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?

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!