Time to Bike.

I am not great at cycling through the winter as it is usually too cold, wet and windy for my liking. I have been out a couple of times since the turn of the year, but decided a few weeks ago to go get my bike fitted properly. I realised that I still did not feel 100% comfortable whilst riding and felt that my movement was not overly efficient, and since I have signed up for a sportive at the end of April, it was time to get fitted to become more at one with my bike.

I booked into Ronde and had the very lovely James McCallum help with the fitting. It is surprising the vast difference a few small adjustments of the seat and handlebars can make.

This morning was my favourite type of weather, cold and crisp with very little wind, so headed out on my newly adjusted bike. Rather than go on my regular loop I thought I would cycle to Arthurs Seat and go round the hill a few times. I ended up doing 3 rotations before heading home. It was only a total of about 19 miles, but a great workout and showed me that I have much more work to do before April.

Although a short cycle, it was great to test my new position. I used to feel a great amount of tension in my shoulders and never find a comfortable position on my seat. Today felt great, just lacked the fitness and stamina required for my sportive. I think the Seat will become my new interval training ground, the back road is great when traffic free.

East view.

Arthur.

Peace x

Photos by Caroline Harvey.

Pedal for Scotland. Done. Tick.

Sunday 9th September, the day finally arrived. It seemed like a long time since we signed up for Pedal for Scotland way back in January, but at the same time it came round kind of fast and I was really worried that I had not trained hard enough. 

The day started very early with my alarm going off at 4.45am, which is a bit of a shock to the system on a Sunday morning. First task, open the curtains and check the weather. Pitch black. Oh yeah still night time! It was dry so that was good and I could see the stars, so no cloud, also good. Next task breakfast although I still felt a bit full from my dinner the previous evening.

With all my stuff gathered and Dolly safely ensconced in the boot of the car, I headed to meet the Galls and Catriona for our team trip to Glasgow Green where the race would start. We had to be on the start line between 7.00/7.45am and I think we crossed about 7.20am. Game on!

The route and elevation etc is here.

The weather in the West was also fair but slightly on the chilly side, so was thankful that I had put and extra layer on. The sportive race is a timed race and your time is recorded by chips (not the French fry type) that you attach around your ankle which activate when you cross a magic line. In this race this was activated once we got out of Glasgow city and before we hit Edinburgh city limits, so that the times did not include long traffic light stops.

I was desperately trying not to think of what lay ahead as we pedalled our way out of Glasgow, it only kind of hit me how far I was from home when we cycled past signs saying "Welcome to East Ayrshire". 

At the first feed station I was feeling ok, but still in denial as to how far we still had to go. I munched on some of Beth's amazing flap jacks to refuel and we were off again. 

The weather was still holding, cloudy but no rain, not too hot either but the wind was gathering. At some points it was in our faces or blowing us sideways which was not so pleasant but thankfully it was a south westerly wind so was going to blow us home in the final stages. Happy days.

At lunch we were over half way, tiredness and a few aches were starting to kick in but spirits were high. After some food and Ibuprofen we were off again.

By this point for me it was all mind over matter, I had already cycled further than I had ever done before so what difference was a few more miles going to make! At some points it was coping with the dreadful road surfaces that was more of a challenge than the actual pedalling. Too many of Scotland's roads are made with the tar and huge chuckie stone combination. This makes for a very bone rattling ride and interferes with the speed and pace of your cycling, or at least it does for me.

At this point I have to mention the fact that the very excellent cyclist that is Beth Gall, aka Victoria Pendleton, managed to complete a fairly long and very steep 1:16 hill without stopping. This hill appeared on the route about the 80 mile mark, so fresh legs we did not have. I was close, but ran out of gears and power, so no cigar for me. Major Kudos to Beth, you are AWESOME!

Last Pit stop at Carnwath and we could smell home, the wind was with us and it was just a matter of keeping the head down and thinking about my dinner, my tin of cold cider in the fridge and my bed.

We all made it to Murrayfield in one piece and in good times, under 8 hours for actual cycling time. We were all very proud, if not slightly aching, but a good day was had. There were no punctures, breakdowns (mental or physical) and thankfully no extra miles due to taking the wrong turn.

I would thoroughly recommend the event to anyone. The organisation, marshalling and signposting was fantastic. I would also like to mention and thank a chap called Kenneth with very lovely orange socks, who I played cat and mouse with for most of the day. Well done to you too. Other mentions must go to my Dad for my supply of Haribo, which along with the flap jacks are the best fuelling system around.

Preparation.

Getting ready.

Murrayfield.

Forgot to unzoom!

The 3 amigos.

Map and medal.

Fame.

Peace x

All photographs by Caroline Harvey.

Only another 50 to go!

I may have mentioned before that I signed up for Pedal for Scotland this year. Since signing up many months ago the route has changed slightly and is now up to 110 miles. Eek!. I have tried to up my training somewhat by commuting to work 2 or 3 days a week, which although only about 8.5 miles each way, has a few tough little hills to contend with first thing in the morning.

Today seemed a good day to go for a longer tour as the forecast was for mild temps and no rain. I never like to go too far afield when I am on my own, so plotted a route that would cover about 60 miles but one that if need be could probably phone someone to come rescue me from. Thankfully I made it round in one piece.

My legs were getting a bit tired towards the end, but I don't really stop for any length of time, so I am hoping that the extra 50 miles I need to do to complete the Pedal for Scotland route will be doable with a few extra fuel stops and some moral support from my cycling companions. I also hope that the wind will return to it's usual West to East direction.

My route.

My treat.

Peace x

All photographs by Caroline Harvey.

H2Oh my God!

Well what is there to say about the last week other than it has been wet. We have had flash floods, rivers bursting their banks, road closures and general traffic chaos. On Wednesday it took me an hour and a half to travel about 4 miles, at the end of a long day it was not pleasing for me or all the other commuters trying to get home.

Ocean terminal.

For me, like many others I presume, the bad weather really does take it's toll on my mood and motivation. The Summer is the time when I like to recharge my batteries with plenty of outdoor activities and fresh air, I need this to survive the long dark nights of the Winter, but this year so far that has been so hard to do. Granted I was not well recently but today was the first dry day in weeks that I have been able to go out for a wee tour on Dolly. She has been so underused that her tyres had gone quite flat. I hope that does not happen with the real Dolly! It was great to get out, although I am kind of worried about my fitness levels, but will struggle on.

I think this is referring to Summer.

Fog and rain.

Hearts and flowers.

Forget me nots?

I eventually found some sunshine on Friday in Aberfoyle. It really was quite blinding to my unadjusted eyes, but sat out for my lunch and tried to absorb as much vitamin D as possible.

I found the sun.

Yesterday (Saturday) was still absolutely disgusting and rained for the whole day, so the only sensible thing to do was go for a bit of retail therapy. I found what I think will become my most loved pair of shoes. Always been a fan of them cowboys. Further cheering up was found in a bottle of wine and a good blether with my fabulous friend Hazel. Good times.

New shoes. Yee Haa.

Peace x

All photographs by Caroline Harvey.

The Quintessential Quartet.

Well it has been a fun filled few days of fabulous fitness forays and fantastic friends.

On Saturday morning, The Quintessential Quartet, (myself, Beth, Dolly and Kenny (Beth's bike)) had an extremely enjoyable cycle from Broxburn over the Forth Road Bridge to Aberdour. Although it was touch and go for a while if we would actually make it out of Kirkliston, as Kenny got a puncture. Pesky glass. We had all the necessary fixing equipment except the pump! Thankfully a fellow cyclist, with the most amazing psychedelic cycling leggings stopped to rescue us. Patched and pumped, we pedalled on not actually really knowing where we were going. As it turned out we had a wee tour of the Fife coastal route and very pretty it was too. All in all about a 30 mile round trip. Good training but still a long way to go before feeling confident about the 100 miler. Eek.

Excellent catch up chats were also had with Hazel and Emma. I even got smiles from Isabella. Happy times.

Vintage rail bridge.

Silver Sands, Aberdour.

Dolly and Kenny. Love.

Isabella.

Peace x

All photographs by Caroline Harvey.

Witness the (lack of) fitness.

I took Dolly out for another spin on Saturday morning. The weather was not great but I was really wanting to try and do a bit of a cardio workout. We headed along the A70 and I had great intentions of trying to do at least 30 miles. It didn't think that there was much wind until I hit the open road and it was much hillier than I remembered too. I struggled along till I reached 10 miles then gave in. It took me almost an hour to go West and half an hour to come back East. Brutal!

I had hoped to go for a run or something today, but had too much bad booze on Saturday night so the only energy I could muster was for a short walk, via the Scotmid for Lucozade and crisps and then watched the rugby.

More exercise and less drinking next weekend.

View to the Pentlands.

A long and windy road.

Peace x

All photographs by Caroline Harvey.

Getting around.

It has been a busy old week in the life of me. I have seen a lot of the countryside this week and will see much much more over the coming months. Thankfully the weather has been good, so the driving has been pretty easy going. Over the course of Wednesday, Thursday and Friday I visited Glasgow, Balloch, Callander, Fort William, Lanark, Dumfries and Kirkcudbright. Not sure what this week will have in store but more miles will be travelled that's for sure. Hopefully get some nice photo opportunities along the way.

My Valentine treat to myself.

Balloch.

Loch Linnhe, Fort William.

Visit Scotland, Kirkcudbright.

This Saturday morning was Dolly's debut. It was a very cold and slightly windy outing but fun none the less. Beth, Neil and I had a great cycle over some of the Bathgate hills. I think it was about 18 miles in total but I found myself severely lacking in cycle fitness especially on the uphills, it was thigh burn central. I have much training to do in order to be fit for the Glasgow to Edinburgh 100 miler, but thankfully September is a few months away. I am very excited for some slightly warmer Spring and Summer days.

Dolly with her friends.

Route.

Day out.

Peace x

All photos by Caroline Harvey.

Dolly the Bike.

Today I purchased a new bike.

 It is a road bike and I am very excited about getting some dry weather days so I can go out and play.

 I have decided to call her "Dolly" as today is Miss Parton's birthday and because they are both fabulous.

 I also registered for Pedal for Scotland's 100 mile bike ride from Glasgow to Edinburgh on 9th September 2012.

Roll on Spring and Summer. I want to bicycle!

Spokes

Pedal

Clean

Sexy

Peace x

All Photographs by Caroline Harvey.