Weather troubles and sore bum

End of week 4 - 12 to go!


The great British weather is not known for being reliable. And I really don't mind cycling in cold and heavy rain. Honestly (ok, would prefer it dry but it is not an issue). What IS killing us, is the wind. High wind speeds that make even the tinniest slope feel like Mount Everest. As amateur cyclists, we have not got used to this yet, and am hoping that we will not have to.


If the powers that be could see it so the wind holds off between now and September 17th I would be very grateful!


Anyway, despite the weather, today we went out for a 26 mile ride. It would have been a lovely ride had the heavens not opened and totally soak us about 1/4 into the ride. And had the winds not been so strong that Dorothy's house was seen sailing over our heads!


In addition to today's ride, I have completed 2 12 mile rides this week and 2 exercise bike rides too (been feeling bit ropey so limited my rides). Kev has been more dedicated than me, completing 3 on-road rides, including one 20 miler (though that was by mistake!)


But we are getting there. Just need the sponsorship to go up now. So if you want to sponsor, please visit our donation page http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/simsgocycling - any amount will be very gratefully received.


Thanks

Finished Cycle: 24 Jun 2012 13:04:07
Route: New Route
Google Maps URL: http://maps.google.com/?q=http://share.abvio.com/87c0/5850/4f83/90df/Cyclemeter-Cycle-20120624-0954.kml
Shortened Google Maps URL: http://j.mp/Lrtumg
Import URL: http://share.abvio.com/87c0/5850/4f83/90df/Cyclemeter-Cycle-20120624-0954.kml
Ride Time: 2:48:30
Stopped Time: 21:26
Distance: 26.34 miles
Average: 9.38 mph
Fastest Speed: 22.84 mph
Ascent: 498 feet
Descent: 493 feet
Calories: 1803

End of week 3 - and all is good. A Father's Day cycle.

And at the end of our 3rd week of training for this ride (only 13 more weeks to go) we are still making good progress.


Hills are seeming more possible (tough but do-able), distances are seeming shorter, weather conditions are less limiting.


But still a long way to go. Once again HUGE thanks go to Mummy and Daddy Jones for the babysitting services.


Week 3
Mon or Tues: 20 ‐ 25 mins
Thurs or Fri: 20 ‐ 25 mins
Sat or Sun: 1½ hrs


This was our guidance for this week.


This is what we achieved:


Liz:
Week 2
Mon: 30 mins exercise bike
Thurs: 12 miles (70min)  on the road bike ride
Fri: 12 miles (65min)  on the road bike ride
Sun: 20 miles (2hour) on the road bike ride

Kev:

Week 2

Mon: 30 mins exercise bike
Thurs: 12 miles (70min)  on the road bike ride
Fri: 12 miles (65min)  on the road bike ride

Sat: 5 miles (25 mins)  on the road bike ride

Sun: 20 miles (2hour) on the road bike ride

No lovely pictures this week as I forgot my camera, but our ride today was  fab (until we hit Flint Cross and the A505 to Royston). The road between Royston and the Wimpole roundabout is a nice fast 5 miles, and the cycle path past Wimpole Hall was very nice.

Finished Cycle: 17 Jun 2012 12:15:35
Route: New Route
Google Maps URL: http://maps.google.com/?q=http://share.abvio.com/87c0/5850/4f83/90df/Cyclemeter-Cycle-20120617-1009.kml
Shortened Google Maps URL: http://j.mp/L5sTq8
Import URL: http://share.abvio.com/87c0/5850/4f83/90df/Cyclemeter-Cycle-20120617-1009.kml
Ride Time: 1:58:38
Stopped Time: 7:31
Distance: 20.73 miles
Average: 10.49 mph
Fastest Speed: 21.36 mph
Ascent: 378 feet
Descent: 378 feet
Calories: 1481

If you would like to sponsor us on our venture (and we would be VERY grateful if you did), please visit http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/simsgocycling

Midweek cycle - ride number 4. Horrible headwinds.

Just a quick blog post today - a squirmy baby means typing is not the easiest task!


Anyway, as we are struggling with getting people to help is train in the week (my kids aren't that bad!) we have done individual rides today - both around an hour.


Kev's route took him just up the B1198 to the Wimpole roundabout and back.


I went a slightly more scenic route, up to Wendy, through Bassingbourn and home. 


The only problem faced today was killer headwinds - even on downhill bits it was tough pedaling! 



Finished Cycle: 14 Jun 2012 15:59:13
Route: New Route
Google Maps URL: http://maps.google.com/?q=http://share.abvio.com/87c0/5850/4f83/90df/Cyclemeter-Cycle-20120614-1442.kml
Shortened Google Maps URL: http://j.mp/LmLTg4
Import URL: http://share.abvio.com/87c0/5850/4f83/90df/Cyclemeter-Cycle-20120614-1442.kml
Ride Time: 1:11:09
Stopped Time: 1:56
Distance: 12.14 miles
Average: 10.24 mph
Fastest Speed: 23.77 mph
Ascent: 90 feet
Descent: 107 feet
Calories: 754

End of week 2 training

Week 2 & 3
Mon or Tues: 20 ‐ 25 mins
Thurs or Fri: 20 ‐ 25 mins
Sat or Sun: 1½ hrs


This was our guidance for this week.


This is what we achieved:


Liz:
Week 2
Mon: 20 mins exercise bike
Tues: 95min on the road bike ride
Thurs: 25 mins exercise bike
Fri: 30 mins exercise bikeSun: 2 hrs

Kev:

Week 2

Tues: 95min on the road bike ride

Thurs: 45 mins exercise bike

Fri: 45 mins exercise bike

Sat: 45 mins exercise bikeSun: 2 hrs

Ride number 3 - 20miles

Once again many thanks to Mummy and Daddy Jones for looking after the children. Whilst they were getting some spiritual guidance at Church, we embarked on the next stage of our training. 


20 miles around villages in Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire. Ok that sounds a lot grander than it actually is, considering Royston is pretty much at a point where Herts, Beds, Cambs, Essex and Suffolk meet.


Anyway, we tackled some unexpected hills. I was significantly slower than Kev at these points (and we were both put to shame by the many other cyclists out and about enjoying the beautiful sunshine).


Anyway, at the 10mile mark my chain came off (again), which provided a good opportunity to have a quick drink and take some pictures to prove we are actually making use of our bikes!

Finished Cycle: 10 Jun 2012 12:19:21
Route: New Route
Google Maps URL: http://maps.google.com/?q=http://share.abvio.com/87c0/5850/4f83/90df/Cyclemeter-Cycle-20120610-1008.kml
Shortened Google Maps URL: http://j.mp/LzSmag
Import URL: http://share.abvio.com/87c0/5850/4f83/90df/Cyclemeter-Cycle-20120610-1008.kml
Ride Time: 1:58:51
Stopped Time: 12:06
Distance: 20.35 miles
Average: 10.28 mph
Fastest Speed: 19.79 mph
Ascent: 475 feet
Descent: 486 feet
Calories: 1581

Please help us in our mission to raise £500 by sponsoring us at http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/simsgocycling

Less than 100 days to go!

Not too long ago, I remember my pregnancy app telling me I had 99 days to go until my son was born. It sounded AGES, yet very quickly that time came around and he is now 5 months old.


My point is that even though 99 days seems a long time to prepare, it is not. 


At the moment I veer from thinking I'll never manage it, to being very excited about it and thinking it will be fine!


At the moment I feel good about this challenge. Maybe if you ask me after our training ride tomorrow (only 20 miles) I may change my mind!


In other news, we are looking to do a few smaller cycling events in preparation. A 26 mile ride round the Baldock area, a 30 mile ride around Stevenage (always a lovely location!) and a family ride (only 20miles) around Cambridge.


And this last ride will be a real Sim family event, with our 10 year old daughter, Holly, keen to join us.


Should be fun!


Thanks to all who have sponsored up already. Please do donate to our worthy cause.
Our VirginMoneyGiving page for Childhood First

The donations start coming...

It may be a slow start, but we have ages til the main event. It has been nice to see donations starting to come in now, every penny can help make some young person's life better, and seeing the total grow is keeping our motivation going.


We are coming to the end of week 2 in our training and so far so good. We are enjoying the rides when we get to go out, and training on the exercise bike is not as boring as I once considered (especially as I combine a workout with watching Dexter!) Still not sure how I will manage to do an hour on the exercise bike though in later weeks!


Our final ride of the week will be on Sunday morning. My parents are taking the kids to church, leaving us free to journey 20miles round the south cambridgeshire countryside. That is our target for this weekend. Have been using  mapometer.com to plan our routes which is all well and good - as long as I remember to change KM into Miles.


Anyway this ramble is basically to say Thank you to all who have donated so far, as well as all those helping in our training through babysitting. It is much appreciated!






Should you wish to donate, please follow the link below.
http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/simsgocycling




Thank you