Reading for my Ride to Paris

Reading for my Ride to Paris:

The Agent has been laughing his head off at me because he caught me studying ‘Cycling Weekly’ which I gather is the UK’s best-selling cycling magazine.

Don’t you think this week’s edition looks interesting?

I’ve told him sternly he may laugh if he likes but although it’s true I may not exactly measure up to the prowess of the target readership of ‘Cycling Weekly’, I am considering taking out a subscription. If I’m going to be able to cycle to Paris in September, it’s simply not good enough to cross my fingers and hope for the best. I need to think myself into the role. Perhaps the Agent hasn’t heard of  ‘Method Acting‘.

Now that I have:

• a beautiful bike to try to ride to Paris on
• dear little lights which flash fore and aft from my helmet.
• a training schedule as approved by the Poppy Bike Ride organisers
• amazing magic clip-in cycling shoes and pedals
• a  username for map-my-ride so I can log my training sorties
• some WD40
• a ticket from Paris to London on Eurostar to return home with….

‘Cycling Weekly’ might prove to be essential reading. I need to learn how to be ‘mentally prepared ‘!

This week’s edition:

This week’s edition has been very informative. I’ve read about techniques for effective uphill training, how to avoid DOMS (delayed-onset muscle soreness), interval training and the best ways to coping with potholes on the road. There was also an encouraging article called, ‘Starting afresh…you’re never too old..’

I love the sound of ‘Cycling cafés’; they sound fun!

The April weather has meant my recent forays out on the Poppy Bike have been rather damp ones. Cycling in the rain is much better fun than I ever dreamed it could be. Other cyclists have started to nod their heads at me and it feels very convivial.

Yours, luckily without any delayed-onset muscle soreness thanks to my new-found knowledge gleaned from ‘Cycling Weekly’,