Today’s commute was something of a shakedown ride (or a shook-up ride?): the first time on Hornsby since I struggled to resolve the grabbing front brake issue. I’m happy to report it’s largely solved: perhaps 90%. And I’m coming to conclude the remaining 10% is a matter of just the tiniest amount of play in the headset, after I’ve spent months convincing myself there is no play.

The forecast had been for rain all through the week, so I was quite surprised to wake up a view of Fujisan: Perhaps our last — barring a typhoon clearing the air — until winter? The new forecast had only the slightest chance of rain, and not outrageous temperatures, so I knew this was my chance to get Hornsby back on the road.

I felt horrible on the first small climb of the day — not just second-day thighs but as if I might be pushing my limits in the cardiac department. Things improved slowly after that to the point I felt comfortable on my arrival at the office, but I still clearly had no legs. I was quite surprised to see I’d turned in a respectable pace: on a moving time of 39:52 I’d averaged 19.5km/h, which is better than I’ve done in quite a while.

My image for the morning’s ride theme is a large cartoon cat, perhaps Pete Puma but perhaps not, festooned with flowers. Very much a Tom Bombadil vibe.

On the return I felt fine, just powerless as before. I was pleasantly surprised to find at the top of the first climb I wasn’t absolutely smashed for breath. I took the leisurely shortcut in the last 5km, which takes out perhaps half a kilometer from the total and slows me down by virtue of running through narrow, poorly paved roads with lots of pedestrian traffic. Still, I was pleasantly surprised on my return: on a moving time of 40:10 I’d averaged 18.5km/h. I’d messaged Nana from the office at 4:30, before I’d even changed clothes, that I was on my way, and I arrived at 5:30 on the dot. I must be getting more efficient at changing into my kit.

The forecast for tomorrow has improved: no chance of rain. Will I ride again?