Presents galore

It's like Christmas here in the Hillsdon/Steele household. All my new cycling toys seem to have arrived at once. And, like a child, I want to play with them all at the same time.

Over the last week I've shelled out on:
- An IceToolz chain tool (useful for taking apart and cleaning chains - when do I ever do this?)
- A pair of Trek heavyweight winter gloves (fleece-lined winter gloves for commuting to work on the coldest mornings - they are on sale at Evans Cycles for £22)
- One Bontranger hardcase tyre (with fat puncture belt) to replace the paper-thin shredded rear tyre and puncture magnet that I've been using recently)
- A Smart 5-LED 3-Function Rear Light (safety first kids - plus it was only £3.50 from Wiggle)
- A 500ml tub of Science in Sport Rego Total Recovery Drink, Chocolate flavour (stops aching muscles after 70+ mile rides apparently. Tastes like milkshake apparently. Smoke and mirrors? Possibly.)
- A pair of dhb Merston Padded 3/4 Bib Tights (they look incredibly stupid but they feel stupendiously comfortable - imagine a fleecey romper suit with a padded nappy)
- A Topeak All Weather Tri-bag (for storing maps and vials of performance enhancing drugs).

I've put all these items under 'essentials', thereby justifying spending over £100 on cycling stuff once again. Getting sponsored by a company would be much cheaper (that's a plea by the way to the oh so generous bicycle company employees that happen to be reading this).

I'll be going for a short training ride this evening to try these new toys out. If I leave at 5.30pm I can now fit in an hours riding before it's too dark. Last night I did the same after work and was surprised at the number of other lycra-clad riders out for an early evening ride. I'm glad I wasn't the only one excited at the prospect of lighter evenings for the only reason that more cycling can be done during the week.

In other news, today I emailed just about everyone in my address book and told them about the ride. So there's definitely no backing out now. Why do I feel a little nervous all of a sudden?