We are now half way through the training program, with less than 10 weeks to go before we head off to Paris. The next few weeks are looking a little scary - 40 and 50 miles quite regularly and heading for 60+!
It wasn't so bad when a training ride took an hour or so, but now they are taking 4 or 5, so a big chunk out of the week.
Nevertheless, we are still on track, and amazed and how much fitter we are getting. On Sunday we signed up for a "SkyRide" which was our first experience of group riding. "Only" 30 miles, but we were able to keep up with the others which was reassuring. However I did discover that my bike weighs at least twice as much as the posh new ones most of the other cyclist had. That may have to be my excuse for struggling on the hills en route to Paris!
One of the real bonuses of all this training is that I am getting to see lots of the countryside surrounding Southampton, and some of it is really quite nice. Also, I can now ride far enough to make trips to the New Forest feasible, so I've had several out to Lyndhurst and Rhinefield. Lovely!
My incredible sister Jenny donated a kidney to a stranger a few weeks ago, and her generosity has inspired me to join her on a fundraising marathon bike ride. I haven't been on a bike for several years, but have set myself the challenge of riding from London to Paris in September 2011. Follow my blog to encourage me in my training! Please visit my fundraising page to read more about why I am doing this, and to help us to change lives. http://www.justgiving.com/WendyPowell
Wednesday, 13 July 2011
Sunday, 3 July 2011
Upping the pace, and good news for my old bike
Well, it's been even busier the last couple of weeks. With Vaughan away in London and Paris it as tricky to fit in work, training and family, but I managed to stick to the schedule by doing some early mornings and late nights. However the poor bike has been getting less and less reliable, with slipping gears and chain jams happening more frequently. Last week I was working in Milan, and had great intentions of keeping up with my training in the hotel gym. However, after an hour of hard cycling on day 1, the heat totally defeated me, with only 20km completed. With temperatures climbing to 32 degrees, and full days at the conference, I gave up on the plan. However, back in England for the weekend, I was amazed to discover that my lovely sisters had sent my bike off for a rebuild, and delivered it back looking and feeling as good as new. I headed straight out to the New Forest for a 30 mile ride, which felt really good, and probably the nicest route I have done so far. Followed it today (Sunday) with an "easy" 16 mile to Marwell, and the bike still felt great. So now I'm feeling like I finally have a bike which might make it through the training and on to Paris.
This weeks training schedule is around 100 miles of cycling, so looking like I'm about to have my toughest week so far...........................
This weeks training schedule is around 100 miles of cycling, so looking like I'm about to have my toughest week so far...........................
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