The hazy days of summer.

The last few days have been absolutely fantastic cycling weather, not too hot, not too cold, not too windy and beautifully sunny and those dark days of winter at last seem only a distant memory. Last week I passed another milestone which was over 4,000 miles completed on the road since September in preparation for the Ride London 100 and I'm feeling great on it.

Yesterday for example I met up with a "retired" work ex-colleague in Windsor and we did a ride called the 10 bridges, essentially a route that crosses the Thames 10 times. It was a beautiful day blue sky, the fresh green of the leaves and bright yellow of the fields of rape seed. A couple of leisurely cafe stops completed the day and 85 miles cycled in all and something that I'm sure we will repeat.

Last Sunday however was a different matter. I have started riding with a group of riders in Bracknell on a Sunday morning and last week we decided to follow the route of the local 3 counties cycle ride. All was going well until a steepish downhill descent at the 20 mile mark and one of our number going too fast hit gravel to avoid a car and crashed at about 30mph.

An ambulance was called and a paramedic car arrived quickly to assess his injuries. Another ambulance was called to take him to hospital together with a police car to close the road. Forunately although he was in a lot of pain there were no serious injuries, cracked ribs, bruises, cuts and grazes so he will be of the bike for a few weeks. His helmet almost certainly saved him from a more serious injury as it was badly cracked after impact on the road.

It does make you think about your own safety. Luckily for me I'm not very brave on descents so always take it very easy. Better to arrive late but in one piece than not at all.

To sponsor me for the Ride London 100 in aid of Prostate Cancer UK and to motivate me on those hard training rides then please visit my fund raising page.