Parking and Riding

'Park and Ride' took on a whole new meaning for me this morning...

I find it a bit frustrating that I can't cycle from my village into Stirling, about four miles away, without having to ride on a pretty busy - and pretty cyclist-unfriendly - main road. There is a back road I can use (and often do on our Sunday cycles), but I still have to cycle part of the way on main roads, and I just don't enjoy being on my bike on main roads at busy times.

This morning, while I was gathering my things together to head into Stirling for a keep fit class (it's called 'Stretch and Relax', so 'keep fit' might be stretching it a bit...), I was really wishing I could cycle there. It was a lovely Autumn morning and simply perfect for a ride!

And then it dawned on me that Next Bike recently launched its scheme in Stirling! Perfect!

I quickly registered online, drove to the nearest docking station (in an outlying Business Park), dumped the car and hopped on to a bike. Aw man, I loved it! It was less than two miles to the dock nearest to the place where I was going for the class - but two miles is better than no miles! And, I took a bit of a detour on the way back, so I cycled a whole six miles in total.

I guess I could've shoved my own bike onto the car rack and did the same thing using my own bike. But I struggle to lift my bike up onto the rack on my own and it was so easy just jumping into the car, out of the car and onto a bike!

I know it's not the same as ditching the car altogether, leaving it at home and cycling the whole way, but it did feel like a good compromise - and it did save me some money on centre-of-town parking! If I use the scheme often enough I'll definitely spend less on Next Bike fees than I would on parking.

So, since I'm very much a fair-weather cyclist, I'm hoping for plenty more lovely Autumn and Winter mornings in the weeks to come - so that I can keep on enjoying Parking and Riding!

Parking and Riding past sunny Stirling Castle

Story 41: Twiddling my thumb

I can't cycle at the moment as I'm injured. Now, I know that a staved thumb (don't laugh...) doesn't quite have the same ring to it as a torn tendon or a broken bone but my wee injury has still managed to keep me off my bike none the less.

The cuts and bruises sustained when I fell into a ditch during the Rapha 100 ride have all healed up, but my thumb's still throbbing. Changing gear or braking with my left hand is nigh on impossible. I tried a short cycle last week through in Glasgow to watch the triathlon during the Commonwealth Games. But I really struggled to apply enough pressure to the brake. So, I'm trying to be sensible and stay off the bike until my thumb's much better.

I must admit, I did have a bit of a wobbly a few days after the fall. It really hit me how easy it is to end up with much more serious injuries than a staved thumb when you fall off your bike. But fortunately the wobbly didn't last long. I remembered just some of the injuries I sustained as a casual runner: torn calf muscle, groin strain, back strain, cuts and bruises from falls and permanent damage to some of my internal bits and bobs that still hurt on a daily basis (though,to be fair, that was the result of a combination of illness, botched operations and the high impact pressure that comes hand-in-hand with running). Yup, I'm happy to keep on taking my chances in the saddle.

One of the women who was due to take part in Ride the Night had a really nasty fall before the event. She shattered her shoulder and elbow and is still, months later, facing a long road to recovery. She's since decided that she'll never get on a bike again as the risk attached is, for her, simply too high. I can understand that. If my fall had been much worse, and I'd ended up with broken bones, I might have felt the same way. But, until that happens (of course, I do hope that never does happen...) I'll be keeping on pedaling.

All sports come with some risks attached. And, after weighing up some of the risks attached to cycling, I still can't wait to get back out on my bike!

In the meantime, I'll just keep on twiddling my throbbing thumb...

Story 40: Bumps and bruises on the Rapha 100

In my last post I said I was looking forward to challenging myself in lots of different ways; tougher training rides, coming up with some new fundraising ideas, and managing to complete the cycle across Tanzania itself. Today's ride certainly helped me make a start on the first of those things...

I've registered the ride here with Strava, if you'd like to see the route in more detail. Tonight I'm nursing my bumps, bruises and cuts but I know that they'll soon heal. The memory of how good it feels to have risen to the challenge of getting back on my bike after a pretty nasty fall, dealing with yet another puncture (or, watching Alex deal with yet another puncture...), fighting the wind, battling the beasties (swarms of corn flies - yuk!) and clocking up my longest ride to date will stay with me for very much longer than the pain of a bunch of bumps and bruises.

Oh, and I've made a small start on the fundraising side of things by setting up my Women V Cancer Cycle Africa Just Giving page. All of the money I raise will be going straight to Women V Cancer with none of it going towards the cost of getting me to Tanzania, but I still aim to raise over £3000. And, fortunately, the fundraising challenge side of things shouldn't leave me quite so battered and bruised as some of the training rides might...!

Story 39: Getting excited about Tanzania

I'm so excited! A recce group from Action for Charity has been in Tanzania for the past few days, sussing out the Cycle Africa route, and Ann Frampton (the organisation's director and contributor to a certain little book...)  shared some of the details and photographs on Facebook. Aw man, it sounds so much more challenging than I was expecting but it also looks even more fantastic than I could possibly have imagined! 

In one of her posts Ann reminded us that we're not going to Tanzania next October for a holiday; we'll have to train hard in preparation for cycling at altitude over some pretty rough terrain, we'll have to be all set for camping out in the wild for a couple of nights (I'm trying not to think too much about that aspect of the trip just yet...), we'll have to be fit enough to cycle 217 miles over the course of a few days and we'll only reach the finish line if we can manage a 25 mile uphill slog on the final day of the trip. 

Ann's right, it won't be a holiday. It's going to be tough. But it will be incredible! We'll see some amazing sights (like Mount Kilimanjaro), we'll cycle alongside wild animals (like zebras, baboons, giraffes and maybe even lions!!) and we'll have the privilege of meeting some of the locals along the way (like Maasai villagers). It's all so exciting!

October 2015 seems like a long way off, but I've got a lot of money to raise, and a lot of saddle hours to clock up, before I set one foot in Tanzania. It's absolutely right that it's going to be tough (did I mention the camping...?). Just like the woman who runs a Race for Life, or the man who doesn't shave, or the child who parts with her pocket money for Pudsey - I committed to Cycle Africa because I wanted to raise money and raise awareness for Women V Cancer while rising to a personal challenge.

And, after looking at the photos today, I know for sure that I've picked the perfect challenge to rise to.

(Photo courtesy of Ann Frampton)

Story 38: Sunny Sunday Cycle

We had another great local Sunday cycle today! I'm taking the lazy option of recording it with details of the ride here on Map My Ride and a little video rambling below, just to add some meat to the stats...

(And, for anyone who's interested, here are the stats for Friday night's cycle from Callander to Balquhidder)

Story 37: Keeping it local

I'd wondered if my first few cycles after last weekend's exploits in Arran would feel like a bit of an anti-climax. Nope. I've had yet another weekend of good fun in the saddle during two 'keeping it local' rides.

Yesterday we clocked up 34 miles. We cycled from Stirling to Falkirk, stopped for coffee and cake with the Kelpies, then cycled a different way back again. If you're interested, the stats are here on Map My Ride

We came home and settled down to watch the Tour de France. It would've been great to be in Yorkshire joining the thousands of other folk who lined the steets to cheer those superb cyclists on, but instead we made the most of it and simply brought the Tour to our garden...

Then this morning we clocked up 25 miles and conquered a local hill in the process. Again, the stats are on Map My Ride but this clever little app can't quite manage to capture my thoughts. I'm sticking to my wee video bletherings for that... 

Story 36: Arran revisited ... and conquered

(A wee bit more information, for those of you interested in the fine detail, here on Map My Ride)

Story 35: A Saturday cycle, and most enjoyable it was too

Today was my first time out on the roads since Ride the Night, and what a lovely day it was for it too!

It wasn't long till the Gala Parade came along, and what a lovely sight and sound it was too!

The cycle to Callander was hard going, with a few tough hills, but the village band were out when we arrived and what a lovely welcome it was too!

We slipped up with the pub we chose for refreshments (the cleaners clearly hadn't been in for a week or six...) but we did enjoy our visit to Galleria Lutia; a fantastic little gallery that's owned by my friend Sandie and her family. I spotted a pile of my wee books on one of the shelves and what a lovely feeling it was too!

By the time we arrived back home the Gala barbeque was in full swing, but we opted instead for a quiet night in...and a very nice evening it was too...

Story 34: From Arran to Africa...

Last July Alex talked me into going for a wee cycle in Arran. We ended up cycling 53 miles in two days all the way round the island, and I ended up hooked on not-so-serious cycling. 

After that, and following some lovely rides through the summer, I managed to raise some money for the STV Appeal by cycling 47 miles from Glasgow to Edinburgh in the Pedal for Scotland event. 

I enjoyed it so much that I immediately looked for another challenge, which came in the form of Women V Cancer Ride the Night, and last week managed to cycle 62 miles through the night from Windsor to London and back to Windsor again. 

I loved the whole experience so much that I've already signed up to do it again next year - but it won't be as much of a challenge next time around as I'll already have cycled the distance. I am, however, passionate about the Women V Cancer organisation and definitely want to continue supporting them.

So, I've signed up for another challenge. In October 2015 I'm aiming to cycle 220 miles across a mixture of dirt tracks and tarmac, starting in the shadow of Mount Kilimanjaro and finishing at the Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania. I'll be raising funds again for Women V Cancer, sharing the experience with some incredible women, and hoping to see some lions and giraffes and elephants along the way! It's a serious challenge, but I'm seriously up for it. (Well, as seriously as a not-so-serious cyclist can be).

From Arran to Africa - who would've thought...?! 

Story 33: Oh What A Ride

(I'll apologise now for the over-use of superlatives in the post you're about to read!)

While I was still on my adrenalin-high after completing Pedal for Scotland back in September, I Googled 'cycle rides'; I was desperately keen to sign up for another 'fun' cycling event. One of the first things to come up on the search list was the Women V Cancer 100km Ride the Night. I had absolutely no idea what I was letting myself in for when I clicked on the link and registered.

My daughter Gemma had just moved to London and I was looking for any excuse for visits, I had just managed to cycle 47 miles and was looking for another cycling challenge, I'd just finished my latest fundraising venture and was looking for ideas for my next one, and I was looking for something constructive to do to help raise the right kind of awareness of the signs and symptoms of cancer. So, registering for this new event seemed like the perfect solution to all of the above!

Since registering, I've had a blast. I've had some great fun on training cycles with Alex, I've discovered that cycling when it's raining can be fun after all (thanks to the turbo trainer...), I've resolved a fair few of my cycling issues (found the perfect saddle, found the perfect riding position, found the perfect bum cream...), I've found many new friends (thanks to a Facebook group set up so that participants could lend each other support before the event and, in doing so, get to know each other a wee bit better), I've been inspired by so many of those women, I've written a little book that's been published and continues to raise money and awareness - and, I've cycled 62 miles through the night alongside 2000 other wonderful women with Gemma by my side!

Altogether it's been a truly fantastic ride!

A blow by blow account of the actual cycle is maybe for another time. Briefly though; the distance, the cycling through the night, the double puncture after hitting a humongous pot hole only 6 miles from the start (I, em, supervised from the sidelines while Gemma and two wonderful Ride Angels sprang into action), the London traffic, the volume of cyclists, the wee fall (so embarrassing - we came to a stop at a red traffic light, I put my foot down, was standing waiting, somehow lost my balance, and fell sidey ways with the bike following on top! No real damage done apart from a broken light, a few bruises and a small dent to my pride...), the bunching up, the varied nature of our cycling experience, and the varied nature of etiquette on display (from cyclists and drivers alike) all made for quite a challenge!

And, as with any inaugural event - especially one that takes place in a big busy city, is supported mostly by fantastic volunteers and attracts participants with a very wide range of experience and expectations - there were a few wee teething problems. However, Action for Charity, with the truly inspiring Ann Frampton at its helm, did an incredible job of organising Ride the Night.

Many of us weren't very experienced, or very serious - I have to hold my hand up to not knowing every rule of the road as a cyclist; some of the others have pointed out that we should've been calling out 'passing on the right' when we were overtaking a group - I didn't know that and I hope it's the only thing I got wrong on the night from a safety point of view. I usually did shout things like, 'We're going great ladies!' or 'Keep it up folks!' or 'Are you doing OK?' on the occasions that I did cycle past anyone and I did only pass when I felt it was safe to do so! I did always shout out if there was a pothole, or if I was going to stop, or if there was a speed bump, or if there was a car needing past etc etc and I like to think most of us on the Ride did the same.

The event's raised over £850,000 so far for three fantastic charities and everyone taking part had to do their bit in contributing to the fundraising effort. If the ride and fundraising had felt like a walk in the park it wouldn't have felt like I was doing everyone - who bought the book, who donated to my Just Giving page or who inspired me to raise funds and awareness in the first place - proud.

I had so many mixed emotions throughout the night; mostly I was excited, happy and - especially when Gemma and I cycled back into Windsor to the sound of the dawn chorus and Alex cheering - chuffed to bits! But the night was also tinged with some sadness; thoughts were never far from the reason why we were all there, or from the women who'd had to pull out of the event due to illness or injury.

One of those women was Sandhy Robinson-Jones.

Sandhy survived ovarian cancer six years ago, is one of Women V Cancer's biggest supporters, encouraged many of us novice cyclists during the lead up to the event with her wit and wisdom, helped many of us with our fundraising efforts (she is the designer extraordinaire of my wee book) and had a massive brain haemorrhage a few weeks ago. She faces a long, hard fight back from the brink, yet again, and she was sorely missed on Saturday night:



This was my first cycle without Alex by my side as Ride the Night was the first 'women only' London night ride event. Having said that, Gemma and I found it a bit, well, strange that there were some men cycling in amongst the women. They appeared to be there supporting their partners but I guess I kind of felt that part of the challenge was to show that we could manage the 100km as a collective group of strong (in many different senses of the word) women. On the other hand, I don't know those particular women's stories; maybe it would've been impossible for them to take part without their men-folk there to assist.

Although he wasn't cycling with me Alex was still a massive support; not just for me and Gemma, but for many of the other women too. He stood, for four hours solid, around a mile from Windsor and clapped every cyclist that passed. My hero! It was really great for my confidence to know that I can go out and manage on my own (well, OK, not quite on my own as I had 2000 other women and Gemma by my side...), but I'm now really looking forward to getting back to our Sunday cycles!

My Hero!

I was proud of my wee girl (..nearly 23 but will always be my wee girl!). She's so very busy with many other things and had very little time to train for the cycle. After only six times on her saddle (for the first time since she really was a wee girl), with most of those times being for her 3 mile commute to work, she did incredibly well to finish the ride. Gemma also did well to put up with her auld maw's bletherings all the way round...

Get back on our bikes we did, and finish the ride we did. Ocht, it was just brilliant! And, it was my longest cycle to date! Hooray! So, I'm off now to hit Google, look for my next 'cycling event' and, of course, to register for Ride the Night 2015....!

(photo of bikes on racks courtesy of Judith Stoker)

Story 32: A birthday plea from a bloody cyclist

I mentioned in my last post that I'd had a few scary moments with wobbles on the road during my last cycle. Now, I understand the many reasons why some drivers don't like cyclists (OK, why most drivers don't like cyclists...) so I can handle the fact that I might not be liked when I'm on my bike and I can accept that the person driving up behind me might be muttering under their breath 'Shit, there's a bloody cyclist ahead!'

That doesn't frighten me. I mean, I don't like not being liked. But it doesn't frighten me. What does frighten me is the fact that many, many drivers don't leave nearly enough space when they overtake.

It's so easy to knock a cyclist off their bike. And, if you do knock them off, the cyclist (maybe me!) will probably end up with lots of broken bones and might die.

I guess I've been thinking about this as it's my birthday today. Hooray!! I've clocked up another year!! And I'd really love to be here to celebrate many more years to come!

So, this is my birthday plea to all drivers out there; no matter how much you hate the fact that cyclists are allowed on the road, please please please move out and give them plenty of space when you pass them.

...and, em, just for the record; I don't particularly like being stuck behind bloody cyclists either! But, I do bide my time and make sure I'm giving them plenty of space when I overtake. I'm ashamed to say it wasn't always that way...

Bloody Cyclist!

I’m a bloody cyclist

Who loves to ride her bike,

I’m loathed by many motorists

Who see me as a blight.

They see me cycling on their road

Then all they see is red,

Their temples pulse, their voices rise:

‘There’s a bloody cyclist ahead!’

‘What gives them the bloody right

To use the bloody road?

They don’t pay any taxes,

They don’t know the Highway Code!’

‘Folk on bikes are idiots

They always jump the lights,

They never wear the proper gear

On dark or foggy nights!’

‘Those Sunday cyclists; they’re the worst!

You know the sort I mean;

Spread across the bloody road

In lycra-wearing teams.’

‘And roundabouts – don’t start me!

Cyclists don’t have a clue!

“Which lane is it I should be in?

Oh, I don’t know what to do!”’

‘Bloody cyclists! MOVE YOUR ARSE!

You’re causing a delay!

Go cycle in a Velodrome,

Get out my bloody way!’

On and on the driver goes,

With angry vitriol;

Venting their frustration at

Us cyclists one and all.

Though, if I’m being honest,

Then I guess I should admit

That I was once that driver,

And I’m quite ashamed of it! 

Before I loved my bicycle

I’d only use my car,

I was that bloody driver

Who would just take it too far.

I’d curse at every cyclist

Who’d dare to cross my path,

I’d rant and rave behind my wheel

With fierce and angry wrath:

‘Get out my bloody way’ I’d shout

I’d criticise and scorn,

I’d overtake before I should

I’d even hoot my horn!

I was that bloody driver,

I too thought I knew best,

I too thought every cyclist

Was a royal bloody pest.

I’m really quite embarrassed

That I thought it was OK,

To treat all cyclists on the road

In that bloody awful way...

So, if all this sounds familiar

And you’re that driver too,

There’s something, as a cyclist,

That I’d like to say to you:

I know you get frustrated

When you want to overtake,

I understand your anger

When I make a wee mistake.

I know I’m often in your way

And slow you in your tracks,

I understand your carping

On the issue of road tax!

I get your irritation

With the cyclists who break rules,

Who jump the lights, don’t look behind,

Behave like bloody fools.

But please, I beg, remember

That we’re not all one the same,

That numpties who jump lights and such

Don’t do it in my name.

And, yes, we sometimes get it wrong,

We make the odd mistake,

But drivers sometimes do that too,

Pull out, don’t indicate!

And if you check your facts about

The tax disc you display,

You’ll see that you don’t own the road

Or have the right of way!

Is it too much to hope for,

Or too much to dare expect,

That we could treat each other

With a little more respect?

I wonder if it’s possible

That you could change your mind,

Could be much more accepting

Less frustrated and more kind?

Can’t we just be buddies?

Can’t we use the roads in peace?

Put up with all our nuances

And let the griping cease?

I hear what you are saying,

That you’d like me out your hair,

But just like tractors and their loads

I’m not going anywhere!

So, please accept my slowness,

And I’ll accept your slips;

Bikes and cars are here to stay

Let’s make the most of it!

Lastly, here’s my pipe dream,

My wish on which to end:

That every bloody driver

Be the bloody cyclist’s friend...

 ©Jane Milne

This is one of the rhymes from my little book 'One Woman's Verses vs Cancer'. All of the profit from sales is being donated to Women V Cancer. Click on the photo of the book opposite for more information!

Story 31: Mostly loving my longest ride

I managed my longest, and toughest, cycle to date today. Aw man, I absolutely loved it!

Well, actually, I didn't love it all the time... I swore my way up some of the hills, and I didn't like the taste of the extra protein provided by the flies, and I was frightened by some of the cars and lorries and buses who made me wobble when they overtook me too fast and too close...

But most of the time I really did love it...the sense of achievement when I managed to cycle all the way up some really steep or never-ending hills, the thrill of whizzing down the other side of said really steep or never-ending hills, the views, the not having a sore ass (thanks to Alex's time and patience helping me find the perfect saddle position and handlebar height last night when most normal folk would either be out enjoying themselves or sitting in front of Saturday night telly...), the best hot chocolate I've EVER tasted (in The Cocoa Mountain, Auchterarder), the camaraderie with other cyclists en route, the chit chat and laughs with Alex and the ice cold beer at the end of our 53 miles...yup, I absolutely loved it.

It's only two weeks now till the Women V Cancer 100km (62 miles) Ride the Night in London and, after today's cycle, I'm feeling much more confident about being able to manage it. This time last year I hadn't really been on a bike much since my kids were little and I never would've thought that I'd manage a fairly long ride.

I don't think I'll ever consider myself to be a serious cyclist, but I seriously do love getting on my bike. Especially when one of the stops involves a very yummy hot chocolate...

(For anyone who's interested, you can see today's cycle in more detail on my Map My Ride page)

Story 30: Drop at the Top (should actually read 'middle') Safari

This is our first day back at work after a short break up in Aberfeldy last week. As ever after time away from the office, it's hard to get my brain back into work gear. So, I'm sitting looking at the pile of paperwork but my mind keeps wandering back to the fun we had on some of our cycles while we were away.

During one of our road cycles we passed through a village that, I'm sure, makes every tourist smile when they see the road sign for the first time:

As it turned out, Dull is anything but! It's a lovely little place and it's home to Highland Safaris, which offers some fantastic attractions for visitors...especially of the cycling variety...

Story 29: A first, and last, Ride the Night training cycle with Gemma

It's been a gloriously sunny Easter Weekend in my neck of the woods. My daughter Gemma couldn't have chosen a better weekend for a visit home and we couldn't have had a better weekend for our first (and probably last) cycle together before we take part in the 100km Women V Cancer Ride the Night event at the end of May.

Gemma's, em, a bit behind in her training as she's busy with many other things, but she's as determined as I am to manage the 100km and I have absolutely no doubt that she'll rise to the challenge.

I'm delighted to report that I coped OK with the toe-clips and managed not to fall off (it's early days though...) We all thoroughly enjoyed our 22 mile cycle and our bit of Jam Jar breakfast thrown in for good measure.

The next time Gemma and I cycle alongside each other will probably be on the 31st of May when we head off from Windsor Race Course into the night to ride 100km round London with 2000 other women. It'll be an incredible tour de force against cancer and it'll be brilliant to be part of it with my daughter by my side.

All we need to do now is get more cycling in so that we're fit enough to meet the challenge. Me up here in Scotland and Gemma down south in London.

Geographically apart but determined together.

Story 28: Mulling over another challenge

I'm fair enjoying this cycling-on-the-spot malarky. I mean, it's not the same as getting out and about on the bike but there's a lot to like about sitting on the saddle in my living room - or in my garden - and going nowhere!

'Why not just get on your bike and go for a cycle on the roads or paths?', you might ask. Well, I would definitely rather do that, but I'm not really up for going cycles on my own (I'm ashamed to admit that I still haven't bothered to learn how to change an inner tube...) so - until I get off my ass and learn how to sort a puncture - the turbo trainer's going to be ideal for those occasions when Alex isn't free for a ride, or when the weather's rubbish, or when my hand is still sore from a wee fall and I can't work the brakes properly... (see last post!)

I've not spent more than an hour on the trainer yet, but I'm still mulling over the idea of having a go at cycling 100km on it during Scribbler's Picnic (a music festival in Stirling that raises heaps of money for our local hospice and other cancer charities). One of  my fellow Night Riders did it, sitting outside her local bike shop, last weekend to boost her fundraising - though, she's a much fitter and more experienced cyclist than me - and I just found it so inspiring!

Lots of people, whose advice I value, have told me that I'm nuts to try it.

And that sounds like just about as good a reason to try it as any...

Story 27: Learning the hard way...

Every time I get on my bike I learn something new. The thing I learned today was:

After you've spent a few days cycling on a turbo trainer in your house it is easy to forget, when you're back cycling outside again, that you have to keep the bike moving while you're trying to clip your feet into your cycling shoes. You have to remember that the bike will fall over, taking you with it, if you clip one foot in then lift the other foot off the ground before you've pushed off. You must remember that your bike is not attached to a turbo trainer any more and it is only you pedalling that will keep it upright when both feet are off the ground. If you forget this you will fall over, before you've even left your driveway, and leave yourself with a dented body and a dented pride.

Oops...!

Story 26: Cycling on the spot

I've got this cycling event coming up soon, the 100km Women V Cancer Ride the Night in London, in 54 days time. Since registering for it, at the end of last year, I've been out on my bike, em, four times. I've put loads of effort into raising funds for Women V Cancer (I've even written a little book!) and I've put a lot of effort into trying to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of cancer. But, I've only been out on my bike four times. And the longest cycle was 22 miles. Oh dear.

So today I sprang into action! Spurred on by an invitation to perform at an Eve of Festival music concert (reciting rhymes from my wee book between bands..) which preceded the decision to host a stall at said Festival itself (the infamous 'Scribbler's Picnic' - Stirling's answer to T in the Park...) where I'm considering setting up one of these bike stand thingys and pedalling 100km while I pedal my book, I got on my bike and went for a cycle! 

And I didn't move an inch from my lounge floor.

Kenny, my friendly local bike shop owner, has given me a loan of one of these bike stand thingys (I think 'turbo trainer' is its proper name but I didn't feel very turbo-propelled...) so that I have no excuse not to get on my bike and train. He thinks I'm mad for even thinking about trying to cycle the 100km on a bike stand while the Picnic's on. But I'm tempted! 

I'll give it some thought over the next week or so while I'm cycling on the spot (and hopefully getting outside for a whirl too) before deciding whether my butt (never mind my legs and lungs) could manage it.

But, I have to say, there's just something really tempting about the idea of a possible not-so-serious story of a static cyclist's exploits at Scribblers...!

Story 25: Sun, wind, sand and snow in one Sunday cycle

Story 24: Getting on my bike, no matter the weather

Well, we managed to make it out today for only the second ride on our bikes since the start of 2014. And a lovely ride it was too. The twenty two mile route we followed was one that we've cycled a fair few times now, taking the back road from our house to Bridge of Allan and back again, but I don't think we'll ever tire of it. We don't have to venture much on to the main roads, the surrounding scenery is gorgeous and the half way point is marked by one of our favourite munch stops, Jam Jar in Bridge of Allan. What more could a pair of leisurely Sunday cyclists ask for?

 It was raining when we set off this morning, and it was very cold, but we'd promised ourselves that, no matter the weather, we were getting back into our Sunday cycles by the beginning of March - and I'm so very glad that we kept that promise. Alex and I have decided that we're definitely fair weather cyclists. There have been a few Sundays, since our last jaunt out on the bikes in January, that we didn't have anything planned and we could easily have wrapped up and set off for a cycle. But we didn't. It was either too wet, too cold or too windy and a morning with our feet up in front of the fire instead was always too appealing. 

Thankfully though, the rain wan't too heavy today and didn't last too long. In fact, the sun popped out just a few miles in. It was still bitterly cold, but we were so well wrapped up in our balaclavas, waterproof socks, thermal gloves and umpteen layers that it was really only the tips of our fingers and toes that were numb. In fact, I was having a bit of a hot flush by the time we reached the cafe and I had to head off to the loo to strip a few layers off (and, as usual, fix my helmet hair so that I looked at least a wee bit more presentable for sitting on a Sunday morning in amongst many of Bridge of Allan's finest...!) 

So, hopefully today marks the start of getting out more regularly for a cycle, whatever the weather. Having said that, we've been toying with the idea of buying these roller thingy's or a turbo trainer that you can set your bike up on for a cycle inside the house. Then we could cycle whatever the weather! 

Hm, a Sunday cycle at home in front of the fire when it's p*****g down outside...? Now, that just might be my kind of rainy day ride! Watch this space for 'Stories from the saddle of a not-so-serious-cyclist-who-sometimes-stays-at-home-to-cycle', possibly coming soon!

Story 23: Bloody loving getting back on my bike

I actually posted this on my 'What's Making Me Feel Good Today' blog, but I think it deserves a place here too!

'I managed to make it out for a ride on my bike this morning for the first time in over two months. A long drawn out bout of laryngitis followed by some rubbishy weather along with a wee dose of cannae-be-bothered-itis resulted in a bit of a hiatus from cycling. But, aw man, it felt so great to be back in my saddle today. In fact, one of my favourite Christmas presents from Alex probably sums it up best:'