The weather outside is frightful.....

So today was another wet dreary London type of day where i've cycled over 40 miles but not continuously (off to meet friends, then doing jobs around town a few laps of Regents Pk, meet friends for a coffee and then home) ... so not really real training but after advice from my cycling 'Oracle' (you know who you are!) i did concentrate on technique (position in saddle, angles of legs, shoulders, arms) and am learning what feels better when,  and what adjustments i'd like to make to the bike....

As i was doing 'town' stuff i was also not in lycra gear ... so the heavy showers were just vile! ... sodden jeans do not a happy cyclist make! And 'that' wet strip that not having mudguards leaves.... gaaah!!! ... and not just 'helmet' hair, but wet frizzy helmet hair.... just as well the glow of exercise and bright eyes (of fear from the cabs that were lethal today!!) makes up for it eh!

Anyway as i pedalled my way around town....  i had the old christmas song 'Let it snow' going round in my head... mainly because the 'weather outside was frightful'... so once the batteries had died on my iPhone (doh!) i started adapting the words to suit ....

Made me giggle as i cycled, got wetter and looked dreadful around town!!!

Oh the weather outside is frightful 

Cycling in rain is not delightful 

And from training i cannot hide 

I will ride! I will ride! I will ride! 

Buses never show signs of stopping 

And taxis i'd exile to wapping 

I've only 10 weeks to go 

Ohhh No! Ohhhh No! Ohhh No!! 

... and then if i remember rightly there are two more verses... for another day!!! Fear not musicians ... a lyricist i am not!

Lessons for the day - 
- Street furniture (manhole covers etc) are like ice patches in the rain
- It really surprises people if you smile at them from a bike in miserable weather!
- Taxis  ... nightmare drivers!  Addison Lee are the worst without doubt....

However .... despite all of that i spotted a new divine place in Regents Park....  no cycling so i had a walk to dry out ....

'Remember me' ... for many people.... 

 Whoever said that London's a concrete jungle... roses everywhere.... 

 Even more beautiful after the rain has come! 

 And when (if?!) summer arrives... i like the look of this bench for 'pausing' on... 

Gorgeous hey! Open your eyes and there's always something beautiful to see... whilst i was whizzing along i suddenly saw my mileage for the week tip to .... 111.11 miles!  

So i thought it warranted a picture...  wonder when i'll make it to 222.22 in a week!! It has been a cycle lightish week because of the weather - but there's been plenty of swimming & some Pilates too ... and today 'The Oracle' suggested that i should inject some skipping into life!!! Really!?!? I haven't skipped since i was 8 or 9 ...  i should confirm that he means skipping with a rope as opposed to skipping as a  way of getting around a la 'Miranda' or is that galloping? !!!

And i couldn't resist including this .... as i've said before i do love passing the zoo - although it's not often that the animals are visible from the road!  Giraffe's are my favourite animals ... 

So whilst the weather was indeed frightful - there was much that was delightful as i pedalled my way around town!