The Beast

So, last Monday I had my ‘formal’ introduction to the Quest, which will affectionately be known from here on in as ‘The Beast’. This is the road bike I will be using for the L2P ride. As you can see it’s a sexy little Orange, Black & White number.

I went to Milton Keynes and rode a circuit with Grant & Emily at a place called Cheddington. I was so surprised at how light ‘The Beast’ is compared to Martin’s MTB (mountain bike), but one of the difficult things is the pedals and cleats. These are, for those of you who have no idea about cycling (like me) special pedals to allow you to clip the ‘cleats’ (metal attachments on the bottom of the shoes) into. Once clipped in, you have to learn how to clip out so you don’t fall over!! Anyway, I managed to stay on and we did around 13 km. I found it quite hard in places, but on the whole really enjoyed it! There is only one complaint though, THE SADDLE!!! It is soooo hard. My poor ‘front bottom’ or ‘cho cho’ as they call it in Spain was killing me! Note to self – BUY NEW SADDLE!! Grant was brilliant, very patient and knowledgeable. It made things a lot better and also all his advice made perfect sense.

Tuesday (rest day) I was a little tender but none the less pleased with myself. I went out on Wed I did another 13 km on the MTB locally. I had intended to go out on Friday, but it was very windy so to make up for it I decided to do a good long ride on Saturday. I set out from Badby and went to Southam/Dunchurch/ Daventry & back to Badby. 47 km! Not bad at all. I told Martin before I went out I was going to be out for about 1.5 hours and doing a shorter route, but once the old legs got going, I really started enjoying it and decided to go a bit further. It took me about 2.5 hrs instead, but it was great. I did stop once and ring home so that Martin wouldn’t send out a search party! I do have an issue with the wind though! It seems every way I turn the wind is head on! Why can’t I have a tail wind!!

Anyway, went out on ‘The Beast’ again last night along with Grant & Emily, we did 28km in 1hr 22mins and went around Woburn. It was lovely, I can’t wait until I dare take my eyes off the road and look properly. I had my first fall too. My own stupid fault, remember earlier in this blog I told you about clipping out of the pedals or you fall over……. Yep, I did!!! Apparently you can call yourself a cyclist once you’ve had 3 falls, so only 2 more to go! Can’t wait! Really good ride though. Not so sore this week, but still going to invest in a new saddle.

Lazy week thanks to the weather

Bloody wind & rain last week! Unfortunately I joined the realms of the 'fair weather' riders!! Yes I know I said in my last one that it wouldn't bother me too much, but when you cycle into the wind it's like standing still and so demoralising. Anyway, Em & I went out on Wednesday and did around 10 miles, which is better than nothing but no where near enough. Slacker!


On Saturday we were supposed to be charity bag packing at M&S Milton Keynes for a couple of hours. When we (Em, Mum & I) got there there were kids packing on all the tills. The shop floor manager wasn't happy with them being there (he said they were not representative of the standard of customer M&S like to attract!!) (he was also very camp!) and to cut a long story short we didn't do any on Saturday, but the floor was ours on Sunday. We collected £200! We're back there on 17th May, which is a Saturday and we should be able to double that easily!

On a much more positive note, I've been out on the 'Beast'. More of that next time...........................

The lonliness of the long distance cyclist!

Okay, so after Tuesday's 17.5 miles I went for it again on Weds. This time, instead of turning right to Flecknoe, I went straight on to Lower Shuckborough. Not such a bad hill but one of those that seems to go on forever!! Anyway, going that way (I still did Sawbridge, etc). I worked it out that I had done 20 miles, because the route finder I did stopped at Daventry, I forgot that there's another 2.5 miles to my home at Badby!! So that actually makes it around 20 miles both Tues & Weds!!

Had a rest day Thurs and then Friday, Emily and I were going to do a longer ride, but it was cold, windy, showery etc. Now, I'm not a fair weather rider, coz Mum & I used to ride the horses in all weathers, but there's something different about cycling in that sort of weather, I think it's the fact that you have to do all the work! Anyway we went from Daventry to Weedon (A45) turned left on to the A5 up to the Long Buckby X roads and then back to Dav. I reckon it was about 13 miles. Em said that my recovery rate had vastly improved... I think what she meant was I could actually speak within 5 mins of finishing a hill instead of 10!! Ha Ha.

So Saturday came and I really fancied a challenge! I'd seen this route, The Draycote Loop, classed as 4/10 (easy 'ish'), with a few 'short' hills, just under 32 miles! Dunchurch/round Draycote Water/Offchuch/Leamington Spa/Cubbington/Princethorpe/Dunchurch. Lovely countryside, but a bit lonely, and when my walkman switched itself of all I had to accompany me was the wind whistling in my ears (when I was going downhill!) and my heavy breathing (when I was going up these 'short' hills!). One of these 'short' hills was doing an impersonation of Mt Everest!! I had to get off two thirds of the way up because I couldn't engage 1st gear. So after a bit of technical adjustment (I kicked it!) it was fixed but I carried on walking to the top only to be met in the gateway of a nearby house by three of the most humongous St Bernard dogs you've ever clapped eyes on. They made me jump that much I staggered back a little and nearly got mowed down by Mr White Van!! So any budding cyclists reading this that encounter 'Snowford Hill' BEWARE the house at the top of the hill or make sure your gears work! It took me around 2hrs 40 mins to complete and I have to say the old legs were biting a bit and the old bum felt like it had been bitten!!! But I must say I felt a real sense of achievement.

Sunday was spent having a well earned rest.

It just gets better & better!!

Well last night I decided that it was about time I stepped up to the mark and try to go a little further. So armed with Martin's 'Specialized' much lighter weight mountain bike I set off.

Badby - Staverton. At the Staverton roundabout my boss John Hunter, who is also doing a sponsored cycle ride next weekend came past me and shouted 'come on, keep up!!' I think I said 'Go away' or words to that effect.


From Staverton I went to Flecknoe bad choice, too many hills along that road! / Sawbridge / Grandborough / Woolscott / Willoughby / Braunston (yes up the hill) / Daventry / Badby - 17.5 miles in 1 hour 20 mins!! Chuffed or what!! I'd like to thank the 2 gentlemen on the tandem who spurred me on to go up Braunston Hill in one!!! Got to the top and shouted Woo Hoo!!


I got home feeling very pleased with myself, but also a little cold coz firstly I forgot my gloves, bad move!! my poor little mitts were frozen, and my feet had got cold through the web material on my shoes. Spoke to Grant (Em's lovely fella) and he's suggested that I put an old pair of thick sports sock over my shoes! Good move. I'm going to try that tonight. Yes, I'm going for it again..you can't keep a good woman down!

I'm getting into the swing of this

So, if Emily (http://emilyeldershawlondon2paris.blogspot.com/) thinks she looks bad in Lycra, she ain't seen nothing yet!! I look horrendous, like a large Michelin tyre!

We went out for our first joint training ride last Weds, it was OK!. Got a severe attack of the palpitations, but they didn't last long. Had a swig of water a minutes rest and away we went again. We did eight miles, and then did the same again on Thurs, I went out on my own Fri and again Sun. I think I've finally got motivated.

I used Martin's mountain bike on Sunday and it makes mine seem like a ton weight, I was also dreading using his 'thin' saddle, but to be perfectly honest, it was even better than my big wide gel one. I got a new pair of cycling shoes too. They were fantastic!

Just gotta start stepping up the distance now. Probably up to 15-17 next, then 20 +, and so on. Gradual increase, nothing mad.