Category Archives: Claudette

She’s my first bike!

GNBR -6

Posted in Claudette, Cycling by

This is the third day in a row I’ve been out on Claudette as tonight was my last session with my RideWise trainer, Wayne. The plan had always been to have a quite long ride tonight, but it was weirdly longer than planned, and after a couple of hours we covered 9.42 miles. Hardly a long distance but in the last 3 days I’ve more than covered the distance for Sunday and am getting more confident every day.

Tonight was massively important for me as the ride accomplished something I really wanted to do, ie cycle from home to enjoy a ride around the nature reserve at Attenborough. Top highlight was hearing a cuckoo, genuinely can’t remember the last time I heard one. I know now that I’m capable of much more so hopefully this summer will be one of discovery, fresh air and loss of adventure for me and Claudette!

I’m scaling it back for the rest of the week now and will just do smaller rides, in preparation for the big day on Sunday.

My added bonus tonight is that I am now formally qualified to National Cycling Standard level 2. I guess that’s a bit like the old cycling proficiency? Shame I’m just aggravating the bruises (here for posterity)…

imageimage

Ouch!

 

Sky Ride

Posted in Claudette, Cycling by

Today I’ve been on my first Sky Ride – an accompanied bike ride being held all over the country throughout the summer. Despite some initial confusion about the start point, me being at the gates to Wollaton Park rather than in front of the hall, it was brilliant! The ride leaders and other cyclists were incredibly patient with me, and it was no issue to walk when things got too tough. Here’s me, on the left.

image

Although it was billed as 4 miles, I’d done 6.42 by the time I finished and after yesterday, boy, can I feel it. My hands are cramped – apparently I need to be more relaxed on the handle bars, my leg and arm muscles feel tight and generally my body feels like it’s had enough. Another unexpected consequence is the number of bruises I have on my legs, particularly the right which is now painful when I just walk! I’m sure it stems from hitting the pedals as I dismount, I need to get much more practised.

Still, Claudette did me proud and I loved every second.

It’s also Father’s Day today so I’ve been to the cemetery to see mine, that’s 20 we’ve had without him :'(.

Need to recover now, as Wayne is coming for my last RideWise session tomorrow, and I think the plan is another 6 miles or so. I do know that after next week’s big ride I’ll be making sure to leave rest days!

Believing

Posted in Claudette, Cycling, Slimming World by

I think today, for the first time I’ve actually started to believe that I may be ready for the 25 miles next week. Through one thing and another, life, including Race for Life, has interfered too much this week and prior to today I’d only managed one 45 minute ride, and that was by getting up early and being out at 5.15AM!

I still feel so nervous and doubt my ability, so I’ve been sticking close to home, in case I get somewhere but then don’t have the capacity to get back.

Still, today that changed, and I decided to throw out my reservations and explore the Erewash Valley trail. I can access this (mostly) off road resource in a 2 minute cycle from home but it really had been too scary up till now. All went well initially, and I made it to Toton without incident, but then managed to lose the trail on the way to Long Eaton somehow. I think I lost it somewhere around watching kids playing in the river and ponds – brought back so many memories.

Through my amazing map reading skills, somehow got to national route N6, got back on track, then lost it again. However, my detour meant I got to enjoy Trent Meadows nature reserve which I never would have done had I kept to my planned route. Fortunately, I relocated the trail there so I finally reached my planned destination of Trent Lock.

What a beautiful, peaceful ride by the Trent it is from there back to Attenborough Nature Reserve. It was teeming with bird life, damsel flies and even a tiny frog crossing the path, fortunately I managed to avoid it with my tyres. The sun was shining, it was just glorious!

So surprised though, how much the cycling takes it out of me. Pulled over by the visitor centre for a 15 minute break, to refuel with my Slimming World health extra A and B choices and to take on some water. Definitely needed it by then! It was lovely, on a picnic bench watching the ducks and giving hubby an update before heading home.

Made another little map reading error so will aim for the right route next time, as this one ended up on School Lane which I started the hill on but had to push the rest of the way! However, by the time I got home I’d covered 10.91 miles, in 2h04. So I’m not going to win the Tour de France but I may just be able to cycle 25 miles next week!

Tomorrow morning I’ve booked on my first accompanied Sky Ride, just an easy 4 miles at Wollaton Park, I think that will be enough, given my last RideWise session is on Monday and the plan is a 6 mile ride then too.

Oh, and the bike has a name! She’s called Claudette. Seems to suit her.

image

Maybe this will be the week my weight losses kick in. I’m rather disappointed that in the last few weeks I’ve increase my exercise substantially, yet in 6 weeks lost only 3.5lbs, and 2 of that was in one week! OK, I’ve not had a gain either, but still?

I did, however, measure myself which was a bit more positive. 3″ of my chest, 2.5″ off my waist, 5″ from my hips, 2″ from my thighs and 1″ from my arm, totaling 13.5″. Just got to keep faith and not lose heart, everyone tells me 6 to 8 weeks so let’s hope they’re right.

Going to try and catch an hour now before the England game kicks off at 11pm.