Friday the 13th

I may have missed seeing the planets due to cloud cover, but by 6.30 when I was down at the lake it was truly spectacular. As usual, the photos don't do it justice.

It was a balmy 5-6 degrees and I didn't need as may layers. It was lovely.

An almost record-breaking ride today and not because of a northerly. I think it is adjusting the position fo the cleats that made the difference. My average speed was up to over 25.3 kmph (normaly sits around 23) over the full length of the trip. I was slowed by a cyclist on Northbourne that I didn't feel comfortable passing -- something to do with traffic and for some reason heaps more buses than normal. And for the note, it was not an elderly person, but a cyclist in lycra with clipless pedals too, not just any old random.

Another major difference today was clipping out. Almost impossible for some reason. Then it occured to me right at that awful time-stands-still moment when "timber!" as I started falling to the left in slow motion. After moving the cleats in my shoes last night (which has made pedalling much easier now) I think the left one must have been loose making it difficult to clip out. Thankfully before going splat on the ground my left foot suddenly came free! Hooray! Phew! When I was unlocking our office door I realised the left foot sounded odd on the tiles. Hmm, one of the screws had come righ tout of the shoe and the other was flapping around. I hope I can at least find an allan key at work to tighten that for the trip home.

So, moral of the story, make sure your cleats are crewed in tightly! I've learned the hard way that you don't want ot have a screw loose!