I HAVE recently learnt the harsh lesson that it is wise to double and triple-check appointment times before embarking on any cycle journey to them, particularly if they are further than 10 miles away.

It can take a long time and a lot of energy to rectify an ATE (appointment time error).

So, last week the usual8.30am school run to Charlbury using our Thorn ‘Me ‘n’ u2’ triplet bike (seating three of us on one frame sjscycles.co.uk) was achieved in a breeze, with the assistance of my children E&R. The Goodies would have been proud!

Such it was on this day, however, I had a much sterner test ahead, to get from Charlbury to Chippy for a 9.30am physio appointment.

In my mind, I was already half way there, and there was no point in turning back to switch bikes, so I decided, in the time available, I would make a dash as an extension to the school run.

Logical, you might think.

However, it was not, for the following reasons. Charlbury is only 1.5 miles into what transpires to be a 10.3 mile trip. It is8.45am and my appointment in my mind is at 9.30am.

It is mostly uphill to Chipping Norton and I am carrying a pannier of children’s overclothes and one of posters and leaflets to spread the word on Southill Community Energy, attempting to raise £2million for a local solar project.

Thus encumbered by false perceptions and baggage, I set forth with vim and vigour to make my appointment on time.

Thankfully the weather was with me, otherwise it would have been intolerable.

I announced myself to the bewildered receptionist, and the wait for the physio to emerge from his actual 9.30am appointment ensued.

In the waiting room, I chatted Southill to my fellow patients, one positive of community solar action, the other seriously negative, calling solar power ‘posh power’, a phrase I had never come across.

Thus, my poor memory, had sprouted a new term to think about. Thinking about it, I ascertained that ‘posh power’ must be a concept about the cost of installing solar at home - particularly with the removal of the feed in tariff.

This conversation was ironic considering Southill Community Energy is a low cost investment - between £250 and £100k - for all the community.

So, I had to return the triplet home (my wife needed to pick up the children at 3pm), switch to my road bike (racer in any other terms) and go off to my correct appointment time (2pm which I had to rearrange).

Thankfully my wife intervened with the statement ‘you cannot cycle 40 miles in a day!’

Suddenly, I felt very tired, and a quick check of the internet confirmed that my journey had been rather further than I had initially thought so I decided to head off and cut letters into stone (my new occupation).

I won’t make the same mistake again, but at least I had a good, though unexpected, workout!

If only the roads were safer, I wouldn’t have to have specific bikes for getting the children to school.