Queen of the mountains & the infinite cold.

Yesterday I went out on the bike as soon as I woke up. It was cold and very windy but sunny.

                                 

It was a gruelling ride battling against the wind. I found myself in easy gears on flat parts of the road just to try and counteract the wind. I didn't need to use the brakes much on downhill as the elements acted as a natural braking system! 

I don't think I have ever felt so cold but my goodness it was beautiful out there. No matter how cold though or how my legs hurt I kept on going. 

                                

I stopped often and wanted to give up so many times - I even considered calling home for a lift back in the car. I couldn't do it though - something possesed my entire being and I managed to cycle all the way to St John's Chapel! It was a 27 mile / 44km return trip and it was bloody awful I must admit but it was the most amazing feeling of accomplishment at the same time. 

                                

I stopped at the side of an extremely busy bit of road and just as the last lorry had flown by I heard a noise behind me - turned around to find about 15 rabbits all sitting looking at me! One in particular stayed for a while and just looked on - probably thinking - what on earth is that girl doing cycling up the Dale in THIS weather. 

                               

I know that for so many people, most people probably, this will not sound like much of an achievement but for me this is huge. I hated PE in school and had no interest in taking part in any sport between the ages of about 14-22. It took absolutely everything that I had to get that far yesterday so let me just say WELL DONE to myself :) 

This has made me think two things: one I'm more capable than I thought I was. Two - now I have to think of somewhere farther to get to! I definitely need to do several more rides up to SJC as that was a struggle yesterday but since I've made it there (in such extreme weather as well) then I have to rethink the goal. 

I'm tempted to sign up for the 30 mile sportive that I had mentioned on here before - haven't committed to it yet as I'm still not convinced I'll be able to take on Crawleyside Bank. 

A few things I've learned:

1. wearing two pairs of cycling shorts on a long ride is essential 

2. wear proper padded cycling gloves at all times if you value your hands  

3. if the weather forecast is for wind then perhaps rethink cycling very far that day 

4. cycling is the best thing ever 

As soon as I got home yesterday I bought a pair of bib shorts since my back was frozen for hours after my ride - I'm thinking that they'll solve that problem? 

                                

This photograph in no way captures the length of this incline or the bitter cold wind but it does capture at least a bit of the stunning scenery. 

I'm lucky I live here. I'm very lucky to have such a great bike (thanks to you who recommended it to me) and I'm even more lucky to think that I have the spring and summer ahead of me to get in even more rides (and since I've made it to SJC - ever farther rides!). 

I look forward to sharing those stories on here and leave you with the post ride celebrations: 

                                

                                

My week in cycling...

It's been a busy week.

At the weekend I got in 6.72 miles (to Frosterley and back from my house) on Saturday and then 15.31 miles on Sunday.

Sunday was my farthest, fastest, highest and longest ride to date. I made it to the other side of Stanhope and happily saw my first road sign for St John's Chapel! I had been approaching longer rides in the wrong way I think, I was only stopping once I had reached my destination and not giving my legs enough of a rest or drinking enough. It's amazing the difference it makes to have a little break on the odd hill and get some water down you and give your legs a moment. Makes the hill significantly easier I think.

On Sunday morning I attended the Fixit! class at Evans but I'm going to do a separate post about that.

It occurred to me, half way up a hill somewhere outside of Stanhope, that I actually haven't been as far up the Dale as I was in at that point, in over ten years. I think the last time I was there was when I was at sixth form!

Last night I decided to go on an reconnaissance mission into the wilds (mainly to find out how many hills I have to face between Stanhope and St John's Chapel). The answer is that there are a fair few hills! It's easy to forget how tough they will be on the bike when you're in your nice warm car. The road to St John's Chapel actually didn't scare me too much and there is a nice little cafe on the corner in the market place that I will definitely call in to for a victory hot chocolate (if I ever make it up there that is!).

The real shocker was definitely the road between St John's Chapel and Killhope. Ouch. I can't believe people cycle up there and that I might even be able to do it by the end of this summer.

I have had quite a few aches and pains this week (getting old) due to my epic cycle (epic by my standards) this weekend.

Tomorrow the forecast is 7-8c and sunny for Saturday with snow and gales on Sunday.

With that in mind I have my RunKeeper and Strava apps set to automatic pause, I have my water chilling in the fridge, I have cereal bars on hand and I'm going to go as far as I possibly can tomorrow. Been stuck in the office all week and I can't wait to feel the breeze around my hair and that familiar ache in my legs! Bring it on.

Kimberley

Friday anticipation...

Hi (anyone?)

I had a very nice time checking out the Cycle Hub in Newcastle this week...

First thing about the hub is it's great location down the Quayside in Newcastle - great views...

There is a bike shop, repairs area and cycle hire. There's a little cafe (lovely tea!), some nice bikes on display and some cycling prints for sale not to mention shelves full of information on cycling holidays, local events and all sorts.

If you're in the North East you ought to check it out. I still feel like a cycling imposter - especially when I read about cycling holidays that people take - don't fancy a ride up Mont Ventoux on my holiday but each to their own.

Tomorrow is going to be very busy so I'm going to get out extra early on the (now fixed) bike. I did have a dilemma mid week because I got the puncture sorted but then I couldn't get the wheel back on! It's a bit tricky getting around the derailleur.

Hopefully my Sunday morning maintenance class will prep me a bit for the next puncture - I'll let you know how it goes!

I don't know anything about bikes

I chickened out of fixing the puncture myself  (I did try to get the tyre off so that I could assess the damage but I couldn't get it to budge without levers) and took the wheel over to Infinity cycles in Durham this lunchtime.

It's fixed now and I have equipped myself with:

• two spare inner tubes
• three tyre levers 
• a puncture repair kit

Since I had such an issue getting the pocket rocket pump (ha ha) to fix onto the presta I have decided that I'm going to carry the pump that I actually can use in case I get caught in any road side puncture dilemmas again. I have a saddle bag on the way and will take the above kit with me wherever I go.

This whole episode has shown me how much I love and enjoy cycling - I am STILL disappointed that I couldn't get a proper ride in on Sunday and I went to the bike shop as soon as I could physically get there to fix it all to ensure that I am definitely able to get out first thing on Saturday.

It has also shown me how little I actually know about bikes. So in an effort to learn the basics I spent the last half hour before bed last night reading this Essential Pre Ride Checks  . I panicked for a good 15 minutes and began the search for nearby cycle maintenance courses.

I need to learn how to fix the bike by myself - I can't rely upon kind hearted cyclists stopping to help me each time that I get a puncture!

Tomorrow I have an afternoon off of work and I'm going to go and check out the The Cycle Hub in Gateshead.

Sunday morning will be spent in a FixIt! cycle maintenance class at Evans Cycles at the Metrocentre.

Yesterday at work I dropped my bag and an inner tube and some perfume fell out. I thought that was quite funny. I've changed.   

Cyclists are lovely.

Hi again,

I've had a bit of a disaster this morning.

It's a stunning day in Weardale its very sunny and feels quite mild. I wanted to get up to Stanhope again today but that didn't happen.

Just outside of Wolsingham I got a flat tire - I pulled onto the verge and tried to pump it back up - I have a topeak pocket rocket mini pump (te hee) and I stupidly have not had any trial runs using it - I don't know whether it was me being stupid/inexperienced or whether it was because I was in a bit of a panic but I had such an issue getting the pump to fix onto the presta that I had just about given up when a kind cyclist who happened to be driving past stopped to help me out :)

I had a bit of an audience while trying to fix it...

I am very grateful to Dave who, on successfully getting the pump onto the valve, determined that it was definitely punctured and promptly gave me a lift back to Wolsingham! What a hero! Thank you thank you thank you to that man!

I feel really disappointed that I was not able to get the ride to Stanhope done - I don't have enough time today to fix the tire and get back out on the road because I have an awful lot of work to do for a course for my job. So it will have to wait. I have never (ever) been this disappointed that I have no choice and cannot go and exercise.

My next dilemma is that as a child my brother or my dad always fixed my bike for me, when in Turin my fiancé fixed eveything for me, and it will sound silly but I don't actually know how to fix a puncture. I have a rough idea though from watching them so I'm going to give it a go - thats if I can ever get the tire off! Tough isn't it?

I've had to leave it for now to get this work done but I'll try getting the tyre off later to assess the damage.

On the plus side there were a handful of cyclists out today and every single one of them said hello to me. Between that and Dave the hero I have come to the conclusion that all cyclists are lovely.

Kimberley

On the road again

The weather was so lovely in Durham today - sunny and about 7c - perfect for a ride up the Dale. This was my first ride since Sunday because I've been at work all week and I'm still not keen on riding at night - by the time I get home it's too dark to get out. I've definitely noticed a change so hopefully it won't be long until I can get out on one or two week nights a week as well.

Standard ride to Frosterley done this afternoon - and in my fastest time yet! It gets easier every time I go out!! 

I got out the mountain bike today just as a comparison - it's a nice bike but those gears! The weight of it was a shock as well compared to the Secteur. 

I saw an advert this week for the Roof of England Sportive this August. There are 30, 50 or 90 mile routes. I'm thinking about signing up as then I'll have a concrete goal to work towards. 

I've noticed that when I'm out on the bike most cyclists give you a little wave or a nod which is nice - lovely bunch! 

I'm aiming to get out for longer ride tomorrow - to Stanhope - hopefully a little further too. 

Kimberley 

My new fear.

I am scared of pedals.

I realise that so far on this blog I have written about quite a few things that I am scared of; wind, 60mph roads, hills. I am adding pedals to the list. It will take me a long time before I am able to use these horrible things confidently...

A realisation.

It looks as though I may be closer to my goal than I realised.

My usual route took me from my house in Wolsingham to Frosterley (approx 7.5 miles return trip) and I have to admit that the first few rides were torture. I had sore legs, was getting blown all over the place, I was scared of the traffic flying by at 60mph, I was short of breath at certain parts of the route and the hills. Oh the hills. They're deadly because they're mostly not too steep (between Wolsingham and Frosterley) they just feel like they never end! They are much easier now that I've got more miles done though.

I did the Wolsingham-Frosterley route about 10-12 times, I always stopped at Frosterley since that's as far as I could make it on the old mountain bike before I'd give up the will to live and turn around.

My first few rides on the Specialized were just as difficult as I had not mastered the gears (at all) and I was a little bit worried about the new riding position. It took me one whole ride to discover the best place to rest your hands in order to easily reach the brakes! I have earned some impressive bruises so far..

Anyway so I pushed on through Frosterley last week and although I had driven through the village many times before I felt as if I had never been there in my life. It was entirely new to me and I couldn't help but feel a massive triumph over this new territory. I was so happy. I was a cycling deity. Queen of the road. I was Gino Bartali winning his third Giro D'Italia in 1946. I had made it further than I ever had before and I wanted more.

This was a major achievement for me. Distance wise it is no great shakes (at all) but something just clicked and I knew that I wanted to keep on doing this as often as possible. That was the moment that I fell in love with cycling.

Since that ride (which was only a week ago now) I have added on a little bit each time. On Saturday I went my usual route but pushed a little further into Frosterley.

On Sunday I woke up and although it was very cold and windy outside I decided I wanted to make use of the light so I went out again. This time I pushed straight through Frosterley and decided I wanted to try and get half way to Stanhope.

The half way point is beautiful, down to the left of this picture is the River Wear, to the right a field :)

I am still stunned but I actually made it all the way to Stanhope.

Since I made it to Stanhope without too much difficulty I'm thinking I'll probably get to St John's Chapel at some point and it may be sooner than later - if I do then I'll review the goal - but I don't want to jinx myself by getting too confident too soon!

It was a beautiful sunny day in Durham today - there is more snow expected overnight but I will get out on my bike this weekend - hopefully on both Saturday and Sunday - and hopefully to at least Stanhope again if not further.

Can I take a moment to appreciate cyclists the world over - it's harder than it looks!

Kimberley