Oh B*!?"#ks

I had my first puncture last night, how poo is that? Especially when I'd just changed the tube before I set out because the valve had failed on the old one! Anyway, Rule no.1 - Always carry a spare inner tube. Rule no.2 - Always carry tyre levers. Rule no.3 - Always carry a small pump. I broke the first rule!! I'd actually just used my only spare tube!! Egg's boyfriend has some more for me, but that was no good to me last night! I was about 8 miles from home an luckily for me my husband was at home. 'Darling! Sweetie, Can you pick me up' I said as pathetically as possible. So 15 mins later I was in the back of the van, very disgruntled! Guess what I'm going to get tonight? Yep, spare tubes!!

So let’s take the scenario in the post below, ie sunshine, to the other extreme shall we? Last week I did a couple of days out in the week, around 35 miles, then decided to ride both Saturday and Sunday. I know, I thought, I’ll ride to Wellesbourne Market on Saturday, meet Martin there, change my clothes, have a wander round and then drive back. So I got up early, walked the dogs, surveyed the weather forecast, ‘a few light showers’, not too bad, got changed and set off. There were a few spits & spots on the way to Southam, but nothing to worry about. Martin passed me there too. Anyway I headed out to Deppers Bridge, Gaydon & Kineton (across country) a very pretty, UNTIL, the heavens opened. It wasn’t a gradual few drops, it was a deluge! Luckily I’d put my waterproof jacket on, but my legs were exposed to the elements, my glasses don’t have windscreen wipers, my shoes have mesh inserts, are you getting the picture yet? I was soaked!! I even had to wring my socks out when I got there. Luckily I’d given Martin a change of clothes for me as I didn’t fancy walking around in shorts that look like I’ve got a nappy stuck down them!! So I had to strip off in the back of the van! But it was a good 27 mile ride.



Sunday, Em came over to ride with me for a change, which was nice. We decided we’d do around 30 miles as the weather, once again, looked unpredictable. So we went to Everdon and up the hill through the Stubbs, killer! The first time I went up there I met a guy coming down and said to him ‘I’d rather be doing what you are!’ to which he replied ‘Oh no you wouldn’t’! Odd man, anyway, I’m puffing and panting up the hill when I thought to myself, ’My breathing sound a bit odd?’ then realised that this odd man was coming back up the hill again!! ‘Aha’ I said ‘I get it now’, anyway he pushed on to the top and I have to admit, I did stop, no, I didn’t get off and walk, I just rested and then carried on again about 200m behind said chappie, when all of a sudden he turned in the road and started coming down again!! ‘I’ve got to do this 4 more times’ he said. To which I replied, ‘I haven’t! See ya!’ Anyway, I digress. So we did the Stubbs Hill, Farthingstone Hill, out to Maidford, Adstone, Canons Ashby, Eydon, and Woodford Halse. Called in to see my niece, Georgia, as it was her 15th birthday and had a quick cuppa then carried on to Preston Capes, (we had to walk a little way up the hill to the water tower, that’s what stopping does to you!!), Charwelton, Staverton and back to Badby. We did 30 miles. Em said it was a hard ride, I must say I didn’t find it too bad and it’s only the 2nd time I’ve done that route. Anyway its onwards and upwards. Catch ya later………………

Bring It On!

Only 4 weeks to go until the off. I make that 28 days, or 672 hours, or 40320 minutes or even 2,419,200 seconds (do you think I have a little too much time on my hands?

As far as the training goes it’s great! I’m really getting to grips with it. Two weeks ago I did a total of 152 miles!! Very satisfying!! One of the rides was with Em, Grant & his mate Malcolm. It was weird going out with someone else! I’m so used to training solo now. Anyway we had a great ride. We stopped at this lovely little place called Bluebells Café at Marsworth, Nr Aylesbury. There was a very inviting stream running in front of it. I was sorely tempted to get my shoes & socks off and throw myself in it! We had a pot of tea made with ‘real’ tea (very civilized), a can of coke and a large piece of carrot cake. I’ll tell you something, it was extremely difficult to get back on the bike after that lot! I don’t know how Em & Grant do it? I don’t stop normally when I’m on a longer than average ride. Or if I do it’s just to stretch my back & legs, have a drink and then I get going again. I felt like a real blob, what with tea, cake & coke all sloshing around on top of the litre of energy drink I’d consumed already during our ride!! Nice mixture! We did a total of just over 50 miles which was great. It was bloody warm too. In fact, apart from my ’50 chuffing miles’ the other month, I reckon this was the warmest I’ve ridden in. All I can say is ‘Bring it on’!

Don't Panic, Don't Panic!!

There seems to be a little panic creeping in amongst some of the other participants of this London to Paris ride. I must admit to being a little apprehensive but I wouldn’t be normal if that weren’t the case. Hang on though; I’m not NORMAL am I? Anyway I posted the following reply on the Discover Adventure Forum to a lady called Jan who’s doing the ride and is extremely worried about it

“In the immortal words of Cpl Jones from Dad’s Army ‘they don’t like it up ‘em you know’! Oops no, sorry that’s wrong! It should be ‘Don’t Panic, Don’t Panic’ & certainly not Fraser’s favourite saying ‘We’re all doomed’! ”