Em's birthday is 23rd May so to mark the occasion I'm sending her an appropriate card!! (from MoonPig of course!!)
21 May 2008
20 May 2008
15 weeks and counting!!!
That’s all there is until we embark on this ‘epic’ journey. (Well I think it’s epic anyway). Training is continuing at a pace. I did a total of 112 kms in 3 rides last week.
Tuesday, I thought I’d try the route set out for the inaugural ride of the ‘Cummins Daventry Cycling Club’. It’s a variation on a ride I have done but takes in an extra village. I decided to do it the other way round, (no, not facing the back of my bike,) the opposite way round the route I mean. I really enjoyed it to start with, but the wind seemed to be in my face whichever way I turned! I really believe someone up 'there' has it in for me when I go out. I think a committee gets together and they decide to make it as challenging as possible! The route was 22 miles and at one point going down Longdown Lane, I was actually doing 58.4 km/h that's around 35 mph!!! When I got to Flecknoe things slowed up considerably, there's a long hill up to the village, it was a corker to trot up on horseback, but when it comes to your own leg power it's a different matter, as is Staverton Hill which followed almost straight away after. Blimey that's a long hill!!
Thursday I went to Everdon, Weedon, had to get off and walk the last 100m of the hill that comes out at Dodford (I'm a failure!!) Daventry all round the ring road, out to Staverton & back home. Quite an steady one, but met some real gentlemen. Three huge lorries all waited until there was nothing coming the other way before pulling out to pass me.
Then Saturday, Em & I with some friends of ours, Sally & Sue, went for a 2nd session of bag packing in M&S Food Hall in Milton Keynes. We raised £185 in 2.5 hrs. It was really quiet for a Saturday though, perhaps it was something to do with the Cup Final? Still, we did very well and that money has now been deposited into out respective Just Giving accounts. A BIG thanks to Sally & Sue for their sterling efforts. Sue was like a rottweiler with a bone, she wouldn't let go and Sally said she now knows what rejection feels like!! But thanks to one man, she does know a vast amount more about plastic than she did before we went. Bless her!!! Oh, and thanks to the very kind gentleman who gave me £5 just to go away!!!
Sunday was long ride day as Saturday afternoon was a wash out. It was a lovely day & I did 34 miles, via Daventry, Rugby, Barby, Welton, Norton, Badby. I think I hit 'The Wall' at Barby, or it could have been the short, but really steep, sharp little hill I had to climb, but I have to say, I LOVE the road surface just outside Barby, it's so smooth! I'll bore you all about road surfaces another time shall I?
Tuesday, I thought I’d try the route set out for the inaugural ride of the ‘Cummins Daventry Cycling Club’. It’s a variation on a ride I have done but takes in an extra village. I decided to do it the other way round, (no, not facing the back of my bike,) the opposite way round the route I mean. I really enjoyed it to start with, but the wind seemed to be in my face whichever way I turned! I really believe someone up 'there' has it in for me when I go out. I think a committee gets together and they decide to make it as challenging as possible! The route was 22 miles and at one point going down Longdown Lane, I was actually doing 58.4 km/h that's around 35 mph!!! When I got to Flecknoe things slowed up considerably, there's a long hill up to the village, it was a corker to trot up on horseback, but when it comes to your own leg power it's a different matter, as is Staverton Hill which followed almost straight away after. Blimey that's a long hill!!
Thursday I went to Everdon, Weedon, had to get off and walk the last 100m of the hill that comes out at Dodford (I'm a failure!!) Daventry all round the ring road, out to Staverton & back home. Quite an steady one, but met some real gentlemen. Three huge lorries all waited until there was nothing coming the other way before pulling out to pass me.
Then Saturday, Em & I with some friends of ours, Sally & Sue, went for a 2nd session of bag packing in M&S Food Hall in Milton Keynes. We raised £185 in 2.5 hrs. It was really quiet for a Saturday though, perhaps it was something to do with the Cup Final? Still, we did very well and that money has now been deposited into out respective Just Giving accounts. A BIG thanks to Sally & Sue for their sterling efforts. Sue was like a rottweiler with a bone, she wouldn't let go and Sally said she now knows what rejection feels like!! But thanks to one man, she does know a vast amount more about plastic than she did before we went. Bless her!!! Oh, and thanks to the very kind gentleman who gave me £5 just to go away!!!
Sunday was long ride day as Saturday afternoon was a wash out. It was a lovely day & I did 34 miles, via Daventry, Rugby, Barby, Welton, Norton, Badby. I think I hit 'The Wall' at Barby, or it could have been the short, but really steep, sharp little hill I had to climb, but I have to say, I LOVE the road surface just outside Barby, it's so smooth! I'll bore you all about road surfaces another time shall I?
14 May 2008
Oxford Bike Ride
Sunday 11th Em, John Hunter & I had all signed up for the Classic Oxfordshire Bike Ride which set off from Harwell, Oxon, on a course of either 30 or 60 miles. John & I had almost arrived when Em called to say she was just leaving the M40 (around 20 mins behind us) but she’d forgotten her cycling shoes. DOH! Plus, she was only wearing flip-flops!! Not the ideal footwear for the tiny pedals we have fitted on our bikes! So John set off to do his 60 miles and I waited for Em to arrive.
After she had gone to a different car park we finally rendezvoused and decided she would have a ride up and down to see if it was possible to ride in her completely unsuitable footwear or not. I must admit I felt really sorry for by this point because we were both really looking forward to doing this ride. Anyway she decided that it was going to possible, we’d just have to take it a little steadier than normal. Hurrah!! So we got sorted and set off to the start.
There were around 75-100 people milling around the start area as we pulled up and guess what? Yep! I fell off!! Again!! FEET!!! I just think I’m an attention seeker really! What a Wally!! I couldn’t believe it. Em just looked at me in complete and utter disbelief. She also asked me to stop doing that as Grant has no more spare handlebars.
Anyway, we were set on our way by Lucy Rudedski, Greg was there too. He’s quite a hunk in the flesh! The rest of the ride (30 miles in total) was quite uneventful really apart from a little cycle rage on my part! Some silly blond woman with a total disregard for the Highway Code, and her friend who had a really squeaky bike, got right up my nose. There was NO WAY she was going to finish in front of me! My competitive edge came out and so it was head down, arse up and I was gone!
I had to lend Em my socks after a while as her feet were being rubbed. She looked like a Japanese woman, but we managed to complete the course in about 2 hours, we can’t be sure exactly how long or how far because our on board computers weren’t working for the first few miles because we’d put our front wheels on the wrong way round so the wheel sensor wasn’t being picked up!! It was a great day though. Sunshine and nice breeze = sunburnt shoulders for Emily! But she did really, really well considering she did it in her flip-flops! Well done Em :O)
Anyway the highlight of the day had to be ‘The Beast’ came home!!! Yay!! Martin was really impressed with it. He’d seen photos of it but I don’t think he realised how good it was going to be!! I keep going out to have a look at it!
The next organised ride Em & I are doing is 50 miles around the Rugby/Coventry area on 8th June. That should be fun!! Carry on Cycling!!!
P.S. For those of you that were worrying, John isn’t still out there cycling!! He actually finished his 60 miles in about 3 ½ hours. Well done him.
After she had gone to a different car park we finally rendezvoused and decided she would have a ride up and down to see if it was possible to ride in her completely unsuitable footwear or not. I must admit I felt really sorry for by this point because we were both really looking forward to doing this ride. Anyway she decided that it was going to possible, we’d just have to take it a little steadier than normal. Hurrah!! So we got sorted and set off to the start.
There were around 75-100 people milling around the start area as we pulled up and guess what? Yep! I fell off!! Again!! FEET!!! I just think I’m an attention seeker really! What a Wally!! I couldn’t believe it. Em just looked at me in complete and utter disbelief. She also asked me to stop doing that as Grant has no more spare handlebars.
Anyway, we were set on our way by Lucy Rudedski, Greg was there too. He’s quite a hunk in the flesh! The rest of the ride (30 miles in total) was quite uneventful really apart from a little cycle rage on my part! Some silly blond woman with a total disregard for the Highway Code, and her friend who had a really squeaky bike, got right up my nose. There was NO WAY she was going to finish in front of me! My competitive edge came out and so it was head down, arse up and I was gone!
I had to lend Em my socks after a while as her feet were being rubbed. She looked like a Japanese woman, but we managed to complete the course in about 2 hours, we can’t be sure exactly how long or how far because our on board computers weren’t working for the first few miles because we’d put our front wheels on the wrong way round so the wheel sensor wasn’t being picked up!! It was a great day though. Sunshine and nice breeze = sunburnt shoulders for Emily! But she did really, really well considering she did it in her flip-flops! Well done Em :O)
Anyway the highlight of the day had to be ‘The Beast’ came home!!! Yay!! Martin was really impressed with it. He’d seen photos of it but I don’t think he realised how good it was going to be!! I keep going out to have a look at it!
The next organised ride Em & I are doing is 50 miles around the Rugby/Coventry area on 8th June. That should be fun!! Carry on Cycling!!!
P.S. For those of you that were worrying, John isn’t still out there cycling!! He actually finished his 60 miles in about 3 ½ hours. Well done him.
13 May 2008
Stinging Nettles & The 'Beast' comes home (well, nearly)
I said in my last post how I thought country roads were quieter, well let me explain. On bank holiday Monday I decided that after work (yes, unfortunately some of us had to) I would go out on a new route, from Badby to Preston Capes, Canons Ashby, Eydon, Woodford Halse, Byfield, Hellidon, Catesby, Badby around 22 miles.
I set off in a really good frame of mind, and was psyching myself up to scaling ‘Bulls Hill’, which is just the other side of the village, when I heard in the distance the now all too familiar sound of the boy racers bass beat. They came screeching around the bend on my side of the road, heading straight for me! I swerved out the way only to end up sprawled in a hedgerow full of stinging nettles!! OUCH!! They didn’t even stop the bas****s. I was stung all up my left arm & leg and through my shorts!! And if you have ever been stung by nettles then you know how much they can hurt. I spat on the nearest dock leaves and rubbed frantically but there were just too many. So I decided to take my mind of the pain by carrying on regardless. What a trooper!! However, I did cut the ride short as I was by now a little shaken up and prickly. So I didn’t go as far as I’d originally planned, but still did 18 miles. I put some vinegar on the stings when I got home on Mum’s recommendation and smelt like a big chip!!
I went out again on Tuesday and did about 13.5 miles. I love this weather, but it makes the cycling a little harder!! Have to make sure that I take on enough fluids as I sweat like mad!
On Thursday I was so excited!! I went to Milton Keynes to ride with Emily, Grant & my boss John Hunter came for a ride out too. The thing that was making me excited was that after the ride I was bringing 'The Beast’ home! So we set out and went out on the Woburn ride we’d done the other week. It was definitely a little easier this time and managed the hills better, but they weren’t easy (I suppose they’re not meant to be really!). Anyway, it was a beautiful sunny, warm evening. We did 22 miles in about 1 ½ hours, pulled up on Grant’s drive in the following order, Em, Grant, Me, John. I pulled on my brakes and promptly fell over sideways because I forgot to unclip my feet!!! These bloody cleats!! John wondered what the hell I was doing, Em said one minute I was there, and next I was gone! I just lay on the floor in hysterics!! I’ve got a corking bruise on my leg (see the photo above). It still doesn’t count as my ‘first blood’ because I didn’t lose any skin & it wasn’t at speed! I think Grant is making the rules up as he goes along! I think I’m going to write on my hands next time so I don’t forget. Anyway as I said I was excited because 'The Beast’ was coming home with me, and as a good friend would say, ‘Yeah Roight’, because during my acrobatics, I had managed to bend the handle bars! So Grant had to keep it to change them over. So I returned home Beast less but it’s definitely coming home with me on Sunday after our ride at Oxford and thereby hangs another tale…………
I set off in a really good frame of mind, and was psyching myself up to scaling ‘Bulls Hill’, which is just the other side of the village, when I heard in the distance the now all too familiar sound of the boy racers bass beat. They came screeching around the bend on my side of the road, heading straight for me! I swerved out the way only to end up sprawled in a hedgerow full of stinging nettles!! OUCH!! They didn’t even stop the bas****s. I was stung all up my left arm & leg and through my shorts!! And if you have ever been stung by nettles then you know how much they can hurt. I spat on the nearest dock leaves and rubbed frantically but there were just too many. So I decided to take my mind of the pain by carrying on regardless. What a trooper!! However, I did cut the ride short as I was by now a little shaken up and prickly. So I didn’t go as far as I’d originally planned, but still did 18 miles. I put some vinegar on the stings when I got home on Mum’s recommendation and smelt like a big chip!!
I went out again on Tuesday and did about 13.5 miles. I love this weather, but it makes the cycling a little harder!! Have to make sure that I take on enough fluids as I sweat like mad!
On Thursday I was so excited!! I went to Milton Keynes to ride with Emily, Grant & my boss John Hunter came for a ride out too. The thing that was making me excited was that after the ride I was bringing 'The Beast’ home! So we set out and went out on the Woburn ride we’d done the other week. It was definitely a little easier this time and managed the hills better, but they weren’t easy (I suppose they’re not meant to be really!). Anyway, it was a beautiful sunny, warm evening. We did 22 miles in about 1 ½ hours, pulled up on Grant’s drive in the following order, Em, Grant, Me, John. I pulled on my brakes and promptly fell over sideways because I forgot to unclip my feet!!! These bloody cleats!! John wondered what the hell I was doing, Em said one minute I was there, and next I was gone! I just lay on the floor in hysterics!! I’ve got a corking bruise on my leg (see the photo above). It still doesn’t count as my ‘first blood’ because I didn’t lose any skin & it wasn’t at speed! I think Grant is making the rules up as he goes along! I think I’m going to write on my hands next time so I don’t forget. Anyway as I said I was excited because 'The Beast’ was coming home with me, and as a good friend would say, ‘Yeah Roight’, because during my acrobatics, I had managed to bend the handle bars! So Grant had to keep it to change them over. So I returned home Beast less but it’s definitely coming home with me on Sunday after our ride at Oxford and thereby hangs another tale…………
07 May 2008
Bugs!!
Ok, so last week was a really good. Wednesday I went out on my own (billy no mates) and did a different route. I'm trying to find ones that keep me away from main roads. Not that I mind going on them, but its more comfortable and so I thought, safer on quieter roads but I'll tell you about that later! I started from home, went to Newnham/down the A45 and across country to Norton/Welton/Daventry/Badby. It was around 16 miles.
However I have discovered a problem. BUGS!. You just can't avoid them on a bike. At least in a car you have the luxury of a windscreen. They bloody hurt when they hit you, that's if you happen to be going fast anyway. AND when you reach the top of a hill and are just getting your breath back going down the other side they fly in your open gob!! Now I know you need extra protein & carbs but this is ridiculous.
I didn't go out again until Sat (not because of the bugs!) when I went to Milton Keynes and rode out with Em & Grant on 'The Beast'. We went to Winslow (Bucks) from Wavendon & back it was 30 miles. Great ride, I loved it. I really got the hang of standing up and pedalling, but I still HATE hills. What are they for?? Apart from to make you hurt! Now I know I said in my last post that I had to make a note regarding a new saddle, but now I've got some new shorts (Aldi specials and bloody comfy they are too!), I'm not so sure. It seemed to be more comfortable, either that or my skin is becoming like leather! However, after 6-8 hours in the saddle I may feel a little different. Anyway it took us bang on 2 hours to do 30 miles. So at that rate, we'll do the first day of the ride in around 6 hours! Cool!
Later.................
However I have discovered a problem. BUGS!. You just can't avoid them on a bike. At least in a car you have the luxury of a windscreen. They bloody hurt when they hit you, that's if you happen to be going fast anyway. AND when you reach the top of a hill and are just getting your breath back going down the other side they fly in your open gob!! Now I know you need extra protein & carbs but this is ridiculous.
I didn't go out again until Sat (not because of the bugs!) when I went to Milton Keynes and rode out with Em & Grant on 'The Beast'. We went to Winslow (Bucks) from Wavendon & back it was 30 miles. Great ride, I loved it. I really got the hang of standing up and pedalling, but I still HATE hills. What are they for?? Apart from to make you hurt! Now I know I said in my last post that I had to make a note regarding a new saddle, but now I've got some new shorts (Aldi specials and bloody comfy they are too!), I'm not so sure. It seemed to be more comfortable, either that or my skin is becoming like leather! However, after 6-8 hours in the saddle I may feel a little different. Anyway it took us bang on 2 hours to do 30 miles. So at that rate, we'll do the first day of the ride in around 6 hours! Cool!
Later.................
02 May 2008
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