A week in the desert - a week in the gym

I have spent the past week in Dubai.

In a gym.

On an exercise bike.

OK, so maybe not the entire week in the gym, I did an hour a day, 15 miles average per hour which I was happy with.

Exercise bikes are incredibly dull. Especially out there in the immense heat with air conditioned gyms and a view of the desert.

I was amazed to drive by a 'Cycle Hub' shop in Motor City. Even more amazed to see some people (not many, maybe 3 or 4 the whole week I was there) out cycling. Two of them were in the early morning and two were in the middle of the day. It was 45c that day. Kudos to them!

So I got 75 miles done but its just not the same. When I got back to my bike I actually gave it a hug. Don't care who knows it either. I love that bike!

Can't wait to get back on it this week.

Kimberley

Blazing saddles.

Several years ago, as you'll know if you have read this blog from the beggining, I lived in the lovely city of Torino in the North of Italy. I still maintain that my love of cycling was born in Turin because (as described at length in my first post!) that is where I got my first bike as an adult, saw the Giro D'Italia and spent countless hours cycling around the city. It was also where I first heard of a remarkable man named Gino Bartali.

  

Bartali won the Giro three times in his career and the Tour De France once. Bartali's feat of winning three consecutive mountain stages (13, 14 and 15) in the 1948 Tour de France has never been equaled. If that wasn't enough reason to fall in love with someone then know this: during World War II Bartali used his fame as a cyclist as a cover to deliver messages and documents in order to save Jewish people. Pretending to train, he would ride miles and miles to take documents back and forth and also is said to have hidden a Jewish family in his cellar. What a man.

 

For anyone interested I would strongly recommend reading Road to Valour or if you're up for an emotional rollercoaster you should watch the Rai Television TV adaptation 'Bartali - L'Intramontabile' (Bartali - Timeless) although I can't find it anywhere with English subtitles. It does star Pierfrancesco Favino as Bartali - and there are a lot of action shots of Pierfrancesco riding - and what a sight that is - highly recommended even if you do not speak Italian. It's worth it for Favino and his thighs. Anyway.

 

Here's a small taste of the glory

                                           

The reason I have been thinking about Bartali, other than just because he was brilliant, is because I think I have started to enjoy cycling up hills. I am not sure that I can explain exactly how this strange development has come about but there's a real difference now when I'm on a hill. I stay in the saddle, just like our man Bartali who often stayed in the saddle throughout a 15km climb. Now, I don't think I would like (or be able) to take on a 15km climb, and if I did I am sure I would not enjoy it. Small, steep climbs are great fun though. The sense of achievement at the top of the hill is unlike anything I have felt before. Nice that I am riding the same route as when I first started so I can feel the difference on each bit of the route - I can remember struggling to get out of the Dale and now that feels like one of the easier bits (between Wolsingham and Frosterley).

Cycling is just very good for me. I have noticed a change in my physique - my thighs are very toned and I'm losing weight steadily. I have noticed that my confidence on the bike has gone up; not only do I feel better going uphill but I am less scared of the downhill and am less likely to have the brakes firmly on when I'm descending. This is because I feel like I know the bike better and that I am in control.

                                                       

So it's all good. I shall continue to channel my inner Bartali and I shall be the Queen of the Mountains (well, hills).

Kimberley

A secret path & the day I cycled 30 miles on Kendal Mint Cake

Hi there,

Been a while since I have posted. I have been cycling a lot and travelling around a lot. Hence the lack of posts. 

The great news is that I have smashed my cycling targets already and have cycled just under 200 miles so far since 16th January which is a huge achievement. 

I mentioned a while ago that I went to a Cycle Maintenance class at Evans cycles at the Metro Centre. It was a great class, only one other student who was also a novice, and we were both interested in the same things - punctures, brakes, cleaning the chain etc. We were both given an Muc Off Rider Kit  which is a good set (especially when included in the cost of the class!). 

I like the muc-off standard bike wash well enough but the drivechain cleaner is really good. You do have to use quite a lot of it in one cleaning but it's very effective (especially on the cassette).  

So the best thing about this time of year is that I can finally go out on my bike after work - which makes a huge difference to the week. I think doing shorter rides more often will help me to maintain a good level of fitness and take the pressure off of the weekend rides.

I had the most beautiful ride up into Weardale on Easter Monday. It was a warm day (about 16-17c) and it was bright sunshine, I got up and out at 8am and had three wonderful hours on the bike. Loved it. I was given some Kendal Mint Cake and that works an absolute treat in combination with ice cold water. A great 30 mile ride was had. I had lost my gloves so that wasn't ideal but overall a great ride - the hills couldn't slow me and it was my fastest ride yet!

I met a fellow cyclist at work who told me about a secret path that runs parallel to the A689 and avoids some of the worst bends on that road. It's a one track lane right beside the river and its glorious. Made my rides even better. There are a few very steep but short hills on that section of path as well which is good to keep my hill game up.

Not much else to report other than that I still love my bike and it still loves me.

Kimberley 

Go to Lidl today...

Lidl have cycling stuff in shops today.

I highly recommend going down to your local shop & grabbing a bargain. 

I have been down & bought a foot pump (which is amazing for £4.99) - I'm finally getting my tyres up to 100 PSI. 

I also bought a jacket - quite nice & a good fit - for £11.99 

Finally I bought a phone holder - it was £5.99 - I've seen them in cycling shops for at least double the Lidl price. It's a perfect fit for my iPhone 6. I use my RunKeeper and Strava & usually put the phone in the saddle bag but that makes me nervous that it'll fall out etc. 

It was very busy around the bike section this morning so go quickly!

Kimberley 

Is it always windy in Weardale?

I have become obsessed with the Met Office website. I can't stop thinking about/checking the wind speed forecast. I'm seeing wind direction diagrams in my sleep.

 

 

On Sunday I went out for a ride but turned back after Frosterley as I felt there was a genuine possibility that I was going to be blown into a field.

I monitored the weather and Tuesday didn't look too bad wind wise. It turned out to be a lovely sunny (and quite mild) day so my lovely boss allowed me to take a rare last minute afternoon off to get some cycling done! :)

Even though the wind speed & gusts were less than half that of Sunday it was STILL windy out there. I battled through anyway inspired by this quote from the Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett:

"She made herself stronger by fighting with the wind"

Fight I did and I made it back up to Saint John's Chapel :)

Another 27 miles in the bag, 113 miles this year so far. I am thinking I should invest in some proper clippy shoes since my foot slipped a few times on the up and down hills so I'm just going to get some and see what all the fuss is about.

Need to improve my game, was speaking to a cyclist in the pub on Friday night, he cycles every day, usually up into Bollihope/Hill End (!!) with his wife. They are both in their 70s and go on cycling holidays to Lanzarote every year. Inspiring stuff.

Kimberley

Germany get's it.

Just back from Frankfurt - hence the lack of posts.

I was out in the beautiful Rhein Valley wine growing area for work and had some time to kill in Frankfurt towards the end of the trip.

The first thing I noticed about cycling in Germany is that it seems to be more commonplace than here in the UK - I think that is the case in many European countries but I can't remember ever seeing staff inside airports getting around by bike! That's the first thing I saw on entering Frankfurt airport - a security guard going by on a bike (papped below).

Out in the Rhein there is plenty of opportunity for cycling. Wide paths running parallel to the Rhein, quiet (and beautifully surfaced unlike County Durham) country roads and little villages were calling my name as I rode by in a taxi.

Frankfurt was great though. First things first - the cycle paths were nice and wide and I did not see a single car or van parked or driving over them!

You may not be able to tell from these pictures but these paths were huge! Very jealous of Frankfurt's cyclists.

(I think this means go slowly as this was found in a busy city centre square) 

I would like to go back to Germany with my bike. I like that every thing is a bike rack too:

I would say that Antwerp is my favourite European cycling city - closely followed by Frankfurt however I'll need another trip and actually get on the bike to test it out to be sure! One thing's for sure, from what I've seen, Germany get's it.

Because of my trip I haven't been out on the bike for two weeks! I would go out today but am listening to the weather forecast (and the wind battering the house right now!) and there's no way I can go out in this weather (50mph gusts - not good!). Tomorrow is looking good though weather wise - wonder how far I can get :)

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: