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.