Dagnabbit!

Distance: about 5 miles
Time: about 25 minutes

I dusted off my bike this morning, stuck it in the back of the car and set off to work. At Steventon (2.5 miles away from RM) I parked the car up, got my bike out and rode off in the other direction the ~5 mile journey the long way round (the flat way!) The shorter route means cycling up and down a big hill and across a busy roundabout. Not something I want to attempt until I'm a bit fitter.

From home to work it's a 12.5 mile ride (15 the flat way). Not a ride I'll be attempting every day, nor one to do the whole distance. Not until I'm a bit fitter. Do you see a theme here? In September I'm planning to drive half way / cycle half way, and by next year maybe up to the full distance.

All was going well this morning until I got to Milton village (about ⅔ of the way). The wind against me had picked up, slowing me down to barely 10mph and my back tyre was making more and more of a rumbling sound ... as my tyre became less and less inflated. By the time I got to Milton Park I was knackered and cycling on a completely flat back wheel. Darn. I don't think I'll be riding back to Steventon after work!

Then to top it all, I must have sat on my cateye computer, or someotherhow squashed its buttons when I was getting changed - resetting my time, distance and average speed for the trip. Oh well, it wasn't the most impressive bike ride I've done. Tomorrow I'm off to hunt down a new bike, one that will be a joy to ride and one that will get me to work on a regular basis (from an increasing distance away from the office), thus getting me fit and reducing my petrol costs dramatically!