Posts Tagged "training"

Back in the saddle!

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

Back in the saddle!

I’m feeling pretty pleased with myself. 14.17 miles clocked up for the Pedal to Paris training plan- how about that!

I Can’t Sit Down!

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

I can’t sit down.

Thanks to my epic inaugural Poppy bike ride training session yesterday, today I can’t move. I am stiff all over and I have a sore bottom & so can’t sit down.

It’s awful. I’ve had to creep about the house ‘gingerly’ all day.

1. I feel all rusted up – just like the Tin Man before Dorothy oiled his joints. That’s the best way I can think of to describe what’s happened to me. 
2. I now realise I was far too hasty when I rejected the science behind padded cycling shorts. Never again will I dismiss the notion of cycling in what looks exactly like a giant nappy, as ridiculous. From now on, I will remember to do everything I can to ensure the triumph of comfort – even if at the expense of vanity.

‘Supportive’ emails from the Agent

The Agent seems to find the fact that I can’t sit down, funny. He burst out laughing when he saw me try to negotiate getting into the car this morning and then sent me several ‘supportive’ emails throughout the day, featuring products which he thought might “help”.

• The Donut solution
• The seat raiser
• The Lift Assister

I don’t think  this is tactful of him. It’s not a laughing matter. If any properly ‘supportive’ kind reader would care to point this out to the agent using the comment box below, I should be most grateful.

Supper standing up:

This evening I was forced to accept that, as I can’t sit down, I’d have to eat my supper standing up. It is very hard to be dignified  during a crisis when one’s partner in life appears with a broom in one hand and a mop in the other, to which he has ‘helpfully’ attached a knife and fork with rubber bands.

I am having a sense of humour failure. Does this kind of thing ever happen to anyone else? Please comfort me if you can!

Yours stiffly,

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,