Riding around on the London Cycle Hire Scheme

I finally made it to try out the new London Cycle Scheme. Its already been running a week, but I just haven't had the opportunity.

Then, Sunday evening, a moment presented itself. I was at the Knightsbridge Pont Street rack and there were about five or six cycles available.

I found the little card and slotted it in, watching a little set of lights change from red to green. Yippee! I could get a bike. Except it wouldn't come out of the rack. I tried a couple more times but then noticed someone else struggling with the same problem.

I moved to another rack and tried again. Green light and this time the bike came free. Neither of us were sure what the problem had been, but I was ready to try the bike.

First impression, well built, but quite heavy. I realised I needed to adjust the seat and work out whether the big black elastic band was important (only for carrying things). I set off along the road and instantly noticed two things. One - the gearing was rather low and two, I was surprisingly wobbly.

I stopped and changed to gear 3, which was as high as it would go. This immediately felt better and I was able to start off in a more refined manner. I headed down the first side street to get used to the bike and by the time I'd traversed the square I was more comfortable.

The bike runs quietly and is surprisingly upright compared to my own bikes. The three speed hub gears are probably useful although I stayed in 3 for almost the whole time.

After a few minutes I realised how much I was grinning on this new addition to London's transport and simultaneously realising I didn't know where the other nearby docking stations were located.

I know the area I was cycling around quite well, but I was also interested in the sensation of having to remember the one way systems in this hybrid world between pedestrian and road user.

I was also struck by how many people were looking at me on the bike. Not my wobbling, which had stopped after the first couple of minutes, but I think they were showing the same novelty interest that I've also had as the scheme was introduced.

I re-docked the bike within the 30 minute 'free' period and although that was a few hours ago, I'm still grinning.

no claustrophobia on this submarine

There's that bit in a Tarantino film when Uma Thurman and John Travolta discuss what later becomes the plot of Kill Bill. And I think the same thing happens in Notting Hill Gate when Julia Roberts rehearses the lines of her next movie with Hugh Grant. Its something to do with being a commander on a submarine and having to talk in improbable sounding jargon, which the Julia Robert's character suitably mispronounces.

But the producers from the BBC were watching and thought "Hey, that's not half bad, don't y'know" and commissioned a whole series based upon the rooftop scene.

It's called 'The Deep' and about a spacious submarine underneath the North Pole. There's a great and suitably diverse gang of crew although Minnie Driver has managed to wangle the part originally destined for Julia Roberts. I initially wondered why there wasn't a spiky haired oriental looking person in the crew but was then relieved a couple of scenes later when one showed up in the UN tracking station.

I've heard others being scornful of this project, but I'm regarding it as an interesting piece of light entertainment. The submarine's interior is about the same size as a space ship from Alien and has plenty of Sci-fi pods and flashing lights all around. There's obviously a great conspiracy happening outside in the 700 degree centigrade thermal ducts which don't seem to melt the icebergs.

We also have a possibly murderous latecomer to the crew who knows Everything but won't say a word.

In effect, we have a great collection of space drama plot devices stacked up in this five parter mini-series. Or should that be Minnie series?

I will be watching. Open the pod bay doors.

infinite monkey theorem

A strange mailshot today that set me thinking. I was being offered a service which will write my blog posts for me. They even offered to do a trial post by way of a demonstration of capabilities.

Now if I was a bank and wanted to write articles about financial matters to publish every few days to keep my site active, then I could understand it. Or someone writing about cake making. Even antique clock repairs or fashion tips for the busy person.

But mine's a personal blog. The letter said they greatly admired it and would write to the same high standard. I wonder who they had intended to email?

sun then thunder

Out and about on a bicycle.

Two, in fact, as I was sharing one of my bikes and we swapped part way along.

Others have commented on the London bike hire scheme and the fact that they have their own bikes so wouldn't use it. I understand the point and was expecting that I'd be using the scheme when I was otherwise bike-less.

So far that hasn't been the case though, so despite my access key I suppose I'll be a late adopter.

Of course, it was sunny when we were cycling around, but in typical British weather mode, i'ts now turned from sunshine into thunderstorms with that type of rain that feels like ice rods.

Either that or I've got a fever.

Lizzie Pattinson

We ran into Lizzie Pattinson performing whilst we were on the Island. Lizzie's last name is a give-away because she is the sister of Robert Pattinson, who is in the Twilight and Eclipse vampire films. A noticeably large group of press photographers arrived as she hit the stage.

Last weekend we'd seen Ella Edmonson who is the daughter of Ade Edmonson and Jennifer Saunders whilst we were in Devon, and its interesting to see how these multi-talented families handle their diverse streams of output.

In Lizzie's case it was bluesy, jazzy singing with quite an American edge to it. I was slightly surprised that someone from Wimbledon would sound more from the other side of the Atlantic than ours. I don't think it was just me though, because I heard others asking if she was American.

It was a pleasant enough set, but I can't help thinking it would be so much better in a club rather than across a vast early evening field. I suspect she would strike more rapport in such a jazzy setting. It was also probably more of a night-time set too, which maybe does provide a linkage to her brother's performance craft.

length of an island on fumes

The Isle of Wight isn't that big. About 27 miles along the long side. We'd been visiting friends at the far eastern end and needed to get back to the ferry, which was close to the far western end.

"Almost Empty" chimed a little display in the car as it made three ding sounds.

"It'll be fine", responded the driver. We were on our way to our friends' place at this point.

Several hours later, we left and the car did it's little bing again. Still no urgency, but a special route back across the island. I was intrigued that we drove for what seemed like an hour but didn't go past any petrol stations.

I would try not to say anything or panic.

"That's unusual", came the response. "Most of the petrol stations have either closed and gone, or are closed for the evening."

We reached the ferry. No petrol stations. We drove past the ferry to the next town. No petrol stations. I could lean across and see the little dial on empty. Next to the yellow warning light and the Special Warning Message. Past the first empty line marking and hovering on the second empty line marking.

I tried to admire the sunset. To imagine not having to walk along a deserted road trying to find a place to get a "gallon" of fuel in a metal container.

We headed back to the ferry, silently noting the extra 14 mile round trip we'd just done to two extra petrol free towns. We parked in the lane for the ferry.

Would it start again to get us onto the ferry? Would the remaining fumes be enough to get us off the ferry when we returned to the mainland?

During the crossing we asked someone how far it was to the nearest petrol station on the mainland. He gave us comprehensive instructions which included a couple of phrases like "then go along the really long stretch to the nearest roundabout."

We drank coffee and waited for the ferry to reach the terminal. Then back to the car. Would it start again?

all about the bike

Back to the seaside today, across to the Island ahead of tomorrow's appointment at Queen Victoria's old house. Yesterday saw a late finish in order to get everything done and despite the holiday season there seems to be plenty happening at work, which is keeping me busy.

On the ferry I started reading the bicycle book by Rob Penn, about his construction of a purpose built machine woven with the history of the bicycle. It's way more fanciful than any of my construction projects, but I can identify with the ingenuity.

Coincidentally, and to the amusement of others, a few weeks ago I ordered some 'bike parts' which arrived in an oversized un-smuggle-able box and have since been quietly assembling another machine in the garage. By comparison with the book's £3,500 budget, my paltry expenditure pales into insignificance, but I have a sneaking suspicion its almost as much fun (alright, without the travel to exotic locations to acquire headsets and sprockets).

But my cycle construction project must wait as I am away again for the next couple of weekends, although I have already finished reading the book, which I think only re-inforces the need to ride around on two wheels.

wired for pedals

The new little key thingy for the London Cycle Hire scheme arrived today. Its another radio frequency device that needs to be touched to the new bike stands to release the bikes.

We've all seen the stands being added around London, but its a few days before the bikes turn up. It should be an interesting experience to see how well this works and whether it adds to the bike-friendliness of London.

I've already checked the map for the nearest stands, but the map adds mysteriously that they may not all be shown. I've added the dongle to my keyring, and worked out that including car keys, I have six microprocessor based systems on my key ring now, plus an oyster card and my separate office access card.

Well wired or well weird?

quite a normal day really

...not quite sure where some of it went, though.

steaming

We headed back to the Smoke on Sunday afternoon.

I was still in the borrowed silver car but had acquired two extra passengers.

We'd left the sporty convertible at the farm and it was to be picked up again on Tuesday and driven to Cornwall. I needed to be back at work on Monday and then on to a rendezvous in an Italian restaurant for Monday evening.

So from a chilled out weekend, we were all soon back on our individual mini-agendas for the rest of the week.

But only after I'd taken my hostages to look at a steam railway on the way back.

Joey the Lips

We'd rocked the evening away yesterday, to a mix of jazz and funk as well as some improbable "anarchy in the UK" style folk-punk on a combination of electric mandolins and double bass.

I'd been sipping rather than guzzling which meant I could survive with little more than aching feet. Others were less fortunate and needed to lie down on the nearest grass.

By the time we'd all cleared our heads on Sunday, it was nearly time for lunch, so we ambled to the shoreline, which I described as a perfect landing spot for space cruisers. Others were bemused by this, but I'd just seen an old steam locomotive running along the opposite side of the river estuary and remarked that the landscape changes with different features of modernity. No-one thinks a row of moored pleasure cruisers and yachts is unusual nowadays, so why not have a few space craft parked there in a hundred years time?

The lunch was delicious.

ness

"Cock a doodle doo" started the day.

I was in time to see the amusing antics of the chickens leaving their hen-houses in the morning. It's like they all queue up behind the door to run out in a chaotic scramble of sizes and shapes. Then, after they shake themselves off, they start their earnest pecking around the yard.

Some of us were down by the sea, though, chicken-less, but with ships to spy and three cornered hats to wear. We'd be moving soon enough to a field for the day, but right now it was working out whether we'd need waterproofs or sunscreen.