venta

This morning I went through a red light on my bike.

I don't usually do that. Even though at the junction in question the traffic flow often means it would be safe to do so.

What was worse was that I pulled up to the line and stopped. On a green light. When it changed to red, I went. I was over the junction and off at the other side before I realised that that's not how these things are supposed to work.

I did subsequently successfully negotiate several more sets of traffic lights in a rather more conventional way. But still. Aaargh.

I have no idea what my brain was thinking.

A while ago I realised that, if I'm going to cycle safely along roads with people on them (particularly that bit in Reading which lots of pedestrians mistakenly believe is "no cycling") I need a bell.

I am a Serious Cyclist so I went to Tiger, the mysterious Everything Shop in Ealing Broadway, and splashed out £1 on a ( bright green bell )

Well, I have now managed one cycling trip office-to-station, and one station-to-office. Am not dead.

( Tedious detail, including Reading's cycle routes )

In conclusion: I'm very slow and a bit wobbly, and a bit out of practice at being on a bike. I am very bad at even gentle inclines. Hopefully these things will improve with time :) My saddle issue has not magically resolved itself; I shall experiment with hoping it'll get better, probably before giving in and buying a new saddle. Overall, I'm quite impressed with the quantity and quality of cycle routage Reading has.