Tell us about your weekend ride

I am lucky, the other half encourages me to get out on the bike if I have not had an active week. Possibly this hyperactive ADHD adult needs to get some exercise to stop me being totally unbearable.

So last night it was suggested that I needed to get out and burn off some energy. A trip to Surrey seemed like a good idea, so I found a few potential routes and chose one. The plan was to leave at a gentlemanly 10am.

Dogs woke me early and I fed them, but promptly fell back asleep. 9.45 I was nudged into consciousness and reminded I had said I was going for a ride. Shower, coffee and porridge and then the difficult decision of what to wear. Annie was mocking me for laying clothes out on the bed and then choosing not to use an outfit as I had no clean white socks. When I responded that in future she would not get any help from me when agonising over an outfit, it was explained to me that she puts effort into her wardrobe when she is likely to see people who care about such things, and clearly cyclists do not.

She then departed with the dogs and I got out the disco slippers, they had not been used for a while and the speedplay cleats needed some teflon. Was just about to pump up tyres on the road bike when I realised the rear tyre was fucked, it's a couple of years old and clearly the last time I had used the bike I had locked up the rear wheel and got down to the carcass.

I had wanted to do a few hills in Surrey but was now left with only the option of the fixie skidder. This gave way for more procrastination while I faffed and got tools, pump, inner tube ready and had to ditch things like my gillet from jersey pocket as the bike has no bottle bosses and I needed to carry some fluid.

Eventually over an hour late I set off, the dithering brain had eventually decided not to do a flat loop out to Windsor but to do 3 hills in Surrey - a route I had put onto the Garmin the night before. The route was via Richmond park - last week dog walking I had been bitten by tiny black flies that made my arms swell and resemble a fat baby. Riding through the park I felt a burning sensation in my calf and there was one of the little shits gorging on me again. Swatting it off a let while spinning down a hill was a slightly sketchy moment. Unusually London Dynamo were not visible in the park today, which was a relief, though there were preparations going on for a duathlon - given the state of my knees I shudder just at the thought of running (I assume they are not planning on swimming in Pen Ponds).

Almost every route out of South West London seems to take me on the same set of roads, so there was a lovely familiarity. I was doing my best not to be a roadie douche, saying "Hi" to people whatever kind of bike they were riding. It always amazes me how many "serious cyclists" demonstrate no recognition of people who are not on expensive bikes in full kit. The roads were busy with people, but given my tardy start it appeared a lot were on their way home rather than starting out.

I have an appalling sense of direction and tend to be unable to remember where I have been before. My route for the day that I had stolen off the internet had 3 bumps, the first was through Clandon. I am feeling fat and unfit, I had to stand up and drop my bloated weight onto the pedals much earlier on the climb than I remember doing previously. A pair of cyclists had over taken me on the approach and just disappeared off into the distance, initially I tried to follow but realised quickly that this was a futile effort and that I ought to just ride my ride, not try to emulate others.

Thanfully my weight makes descending easier - or should have done but I had a few moments as I was spinning out today when I would reach for the shifter that did not exist on today's steed. The descent from Clandon was one of those, overtaking a few surprised looking people who had gears it was quite exhilarating, though I had a doubt in the back of my mind - was I going to have to go up the hill which has a bridge go over it?

Garmin was indicating I had a sharp right turn to make - bollocks todays route did involve going up Crocknorth Road, it what it lacks in length it compensates in gradient, as my legs ground away there were cars that also needed to be let past. Today has reminded me that I really need to shed some weight, I'd rather be pedaling not grimacing up hills.

From there on the ride became easier. Box Hill was busy with vehicles, why someone had to beep at me for 15 seconds before overtaking was beyond me. It was on the straight before the zig zags, there was clearly room to get past (which they eventually did) whilst gesticulating that I ought to be over in the hedgerow. This was not the only vehicle driven by someone who did not understand where a cyclist ought to be that I encountered today, the great thing was that I caught up with, smiled and waved at most of these impatient short sighted fools.

On top of Box Hill a few people commented on how odd it was that I chose to ride a bike with one brake and one gear. I do enjoy that honesty of riding fixed, knowing that every cm I have ridden had been pedaled by myself. It does feel like a different kind of workout but is quite rewarding. The cafe was very busy, I started queuing for overpriced shit coffee but thought better of it. Thankfully there was an urn of water and I took advantage. By the time I had got there my one bottle of water was long empty and it was imperative that more fluid was taken on board for the return leg.

Riding solo is something that my mind says is not enjoyable, this year there have been a few excursions like today's and they are actually very rewarding. No pressure to perform, not feeling like the groups rhythm is being interrupted when comfort breaks are required. Climbing and descending at speeds which are comfortable to me and having time to take in the views are becoming things I cherish when out on the road.

http://app.strava.com/activities/193865965