The Bitchling!

Sunday morn and I was all for a lie-in but the little voices in my head kept screaming 'Get on your bike!'

So I did. Of course, I've now blown all the good I did by stuffing my face with Sunday roast - so much for getting rid of that extra stone before India - but I'm feeling good that I did it, and conquered a few personal challenges along the way.

Wish I'd taken my camera with me this morning although not much good as I can't find how to upload pics onto here (tried to show you Devil's Dyke pics last week). I decided once and for all that I was going to have to beat Ditchling Beacon (Bitchling, as I like to call it!). Yes - at the very start there is a 3-mile ascent! Yep! That's right! Nope! That's not a typo! T-H-R-E-E miles! And that's just the first one, although the rest is merely 'undulating' (very dubious word, that!)

Still - once again, got there without stopping, without getting off my bike and even without changing down to first! (do you think there's something wrong with my bike? hehe)

It was BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!

Coming back, of course, was even better - but I challenged myself to the hill that I swore I would do at least once in this lifetime and never again. Guess what? Never again! Stopped halfway up and yes, first gear came into play, but made it in two. Worth it - lovely roll home from the top. That's the best bit, isn't it?

25 miles this morning

And I couldn't have felt LESS inclined to get on a bike. Ugh! It was awful. I'm finding it really hard to get out and cycle on my own - particularly since I've experienced the 'group' phenomenon. Boy, does it make a difference. I'm fine running (because I can listen to music) and at the gym and, of course, kickboxing or doing karate because it's with other people, but cycling is very, VERY lonely! 'Tis a struggle, to say the least.

BUT ... I'd planned a cycle today and I did it and the timing was pretty good, too. Over the Downs, around and back along the coast. Feel good that I've done it now. Aiming for Ditchling Beacon (aka Bitchling!) on Sunday, but might chicken out and do Devil's Dyke again.

Have to go now because the dog's just farted and it's INSUFFERABLE!!!!!!

Devil's Dyke - again

Once again I braved Devil's Dyke 7.30 Sunday morning and it was ......................... wonderful! The countryside is especially beautiful before the world wakes up, isn't it? Just me, the rabbits, the cows, birds and not much else.

Managed to knock 15 minutes off my usual time. Don't know whether that's a good thing or not - I wasn't going for speed, though. Made it up there mostly in top gear, dropped to second on the final long hill and dropped off my bike at the top! A toughy, to be sure, but lovely. Attempting to post a few photos here but unsuccessful so far ... even OH can't manage it so it's obviously not too easy on this blogsite! He's gone off scouting for some decent software to help me out ...

More next week. Planning a longer, flatter route on Wednesday or Thursday ... Meanwhile, though, stamina's looking good after the summer break. Back to karate and kickboxing. Recommend it to anyone.

XX

Alone again ...

12 September

Yes, I’ve been out on the bike today. Not quite the same feeling as the weekend. It’s hard cycling along again, I must admit.

I’d planned a quick 20 miles but didn’t really have much luck. Had a fabulous start to my ride, then it all went horribly wrong when I couldn’t find the off-road bridleway to take me over the Downs. I know I was in the right place, but spent quite a while cycling back and forth over the same terrain checking to see where I could have missed it. In the end I rode on a little along the road and descended into a deep valley – only to discover that the road circled the Downs and was going to add an extra 20 miles to my journey, so I climbed BACK up that horrible hill, cursed a lot, found a new track and made my way back. I stopped for a cuppa on the way because I was so thoroughly disgruntled by then and it gave me time to pull myself together. I hadn’t quite done the mileage I’d wanted to, so decided I’d add it on by continuing up London Road and cycling around Preston Park – just to clock up those 20 miles. I made 18!!!! I got so pissed off with all the traffic lights I simply couldn’t be bothered.

So not the best training day, but I suppose 18 miles is better than none at all.

Devil’s Dyke planned again for Sunday morning. Shorter distance but lots of hill!! (note the singular!)

September Training Weekend

Wow! What a weekend!

Yes, it was the official Action for Charity training weekend in the Cotswolds and we managed, I think, 38 miles on Saturday and 35 or so on Sunday.

So how was it, you ask?

Quite intimidating, daunting, scary, exciting, exhilarating, scary, fun, social, exhausting, motivating and did I mention scary?

It was fantastic to see the Peak Posse again, of course – and meet plenty of new people, too. There were all sorts, I have to admit and, let’s face it, some I’d be quite happy not to meet again, but 99% were just fab and, of course, we’re all there for the right reasons (we hope!). (Aside: Peak Posse people? The ‘happy-not-to-meet-again’ is NOT referring to anyone close to us! – Sarah, I think you probably know who I’m referring to!)

Anyway – that’s pretty normal, is it not? After all, 50 women all together is never going to be a complete breeze, is it? – Or maybe it’s just me?

Well - a lot of people were very nervous on Saturday morning and rightly so. Seeing all those bikes and get-ups and new faces and doubts and hesitations … possibly the biggest worry was riding in a big group – a first for most of us. That was daunting. Setting off in a group, crammed in by loads of others, was no fun, but we quickly learned that it didn’t take long for the group to spread out and everybody quickly found a place and could get on with the business of cycling.

The organisers were fantastic and the routes were great, although I do have one small quibble about a particular hill which I don’t think needs any introduction. It was fab – you knew you were in trouble as our front market, Trish, stood at the corner shouting ‘Change to a low gear and DON’T LOOK UP!’ The chorus of ‘OH MY GOD’ was hilarious, accompanied by a percussion of clickety-clicking gears being rapidly changed to the lowest possible. It did occur to me at that point that if God had wanted me to cycle he would’ve given me wheels instead of feet, but it was simply too late to worry about it. Enough said about that hill!!!! Except that I’d be quite happy to never see it again unless I’m supported by a minimum of four wheels and an engine.

The day was tough but I certainly learned a lot. I learned not to panic about the group start-up. I learned to change down while going up hills. I learned to try and keep the same rhythm in the lower gears. Most of all, though, I learned that feeling absolutely wiped out, demotivated and that feeling of ‘I’m-never-going-to-do-this’ over the first five miles is going to be quite normal for me. It’s not a measure of my fitness, but rather my warm-up time – and it’s going to happen every morning and after every ‘long’ stop. I’m so glad I discovered that now – and not in India.

I also learned that these ladies I’m cycling with are truly amazing. They really are like Beams on Wheels and all deserve badges. Motivating, inspirational, courageous, every one! I feel like I have an awful lot to live up to!

Saturday night was super. Ann had booked a fab Indian restaurant. I suppose the only down point was that nobody else was drinking red wine so I had just had to finish the bottle all by myself! Such a shame, eh? But the great food and fun company made up for it!

Sunday morning – I was dreading the second day. It’s the first time I’ve cycled any sort of distance two days in a row so it was a big benchmark for me but I was very pleasantly surprised. Perhaps it was because I’d expected the worst, but it all felt so much easier – or maybe everybody was just so much more relaxed. Whatever it was, the whole group seemed to be buzzing with energy and it felt like we flew along. I enjoyed Sunday so much.

Big, big thanks, of course, to Gay, Jamie (what a gentleman!!! Can you believe he actually ‘carried’ my jacket for me practically the whole day? If my kids turn out half as chivalrous I’ll be very happy) and, of course, Trish.

It was fab! Roll on India (just as soon as I’ve done a weeeeeeeeeeee bit more training hehe)

We're off ... again!

Yep! I'm up and running again - literally. After a very lazy summer I've finally given up making excuses and am actively getting back on track again now.

Starting slowly - though not too slowly. Back to the gym the second the kids passed in through those school gates and I have to admit to being quite achey and creaky the day after BUT I persevered and went for another 'full' workout this morning, with no chickening out. Feel lots better for it.

Thinking now about the weekend. Got my tickets to Stratford and looking forward to hopefully having a couple of hours to nose around there tomorrow afternoon. Then, over Saturday and Sunday we should be cycling nigh on 100 miles with THE WHOLE GROUP. Well - over the two days, at least. Many people are cycling on either the Saturday OR the Sunday. The fools, like me - and the rest of my 'groupette' - are doing both days. So - wish me luck. Hopefully I'll still at least be able to move my fingers on Monday morning to bring you up to date.

Of course, another milestone for this event is just a few days around the corner, with sponsorship money due 'in' by early next week. And I'll just take a second here to say a huge, huge THANK YOU to everybody who has sponsored me so far. It's been brilliant. It'll be even more brilliant when all the money's in and my place is well secured for the challenge. Scary though that may seem, it's going to be nice to be able to concentrate for a few weeks solely on the challenge ahead, without further thoughts or worries about fundraising.

So - THANK YOU, have a lovely weekend and see you Monday.

XX