Nice Ride

12th June 2010

Today me and Andrew (best friend) decide to go for a ride

I get to Andrews to pick him up at 08:00 and he answers the door in his pants saying that he was up but fell "back to sleep", so i go in and wait for him to get ready, as I'm waiting he points out that he has got his triathlon suit and i should check it out, this is where the jealousy kicks in that he's doing his first on the 27th June and I'm desperate to complete one, it is a bit of a dream at the moment but i will get there.

Now he's ready and we are back to mine we set off, we decided to ride to Earl's court in London as I think it's about 20 miles from my house so in all we would do a 40 mile ride, a bit of a big ride as this would be the furthest I would have ridden in one go and the week before we complete the London to Brighton Ride ride and to be honest I have been worried if i would be able to complete it in the time i have given myself - 4 hours.

We set off and the first 4 miles is always the hardest for me for some reason and I dread it every ride, we get on the A1306 which isn't a very busy road but has some mean pot holes, we then join the A13 which is a very busy A road, we always ride in the road for the first couple of miles as even though there is a cycle path all the way into London this first bit is so full for rubbish, glass and anything that would give you a punture.

What happen to the nice weather we was meant to have today, instead of sun we had strong wind which we was riding into, this is usual as the wind is normally coming from the east but today from the west, not a good start but at least the wind would be behind us for the way home.

We get into London and there is hardly any traffic which is a result so we breeze through Tower Hill, Parliament and Battersea and get onto the last straight to Earls Court, traffic is at a stand still, we do a right and head home as at this point the Garmin says 20.1 miles.

One the way back through London there is heavy traffic and we get caught at what seems like every set of traffic lights, but we solider on, slowly.

We get to the A13 and the bloody wind has turned and the sun is blazing, wind in the face all the way home, just my luck.

Get home in one piece and Garmin is displaying 40.64 miles in 2:50 with a moving time of 2:37, very pleased i made it and not to tired either.

Bring on London to Brighton