Reflections on the Round Trip

First thing that hits me as I look back at the 54 mile round trip is how comfortable it all felt. The early start was a great idea, the extra half an hour meant that the roads were even more empty than usual, easing me gently back in to the commuting-by-bike thing. The leafy lanes around Berkshire / Surrey are literally a world away from the chaos, grime and endless filtering past lines of traffic that used to confront me every morning between Tooting and Soho.

Today's grey, overcast morning meant that I would get a chance to see if all the gear was fit for purpose. I was glad I decided to keep the winter linings in both the jacket and trousers and on reflection if I had worn a lightweight jumper as well as just the t-shirt, I'd have been toasty. The helmet is a bit draughty, but nothing that a thicker neckerchief won't fix. As for the gloves, well moto-x gloves certainly aren't optimal kit for a chilly spring morning, but they do the job. Looking forward to getting the RST's tomorrow / Friday though - they are excellent gloves for the money.

As for the ride itself, I'd forgotten how much empty road there is when you're on a bike. Whether it's getting away from the front of the queue at a set of lights or overtaking at the start of a straight, space just opens up. Obviously, this being commuter belt, it doesn't last for long, but for those brief moments when there's nothing between you and the horizon it feels really good.

And importantly, it feels safe. When there's no-one in sight you don't have to worry about somebody doing something stupid (unless you do it yourself!). It's half-term this week, so it might be different next week. Looking forward to finding out!