Photo: All dressed up but nowhere to go.

Today is our last day in London until November. Tomorrow we fly back to Italy until the autumn. All packed and ready to close and secure the apartment.

The most important job of all was to clean, polish and prepare the bike for secure storage. She’s looking good still even after 18,950km on the road, especially as she’s been relegated to the British winter bike.

My thoughts turned to my Christmas list for her/me:

• Wheels
• Tyres
• Stem (my bike fit recommended a longer one to match my other bike)
• Winter gloves
• Winter riding boots
• Winter helmet

Some cooling thoughts on the hottest day of the year. It’s even hotter in Italy, I will be riding this weekend in a forecast 37°.

Year to date

7,658km / 71 rides / 107.8 km average per ride

75,280m elevation gain / 8.5 Everests