I seem to going backwards

When I started this hobby I quickly went from 10 miles to 17-23 miles. All of a sudden I am struggling to do 10 again and dying a death on inclines.
Take a look at my strava:
My Strava

But on the flip side I have ordered a winter jacket: dhb EQ2.5 Waterproof Cycling Jacket in black. 30% of the wiggle price.

Wiggle wriggled out...

I posted that I had ordered the new winter jersey. Only to find after 3 days of nothing I emailed wiggle to find out what was happening. Oh sorry they replied our supplier has failed to supply.... Is there anything else you want?
Really? Do you know how long it took me to decide on a top at a reasonable price. Reasonable being cheap but good.

Any ideas would help.

Lots More Money and Few More Miles

Today in the rain I went to Halfords to check on the progress of my replacement stem. Only to be told it will be the 5th Nov, more painful miles to put in for a wee while.
As it was raining I decided to invest in the Crud Mudguards. £26 later I was crouching in the Bikehut fixing them to the TDF. 1hrs 10mins later jobs a goodun...... Left the store a happy man only to find it had stopped raining and the ground was drying out, Oh well investment made.

I also ordered on Wiggle after much too-ing and fro-ing: I ordered a Spuik Race Jacket reduced from £75 to £37.
Hopefully all this lot will see me through the winter.....

I then went for a 7 mile spine to blow the cobwebs of last weeks drinking session.

Winter Brrr Too many choices!

With winter just round the corner and no real change from summer as in its still raining!!  I thought I would invest in some winter gear. I checked out all the usuals; Wiggle, Chain Reaction Cycles etc  I found Autumn wear on the shelves. I cannot afford to have four seasons of cycle wear and there is no room in my one bed apartment.

I now am in a quandary do I get Autumn wear and pad it out in the winter or wait and pad out the summer wear for now? So on the sites again and when I look its all Baselayers, thermals, windproof, waterproof, Merino wool, long sleeve short sleeve with arm and leg warmers. WHERE DO I START?

One thing I do know is I'm getting some CRUD...... Believe it or not their mudguards. It looked like I'd diarrhea sprayed my back the other day.

New life in the saddle

About a year ago I nose dived out of  fitness when my feet decided they had had enough of keeping me moving and I spent 5 months on the sick sorting them out. 

I went from going running and doing the Military style boot camp to keep me from being stressed to nothing. Then in August I had had enough of sitting round (resting my feet) time had come to get of my idle stressed out arse and buy a bike. 

I thought long and hard about how much to spend I could have jumped in with a grand and get a decent road bike plus equipment. BUT and there always is a but; what if I didn't like it then £1000 would be wasted. So I halved it and spent £299 on a Carrera TDF  and some bits and pieces for safety total spend £500 on the cycle2work scheme.

Almost 2 months in and I love it. I'm on Strava  http://app.strava.com/athletes/996800 . Bike Radar is visited all the time. Now though I wish I got a better bike but will have to wait. I spent another £200 on summer clothing only now I have to get winter wear another £100 will soon be spent on warmer clothing.    

THIS IS BECOMING AN EXPENSIVE HOBBY.

Jill rolls her eyes and switches off whenever I mention the word "cycle" and is not impressed at my spending because we are supposed to be saving for a house.