Getting back on the bike

You may have noticed that for the last six months, I have become one of those absent bloggers. For this, I would like to apologise and assure you that there is, in fact, very good reason.

In November 2014, I took up a position as Digital Writer at Women’s Running Magazine. In the process, I left my bike in the Cheshire countryside, moved to London bikeless, and swapped my cycling shoes for a pair of trainers. In short, I became a runner.

A fickle cyclist indeed, I rejected my passion for cycling and focused all of my energies on running. In fact, if you follow my Twitter and Facebook pages, you’ll see that I’ve become a little obsessed. A couple of weeks back, I run my first half marathon and next month I will be flying out to Geneva to run a second!

However, a recent injury has left me unable to run and so this weekend, I travelled home to the North West to dust off my bike. A 30-mile ride through Cheshire’s rural lanes in the crisp, spring morning air left me, quite frankly, euphoric Wow. Post-run high − move over.

 

To say I’ve ‘missed’ cycling would be an understatement. However much I enjoy running, the euphoria experienced cycling through the British countryside is unrivalled. The burn to quads, the exhausted elation when you make it to the top of a seemingly never-ending hill, the nod to the fellow cyclist, the sweet smell of silage at every gate hole…

While a 20K run down the Thames every Sunday is pretty hard to beat, there’s nothing quite like cruising through the countryside on two wheels, especially at this time of year.

And so here I am: a cycling and running hybrid. A runner with a part-time hobby or a sportsperson that dabbles in two sports? Or do they call these fickle sports people duathletes?

Not quite there yet, admittedly. But I do believe there is something to be said for dabbling in cycling and running, particularly when you’re injured and have a half marathon to train for…

In the next few weeks I will be using my bike to cross-train. Working as a fitness journalist for a running magazine, I’m forever presented with research and advice from fitness experts on the benefits of cross-training to improve performance as a runner. Building strength in complimentary muscles, increasing leg turnover and developing cardiovascular fitness are just some of the reasons why cycling is a great cross-training activity for runners. Cycling places less stress on the body than running, and requires far less recovery time, making it the perfect way to keep up your cardiovascular fitness while injured.

Right now, from my one cross-training session, I can only say I’m shattered, starving and my quads burn like hell, but I don’t feel half as guilty for missing my last long run before my half marathon.

I’ll let you know how the crossing-training goes in the next few weeks…

Be Safe, Be Seen: Lighting Tips For Safe Cycling This Autumn

As the leaves start turning, temperatures drop and the night’s draw in, the autumn season has well and truly set in. And with the clocks going back in just a few weeks’ time, cyclists are battling against the darkness once again.

At this time of year, staying seen on your bike is more important than ever. Whether commuting to work or putting in an evening training session, the autumn season sees us almost always riding in darkness and so being equipped with the correct lighting gear is essential.

Here are my top 5 lighting tips for staying safe and seen this autumn:

1. Invest in lights to be seen with and to see

As the days grow shorter, being seen by traffic when out in darkness is essential, as is seeing the road in front of you. From seeing traffic ahead to spotting a nasty patch of ice to noticing an unlit pedestrian, knowing what is ahead of you is crucial to safe cycling.

For city commuters, the centre of cities are generally well lit at night but if you know your route involves unlit areas, it is essential to invest in lights to be seen with and to see.

As part of the UK’s legal regulations, all cyclists must have lights turned on during hours of darkness. Cyclists are required to wear a white front light and a rear red light.

With five LEDs and three modes, Cateye’s HL-EL 340 and TL 610 Light Set is a great choice if you’re looking for a set for autumn to maximise your visibility on the roads.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/cateye-hl-el-340-tl-610-light-set/

If you’re looking for a high quality light to increase visibility of the road ahead, Lezyne’s Micro Drive Front LED Light is extremely powerful, offering great front output to help you see in the dark.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/lezyne-micro-drive-front-led-light/

Generally speaking, the price of lights determines their brightness and battery life. Expect to pay at least £40 for a good set.

2. Consider rechargeable lights

If you commute to work on a bike rechargeable lights are a great option, allowing you to charge lights via USB whilst at work. Cateye’s Volt 300/Rapid X RC Light Set is a fantastic high power USB rechargeable set, offering fantastic visibility.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/cateye-volt-300rapid-x-rc-light-set/

3. Opt for high-vis clothing and accessories

Wearing high-vis items is a great way of drawing a driver’s attention to your presence – so the more you can wear, the better!

Polaris’s RBS Jacket is a fantastic lightweight option for adding an extra florescent layer to your clothing. Made from breathable fibres, it won’t leave you sweating but will help ensure you’re safely seen. Coming in at only £37.99, it’s a great budget option too.

If you’re commuting to work another tactful way of adding some brightness to your kit is via a high-vis rucksack cover. Try Altura’s Night Vision Rucksack Cover – highly reflective but also waterproof, it will keep your rucksack dry on rainy days.

4. Consider helmet lights & reflective strips

Wearing reflective strips is a tactful way of increasing your visibility, particularly when worn on the ankle. Due to the pedalling motion, reflective strips worn on the ankle produce regular flashes of illumination, helping you to be seen by drivers. Try Madison’s High Visibility Arm/Ankle Bands for a multi-functional, budget option.

Helmet lights are also a smart way of adding extra visibility to your kit but also for seeing what’s ahead. The beauty of helmet lights is they shine where you look, great for investigating ice patches or puddles on the road.

5. Don’t just wear lights in the evenings

Lastly, don’t forget lights aren’t just for wearing during the hours of darkness. With the grey dull skies, fog and rain that looms over us through autumn and winter, visibility can be severely decreased so get your lights turned on for safe and happy cycling!

What are your lighting tips for staying safe and seen this autumn/winter? Leave a comment and share your advice!

The Secrets of a Cyclist’s Saddlebag

Saddlebags can be pretty mysterious things. Like a women’s handbag, you’re always left guessing what’s in them and would never dream of rummaging around in anybody else’s – particularly if you’re male! Whilst every cyclist’s saddlebag will stow different items, personal to each rider’s requirements, there are some essential items that all cyclists should be carrying and us newbies all need to know about! Here’s my Top 10 Saddlebag Essentials for safe and happy road cycling.

1. Spare Inner Tube

At some point it’s inevitable you will get a puncture and you may well be 50 miles from home. If there’s one thing you remember to pop in your bag it’s a spare inner tube and now with my ‘how-to’ guide you’ll have it changed in no time!

2. Multi-tool

From fixing your chain to adjusting your seat height, the multi-tool can assist with most maintenance dilemmas. Most multi-tools come with a chain breaker, spoke keys, a selection of different sized Allen keys, screw drivers and a torx key. The chain tool can be used to tighten a chain pin or break a line and Allen keys are handy for adjusting your breaks or your seat. I chose the Topeak Mini 20 Pro from Wiggle – only £22.24, this compact tool is sturdy, lightweight and durable.

3. Notes on How to Change an Inner Tube

Sound silly? These scribbles will well and truly save you if you’re still ropey on your inner tube changing know-how. When it comes to picking up the tools when out on the road, it never seems quite as simple as when that bloke showed you how in the shop, so take them with you, just in case!

4. Money

You can never predict just what will happen whilst out on the roads. From running out of water, to needing a taxi fare home to simply craving a cappuccino and a pastry from that luscious coffee shop at the top of the hill, it’s always handy to carry some cash.

5. Tyre Levers

It’s no use having a spare inner tube if you can’t get your tyre off the rim! Pop two in your bag and you’ll be well equipped for a puncture.

6. ID

In case you’re involved in an accident, it’s always wise to carry some form of identification with you so that your family can be contacted in case of emergency.

7. Mobile Phone

A mobile phone is my number one saddlebag essential. Whether your bike (or legs) fail you, or you come into some form of trouble, it’s essential to carry a phone to call for assistance. Any hey you might fancy taking a selfie or hopping on TripAdvisor to hunt down the best local café!

8. Medication

Like most women, my handbag is like a pharmacist and naturally, so is my saddlebag. Though it’s probably not essential for you to carry your whole medicine cupboard around with you, a killer migraine will never feel so painful as when you’ve still got 30 miles left to peddle home, so pop some Paracetamol in your bag. Plasters are a must-have too – you can never be too prepared.

9. Food

The length of the ride will determine just how much food you will need to carry for fuel; to give you a rough idea, cycling consumes a whopping 40 calories per mile!  Provided you’ve eaten beforehand (and consumed a sizeable carb portion), a piece of fruit and a cereal bar will suffice for a 20-30 mile ride. Bananas are particularly good when you feel your energy-levels dropping; a healthy source of carbohydrates, they’ll keep you well fuelled and will raise potassium levels, which drop when sweating.

10. Bicycle Pump

Whilst this is most likely fitted on your frame instead of stowed in your saddlebag, be sure not to forget it – an uninflated inner tube just won’t get you where you want to be…

I hope you’ve found my list of Top 10 Saddlebag Essentials of use. If you can think of any more key items, feel free to leave a comment and I’ll add them to my list and pop them in my bag!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

La Course by Le Tour de France: One Step Forward for Women’s Cycling?

This weekend millions have swarmed Yorkshire’s peaks to spectate the world’s biggest cycle race – the Tour De France. But why oh why is it only men we are seeing zipping through home soil in their Lycra?

It’s been a long hard slog for women trying to find their feet in the frighteningly male-dominated sport that is cycling, with the Tour De France becoming the ultimate obstacle.

In the 1980s there was indeed a women’s Tour De France. Dubbed the ‘Tour de France Feminin’, the race began in 1984, running simultaneously to the men’s event. However, 1989 saw the final year that the women would proudly race at the same time as the men. Though the event returned in 1992, the women were no longer racing alongside the men – in fact, as of 1998 they were not longer racing in an event under the same name as it was forced to rebrand as, ‘Grande Boucle Feminine’ due to legal trademark rights.

Since then, the women’s Tour De France or lesser ‘Grande Boucle’ has become further marginalised, becoming smaller and smaller with lesser stages, struggling due to financial and organisational troubles. It made its final debut in 2009 with a measly four stages and was won by British cyclist Emma Pooley.

However, the introduction of the women’s race entitled, La Course this year has marked a breakthrough (however marginal) in this ongoing battle between women and the male dominated Tour. Organised by race organisers from the ASO, who arguably are working to find a place for women in the sport (with the running of events such as the Ladies Tour of Qatar), La Course will be a one day women’s race on the Champs-Elyseé that will sit alongside the final stage of the Tour, taking place a couple of hours before the men’s peloton arrives in Paris.

Introduced following the resolute campaigning of female pro cyclists, La Course has given women a place in the Tour, but how victorious is that place? A one day event not a three week Tour, it’s hard to feel overly smug about the event, particularly when the distances are so many miles apart. In fact, it’s almost a little embarrassing to think that women are only allowed to cycle 90k of a humongous 3,664k race. And when the race is only covering a measly 13 laps of the Tour’s grand finish, it’s hard to see the event as anything more than a token event,  thrown in at the end like ‘the parent’s race’ at a school sports day to keep the women happy.

Nicole Cooke, former Olympic champion does however see the event as a small victory, telling the BBC it is a ‘tiny step’ in the right direction.* Perhaps Dave Brailsford is right when he talks of ‘the aggregation of marginal gains’ underlying Britain’s success in cycling – perhaps the elite La Course will be a small step forward in what will one day become a giant step forward for female cycling.

After all, with live broadcast on France Télévisions and Eurosport International –the coverage will be huge, giving female cycling teams the exposure required to generate much needed sponsorship.

Who knows, perhaps La Course will be more of a significant baby step than we first thought. And if it is one towards a future full-length Tour for women, ran simultaneous to the men’s, I’m all for it.

* http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cycling/28161592

Today I Got a Puncture

Cruising down the A34 last weekend, I began to feel a strange sensation in my rear tyre. A soft, squidgy, dragging sensation, obstructing all of my efforts to pedal. Feeling as deflated as my tyre itself, I realised the inventible had finally happened – I’d got my first flippin’ puncture and had no clue how to fix it!

Before I got my road bike, I’d been told to carry an inner tube with me on my rides. So, I happily complied, willingly bringing it along with me on my every ride like a little pocket mascot. But when I pulled over and examined the little thing, I sadly realised it had no way of saving me. With absolutely no idea how to change an inner tube, I wheeled my bike to Halfords and in true Barbie style asked: “How do I fix a puncture?”

I  would hope that most of my fellow entry-level cyclists would have learnt how to change an inner tube, pre tearing up the roads, but if you’ve acted like the cycling Barbie that I well and truly did and pushed your luck for far too long, it’s time to get learning. You’re not always going to be riding with a pro or be 3k away from your nearest Halfords (what a godsend that was), so it’s best to be prepared with the tools and the ‘tekkers’. Follow my 10 Step (Dummies) Guide below and get yourself puncture ready!

A 10 Step Guide to Changing an Inner Tube and Fixing a Puncture

1. Remove the punctured wheel. Now this might sound a simple operation but removing a road bike wheel (particularly the rear wheel) requires some serious know-how and technique! For front tyres, you firstly need to release the break (at the top of the fork) by opening up the little lever. This will allow the wheel to pop out between the brake pads with ease. Then, open up the quick release lever at the bottom of the fork. When tight, this holds the wheel firmly in place in the dropouts. A bolt will meet the release on the other side – hold this bolt, whilst twisting the quick release lever until it loosens. When you feel the wheel loosen, move your hand to the top of the wheel and with the palm of your hand give it a little push and it will drop out.

For back tyres, turn the bike upside down and release the break with the little lever. It is important to move the chain as far to the outside as possible. By moving this to the outside it will also move the rear derailleur as far to the outside as it can go so that it is least in the way for removing the wheel. To do this, shift the gears into the highest gear (smallest ring) with the shifters, whilst turning the pedals with your other hand so the chain shifts. Release the quick release lever, before pulling the derailleur back on the other side. Give the wheel a little tug and it should pop out of the dropouts.

2. Let the air out of the inner tube. This can be achieved by unscrewing the dust cap off the valve, unscrewing the valve tip itself, and then pushing it down with your thumb.

3. Release the inner tube from the tyre. Insert one tyre lever under the edge of the tyre and lever off the rim before clipping the other side of the lever onto the spoke. Insert a second tyre lever (a good distance apart from the first) following the same procedure. Take a third tyre lever and run it around the rim to release from the tyre. Then, unscrew the lock ring which keeps the valve held in place and push the valve of the inner tube through the valve hole to remove the inner tube. Leave the tyre sat loosely around the rim.

4. Check for puncture causes! Insert your fingers into the tyre and run them around the inner surface to check for any sharp objects which may have caused the puncture. If you find any remove them so that your new inner tube doesn’t get punctured.

5. Slightly inflate the new inner tube. Its best to inflate it a little so that it holds its shape. To do so, remove the dust cap and lock ring and unscrew the valve tip on the new inner tube, before inserting a pump and inflating. You can get some great lightweight mini pumps that will inflate tyres to the recommended pressure (at least 100psi). I chose the Topeak Pocket Rocket Mini Pump from Halfords which I’ve found works a treat ! It comes with a bracket too so you can mount it under your bottle cage and you can’t feel it’s there!

 

6. Insert the new inner tube. Once it’s inflated a little, insert the inner tube valve into the valve hole and sit it around the rim underneath the tyre by feeding it through with your thumbs. Push the valve up into the tyre to stop it getting sandwiched between the tyre and the rim.

 

 
7. Fully inflate the inner tube. Following the same procedure as before, inflate the inner tube until it feels firm – a great pressure test is to check its firmness against your other tyre. Then, screw the valve ring back on and check there is no air escape before popping on the valve cap.

8. Put the wheel back on the bike. Again this requires a how-to guide in itself! For the rear wheel, keep the bike upside down. Lift up the derailleur and drape the chain over the highest gear on the cassette, guiding the axle into the dropouts. Push the wheel into the dropouts and close the quick release lever at the point it feels tight. Ensure you close the break. For the front wheel, turn the bike back over and guide the wheel into the dropouts, through the brake pads. Hold the nut on one side and spin the release lever around on the other side until it feels relatively tight before closing shut. Ensure you close the break.

9. Find that puncture! Once you’re back home (or if you haven’t got a spare tube on your ride) run your fingers over the inner tube to find the hole. A good trick is to drop the inner tube into a bucket of water and you will see that air bubbles will rise at the point the puncture lies.

 

10. Fix your puncture. Once you’ve found the hole, it’s time to patch it up – for this I chose Halfords Instant Patches. With these patches, you simply sand down the area where the hole lies (for a flush stick), peel off the back of the patch and it stick on the puncture. Obliviously there are more expensive and sturdy options available, but where you are using your pre-punctured inner tube as your spare, these are perfect.

Save yourself the hassle (and the shame) of getting caught short on your rides and get practising. With this how-to guide, you’ll be sure to become a puncture pro!

 

 

It’s a Bum Deal

With rising temperatures, lighter nights and sunnier Sunday morning rides, I would say spring has well and truly sprung and it’s got me thinking about shorts. In fact, it’s got me thinking about the absolutely critical business of choosing the right pair to get the most out of your rides. So for the entry-level enthusiasts who haven’t a clue what to go for and for those who just can’t decide on a pair for summer, here is a little review of bib shorts, my recent discovery of them and a particular pair by Polaris Bikewear, which I’m absolutely loving…

Heading out last Saturday, I found my winter Roubaix Lycra tights were far too warm and when I opted on the Sunday for last season’s polyester waist shorts they were far too baggy (having lost a stone from when I first started cycling), kept falling down and gave me a very sore bum!

Now, bib shorts can indeed be a bit of a head turner for non-cyclists (admittedly they do have a bit of a WWE wrestling suit resemblance) but the Womens E Motion Bib Shorts I have recently discovered from Polaris Bikewear are stylish, feminine and just plain comfy!  Everyone’s anatomy is different but having quite a small (and bony) bum myself, bib shorts are perfect. Built-in shoulder straps prevent the shorts from sagging and support the chamois (padding) between the bum and saddle so that you’re not constantly hitching them up.

The Polaris Womens E Motion Bib Shorts have a specific Gel filled 3D chamois, which offers amazing support. The chamois has extra padding around the sit bone area so that you can sit in the saddle for longer. The first time I tried these shorts I cycled nearly 40 miles and couldn’t believe the comfort! I felt as though I could have kept going all day.

Bib shorts are great if you want a snug yet comfortable fit. While form-fitting Lyrca waist shorts offer snugness, the waistband can be very uncomfortable. Let’s be honest, a waistband digging into your stomach is the last thing you want when battling against a 14% gradient! Style wise, bib shorts are brilliant at deceivingly hiding away muffin top lumps and bumps – I’m now beginning to understand why most women have jumped on the playsuit bandwagon in recent years.

Most bib shorts come with leg grippers. The Polaris Womens E Motion Bib Shorts come with an elasticated silicone gripper, offering snug support and preventing the short uncomfortably rising and rubbing against your thighs as you peddle.

Material considerations are key when choosing shorts. There’s nothing more annoying than getting sweatier than you need when out riding so temperature control is crucial. My current tights have a warm fleece lining – I would definitely recommend fleece-lined bib shorts to keep you cosy in winter. The Womens E Motion Bib Shorts by Polaris are more appropriate for spring/summer; 82% Nylon and 18% Elastane, they offer a lightweight fabric that is stretchy and soft. They also have a stretch mesh bib which is great for temperature control, very quickly relieving a very clammy back!

The Polaris Bib Shorts are practical and aesthetic! They have a cute cut-away section in the back which is designed for over-heating but looks pretty quirky if you go for a brightly covered under top underneath! Lastly, they have sleek red zips which meet the straps at the top of the short. At first I thought these simply added a feminine touch until I discovered just how efficiently you could nip to the toilet in them! With the zip release bib, comfort breaks have never been easier…

Great for road cycling and mountain biking alike, entry-level bib shorts start from around £45 so they won’t cost you an arm and a leg. Increasing performance and making riding much more comfortable, a good pair of cycling shorts is a must for cyclists of all levels. Grab yourself a pair of bib shorts and you won’t be disappointed.

Polaris Womens E Motion Bib Shorts are available to buy online at www.polaris-apparel.co.uk

My First Sportive

You’d think partaking in your first sportive and getting a t-shirt for your accomplishments would be enough to showcase your dedication to cycling wouldn’t you? Well, I well and truly went that extra mile last weekend, fainting beforehand, bang in the middle of the Bike and Triathlon Show 2014 as soon as Chris Hoy left the stage, causing a minor drama in front of the North West’s entire cycling community, before proceeding to complete the 42 mile ride! Quite cringey indeed but I can now say that I not only completed my first sportive but did so having fainted oh so embarrassingly 18 hours beforehand. Now there’s one dedicated cycling drama queen…

This year’s Bike and Triathlon Show at Manchester Central sat alongside two sportive rides organised by Red Kite Events – one of 42 miles and the other of 80. Having ridden routes of over 30 miles in the past and already had/(endured) some sufficient hill training cycling in the Yorkshire Dales, I felt ready for my first sportive and so opted for the 42 mile route (so inappropriately named the ‘short route’).  All booked in and ready to go, I figured what better way to grab some pre-sportive cycling inspiration (and free goodies) from those in the know than attending the show.

Impromptu fainting aside, (as by-product of simply not eating enough or perhaps sampling far too many cliff energy samples), the show was phenomenal.  Exhibitors included the biggest and best bike brands with names including Trek, Boardman and Planet X, far and wide sports nutrition brands such as High 5 Sports Nutrition and exclusive sports clothing brands ranging from Victor & Liberty to Z3r0d. The show really proved to be a fantastic resource for gaining some invaluable intel and sourcing some fantastic fitness products for mountain bikers, road cyclists, runners, triathletes and families alike. It also had some great entertainment features including a fabulous interview with Chris Hoy and the Street Veledrome  – the UK’s only pop-up track racing cycle event, which really was a great watch as cycling enthusiasts of all ages and levels gave it a try!

With so many fitness and cycling enthusiasts in one room, it really was a great inspiration for the ride the following day. Heading out of Manchester to the Peak District, the route spanned a range of streets, A- roads and quiet country roads – all of which were brilliantly marked out with coloured arrows so we never went off track. Though the city and A-roads got quite busy with traffic, there really was a buzz to starting off at a location as renowned as Manchester Central and it was a great feeling riding through the city so early on a crisp and still, sunny Sunday morning. Once into the countryside, the views were stunning as we passed through gorgeous little Derbyshire towns and villages with names as innovatively thought out as Hadfield, Padfield and Hayfield!

Though the route involved 1120 metres of climbing, the climbs were gradual and spaced out enough to ensure they never felt overly challenging – and the views across the peaks provided a great distraction from my burning pair of quads!  Another great distraction was the feed station at 22 miles at Hayfield Village Hall, where one of the lovely organisers put on a gorgeous spread of fruit and Eccles cakes and a much needed cup of tea. Though fitness junkies and hard competitors may agree that this feeding break is an unnecessary aspect of a sportive under 50 miles, it really did break up the ride and gave us bags of energy for the second half. So much so, we completed the second half of the route in nearly half of the time that we completed the first!

Though we had planned to complete the route in 4 hours, my boyfriend and I completed it in 3 hours 36 minutes at an average of 12mph, which I thought was a great achievement (particularly having fainting the day before). After putting the training in, I found it completely achievable, so much so, I’m planning my next sportive to be 50 miles or more! Hats off to Red Kite Events for a fabulous first sportive experience and a big thank you to all of those wonderful people that came to my rescue at the show. Another super weekend spent enjoying the British countryside on my bike topped off by the scrumptious, celebratory meal I subsequently enjoyed with my fellow cycling enthusiasts! What better way to enjoy a guilt-free beer, pie and chips and get a free t-shirt?

A Little Cycling Adventure

The romance between my bike and I has definitely blossomed following a weekend away cycling in the Yorkshire Dales. Staying in the little village of Askrigg in the parish of Wensleydale (yes, as in the cheese) we were situated in a small valley, surrounded by two gorgeous moors.

With endless stretches of land surrounding us and uncannily quiet roads, I couldn’t have chosen a better place to get practicing on my new bike! We arrived on the Friday afternoon and as the room wasn’t yet ready we figured we might as well make the most of our time. As soon as we hit the road, we were mesmerised by how smooth the road surfaces were – every push to the peddle inflicted a fluid glide and in seconds we were cruising. Then we reached the little village of Hawes and were greeted by a massive sign reading ‘Le Tour De France – Saturday 5^th July’ and it all made sense!! Not only had we unknowingly chosen one of the exact locations in the Yorkshire Dales which the tour is to pass through but were spoiled by brand new road surfacing in preparation for the event – perfect!

After a casual 20 miles exploring this beautiful part of the country it was time for a beer! We were staying at the rustic, 18^th century pub, ‘The Kings Arms’, famous for its doubled role as the ‘Drovers Arms’ in the BBC Series, ‘All Creatures Great and Small’. A four o’clock pint, which we eventually christened ‘4sies’ sat by the pub’s gorgeous open fire  immediately became a daily (and clearly cycling-critical) aspect of our weekend routine.

And just when you (and I) thought this was a lovely lazy weekend exploring the Dales with a picnic and basket-fronted bike, the cycling got serious – I quite literally transformed from Miss Marple to Chris Froome in the space of a morning. Raining and ridiculously windy when we opened the pretty tartan curtains of our warm and cosy room, we figured we’d battle against the elements regardless and got out on the road – and it certainly was a battle. We had planned on doing a 30 mile morning ride with a nice coffee half way through. So, after 16 miles of cycling we took a turn for Muker – and what a turn it was! We were unknowingly climbing Buttertubs Pass – a climb included in Britain’s toughest 100 climbs and featuring as one of two King of the Mountains climbs in Stage One of the Tour De France!

Exhausted but proud to have accomplished it (without stopping), I could almost feel the warm sensation of coffee trickling down my throat. However, it was long before this became a reality as we realised the nearest town was miles and miles away across another exhaustive series of climbs and as the wind and hail got stronger we thought it sensible to head back.  Turning my bike around, the frame hit me hard against my waist and it was at that point we realised we’d hit a storm. Getting back on board I had no idea how hard it was staying balanced on a bike against powerful winds (particularly descending an enormous hill with an ice-cold, hail storm exfoliating your face!) We made it back all the same and the coffee in Askrigg’s gorgeous little tea-room couldn’t have tasted any better – neither could the scrumptious, homemade fish and chips and pint of lager I later devoured!

Our final route was in and around the picturesque town of Kirkby Lonsdale and the ride was much more Miss Marple-esc. 25 miles in the blazing sunshine felt like a breeze – particularly as the route was nice and flat. After planning to stop off in a nice little café for lunch before heading back home (to work and reality) we found ourselves in the motor-cycling hub of the Yorkshire Dales – Devil’s Bridge. Hoards of motorcyclists surrounded a butty van so we joined the clan and grabbed a fatty and delicious bacon sandwich and a milky coffee  – a far better choice than a flimsy and overpriced croque-monsieur!

All in all a great weekend! Lots of cycling and lots of lovely food. What better way to spend the weekend than exploring the countryside, eating lovely pub grub and gulping gallons of fresh air and beer?  There isn’t one.

Until next time x

How the Cycling Romance Began…

It all started one bright (but wet) Monday morning in September – university over, back at home, parents at work and wondering what the hell I’m going to do with my life. I text my boyfriend to see what he was up to (in the hope that, like me, he was sat twiddling his thumbs thinking of something productive do), he replied, ‘getting out on the bike’.  Should have guessed really…

Then it suddenly occurred to me, why couldn’t I ‘get out’ on my bike?  I mean the bike I would be ‘getting out on’ wasn’t exactly the branded, glossy, racing road number he rides, more of a heavy-duty, dirty, rusty mountain bike but a bike all the same. And so I did, off up the drive I went and I’ve never looked back.

Triathlete, rower and cyclist, my fitness-obsessed boyfriend has unknowingly introduced me to the best sport and hobby in the world and I couldn’t be more grateful. ‘It’s honestly the best feeling in the world being out on your bike Jen – and even better when you get home, shower and feel fantastic about yourself’.

Having found running difficult ever since I half halfheartedly took it up three years ago when I realised I’d gained a stone from the alcohol and carb haven that is university, I knew I needed to do something. I was a member of the gym but even on the two occasions a week I reluctantly dragged myself there, it wasn’t doing the trick.

We all need a hobby – some form of escape from the stresses and monotony of studying, working, studying, working – and let’s face it, we all need to keep fit.

Cycling really is a fantastic sport and pastime. Losing a stone since taking it up in September and gaining a fantastic interest come obsession in the process, I’m not only a stone slimmer and a thousand times fitter but have a completely different outlook on health and happiness. Instead of dreading exercise I now crave it and instead of craving carbs, I’m now salad-obsessed (well, sort of!)

Gradually getting more and more obsessed with cycling (turning down Saturday night drinks so I could get out on my bike at 8am on a Sunday morning), my boyfriend said: ‘You’ll have a road bike by Christmas’. Not at that price, I thought.

And here we are, 2014 and I’m the proud owner of a Trek 1.1 C H2, Crystal White, road bike and it’s the best Christmas present I’ve ever had. Smashed out 13 miles this morning and boy does it fly – (hopefully once I’m brave enough to put my hands on the drops to brake, I won’t be as scared descending down a hill at 30mph!)

Next weekend my boyfriend and I will be going for a weekend away cycling in Askrigg, Yorkshire and he’s already got two 30 mile routes planned. God help me! Wish me luck and I’ll keep you updated. X