London to Paris Poppy Bike Ride:Training Day 1

Posted by Liberty Hen in Castle Coop News, Cycling from London to Paris for WLS & the Royal British Legion | 6 comments

As you may know, the Royal British Legion are organising a ‘Poppy’ Bike Ride from London to Paris in September. Graham, the Poppy Events Manager, kindly registered me as an entrant last week and today…

I’ve started getting ready to…. cycle to Paris!

I’m pretty excited.

London to Paris … Training Schedule: Day 1

This morning, following careful instructions from the agent,  I got on my poppy bike and began my training program.

• I attached 2 little lights to my helmet
• I learnt how to use the gears
• I only got off once to push up a hill
• I cycled through several enormous puddles and it was fun
• I didn’t fall off
• I cycled about 8 miles
• I loved every bit of it.

I’ve got until September  to practise the other 242 or so miles so that I can reckon on actually being able to cycle all the way between London and Paris without conking out. As today was only day 1, I decided not to worry about the whole 250 miles and just to concentrate on my first 8. If you have any good tips to help me with my long distance cycle training program, do please comment below and become an official ‘ Lady Liberty Mentor ‘ !

The sun shone, the roads were empty and I couldn’t believe it; there was nothing I’d have rather been doing!

I can’t wait to see Paris!

Yours, excitedly,

On My Poppy Bike (part 4)

Posted by Liberty Hen in Castle Coop News, Cycling from London to Paris for WLS & the Royal British Legion | 2 comments

OH NO …. WHAT HAVE I GONE AND DONE NOW?

Oh my goodness. Now I understand why the Victorians kept vials of sal volatile close to hand.

This morning I found the long awaited email from Graham announcing:

Dear Lady Liberty,

I’m pleased to announce that our bike ride registrations are now open! These rides are big challenges.

Many thanks for all your support and I look forward to seeing you on one of our bike rides.

Best wishes,

Graham

He included this picture below of riders looking happy. I think he must have realised that I need might reassurance. That was pretty thoughtful of him, don’t you think?

Please press ‘click’ Now!

I was so happy to hear from Graham and to see all the smiling faces of the riders in the photograph I became carried away and blithely followed Graham’s instructions to sign up. In a jiffy, I had  pressed the ‘click’ button to register. Then I noticed Graham’s phrase about ‘big challenges’ and thought again. It was too late! There was no button to ‘unclick’ my registration. Can you believe it?

The very next thing I knew, even before I could faint away with horror at what I’d done, Graham was emailing me again to say:

Congratulations! You are now registered for the Pedal to Paris.

You will shortly be receiving a Bike Ride starter pack that will help you get training for the ride but if you have any questions please get in contact.

Best wishes,

Graham

Events Manager

Je suis well and truly dans la soupe maintenant.

Oh dear. It is one thing to imagine doing something and to make jolly sounding New Year Resolutions, but it is quite another to lock oneself into actually doing it. The agent is unmoved by my wobbles and asks why on earth I pressed the ‘click’ button if I don’t want to do the ride. I don’t know why he has to be so logical at times like these. I am in a crisis!

I’d better ‘get on my Poppy bike’, hadn’t I?

Yours nervously,

On My Poppy Bike (part 3)

Posted by Liberty Hen in Castle Coop News, Cycling from London to Paris for WLS & the Royal British Legion | 0 comments

Now it is 2014, I need to start my preparations for the London-Paris Poppy Bike Ride.

Just before Christmas, kind Graham from the Royal British Legion,  emailed me.

Fitness training for Paris!

Posted by Liberty Hen in Castle Coop News, Cycling from London to Paris for WLS & the Royal British Legion | 2 comments

It has been a while since I have updated you about my fitness training schedule for the London – Paris Bike Ride next year which I am hopeful of both entering and completing.

My trip to Paris involves important decisions

Posted by Liberty Hen in Castle Coop News, Cycling from London to Paris for WLS & the Royal British Legion | 0 comments

I am very busy getting prepared for my epic Poppy Bike ride to Paris in aid of The Royal British Legion. There are many important decisions to be made as to what I shall need in terms of support equipment.

These are some of the items I am deciding about:

On My Poppy Bike (part 2)

Posted by Liberty Hen in Castle Coop News, Cycling from London to Paris for WLS & the Royal British Legion | 0 comments

It’s pouring with rain today so the village is awash with umbrellas and wellies.  The polite car drivers slow down but others just steam through the puddles on the road splashing those of us on foot as if we didn’t matter.  We think they are extremely rude.

Back home at Castle Coop, I am now warm and dried out from my wet walk in the rain, with a beautifully hot little tasse de café right by me. I have checked my in-box: (ladylibertyhen@gmail.com) and look what I have found waiting for me there!

On My Poppy Bike (part 1)

Posted by Liberty Hen in Castle Coop News, Cycling from London to Paris for WLS & the Royal British Legion | 5 comments

The agent and I have been busy sorting out the Poppy selling kits so that we will be ready to go collecting round all the village houses at the end of the month. The dining room is full of little cardboard trays full of paper poppies and collecting tins – I will feel like an usherette in an old-fashioned cinema selling ice-creams..