Hello Blog lovers.
First, explain title. After work today, my mate known on my running blog as Smarty Pants as been chasing her running mojo, getting back into the zone for running! I have been helping her, keeping her company on our runs, (and today being totally left eating dust, as she tore off the final 100 m).
But as soon as we got back, did our warm down stretches, it was straight up to change into my third outfit of the day! My cycling gear. Time to practise gear changing on my new bike! And getting used to the new riding position, checking that my saddle is in the right position, etc!
Our route, (because that Old boy came with me) was up to Halstead, and then back again, and through to Orpington. Just a nice little ride, Up hills! Oh well, it will be a good test, to see if I can ride with the grown ups on a grown up bike!
It was hard work, but such a lovely ride! Ok, so getting up to Halstead round about is still hard, and I still struggled! I really shouldn't have expected to fly up there just because I have a brand new snazzy bike. It is still going to require this same Old Girl to use the same old muscles to move the bike up the hill! I felt my legs burning, it could have been the two miles I had run a little earlier, but some how, I think its is because I am going up hill! It will hurt, I think it will always hurt! It's just a case of how quickly I get up there so that the pain will stop!
I was pleased with todays practise ride out, but my neck and shoulders were aching! It is obviously the new riding position. It felt like the first time I went out on my Giant, achy and sore but so very happy!
Geeky stats for todays little ride.
Monday 7 January 2013
Saturday 5 January 2013
The Special One!
Hello blog lovers.
I have only bloomin gone and done it! I have bought myself a grown up bike, but still with the girly pink flashes!
Initially, when I was looking at womens road bikes, (after the Old Boy said he was going to get himself a new road bike) I was just literally looking at road bikes! I wasn't really thinking that I would go ahead and get myself one, after all, who needs two bikes, right! But I saw it, it was a Specialized, not only that but it was the exact same colour as my cycling shoes, (which happen to be specialized)
I thought about it, I cogitated about it, I read up all the specs about the bike, (not that I really knew what I was reading about, apart from the fact that they were slightly better specs than my Giant), the pros and cons of owning another bike and I even showed the Old Boy. I told a cycling buddy that I was looking/thinking of getting a 'grown up bike'. So it must have been fate when my cycling buddy sent me a link to the exact same bike I was looking at!
Still, I waited. I waited for a least 2 months or more and then decided. I am going to buy that bike. Yet still I waited! Maybe get it just after Christmas, see how much my gorgeous family need first! Then, if this is still feasible, I am getting it.
Today was that day! Well, today was the day I picked it up! I had ordered it just a few days ago, just to try out, of course! To see if I can actually ride a 'grown up' bike. I rode it around and around a tiny little loop of Bromley Bikes. I almost got the hang of the gears, the silly cages on the pedals was very annoying, they will have to go! Maybe the saddle can go up a tad, feels ok, reach is fine. BLOOMIN SCARY THOUGH!
But it was too late! I fell in love with my bike. I just had to have it! So the business done, a quick lesson on how to take the wheels of, (which I hope the Old Boy took notes of!) and I was riding my bike home!
I got home, we had a cuppa, we looked at the bike, the Old Boy had a go on my bike! I am just so pleased that I am short, because he will not be getting on my bike again! And then we planned a short, 'get to know my bike' outing. Up to Downe Village, left at Jail lane, and then right towards the airport! No problems.
It took me quite a while to get used to my bike. I was nervous, I was apprehensive, hmmmm, ok I was scared silly! But so pleased. I didn't quite make it all the way up to Downe, I think I was just too tense! I wore myself out. I was surprised how far I did get though, as when we started to ride again, civilisation was appearing, i.e. schools and housing!
When we were riding down Jail Lane, I decided to have a pint of refreshment there. Well, my 'dry days' don't begin untill after the 12 this month! And after that we stopped off at Keston. As we sat there enjoying another glass of refreshing relaxation juice, a number of smokers came out and immediately noticed my bike (not the Old Boys!) Just goes to show, what a special bike I have!
12 to 14 miles, who knows, we didn't take our Garmins. A very exhilarating 'getting to know my bike' ride today. I know I am going to have some fun times on her (ooo, did I just call my bike 'her'?) That is just not good!
I have only bloomin gone and done it! I have bought myself a grown up bike, but still with the girly pink flashes!
Initially, when I was looking at womens road bikes, (after the Old Boy said he was going to get himself a new road bike) I was just literally looking at road bikes! I wasn't really thinking that I would go ahead and get myself one, after all, who needs two bikes, right! But I saw it, it was a Specialized, not only that but it was the exact same colour as my cycling shoes, (which happen to be specialized)
I thought about it, I cogitated about it, I read up all the specs about the bike, (not that I really knew what I was reading about, apart from the fact that they were slightly better specs than my Giant), the pros and cons of owning another bike and I even showed the Old Boy. I told a cycling buddy that I was looking/thinking of getting a 'grown up bike'. So it must have been fate when my cycling buddy sent me a link to the exact same bike I was looking at!
Still, I waited. I waited for a least 2 months or more and then decided. I am going to buy that bike. Yet still I waited! Maybe get it just after Christmas, see how much my gorgeous family need first! Then, if this is still feasible, I am getting it.
Today was that day! Well, today was the day I picked it up! I had ordered it just a few days ago, just to try out, of course! To see if I can actually ride a 'grown up' bike. I rode it around and around a tiny little loop of Bromley Bikes. I almost got the hang of the gears, the silly cages on the pedals was very annoying, they will have to go! Maybe the saddle can go up a tad, feels ok, reach is fine. BLOOMIN SCARY THOUGH!
But it was too late! I fell in love with my bike. I just had to have it! So the business done, a quick lesson on how to take the wheels of, (which I hope the Old Boy took notes of!) and I was riding my bike home!
I got home, we had a cuppa, we looked at the bike, the Old Boy had a go on my bike! I am just so pleased that I am short, because he will not be getting on my bike again! And then we planned a short, 'get to know my bike' outing. Up to Downe Village, left at Jail lane, and then right towards the airport! No problems.
It took me quite a while to get used to my bike. I was nervous, I was apprehensive, hmmmm, ok I was scared silly! But so pleased. I didn't quite make it all the way up to Downe, I think I was just too tense! I wore myself out. I was surprised how far I did get though, as when we started to ride again, civilisation was appearing, i.e. schools and housing!
When we were riding down Jail Lane, I decided to have a pint of refreshment there. Well, my 'dry days' don't begin untill after the 12 this month! And after that we stopped off at Keston. As we sat there enjoying another glass of refreshing relaxation juice, a number of smokers came out and immediately noticed my bike (not the Old Boys!) Just goes to show, what a special bike I have!
12 to 14 miles, who knows, we didn't take our Garmins. A very exhilarating 'getting to know my bike' ride today. I know I am going to have some fun times on her (ooo, did I just call my bike 'her'?) That is just not good!
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