cycling

I had initially been concerned that my all-in-one Karrimor cycling undergarment - a black skin-tight lycra bib with integral leggings - might make it look as if I knew what I was doing. Prostrate and arch-backed in the tent trying to peel it down below my pelvis I saw that this was indeed true, but only in so far as knowing what I was doing if I had been in a beach hut with a like-minded party of sado-masochistic Edwardian bathers.

Tim Moore, Frost on my Moustache

I'm a keen cyclist. I've commuted by bike pretty much solidly since 2000, and I'm an enthusiastic leisure rider. Having grown up in Japan, I used to ride to the local train station every morning. Living in Cambridge, my morning commute to work took 10 minutes by bike - and would have taken about 15 minutes by car through rush-hour traffic.

My primary bike is a mountain bike fitted with slicks. It's a Specialized Rockhopper Comp (2001 model), with a few minor modifications. As in, the only bits that are still original are the frame, the front wheel, the cranks and bottom bracket, the stem, and seatpost.

In autumn 2003, I built up a road/touring bike. In 2005, I built a road bike for Heather. Building bikes is great fun, and I highly recommend it to anyone capable of doing a reasonably complicated lego set.

Cycling in the UK
I loved living and riding in the UK. Cambridgeshire is a great place to ride around, though it has an annoying lack of hills. One of my favourite pastimes of a summer evening was just going for a bit of a ride around the Cambridgeshire villages. A ride that I'd seriously recommend is the Cambridgeshire Circular - actually a very good basis for various rides around the south villages, although I think it's a crime that they miss the lovely slight hill just outside Toft, going up towards Hardwick. When the cornfields are out, it's a glorious little ride, either up or freewheeling down. A great evening training ride.

Also good fun is the Cambridge to Ely route. Again, a great fun route for summer rides. It's a bit dull up until Cottenham, then once you hit Twenty Pence Road it starts to brighten up a bit. Past Wilburton it's grand; through the back around Grunty Fen it's glorious in the middle of summer. A great day out when the good weather hits.