Relaxed and comfortable - Not when you cycle through Balmain

Now back on my bike having had a restful couple of weeks. I'm actually in credit with THE coach, but need a bit more saddle time before I cash in my well earned reward ride.

Today I tried something a little different. Following Catherine's advice, that my preparation for riding in the Dordogne must include lots of hills, I decided to try a morning ride around Balmain. So I rode over the Iron Cove bridge, along the main road into Birchgrove and down towards the water through back streets, then back along Darling street, over Victoria road and through Rozelle. It was with great relief that I safely joined the Bay cycleway and rode home. Yes there were a few very short hills, but unfortunately there were also lots of potholes, narrow streets with many parked cars and quite a lot of morning traffic, including large buses. It was not a relaxed and comfortable ride. Don't think I'll do it again.

For tomorrow's ride it will be back to the tranquil cycle paths of Five Dock and Homebush where dogs off leash and ambling walkers listening to ipods are the main cycling hazards.

Have made progress with our trip plans. We will be staying in this apartment in Paris - thanks Beth for the recommendation.

On the cycling front I've been sourcing a few ideas from the following websites and photo collections on flickr.

An interesting website with general information about cycling in the Dordogne http://www.mayq.com/Best_european_trips/Dordogne/Dordogne.htm

Planning a trip is really half the fun...

Long time between blogposts and rides

Yes, it has been a long time between blog posts for many reasons.

Reason 1.

The weather - stinking hot weather kept me off my bike for a couple of days. Even THE Coach didn't ride one Sunday morning.

Reason 2.

Changes in work shifts so no time to ride after work - meetings after school, meetings before school etc.

Reason 3.

I'm sure there was a third reason...?

Anyway, I have only been for three rides since my last reward from THE Coach. This weekend was most exciting as I actually rode in company even though it wasn't with THE Coach. Thanks to Gen and Bill for driving over early on Sunday morning to join me on the Breakfast Point ride. Not quite as much fun as cycling in New York, or the Dordogne (we hope), but we did get on our bikes.

It was a lovely Sunday morning ride. Not too hot, not too many unleashed dogs and even the reward of coffee at the end of the ride with the 'speedy gonzales team' of Annie, Gerard and THE Coach. While Gen, Bill and I would have been happy to linger over our coffees swapping cycling tales, THE Coach and his 'team' had to move quickly to their next athletic event - the Coogee swim where they did battle with the swim bureaucracy and managed to make it round Wedding cake island without paying cent.

My only regret from the weekend - no photos as I'd left the camera at school.

News from France - have heard back from the Cyclomundo group - this is the link to their suggested tour.