Sore Toe, And? Lets Go For A Bike Ride!

Hello Blog lovers.

As my regular readers will know, I did a turkey run yesterday, over 10k, in old money that is approximately 6.5 miles. But I did have war wounds from the run. My toe on my left foot was hurting like anything. If felt as if someone had stepped on it with their hobnail boots!

So the Old Boy suggested a bit of cross training today. Now, I love my bike, I love cycling! So much so that I am going to get a road bike, a bit more of a grown up bike, which I am really excited about. But the thing I do not like is the cold. I am still in the learning stages of what to wear, how many layers do I put on. Do I need to spend loads more money on base layers, liners for my already blooming expensive gloves, more thermal socks, hats, buffs, and everything else that will keep me warm.

I took my time getting ready. Thermal socks, my cycling pants, which did say that were thermal, then I noticed that the Old Boy bought same brand, same design, (boys pants of course), but they were called winter cruisers. Why are mine not called winter cruisers!? My nice warm winter running top, my lighter cycling jacket and my outer waterproof jacket! Woolly hat, and lights a blazing from all angles!

I looked a complete (almost) full kit nutter, (the shoes are specialised, and the hat is a karimoor) But I didn't care, I don't do cold! I turned the light off from the utility room and then the Old Boy said to me, "Are you forgetting something?" I looked a bit puzzled and then I remembered "Oh, yes, my bike" I said with an amused smile.

The route is just our usual one, up to Halstead, through the lanes, up to Biggin hill, quick stop at the pub! (I know, bloody freezing, but still) and then back home!  Now it seems to me that I have become weaker again on the bike. I have been concentrating on my running, with good reason, and getting up to Halstead took forever it seems. It could be the cold that is slowing me down, I know that the cold does zap your energy, so maybe its that. But at least I didn't feel as cold as I thought. We stopped by the roundabout to put on our headlamps to go through the lanes.

These headlamps are brilliant, they light up like car head lights. They work so well that I have to let the Old Boy stay quite a bit in front of me because his reflective panels are quite blinding otherwise, and I cant see the road, the bushes or even cars coming the other way! Just goes to show you how brilliant it is to have reflective gear on!

As we were going through the lanes the Old Boy told me how long we had been out, and also that he would have been in Keston or Hayes if I wasn't here! Well, all I can say to that is "*rassssspppberrrrry*" I just keep saying to my self, "You're out here Old girl, and not glued to the soaps on the telly" I can't even tell you who runs the Queen Vic now, or if Emerdale has had its festive disaster yet!

I just plodded along at my own pace. I was quite pleased to get to Cudham North Lane. I thought that if we went down there instead of going up Grays Road I could be home a lot quicker. Fortunately I pulled myself together and told myself to 'man up' and get on with it. We turned left and then the first right on to Grays Road. "Get the feck up there Old Girl" I said, quite loudly! The Old Boy thought I was talking to him "No, I'm just talking to myself" I said as I pushed hard again on the peddles.

Now this road is not as bad as some of the hills. As Big E said about Ditchling Beacon, there are flat bits. And they are better flat bits that Ditchling. Also there are some down hill little pieces as well.  I like riding up this road. At the top of it is an Indian Restaurant. Lit up like a Hollywood Premier film showing. But that is at the very top. When you reach that you know that there is all the down hill section left before you get home, with just a couple of little bumps. But I just love they way you can see the glow from the lights around it, you just know its just around the cornner.

The best bit now.  All down hill, pass the airport, and the (fiber glass) spitfires. Now I was starting to feel the cold. No buildings to keep up the temperatures or bushes to keep the cold wind from us. Brrrrr.

As I said earlier, we stopped off for a pint. But I was so cold, we smashed the pint down so quickly the barmaid might as well just poured the pint straight from the pump down our throats! We quickly got ready to go on the last couple of roads to get home.  My hands started to freeze. My hands hurt! my feet were numb! Memories of my last FNRttC came flooding back. But fortunately I only have about a mile to go before I am in the warm, and eating my dinner.

Winter wardrobe needs sorting! A look at Wiggle later, Christmas wish list  to be written, and then to be left somewhere to be found. So any more experienced cyclists reading this, please let me know, HOW DO I STAY WARM!  BRRRRRRR!!

Geeky stats for you (oh and due to be blooming frozen, I forgot to turn off my Garmin at re re-hydrating station (as one of my fellow runners calls them, which I kinda like) and the fact that my fingers didn't work when I got into my house, there is extra minutes of sitting in re-hydration station, and wondering room to to room in my house!