One month from today, on 14th September, I will be setting off from the Market Place in Cirencester on my Dad’s 25 year old, slightly rusty racing bike, with broken toe clip and temperamental gears to cycle the 450 miles to Paris in 5 days, with 34 other game souls!
A mildly alarming thought as so far my training has comprised two 30 mile rides around the fairly flat local countryside, a few RPM sessions which leave me a violent shade of purple and my heart desperately trying to exit my body via my ears, and most recently a 68 mile ride with my Dad, who at 71 is far fitter than I am.
Still, at least I now have a proper pair of padded shorts (borrowed from afore mentioned father) and a pair of cycling mitts with appropriate padding. These landed on the door mat this morning, just in time for a 30 mile training ride this evening. Feel free to laugh at my expense, for I do look a proper egger in my cycling outfit.
That said, the acquisition of padded shorts and gloves has made me very happy for on the 68 mile ride with Dad, I had neither. By the end of the ride my arse was screaming in pain the way I imagine a banshee would scream were she being attacked by a hundred enraged souls with forks. The soreness in the palms of my hands, made worse by the handlebar tape peeling off, was marginally eclipsed by the persistent stinging of my skinless knee.
Dad and I are going out again at the weekend. This time we’re planning a slightly hillier 70 miles around the Marlborough Downs. I have promised not to crash into the back of him this time. If he were entertaining any thoughts of lending me his uber flash road bike for our jaunt to Paris, he isn’t anymore. It wasn’t pretty, but I am grateful that the car behind had the good grace to stop and wait patiently whilst I hauled my carcass out from under the bike and shuffled back to the curb.
A mildly alarming thought as so far my training has comprised two 30 mile rides around the fairly flat local countryside, a few RPM sessions which leave me a violent shade of purple and my heart desperately trying to exit my body via my ears, and most recently a 68 mile ride with my Dad, who at 71 is far fitter than I am.
Still, at least I now have a proper pair of padded shorts (borrowed from afore mentioned father) and a pair of cycling mitts with appropriate padding. These landed on the door mat this morning, just in time for a 30 mile training ride this evening. Feel free to laugh at my expense, for I do look a proper egger in my cycling outfit.
That said, the acquisition of padded shorts and gloves has made me very happy for on the 68 mile ride with Dad, I had neither. By the end of the ride my arse was screaming in pain the way I imagine a banshee would scream were she being attacked by a hundred enraged souls with forks. The soreness in the palms of my hands, made worse by the handlebar tape peeling off, was marginally eclipsed by the persistent stinging of my skinless knee.
Dad and I are going out again at the weekend. This time we’re planning a slightly hillier 70 miles around the Marlborough Downs. I have promised not to crash into the back of him this time. If he were entertaining any thoughts of lending me his uber flash road bike for our jaunt to Paris, he isn’t anymore. It wasn’t pretty, but I am grateful that the car behind had the good grace to stop and wait patiently whilst I hauled my carcass out from under the bike and shuffled back to the curb.
Bruises, grazes, sore bits and the last 15 slow, painful miles aside it was a very enjoyable day. The sun shone, the Cotswold countryside (except maybe the short stretch of A419) was beautiful and the 2 hour pub lunch complete with a couple of glasses of wine, by the river at the Trout in Lechlade was lush.
I am steadfast in my belief that the anaesthetic properties of a few glasses of wine here and there will be pivotal to the success of this ride!
I’ll let you know how the training goes over the next few weeks. Any encouragement you care to give, either by leaving a comment or sponsoring me will be very much appreciated! You can sponsor me at http://www.justgiving.com/Rebecca-Pointer
And you can find out more about the ride at www.blissbabybikers.com
I am steadfast in my belief that the anaesthetic properties of a few glasses of wine here and there will be pivotal to the success of this ride!
I’ll let you know how the training goes over the next few weeks. Any encouragement you care to give, either by leaving a comment or sponsoring me will be very much appreciated! You can sponsor me at http://www.justgiving.com/Rebecca-Pointer
And you can find out more about the ride at www.blissbabybikers.com
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