This Old Girl was back on the bike again today, my Spesh. I am taking things a little easier this week, before I attempt my first ever half marathon on Sunday, The Tunbridge Wells Half! A very challenging course, just what I need to help me get in shape for the London Marathon in April. (either that or do me in and save me the pain). So for some cross training, and some fun, I went with the Old Boy on a quite slow ride on one of our usual routes.
Each time I get back on my bike I have to re-familiarise myself with the gears, and try and remember the silly things I have said to remind me of how the gears go! I know it should be natural, and total obvious, but not to me! My first encounter with a bike with gears was a twist shift on my old Raliegh. To me that made sense. Left hand big gears, twist it three times, either way, the right hand, twist up to 8 times, forward means high gears! Even I could grasp that.
Then my Giant with a couple more extra gears on the right hand side, but still quite simple to figure out, (eventually). One lever worked by your finger, the other worked by your thumb. Two different digits, easy enough to train yourself to do. But my new bike, the gears are on the brake, worked by push side ways. Still two levers, but worked using same digits! To me, an Old Girl trying to learn new tricks, it's taking it's time!
But still. It was a very pleasant ride up through to to Halstead, then through the lanes, with our very bright lights and head lamps lighting up like daylight. Then through to Biggin Hill, and of course Keston, for a pint!
I thought I was doing ok, riding up to Halstead, getting used to the gears, the new riding position, the 'twitchy' feel of the bike. But then came lanes! Normally I can get to grips with the undulating nature of this road. But I was starting to feel the chill, mainly in my feet, even though I have two pairs of socks on, and one of those pairs says thermal on them! And the I started panicking about the gear changes for the hills, some of which come up quite suddenly. I did completely mess up one hill, just before the pub! I had forgotten about how steep this little bit is! I panicked, changed up, on both sets of gears, and then tried to change down, but it was all too late! I eventually sorted it out and then carried on the rest of the way!
Going through Biggn Hill was a little more sedate for me, than I usually am on my Giant. But it still felt great going down hill. I was pedalling out, but that wa only because I didn't want to change the left hand gear, as I now had it on the middle cog! I was beginning to fill the chill even more now, but it wasn't that long before we got to Keston, after taking it really carefully, and really thinking about my bike on the inclines towards the Keston turn off!
I did cool down very quickly when we got to the pub! So we kind of smashed down our cold beer (why do I do that, I should ask for hot chocolate!) But still, it was very nice, it helped to wash down the poppadoms. Then it was a quick ride home, via the shop to grab some milk, oh and some chocolate! I am in training you know!
Geeky stats and these are from the Old Boys, I didn't push the start button on mine!
