Rain
3 punctured tires
1 bloody knee
....We are finally aboard ship to St Malo enjoying un petit ver du vin rouge! Stay tuned for Agony Aunt Andrew x
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Wednesday, 20 July 2011
End of Day 1
Rain
3 punctured tires
1 bloody knee
....We are finally aboard ship to St Malo enjoying un petit ver du vin rouge! Stay tuned for Agony Aunt Andrew x
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Tuesday, 19 July 2011
Our send off party....
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Get set....
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Get set...
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Monday, 18 July 2011
Take your marks...
Bottoms hardened, muscles prepared, we are literally counting down the hours until we begin the 3 and a half day mount to Paris.
In a nutshell, the past month has been an eventful one. Sophie is now an expert puncture doctor, I have purchased my second bike since the start of 2011, and as a team we have reached our fundraising target! Fantastic!
But of course, in times of stress and strain tantrums and tears are as natural as hiccups at 3 am on a Saturday night. It was however a bit of a shock to discover, only yesterday, that we won't be taking a direct route to Paris- rather; we will be getting a ferry over night to St. Malo and cycling to Paris via the beautiful region of Brittany. At least we can be proud in the knowledge that we are not doing the easiest route- I suppose there will be much satisfaction to be had once we arrive in Paris with blistered bottoms having seem the oldest Medieval castle in France and a very famous phallic monument (not the Eiffel Tower- unbeknown to me, France is the proud home of a number of similar landmarks).
I suppose now we just need to get up and go go go!!!
Thanks to everyone who has so kindly sponsored us- you have helped us half way to the finish line. We will be updating you on a daily basis throughout the trip, so please do leave us messages of support and cheer us on- we will need it.
In a nutshell, the past month has been an eventful one. Sophie is now an expert puncture doctor, I have purchased my second bike since the start of 2011, and as a team we have reached our fundraising target! Fantastic!
But of course, in times of stress and strain tantrums and tears are as natural as hiccups at 3 am on a Saturday night. It was however a bit of a shock to discover, only yesterday, that we won't be taking a direct route to Paris- rather; we will be getting a ferry over night to St. Malo and cycling to Paris via the beautiful region of Brittany. At least we can be proud in the knowledge that we are not doing the easiest route- I suppose there will be much satisfaction to be had once we arrive in Paris with blistered bottoms having seem the oldest Medieval castle in France and a very famous phallic monument (not the Eiffel Tower- unbeknown to me, France is the proud home of a number of similar landmarks).
I suppose now we just need to get up and go go go!!!
Thanks to everyone who has so kindly sponsored us- you have helped us half way to the finish line. We will be updating you on a daily basis throughout the trip, so please do leave us messages of support and cheer us on- we will need it.
Tuesday, 12 July 2011
Tour de France started a few days go....
Those men are so super fit and crazy,puts us to shame. 52km averaging speed. Wow!
Looking forward to meeting them all on arrival at paris!!
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Looking forward to meeting them all on arrival at paris!!
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Monday, 11 July 2011
Just a casual 10k to keep the legs warmed up for paris. 55mins!!! Sure
Sunday, 3 July 2011
London to Henley
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Monday, 27 June 2011
The Cycling Curse in Two Parts
1. www.newtube.com
They do say when it rains it pours....please allow me to pour my heart out. I didn't realise what a challenge I was quite taking on. Up at 8am Saturday morning, estimated set off time was 9am from cycling friends house. 8.30am phone call received informing me trip to Brighton has been cancelled due to unforseen circumstances. Forward and upwards. Dressed as stylishly one can as a biker chick, I decided to set off on my own anyway. Half a mile down the road I seemed to be slowly down dramatically pushing forward into the wind I realised that a wheel was down. My first puncture to my morale, I mean bike.
Went to Evans and spent an hour learning to change a tyre. Just what one wants to do with freshly painted rouge noir nails. It was all about the new tube.
Set off for the second time....face gritted with determination....
2. You will meet a tall dark semi-pro cyclist
About the same distance as the first attempt, I heard the slow release of air and then felt the slow halt of the bike to stop. I started to wheel the bike home, the rubber part of the wheel came off and a grating noise of the metal to ground was horrid. Took out the phone and dialed emergency help line, mum and dad. No answer. Finally got through, burst into tears and tried to explain what had happened. They were nowhere near....I was told to put the bike on my shoulder and walk the half an hour back to the flat. This was too much to think about and the sobbing went up a notch to hysteria.
Through watery eyes a man came out of nowhere and ask if I was ok.....was this not obvious? He then offered to walk with me and wheel my bike all the way home. We chatted about bikes, got some tips...he said London to Paris was easy. Sure.
What doesn't kill you....only makes you stronger.
Happy cycling xxxxxxx
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They do say when it rains it pours....please allow me to pour my heart out. I didn't realise what a challenge I was quite taking on. Up at 8am Saturday morning, estimated set off time was 9am from cycling friends house. 8.30am phone call received informing me trip to Brighton has been cancelled due to unforseen circumstances. Forward and upwards. Dressed as stylishly one can as a biker chick, I decided to set off on my own anyway. Half a mile down the road I seemed to be slowly down dramatically pushing forward into the wind I realised that a wheel was down. My first puncture to my morale, I mean bike.
Went to Evans and spent an hour learning to change a tyre. Just what one wants to do with freshly painted rouge noir nails. It was all about the new tube.
Set off for the second time....face gritted with determination....
2. You will meet a tall dark semi-pro cyclist
About the same distance as the first attempt, I heard the slow release of air and then felt the slow halt of the bike to stop. I started to wheel the bike home, the rubber part of the wheel came off and a grating noise of the metal to ground was horrid. Took out the phone and dialed emergency help line, mum and dad. No answer. Finally got through, burst into tears and tried to explain what had happened. They were nowhere near....I was told to put the bike on my shoulder and walk the half an hour back to the flat. This was too much to think about and the sobbing went up a notch to hysteria.
Through watery eyes a man came out of nowhere and ask if I was ok.....was this not obvious? He then offered to walk with me and wheel my bike all the way home. We chatted about bikes, got some tips...he said London to Paris was easy. Sure.
What doesn't kill you....only makes you stronger.
Happy cycling xxxxxxx
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Tuesday, 21 June 2011
Crash....
I hope you're sitting comfortably, this may take a while.
Spent the weekend working on the shop floor of a wonderful department store called salads. The summer weather was in full swing outside as the the hail fell down. Leaving work I borrowed the boss's umbrella.......I am afraid the umbrella's handle did not live to read the rest of my story. Lesson one, never a lender or a borrower be.
Monday lunch, I mounted my Specialized pal and pedaled to HSK. Found the exact model of the late model that had met his fate the previous Sat.
This is where the story turns....please play apropiate thunder sound effects and piano pieces in minor now.
A bear jumped out of Hyde Park, snatched me off my bike whilst a pigeon flew away with my umbre.....ok ok that's not the story...
The umbrella was swinging on my handlebars, the sun was warming my face and victory songs were playing out in my head, this was a success story....the umbrella got caught on the pavement, only through a slight imbalance of the bike causing the umbrella to not be its perfect 5mm away from the street. The bike made a dramatic halt, I flew over the front of the handlebars, there was nothing I could have done. I immediately tried to stand, my foot was caught, bewilderment took over. A nice lady came out of her taxi, concerned and worried she helped me to my feet. She lent me her tissue to mop up the streaming blood that was apparently coming from my head. Now who said the london population are not friendly...oh wait she was Dutch.
To my horror....I looked down and the new umbrella was broken. Strike 2.
Cycled back to work and spent a good half of the afternoon meekishly wearing an ice pack.
Went back that evening to replace umbrella 2 only to find out they had sold out of black ones....
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Thursday, 16 June 2011
My first ever Spinning experience!
I was up at 6 am today to go spinning with Sophie at Virgin Active on the Fulham Road. Never have I been confronted by so many waif-like Chelsea wives, senile, yet extremely energetic elderly men and city slickers. We had THE most beautiful instructor!
Now we know why the old codgers get themselves out of bed in the morning for this gruelling experience.
Now we know why the old codgers get themselves out of bed in the morning for this gruelling experience.
Sunday, 15 May 2011
At home safe and sound soothing our aches and pains with a cold glass of Pinot Grigio.
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Taxi please....yes I'm somewhere between osterley and oxford....
Rest stop 1
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Saturday, 14 May 2011
Soph and the Harrods cycle team who are raising money for Great Ormond Street Hospital.
'Keep the magic alive'
Quote of the morning- 'your not cycling to Paris on that?!'
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Monday, 9 May 2011
Cycling is super social! Bumped into Sophie's friends Will and Claire.
Sunday, 8 May 2011
Hugo the professional cyclist in Richmond Park
Top tip from the road: practise 3 hours a day! Yikes
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Off to Hampton Court for a change of scene- 10 miles down 15 to go...
Wednesday, 4 May 2011
Notes from a 'cycle path'...
The railway arrived in Brighton in 1841 - the Victorian's had better ideas than
I did.
It was a beautiful sunny but fresh day, everything one could dream of for a
healthy ride down south. Off I set with actionman in front of me using the
state of the art mapping technology (a few pen marks on his wrist with road numbers).
A few miles in, I realised that wearing pants as well as the padded shorts was
not ideal. The uncomfortable pain started. The wind started to pick up and let’s
just say it was not on our side or even behind us. The only thing behind me at
this point was my nice warm bed. It was an extremely hilly route but these
provided a challenge so onwards and upwards!
A quick pit stop at a petrol station off the A23 meant I could remove the pants
and then realised I had had the shorts on the wrong way round the whole time -
so the second half of the trip definitely 'sat' a lot better. Made it to the
quaintest village I have seen in a long time, the smell of freshly cut grass
the remains of the wedding celebrations from the week before made me smile
inside. The smile did not return as we arrived at the same village for the
second time after taking a small detour and following the wrong 'cycle route
20' signs. The moral was not looking good at this point. It also didn’t help
that every time I saw the cycle route sign I wondered why the 20 was not going down
as it was the route number and not the amount of miles we had left.
Finally after pushing through the pain barrier and nearly being knocked over a
bus whilst cycling up the duel carriage way we saw the gates of Brighton and
Hove, the sun shined down on them as if a sign from….well it was a better sign
than the blue cycle route sign.
Weaved our way through friendly couples and the trendy crowd of Brighton we
made it to the Pier. A lovely lunch then ensued and all was forgotten. I was
with my favourite people and eating jerk chicken, what more could a girl ask
for.
Stay put for the next episode of long distance cycling by girls x
I did.
It was a beautiful sunny but fresh day, everything one could dream of for a
healthy ride down south. Off I set with actionman in front of me using the
state of the art mapping technology (a few pen marks on his wrist with road numbers).
A few miles in, I realised that wearing pants as well as the padded shorts was
not ideal. The uncomfortable pain started. The wind started to pick up and let’s
just say it was not on our side or even behind us. The only thing behind me at
this point was my nice warm bed. It was an extremely hilly route but these
provided a challenge so onwards and upwards!
A quick pit stop at a petrol station off the A23 meant I could remove the pants
and then realised I had had the shorts on the wrong way round the whole time -
so the second half of the trip definitely 'sat' a lot better. Made it to the
quaintest village I have seen in a long time, the smell of freshly cut grass
the remains of the wedding celebrations from the week before made me smile
inside. The smile did not return as we arrived at the same village for the
second time after taking a small detour and following the wrong 'cycle route
20' signs. The moral was not looking good at this point. It also didn’t help
that every time I saw the cycle route sign I wondered why the 20 was not going down
as it was the route number and not the amount of miles we had left.
Finally after pushing through the pain barrier and nearly being knocked over a
bus whilst cycling up the duel carriage way we saw the gates of Brighton and
Hove, the sun shined down on them as if a sign from….well it was a better sign
than the blue cycle route sign.
Weaved our way through friendly couples and the trendy crowd of Brighton we
made it to the Pier. A lovely lunch then ensued and all was forgotten. I was
with my favourite people and eating jerk chicken, what more could a girl ask
for.
Stay put for the next episode of long distance cycling by girls x
We raised an awesome £300 on friday night @ the Alibi Rooms.
A big thank you to everyone who came to the Alibi Rooms on Friday to celebrate the Royal Wedding and support Sophie and I. It was a great continuation of the BBQ at Wellington Barracks-
thank you to the Scots Guards for hosting us.
thank you to the Scots Guards for hosting us.
Tuesday, 3 May 2011
Friday, 29 April 2011
Sophie and Jess outside Alibi Rooms at the Royal/Regimental themed event to raise money for Action Medical Research!
Monday, 25 April 2011
Sunday, 24 April 2011
The race is ON!
Training plan for the next two weeks:
10-15 miles 3 times a week
+
30-40 mile trip at the weekend
This is getting serious-Richmond Park
Tip from the Charity:
Do it in company- its supposed to be for a good cause and not a race! Cycle with your friends if you can, enjoy the ride and experience it together.
Thank goodness we've got each other!
10-15 miles 3 times a week
+
30-40 mile trip at the weekend
This is getting serious-
Tip from the Charity:
Do it in company- its supposed to be for a good cause and not a race! Cycle with your friends if you can, enjoy the ride and experience it together.
Thank goodness we've got each other!
Saturday, 16 April 2011
Wednesday, 13 April 2011
Tuesday, 12 April 2011
Look Mum No Hands!
A bar dedicated to cycling fanatics:
Look Mum No Hands
49 Old Street
London EC1V 9HX
Check out their website: http://www.lookmumnohands.com/
I think we will have to cycle east for a tipple.
Look Mum No Hands
49 Old Street
London EC1V 9HX
Check out their website: http://www.lookmumnohands.com/
I think we will have to cycle east for a tipple.
We raised £210 on Sunday! Thank you to everyone who played...fingers x for double roll over this Wednesday.
On Sunday 10th April Sophie and I settled in at the Jam Tree with pimms and the sunshine for company. As the day went on, friends from all over town dropped in to play the Lottery in support of Action Medical Research. Thanks to everyone that made the effort to come and bask in the heat. We made a cracking £210 ...
Watch this space for the Jack Pot announcement!
First commute to work on the bike!
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Sunday, 10 April 2011
Wednesday, 6 April 2011
Monday, 4 April 2011
Saturday, 2 April 2011
Wednesday, 30 March 2011
Cycling has hit the pages of Fashion magazines! We are SO on trend right now.
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Sunday, 27 March 2011
THE CHALLENGE!
We are raising money for Action Medical Research, a great children's charity dedicated to improving the health of babies and children in the UK
Start point: The Holiday Inn Hotel, Chessington World of Adventures- Wednesday 20th July
Distance: approx 328 miles
Finish line: Tour Eiffel, Paris-
Fundraising target: £1,300 per cyclist.
A tip from a professional 'Good shorts and Chamois Cream! Getting saddle sore is miserable...and avoidable. Splash out on good shorts if nothing else and use lubrication! (trust me)' Chris Boardman. GREAT!
Friday, 25 March 2011
Thursday, 24 March 2011
http://www.action.org.uk/sponsor/sophiemiddleton
http://www.action.org.uk/sponsor/sophiemiddleton - sponsor me?! xxxxxxxx
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