Cycle – Page 4 – Black and Tabby Runs

Janathon Day 4. Some real exercise at last!

Finally, finally, some real exercise that involves putting on lycra and going outside. Sadly, still no running, but today’s adventure was cycling. Even more exciting, cycling wearing cleats. Anyone who’s followed my cycling exploits will know I usually manage to fall off my bike at least once on any ride. Often whilst stationary, always embarrassing. After several months of using the toe clips that came with my bike, Mr B&T bought me some real cycling shoes and cleats.* This was a trip destined to end in disaster.

As an incentive we decided to cycle to one of our favourite cafés, Merkins Farm near Bradford on Avon. After a quick lesson in how to clip in and out, we set off. It was cold, and after twenty minutes my hands and feet were numb. My son (who was also in his new shoes and cleats for the first time) was setting a stirling pace as he had the scent of his favourite veggie burger in his nostrils.

After a cold hour we were there. The blessed relief to walk inside where it was warm from the wood burning stove was indescribable, but the pain from blood returning to my numb finger tips could only be described in naughty four letter words (so I’ll let you use your imagination).

Well worth the cold ride! The cycle back home was much warmer (probably because we all had lovely warm full stomachs). When I uploaded my ride onto Strava I was delighted to see I’d won two QOMs (Queen Of the Mountains). When I looked a little closer, they are actually “2015 QOM”s, so I suspect I won’t hold onto these for very long! I am also delighted to report I didn’t fall off once and I managed to clip in and out with no problems. This was probably aided by the ever lovely Mr B&T shouting “UNCLIP” as we approached every junction.** My son did fall off once, as he got his unclipped foot stuck between the kerb and his bike, but he landed on a soft muddy verge so he didn’t hurt himself.

19.6 miles cycled. Double points because it was so cold. Excellent veggie burger eaten. Janathon Day 4 done.

* Sometimes I think he doesn’t like me very much

**Maybe he does like me, after all

Running vs. Cycling

Five years ago I started running.

This year I was bought a new bike for my birthday and I started cycling as well.

Both of these activities have their advantages, and disadvantages, but having cycled yesterday and then run today I thought I’d consider which activity I preferred.

Running is quicker to get ready for, requires less kit, and doesn’t require a bicycle. Cycling *does* require a bike, which then requires maintenance and washing (apparently).

Running means I get to spend time on my own. Cycling means I go with Mr B&T and sometimes our son as well. These can be advantages or disadvantages, depending upon how much my family has upset me at the time.

I’ve tripped, slipped and got muddy when running, but it’s only when cycling I’ve properly fallen off. Usually at 0mph.

Cycling is faster than running and involves whizzing down hills. Unfortunately I’m scared of going fast, so downhills involve white knuckles from squeezing the brakes very tightly.

I have to concentrate on the road (gravel, pot holes, crumbling edges of road) when on my bike, but when I’m running I can look over hedges, into gardens and spot wildlife.

When I run I can manage water, an occasional veggie ‘Percy Pig’ sweet or a gel and that’s it. Yesterday’s 2 hour bike ride included a mid-ride stop in a pub, and also a tea room. The pub said they’d just stopped serving food, then brought out a plate of leftover roast potatoes for us to help ourselves to. Well it would have been rude not to!

We then needed a cup of tea to wash the spuds down, so crossed the road to a tea shop. Have you ever seen such a cute milk jug?

Thank heavens the chocolate brownie isn’t in shot as well. Nor the cheese and tomato tart

To sum up, trying to decide whether I prefer running or cycling, I think the roast potatoes might give cycling an unfair advantage. What about you?

Juneathon Day 25. Mange Tout Overload

My daughter told me at breakfast that she needed her skort for sports day today. I pointed at the washing machine, at that point full of water, bubbles, and sports gear (including her skort). Whoops.

I quickly made a plan that meant as soon as the skort was clean and dry I would cycle over to her school and drop it off. Brilliant – sports day saved AND Juneathon done in one fell swoop.

I was still congratulating myself on this cunning plan an hour later when my daughter rang from school to say her best friend was going to lend her her skort to save me the trip. Nice idea but grrrrr!

So Juneathon today was another trip to the allotment. I cycled despite planning on digging potatoes, and picking mange tout and lettuce. I watered, I picked, I dug. I cycled bank home with half a hundredweight of mange tout peas. A win-win situation.

Mission accomplished.

Juneathon Day 24. Cycling – short and sweet

I was worried that a bike ride that started out with me putting my padded cycling shorts on back to front was not going to be a good ride. However, I was completely wrong, and myself and the boy had a lovely ride. Just over 12 miles in just under an hour.

Not far, not long, but enough to clear both our heads and put a smile on our faces. Result!

Juneathon Day 17. Midsummer Bike Ride

Tuesday night is cycling at Castle Combe circuit night. Me and the boy have been going since April, gradually building up our laps and mileage. I’ve enjoyed the traffic free smooth tarmac whilst getting used to my new bike, and he lost any nerves at getting back on his bike after coming off and breaking his arm last year.

Last night was slightly different. It was the annual Midsummer Bike Ride which is open to any cyclist, young and old. The aim of the evening is to beat last year’s total number laps, oh and to raise money for the Wiltshire Search and Rescue

For a change I cycled up to the circuit and was a little embarrassed to find it’s only about 3 1/2 miles (I always thought it was further than that). Husband changed down a few gears and cycled with me. Son was feeling tired so we left him at home which was a shame, but meant I could go a little faster than I usually do.

We signed in and set off for four laps of the track at what was an easy pace (for Mr B&T) or a good pace (for me).

Riding not Falling! Thanks to Mr B&T for the in-flight photography

Then because we could, we stopped for some mid-ride refuelling.

That’s what I call “on the bike refuelling”

I did manage another 4 laps after that, then I set off for home and left Mr B&T clocking up some more miles. 21.92 Miles in total which is very annoying – wish I’d gone up the lane and back again to round it up!

Juneathon Day 14. The Cucumber Dash

Another late night post, a huge family gathering – I bet you think I’m about to start making excuses.

No! I knew it was going to be a busy day, so when a change in plans meant I unexpectedly had to make sandwiches for 9 people I seized my chance and leapt on my bike to dash up to the allotment. Two baby cucumbers were picked way before their time, but their sacrifice meant we had tasty sandwiches and I managed a mile and a half’s cycle ride for Juneathon.

Does seven hours talking to a large amount of family also count as exercise?

Juneathon Day 11. Technology ganging up on me

Technology ganged up on me today to try and sabotage my Juneathon activity.

The day went well, the builders crashed and banged, I took my Dad (and Mum of course) out for an early Father’s Day treat, and I was looking forward to my evening run. Then the ultimate in multitasking. Cooking dinner, whilst talking to the man who’d come to sort out the satellite dish (which hadn’t worked since the builders moved it yesterday), whilst answering the phone to the man who’s going to come and sort out the woodworm, whilst waiting for a callback about our non-existent broadband (argh!), whilst placating teenager who needed Internet access to complete course work that is due in tomorrow. When the risotto was finally cooked, I sat down with the children and ate. It was delicious and I was half way through before I remembered my planned predinner run. Ooops.

I finished my dinner, checked Sky was working, spoke to Mr Woodworm, got my bike out and cycled up to the allotment to do some watering instead. Technology nil, Black and Tabby 1!

Juneathon Day 8. The ‘Wrong Way Round and Round’

In the village next to us there is a milestone that shows ‘Hyde Park Corner 97 miles’. For several years keen cyclists of the village have organised a ride going the ‘wrong way’ from Hyde Park back to the village.

To try and tempt more people, and especially families, to join in this year they organised a 19 mile loop starting and finishing at the village pub. The idea being to ride 5 loops (and a bit) for the full distance, or any number of loops for your own personal challenge.

Whilst my husband is a very keen cyclist, who no longer finds 100 mile rides a challenge, it’s a different story for myself and our son.

Our longest ride to date has been 25 miles which included a fantastic lunch stop. Son was happy he could manage one lap, and I was hoping if we had a good lunch he could be tempted out for a second.

Bike all labelled up. Spot the iconic Milestone

Our first lap was mostly uneventful. Son managed to ride into the edge of a high verge, legs flailing as he trimmed the long grass and filled his bike with it. Miraculously he stayed upright. A little further down the road I wasn’t so lucky, managing a huge wobble as I tried to tuck in when another cyclist overtook us. Fortunately it was a grassy verge I fell onto, so it was mainly just my pride that was hurt.

As we reached the end of the loop our thoughts were turning to chips and coke, and the pub did not disappoint. We even found a friend of son’s who was happy to ride another loop with us and his Dad.This second loop was slower, but without any cyclist-verge incidents. However it seemed to pass quicker, I guess because we knew the route by now. As we arrived back at the pub, we were announced by one of the organisers and received a round of applause.

A swift half, and then we pedalled the final 2 and a bit miles home. In total the boy and I had cycled 42 miles on a beautifully warm and sunny Sunday. My legs didn’t feel too bad, but my neck and shoulders (and just to lower the tone, my backside) might not be speaking to me later on.

Still – forty two miles!

Juneathon Day 4. Duathalon Day

This morning it was drizzling, yet I cycled up to the allotment, worked for 2 hours in the steadily increasing rain, and cycled home again.

Was that myJuneathon activity for today? It has been in previous years (and may be later this month) but not today. Oh no, today I have something much more exciting* planned. I’m doing a duathalon. I know I’ve been enjoying cycling on my new bike but the plan is that I just do the running and my husband will do the cycling. It was sounding like such a great plan, and a way for us to enter something together. Then we saw the weather forecast for today. And then he foolishly Googled the results of the last duathalon event. It’s a 2 mile run, followed by a 10 mile cycle, finished off with another 2 miles of running. It’s at Castle Combe circuit again, so it’s flat and traffic free. It’s also fast, and looking at the times for the runs I’ll be last by a few minutes. Sigh.

Anyway. I must get ready now, so I’ll let you know how it goes … tomorrow. Wish me luck.

* i.e. terrifying

Juneathon Day 3. Track Tuesday.

Despite this bring a blog about running, it’s not an athletics track I’m talking about. We live very close to Castle Combe Motor Racing circuit and every Tuesday Chippenham Wheelers (the local cycling club that we’re family members of) organise a cycling night. The chance to cycle on smooth traffic free tarmac, with coaching available, isn’t one to be passed up.

Mr B&T took the opportunity to ride in a fast group, whilst me and my boy rode together at our own pace. In total we managed 10 laps, 18.8 miles, in 1 hour 23 minutes. We’re in training for a big ride on Sunday – but more about that later.

Who knew Castle Combe had such stunning architecture