... Welcome back to Blogland ...

I'm back! I've decided that despite now not riding LEJOG, I still have a right to write.

Ah, British Summertime... a time of long days... long delays... and lots and lots of rain.

Today, for example, it has been grey, blue, sunny, rainy, and even hail-y (if that's a word). Today I have not been out on the bike, but Nige and I went out together about a week ago, and because, at 13 miles, I decided that we ought to turn right instead of going straight on, we ended up drenched, caught unexpectedly in a proper , movie-esque storm, hailstones falling onto my eyeballs and rain soaking through three layers of bike clothing through to my skin. As we rode, a sheet of lightning lit up the suddenly darkened sky, and the explosion of thunder scared me half to death. I screamed a bloodcurdling scream as we pedalled along, terrified, exhilarated, and above all, alive! My cheeks ached as I beamed from ear to ear. We are so intent on avoiding getting wet in this country, our golf umbrellas fighting for dominance on the narrow streets. It was such a relief to simply let myself be a soaking wet human riding along in the rain behind my riding buddy and best friend.

Riding a few times through winter has been pretty harsh on my poor Gary Fisher mountain bike, and there is rust appearing on the bike that I haven't even finished paying for yet. I welcome the arrival of spring, with its promise - however unfulfilled - of sunshine and warm days. Nige and I are planning whole days out on the bike, about which I'm becoming ever more excited. For the first time in months, I wore my fingerless gloves the other day when I went out riding, as well as my cropped riding trousers instead of my heavy duty leggings. I was also somewhat thrilled to discover that my cropped pants are now hanging off me, just a few months after taking up cycling. It seems that riding once or twice a week has caused the extra weight I've been carrying for a while to practically fall off me, with little effort on my part excepting that which I've exerted during hill climbs and the occasional sprint. It's a joy to be able to eat cake guilt free!

My body feels stronger, too, particularly my legs. In short, I love cycling! I would love to go on a proper bike tour with Nige. I've just finished reading "Lance Armstrong: Tour de Force", by Daniel Coyle, hailed as "the best Armstrong book ever written". I've read Armstong's books "It's Not About the Bike" and "Every Second Counts", and while "It's Not About the Bike" was truly inspirational in terms of his journey with cancer and the first Tour he won, I'd have to agree and say that this book is a fascinating insight into Armstrong from an outside perspective, as well as being a brilliant read about cycling as a competitive sport and the Tour de France. One day, I'd love to go and watch the Tour, even if just to see the peleton whirr past in a blur.

Nige has lent me a book by a lady called Anne Mustoe. The book, "A Bike Ride: 12,000 miles around the world" tells of her adventure, quitting her job aged 54 and cycling round the world, unable in the beginning to even change a punctured tyre (there is hope!). Sadly, I think she has passed away (from cancer, incidentally), but I'm thoroughly looking forward to getting into her tale.

I've also been watching "The Man who Cycled the Americas" on BBC iplayer. Mark Beaumont is from Scotland and, having realised that cycling round the world was not enough of a challenge for him, embarked on an adventure, cycling from Alaska to Argentina andclimbing both North and South America's highest mountains while he was at it! I am not a fan of the telly in general, although I can get as sucked into it's brain numbing glow as the next person, but this, oh this is good TV. Good TV should inspire the watcher to go into the world and live, and this is definitely what this show has done for me. The third part of it is on this coming week...

Since buying a bike (and setting up a 12 month payment plan - thank you Evans!), cycling has become an ever-increasing part of my life. I love the freedom it has given me, the way of life it has opened to me, and the endless possibilities for adventure it presents. It's been a brilliant anchor in my relationship with Nige, too, providing us with shared experiences, laughs and goals. I wonder where the bike will take me this year...?