weather eventually sorts its life out.