Early start...

Tuesday 29 Jan 2008

Things are changing at work, I've been in Basildon full time for the past 3 months, but it now looks like I'm going to be spending more time in London - which usually means getting home later than I have been of late. Fitting in rides in the evening are not likely to be as easy, and the turbo sessions I had planned to do near Basildon look like they might not happen.

I think this is a good thing, I've been thinking about doing more morning rides - getting up early rather than going out late at night. So last night I set the alarm for 5:30am before waking up several times in the night thinking about getting out on the bike!

Rose at 5:30am, reassured Clare she didn't need to get up and tip-toed down stairs - trying not to wake the kids! A bowl of Ready Brek, some water, some juice, getting dressed (2 pairs of thick socks and overshoes to keep the feet warm) and out of the house just after 6am! Cold, clear, frosty and bright from the moon - lovely! Though despite long fingered gloves my fingers were cold for a while!

For those who are interested in road traffic control, I can confirm that there are a lot more cars on the road at 6am than there are at 10pm. The A120 bypass is dark and unlit - I know there are potholes in the road, but my lights struggle to pick them out, bump, bump, ouch, bump, ouch! Took me a few miles to get into any sort of rhythm, but as I headed out to Hatfield Heath on the back roads, traffic quitened down and I really started to enjoy the ride :-)

Coming back between Harlow and Sawbridgeworth I overtook another cyclist, an experience I've not had before :-) Got back home 23 mmiles later just after 7:30am, the house was still dark - is anyone awake?

The kids & Clare were just waking up, time to have breakfast! Had some egg on toast while the kids ate their cereal. A good start to the day, though I think I need to get more efficient at getting ready for work after the ride - it's going to be 10am before I get to work!

Will think about doing the same on Thursday morning, work permitting...