The Die is Cast!
The Die is Cast!
I’ve been for my last training ride.
I thought it would be miserable as it was starting to rain, but it turned out to be brilliant fun!
Under Starter’s Orders:
I was just putting on my helmet when Sir Plym appeared driving his lawnmower. He’d been cutting the grass in the churchyard and on the spur of the moment, he challenged me to a race down The Street. The Agent drew up the course with the starting line at the church lych gate and the finish at the Ox and Moose. Lady Egality was in charge of waving the chequered flag, aka her hat.
We set off and I couldn’t believe it – it wasn’t even neck and neck. Maybe I will be fast enough to keep up with everyone else on the Pedal2Paris.
An encouraging email:
I have been so anxious recently about riding slowly – every other cyclist I meet on the road seems to overtake me. However just after my race, I received an email from kind Dan, the Events Administrator for The Royal British Legion.
Please do not worry about your speed, I am sure you will be fine and find plenty of company in one of our speed groups and our ride captains (they’ll be the riders in red) are a fantastic help.
A new shirt arrives!
There was also an exciting post this morning. The Royal British Legion has sent me an official shirt to wear!
The die is cast!
I’ve been for my last training ride. It is now too late for me to get any better at cycling, any fitter or any faster.
The die is cast!
Yours, beginning to get really excited,
Stop Press:
Pedal Power!
Pedal Power!
16.93 miles were covered today in the push for Pedal to Paris fitness, according to Map My Ride!
It has been another beautiful day and Lady Egality decided to join me on her bike. We cycled along the lanes in tandem which was very companionable.
About half-way round today’s training route, we suddenly found ourselves in the middle of a Chinook manoeuvre..
We were cycling next to RAF Odiham and watched one of the Base’s Chinooks fly right overhead:
It looked so ungainly and heavy in the air; we were both mesmerised watching it hover in one spot for simply ages.
It must be a pretty extraordinary feeling to pilot such a whopping machine.
We stayed for a long time watching it; it was sobering to think all the training is necessary for the troops to be prepared for service out in Afghanistan.
But then we cycled off and, once away from the RAF Base, felt fancy-free again.
[On April 26th, less than 2 weeks after this post was published, 5 military servicemen – 4 of whom were based at RAF Odiham – were killed out in Afghanistan.
The Basingstoke Gazette report reads:
‘The crash is the first fatal accident involving a UK military helicopter during the conflict in Afghanistan and it is the third biggest loss of life of British troops in a single incident in the country since the conflict began in 2001.
The incident brings the number of British forces killed in the Afghanistan conflict to 453.’
Maj Gen Richard Felton, Commander Joint Helicopter Command paid tribute saying:
“Events like this, whilst mercifully rare, remind us of the risks our personnel face in their work in Afghanistan as we approach the conclusion of the combat mission later this year.”
It is dreadful news.]
An Un-birthday Present!
When the Agent came home tonight, he arrived bearing a parcel for me – how exciting is that!
Guess what was inside, wrapped up in all the tissue paper…..
Pedal Power shoes with cleats attached! Gosh – that’s serious gear! There was even a shoe maintenance manual provided.
Advantages of Click-in Pedals & Bike Shoes
MAGIC SHOES – WOW!
I’ve got to change the pedals on my Poppy Bike to these Power Pedals so that my feet in the new cycling shoes, will snap in and out of them.
If I forget I’m wearing shoes with cleats, I will keep falling off. So…I’d better concentrate for a change.
I’m going to have to practise clicking in and out of the pedals quite a lot to get the hang of it. Perhaps I should start off on the lawn – what do you think?
Yours hoping I don’t fall off however,
Eurostar Paris to London!
I’ve just heard…My Eurostar Paris to London return ticket has been booked!
How exciting is that! I absolutely love travelling on Eurostar. Incredibly, it doesn’t feel at all as if there’s an enormous bit sea on your head and you’re whisked under the Channel in no time whatsoever.
This morning, I received this email from kind Graham at the Royal British Legion re the Pedal to Paris bike ride.
Hi Liberty,
We’ve only seen the sun occasionally this year but I hope that hasn’t hindered your training. (Ha ha Graham, what a good joke!)
Trains back from Paris
As Eurostar have now opened their bookings for September I can confirm our train times as 10.13 & 17.13 for the return trip on the 8th. Your ticket is booked for the 17.13 train, if this isn’t the train you meant to book let me know in the next week and we should be able to change this for you.
Best wishes,
Graham
NO.. please don’t change anything! I’m thrilled to bits with everything just how it is and definitely want as much time in Paris as possible.
I’m beginning to think my Poppy Bike ride from London to Paris might actually happen; Graham obviously really thinks I’m going to end up in Paris and will need a train-ride back home!
Yours excitedly,
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