Tuesday 16 June 2015
I'm getting there...
Since I've started cycling I've lost 9lbs and I've definitely gained some muscle!
Monday 15 June 2015
Reunited and it feels so good...
I have my bike back! It's been in for its service and repairs and I took it out on Saturday morning for a spin - 27.3 miles and a trip to St John's Chapel later I came back thrilled to bits. I was thrilled to have my bike back but also thrilled at how it felt - the brakes were better - the gear change was smoother - it was the best ride in ages.
Also good was the fact that the dreaded St John's Chapel ride is starting to feel easier. I have done it six times now. I think that my ride into work last week (and up the ridiculously steep hills out of Weardale) has really put things into perspective for me. This weekend the ride was definitely easier.
I am taking part in the National Bike Challenge with my employer - they are getting staff to sign up to do at least one bike ride (at least 10 minutes long). It is a competition to get more people cycling with some great prizes for the organisation that gets the most people on their bikes!
I've signed up and have challenged colleagues to do the same!
Why not check if your employer is taking part here
I'm spreading the word throughout my small corner of the University :)
Hoping for some nice weather this week for a nice ride to Stanhope after work.
Happy cycling to all
Kimberley
Also good was the fact that the dreaded St John's Chapel ride is starting to feel easier. I have done it six times now. I think that my ride into work last week (and up the ridiculously steep hills out of Weardale) has really put things into perspective for me. This weekend the ride was definitely easier.
I am taking part in the National Bike Challenge with my employer - they are getting staff to sign up to do at least one bike ride (at least 10 minutes long). It is a competition to get more people cycling with some great prizes for the organisation that gets the most people on their bikes!
I've signed up and have challenged colleagues to do the same!
Why not check if your employer is taking part here
I'm spreading the word throughout my small corner of the University :)
Hoping for some nice weather this week for a nice ride to Stanhope after work.
Happy cycling to all
Kimberley
Friday 12 June 2015
Wednesday 10 June 2015
The second ride is the hardest.
As I mentioned in my last post I planned a last minute cycle to work and back in aid of World Environment Day and to raise money for the charity Mind. This is how it went...
When I woke up at 06.15 I rushed to the window to see what the weather was like - I had been watching the wind forecast all week. To my delight it was sunny and the trees stood tall and still. I had prepared everything the previous night but could not find my water bottles anywhere...I ended up taking my niece and nephew's sippy cups! I was embarassed initially but at the top of the first hill I couldn't have cared less.
So, the first hill, the one I dreaded, 828ft above sea level. Hell. I am not ashamed to tell you that it took me nearly thirty minutes to get from my house to the top of this hill. The reason I am not ashamed is because that hill would test even the best and strongest amateur riders. I stopped several times - there were moments where I thought - it's so steep how on earth am I going to even move forward once I've stopped. Somehow I just did.
The second hill into Tow Law, 1035ft above sea level. Hell. I nearly cried on this one since it was so soon after the first. The rest of the ride in was downhill until the very last mile. There was one final hill to tackle but it was only 567ft up so it felt easy compared to the monsters that had come before it.
I got to work very pleased with myself, £243.75 raised for charity, one less car on the road that day. Everyone joked that I had made it and the way back would be a breeze. I even thought it might not be too bad.
It was.
It was bad.
Very bad.
A 35mph gust appeared from nowhere around lunch and it was blowing right in my direction on the way home. Usually I would just try my best and ride into it as best I could but I was so tired from the morning. I had been so concerned about getting up the hills out of Wolsingham and into Tow Law in the morning that I had completely neglected to think about the route home.
The hills on the way back were long and gruelling, I was running out of energy and my legs were on fire. I did it though. Goodness knows it was worth it for the money raised and because I now know that I am capable of climbing hills like that! So I'm really pleased that I did it.
I broke a spoke on the way down the hill - thank goodness it was near my house when it happened.
I tried to fix it and I have made it worse so it is going to the mechanic on Friday - putting it in for a full service whilst I'm on with it since I haven't had it looked at or serviced yet by anyone.
I can't wait to get back out on the road on Saturday morning :)
Kimberley
When I woke up at 06.15 I rushed to the window to see what the weather was like - I had been watching the wind forecast all week. To my delight it was sunny and the trees stood tall and still. I had prepared everything the previous night but could not find my water bottles anywhere...I ended up taking my niece and nephew's sippy cups! I was embarassed initially but at the top of the first hill I couldn't have cared less.
So, the first hill, the one I dreaded, 828ft above sea level. Hell. I am not ashamed to tell you that it took me nearly thirty minutes to get from my house to the top of this hill. The reason I am not ashamed is because that hill would test even the best and strongest amateur riders. I stopped several times - there were moments where I thought - it's so steep how on earth am I going to even move forward once I've stopped. Somehow I just did.
The second hill into Tow Law, 1035ft above sea level. Hell. I nearly cried on this one since it was so soon after the first. The rest of the ride in was downhill until the very last mile. There was one final hill to tackle but it was only 567ft up so it felt easy compared to the monsters that had come before it.
I got to work very pleased with myself, £243.75 raised for charity, one less car on the road that day. Everyone joked that I had made it and the way back would be a breeze. I even thought it might not be too bad.
It was.
It was bad.
Very bad.
A 35mph gust appeared from nowhere around lunch and it was blowing right in my direction on the way home. Usually I would just try my best and ride into it as best I could but I was so tired from the morning. I had been so concerned about getting up the hills out of Wolsingham and into Tow Law in the morning that I had completely neglected to think about the route home.
The hills on the way back were long and gruelling, I was running out of energy and my legs were on fire. I did it though. Goodness knows it was worth it for the money raised and because I now know that I am capable of climbing hills like that! So I'm really pleased that I did it.
I broke a spoke on the way down the hill - thank goodness it was near my house when it happened.
I tried to fix it and I have made it worse so it is going to the mechanic on Friday - putting it in for a full service whilst I'm on with it since I haven't had it looked at or serviced yet by anyone.
I can't wait to get back out on the road on Saturday morning :)
Kimberley
Monday 1 June 2015
Cycling for charity
Hi,
This Friday I will be cycling to and from home to work in honour of World Environment Day.
I am also raising money for the mental health charity Mind.
This ride is a big challenge for me. It is the first time I will have cycled up the extremely steep hill out of Wolsingham into Tow Law. Once I make it up the first hill there is another (less long but just as steep) hill soon after. The route is 11.7 miles each way so it's not an incredibly long distance but its a very challenging ride all the same.
If you would like to donate to these causes then I would be extremely grateful for your support
In many ways I've been training for this since January. I'm very happy to be combining cycling with great causes. Bring on the hills!
Kimberley
This Friday I will be cycling to and from home to work in honour of World Environment Day.
I am also raising money for the mental health charity Mind.
This ride is a big challenge for me. It is the first time I will have cycled up the extremely steep hill out of Wolsingham into Tow Law. Once I make it up the first hill there is another (less long but just as steep) hill soon after. The route is 11.7 miles each way so it's not an incredibly long distance but its a very challenging ride all the same.
If you would like to donate to these causes then I would be extremely grateful for your support
In many ways I've been training for this since January. I'm very happy to be combining cycling with great causes. Bring on the hills!
Kimberley
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