Oh, deary deary me. The things you learn ...
What I've learned these past couple of weeks?
I AM A FAIR WEATHER CYCLIST
Now, that's not to say that if I run (or cycle, even) into a monsoon in India I'm planning on hopping in with the M&Ms and giving up. You know me - I'll just get on with it. Meanwhile, however, as long as this rain continues, you'll find me at the gym!!!!
Sunday, 27 May 2007
Sunday, 6 May 2007
Sunday morning
And what a fantastic Sunday morning it is, too. Up at 7 and on the road by 7.30. Back at the house by 7.35 as my chain fell off!!!!!
7.45 - feeling quite chuffed with myself for sorting it out and feeling equally grateful it happened outside the house - another little learning curve successfully manoeuvered.
Cycled up to Devil's Dyke - and I mean 'up'. It's four and a half miles to Devil's Dyke and it took me 45 minutes. To give you an idea of the hill I can only say that it took me 10 minutes to get down! Fantastic (although my legs aren't quite sure how fantastic they're feeling). I contemplated a new book - DROP A JEAN SIZE IN 45 MINUTES. Do you think it'd sell?
Picked up some lovely warm, melting pains chocolats for the kids on the way home. Good start to the day and feeling quite proud of my first 9-mile cycle.
7.45 - feeling quite chuffed with myself for sorting it out and feeling equally grateful it happened outside the house - another little learning curve successfully manoeuvered.
Cycled up to Devil's Dyke - and I mean 'up'. It's four and a half miles to Devil's Dyke and it took me 45 minutes. To give you an idea of the hill I can only say that it took me 10 minutes to get down! Fantastic (although my legs aren't quite sure how fantastic they're feeling). I contemplated a new book - DROP A JEAN SIZE IN 45 MINUTES. Do you think it'd sell?
Picked up some lovely warm, melting pains chocolats for the kids on the way home. Good start to the day and feeling quite proud of my first 9-mile cycle.
Saturday, 5 May 2007
Finally, *sigh*
Yes, finally I'm up and running or, rather, pedalling. It's been quite an interesting few days, but thanks to the flood of e-mails I received from my fellow india-cyclists, I've managed to completely suss out all those gears. Even better, for all my complaining about having 21 to deal with instead of a mere 3, I've now discovered that I couldn't really cycle comfortably around Brighton without ALL OF THEM!!! Thank God for first gear, I say! It's been an absolute blessing to be able to cycle up the hills and not look like a complete idiot and hills, here where I am, are a part of life. So from the cycling aspect, things are looking up right now. I even hopped on my bike to go to the supermarket today. Impressive, eh?
And on another note, I had a phone call from the Bexhill Ladies Circle chairman, who told me that pending discussion at the AGM next week they thought Women for Women was an extremely worthwhile charity and would probably have no problem in sponsoring me. So am I happy? Yes, I'm happy. Another little step towards my goal ...
And on another note, I had a phone call from the Bexhill Ladies Circle chairman, who told me that pending discussion at the AGM next week they thought Women for Women was an extremely worthwhile charity and would probably have no problem in sponsoring me. So am I happy? Yes, I'm happy. Another little step towards my goal ...
Friday, 4 May 2007
This is not going well, is it?
Pray, forgive me. It has been a month since my last blog. But on that note, could somebody please tell me what happened to April? I'm sure I spotted her a couple of days ago, looking very seasonal and all that, and then Pfffft! Gone!
Anyway - I have a few entries which I'd typed up but just didn't manage to post, so I'll incorporate them below. Meanwhile ... ah me, all is still not well. Today is the day - I've got a cycle planned and thoroughly looking forward to it. Weather's fab and it should be just perfect UNTIL ... (cue music)
I tried to install my mileometer thingumajig and I didn't get past the first instruction because it doesn't fit properly on the handlebars and keeps slipping.
Hey ho, hey ho, back to the cycle shop I go ... (but just before you say anything, I assure you that will be AFTER my cycle today, not before). Wish me luck.
Please?
Thursday, 3 May
I’m being conspired against, I swear. I’ve got this fab new bike in my bathroom (yes, bathroom – one of the downsides of living in a townhouse!) and I haven’t yet been able to take it out. Mind you, considering my track record so far (‘scuse pun), that’s probably a good thing. Do you think somebody’s trying to tell me something? Today, it’s politics. Yep. Politics. Interfering with my life again. Who’d have ‘em, eh? See, the primary school is a polling station so all plans of cycling have now come to a halt as my two youngest are home for the day and need looking after. Hrrrrrrrumph!
Tuesday, 1 May
Collected my new bike today. It’s fab. So fab and shiny that I didn’t even have the nerve to get on. Yep, walked it all the way home – until I got to my nice flat one-way street and made sure nobody was watching. Then I got on and had ago. Wow! Truly amazing the difference it makes when you’re riding a bike that’s properly set up AND the right size for you. I’d thoroughly recommend it. Suddenly, my cycling challenge seems much more doable.
Thursday, 26 April
Oops! Been a bit remiss, haven’t I? Could that possibly be a reflection of my cycling training? No, never! HA!
I was so good over Easter, too. Went running every single day to keep up my fitness – and I even found a couple of bicycles in the garage and went out with my daughter a couple of times. Not many times, mind. There was this slight hitch with the gears – they were stuck in fifth!!! Great for my legs, but Geneva is NOT flat. Even the flat bits aren’t flat – so I ended up walking bits. Still, I was VERY pleased the last day because I managed to get all the way to the top without getting off the bike. Yay!
Not so good since I got back, though. Last two weeks of work and I’ve been up to my eyes. Tomorrow’s the day, though. Tomorrow I’m off to the shop to get my new bike – and try and get some money for my old one, too. Planning to get down to some regular cycling next week.
One thing I have done is commit myself to two cycling weekends – both doing circuits of about 35 miles. Hoping the mini goals will help get me moving. One of the cycles is organised by Evans Cycles (my heroes!!!) – and the other is with a few of the girls who are also mad enough to do CycleIndia. Looking forward to that one as it’ll be great to meet up with fellow cyclists and get to know them before the event.
Bought some padded cycling shorts. Oh so flattering. Think I’ll wear them all summer.
Not.
Anyway - I have a few entries which I'd typed up but just didn't manage to post, so I'll incorporate them below. Meanwhile ... ah me, all is still not well. Today is the day - I've got a cycle planned and thoroughly looking forward to it. Weather's fab and it should be just perfect UNTIL ... (cue music)
I tried to install my mileometer thingumajig and I didn't get past the first instruction because it doesn't fit properly on the handlebars and keeps slipping.
Hey ho, hey ho, back to the cycle shop I go ... (but just before you say anything, I assure you that will be AFTER my cycle today, not before). Wish me luck.
Please?
Thursday, 3 May
I’m being conspired against, I swear. I’ve got this fab new bike in my bathroom (yes, bathroom – one of the downsides of living in a townhouse!) and I haven’t yet been able to take it out. Mind you, considering my track record so far (‘scuse pun), that’s probably a good thing. Do you think somebody’s trying to tell me something? Today, it’s politics. Yep. Politics. Interfering with my life again. Who’d have ‘em, eh? See, the primary school is a polling station so all plans of cycling have now come to a halt as my two youngest are home for the day and need looking after. Hrrrrrrrumph!
Tuesday, 1 May
Collected my new bike today. It’s fab. So fab and shiny that I didn’t even have the nerve to get on. Yep, walked it all the way home – until I got to my nice flat one-way street and made sure nobody was watching. Then I got on and had ago. Wow! Truly amazing the difference it makes when you’re riding a bike that’s properly set up AND the right size for you. I’d thoroughly recommend it. Suddenly, my cycling challenge seems much more doable.
Thursday, 26 April
Oops! Been a bit remiss, haven’t I? Could that possibly be a reflection of my cycling training? No, never! HA!
I was so good over Easter, too. Went running every single day to keep up my fitness – and I even found a couple of bicycles in the garage and went out with my daughter a couple of times. Not many times, mind. There was this slight hitch with the gears – they were stuck in fifth!!! Great for my legs, but Geneva is NOT flat. Even the flat bits aren’t flat – so I ended up walking bits. Still, I was VERY pleased the last day because I managed to get all the way to the top without getting off the bike. Yay!
Not so good since I got back, though. Last two weeks of work and I’ve been up to my eyes. Tomorrow’s the day, though. Tomorrow I’m off to the shop to get my new bike – and try and get some money for my old one, too. Planning to get down to some regular cycling next week.
One thing I have done is commit myself to two cycling weekends – both doing circuits of about 35 miles. Hoping the mini goals will help get me moving. One of the cycles is organised by Evans Cycles (my heroes!!!) – and the other is with a few of the girls who are also mad enough to do CycleIndia. Looking forward to that one as it’ll be great to meet up with fellow cyclists and get to know them before the event.
Bought some padded cycling shorts. Oh so flattering. Think I’ll wear them all summer.
Not.
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