London to Brighton and a dumb idea

Wooh, so I just did my longest ride yet! London to Brighton (.. erm I mean Newhaven).

So when my more experienced cyclist friend asked me if I was interested in cycling to Brighton on the 4th of July, I was like "yeah, of course, that'll be great PRL training!"  and I immediately booked the day off work.  Insert head over face emoji here.

..I'd like to add that Becky was cycling to Paris the following day, and also invited me along to that, at the time the lack of annual leave prevented me from committing but later the "she's insane" prevented me from committing to it. Although I have to admit I sort of liked the idea of plodding through the scenic cycle pathways of France.  

As time, and lack of training progressed I started to panic. Especially as I knew she was booked on to a ferry at Newhaven, I was not convinced I could do it within the time frame we planned.  As my pathetic slow long cycles continued, I constantly considered pulling out. But partly loyalty to my word and partly ‘cause I liked the idea of having London to Brighton on my strava, I stuck to the plan to the plan.

The week before analyzed the routes and the gradient, eek, it looked scary. My current elevation consisted of Richmond Park (less than 200ft), now we're talking up to 600ft eek.  I also carefully analysed the stations on the route, in case I was holding her up and needed to jump on a train back to London, I figured about Carshalton!

The night before I was soooo nervous.  I was also very aware it was exactly a month before PRL, and I told myself "well a month from now you're going to be even more nervous".  I spent the evening rehearsing my " I'm sooooo sorry I'm holding you up, you go on, I'm heading back to Clapham".

Then the morning arrived, my friend arrived there was no turning back.  in my head I'd planned a few landmarks (breaking up the distance, a good long run trip).  My targets were: Lavender Fields, passing M25, Haywards Heath, Lewes.

It was a bit crazy but before I knew it we were at the Lavender Fields (this was also my first 'get out' point).  Oh my goodness we hit it at 09.00 (opening time) and I've always wanted to go to a lavender farm. I was not disappointed.  One flapjack and 600 pics later we were on our way again. I'd made it past my first checkpoint. eek. 

Just before we left the Lavender farm my friend said she was sure there was a big hill right after; she wasn't wrong.  I plodded on as much as I could before giving up and walking. I really hate hills.  

In no time at all (or so it seemed) we passed under the M25 (my target 2) I was so surprised I'd made it so far. however, pleasant progress was short-lived.

The M25 was followed not so long later by another beast of a hill.  This sort of continued, until we hit Turners Hill; now if you've read my blog you know how I feel about a street called "hill" but my friend encouraged me (she's done this route before) by saying "we're going in the opposite direction it's all downhill" .  She was wrong, it started off quite pleasant and descended into satan.  Aghhh, nasty beast.  But the on the plus side right at the top there was a pub where we stopped for lunch and a great view.  

As we had lunch, we celebrated the halfway point, I was impressed with myself for making it so far.  I had vague recollections of the map being kinder (in elevation) for the second half of the ride, phew.

After the lunch stop and back onto Turners Hill it started downhill then descended into Bastard hill. Grrr. but in fairness, I did recall it being undulating until Heywards Heath (my next target point).  After these, I'm pleased to say it all settled down beautiful scenery and pretty flat.  

I have to say there was a tear in my eye when I saw the familiar beautiful South Downs ridge in the distance as we progressed on, and my favourite thing was diverting off to Newhaven rather then facing the Ditchling Beacon climb (Oh South Downs I do love you but I ‘aint cycling up Ditchling Beacon!!).  

The bit from the divert to Lewes was beautiful, it consisted of this lovely traffic-less road, which went on for ages. So pretty.  We soon reached Lewes, which I had been obsessed with since Becky said, "I'm going to have a nice ice cream in Lewes".  As we approached the town, the satnav said straight ahead up a nasty hill but the signs said left for the town center.  So, we went left, but it took us a while to find anywhere 'central'.  In all my years of hiking to Lewes, I only know where the (best) pub and the station are, the rest is a mystery, but I was proper craving that ice cream.

Lucky we found the perfect place, where they were so kind and offered to fill up our water bottles asked us how our cycle was going. I was a bit in shock that I had reached Lewes.  I knew it was less than 15km to Newhaven, I mean how?  How had I cycled London to Lewes, I was sure I couldn't do it, but I had!  And man that ice-cream was good.

The last miles zipped by, and then we arrived; I couldn't believe that I was in Newhaven with time to spare before the ferry.  I didn't really know what to do with myself.  On arrival, we both didn't know what to do, but very soon we spotted the golden M and knew exactly what to do, it hit the spot.  

Becky was a superstar and went on to cycle to Paris the next day whilst I limped back to work.

...So "dumb idea".  Well, the London to Newhaven was a huge boost of confidence: I knew if didn’t' manage that then the 46 it would be on the day.

However, a few days have now passed and I'm back to feeling like it's a really dumb idea this PRL thing.  It’s really long, if it took me that long to do 56 miles I'm never going to reach the cut off for the Ride London.  I'm back in panic mode.  We will see on the day if I'm up to 100 or 46.  Watch this space...

Progressing not progressing

Thought I'd post an update, I've actually been writing updates but not got as far posting them.

Well, I've been progressing and not progressing if you know what I mean, no? hmm?  In my head (and on paper somewhere) I'd set out a very logical training plan, based on the sort of thing I do for half marathons. It involved progressive long cycles, short cycles in the week consisting of hill practice and at least one spinning class a week. Sounds perfect.  But we know reality isn't perfect, life has got super busy, and crazy hot (can't run in these temps!).  I certainly don't have the time for spinning, I'm completely and utterly exhausted when I get home from work, and cycling to work doesn't always work cause I have to look nice for exams, and such like, and can't be bothered to coordinate that with a bike.

So basically my training has consisted of progressive long cycles,  nervous loops of Richmond park, and insane worry that I'm not going to make the cut-off times or the hills.

My longest ride to date was 50 miles.  I chose a route from Dirty Weekend to Windsor, where I'd meet my friend in Windsor and head back to London with her.

It went well and I was quite enjoying myself, for the first 20 miles, I could feel myself being a little swifter than normal, then I hit Virginia Water... Virgina-bloody-Water.  I remember it being pretty parks and lakes, but NO, its all bloody hills.

I also learnt another valuable lesson that day.  If a road has the word "Hill" in the name avoid it like the plague.  They would be better labeled "mountains".

Another thing that day, it was my first cycle in the rain.  It started not far before Windsor, and at that point, I was a little hangry, but managed to grin and bear it.  Coming into Windsor it was pretty to cycle past the castle and long walk, but I was too tired and hungry to appreciate it.  My friend was coming in from Oxford, so I had a leisurely wait for her (at a slightly disappointing cycle cafe, not one of my faves.

About 10 mins after leaving the cafe the heavens opened, not just opened, but emptied an ocean on us (guess who didn't put her rain jacket on when I left the cafe?). Ugh, utterly soaked through, and my phone holder misted up so I couldn't see directions and kept having to stop.

My friend is more experienced than me, and faster, as I was leading I was going faster than my natural pace, which she described as 'leisurely'; very leisurely, I could hear her whistling behind me. But it did me good to up the pace, I can't pootle along all the of time.

As we came into Hampton, my friend decided she would get the train (as she was meeting friends in town).  I didn't take much swaying, from Hampton home there are major hills, not what I want after a day of mountains.  We decided to get the train at Kingston, but just before Kingston Bridge I glanced at my watch 49 miles... nooooooooh.  Luckily we got a tad lost trying to locate the station, came in dead on 50 miles. That's skills!  Sadly my friend came in 99.70 KM, she was fine with that, I personally would have had to cycle around for another 5 mins to finish the KM off.

I was half dead at the end of the day, sort of pleased with my efforts, but going that distance seems to take forever I'm sure it's not supposed to and it just made me nervous all over again about cut off times. I need to get faster. I also need to work more on my fuelling.

22nd May Major Colly Wobbles

So I’m progressing in my confidence but not in my speed or strength, which is frustrating. Now the weather is better, I’ve got no excuse not to cycle commute, so last week took the plunge and cycled every day (well three days, as was sick on Monday, and nephew sitting on Friday, so had to take the train). 

Three days doesn’t sound like much but that’s three different offices, one in Chelsea (which I’ve done quite a few times now). One in Paddington, which is to Chelsea onwards with quite a pleasant route through Hyde Park. And one to White City, which is a hideous main road route via Earls Court. The plus side was a found a nice little back route towards the end (although did get a tad lost doing so).

Chuffed I made it to White City though that was always a big one for me (about 8 miles).  The thought of 8 miles home at the end of the day wasn’t so exciting, particularly along the busy roads. So I tried to go a way I sort of knew which I knew would be  a tinsy bit quieter. Which was fine and pleasant until I hit an almighty hill. As I chugged up I was cheered on by a coach driver waiting to pull out. Then google maps kindly directed me back to the main roads around Earls Court which I had been trying to avoid in the first place. I took a turn off, attempting a back route but ended up halfway back down the main road with a severe case of Deja Vous. Aghhh.

But I was chuffed I got it done, and I will continue as long as the rain holds off.  Despite the extra cycling (and despite smashing a half marathon PB at the weekend) every time I cycle I feel like I have no strength in my legs, I don’t know why it does my head in.  It's knocking my confidence for Ride London, I literally spent the whole commute this morning deciding that I would just potter it and settle for a 46 medal, that thought takes the pressure off a lot.

On the plus side, I seem to be managing to get up hills I previously struggled with (I always think I will walk them, then it seems like some weird effort to get off the bike and walk so I keep going).

And on the plus plus side, it’s the BEST feeling in the world not handing my well-earned cash over to TFL every day… I will hand it to Cycle Republic instead.

A Bike Obsession

My bike Obsession is growing – as is my bike collection 

I’ve become obsessed with bikes. I walk around town watching all the cyclists, identifying bikes, spotting what bike storage they’re using, the width of their tires, flat or drop handles?   I walk slowly past bike parks (one of these days I’m going to be arrested, they’re going to think I’m about thief one, but worst of all I’ve become one of those people, who has more than one bike.  My housemates were not impressed, our house already looks like a velo hotel.

Ooh my new bike, a great deal of thought (procrastination) research (endless google reviews) and external bike inspection (dodging arrest at the bike parks) went into the purchase, this is the one, the bike that will get me through 100 hilly Ride London Miles.

It's rather nice, I’m a bit nervous to take it out the house, but oooh it’s a nice ride, soooo smooth, Sanatana Smooth.  It glides silently, in contrast to my rattily old (well not that old) hybrid.  It’s made me less nervous about losing my hybrid. My plan is to do some pottering around the streets of Clapham when I can, and some leisurely lengthier miles over Easter.

But the big question is… will it get me up the Hills?