Had a pootle up the superhighway to the City, got stuck in some heavy (bus) traffic not helped by the time of evening when everyone uses the Superhighway to park their cars. Eased up once we got to the Elephant so had a quick photo check of the Shard.
After joining Cannon Street, and stuck at lights, I noticed a strange wedge shaped building next to the St Mary Aldermary church I hadn't really noticed before.
From here to Trafalgar is usually a battle of wills with an infinite number of buses and taxis, but this time it was manageable, and it was quite a fast, fun jaunt past St Pauls through Fleet Street, Royal Courts and The Strand.
I tried to keep up with some speedos on bikes past Big Ben and CS8, but despite a few traffic lights helping me out, they kept dropping me. I know my limits so watched as they headed out on their own adventure.
Hitting lights at Chelsea Bridge I popped another couple of photos of it and Albert Bridge in the distance..
"I Dreamt We Were Standing" Anyone?
Thru Battersea I scalped a couple of girls on Boris Bikes (they all count, no?) and in Wandsworth spotted a fair menagerie of drunken ladies ("Iuvenes Birdus Drunkus") and almost got hit by a guy running out between parked cars who gave a shriek akin to Ned Flanders.
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3OpgwpgqXA
Along Upper Richmond Road the roadworks and a few lorries were building traffic quite a bit, but everyone on 4 wheels was extremely generous with me, no tooting or honking, and the lorry sat behind me even when he had opportunity to pass. I tried on my part to keep the speed going as much as possible.
Hitting Priory Lane and another stop for a
pint photo. (Sorry, bad taste).
And then onto a VERY dark Richmond Park. Gates are closed at sundown to cars, but the pedestrian gates are open 24 hours a day.
It's quite a freaky experience actually. I like the quiet, the solitude, and lack of things around me, except they were there, with great giant antlers. I just couldn't see them until they were 5 yards to my left or right. When I did spot a couple of reflecting eyes staring at me, it just made me pedal faster!!
It may have been the first time in history I had done Sawyers Hill without a gale in my face, maybe the wind only works during the day? There were certainly above cloud thunderstorms happening, but no lightning to ground. It was quite spectacular at times.
Owning the road was also rather lovely, even took a couple of pictures going up Sawyers Hill.
Blur-O-Vision
And then headed back thru Raynes Park to Wimbledon, via a detour as they were resurfacing the B235 from the mid point from Raynes Park to Wimbledon, no doubt for RideLondon.
When I got to South Wimbledon, and with a total lack of traffic, I went hell for leather for that out of reach 1 mile segment "Sub 3 mins and you are faster than the Northern Line" (always being stuck with traffic / lights / more traffic).
When I got home I found I had 62 achievements, including a PR up Sawyers Hill (why did I take photos!!!), a bunch near Big Ben no doubt helped by those fast dudes, along Wandsworth (with some help from nice lorryman) and a 2min 56 time on THAT segment, beating the Northern Line by 4 seconds!
I also learned that deer with big antlers that come out of the dark can be quite eerie.
https://app.strava.com/activities/347646978
!!
