Committed

My application form for the Action 100 bike ride arrived yesterday. Sent it back this morning, so am committed.

Or probably should be....

For the record - saying no to the chicken

I would just like to publicly state, for the benefit of my work work colleague, Nicola, and for photographer Phil Rudge, that NO, I will not be doing the ACTION 100 ride in a chicken suit.

It was enough to have pose in the suit for a photograph yesterday (yes I will post a picture when they arrive - long and boiring story) and if standing in a hallway for over an hour was that hot in February, NO WAY will I make a 100 miles in August.

It's just a NO, OK? No, no, no, no!

Bad Blogger - but happy!

OK, I know - blogs are meant to be regular and constantly changing and in this, over the past, week, I have singularly failed.

However, I have managed to get out on my bike. Granted, one two mile ride is really earth shattering, but it was all I could fit in, and I am well aware that 100 miles is looking further and further away.

BUT I have had a major breakthrough.

We had friends, Gary and Mirella, over for supper on Saturday and in passing I mentioned that I needed to go out and get an exercise bike but that husband was being a misog about the expense.

And bingo! they have one that they're not using.
Delivery expected this weekend.

I don't believe it has a mileometer on it - world's most basic model - but hey, at least I can prove that I will get off my butt and onto the bike to practise. Which may make my husband more tolerant of the proposed expenditure.

I have even dug out some old pedometers that the kids were given in MacDonalds a while back in one of their "we are healthy - really!" campaigns. (In fairness, they have upped their game immensely, so whilst burgers and chips isn't my idea of a healthy meal for the kids, at least I don't feel quite as suspicious about what's in the burgers any more)

I digress. Training is about to start in earnest. See if this time tomorrow I haven't created my training plan....

Splinky Reebok Cycling machine

Took kids over to visit friends, Paul and Andrea at the weekend. All hell as 4 small boys ran around doing what small boys do.

Anyway, Paul and Andrea, in addition to the small boys, have an exercise cycle.

And it's really smart looking.

So I start some serious on-line shopping, only to find that this isn't simple either!

Lets start with the first thing I see: Beny exercise cycles are available with flywheel, fanwheel or magnetic resistance.

Diamondback: "Features like the hands free heart-rate control and easy-to-read consoles with multi-intensity levels lets you program the exact workout you want"

I'm lost already.

All I want is pedals, a handle bar and a mileometer. If it tells me how many calories I've burned too then great (although I know myself well enough to know that if I know I've burned off 250 cals I may be tempted to split the difference and gobble a 125 cal treat!)

Suddenly bland marketing blurb is really comforting: "Nautilus exercise bikes sets [bad grammar, but we'll forgive] a new standard for quality, comfort and performance. All Nautilus machines have a low profile design to make getting on the cycle easier and incorporate stainless steel access panels to make maintenance simple and trouble-free. The computers have been designed to provide the perfect combination between functionality and simplicity, resulting in an exercise cycle that both feels and looks great."

It may not be brain science, but at least it doesn't scare me with jargon.

Sore bottom

Managed to cycle six miles at the weekend. OK so it's not going to shake the world, but for me it's a big acheivement.

It's absolutely NOT true that gel saddles are comfortable.
Or cycle clips.

Am cuurently sourcing hit men to come break a leg the weekend before the ride as an excuse not to do it: my plan B in case I'm not ready!

Message from a colleague

when is the next instalment of your blog? Read the Halfords one which I tried to reply to but it failed. I think you should do what Lynne Truss does with her sooty puppet and have a conversation with it in the shop when the staff are unhelpful! Or I could get you a paddington one!

Name

Note from a collegue: