The intention was to get the bike I am using on the Tour Of Britain fun ride in London out to check if it is ridable. I have mounted the placards on the OCR3 as this is the only bike I have that will take a pannier rack. The bike is 19lbs but with the placards and mounting etc- the bike checks in at 52lbs- with all of the extra weight behind the rear wheel. Quick check yesterday and it is feels wierd but wheelies are easy.

9 am this morning and a bit of wind about. In fact a lot of wind as when I pulled the bike out of the shed-I finished up across the other side of the garden. So plans changed a bit. Time to take the camera With the pics out to a few of my customers in Eastbourne and get sponsorship. Took Boreas as I know this bike can handle winds. Due South on the 10 mile trip and the side wind coming from the West. Except when I turned into it and boy did that slow me down. Saw a few customers and gave them a shock. They thought I was a nice stable Person with no adverse traits. One look at the camera and they changed their minds. See the first attachment- if you haven't seen it before. Down to Lunch to my favourite cafe and I sat inside to have my Eggs and ham on toast. The chairs outside were stacked away as they were being blown over the Walkway. Down to the met office and the wind was a constant 40mph with gusts up to 60.

By this time the wind was behind me so I had a couple of miles with high speed before I met the two in the second attachment. They were travelling from Dover to Lands End- In other words completely across the South of England- about 400 miles- and they were going into that headwind. Those bikes were heavy and I noticed them travelling at about 2 mph- spinning at around 90 and headdown into the wind. Turned round and had a chat with them- They were from Holland and had left Dover yesterday and camped somewhere en route. It was now 3pm and it had taken them that long to ride the 40 odd miles along the coast. I advised them on the route they should take to get some shelter from the wind- but they had a good few hills to take in before they got to their next camping site for the night. Didn't fancy their chances of making the 10 miles to the camp site before nightfall. And they have another day of high winds tomorrow.

I know I was mad to go out in that wind as the cross wind gust's were dangerous. One thing I did prove though- If it is windy when I do this Fun ride- The placards are staying at home and it will just be Bananaman on a bike getting sponsorship.