Training update #3 (part 2): Lost in London

While Frank was trying to cope with freezing temperatures up in Scotland, I decided to go out for a cycle around south London on a beautiful Saturday morning. Yet again, disaster (okay, more like mild misfortune) struck within ten minutes when I realised my front gear shifter was broken. Ach well, 4 gears for a flat urban cycle should be fine I figured (they quickly became two as the rear shifter got upset as well!) Two minutes later I was busy enjoying the sunshine when I realised it was in fact not as warm as the sun and my toasty warm cycling gear would imply and that black ice was still possible. Unfortunately I realised a little late and found myself sliding over some ice once more and onto my side. I basically added a bruise just under the bruise I managed to get myself last week.

Jings.

Still, onwards and upwards and I jumped back on my bike and continued my wee trip around South London upon which I discovered the following things:

1. There aren't wombles at Wimbledon Common just wombling free. I think you have to actually search for them. Or they've been locked up.

2. There are some amazing huge houses on Kingston Hill. Which you can ogle as you pass and some lovely villagey bits in Wimbledon, Putney and Kingston. I think quite a bit of money and/or a pram to push and clothes from Boden are a pre-requisite for living in these places though.

3. A couple of gears makes Kingston Hill, or any hill in fact, quite hard work

4. Cycling along the A3 is not fun.

5. There is no other city I'd rather be on a lovely, crisp and sunny day than London.

I had planned to take lots of photos on my cycle this time round and if I had you would you have seen horses on Wimbledon Common (no wombles though, curses!), kids playing football on Clapham Common, mist on Tooting Bec Common and some fancy big houses by Richmond Park. Unfortnately I didn't stop much and when I did it was to consult the GPS on my phone as I was lost again.

Oh, that reminds me

6. London is big and very easy to get lost in.

In the past five weeks I've cycled a total of 200 miles, danced for 15 hours, spent 6 hours in the gym and 14 hours doing physio exercises. Eek! I need to be able to cycle 280 miles in 4 days and there are only 10 weeks to go. Must step it up from here on in!

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Lesley xx