Record week

Now, I know to you athletes out there it's not very impressive but I covered 50 miles last week - on my own, with Leon and with Studs Cuz. Made it to Groombridge with Leon and another road ride around Cowden Lingfield and back to East Grinstead

Have realised that Leon needs a new bike instead of the solid iron one I bought him a couple of birthdays ago - Ebay here we come.

OK, bikes back and it's feeling athletic and taut. Celebrated with a 15 mile round trip along the Worth Way to Three Bridges. I've done over 50 miles this week (my cycling week starts on Saturday)

I have noticed some bicycle etiquette and I'm not sure i want to join in. It seems 95% of cyclists acknowledge each other - but only if one thinks the other is doing it for more than transport reasons. Hard one to judge sometimes so am not going to bother. People walking don't acknowledge other walkers and people in cars don't go round beeping to each other to say hello.

London to Brighton

Interspersed with nuggets of wisdom mostly gained from time spent on the WWW I want to diarise my efforts to get my ne and my boy (Leon) from London to Brighton using nothing but pedal power. Many years ago (actually many, many years ago) I completed the course with my cousin - half a life time of cigarettes and beer since isn't going to help.

So I bought a bike - a fairly genteel road-going hybrid which feels like a Rolls compared to anything I have ever ridden before. It's only an entry level Specialized but surely good enough to get my 13 stone of wheezy body to the end of the course.

Four weeks in and we've been out and about most weekends. The Worth Way is a handy cycle track - mostly flat with some pubs along the way - local to here and 2o miles from one end to the other. I love this time with Leon and, I think, he likes it too.

I've even done some road work with my friend the cycle geek - Studs Cuz. Last week we did 20 miles around the Gatwick area - beautiful. Some great hills that reward your efforts to get up them with some wind-in-the-hair downhill freewheeling.

My bikes in for it's first service now - spongy brakes need attending to - can't wait to get it back.