A cycling hero...

Got invited to a posh cycling black tie dinner and met 2004 Paris-Roubaix winner Magnus Backstedt ... (in case you can't tell, he's the one in the dress!)

He's almost as tall as me LOL. I thought I was gonnna have to lend him my heels (alright, maybe he IS a LITTLE bit taller than me. He's about 18 stone too!)

I haven't done enough...

O No... you know that moment when you've got a BIG HUGE ride that you are supposed to be training for ... and then you realise... it's like... a day away !!!! and you haven't trained enough...

Well... two weeks ago someone invited me to a Black Tie thingy and I knew my dress was a tad tight so I thought a few cycle trips to work would sort that out...

Well....

I've been a lazy bitch... and to top that I had a MacDonalds tonight... hamburger, two large fries, coke and strawberry sundae!

I better not breath or eat at the party tomorrow or I may split the dress LOL. In fact, I better not eat all day or I won't even get into it!

The Wall of Death!!!

At what point in my life did I think going to Newport Velodrome would be a good idea???

My mate Rich at work (sometimes I ride in with him) decided to book a two hour slot and dropped me an email to ask if I wanted to go on the round 'n' round. O yea! That looks good!

OMG!

Bikes with no brakes (what kind of idiot thought about doing that?) and fixed pedalling! You know, it's kind of natural when you're a bit knackered to just stop pedalling init?? Well, the bike kindly reminds you that you can't ... by dislocating your hip!! It's a bit like that moment on a rollercoaster when you want to get off but you know it's too late.

So I'm pedalling round the bottom on the black line looking at the red and blue line that is further up and I'm thinking "they've got to be fookin kiddin, right?? No way is the bike gonna stick up there!!!". Apparently its 43.5 degrees on the bank. Yea, woteva! From where I was, it was looking more like a 90 degree wall (well, you know, give or take a few degrees!).

But anyway, I did get up to the blue line and lo and behold the bike does actually stick up there if you ride fast enough... and that was fine, quite enjoyed that bit going round and round on my own, that bit was fun, yea, started to really enjoy myself ... BUT then they went and spoiled it and put other people on the wall with me!!!! That's when I started checking my watch to see when the two hours of torture would be over.

As for the coach... OMG he was like a school teacher. I was like "I don't wanna do this bit" and he was like "O yes you are!!". I nearly sh1t me pants ha ha. Who's paying who??? Then he was telling me to speed up and "close the gap".. No way, do I have to remind him there are no brakes! And then I needed desparately to adjust me padding coz me flower was starting to burn... and you wanna try doing that when you can't stop pedalling... it's not easy I can tell you!! LOL

I suppose getting used to no brakes, fixed pedalling and riding on a wall is a lot to take in in one go and Rich says that I did actually do really well for my first time (Hmmm... I've heard that before somewhere???) and that I'll enjoy it more next time (yea, heard that one before as well LOL). Hang on a minute, what's he talking about? Next time???? Eek!!

Best season...??

Autumn.

In my opinion, quite simply the best season to cycle in. I love the chilled air, being able to get togged up snug as a bug in my thermal cycling gear, the cold air on my face and in my lungs.

Going to work in the morning, leaving in the dark, watching the sun rise as I pass Birmingham Airport; a plane taking off, the lights of the plane shining along the wings as the low clouds and mist partly conceal it, giving it almost an earie, ghostly look as it flies towards me.

Leaving work in the cool sunshine; red, russet brown, orange and yellow trees pathing the way. The smell of bonfires, and as I near home, coming over the hills, looking across the landscape towards the outskirts of Birmingham... Vibrant red, orange and yellow swirly sunset with far away city lights that make the landscape look like it's being sprinkled with glitter.

Wish I could download my brain to show you what I see.

Back in my jeans...

... and didn't even need to lie on the bed to do them up :) Must have been a bit bad lately, too many cakes coz there are a few pairs of jeans I'm having a bit of trouble getting into :( but managed to get in one pair today. Looked thinner in the mirror and thought I'd try them. Then went to dinner in them and stuffed my face with chocolate fudge cake as a reward. Well, that's how it works init? I don't cycle so that I have to eat rabbit food!!!! Pass the chocolate...

What a disaster...

Well, I suppose I should tell you what happened on the trip then eh?

D-1 ... We all met for the evening pre-ride meal and Big Ears gave me my newly ordered shorts. The shorts were just a little too big but not too bad... but the pad... well that was a large so a bit of a disaster.. kind of had an inbuilt 'camel toe' LOL!!! Complete opposite from last year when I couldn't get the damn things on because they were sooo small. O well, next year I will order Large with a Small pad.

Day 1... Chessington to Portsmouth... Over the North and South Downs (and there isn't anything down about them... I've gone off the idea of Alpe D'huez!) and a strong head wind all the way. Rode with my team mate Crabsticks. Poor luv hadn't done any training (work commitments) and I think he felt sick at one point! (".) I reckon it was the hilliest 'Day 1' we have done so far. LOL. Got into Portsmouth at about 5pm. And that inbuilt camel toe did me no favours on the way! Overnight ferry to St Malo... shared a cabin with 4 other girls and it was a bit cozy to say the least.

Day 2... started well... not too hilly and weather was fine but that all changed after lunch. major hills, and wet wet wet.. storm force 10 near the end of the day... had to shelter in a French man's garage with only 10k to go... bless him... we (me and Crabsticks) didn't know a word of french and he knew no english, but we managed a little conversation with a lot of hand actions! When storm force 10 reduced to storm force 5 we set off for the last leg ... and 5k to the end saw disaster strike... turned a corner, spotted the strip of wet gravel and knew I wasn't going to make it. Bike flips out and I take the tarmac full force on my side. Obviously my TPS (Tarmac Proximity Sensor) had failed to warn me of my pending doom and different co-efficients of french and english gravel, due to it not being calibrated to French time.

Anyway, lay in the road unable to move, Crabsticks called for help from DA support crew and some kind french men lifted me out of the road and into a house to keep me dry. I've really hurt my hip and I could only make out the word "doctor" so I presumed they had called someone. Then the "support crew" turned up but the French were adamant they didn't want me to leave. Eventually the "support crew" prised me from the Frenchmen's grip and took me away in the van. I asked them to stop after 10 yards because the french had my sunglasses but the guy wouldn't so I was a bit miffed as you can imagine (£100 worth of sunglasses!) and then he said he didn't know where my hotel was so I would have to come back to the Grand and see the doctor there. Gets to the Grand hotel and he takes me to room 21 to see the doctor. I've started to feel slightly uncomfortable with him now but there were other cyclists around so I just wanted to see the Doctor. Gets to Room 21 and I say to the guy "this is clearly not the doctor!!!". The guy was in bed! I realise then that this guy is not support crew and the guy who is supposed to be the doctor, and in bed, is a cyclist! There are 3 other cyclists and they are like "why have you been brought here?" and this fat idiot is just saying "I've rescued her from the French" and keeps saying he will get me something to change into because I'm wet (I think not mate!). One of the cyclists goes off to find someone and comes back with Zoe, one of the girls I shared the cabin with thank God. I explain that I'm in serious pain with my hip and need a doctor and that this idiot has brought me here. He say's "there's gratitude after I've rescued you from the French" and I say "You are worse than the French!!! they had called a doctor!!!" Zoe helps me back downstairs to the hotel lounge where eventually Rob from DA Support turn up with the Support Doctor and tell me they've been looking for me everywhere. This is about an hour and a half after the accident. Not only am I really hurt but I'm cold and wet and shivering and just about ready to cry.

Well anyway, it seems that when Rob and the Doctor got to the scene, the firebrigade (they are paramedics I presume) and police are there and they are having an epi at Crabsticks that I'm not at the scene. Apparently they are really angry, something about it being against the law to leave the scene of the accident... which is why the French didn't want me to leave. Rob is really angry that this guy has took me from the scene and to be honest I'm not too impressed myself. My hip just gets worse and worse and although when the doc examines me we are sure I'm just bruised, within 2 hours of Rob bringing me back to my own hotel I can't walk at all so the crew have to take me to hospital for an x-ray. Something that I would have got straight away if that idiot hadn't took me from the scene.

Luckily nothing broken and the French doctor is hot!!!! and between jokes about the French smudging my fake tan, lost sunglasses (which Rob found thankfully!) and me potentially missing out on a hot date when I get back... plus then the "thank God I put my good knickers on for the hot French doctor" comment, the DA doctor says I am the funniest patient she ever had (",) hee hee

Day 3 ... couldn't ride due to not being able to walk, bruising coming out really bad, had to ride on the van and be team photographer... that was between the travel sickness moments! DA support said I was sick from taking drugs on an empty stomach but it was more like their driving!!! LOL. had a great day with Kenny in the support van and the lads Simon and Cambers aka Mr and Mrs Broom Wagon. They cheered me up a lot. ha ha

Day 4... rode a bit, got on the van for a bit, and completed "the sprint" down the Champs. Weirdly, could ride on the flat with no pain, but couldn't walk properly.

Day 5 ... breakfast... Sat with Sarah from AMR. She told me that DA were really angry with the man that took me away. Turned out he was a friend of one of the cyclists who had asked him to come along in case he couldn't make it (i.e. be his own personal support) but DA told him to sling his hook after this incident. He had already tried to make himself "at home" in another female cyclists room! We decided it's a law of averages that you always get a weirdo on the ride... there's at least one every year!

2 weeks on... just about getting by on the painkillers now. hopefully, I will be back out on the bike this week but will have to take it slowly. Piccy of the hip bruise attached :)

o yea... never got to see Lance :( because (a) couldn't hobble down there and (b) had to get the Eurostar anyway. My mate said she had a brill spot but had to leave before they came in to get to station on time.

PB!

ps. got a personal best to work again... 1hr 28... a whole 4 minutes better! (",)
(ok, I admit I had a tail wind... but... hey... 4 minutes IS four minutes hee hee)

PHUK!!!!!

Damn and blast! I've now been told by another member of Team PHUK.dis that it is extremely unlikely that we will get to see the Tour de France come into Paris on the last day of our big ride this year, as our train leaves for England at 5.45pm. Tour not due in until between 4 and 4.30pm depending on the pace, which leaves us zilch time to get to and book into the Eurostar. I'm not happy I can tell you! The whole point of going with AMR is because they advertise you "see the Tour" come in. It's probably the only chance I will ever get to see Lance Armstrong and now that is looking very unlikely :'(

Not long now:-)

Photo from 2007 London to Paris. Two and a half weeks to go for ride no.3!

PB!

I got a personal best to work today. 1hr 32mins. Whoop Whoop. Alpe d'Fillongley and Col de Meriden... PAH!

Alpe d'Huez... bring it on! hee hee (",)

Dave from the Warwick office was telling me he lowered his seat by 1cm and increased his speed to work by 3mph!!! Hmmm... might have to try that. I can't really imagine sitting lower than I do but it is true to say that I don't seem to be as fast on this bike as the last one, so maybe that might be the answer???

Lazy Fooker

One commute all week and no rides this weekend (".) I was soooo tired I just lazed about. Better get on the bike tomorrow! And there's me thinking I'd love to ride up Alpe D'Huez. HA! Like I could be arsed. Nice thought, but knowing me that's all it will ever be! I couldn't even be arsed to sign up for the Dragon Ride hee hee.

Really need to try and get some commutes in this week. Not long before the Paris trip now... only a month away! Woo Hoo! Does anyone know how to post to your blog using your phone...???? Would be nice to do it from France. I will have to learn some technical stuff about this site now.

Sad

Today I heard about a young boy (13) who got knocked off his bike and died, just a few streets away. I feel really sad about that. I was chatting to my mum telling her just how bad it can be out there (probably worrying her senseless in the process) and saying if I find it bad with all my experience then what chance does a kid have? Then I said something about being in the wrong job and she said something along the lines of maybe I should become a cycle instructor. So I'm going to look into that. Not a change of career or anything that drastic, but wouldn't mind doing a bit of voluntary stuff for local schools/parents... one2one tuition for kids riding to school etc. Anyway, sent a few emails off, will see what I get back.

FUBAR

Fukd Up Beyond All Recognition. I'm knackered. Since Monday... 3 commutes this week! plus a few extra miles on Monday (afternoon off in the sunshine... bliss) and I've already done 148. I'm gonna try and do 52 over the weekend to see if I can complete the 200 this week. Right now it's raining (the glorious sun has gone) so it looks like the last 52 will be wet miles. I swear... if I have any cellulite left by the end of the summer I'm chucking the bike in the skip!!

Here's some pictures of my commute. They were only taken with my phone, so don't show how bright and lovely it truly is, but you'll get the jist of why I really love to cycle.

Visited by the Puncture Fairy

Actually, it was more like the blow out fairy. BANG! Thought I'd been shot! (".)

(ok, that's an exaggeration, I didn't actually think that. I thought "o shit")

Caused by the tyre rolling off the rim while I was riding. To be honest though, I changed the tube a couple of days ago and I thought the tyre had gone back on a bit easy. I did mention it to a guy at work but he said it was probably nothing to worry about. Hmmm.

O well, only took me 10 minutes to change it but then had to re-route, and ride carefully, to Red Kite cycles. 10 miles of "please don't roll off, please don't roll off" because it didn't have another inner tube on me. So, one new tyre and 2 new inner tubes later... £39 poorer. The birthday money I've been getting has eased the pain of it a bit!

Today was hot hot hot. Such a shame I got re-routed.

Windiest year on record?

I am seriously beginning to think so! For about the last two months I'm sure that the wind speed hasn't dropped below 15mph for anything more than 2 days! I'm so sick of it!

Well, anyway, I decided I can't wait anymore so braved it and rode to work on Wednesday anyway. Wasn't so bad going to work, if a little dreary from the drizzle, but the fields of yellow rapeseed flowers managed to cheer it up. They almost make it look sunny! and that smell... It's gorgeous!

But the journey home was hell! South West wind. Apparently. So I can't understand why when I snotted out my right nostril it kept landing on my face!! Surely that would be a north westerly wind when I'm cycling west? Firing it out my left nostril was cool though! Spiderman eat your heart out hee hee (",)

Why when I worked in Warwick it was always a northerly wind when I rode home, and now it's westerly? Is it just out to get me?

Total time of 3.5 hours on the bike today. Phew!

Hot Hot Hot

I dunno how hot it was today but well into the 20's. It just saps my energy! Did 38 miles, headed out through Hockley Heath, Henley and towards Stratford and then hooked a left to Snitterfield and Norton Lindsey. Haven't been that way before, it was really nice countryside and nice to have somewhere new to cycle. On the way back called in at Clive and Debbie's. Of course, Deb was cooking and she offered me Sunday dinner. Well, it would be rude to refuse wouldn't it! (",) Anyway, that boosted my energy levels for the way home, plus it had cooled down by the time I left so much more my temperature. I think I must be the only cyclist that hates heat! LOL

Brad and Amy dropped in for dinner too. Just can't make "them" out. They seem to be together, but then they don't. Open relationship? They should just get it together, they'd be good for each other.

Better get out tomorrow... I'm really slacking with my training.

Posher than I expected...

So Tafflon (from the team) came over last Sunday and we took a ride out "no matter the weather". Well, it was pouring down and sooo windy! I told him I knew a 55 mile route and there was a pub half way, so we went for it. By the time we got to the pub we were soaked through, dirty, wet, basically looked like we'd been dragged through a very wet hedge backwards.

And we walked in... and... not a pub... posh restaurant!!! Talk about look a tad out of place (".) The owner was really nice though, told us not to worry about being wet coz the seats were leather but sat us down at a posh table and did us posh double egg, bacon and chips. Fantastic!!! And there we were, looking rough as shit, with all posh people coming for their Sunday lunch (",)

And even better, the sun came out to play for the return journey, which was a very good thing coz I was shivering in the restuarant.

and a few weeks later...

... I finally get back out on the bike. Weather has been naff, if it's not raining then it's windy enough to blow you off your bike. Haven't even managed one commute to work since I last posted.

So yesterday, took a ride out to Stratford and back. First thought was... "damn, wish I hadn't had that bacon & egg sarnie before I came out"; felt a tad sick for the first half hour heehee.
It wasn't as many miles as I thought, I thought I would clock at least 45 if not 50 but only managed 38. I didn't actually go all the way into Stratford town centre, but that probably would have only made 4 mile difference. There was a couple of women on my way out, sitting on the grass verge at the top of the hill out of Henley. They looked knackered, had obviously stopped for a rest, and smiled at me knowingly... i.e. they knew I was coming back that way and would have to tackle the same hill. It is a bit of blip on the landscape but I didn't need a rest at the top. I've gone past that point now, and it's a nice feeling (",).

Got into work today and John C said that he saw me on my bike! O No... bang goes my glamour girl image! (".)

Too much pressure!!

Blood pressure that is! Is it bad to have a nose bleed when you're on a hilly ride??? Was nearing the end of my commute on Friday, just got to the top of the hill at Hampton, did a snot shot and it came out deep red!!! I was a bit shocked so wiped my nose and, sure enough, I was having a nose bleed. That's never happened before! Anyway, carried on regardless. Does that make me stoopid or 'ard LOL.

The good news is, I've done 145 miles last week (",) yippee yay. None so far this week but haven't had a chance yet. Won't get a chance until Thursday or Friday I think. Richard (workmate) reckons he's sussed a less hilly route. Probably a good thing if I'm getting nose bleeds LOL. Also I'm knackered on those hills. It burns 2500 calories every return trip!

Tits...

No, not that kind! ... the blue kind that sit in the road!

I was coming off a long ride today and suddenly realised I was bearing down on a little Blue Tit sitting on the tarmac! OMG I hardly saw it in time, I missed it with my front tyre by about 1cm!!! I'm not exaggerating, it was sooo close and then I held my breath and cringed as my back tyre must have passed it in a hair's width.

I slammed my anchors on, jumped off my bike and chucked it on the verge, ran back up the road PRAYING that a car wasn't gonna come and squish it (it was sitting just in the right place for a tyre to go straight over it). I thought it would try and flutter away, it was little fledgling, obviously just out of the nest, but it just sat there and let me pick him up! It was so cute, and really delicate, so I walked into the bushes on the verge and he fluttered out of my hand onto a tree branch. Then I stroked him for a bit and he fluttered off deeper into the verge. Awww

I was kicking myself that I was unable to take a photo of it. If I had gone to get my phone he would have fluttered off anyway, but now I wish I'd carried him back to my bike, got my phone and took a photo before I let him go.

Wow.. you don't get that in the gym. God I love my bike!

Target? What target?

Well, I promised myself a target of 100 miles this bank holiday weekend. 25 a day sounds reasonable yea? Well...

It all started to go downhill when I lazed about on Good Friday. Well, when I say "lazed about" what I mean is... my washing machine broke so I got in a really bad mood about that... mostly because my bedclothes were in there and so I had to break into the washing machine to get them out and then take them to my mum's to finish them off. Why does the washing machine always break down when you have a full washing basket??? That was it then, wasn't it? I had to take my dark's and my coloured's over to my mum's as well. And then I had no choice but to laze around at her's all afternoon while sitting through 3 loads. And then my dad did me chips and egg to cheer me up! Yum. Well, I could hardly refuse could I?

Saturday started off well though. My mum asked me to go and let the dogs out while they were in Wales, so I took the long way around and then the long way back and clocked up about 32 miles. Had a headache when I got back, should have drank more. Something I'm really bad at.

So woke up on Sunday still with a groggy head and decided I needed a "recovery" day which basically consisted of lying in bed until about 2pm, then getting up, eating egg & bacon sarnie's, and chocolate and watching re-runs of Britain's Got Talent (Stavros Flatley... hilarious!) and playing with my ferrets.

Went out on the bike today with the intention of doing at least 50 but this turned into a measley 32 after I decided to re-route to my mum's for a cuppa (well, it was a tad windy when I hit the open road!).

Not doing very well am I? So 64ish miles it was then. O well. Clive did say little and often (",)

progress...

Well starting to make a bit of progress now. Buckled down a bit over the last week, 2 rides last weekend, one small one in the week and I've now done my first commute to work. Wasn't too bad but man I was knackered on Friday!!! There was a few people that nearly fell off their seats when they asked how far I cycled. I love that ha ha! It makes me feel quite proud. I measured the climb through Meriden. It's long, anywhere between 2 and 7 % and it don't let up. Pressure on the legs for four miles (".) Must admit sometimes when I'm busting a gut up a hill I wonder why I love cycling hee hee. But I wouldn't wanna not be able to climb that hill, so I suppose this is it... for life (",) Good job I love it really! Plus there is something inspiring about burning 2500 calories on one return commute journey heehee

I've even managed to inspire a couple of people at Hinckley. And there lies another story. No lockers at the Ops Centre and no showers or lockers at the Project Office. Was starting to piss Facilities off by insisting on a locker (they didn't want me to have one in case everyone wants one!!! so fukin what? tell 'em they can have one if they cycle 22 mile). This is totally different from Warwick, there is a locker in nearly every nook and cranny and about 70 people cycle to work!! So I've got together with a guy called Richard and we've asked the Chief Exec if we can set up a TWUG (two wheel user group) like they have in Warwick. He said "send me an email and I'll kick some ass" hee hee. it's not what you know, it's who you know and all that malarkey. Facilities think I've given up but I've just made a tactical withdrawal hee hee.

Building up the miles

Well, not doing so bad now. Been out 3 times this week. Twice to Nuneaton and back (that's almost to where I will be working) just to get used to the hills, and once around Earlswood because I didn't have time to nip over to Nuneaton. The ride doesn't seem daunting at all now and I'm quite looking forward to it (especially when you've got a pocket full of jelly babies to keep you going).

Also, I've since found out that a cyclist friend of mine has come back to work for the Company and... guess where he works? Yep... the Hinckley office. I probably won't cycle in with him because he's like professional standard or something... but it's nice to know I'm not the only nutter! He said the changing facilities are fine as well.

Been to Warwick office today to empty my locker. OMG I didn't know I had accumulated so much stuff. I chucked loads of shampoos and stuff out and still left with 3 bags full of clothes and toiletries!! So lots of washing for me to do tonight then!

My new commute...

Loads of hassle at work over my job, but now I have a new job, same company, different office... even further away (Hinckley). Anyway, don't let the system get you down and all that, decided to bike it out there yesterday to see if was possible to commute on my bike. The answer is yes... but OMG I'm gonna have buns of steel. It was a 46 mile round trip, 2000ft of climbing and I burned 2300 calories!!! (".) Felt like I was gonna throw up when I got back! My legs were gone but then I had done straight there and back and when I do it for real I'll have 8 hours to eat and recover before I do the return journey.

So, I don't think I have to worry about that extra 8lb I've put on, that'll be gone in a month! And it will be great training for my Paris ride, although I doubt that will be the thought going through my mind at 4pm on a working day, knowing I've got that hilly ride to face on the way home. It will take all my willpower not to ride to the train station! Should be a nice ride in the summer though.

Adam at work said "why didn't you tell me you were going, I would have come along for the ride"

Er... let me see... because you ride at least 5mph faster than me, and I was already throwing up by the time I got back... with you I wouldn't have made it back... I would have collapsed from exhaustion!!!

I think my body has gone to pot after all...

... after spending 3 weeks in London working and a further two weeks lazing around (due to ice and snow of course!) I reckon I'm more than 8lb overweight now! So off I went out this morning and did 24 miles. This is it... the start of my new fitness regime. NO MORE MACCY D's for me! and the weather report is good for the rest of the week, so should be able to get at least two more rides in before Friday. I'd like to say it was an easy 24 miles today but I had to force myself to stay "on course" when the short cut was soooo tempting!

Bad Day

I found out today, even though they took two weeks persuading me to do a project role and promised faithfully to hold my job open for me if I did it, they haven't. SO... I took it out on the turbo and the water. That's another few calories burned off eh? At least my body won't go to pot just coz my life is.

3lb lighter already!

So, since my last ride out, I've done two turbo sessions (too icy to ride out) and twice been swimming. Weighed myself at work yesterday and I've lost 3lb, plus I had my heavy boots on when I weighed myself too! (",) yippee. Five more to go and I'll be happy.

Might treat myself to a new swimsuit (",)

First ride of 2009

25 miles, 3 degrees centigrade... and my ipod battery ran out after an hour. not happy about that, seems to be running out sooner and sooner these days. looks like a new one is on my wish list.

No ipod = nothing to take your mind off the cold Brrrr!!!

but at least i got out there and did it. had to have another 2 hour bath to warm myself up (",) and then a trip out to the pub.