Yesterday's ride in was fantastic - awake early so had a nice chilled start; wafting along unhurried with a novel cool breeze tempering the heat from the bright sunshine to make it very pleasant.
Took the backroads and got held up a little by the school run, but on bikes this was a non-issue with the quiet single residential carriageway remaining between parked cars allowing ample space to pass. Again, very heartening to see so many people out on bikes
Interactions were generally positive, although some woman did lazily pull out infront of me on St. Aldates in the world's longest BMW - not dangeously-so but it was certainly inconsiderate. A lack of oncoming traffic meant I could retain my momentum to sail past and once I'd taken the lane infront she backed right off.
The ride back was a bit of a contrast - exhausted for all the usual reasons and really struggling in the oppressive heat. I only planned for a token waft but ended up floating around aimlessly as I became more knackered and detached from reality. I made the mistake of going to the shops whilst hungry and ended up spending the fat end of £20 on rabbitfood - stopping on Frideswide square to smash some olives and half a tub of onion hummous on a celery stick carrier... at least only my wallet took a hit and not my diet as well.
Buoyed a little by my snack I headed out north to M&S again in the hunt for chicken and salad for dinner; found the latter but had to make do with raiding the substantial freezer reserves for the former once home.
Already aching after a pretty heavy session on the rings yesterday, farmers-carrying the Brompton and bag round the various shops has really punished my core and traps; which feels good to an extent although also hasn't done my back any favours - reinforcing the "creaky old man" feeling..
This morning was back to the usual muggy standard; again knackered from the off but getting out in a reasonable timeframe. Think I passed the super-hot-redhead on the Abingdon rd (I live in hope of instigating meaningful interaction some time; but not today!) and spotted some regulars coming the other way on the tow path.
Notable mentions go to the bespecticled girl always riding in a massive billowing dress (which must really kill her drag coefficient); and the proper alt-bike-afficiando with the appropriate village people aesthetic who's always riding something interesting and occasionally gives a nod of recognition
Took the backroads and got held up a little by the school run, but on bikes this was a non-issue with the quiet single residential carriageway remaining between parked cars allowing ample space to pass. Again, very heartening to see so many people out on bikes
Interactions were generally positive, although some woman did lazily pull out infront of me on St. Aldates in the world's longest BMW - not dangeously-so but it was certainly inconsiderate. A lack of oncoming traffic meant I could retain my momentum to sail past and once I'd taken the lane infront she backed right off.
The ride back was a bit of a contrast - exhausted for all the usual reasons and really struggling in the oppressive heat. I only planned for a token waft but ended up floating around aimlessly as I became more knackered and detached from reality. I made the mistake of going to the shops whilst hungry and ended up spending the fat end of £20 on rabbitfood - stopping on Frideswide square to smash some olives and half a tub of onion hummous on a celery stick carrier... at least only my wallet took a hit and not my diet as well.
Buoyed a little by my snack I headed out north to M&S again in the hunt for chicken and salad for dinner; found the latter but had to make do with raiding the substantial freezer reserves for the former once home.
Already aching after a pretty heavy session on the rings yesterday, farmers-carrying the Brompton and bag round the various shops has really punished my core and traps; which feels good to an extent although also hasn't done my back any favours - reinforcing the "creaky old man" feeling..
This morning was back to the usual muggy standard; again knackered from the off but getting out in a reasonable timeframe. Think I passed the super-hot-redhead on the Abingdon rd (I live in hope of instigating meaningful interaction some time; but not today!) and spotted some regulars coming the other way on the tow path.
Notable mentions go to the bespecticled girl always riding in a massive billowing dress (which must really kill her drag coefficient); and the proper alt-bike-afficiando with the appropriate village people aesthetic who's always riding something interesting and occasionally gives a nod of recognition
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