3 sets of summer holidays have passed since, and I am yet to fullfill that pledge. However, on this occasion there are actual, real and sensible reasons in addition to pure laziness as to why I have not met this particular challenge:
1. We managed to buy the probably only house in the hole entirety of flat county Suffolk from whence I'd have to conquer 2 steep hills in order to get to work.
2. The only route (avoiding the A14) to get to work leads me through a very busy town centre at rush hour. It is dangerous - I'd know, I'm one of the drivers to blame for that.
3. Even the non-town centre roads on this route are perilous because of the number of parked cars in crazy places. You can't ride near the pavement but instead have to "own" the middle of the lane. Cycling lanes? What's that?
4. Also, let's be honest, it's effort. I couldn't get to work in a skirt with heels and some kind of organised hair do. Sounds dreadful. Sounds like me most days anyway, but that's a different conversation entirely. I just want the option of making an effort.
However, a pledge is a pledge and I shall one day attempt to keep it - but I felt I'd first need to develop a base level of bike-riding-ability.
Social media to the rescue, I had a number of offers and suggestion on where I could practice. Howard kindly suggested to ride around Alton Waters with me(this place has a lot to answer for). The 8-mile / 12km round trip can be conquered on foot or bike, and if you don't own a bike you can hire them at the location (including helmets. Make sure they give you one that fits...)
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| My helmet did not fit. Yes, I know about tightening the notch at the back. Yes, I did try to use my pony tail to hold it in place. Yes, I did look like this in public except when the helmet feel forward and I had to cycle blindly. |
If you have read my blog before, you know that my adventures usually pan out in one of two ways:
1. I dread it beforehand, and it turns out I'm awful at it.
2. I think it'll be easy beforehand, and it turns out I'm awful at it.
HOWEVER - this one was different. For one, we booked it at such short notice that I didn't have much time to dread it. We'd also had a busy weekend and so I didn't have time to build up my normal amount of panic. There was a moment, just after we'd collected our bikes and the gents told me to lead the way that I thought "there is no way I can do this". But there were too many people around to do much about it, and so I ended up funnelled along the path, whistling a happy tune.
And whilst there were a couple of inclines where I had to get off and push my bike, overall I thought I'd managed pretty well (I was measuring myself against a 5 year old we overtook a couple of times. I know how to set achievable targets).
The ride took us about 90 minutes, which included stopping to adjust saddle heights a couple of times, fixing a dropped chain, general chatting and picture taking and not killing pedestrians with our crazy speed. I have no doubt that most people could beat that time, but it felt a comfortable, enjoyable pace rather than full-on effort.
Then we had Ice Cream. The End.
So is melancholy really incompatible with cycling?
1. I guess it depends on what you want to get out of it. I know that there is a cycling club in our town where people search out well planned routes and work for speed and endurance when it comes to riding uphill. I'm fairly certain I would not have enjoyed that as much. The relaxed afternoon ride we had would probably not have done a massive amount for our fitness levels but we were outdoors, off the sofa, and moving. So, a gentle win but still a win I think.
2. If you do plan on taking up cycling, think carefully on what you want / need and seek advice from professionals. We bought my current bike second hand and had a number of problems, the biggest of all being that I just don't trust it. It doesn't feel very sturdy. I now wish I'd invested a bit more and actually felt safe riding it, rather than wobbling about, praying that the breaks work this time.
- Take some time to work out your gears and your timings. We discovered a couple of times that we left it too late to adjust our gears when approaching inclines, which meant we didn't manage to get to the top. I believe that - if I had familiarised myself with the rental bike before we set off - I'd have been much more efficient. So next time I know that I'll be quicker even if my fitness levels stay the same.
- Check your saddle height. My knees were stroking my ears. Not ideal.
- Get. A. Comfortable. Saddle. Just saying, whilst waddling.
- Also, get a helmet. I mean it. Ask my brother-in-law who "only" suffered broken ribs and a mangled helmet in an accident.
3. The benefits of cycling are manifold:
- It can easily be incorporated into your every day life. If you cycle to work for example, you then don't have to go to the gym, you've had your work out. Unless you live above your shop.
- Once you own a bike (and a well fitting helmet), you don't have any additional costs other than perhaps maintenance. Unlike a gym membership, which will continually cost you and make you feel guilty on those days where you just don't manage to get there.
- It's fairly gentle on the joints. Despite my legs being particularly sore at the moment, making me consider whether it was wise to go ahead with our plans today, I came home in no worse pain than I set out in. I know from experience that I would be in pain if I had gone on a walk instead, so I'm really chuffed with the outcome.
- It can be a social or an independent sport. Go out on your own at your own speed, or find a nice location with cycling lanes that allow you to have a little chat with your buddy.
- The NHS website highlights that cycling can reduce the risk of serious illness such as heart disease and that it has a positive impact on your mental health.
4. The planet. You don't need me to spell it out. Please, hold me accountable - or even cycle to work with me:-) Mwahahahah!
On yer bike!
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| Thank you Howard for a fantastic time! We hope you're not too sore! |
