Typical girl - no spacial awareness!

That's me - told you this
cycling malarky isn't stylish!

It seems cycling is a funny old business.  Since our training weekend last week I have been a little lacklustre on my cycle training. Then on Saturday I decided to head out for a decent ride, circling Regents Park a whopping seven times (approx 21 miles) However, in order to get to lovely Regents Park I have to embrace the wonders of Kentish Town and Camden high streets. Let me quickly remind you this was on Saturday ... possibly the busiest day of the week for these areas!

So there I am, calmly cycling along, thinking its good to be back in the saddle then suddenly I reach a massive traffic jam! I hover behind a bus for 2 minutes then think maybe I can squeeze through the traffic and beat it.  So, I slowly move my way through identifying the possible gaps.  So far so good.  Then, a gap that looks feasible but oh how wrong I was.

Kentish Town High Street -
Not my most favourite place!

What happens next was like watching a film in slow motion.

I approach the gap the, ack, I clip my left handle bar on the cars wing mirror.  As I attempt to apologise to the driver I lose my balance, and unable to release my foot quick enough I end up effectively sprawled across the car door to my right - literally whole body hugging the drivers door!  How embarrassing! Obviously I apologise then quickly regain my composure and get out of there as quickly as I can, only to hear a cabbie shout 'careful luv' as I escape!

I reach Regents Park without any more hiccups then absolutely cane the seven laps - adrenalin can be a wonderful thing.  Average speed 13.5 miles per hour ... I'm on track!  But then I have to get home!  No issues in Camden then I hit Kentish Town and almost in exactly the same place as earlier (obviously going in the other direction) I misjudge the width of my bike again! Not only to I hit a wing mirror but I took it completely off, releasing the mirror from its casing.  Panicking I manage to frantically put the mirror back in its casing and then fix the whole thing back in place.  Thankfully the car was parked, driver was nowhere to be seen and I don't think anyone else noticed.  Almost in tears I cycle off heading home.

Now as I approach home, I have two choices - big hill that adds an extra mile to my journey and is good training or quick short cut home.  With adrenalin pumping and tears almost in full flow I choose the hill ... time to feel the burn.  I've attempted this hill 3 times before and never achieved  it.  Saturday ... not only did I get up it, but I then took on a second hill just to prove a point!  Accidents forgotten!

Morale of the story ...
1) yes I am I typical girl and admit I have no spacial awareness (this goes for driving my car too)
2) I probably shouldn't be cycling on London roads alone!
3) adrenalin rocks
4) when I hit a tough point on route to Monte Carlo, could someone please make me angry or scared ... that should get me through!

On a final note, I said I was going to bring some style to the page so how's this for a hairstyle?!

Oh, and fellow cyclists, today I cycled a further 14 miles and tomorrow its 35 through the beautiful Bristol countryside! Just saying! :)