Action 100 Cycle Ride

Good luck to Karen

2008-08-12T12:15:00.002+01:00

I just had the loveliest email from Karen who spent some time reading this blog. She signed up to do the ride about eight weeks ago and her brother is doing the ride with her.

Only 2 weeks to go and she's trying to get a 70 mile ride in as a confidence boost - brave woman - I only managed a couple of 50 miles.

Good luck Karen - let us know how you get on: a picture as you cross the finish line?

The route

2006-08-28T15:07:00.000+01:00

Action 100 cycle ride: The morning after

2006-08-28T14:43:00.000+01:00

It's beginning to sink in that i did it - by a whisker, but I did it. I keep thinking I smell bananas - they're probably oozing out of my pores.

I am so grateful to the people who helped me out on the day, especially my husband and kids, without whom I would probably still be in a blubbing heap in the middle of Windsor Forest. Andrea and Paul who were all set to come and celebrate at lunchtime (but were stood down after the bike 'broke'. And to Huw, who not only sponsored me more than he should have, but rang regularly to check progress.

To grandpa John and the 'Old Bag on a Bike' who got me roadworthy and set me back on track.

And to Alan Arenstein (marshall) whose kindness and words of encouragement made me believe I could make those last few miles.

I've got around £500 in sponsorship promises, so big thanks to those who sponsored, on-line and off. It was the thought of the good that money will do that kept me pedalling at times.

Physically I'm in better shape than I expected. Worst injuries are the sunburnt knees - weather conditions were so lovely I didn't notice I was being roasted.

Highlights of ride: beautiful countryside, especially the bit on my back doorstep that I didn't know was there. Oh, and Avebury. Loved it, and glad I was riding slowly enough to take it in.

Lowlights: realising that the bike was about as fit and ready as I was! Oh, and finding out my nuts and raising were contaminated with Bombay mix!

Personal acheivement - just getting there was the goal, and I just got there.

(Photos will go up tomorrow)

Photo finish

2006-08-27T19:00:00.001+01:00

Arriving at Chobham

Official finish

My fan club - waited for me and supported me all day. Thanks boys (and husband, Owen!)

Sent to me by my friend and colleague Jennifer Reid..

18.50 pm - gears break

2006-08-27T19:00:00.000+01:00

I'm gritting my teeth - I can't change gear on the bike and the end is within a whisker. I am not going to be defeated so close to the end.

I have to push the bike for part of the way, but there's enough go left in her to get me into Chobham Rugby Club.

I cross the finish line as close to 7pm on the dot as is humanly possibly.

Everyone was cheering, the kids ran over to get me, they gave me a medal and I cried into organiser Jennifer's t-shirt (sorry Jen).

It may not have been Olympic time, but for me this was an Olympic sized challenge.

Had I practised a little more on hillier terrain, I might have known that the bike couldn't cope. I might have made better time. But then again, with a broken bike, I might never have made the start line.

18.45 Lost

2006-08-27T18:45:00.000+01:00

With just 15 minutes to go, I've taken a wrong turn. Dowbn a vertigionous sloped to St Georges School.

Lovely houses around here. Call in for help and start the long climb back to the top.

Get back on track and let them know I'm on my way.

Marshall Alal Arenstein stops to check I'm OK. He is really encouraging about getting there in time, and reassures that he'll be passing back again in a moment. I am just a mile or two away and determined to get there.

18.30-ish: The Squirrels

2006-08-27T18:30:00.000+01:00

Finally make it to The Squirrels.

Head for loo again. Am so relieved to be here. Cramp is dreadful - vary banana diet with a packet of crisps and set off as quick as I can. I have half an hour or so to get to the end. Am absolutely determined to go super fast fopr the last 9 miles.

The guy from Raynet seems to think otherwise. Would like me (and all other comers - there's about 20 riders still behind me) to give up.

Apparently the tandem - two blokes on a bike - has crashed and burned - their chain has also given up the ghost.

Windsor Forest

2006-08-27T18:15:00.000+01:00

I haven't been down this way before, despite being relatively local.

See a sign saying that the Squirrels Drink stop is 6 miles away and am motivated to pedal harder.

Have lost track of time, and my family have turned back to find a lost cyclist.

I'm on my own for this stratch and feeling a bit lonely.

See sign saying stop is half mile and pedal hard.

Pass a place called Follyjon(?). Looks very grand - don't know what it is.

Can't find the Squirrels stop - have been at least 2 or 3 miles since the sign. Think I'm lost. Can't take any more.

Drop the bike and stop for a drink. Can't hold back the tears. This is too much. I'm in pain (wish I'd bough an isotonic drink) and cramping badly. And lost! I pull out the guide. The stop is at the end of the rod. This is the longets half mile of my life and if it's taking this long, I'll never reach the finish point.

Just at that moment, the boys come past in the car. Owen's really concerned. I blurt out that I'm lost and can't find the stop, he has, fortunately, see the stop and knows where the pub (the Squirrels) is. Having sobbed into his chest, he persuades me back onto the bike, and they wait for me in the pub.

Rescued

2006-08-27T15:30:00.000+01:00

Gary (Old Bag on a Bike) and his daughter come and collect me and the bike and make the last few miles to the lunch stop at Theale. I've come 65 miles and I don't want to stop now.

I can't face a baked potato for lunch, my stomach is in knots. Another banana bites the dust!
Gary looks at the bike. John's repair was better than he thought.

To get me back on track he drops me at Arborfield, which is home territory for me (although he did get lost on the way!) I've cycled around here practising, and we are right opposite the stables where the boys are learning to ride.

Cycle past home and off into the wilderness.

Spot some of those funny looking goats with floppy ears. It's opposite a paintball place - my mind, looking for entertainmant, surmises that they have been splatted with brown paint. Sad!!

About a mile on down the road, see a place selling goat meat.

Not a pleasant thought.

2pm Newbury

2006-08-27T14:20:00.000+01:00

Couple I saw earlier meet me just outside Newbury - they are unsure of route.

We got to roundabout in one piece - A34/A4 junction is hazardous - cars aiming at you from all angles.

Am still following John.

Get to traffic lights and disaster strikes. I am over half way and my bike chain has come off. John comes back for me and puts the chain back on, but I am now condemned to riding in a single gear. Call for bike support. They are very busy at Theale fixing bikes/making adjustments. Start riding - they know how to find me and I can make at least some progress.

Am petrified that I'll have to call off the ride.

Owen comes back for me with the kids - another unscheduled stop while he checks bike and concludes that this may hold until Theale. Time plays heavy on my mind. All I can think of is all the people who've sponsored me.

Nicci, my colleague from work, is volunteering at the pub clearing away the lunch stuff. She texts to find out how I'm doing. She's been told the bike's broken.

My parents and sister are at a family barbeque in Angmering (Sussex) They've been following my progress through my text messages. They're all on tenterhooks.

13.15 The stop that isn't

2006-08-27T13:15:00.000+01:00

Even though the Kintbury stop isn't there, people are stopping for refreshments. I'm relieved. For me as a relativelty inexperienced rider, these stops are motivational.

Family is waiting for me.

Meet John, a great grandad whose daughter and grandaughter are also riding.

He's done the ride several times before - but drops in that one year he had to be taken in by van as he hadn't finished on time.

Speed of progress is worrying me.

12.30 - into Hungerford

2006-08-27T12:30:00.000+01:00

Coming into Hungerford pass Pelican Pub - I always think of it as being a few minutes out, which it is in a car. Not so on a bike.

Once had venison and blueberries in there which stained my mouth so badly that i looked like I had no teeth when I smiles. The thought of food reminds me that I should be at the lunch stop by now, but I'm probably 2 hours away.

Bike clunking lots, legs hurting. Family pass me waving, ride on with smile.

Savernake

2006-08-27T11:30:00.000+01:00

The Savernake Forest is very, very beautiful. The steep incline out of Marlborough has me beaten and I have to walk, but I'm not alone. Dad and daughter are doing the same.

She's on an older bike than me and needs a medal!

11.20 - Arrive Marlborough

2006-08-27T11:20:00.000+01:00

Marlborough - toilets - aaaahhhh!!

Have done 35 miles - it's taken over four hours, which is worrying.

Have cup of tea, grab some water and yes, another banana.

Have stopped feeling sick now - riding on a bowl of luxury muesli and an orange juice wasn't smart!

Family has caught up.

Little one has a touch of the am drams and grabs my leg, shouting 'don't leave me mummy!'

The next watering hole no longer exists, so am looking forward to reaching Hungerford which is pretty and is where my parents live.

Meet young girl in loos - she is cycling with her dad and finding it as tough as I am.

Reassure her that Hungerford's just a short way, but have heard some of the veterans saying that the Savernake stretch is the toughest.

Have taken far too long at this stop and am v. concerned about time, but at least have family with me now.

Approx 11.15 Silbury Hill

2006-08-27T11:15:00.000+01:00

Silbury Hill boasts a number of hill climbing sheep.

Make mental note.

Hilly terrain, more suited to goats than people on bikes.

Bike is making clunky noises.

Most of my rides have been on relatively flat terrain - not sure the bike is enjoying the hills - I'm not either, but it's worh it for the views. Feel very solitary and very peaceful. Sing to myself very loudly - belt it out - there's no-one here but me and the sheep.

This place feels really magical - must be the witch in me.

9.50 am White Horse

2006-08-27T09:50:00.000+01:00

Amazing scenery. Tough riding, mainly up hill, but absolutely amazing. Dawdle a bit, taking photos - soaking up atmosphere.

A couple cycling together are doing the same thing.

Ten minutes out here, though - it's going to affect my ability to get in on time.

But wow! Just wow!

9 am Derry Hill

2006-08-27T09:00:00.000+01:00

Still averaging 10 miles an hour and up with the bulk of the riders. No sign of family yet - miss and need them! Text to let people know how I'm doing.

Am given bananas and water which are just what I need.

Try and purchase some fruit and nuts from charity stand, but am also given these.

Only fly in ointment is the lady with the water, who insists on giveng all the men their water drinks before me.

Am told by fellow rider that I look glamorous, which I don't feel, but guess has something to do with the fact that I chose to ride in a cheesecloth top instead of a riding shirt as it's cool and light and also keeps the sun off.

Maybe the banana lady didn't think I was riding?

Around 8.30

2006-08-27T08:30:00.000+01:00

At around 8.30, am in Calne. The route is beautiful. The views from Box Hill were stunning, and Calne is picture box pretty - I wonder what house prices are like.

8am

2006-08-27T08:02:00.000+01:00

By 8 am, Top of Box Hill.

It's not true that this ride is flat - there are huge hills coming out of Bath and me and my bike are not up to hills.

Despite having had to dismount and walk once or twice, am currently doing 10 miles per hour- which is better than my anticipated 8, and given the hilly terrain, which I know flattens off later, am hopeful of reaching Chobham in time for the party!

07.03 Leave Bath

2006-08-27T07:03:00.000+01:00

At 7 am, having registered slightly after 6.30, tagged the bike and taken photos, set off on my adventure.

Family still in hotel room.

Action100: the day before!

2006-08-26T23:39:00.000+01:00

Day before the ride. Hadn't realised how nervous I am. Knowing I'm one big ride down isn't helping.

Checked the hotel voucher and realised that there was no mention of the children staying in the room - went into a bit of a panic. The room was booked in early June by my PA, who I know had asked for them to be included. Anyway, a couple of calls to the hotel and we were back in business, setting off via the bike shop, where I changed my gloves. My weight was being thrown onto my hands when cycling, so I was hoping they'd have something a bit thicker padded - and they did.

They also suggested that the handle bar was too low down, but having taken the bike in for a quick adjustment, it transiped that on these old bikes the brake 'cord' is in the wrong place for adjustments - not a quick adjustment, so decided to live with it - the thought of not making the start line was more than I could bear.

We were off!

The next challenge was the bike carrier. All my previous big rides have been out to a set place, coming back late at night (in the dark) or circular, so the bike carrier, although it had been tested, hadn't been tested to the max. One junction down the M4 we had to stop and get a new bungee spider. Even then the bike was lifting, so progress to Bath was slow - 60 mph all the way. The kids slept most of the way.

Despite the small set back, we arrived in Bath in one piece. Parking with bike on the back was a challenge, but the Hilton did us proud, taking the bike into the luggage room and smoothing the way.

They had also, despite being fully booked for a wedding (it felt very wrong wheeling in a bike following a bride in full regalia), managed to sort out the room booking, and our room was lovely (although my spoilt infants were saying -"isn't there another room, then?" - it was quite small, but this is the centre of Bath!)

We took the kids out to Pizza Hut (I was hoping for pasta, which is supposed to help with energy release), expecting it to be quick and be able to follow on into the Baths, which are open until 10. We were thwarted. Pizza Hut seemed to have no staff, there was something going as the police were in, and two hours later we came out - we might as well have gone somewhere nice!

Anyway, it was too late for the Baths, which would take 90 mins to tour, and our little monkeys misbehave if it gets past their bed time, but help was at hand in the form of a horse and cart taxi. It was a wonderfully touristy way to spend an evening, and we topped it off by letting the kids run around the riverside maze, which exhausted them to the point where we all got a good night's sleep.

But not until we'd replaced the slats in the sofa bed which had been left out when it was made up meaning you diappeared down a hole in the middle every time you sat on it: ah well, nobody's perfect!

Action 100: Three days to go

2006-08-24T18:51:00.000+01:00

Have had some really generous sponsorship - nearly £300 on line and nearly £100 off line, but am getting it in the neck from my olds - simply not enough - they seem to feel that this is rather pathetic.

I can't believe how generous people have been - including an anoymous sponsor, no less. Thank you mystery person!

There have been a lot of wry "are you sure you can do this?" comments, and youngest son is trying to persuade me not to do it. Don't think he's lovin' the idea of being stuck in a car for most of the day to meet me at the various stops.

My great white hope was Simon Peevers at The Bristol Evening Post, who I thought would probably cycle from pub to pub with the lads, giving me a fighting chance of keeping up with him. Unfortunately all indications are that he's been training a very dedicated fashion meaning that I shall, almost certainly, be the last rider into Chobham Rugby Club.

Do I care? Not really - as long as there's a drink waiting at the bar for me. I've been sworn off the booze for the last week as a last minute health check.

So Simon, if you're reading this, I hope you're enjoying your holiday, and line one up for me!

Action 100: Sunday's forecast

2006-08-22T12:57:00.000+01:00

After an unsettled and perhaps windy start on Saturday, the weather should turn drier from the west with more in the way of sunshine, but still some showers. These drier and sunnier conditions should last into Sunday for many with temperatures near average, but further rain is expected to spread to northern and some western areas on this day.

Thanks to the Met Office for the above, and for providing us with near perfect weather conditions for the ride - praise be!!

Action 100: Five days to go

2006-08-22T09:46:00.000+01:00

With just five days to go, in the absence of anything to report on the bike front - other than that the bike is currently in the office taking up unecessary space - a thought to muse over:
When cycling up hills, the down side becomes the upside.

Action100: Six days and counting

2006-08-21T17:02:00.001+01:00

With just six days to go, I'm trembling.

I've missed my last chance of a big ride - anything else now is too close to the day itself.
It's mind over matter from here on in!

Looking forward to it though.

I'm going to Bath with the family the day before and staying overnight so that I can get up and off, avoiding a two hour drive to the start line (I really hate early mornings)

At this stage, all I can do is watch my diet, keep up my activity levels and pester for sponsorship.
So if you're feeling generous, theres a link at the bottom right of this page!

Action100: The countdown

2006-08-19T11:54:00.000+01:00

Just eight days and we're there. I'm on my bike and on my way. Hell, where did the time go?

We had some shannanigans this week as Chobham was under water, which made for an eventful trip home from a friends house last weekend - it was carnage. The water was feet deep - people were queueing to go through puddles of indeterminate depth so that they knew they had a clear run and wouldn't break down. The Bagshot Road was backed up on our side (heading towards the M3) and empty on the other, apart from one, broken down car in the outside lane. We turned round to help, pushing the car off the road. They told us they'd seen a car further down the road with water up to the windows.

There were stalled cars all over the place. The AA vans were out in force. Houses had plumbers and fire forces pumping out water. The drains were like fountains and seemed to be spilling water out rather than taking it away.

So I shouldn't have been suprised when we couldn't get in touch with the rugby club about getting our photo story out. But I was.

But things are moving forwards.

The Bristol Evening Post produced an amazing spread on some children who were born prematurely and lived to tell the tale. There were pictures of them tiny - they were hardly recognisable as babies some of them. Their tales are touching, and I think it's a really positive thing to publish.

Baby mags tend to shy away from the tragic stories of when things go wrong, so as a mum you're left feeling a bit like a pariah when your newborn baby doesn't look like an advert for a photographic studio or can't come home straight away. People don't know whether to send congratulations or flowers. These kinds of stories not only help making things going wrong a little more 'normal' (and I don't know many parents who haven't has some kind of concern in pregnancy, childbirth or with their newborns, however small they appear to the outside world), but they are also incredibly positive - all of those tiny babies are now colourful, loved little characters.

And of course, this years ride will help provide funds towards Action Medical Research's Touching Tiny Lives campaign, which aims to reduce premature birth and the effects of premature birth, a hugely underfunded area of medical research. (The charity is running a petition to increase government funding - see link, below right)

And Agrofair stepped forward with some Fair Trade banana donations.

I'm off for a long ride later today - hopefully to pursuade my sister in Newbury to put the kettle on - I am sworn off the alcohol between now and next Sunday (although if someone could hint loudly to my husband that a bottle of something cold and bubbly is called for at the other end..... don't know why I think this will make a difference: Mr Romantic forgot to buy a wedding anniversary card for Friday, despite us having taken the day off to take the kids out and celebrate.

This will be my last big ride before the real thing - here's hoping!!

Action 100: on track

2006-08-15T14:48:00.000+01:00

481 riders registered for the Action 100 cycle ride so far - closing date this week, but apparently this always happens and we're still 100 up on where we normally are at this stage. It's nailbiting stuff. They had 500 registrations this year and they're coming in at around 25 a day, but had still hoped for more.

Riding's going well - have shaved another 3 pounds off my weight. My husband insists that counting pounds in terms of premature babies is sick, but since the aim is to raise money for a charity that focuses on premature birth, I can't see it that way. Another two premature babies worth peeled oiff my weight is good going... oops, gotta go - conference call (unexpected!)

Action100: On Cycling, Songs, and Bananas

2006-08-10T17:35:00.000+01:00

So here we are. After the weekends cycle I no longer feel like I have a cattle prod up my back and my body seems to have settled back into (sub) normality.

I believe that - thanks to all this exercise - the saddlebags on my hips are shrinking, although this may, of course, be beer goggles (taken purely for curative reasons, of course)

Apropos of nothing much, while I was cycling through the cramp, I came up with a few songs for the situation:
Novocaine for the Soul
Give me Something for the Pain
The Drugs Don't Work

Suicide is Painless made a brief appearance too!

Anyway, you are hereby invited to contribute!

And last but not least, we put out a call for the charity regarding banana blight. It transpires that the shop that had refused us the bananas had actually run out of their charity budget and this was purely an excuse - how to kill a cracking summer PR story in one hit (although with today's events at airports with security checks thanks to terrorist threats, I doubt we'd have made the front page anyway)

So thanks to AgroFair we will now have bananas for riders - and thanks to the Bath Chronicle's call round, some Bath supermarkets have also come up wuth the goodies!

Action 100: Random thoughts from a weekend cycle

2006-08-08T09:09:00.000+01:00

It's Tuesday and I feel like someone's put a board in my back. The pain in my lower back is intense and the palms of my hands are bruised.

No - I'm not still recovering from a wild weekend of festivals. I did a long run ride - and it was a mixture of Heaven and Hell.

A 45 mile round route from home to Sunningdale and back.

I learned a lot about riding and about myself.

If I have something to reach, a goal in sight, sheer bloody minded determination will get me there. A pointless trip to somewhere to turn around and come back again is far harder for me mentally. Tick in the box for the Action 100 ride as it goes from point A (Bath) to point B (Chobham) - and there will be a shower and a bar at the other end.

My boredom threshold is is incredibly low. On the way back, between Sandhurst and Bracknell, the road is absolutely beautiful - surrounded by trees - but monotonous and unchanging if you're cycling.

I found myself playing memory games in a kind of Brucie conveyor belt style as I cycled along: fast food carton; crisp wrapper; packet of condoms (didn't stop to check if empty); empty drink cans; McDonalds toys; half a teddy; plastic sheeting; finish line tape.... oh, and a banana skin that made me think that other cyclists had 'trod' this path before (evidently as downhearted as I was at this stage and reaching for the bananas).

It's also striking how much more aware we become of nature when close to it like that - the rustling in trees (a bit unnerving when you're on your own in the middle of nowhere); things running away and hiding (all you see is a white tail or grey blob vanishing into the hedges). And roadkill becomes much more personal. it's easy in a car to think 'squished hedgehog, rabbit or squirrel without a second thought. On a bike it's staring you in the face - very gory.

Cycle paths - they're another ineteresting phenomena. Blackwater boasts cycle paths with no dips in the pavement to get onto them, and there was one village I went through where the cycle path was so far down a bank that there was no way I could get down onto it, with or without bike.

Camberley's big roundabout is a nightmare on a cycle as you have to get into lane - and there's four or five of them depending upon which point you're at. Which means cycling across lanes to get into lane: as hundreds of boy racers use the route I shan't need to get my legs waxed for months - they did the job for me!

I also failed to take enough water with me - relying (mistakenly) on the fact that there would be garages along the way. Which resulted in the worst cramp along my left leg that I've ever experienced. Again, the Action 100 ride will be better as there are water stops along the way so I know that if I run out, help's not too far away.

The Heaven bits were some of the countryside; stopping for blackberries; hitting Wokingham (which I regard as almost home - which, indeed, it would be in a car) and sitting down afterwards with a map and realising that I'd cycled 45 miles rather that the 30 that I believed I was doing.

And our six year old made me laugh by telling me off when I told him my butt hurt - he ran off to tell everyone that mummy used a rude word, using the opportunity to repeat it as frequently as he could.

The ride now is just three weeks away. My fitness level is improving. I've seen more of the countryside this year than I would normally - my experience is normally limited to the view from a car or carefully created paths through nature reserves.

Despite the fact that I feel like someone removed my back and replaced it with a cattle prodder, bring it on!!

PS Would just like to make a public apology to the people in Easthampstead whose manicured green verge I sat under a tree and ate a banana on, but left the skin behind: there were no bins for miles and I learnt earlier in the ride not to leave banana skins in rucksacks.

Action 100: Premature babies bags and pounds

2006-08-04T15:17:00.000+01:00

Jennifer and team are currently organising a photo shoot of some babies who were born prematurely linked with the ride - as this is what we're currently raining money for (Touching Tiny Lives appeal - more info bottom right)

And I lost a further three pounds this week (weighed last night, celebrated with wine and crisps: oops), taking the total over the last few weeks to seven, which is around three premature babies worth.

And, of course, means I have half a stone less pressure on my knees for the 100 mile ride. Which can't be bad!

(Sponsorship form also bottom right, if you're feeling generous)

Action100: Banana Blight and the Dreaded Bonk.

2006-08-03T15:07:00.000+01:00

Someone once described the 'dreaded bonk' to me. I'm still not sure if this is a technical term - part of me wants to google the word, whilst the other half fears the horrors that may ensue.

Anyway, apparently the bonk is where your glycogen levels fall and you're so weary you can't go on. (And yes, we've heard all the jokes about a bonk every morning)

So, in an effort to prevent this phenomena, or at least make it go away when it hits, the Action 100 organisers usually provide bananas for cyclists along the way, but this year's looking painful. It appears a blight has affected banana supplies across the nation.

In my search for further information, I found the following, which may amuse.
(But before you navigate away from this site, don't forget to click the sponsorship button (bottom right) on this page!)

http://www.leekcyclistsclub.co.uk/ShropshireShuffler/bananas.htm

Enjoy!

Action 100: Update in numbers

2006-08-02T16:19:00.000+01:00

Number of registrations to date: 362 as at yesterday

Total registrations hoped for by end August: 750

Longest ride I've undertaken to date: 36 miles

Days until next long ride: 4

Sponsorship to date: £150
(mental note to start getting sponsored)

Temperature forecast for day of ride: 28 (18)

Action 100: Slow but steady progress

2006-08-01T20:28:00.000+01:00

I failed spectacularly to do my ride to Oxford on Saturday, having woken up with a migraine, meaning I'll really need to work hard to get my next big ride in (currently planned for Sunday)

We still went over to our Oxford friends, Mr and Mrs 'Still-have-Confetti-in-my Hair' Withers, but I went as a passenger instead of by pedal power.

Have also had proof that blogging is bad for your marriage - I made a chance comment about hubbie suggesting I had caught the train to hungerford the other week, rather than genuinely cycling 36 miles. He took some ribbing for it, I'm in the dog house!!

Also made the surprise discovery that horse riding and cycling use similar muscles - at least the rise and fall for trotting seems to put the same pressure on knees and front of legs.

No rude jokes about riding please!

Action 100: getting ready-er

2006-07-21T13:01:00.000+01:00

Went along to get weighed yesterday night - had to take the kiddies with me as babysitting arrangements failed - which they LOVED. (Trudging along to an exercise class with their PJs on - an entire empty hall to 'skid' across.) Why metion it here? The morte I lose, the less I have to lug around on the back of a bike.

My new diet regime to accompany the exercise has resulted in losing 5.5 pounds this week - which, of course is the weight of a small baby, as a friend pointed out.

And as the Action Medical Research current campaign is 'Touching Tiny Lives' it's a very poignant thought that this might actually be the weight of two or three premature babies.

I end on that thought....

Snippets

2006-07-18T11:56:00.000+01:00

Got up this morning and did 15 mins on exercise bike before the kids got up - am beginning to enjoy feeling fitter, although I'm still slightly panicked about 100 miles.

Have also just had diet book sent to me: the all new Ultimate New York Diet. Shall be reading it tonight to see if I think I can do it!!

Lugging around 14 pounds less on the ride and feeling bursting with energy must surely be a boost?

Action 100's Action Woman

2006-07-11T11:18:00.000+01:00

My ride - and Nicci's volunteering to help - has appeared in the Reading Evening Post with the immortatal headline: 'Action Woman Gears Up' - accompanied by Phil's photo of me looking like a Russian shotputter.

Tried to upload to blog to no avail - will try again later.

Girls in office asked if I'd been out cycling last night. Had to confess to having sunk a bottle of wine with husband and fallen asleep. And I'd been doing so well!

Action100: Looks of amazement

2006-07-05T13:56:00.000+01:00

So I've done my first big ride: 36 miles and proud. It was tough, especially the last eight miles, but I did it and for me it was an acheivement.

What's the response? Husband still thinks I caught the train; echoed by flappy-eared son who hangs off his fathers every word as if it were gospel; sister and staff stunned; and father suggests that this is acheivement enough as I'm (quote) "not the most athletic person in the world".

The point of the challenge is just that, guys. For me this is a big thing.

From the time I left school until I had my children, I had always done something I hadn't ever done before on an annual basis. This has meant I've travelled and spent long periods of time in some great places across four continents, learnt a new language, and generally had a ball.

However, the sporting challenges/physical endurance ones are always more challenging. At the age of 20 I parachuted straight into a tree. (As a complete aside, it was the tallest tree in Thruxton, the fire brigade hadn't got a ladder long enough and air sea rescue finally helicoptered me out, with a broken leg and nose.)

I've fallen climbing a waterfall and landed flat on my behind roller skating whilst back packing in Australia.

Skiing in Andorra was hampered by the friend I was with running off with the ski instructor (She's the only person I've ever met with the nerve to send back an instructor demanding a better looking one!).

And diving in the Dominican Republic landed me in hospital with a burst ear drum. Even my personal fitness trainer phase landed me with a diet that helped me put on weight.

So I feel it's natural for me to tackle physical challenges with some trepidation. And to treat this as one of my biggest challenges, even if it's a highly acheivable one for most people.

So those detractors should get their hands in their pockets and cough up for the charity!

Action 100: Zed PR goes the extra mile - literally

2006-07-04T13:32:00.000+01:00

Well, since the rest of the world is having this unleashed upon them, you may as well see it too....

NEWS RELEASE
July 3,2006
ZED PR GOES THE EXTRA MILE FOR CLIENTS

Reading based public relations consultancy Zed PR is gearing up for a busy summer as it prepares for the Action 100 Bike Ride on Sunday 27 August 2006. The cycle ride celebrates its Silver Jubilee this summer. As well as handling PR in the Bristol and Bath area for the event, Claire Thompson, the company’s MD, will be cycling the 100 mile ride in aid of UK charity Action Medical Research while her Zed PR colleague, Nicola Rodie, volunteers on the day.

“It’s all very well promoting an event for a client, but to take part requires an extra level of commitment. I’m far from a regular cyclist, and am cycling on a bike donated by my mother in law, so training for the ride is a real challenge!” laughed Claire. “Although 100 miles seems a lot it is really very achievable if I put the work in now. I’ve watched people with some really debilitating conditions such as chronic asthma and even amputees manage the ride over the past few years, and it would be great to have some fellow Reading residents involved.”

Claire’s colleague Nicola, who has played a key role in getting the great PR coverage that the ride has enjoyed this year, is lending her support by serving lunch at the Theale halfway point. “From a business perspective, it’s great for Zed to be involved with a charity – it’s not only rewarding but it also helps to keep your approach fresh,” she said. “We work with people who are passionate about what they do. 2006 marks the Silver Jubilee for the event so we have pulled out all the stops to try and make this year the most successful yet.”

Action Medical Research was originally founded to cure polio, and having helped to pioneer the vaccine, has expanded its research across a huge array of medical areas including premature birth, MRSA and stroke. In its history the charity has helped to develop the hip replacement, the rubella vaccine and the cooling cap (to reverse brain damage in premature pregnancy). The Action 100 Bike Ride is Action Medical Research’s biggest cycling fundraiser, having raised over £850k for the charity in its 24 years.

“Working with a charity such as Action Medical Research forces us to be creative on a tiny budget. For instance I’ve been writing an Internet ‘blog’ about the ride which has forced us to learn about the medium in a very practical way,” said Claire. “Blogging is a great way to make a big event like this personal. Hopefully others will be amused and add to the sponsorship. The charity is one of those great organisations that touch people’s lives without their knowing - it’s very hard to find someone who is untouched by the work the charity helps fund.”

Claire’s grandmother had polio, which the charity has now helped eradicate in the UK, and she suffers from migraines, into which the charity also funds research. Her blog can be seen at http://bathride.blogspot.com.

As well as Action Medical Research, Zed PR handles a number of accounts across the technology and consumer sector, and is also running a series of ‘starter PR’ seminars to allow small businesses to get started on their own PR initiatives.

Riders can sign up online at http://www.action100ride.org.uk/ or by calling (0117) 973 6993, or by emailing mailto:registration[@]action100ride.org.uk.[taking out the anti-spamming brackets]
/ends

So what's keeping you? Get on and register - if I can do it with my rugby players knees, so can you!

KEYNSHAM ANAESTHETIST RIDING TOO

2006-07-03T11:48:00.000+01:00

Just to prove I won't be riding alone....

Vaughan Martin, 60, has no plans to retire. An anaesthetist at Bath’s Royal United Hospital, Vaughan will this summer take to his bike for the sixteenth time for UK charity Action Medical Research. Vaughan is one of hundreds of cyclists who will cycle for the 25th Action 100 bike ride from Bristol and Bath to London on Sunday 27th August 2006.

Vaughan, who resides in Keynsham, first rode the 100 mile fundraiser in 1984, cycling the ride for ten consecutive years. The 2006 Silver Jubilee event marks Vaughan’s sixteenth cycle, and will mean he has clocked a total of 1600 miles for the charity.

“I take about 6.25 hours to complete the ride, which is actually faster than when I first took part in 1984,” said Vaughan. “As a doctor the charity remains very close to my heart. For an organisation which receives no government funding, Action Medical Research has enabled scientific practice to advance leaps and bounds. The Action 100 bike ride is the charity’s biggest cycling fundraiser, so it is crucial that it is well supported.”

Since helping to discover the polio vaccine, (its original aim), Action Medical Research has diversified and now funds a vast array of research projects up and down the country. Its most current appeal is the Touching Tiny Lives campaign, which aims to ensure vulnerable babies like the premature get the best start in life.

Ev Milker, Ride Chairperson, is ambitious for the 2006 event. “If we could recruit 750 riders this summer and beat last years £62,000 fundraising, this would be a fantastic way to mark the Silver Jubilee. But to make this possible, we need all the support we can. Sign up on your own, with your partner, friends, work colleagues, whatever. We need all of you!”

Riders can sign up online at www.action100ride.org.uk or by calling (0117) 973 6993, or by emailing registration@action100ride.org.uk.

Action 100: Expecting to hurt

2006-07-02T23:35:00.000+01:00

Well, after yesterday's ride I expected to hurt today, but I've only felt the odd twinge of used (rather than pulled) muscle.

I've kept on the move and haven't, apart from sunburnt knees contributing to a really poor and patchy leg tan, got any real war wounds to show for my troubles.

My sister Louise seems to think that aching knees could be a sign of trouble, but they don't hurt enough for me to be concerned. They're only creaking a bit in protest when I put weight on them (climbing stairs, for example).

So now I'm planning next weekend's ride. Shame I wasn't ready for the London to Brighton last week (or was it the weekend before).

Action100: the first big test

2006-07-01T22:38:00.000+01:00

Well, it was the first big test for me. Having failed last weekend to do my 20 mile ride, this week's challenge was Reading to Hungerford, a ride that turned out to be 36 miles. I left at 2.30 and was in Hungerford in time to know that England's time in the World Cup was over.

I set out confidently, armed with water, wallet and a bike lock. I headed out from Woodley to Shinfield, cutting across the motorway before reaching Junction 11 of the M4, which would have been a life threatening move. Unfortunately, things look very different on a cycle, and I missed my turning, taking a three mile detour to get back on track.

The sense of relief when I found my way was profound, and the first ten miles were possibly the toughest to motivate myself - I didn't seem to be able to get put of Reading. After cycling for the best part of an hour, I was finally running parallel to the M4 and on my way to Theale. Even though this part of the world is just 20 minutes by car out of Reading, there are some beautiful wooded areas, and the trees offered fantastic protection from the blazing sun.

I also made a wry note that even though this area was highly rural, there wasn't a 'Chelsea Tractor' (4WD) in sight.

It was notable at this stage how few cars there were on the road. From there on in until I arrived in Hungerford, I knew that our boys were playing well from the animated shouting coming from pubs and houses along the way.

At Theale, which will be the lunch stop when I cycle the Action 100, I went to get something to stop my stomach gurgling. I have heard people recommending bananas, but they seemed too heavy. I plumped for a packet of peppermints, which just me thirstier and added to the nausea. Lesson learned.

Theale to Thatcham was the next stretch. As I was pedalling along the A4, cars started shooting past as if possessed. I rang home to find out if I'd been really slow and the match had finished, but no - the loons who nearly had me off my bike were simply heading to a new destination for the second half, or off to the 'offie' to replenish stocks.

I was holding out hope of a quick stop for a cup of tea at my sister's house in Thatcham. She was, of course, out.

Rather than cycle into Newbury across the industrial estate, I went through Shaw, which I knew would take me up hill, but the thought of freewheeling down the other side was just too alluring. I'm glad I did. The gorgeous old mill house cottages that for years I've thought 'one day' (and kick myself because I once let the opportunity to buy pass) have been developed and now look lovely, but not a patch on the old cottages with their large courtyard in front - which was obviously far too prime a piece of land to leave untouched. So I've stopped kicking myself on that front. (It's great - getting fit and absolution all in one afternoon!)

Coming around the tradffic system when I hit Newbury was a bit hairy - and I'm not convinced I didn't commit a major traffic infraction by shooting red lights. But no harm done and I was soon through Newbury and facing a sign saying 'Hungerford 8 miles'.

Now for the rest of the ride, the scenery, pretty cottages, woodland and yes, even racing glimpses of the M4 had kept my mind off the hard saddle, occassional cramps and the fact that my knees, to which I had liberally applied factor 45 before leaving, were going scarlet where my cycling shorts had ridden up. (These shorts, incidentally, paid for themselves a million times over - the tops of my legs remained sweat and sore free for the entire ride.)

But the A4 between Hungerford and Newbury is bleak. Coming down the hill from Benham Valence I was, I suspect, mildly delusional. With fields full of corn and pretty flowers, I was trying hard to remember which tune used to accompany the Timotei ads. (It was the flowers and sunlight in hair, along with the fact that I was now seeing everything in soft focus where my contact lenses had smeared with dust, pollen and salt.)

But there are only so many minutes you can spend before acknowledging that this particular stretch of road is bleak. My mind turned to roadkill. I passed several rabbits (many in pairs), hedgehogs, squirells (also in pairs) a fox, a few birds and a pheasant. Amusingly, there also seemed to be huge numbers of England flags. I can only assume that they fall off speeding cars.

Anyway, back to the A4. It's long and almost straight. No trees. No buildings. Just the open road. Which is appealing in a Maserati, less so on a Raleigh. I felt elated when I reached the Halfway House, only to come to the crushing realisation that this was only halfway. Between there and Hungerford was only road.

Without anything else to hold my attention, the cramp in my knees felt bad. I peeled myself off my bike for a few minutes and stretched, had some water and gave myself a stern talking to.

I expected to feel elated when I reached the outskirts of Hungerford. All I felt was relief. Just a mile or so more would see me at my mothers house.

I could tell from the faces on people leaving the pubs, from the subdued silence, that the England game had been lost. A man with a mobile phone pressed to his ear leant out at me as I passed saying "did you see it, did you see it."

And so I arrived, hot, sticky, but very intact, in Hungerford. I rang home to let my husband know I'd arrived safely. He accused me of having caught the train, a though echoed by cost centre senior (eldest son) when I spoke to him. I think they think I shan't make this ride.

So anyway, I've done it. My first big test. 36 miles through some of Britain's loveliest countryside, along part of the route that I'll actually be cycling when I do the ride.

I've learnt that this is far more about mental state than physical fitness. That I need to invest in some cycling gloves. That I don't need to angst about a lack of toilets (I know, but it was worrying me more than drinks etc which i know are all provided) And that if I don't get a wiggle on with some serious training, it's going to take me 11 hours to complete this ride.

Action100:Caught on film

2006-06-30T20:26:00.000+01:00

Nicci and I had our photos taken today for some local PR around the ride. Phil Rudge, the photographer, managed to find a countryside looking location on our highly urban business site - he has a real eye for these things. I look and see a lorry park - he looks and sees all kinds of opportunities!

Anyway, he offered to do the photography as his contribution towards the ride - we hope our story will inspire others to cycle as well, as we really want to help get numbers up to over the 750 riders this year.

Action 100: oops

2006-06-26T13:36:00.000+01:00

My plan for this past weekend involved a good deal of 'pootling' on the bike, culminating with a big 20 mile ride over to my sister's house on Sunday for a barbeque, in honour of which my husband was aiming to fix the bike carrier to the car.

As we have a tow bar for a boat, and the car's alteady ridiculously long (Rover 600) I admit to some trepidation over parking in our rather narrow office car park with the4 extra appendage. As it was, we have avoided the stress altogether. Didn't happen!

On Friday after work I went for about an hours cycle with the kids in tow, still in skirt and high heels. Before you laugh, the solid base on my heeled shoes made for a far better base than trainers. However, you do have permission to laugh at my foolishness for cycling with a skirt on. Having left the boys at a football match with their father, I cycled into Reading for a 7 pm meet. By the time I got there, the inside of my right leg was rubbed raw. I had been warned that I would need vaseline and sudacreme if I was going to become a real cyclist. they weren't kidding. Two hours and this happens.

Unfortunately the saga doesn't end there. I had been presenting to a group of very friendly - very lovely - complementary health therapists about their PR, and they forced me (well, OK, invited me) to have a few drinks with them. At this point I make usual excuses about not having eaten, and you know what's coming. At the end of the evening, I get onto my bike after three beers, which, in the normal course of things I swear would not banjax me. Especially as the first was at 6.30 the last at somewhere around 11pm.

At this point I realised that my bike has no lights. And that my leg was VERY sore. And that cycling over 'sleeping policemen' jolts. And that whilst my saddle may declare that it's 'gel' it's nothing like a gel saddle in the 2006 sense of the word.

And whilst I'm quietly grumbling to myself, mounting the pavement before I get mowed down by some poor unsuspecting motorist, I take a tumble. Which, in a long straight skirt hitched over a bar, is even more undignified than cycling in, well, a long straight skirt hitched over a bar.

Having picked myself - and the bike - up off the pavement where we were unceremoniously dumped, I bravely jumped back in that saddle - a small tumble was never going to deter me - I'm made of sterner stuff than that, I thought to myself, and boldly set off again, pedalling firmly and newly sobered up.

Perhaps not as soberly as I thought though. I bravely cycled through the pain in my shoulder and back, rounding the corner by the University and straight into the arms of the law: almost.

A marked squad car had pulled over a cycle, apparently for having no lights. I was on the pavement and in a highly visible white top, but I wasn't taking any chances. I pedalled like the fugitive that my poor tired brain had me believe I was. And although I still couldn't make the speed camera at the end of our road flsh up '30mph, slow down', I made a mighty fine effort.

As a result of which I spent the weekend walking like John Wayne, creaking and groaning, and have now purchased both a very sensible pair of riding shorts which make my legs look like rugby player's and a bike light.

And yes, my bum does look big in this.

My poor husband was convulsed with laughter and has been doing his best not to blunder, making statements such as' well when they're toned they won't look quite so bumpy...', 'it's a great incentive to slim' and 'you know I love squishy bums'.

Sometimes, guys, just sometimes, silence really is the only way forwards.

The week that was

2006-06-23T14:18:00.000+01:00

Phew, what a week!

Aside of the normal manic dash, I have been making great strides. I cycled into Reading last Saturday, which, although it was only 6 miles gave me some much needed road experience. I am really biting the urge to become onbe of those cyclists that kerbs to cross the road etc, but I can see why they do it. People treat you with so little respect on a bike that I was beginning to think 'stuff you then' (or thoughts to that effect!)

Drivers seem to think that leavinbg a whisker's breadth between their car and you is OK - free leg shaving service! And pedestrians think that if they smile at you it's OK to step out in front of you. So it's very tempting to cycle on the pavement at will.

My youngest has managed to bust my practise cycle by tightening the resistance belt so tight it pinged. He found it hysterically funny and when I protested just stuck his tongue out and ran off. Anyone out there want to buy a small, cheeky child? Highest bidder can have him - am even prepared to deliver!

(And if Interpol are reading this, no I'm not really selling him, I just feel like it sometimes!)

Anyway, we made the trip a fun one by the kids getting into Reading on the bus, and me cycling - I beat them hands down both ways (although I suspect that their return back incorporated a trip into Richer Sounds with dad as I managed to watch most of Doctor Who before they arrived.)

We are also going to get my new bike buggy this weekend having finally ascertained that I can safely pavement cycle most of the way too and from junior's nursery (very wide poavements), which will have the net effecxt of clocking up an extra 20-30 miles a week, which has to have a positive effect.

Not me

2006-06-16T23:05:00.000+01:00

Just for the record, she may have blonde hair, be around the same age, but no, this is not me (although I wouldn't say no to the cars!)

http://photos.fotango.com/cgi-bin/public_gallery_item.cgi?id=530088&index=30&key=

Nice try Boditeq

2006-06-16T08:57:00.000+01:00

Had a posting from 'Gerard' suggesting I try out the Boditeq training site. It looked promising. It has to have been a (not brilliant) PR person from the wording "Wow, at last a site..." Does anyone really talk like that?

It's like a fitness trainer I did some PR with a while back who didn't like the genuine blog that someone was writing for her (she wasn't getting great results and was struggling a bit, but the trainer concerned was helping her hang on in there) and replaced it with one saying "R is amazing. She's really made this easy," and other such platitudes. Anyway, I digress.

I checked out the site. Having answered all their questions, including giving them my mobile number which I never do online normally, can't get past the pick a date to start screen.

Which wasted my time and theirs.

So if anyone else can help, I'm up for it: hypnotists, fitness trainers, dieticians, counsellors, whacky chemical infusions (well, maybe not), go faster wheels for my bike, teleporter.... at this stage I need the works - bring it on!

Stupidly busy

2006-06-16T08:41:00.000+01:00

Have had a stupidly busy time lately.

Some of it work. Some of it the School PTA, from which I shall have to resign - it's mad: you say 'I'll help' (thinking, help out ateam) and suddenly the whole job's dumped upon you!

So on the days I've had human contact I've been pedalling like crazy as stress relief!

That said, this just isn't enough, so have entered a competition for an X-bike (not purchasing one yet - not convinced my lifestyle allows enough leeway for cycling as a permanent hobby!) and we've tried out the cart on back of bike for the little one again. There's a new crossing over the A4 at Sonning which means that when I pick my little one up I can remain on pavement. Cycling to the nursery would mean I was doing an extra 7 miles a day, which would be a huge bonus.

Someone's left a response to a blog about a training website, so I'll check it out and report back if its any use!

A little extra practise

2006-06-01T09:01:00.000+01:00

Well, with kids away and therefore no need to ferry in cars, finally managed to cycle to work.

Half term: roads were dead - not great practise, but better than nothing.

Arrived, however, to the following news:
The A4 Bath Road between Bristol and Bath is to be closed this summer for major road-works.
Repairs to the A4 through Saltford will begin on 17 July and motorists will be unable to use the road for a period of about nine weeks. Bath traffic will be directed onto the A39 just before the Globe roundabout. Bristol motorists will be diverted at the Hicksgate roundabout, where the A4 meets the A4147 ring road.

So what? In a nutshell, this means a longer ride thanplanned, although I'm hoping that by startin g the ride from Bath this will be minimal!

(And for the organising team this means a massive communications effort to the riders as the route's changed!)

All good fun!

Excuses on holiday

2006-05-30T14:15:00.000+01:00

My two small excuses for not going out daily for a long ride have gone on holiday (half term) with their doting grandparents.

So the pressure's on - no excuses - I have to be out cycling!

Critical Mass

2006-05-26T14:29:00.000+01:00

The Critical Mass ride (http://www.criticalmasslondon.org.uk/) seems to be running into problems: their 'see where the road takes you' ethos is a bit too anarchic for the authorities it would appear.

Which seems like a good enough reason to join in.

Yesterday the Daily Mail, today the Bristol Evening Post

2006-05-25T14:37:00.000+01:00

Our PR activity with Elyes Gabel is beginning to bear fruit - after having gone through appropriate hoops with BBC, agents etc.

Daily Mail piece last week, today the Bristol Evening Post, which doesn't seem as glam but is really key for helping r4ecruit riders for the ride:

"CASUALTY star Elyes Gabel is urging people to get on their bikes to help raise money for charity by riding from Bristol to London...." by Simon Peevers.

I would put the URL here, but it's so long it destroys the blog's layout, so if you go to: http://www.epost.co.uk and key in Elyes Gabel as search term you'll find it.

Gorgeous Guppy

2006-05-16T15:40:00.000+01:00

Great excitement today as Nicci sets off to Bristol to help manage a photo shoot.

Elyes Gabel, who plays the gorgeous Guppy in Casualty, has given up his lunch hour to go over to the hospital and meet some of his real life counterparts, also riding the Action 100, to help promote the ride and recruit riders.

Getting there

2006-05-14T08:07:00.000+01:00

Yesterday I had to work.

It was a beautiful day, the FA cup was on, and the boys had gone sailing, but when you run you run your own business sometimes its easier to accept that a day with no interuptions is going to be the easiest way to get the office moved, the IT working etc.

So I took advantage and planned a ride after work. I had thought 25 miles, but my husband, quite rightly, pointed out that I am not used to the bike and that starting with less was more likely to keep me out of trouble.

Accepting the reduced level of ride, and dressed for the cycling, I thought a jog to the shops at lunchtime might be more appropriate than my normal gentle amble. (Even though it's urban, there's a lot of wildlife around and it's generally fairly quiet.)

I assumed that people were looking at me because my jogging style's a bit girly/didn't wear a sports bra/Canterbury's are colourful (not that bright though). The real reason, it transpires, was that a bird had pooed on my shoulder. Not a sparrow. How I missed it landing I will never know. It was, I swear, at very least, an eagle. That had been eating. Lots.

One centimetre higher and it would have been in my hair. I only found it when I reached up to get something. And of course, it had to land, a big green glunky mass, on the white bit of my jacket. So cleaning up was added to my to do list.

Ignoring the fact that the big finger of God appears to be pointing at me and telling me to give up on this fitness madness, I went on my cycle ride. And very pleasant it was too. The absence of pain is reassuring. Lessons learned:
1. There's something big in the bushes in Sandford (This backs onto Dinton Pastures wildlife park, so doubtless it was a deer or fox rather than the alien invasion, mugger or other sinister happening that fertile imagination conjured up on an empty road, cycling alone at dusk)
2. Knicker elastic starts to get painful at around the ten mile mark.
3. Gel saddles aren't as comfy as people make out.
4. For every steep incline upwards, there's generally an equally steep one down at the other end.
5. No, I can't make the '30 Mph limit, Slow down' sign up by the school flash up on the bike.
6. Cars aim at you on a bike.
7. Teenage cyclists also aim at you.
8. At current rate of progress, the Action 100 ride will probably take me around 10 hours.
9. The worst hills aren't the steep ones, but the slow, gentle inclines like motorway crossings.
10. Reading at 8pm on a Saturday evening is full of people already wasted - before they go out.

And I now have the bug and want to do it again!

How good am I?

2006-05-12T19:44:00.000+01:00

Have been a better behaved blogger this week, despite immense work pressure and overexcited small children - managed several entries.

Did a small on-line 'thing' the other day which generates a 'blogger code': was about tp paste the code onto my site but thought better of it - I plan persuading ancient rellies to sponsor me via this site, so having some kind of 'Readers Wives' pop up on screen because I've inadvertently posted smutty code probably isn't the best way to secure their support.

Of couse, it may be stricly legit, but I'm not sure it's a chance I want to take.

Anyway, quite simply, I'm applauding myself with this entry for having penned plenty this week, and for the 25 mile ride I'm planning for tomorrow. (Husband's taking boys down to the boat, so although I'll miss a day's sailing, I'll be in the saddle guilt-free!)

Bike's back

2006-05-10T16:48:00.000+01:00

The bike is back - and what a difference.

For a mere 25 pounds, the bike has gone from the kind of machine that needs a basket on the front to the kind that needs a lycra clad racer on the back. I wish servicing did that to my Rover!
Apparently the rear gear had broken.

I've stopped beating myself up about only using two gears (out of what I thought was 17). The (17) 'go faster' graduating marks around the gear 'bell' are apparently only for decoration, and the bike actually has just three gears at the front - and I'd only need the top one if I was going really fast (a little hard around suburban Reading).

And the back gears were broken anyway, so no wonder I was confused! (Before you think I'm having a blonde moment, I hadn't been on a bike for 20 years before I embarked upon this challenge: my last bike was a chopper - first time around - that my parents gave away to the gypsies because apparently I wasn't looking after it properly. )

Between this and the people I spoke to on Sunday, I really do feel I can conquer this challenge.

The long and short of said advice came down to: if you're relatively fit you can do the Action 100. The pain factor comes in if you don't practise on your own bike in your own kit - expect to be sore (as in blisters, not muscles)

So the kit will be a great investment (no I didn't get shorts for my birthday: Mr Romantic got me a birthday card) But I'm not buying anything until I'm a little more sylph-like than I am at present.

Bearing my soul

2006-05-08T17:12:00.000+01:00

Promised to put up picture from Sundays Action 100 lunch.

The boys meet charity mascot, Paddington Bear.....

Back to reality

2006-05-08T17:09:00.000+01:00

After weekend of excess, looking forward to a cyclathon tonight (in front of telly on exercise bike) and collecting bike from it's service tomorrow.

Bike shop rang and said it was going to cost less than expected: I can live with service like that!!

Party, party

2006-05-07T19:54:00.000+01:00

Just came back from the Action 100 launch party. Well, launch lunch. In Bath.

This was originally due in March, and I had accepted my invite, but today was possibly the worst day of the year it could be for me.

Firstly, it was a day which we technically had free. Second, third and fourthly this week saw my husband's, my eldest son's and my bithdays (in that order), culminating in a huge children's party yesterday, which saw the children hijacking a the DJs equipment until around 10.30 pm. Followed by clearing up. After lots of work shopping, cooking, preparing party favours, and all the other things that children's parties require.

So after celebrating husband's birthday (bank holiday), son's sixth birthday (actual day wqas Thursday) and gearing up for yesterday's beano, today should, technically, have been a day of rest.

Professionally, it was due to be a great chance to catch up with the stories of the people who make up the fabric of this incredible ride: the riders; the helpers; the head of fundraising for the charity. Personally, it was fantastic opportunity to meet some of the other riders, be inspired to get more sponsorship (if you're feeling generous/flush/charitable, you can sponsor me through the link at the bottom right of this page), and catch up with people who I have long considered friends.

Unprofessionally, I was pooped. I hadn't slept properly for two nights and managed to get hammered last night. I was at a loss to explain it. All I could think was that because I was preparing so much food, I hadn't eaten properly. Now I know that sounds a bit like the lame old 'I must have had food poisoning' when head has been over loo after heavy night out (those were halcyon days, before infants made the trade off a price too heavy to pay - ever tried responding to a persistent three year old when head won't lift from pillow?)

My husband actually noted the reason. I had drunk four glasses of wine over a period of eight hours, so no reason there to expect to feel anything other than a little warmed and full of goodwill. Except that the bar was serving .25 litre glasses of wine. Which means that I drank a litre. On an empty stomach. Without having slept much.

Which is a very long winded way of saying that I was really not at my best today - slightly jaded. I knew I wouldn't make the 11am bike ride from Bristol to the venue, but I had expected to get there a bit early. (Thank God for Nicci, who was there, bright eyed and bushy tailed, looking calm and collected and socialisng well, creating a great impression for the company.)

We had an amazing time. At the venue, The Boat House in Bath, the kiddies could play outside. And Richard Westropp, the last chairperson had brought his (affable) dog which they loved petting. We won't have one (when the boys - all three of them - can tidy up after themselves, I'll consider it. A hound in the mix just spells even smellier choas than the current melee of smelly socks and trainers)

Jen had done a great jon of organising, and had arranged for Paddington Bear, the charity's mascot, to meet the birthday boy (the littler of the two, son not husband) and deliver a cake. You should have seen his little face light up. He just couldn't believe it - Paddington! There! For him! (I'll upload a picture from the office PC tomorrow - am writing this on ancient home PC for kiddy use)

The company (Zed PR) had a big thank you for the work we've done for the charity - we've had some lovely articles written about the ride. An official declaration of my intention to ride was made (no pressure, then!) and lots of people were refered to this blog, on the basis that its going to be amusing. (Great - I'm tired and hungover and have to write a blog AND be funny. No chance. If you've read this far and can still follow the thread, you're doing well - and I'm doing better than expected.)

There were all of the amazing stories that I had hoped to find - and more. The amputee whose experiences with the ride have taken him on to challenges around the World. A man who was involved with some of the earliest rides. Someone from Bath who had some ideas regarding local media. An anaesthetist with a logical link to the charity (Action Medical Research). An inspirational talk from the Fundraiding Director.

I just hope that none of them noted that my brain hurt, my eyes felt like pee holes in the snow, and that my mouth tasted like the bottom of a parrot's cage.

Goody, Goody

2006-05-03T10:57:00.000+01:00

I have a fear - ever since Ms Goody was lambasted for only doing 20 miles of the Marathon having boasted about a lack of training supported by beers and curry, I have visions of me, having been blogging for months about my good intentions (and, on occassion, abject terror) regarding this ride, not being fit enough to stay the course.

Heaven forbid that I should do it in such a chav-like fashion of course - the beer's a given (my husband's a brewer), but supplemented by great taste in wine (she says modestly) and a finer palette than curry. (OK, I confess, I eat curries too, but only home made ones, and as part of a balanced diet!) But this is a far younger woman than me, a woman who has released a fitness video, shed pounds.... I'm struggling to find time to pedal even to work between the school runs and hectic social schedule of the small 'n' stinkies and needing to keep the business running.

Anyway, the bike has gone in for its service. I pedalled to the bike show with the kids last night. First step was to get it fitted. Expecting to have to lower the saddle (getting on is SO ungainly), I now find it needs raising: "You have to be standing on tiptoes."

The manager looked at me askance when I told him I was cycling 100 miles (and has agreed to put up an Action 100 ride poster).

What I really wanted him to do was to sell me the whole kit - to get excited and help me get in the right frame of mind. I did mention that I won't buy the shorts yet - I am determined to have shifted some weight before I ride - the less I can lug around with me the easier I'll find the ride. But instead of kitting me out, he looked at me and said: "You're fine the way you are - she's lovely and cuddly, isn't she boys."

My children, who have been indoctrinated from a very tiny age to understand that you NEVER, EVER say anything bad about mummy unless you are in a position to scarper very, very quickly, agreed loudly - and asked for a pair of cycling gloves each.

So I'm now ten pounds lighter - from the wallet, not the hips.

Does my bum look big in this

2006-04-28T10:24:00.000+01:00

I realise that over the last two weeks I have been a bad blogger - a very bad blogger indeed.

In my own defense, it was Easter - and I have actually been spending loads of time with my exercise bike.

Training began in earnest when my over-honest (just) four year old said "Mummy, you're fat". Full marks for observation, son.

In goes knife: "fatter than a house - your bottom's the biggest bottom in the world, mummy."
Small child runs off sniggering!

So I've geared up the training, and even though the weight doesn't seem to be coming off (must be hormones?) my stomach muscles are pulling (I hadn't expected that to happen!) and my leg muscles (top of legs) are definitely doing something.

I inwardly laughed the other day when a VERY fit young man (Early 20s) told me he's cycled 30 miles and he was sweating so he thought he'd got the wrong kind of bike to do the ride. I put it down to beauty not brains - I mean, 30 miles! Just an hour of solid cycling on the bike is bringing me out in a very rosy glow!

It's my birthday next week, so have again put in an order for cycling shorts.

And I've signed up for Rosemary Conley classes (As an aside, I can't bear the confessional tone of WeightWatchers. "I confess I had an extra glass of wine" - it just makes me want to snigger and cheat just so that I can make a shocking confession to see the looks on their faces. (Does this make me an evil person?) At least Rosemary Conley is based on some common sense - fill your tank up with calories and anything you don't burn off will be stored as fat - so get burnin'.)

Next weekend is the Action 100 riders party. To celebrate 25 fantastic years, the party is primarily for the cycling fundraisers to recognise the achievements of riders past and present, as well as looking forward to future successes for the charity. Guests of honour will include Lewis Coghlin, Head of Fundraising for Action Medical Research, and Mike Pope, an inspirational above-the-knee amputee who completed the ride in 2004 with his specially designed artificial leg.

So I now have just a week to get myself sylph-like and fit enough to cycle along the tow path to the venue: I just love an impossible challenge!

PS Now have over £70 of online sponsorship and a further £40 offline, without even having asked yet!

PPS Squeak croaked! (See previous entried ref mouse in office)

'fessing to the parents

2006-04-12T09:38:00.000+01:00

Started letting family know I'm 'IN' - has been the root of much riebald commentary and amusement.

Father sent email:

Barmy one
you can borrow my waterbottle and vaseline
Dad

For someone who's communication with me is normally limited to (phone) "I'll get your mother" unless the subject of HIS grandchildren arises (note, his grandchildren, not my children), this is ground breaking progress!

There may be some hidden benefits to undertaking this ride after all. Just don't let him start of the subject of chaffing.... not sure this is great father/daughter bonding matter.

Squeak

2006-04-11T09:52:00.000+01:00

No - it's not my bones. Temporarily out of action due to a football injury so there's not a peep coming from my cycle or cycling machine at present!

But we do have a new addition to the office team, which in the absence of any cycling advances may be amusing in a kind of 'passing interest' way.

A small mouse. And his mates.

We knew there were a few mice in the building - it's an old building, but as they hadn't appeared in our office we were tolerant and even quite endeared. My children named him Mickey, but then decided that as he wasn't balck and white he should be called Squeak. And 'he' was confined to the coridoor.

But when I came into the office yesterday Nicci was looking flustered and pointed to the bin. Squeak (or one of his friends - I'm not naive enough to believe that mice come in ones!) was gymnastically balanced going through whatever crumbs he might be able to find.

We hatched a plan - Operation Squeak Extraction was on. I grabbed rubber gloves. Nicci grabbed a cardboard box. The box sealed him in and I lifted him out to the car park - it was kinder than extermination. Only it wasn't. We're no match for the nible footed Squeak who managed, somehow, to escape.

Having followed the debates in 'Computing' about which colour wires mice prefer, we are now on red alert and can't allow Squeak to stay put. The site manager has called in pest control.

And I feel oh so cruel, arranging the extermnination of a tiny furry creature.

How does cycling 100 miles for charity sound as penance?

Can now be sponsored online

2006-04-06T11:15:00.000+01:00

My online sponsorship form is now up and live.

The money is going to one of the best causes imaginable: Action Medical Research genuinely touches hundreds of lives, every day.

You know the sugar cube you got when you were a child - they helped initiate that.
Take a look at their website: http://www.action.org.uk/

It's going to be a long and painful 100 mile challenge - I'd like to make it worthwhile, so if you can sponsor me - thanks!

There's a link in the sidebar on this site. (And don't forget that if you click on the google ads on this page, money also goes to the charity.)

Thanks for your help!

Ouch and words of wisdom

2006-04-05T18:47:00.000+01:00

Ouch! Ouch! Ouch!

Got to the weekend feeling very smug that my cycling (albeit on an indoor exercise bike) was causing me no pain.

'Tis true: pride does come before a fall. Expecting the front of my legs to hurt like billio was just plain wrong. It's my butt! Come Saturday I was walking like John Wayne.

And just as I started to recover, bam!

Kids in car, ready to take mine plus few other wisecrack six year olds off to an Easter Holiday football course, I kick a football wearing high heels. Not clever. Ankle goes over and gives out. It was as much as I could do not to swear in front of a car full of flapping ears.

I know to my expense that anything I say will be repeated, especially if they think they shouldn't.

In fact (and this has nothing to with the ride, but hell, I'm not getting on a bike for a few days at least) I spent a sleeples and tormented night a few weeks back after being called in to see my six-year old's teacher on 'a disciplinary issue'. I had visions of him having beaten up a smaller child, or tearing up books in a tantrum.

His grand offence was say the word 'bugger' - and then deny it. Does laughing with relief make me a pants parent? (I know I should take it seriously, especially the fibbing bit but I can't articulate the sheer relief.)

Anyway, am expecting the article on Brenda Dickinson, the lady who started the Action 100 bike ride to appear on Friday.

And am now properly registered to do the ride - my debit card didn't go through originally as the form didn't have an issue number on it, which is apparaently par for the course when submitting lots of financial information on a single piece of paper - has made me quite nervy (quite rightly) about filling in other forms to go through the post ever since.

And I've applied for an online sponsorship form, so watch this space for financial requests. (Please read whilst feeling drunk and full of goodwill towards the whole world - I'm sure I was when I signed up!)

So whilst my fitness may not be heading in the right direction, at least other things are!

V. Bridget Jones

2006-03-30T15:33:00.000+01:00

At risk of sounding v. Bridget Jones:

Monday:
Time on cycling machine: 6 mins - sprint
Calories burned: unsure - readout on blink
Distance travelled: ditto
Small child in trouble for inappropriate use incidents: 3

Tuesday
Time on cycling machine: 15 mins - sprint
Calories burned: unsure - readout on blink
Distance travelled: ditto
Small child in trouble for inappropriate use incidents: 5
Pain from previous days efforts: slight awareness of leg muscles - nothing too bad - am I doing it wrong?

Wednesday
Time on cycling machine: None (sorry)
Calories burned: ditto
Distance travelled: ditto
Small child in trouble for inappropriate use incidents: Don't know - father was looking after them whilst mum went out for drinks.
Pain from previous days efforts: Still nothing. In fact slight exercise-induced euphoria. Still I guess 15 mins is nothing to write home about. On the other hand, haven't been on a bike for the best part of 20 years, so it's a small personal victory.

Thursday
Time on cycling machine: Planned for this evening
Calories burned: TBA
Distance travelled: ditto
Small child in trouble for inappropriate use incidents: None - in fact littlest infant was using machine amazingly well, showing off to Grandad when I left this morning.
Pain from previous days efforts: Nothing from the exercise. Headache from drinking on empty stomach.

Nice piece in Bristol Evening Post about fellow rider, Grant Crawley, yesterday.

Chobham, here I come

2006-03-26T15:03:00.000+01:00

The exercise bike that my friend promised me has arrived.

The kids are intrigued: the four year old nearly lost his fingers trying to get them into bits of it that no-one else even knew were there: that's my boy! And the pair of them were at the wrong end of firm words from dad when they tried to ride it tandem!

It's nowhere near as derelict as I thought it would be: it has a good solid base and electronic read out (although I'm not sure that anything other than the timer works), so I'm really chuffed.

Anyway, I managed to put in a ten minute sprint and work up a sweat before my shower this morning and now have that lovely glowing feeling that only exercise can give you.

I can feel the muscles at the top of my legs recovering from the shock, and I just know I'll hurt a bit tomorrow, but not nearly as much as I would if I rode the whole 100 miles unprepared (suspect I'd get no further than the first drinks stop without the help of this machine).

Enthusiasm can carry you so far: from there on in it's hard work.

But I now feel really optimistic and like I really may actually stay the course: take the bets off me guys - I'll see you at the finish in Chobham!

Busy times

2006-03-24T14:10:00.000+01:00

Lack of blogging action doesn't mean any lack of activity - honest!

At risk of being a name dropper, this week we arranged for Raleigh to drop a bike off for Elyes Gabel - the 'studmuffin' (thanks Nicci for this term - which will now always be linked to the name Elyes!) who plays Guppy in Casualty whose doing the ride. And we were all a flutter because he called the office: he's got a melted toffee kind of voice to match those puppy eyes...mmmmm. We do, of course, also now have his picture on the office wall.

Anyway, back to reality, my exercise bike is being delivered tomorrow by Mirella, who I hope reads this: THANKS!

Yesterday I interviewed the lady who started the ride - she's 84 and has had heart problems, so tried hard not to stress here. She's one of those ladies of a certain age who married professionals and did lots of very worthy charitable deeds, very practical and absolutely formidable - knew how to network and charm before networking was reinvented by the Americans.

Did hear some funny stories yesterday - but think they all held back a bit, afraid I'd print the lot!

Furthermore, the Bristol Evening Post has agreed to support the ride in all kinds of ways (another meeting yesterday).

Miles under my belt this week - only two rides (short ones), but have all the food and training bumf in my grubby little mits and am feeling a bit better now - they suggest that if you're up to a couple of 25 mile rides beforehand, the 100 miles is acheivable.

That makes me feel a lot better about my inability to find time to ride, and a lot more optimistic about acheiving my goal.

Hope to be able to report at least 10 miles by Monday!

Paddington does his bit - the image!

2006-03-16T20:48:00.000+01:00

Think the reason the picture didn't get up was it's size, but anyway, here it is - Paddington on the left and Ev on the right.

And the brand new Action 100 logo!

Paddington does his bit

2006-03-15T18:25:00.000+01:00

Action 100,unveiled its new silver jubilee logo, with a little help from charity mascot, Paddington Bear, and Bristol West MP, Steven Williams.

The ride will run for the 25th time on Sunday August 27, 2006. In its history, the ride has raised the best part of three quarters of a million pounds for Action Medical Research, an amazing charity that has helped fund medical breakthroughs for more than 50 years.

(But I can't get the picture up into this blog for some reason!)

Chicken Pic as promised

2006-03-08T12:03:00.000+01:00

Hey - I got the chicken picture up (See entry 'no to the Chicken suit' for more info, but to summarise, there was a suggestion that I should cycle in a chicken suit that we had out for a photo shoot!))

And it didn't require the use of any difficult software... this blog could start being more colourful!

And for the record, yes, it's me in the suit - it was a toss up between me and Nicola, and I ended up in the suit as photographer Phil insisted that the chicken needed to be more portly.

What happened to the benefits of being the boss?

Photo call tomorrow

2006-03-08T11:34:00.000+01:00

Sudden rush - the MP for Bristol Stephen Williams has agreed to a photo shoot to unveil the bike rides new anniversary logo.

He'll be in top company - Paddington bear will be there along with the lovely Ev, the chairperson.

Another promise of a picture.

Although in order to get a photo onto this blog I have to reinstall the Evil Daisy software, which means I'll get a horrible pop up saying 'Hello' every time I start up the PC. Not sure why it bugs me: probably means I'm an incurable grouch - better go off for some nice lessons.....

Registered

2006-03-04T22:51:00.000+01:00

I'm registered - no backing down now.

Action 100 team have been running around with form - don't think they believed I would!

Committed

2006-02-24T11:17:00.000+01:00

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

2006-02-24T11:12:00.000+01:00

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!

2006-02-23T13:09:00.000+01:00

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

2006-02-16T17:10:00.000+01:00

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

2006-02-09T17:06:00.000+01:00

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

2006-02-02T17:43:00.000+01:00

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!

Note from a collegue:

Painful progress

2006-01-30T10:12:00.000+01:00

Last week was hectic. I was helping a friend, Jayne, who I workwith from time to time, to launch a fertility testing kit.

Which meant a trip to London.

When I worked in Central London some years ago, I used to run up the escalators on the Bakerloo line - tried it this week and suffered!

Chatting to Sharon Davies, who was at the launch event, she cycles 45 minutes before bed each night. Which will be why she has such an impressively slim figure. We're the same age - ouch!

Did get out on my bike though. I had a child free/work free treat and took myself to the hairdressers. I think it's two miles. My husband insists its just one.

Either way, on the basis that it took me ten minutes, it will take me 17 hours to cycle the Action 100 non-stop.

And I only made it to third gear - out of 15.

So next bit of shopping is to take a leaf out of Sharon's book and get myself a training cycle. It may be the only way I can get the miles in!

Ha - ha - ha - Halfords

2006-01-18T15:23:00.000+01:00

Trying so hard to find a solution to the time problem and getting the little ones out with me, so went to Halfords on Saturday.

Now before I get stuck in, I need to stay that I've shopped in Halfords before. And this is the first time I've had real cause to complain.

We went into take a look at the options for dragging a small child along behind a bike.

Husband got distracted somewhere around the AutoGlym stand, so with two hyped up (Just been to a party, big sugar rush, loads of colourants) boys in tow, I tried to shortcut the 'if it's not on the shelves...' and asked what they had.

The guys behind the desk shall henceforth be referred to as pimplies. They're a particular breed of shop assistant. Spotty (hey we all have hormones). Unkempt greasy hair. Slightly dirty looking (probably just rolled out of bed to get to their afternoon shift). Terminally unable to smile. Oozing attitude. Should all be called Kevin.

Which is probably king of cool on the playground, but irritating as hell when you're trying to get anything done.

(And almost certainly a cruel reminder that I'm getting older.)

'The only thing we've got', I'm told 'is a bar to to tie your childs bike to your bike.'
Hyperactive 3 year old on A4 to Maidenhead, notorious accident hotspot - I think not!

Pimplie returns to desk. Joined by 3 more pimplies.

I spot a bike buggie. Oh, and a brochure. Brochure reveals a range of options - another tie on bike, and 2 types of buggy.

Ask pimplies for prices. Three stand staring at computer sceen. One ventures out. Kids getting bored and examining things on shelves. Sense time may be running out.

Buggy options around £20 mark. Make mental note to check on eBay given that this is an experiment that could result in £120 for a single ride.

Persuade pimplie to let three year old try buggy. More solid looking option way too small for my lanky infant, so ask for other option to try. To remove buggy from stand, onto which both kids are now threatening to climb to speed things along, pimplies must remove obstacles. God help British defence if any of them ever join the army is all I have to say on the ensuing fracas.

Husband rejoins fray with expensive (but marked down) AutoGlym in hand, evidently planning on trying to make our aging Rover look like a Jag. Pimplies start looking a little more helpful. (Size, gender or dress code that's made the difference? I'd been reorganising furniture in the boys room for most of the day, so probably did look a bit down at heel)

Anyway, buggy looks perilously close to the road for my taste, but does have something to tie him in with - added bonus. Further mental note to call police for some road safety figures.

Five year old itching to get in and try - whole things appears to bow perilously. Husband declares this a figment of my overprotective imagination.

Small child, however, loves buggy. Wants it. Pimplies by now are back musing over computer screen. Assume it's nearly closing time from complete disinterest. Leave empty handed. With three year old wailing for a new buggy.

Who'd be a parent?

Some more top tips

2006-01-14T12:32:00.000+01:00

Tips have come in as follows:
Mum - white spirit on bottom to toughen cheeks - applied every day for a month in advance
Mum (again) - missing out the inside of your cheeks!
Ant - Sudocreme, lots of. After all, it's only nappy rash you'll get!
Mum (again) - vaseline on the bit between your cheeks, replenished every few miles.
Jen - flattened newspaper down the front of your top and in the pocket at the back of your cycle top.

All ideas gratefully received!

French Revolutions

2006-01-13T12:07:00.000+01:00

Met with Jen, the regional fundraiser for the charity this week. Bless her, she was so patient with me, even though I was over a half hour late for our meeting.

She's been reading a book by Tim Moores, 'French Revolutions, Cycling the Tour de France.'
http://www.reviewstop.co.uk/French-Revolutions-Cycling-the-Tour-De-France_reviews_1936_1.html

Tim is a journalist who cycled the Tour De France route. Like me, he was new to cycling, and not particularly fit to begin with Many of his concerns, apparently, are akin to mine, but chaffing can go on the backburner - the one thing Jen said that looms large in my mind is BOILS!

At mention of said injury(which he saw, incidentally, not experienced), on a day when I was having an 'I can't cope' moment because I was running late for everything after childcare became an issue (a tiny blip caused by lack of sleep - normally I can juggle things without too much sweat), I offered to pay my sponsorship, forget riding and stay boil, chaff and accident free. In addition to not going through the pain, this option would allow me to stop angsting about my fitness level, free me from the impossible task of finding a few hours a day to cycle, and in general, be the much easier option.

Jen's having none of it!

Despite the fact that my marriage may go terminal if I don't devote some time to my poor abandoned husband, that my children may be in mortal danger if put them in one of those ridiculously tiny, low to the road cycle carriages, and I am physically in no state to undertake this ride, this goal, it appears, is not going to go away.

So I shall don my Linda Evans outfit (Wonderwoman, for anyone too young to remember) and carry on regardless.

And purchase a copy of the book in the hopes that it will provide some amusement and comfort.

Raphas website...

2006-01-09T14:50:00.000+01:00

I quote from this site which sells wonderful cycling stuff:

"If you’re a mountaineer a totally waterproof jacket makes sense. But when you’re riding a bike hard, over long distances, your cycling jacket has to do much more than just keep the rain off. It also needs to breathe fast, fit close to your body and keep quiet (or the sound of flapping will be as irritating as that mysterious creak from your bike that eats into your mind and drives you crazy."

"Merino wool is naturally anti-bacterial, so the socks won’t smell like stinky polyester (whatever the technical sounding trade mark). Most importantly, merino wool wicks sweat better than any synthetic, keeping you cooler and drier in the summer and warmer in cold weather."

"Today riders have to make do with mass produced synthetic lycra mitts that fall apart after a season’s wear."

"....the armwarmers have merino wool next to the skin for efficient moisture management and a soft and luxurious feel. A strip stretch reflective lycra down the back provides a snug fit and high visibility. The armwarmers are left and right handed and articulated at the elbow. A shock cord loop allows them to be pulled up and rolled down efficiently, while silicone gripper holds them securely in place."

"Sadly, most cycling base layers are still made of synthetic fabric. In all other sports natural merino wool is now the fabric of choice. Merino wicks moisture vapour very quickly and is naturally anti bacterial and odour resistant. Banish stinky polyester forever. What's more, merino is beautifully soft on the skin and itch free."

So:
- my jacket is going to irritate **** out of me
- I'm going to sweat loads
- my feet will stink
- my body will stink
- my gloves will fall apart
- Unless I buy specialist, I'll end up with arm warmers made out of an uncomfortable rubber tube

This stuff looks the mutts, but has added having no remaining friends to my fears of chaffing!

(Although I am just checking my bank balance to see if I could stretch to something a little stylish....)

Maths

2006-01-07T12:00:00.000+01:00

Looking back over blogs - I've been blogging since July.

If anyone cared enough to count how many of the blogs actually refer to rides, they'd get the grand total of three.

Which is singularly unimpressive.

More entries note the recruitment of other riders than actually cover getting saddle sore.

So I guess there's my new NewYears Resolution all over again.

If there's no report of a training plan up and on this site by this time next week, you have full permission to think of an evil forfeit.

If needing copious amounts of nappy cream (as suggested by Mr Upton - thank you) isn't enough....

Fluffy PR

2006-01-07T11:39:00.000+01:00

Well we've been looking at doing a ballooon launch at the end of Jan to mark the availability of the entry forms for this ride, and to unveil the ride's new logo.

It's somewhat ironic that in my entire PR career, I have never been involved with that mainstay of PR activities - a balllooon launch. Indeed I once had a major battle with a mad marketing director in a telecoms company: she believed that PR was only about fluff and balloons, I begged to differ.

So now, some years on, here I am planning a balloon launch. Possibly. Eating humble pie.

We want to set off 3000 ballooons, this being the number of babies that die before their first birthday each year, many because they've been born prematurely - in line with the charities Touching Tiny Lives campaign (Action Medical Research is raising funds this year specifically for this cause: http://www.action.org.uk/ttl_campaign/campaignoverview.php)

It's just setting a few balloons off, surely?
Wrong!

First printing the balloons - we have to adjust the logo.

Then there's blowing the bloomin' things up - timing is an issue. If we blow and transport we have a problem. If we blow 'on site' we will have to be there at sparrow fart ('scuse the expression) not to mention the logistics at5 the rugby clubs we're hoping will allow this to happen. just before their home games.

Then, on top of it all, because we have so many balloons, we have to get permission from the Civil Aviation Authority.

This has all been accompanied by some hysterical stories of a friend trying to get her ballooon launch done from the back of a four wheel drive - this is the blow up and transport option. The ballooons wouldn't come out, so their big 'launch' was a few balloons dribbling out piecemeal - the ones that didn't burst, that is.

So fraught with danger is this that I went to the official society for balloons - yes there is one. They gave me four people to call to help - apparently there isn't one company that can do it all nationally - although I find this really hard to believe.

And of the four, one doesn't do launches, one is defunct, one doesn't answer their phone and one is coming back to me, slowly, with a quote. Guess if they can do it, they'll have the business.

I am so hoping that someone will read this and wave a magic wand for us!

(Of course this post is a diversionary tactic - I haven't been on my bike once this week. What a great way to start the year - I'm going to be SO sore in August!)

Busy ride

2006-01-02T15:15:00.000+01:00

Well, over a very drunken dinner on New Years Eve, my brother in law, Huw, has agreed to do the 100 mile ride too.

And his girlfriend, Sharon.

Sharon's a mad keen fitness freak, so she'll be OK.

Huw's fitness level is probably about the same as mine: could be interesting - at least Sharon will support him getting fit.

Should be on commission for recruiting riders....

Christmas present

2005-12-30T14:22:00.000+01:00

In case you were hanging in suspense, angsting about my Christmas present, it wasn't new cycle clips. Don't know who my husband gave those to - my present was a book about being rude.

No, not X-rated, burn off the calories rude - 'Talk to the Hand' rude.

Maybe I just didn't hint strongly enough.

So it's trawling sale websites for me to get me started I guess.

I feel good!

2005-12-23T14:18:00.000+01:00

Been for a ride - only to bank, but rode unencumbered by small children, large bags - rather pathetic getting excited about a short ride to town, but it's a start.

Got there really fast - quicker than by car.

Forgot my cycle clips - must do better!

Only managed to use two gears out of the 15 on the bike, indicating I've some way to go, but I feel great - if I feel like this after a short ride to the bank, I can't wait to get into serious training.

Partying begins

2005-12-21T23:55:00.000+01:00

Press party results in lots of advice - Ant Upton, ace photographer, rides everywhere on his bike - reckons that I need to invest in shoes.

Other keen cyclists back up the 'shorts' requirement - shorts and diet seem to be coming top of my worry list at present - fat bird in jeans won't cut mustard on a 100 mile ride.

Meanwhile Mr Rob Kerr of Network Reviews has agreed to ride as well: do wonder if he'll remember whan the beer goggles come off: hope so!

Pant, pants, pants, pants, pants

2005-12-19T14:56:00.000+01:00

Actually that's what I wanted for Christmas. Pants. Special cycling ones.

But I've been peeking. And I think I'm getting cycle clips.

I've already got some (not that I've used them much).
And they're just not sexy.
And just a lttle too easy to forget you have on, so when you bump into friends in town with your trews bloused over the top.... well, it's just not a good look.

Anyway, it would appear that cycling pants will not be in my Christmas stocking and I shall have to find it in my heart to be really nice to my husband about the cycling clips, especially as it's the first time he'll have actually bought a present himself since the first year we were dating.

How humbug and ungrateful does this sound?

Pants!

Dear Blog

2005-12-15T18:33:00.000+01:00

Dear Blog

I'm very sorry not to have written anything for a whole two weeks.

It's been remiss of me, I know. And a sad inictment on the fact that my manic life in the run up to Christmas has left me with no time for my poor abandoned bike.

Anyway, talented no-nonsense designer Ev has been made chairperson of the Action100 bike ride, which gives me something to post: thanks Ev.

Press Release Monday, 12 December 2005

New Chairperson in the Saddle The UK’s leading medical research charity, Action Medical Research, has a new chairperson for its ‘Action 100’ bike ride, which runs annually on August bank holiday weekend from Bath and Bristol to London. Ev Milker (34) of St George, Bristol, has a tough act to follow: the 2005 ride has already brought in over £58 thousand, with over 100 riders still expected to send in their sponsorship money.

The Action 100 bike ride challenges ordinary cyclists who are prepared to cycle 100 miles for Action Medical Research, which funds research into a wide range of conditions. Cyclists have all day to complete the ride and are fully supported with plenty of refreshment stops, a pub lunch and hot showers and beer at the finish.

“Our previous chairman, Richard Westropp, took us to over 500 riders, and, all things being equal, we will have raised around 60 thousand pounds on the 2005 ride – a tough act to follow” said Milker. “2006 is our silver jubilee year so we really want to make it special. We’re now in the planning stages making it the best ride yet, including having a more party like atmosphere at the close, goody bags for every rider and some extra surprises along the way.”

“One of our biggest challenges is finding a sponsor,” said Jennifer Reid, Community Fundraising Manager, South West, Action Medical Research. “With one in place, we would aim to double the number of riders and bring in over £100 thousand pounds for the charity. I can’t think of a better tribute to all the people who have worked so hard behind the scenes, pushed themselves to ride and contributed time and ideas to make this such a special ride.”

The sponsorship would help pay for some of the costs of running the ride, such as transport, refreshments, safety and print costs, helping ensure that money raised goes directly to the charity, which has already contributed towards the first UK polio vaccine, discovering the importance of folic acid in preventing spina bifida, pioneering hip replacement surgery and the first medical use of ultrasound in pregnancy./ENDS

Going Public

2005-12-03T00:00:00.000+01:00

OK, I can hold it in no longer.

When I cycle 100 miles next August, I shall be hot on the heels of one of Casualty's hottest actors... the Gorgeous Guppy.

Known to his family and agent as Elyes Gabel.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/casualty/interviews/elyesgabel/

Now if that's not an incentive to brave the chaffing and get in shape for the ride, I don't know what is!

Bloggers Block

2005-12-02T23:51:00.000+01:00

I have had a bit of a block on this blog over the past week. Not because I haven't had anything to write, but because the most interesting stuff I have is stuff that I don't feel I can ethically use. A professional dilemma.

You see, after our celeb was recruited, a kerfuffle broke out. I don't think the parties involved know quite what or why, but an awful lot of time and energy was wasted in discussion, which meant that all the charity got PR wise from the biggest story that the bike ride's had is page 17 of the Bristol Evening Post on one of the quietest days of the week (Monday)

It was a bigger, better story than that, and I would have loved to get my hands on it.

Still, next week I shall get the chance to try and get some news out in the press about said celeb agreeing to ride 100 miles for the charity. Fingers crossed it's not too late.

Al's Advice

2005-11-28T14:20:00.000+01:00

Some advice on what to wear came from fellow PR professional Al Fox:

"Get a top with pockets in the back and shove bananas in it. Looks great.

Nah - as you probably know they're great for staving off the dreaded bonk!
Best o luck
Al "

Now I'm assuming that the bonk he refers to is the brick wall, energy sump, can't go any further that I'm so looking forward to.

But maybe someone has already shown him a piccy of the lumpy lycra shorts.....

Casualty Star signing up for ride

2005-11-18T01:19:00.000+01:00

Great news! Zoe at Action Medical Research HQ has managed to bag us a Casualty star!

He's has agreed to ride the Action 100 and take part in photocalls.

She's done really well as the BBC don't allow their actors to do anything other than their own charity so if you want them to do anything for charity you have to go throught their agents and that can be like pulling hens teeth.

Can't wait to do something with this one: and you'll just have to guess who it is until the time to reveal all comes....

Second hand blog on Blair

2005-11-16T22:43:00.000+01:00

This (spoof) blog is totally unrelated to bike rides or charities, but it was posted to a forum I belong to and I felt it needed sharing:

[extract]
Advice from the police
Mr Blair said that the police had advised him that elections would be dangerous. "They would divert attention from the war on terror", he said. "If the public chose a new government, that would be a victory for terrorism. We must not take that chance. Holding elections would be contrary to the strong advice given to us by our security services and our police, and I am simply not prepared to do it."

"This is not an issue to play around with," he said, accusing critics of trying to generate a propaganda victory for terrorists. "The civil liberties of the majority who need protection should come first," the prime minister said. There had to be a "very good reason" for politicians to say to the police, "no, we know better than you", he argued.

It was spotted on the London Underground Tube Blog
http://london-underground.blogspot.com/2005_11_01_london-underground_archive.html#113206159514099193

As Rachel says, spread the word before the original spoof site is taken down. It's at: http://www.owen.org/spoof/abolished.htm

Chaffing

2005-11-14T03:05:00.000+01:00

We took the kids over to Dinton pastures, a country park close to home, today, and after a long cold walk stopped for relief and refreshments at the cafe there. The kids, of course, wanted ice lollies rather than drinks - brrrrr.

Anyway, two friendly older gents were sat at the next table to us, wearing bright yellow and purple cycling gear. They were riders from the now defunct Swan riders, who used their old gear (a) because of the cost of replacement and (b) because it's so visible.

These two riders were well seasoned and happy to offer advice.

The first bit was obvious and an area where I'm sadly lacking: get out and practtise - a minimum of two miles a day on the bike to maintain anything like the fitrness level required, and at least one or two 50 mile rides before embarking on the 100.

The second was regarding riding buddies, and finding someone going at your own pace. I plan to ride alone and find other riders along the way who may be doing similar speeds.

And the third was kit. Get a gel saddle (done), decent gel gloves (noted), advised on pedal clips, and the big one.... shorts.

Very genteely they advised me to get some cycling shorts before anything else. Six or eight panel, masses of cotton padding. Apparently gel saddles may mould to shape, but because they lack any of the absorbency of old fashioned leather saddles, the sweat lurks, causing rubbing problems. And don't wear pants underneath unless they have long legs. On reflection this is good advice - bits of nylon rubbing against just one part of your leg for 100 miles can cause nasty abrasions. Yeuch!

They were both looking at my ample hips whilst handing out the advice, and it wasn't too hard to see what they were thinking.

So I have hardly sat down since and have kept my somewhat rotund pins moving in the hopes that 10 months of this will slim them down to a less chaffable size. My Christmas request has, obviously, now been amended.

Lets hope it works, or the end of August's blog may simply be carnage.

Things you never knew you needed

2005-11-12T09:51:00.000+01:00

In my enthusiasm, I ordered an Evans Cycles catalogue, planning to leave it it lying around in the hopes that a cycle shirt might appear in my Christmas stocking.

They have a good selection of tops and the choice was fairly straightforward, although I will ask around.

However, I now have a list of stuff I never knew I needed.

Take, for example, body armour: breast shield, arm and leg pads, base layers. I have no idea if I need these - it seems somewhat excessive. I can oly suppose that they're aimed at stunt bike riders. Makes my old shopper feel rather tame.

Special socks seem to be for warmth, but since the ride's in August, I feel I can pass.

And then there's head bands: I think I have some towelling ones which in the late 70s (Flash Dance days) were fashion items, but I'm really not sure I want to be seen in one, and suspect that under a helmet this may look even more laughable. The jury's out on these.

Special shoes seem to be solid looking instruments of torture, whose use may, I fear, become apparent when I start putting in the miles. I sincerely hope not.

Now gloves, by contrast, I can see may be useful. Having spent my twenties zooming around on a moped in Spain, I know that even in warm weather hands can freeze if you're holding them in more or less one position. So these may be an essential purchase, but the choice is alarming. Another one to ask around about.

Another potentially useful purchase may be wrap around glasses - as a contact lense wearer, they would appear to be a useful addition, and I'm assuming that after a few dozen miles, ordinary sunglasses may be a bit hard to keep on.

But best of all is the legwear. I hadn't thought too much about shorts/trousers, beyond thinking that jeans probably weren't the best option. But the constant references to chaffing in the catalogue have me concerned.

Overall catalogue winner,however, has to be 'sugar knickers' - which could, as my husband noted, surely only be found in a 'specialist' catalogue.

Wildbeest, Ridgebacks and other such beasties

2005-11-09T22:45:00.000+01:00

Decisions have been made.

Firstly, I move to new offices in two weeks time, which means that instead of a trip inside the house to lock myself away in the office, I'll be going several miles to work: by bike, of course.

And secondly, I plan to purchase a trailer of some sort, so that I can take the little one out cycling. Our five year old can cycle the legs off anyone, so our only problem taking him out is getting him back again as he disappears in a cloud of dust into the blue yonder.

The three year old, by contrast, has just had the stabilisers off his bike and needs a helping hand. Which is fine on a gentle stroll around the lake, if a little hard on the back, but not for the kind of miles I need to start getting under my belt.

So I've been taking a look around. These things all have really rugged names like Wildebeest and Ridgeback, Traveller or Kiddyvan, but none look very comfy or even very safe. Motorists are impatient with bikes at the best of times and I'm not sure I want my pride and joy at tyre level.

So the next option is a "Tag-A-Long" or Trailer Bike. These are generally only offered to kiddies 4 to 9 years. (The trailer bike looks like the back end of a normal kiddie bike, but no front wheel or steering.)

The age bit doesn't worry me - our giant three year old stands a head and shoulders above many of his older brother's classmates.

So he could get fit, assuming he pedals, and get some practise in riding. My concern is that I can't strap him in.

So if we've cycled off 10, 20, 30 miles somewhere (she says, somewhat optimistically, having managed six alone so far) and he decides he's had enough and throws a three year old paddy, I'm stuffed: out in the big wide yonder with a tantruming child and no way of getting home.

If he was the size of some of his nursery friends, this wouldn't be a problem - tuck him under the arm and rifde with him.

But I'd need muscles in my spit to manage my outsized mini-monster.

There has to be a compromise somewhere.... I can see this being a quest for the next week or so!

So if if you catch me wandering around muttering about wildebeest and travelvans, no I'm not planning an exotic holiday, merely plotting some infant control.

Moving forwards

2005-11-08T23:43:00.000+01:00

Despite lots of words, I really am not moving this bike ride forwards. So far the furthest I've ridden is a patchy six miles, and, let's face it, the speed I did it at would mean an ETA of 2007 - perhaps the word record for the longest ever bike ride of just 100 miles?

SO, I've been looking up rides between now and then, thinking that perhaps I can aim for around 50 miles come Easter.

Well, biking is evidently an intenseley political activity.

Apart from the naked bike ride mentioned in previous blog entries (http://www.worldnakedbikeride.org/uk/london/)
there seems to be:

Sponsored Bike Ride - Oxford to Campsfield House Immigration Detention centre - to raise funds/awareness to help close Campsfield Detention Centre (http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/oxford/2005/04/309506.html)

Amongst the others are:
The Carol Green Salford Cycle Ride: Carol Green was only 44 when she lost her fight against stomach cancer in 1998. Following her death, her husband Eddie and family pledged to raise £50,000 by 2008 for St Ann’s Hospice. On June 6th 2004, Eddie will be organising the third annual Carol Green Cycle Ride throughout Salford and North Manchester to raise funds for St Ann’s. (Close to my heart as my Aunt is a rare survivor of a stomach cancer operation, but Manchester's a bit of a hoik)

I also found a very council-like ride in Nottingham - also too far.

The closest thing seems to be a bike ride in Bristol in May - too late for my liking.

So my planning may have to be a little more creative, darn it. Either way - I really need a target - any suggestions?