Training Update #9: Elder smee speaks

Well thought is was about time I contributed to the blog seeing as Lesley has been doing all the training and i've haven't. Last week was a bit better on the effort front...

Monday 22nd 30k with Dave, who I blame entirely for the last 4 years, he's the one who introduced me to Triathlons and all other manner of spandex clad nonsense. Downside being he's 10years younger and hasn't partied nearly as hard over the years thus kick's my ass at most things (apart from swimming!!),


Tuesday 23rd 45k was a longer ride solo which was ok given that it was windy, got a puncture 3ks from home and the goo in the tube which should seal it didn't so cold and wet I had to swap the tube, so much swearing under my breath. Thanks to the other roadies out there who all stopped to check I was ok for bits. Damn friendly bunch


Wednesday 24th 4 Mile run which was first run in god knows how long, was pleased with pace and that I managed up hills without barfing, was all going well until 1k from the hotel and it decided to hose down with rain, got some very funny looks walking through hotel like a drowned rat in Spandex!!!


Thursday 25th I decided to get the mountain bike out and see what Blairadam Forest in Fife has to offer in the way of routes. Was a complete mud fest and not very enjoyable, although when it dries out in the Spring it'll be pretty good, not hilly but loads of technical bits and some decents with decent berms and jumps a return trip is on the cards


Weekend was messed up with work so didn't get any miles or running.


Monday 29th was same loop as last Monday.

Weather has now decided to return to winter and we've had a loads of slushy/ snowing rubbish last night and this morning so any mountain biking isn't going to happen and unless weather improves I may have to dig out Turbo trainer.

Sponsor us for our ride to Paris! www.justgiving.com/pedallingpinders


More ramblings later, Pinder the Elder

Training update #8: Update

So, I made it.





Phew.





It wasn't quite as long as I had thought, it was in fact only 67 miles. I was pretty daunted to be honest though. This was the longest I have ever cycled in my life. What if I broke down in the middle of nowhere and couldn't fix it? Or what if I just ran out of gas?? Well, I had said I'd do it so I had to just get on with it. And you know, I actually kind of liked it! The route was pretty great - after a short spell on the very busy A24, I got onto nice quiet country roads and enjoyed pootling along and enjoying the scenery. Thankfully, Naomi and Robin had picked a route that took me over the South Downs at a point that wasn't too steep although it was a very very long drag up hill. After 4 hours or so of cycling on your own, it is hard not to start talking to yourself to break the silence so if any cars had their windows open driving past me they probably heard snippets of slightly rubbish (and a wee bit sweary if I'm honest) self-motivational chat.


Yet again, the company of a fellow cyclist for the last few miles really helped me keep going especially as my knees were really really starting to hurt! We cycled through Lancing Airport together, which was pretty cool. Lots of wee planes taking off around us. Because of the way I came over the downs, I didn't get a big panoramic view of the sea as I had hoped but I did finally see the sea as I cycled through Lancing:




By the time I arrived at Naomi and Robin's i was pretty cream crackered but they greeted me with tea and biscuits, ran me a bath and then fed me up with lovely rolls and sausage. Splendid.







So....here are the deets:

Distance 67 miles
Time 4 hours 29 minuts
Average speed 15mph
Number of stops 1
Caolries burnt 1,968

Food eaten to get me there: 1 x bowl of muesli and a banana for brecky, 1 x banana en route, 1 1/2 bottles of lucozade sport, handful of jelly babies.
Refuelled with: 2 x digestive biscuits, 1 x cup o tea, 2 x nice sausages in rolls with mustard and onions, 2 x pints of ale, 1 x massive portion of lasange, token amount x salad, 1 x slice cake, 2 x glasses Barolo.
Recovery: 1 x bath and 2 x ibuprofen

I have to say, aside from allowing me to delight you with stats, my new pooter was absolutely invaluable. Without it I would have had no idea how far I had gone or how far I had to go, nor would I have had anything to motivate me to keep going at a decent speed. Hurrah for my pooter.

Obviously I didn't cycle back. London is north from Worthing and that means it is uphill. Right?

So, next up is to top that cycle to the seaside with another cycle to the seaside this weekend - this time to Whitstable. And I will be cycling back.

Not too late to sponsor us of course and to help people experience the joy of reading.

www.justgiving.com/pedallingpinders

Lesley (smee junior)

Training update #8: Preview

I'm cycling to Worthing this Saturday to visit my lovely friend Naomi and her husband Robin.

It's 75 miles away.

Good lord.

I am a bit terrified.

Please think good thoughts for me!

Will let you know on Sunday if I made it....

Training update #7: Stat alert

I was having a ponder about what was missing from this blog. It just didn't seem, I don't know, serious enough. Or geeky enough. And then I realised....it needs STATS! Every good training blog needs some stats, and preferably some charts and graphs as well. Colour coded if at all possible. That way, as well as being mildly amused/bored by my cycling chat, you can also be dazzled/bored by numbers too! Hurrah!


So after popping out for a 45 mile cycle with Dulwich Paragon again on Saturday ( i finally got over the shame of my previous pedal fail and returned. Turns out they still talk about my big ice slide back in January, I think it has entered into club legend), I took myself off to the bike shops and bought myself one of these:

A cycling computer!

I know. It's exciting isn't it. Please contain yourself.


A sensible human bean would have bought one of these at the very start of a training regime, but I thought that if I got too hung up on average speeds and such like too early it might get a bit dispiriting if I didn't improve as fast as I hoped. However, on my ride on Saturday morning I noticed that I was actually starting to feel pretty good out there on my bicycle. The 'steady' group at the back of the ride that I usually join was feeling a wee bit, shock horror, slow for me and I ended up riding up with the intermediates. It felt good. So, I thought if I was to continue to improve, and to motivate myself when I was out on my own, I needed to be more aware of what I was doing. And the only way to do that is with some good, solid stats!

So, i strapped the pooter on my bike and on Sunday went out on my ride with technology on my side. I cycled the same route as we did on Saturday (ish...so I avoided one of the massive hills...sue me ) and my legs were a wee bitty tired but having the computer was a brilliant way of keeping me going without the club riders for company. I set myself a challenge of keeping above 14.5mph average and it made a huge difference. As did the fact that it was a beautiful day. Although i was a little less than impressed by many of my fellow cyclists I passed out on the wee country lanes. You'd think a wee nod, wave or a "good morning" wouldn't be too much to expect but I got blanked by at least 75% of them. Bah and indeed humbug. The nice chap who spoke to me from West Wickham to Elmers End round-about made up for it though... I was starting to flag and his company got my speed back up to (stat alert!) 23mph in a jiffy. Anyway, after 2 1/2 hours, a couple of big hills and a snickers (or marathon for the purists amongst you) I got home and check the numbers. Time for the big reveal!!

Distance: 36.6 miles
Time: 2hrs 26mins
Ave speed: 14.7mph (tried desperately to get it up to 15mph but I was just too slow on the hills)
Max speed: 31mph (Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!)
Min Speed: 6mph (damn you 15% hill up to Downe)
Calories used: 1,165 (I took this as an excuse to eat like a horse yesterday)

So, you'll be excited to learn that from now on, my blog posts will include some exciting stats.

Lucky you!

Oh, quite a few folk have asked where I cycle to...I only know where I turn left and right, not actual names but you can see the route I did on Saturday and Sunday (it's a red line) here if you so desire!

Thank you so much if you've already sponsored us. And if not, you can still do so here! www.justgiving.com/pedallingpinders. All the money raised will be helping to send books to libraries and resource centres in sub-Saharan Africa. Like this one!

Nguruman Maarifa Community Resource Centre from Book Aid International on Vimeo.

Training update #6: Reunited!

Hello all

Sorry i've not updated you on my no doubt riveting cycling exploits this week. The small matter of dinner at Buckingham Palace slightly diverted me! (No, really)

Anyway, last week was a bit of slow week to start with training wise. But, all training and no play makes Lesley a dull girl! My usual gym/cycling nights were replaced last week by two amazing gigs including the finale to the rather wonderful '100 days to make me a better person project'. This was started by comedian Josie Long back in December when she gave people the challenge to do something every day for a hundred days - with the loose aim of making them a better person. And it was a lovely wee project - although not so wee as the exhibition last Wednesday proved! My good chum Dominic took part by taking a picture of someone he made smile everyday, Andy wrote a Haiku every day, Ade walked an hour every day andThe Pictish trail wrote a 30 second song (nearly) every day along with many many other pledgers, like the chap who wrote a letter to his girlfriend every day or Josie Long herself who spoke to a stranger. Anyway, needless to say the finale which included an exhibition of all the various pieces of art and activities as well as performances, was suitably lovely and inspiring. Some of the blogs are on my links on the left hand side and you can read more at www.hundreddays.net

Hmmm. that all has nothing to do with cycling but is a very good excuse for not training mid week last week!

Training picked up again on Friday when i took myself and my bike back to the Borders to visit my folks and go for the first ever Pedalling Pinders joint training rides!

Exciting. Look, here we are looking resplendent in lycra. (I'm the one on the right)

I arrived in Melrose about 12pm, had a swift nap to recover from my 5am start, and then Frank popped round and we took a nice jaunt out into the Borders countryside. It was a beautiful day and I can't express quite enough how lovely it was to be out of London on my bike. We cycled up to Innerliethen and back, ogling at the downhill mountain bike competition taking part there on the way. It was a lovely 37 ish mile ride. Frank got the short straw and then had to cycle home again so he added another 12 miles onto his ride. Anyway, it felt good, although i was, in all honesty, absolutely knackered and after an amazing mum-made fish pie went straight to bed.

the next day it was my turn to do the extra miles and i cycled to Frank's house, 6 miles away in St Boswells. After i managed to mess up pumping his tyres (seriously, I'm rubbish with bikes, I have no idea why I thought this was a good idea), we went off on a 30 mile round trip to the lovely town of Kelso. Lovely apart from the cobbles. Eep. Thank the lord for padded shorts.

No idea how the Tour de France riders managed on the Champs Elysee. Got back to Frank's and after munching a giant slab of cheesecake, I pootled off home. By the time I get home, I've cycled just over 40 miles. Not bad!

This is the view down towards kelso. And a fun road this was too! Lots of ups and downs and Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees! I don't think Frank likes it when I "Wheeeeeeeeeeee" going downhill. It's not very cool. (and that was Wheeeeeee not Weeeeeeeee)

Anyway, it was really nice to get out cycling with Frank and have some company on the road. Plus it provided lots of opportunities for us to rant and put the world to rights.

We've raised a really fantastic sum of money so far, over £2,200 at last count which is wonderful. In case you didn't know, one of the reasons I'm doing this now is that I turn 30 on May 11th so this is a bit of a birthday challenge too. So, if you've not bought me that porsche or diamond ring you'd planned to buy me for my birthday yet, sponsor us instead!

www.justgiving.com/pedallingpinders

Enough rambling,

Lesley xxx

Training update #5: Surrey to E17

Hello everyone

So, in my last training update I said that I would go out training last week on Thursday, Saturday AND Sunday. And I did! Hurrah!

Thursday was my usual 20 mile round the burbs trip. Bit yawn but I didn't get lost and the steep hill up to Crystal Palace is actually getting easier. On Saturday I managed to sleep in a little and wasn’t up in time to get to Crystal Palace to meet Dulwich Paragon Cycling Club for their weekly ride. Instead I pootled off down to Surrey on a wee thirty mile loop that took in some very ‘Surrey’ villages as well as Chipstead Downs and, shock horror, yet another muckle A road – the A217.

It was grand day but I did realise that there are two good reasons to cycle with other people. (Okay, three if you include the fact that cycling with other people who know where they are going means you don’t get lost or end up on dual carriage ways.) Anyway, one reason is that when you are on your own, it is always a bit too tempting just to take the easy route…so, on Saturday when faced with ‘White Hill Road’ or ‘Chipstead Valley Road’, it didn’t take me long to take the easy option (the valley road, obviously!). This means I’m probably not improving as quickly as I should be.

The second reason is that cycling on your own all the time can get, well, boring. And a wee bit lonely. And also sometimes a bit scary if you’re miles from home. So on Sunday, instead of going off on some big long trek again into deepest darkest Kent or Surrey, I decided to cycle up through London to sunny Walthamstow (insert East17 jokes/songs here) to visit my good chums Stevie and Lyndsay. That way I would have some human interaction to look forward to as part of my cycle. Woop! And, perhaps a consequence of Lyndsay being nine months pregnant, lots of snacks!

Hmmmmm. Snacks.









So far so good! A whole weekend of cycling without ice, getting massively lost or falling over. Winner! I even remarked to Stevie as I left their house after two hours of eating and chatting to cycle the 15 miles home... “Nothing bad has happened this weekend. What am I going to write about in the blog? I think people sponsor me more when I’ve done something stupid.”

WHAT WAS I THINKING?

I did, surprise surprise, speak too soon and as I merrily cycled home through Clapton my rear wheel started to feel funny. Of course! A Puncture! Brilliant! Oh, look! A puncture that has also ripped my tyre making it really difficult/impossible to fix on my own. And it’s five o’clock so the nearest bike shop has shut. And I’m 10 miles from home! Yay!

After a brief sit on a bench as I weighed up my options and swore quietly at the hubris which got me there, I realised that thankfully I had brought with me my trust tool kit of cycling.

Namely:
My oyster card
My Bank card
My phone (with GPS)

The phone was utilised to search for the phone number of the nearest Evans, surely they would be open til 6pm? A swift phone call confirmed that yes, yes they are, and my damsel in distress act convinced them to fix it even though their mechanics were all busy.

The oyster card got me and my bike on the train from London Fields to Liverpool Street.

The bank card paid for a new tyre and inner tube.

And my bike then got me home.

Phew.

So, last week I cycled 88 miles, went to one spin class, spent an hour doing weights and travelled two miles on a train whilst muttering to myself. This week has been quiet so far, BUT, excitingly, Frank and I will be re-united this weekend and will be going training together. I know you just can’t wait to find out what disasters be-fall us as we speed around the bonnie Borders. Stay tuned to find out!

Thanks so much to everyone who has sponsored us so far! Your generosity has been amazing and so far we have raised enough money to send over 1000 books to libraries in sub-Saharan Africa and beyond. Good work!

www.justgiving.com/pedallingpinders

World Book Day - a book review!

Happy World Book Day everyone! To mark this happy occasion, my update today won't actually be about training but about a book! Exciting. And apt!To mark World Book Day, school students around the UK are writing book reviews and sharing them on our new book review site so, here is my very own review:

Of this book!



Now, I love my cycling and I also love Talking Heads quite a lot. So it was a no brainer for my chum Euan when he saw this book written by Talking Heads lead singer/head honcho David Byrne. It may as well have been called 'BUY THIS FOR LESLEY NOW' David Byrne is a silver haired, eccentric genius who was not only in one of my favourite bands but also made one of my favourite films - True Stories. He is one of these people who has an idea and then just goes ahead and does something about it, no matter how bonkers the idea may seem to normal human beings. Like turning a building into a musical instrument, writing a disco album which is based on the life of Imelda Marcos or designing a bike rack shaped like a shoe.







As well as being generally brilliant, David Byrne is also massively into cycling (perhaps the two are related!?). He cycles everywhere he goes and has a folding mountain bike that travels with him around the world. Much to the chagrin of some of the posh hotels he stays in! This book is organised around some of the cities that he has cycled around including London, New York, Manila, San Francisco and Berlin but it is certainly not really just about cycling. It is basically a series of short essays about the world, how it works, how it doesn't work and the nature of human beings - all sparked off by his experiences cycling around cities, the people he meets and the things he sees while doing so. It is all at once a travel diary, a piece of cycling propoganda, a philosophical musing, a history lesson and a thoroughly entertaining read. A cycle to the Stasi museum in Berlin for example morphs into a discussion about identity, self-delusion and belonging - taking in censorship, Zimbabwe and religion along the way. Cycling in San Francisco, he visits an exhibition which features artists who are mentally or psychologically challenged which then sets him off thinking about what makes people 'outsiders' and how we value art.

At the heart of the book though are his views on cycling and cities, and how we should live together in urban spaces. He is fascinated by urban design and his views on how cycling brings people together, forces human interaction and creates a better quality of life for city dwellers is pretty persuasive. But then he is preaching to the converted with me!

On a more whimsical note, here are some of his designs for bike racks in New York...






Reading and cycling. Brilliant. But not at the same time, obviously.

Anyway, next post will be back to the training!

Lesley xx

p.s not too late to sponsor us by the way - www.justgiving.com/pedallingpinders

Training update #4: Cycling in the rain

So, week six of the training for London to Paris. and depending on which training plan I'm following I should either be cycling 50 miles a week plus at least 45 mins in the gym OR between 70 and 80 miles a week. Hmmmm.

I'll be honest, last week was a pretty difficult one mainly due to all of the rain. I mostly chickened out of cycling outside and relied on spin classes at the gym at Brockwell Lido. Spin classes are pretty high intensity so i figured they would count a bit! There are lots of different people who run the spin classes all of whom have a different style which at least keeps it interesting. '6.45am on a Monday morning man' is extremely sweet and generally chuffed that anyone has made it there at that time in the morning. He doesn't shout at us too much, I think partly because like us he is still trying to wake up. Still, he works us pretty hard and a banging remix of "smack your B***h up by the prodigy at that time of the morning is sure to wake you up. Then there is 'super fit and super enthusiastic Wednesday evening lady' who likes to call us all 'team' and makes us pretend we're racing her up some horrendous hills.She's of the shouting variety which I didn't think I'd like but she sure does keep you going. I wish I had her energy! The masterplan was to go out for a proper ride on Saturday but instead I decided to spend much of Saturday drinking tea, watching Dr Who episodes on BBC Iplayer (other online TV players are available) and plotting my inevitable marriage to David Tennant (whether he likes/knows about it). The punishment for this laziness was that I had to instead go cycling on Sunday. Sunday. The weather on sunday was, as Andrew Marr described it on his eponymous TV show as I ate my porridge, "unutterably disgusting", and I hummed and hawed for some time before biting the bullet and heading out into the wind and rain. Thankfully, just the week before I had received two items in the post which make the experience much more bearable! Looky!


A rather attracive SealSkinz Skull cap. Wind and water proof! With wee holes where your ears are so you can still hear. Fancy. NOT to be worn on its own at any time if you want to retain any kind of style.







And these bad boys, which I think are my favourite things in the world right now. Granted, they are a pair of socks and cost £25 but they are waterproof AND thermal. YEAH! Since I've started cycling again one of my major issues has been getting completely numb toes within about two minutes of getting on my bike despite usually wearing at least three pairs of socks. Not aided by the fact that my cycling shoes have handy vents. Great for the summer. Not great for the chilly winter! These socks are AMAZING.

So, despite it chucking it down and blowing a gale, after two hours on my bike on Sunday I still had toasty warm and dry feet and head. The rest of me was soaking and freezing mind you but small victories....

Now that I know that I won't come to a soggy and cold end if I go out cycling in the rain I have NO excuse and this week I'm on a serious mission. One spin class down and planning a proper ride on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. You can give me a good row if I don't.

Anyway, thanks for reading! And don't forget to sponsor us! Every £10 donated will help Book Aid International to send five books to libraries in Africa, like the one at Petit Dan and Sarah Orphanage in Cameroon....

“Our library has been so useful for the children in our school, but also for people in the surrounding area. We have many children’s books but you have given us especially good books in higher education topics such as linguistics and biology.... This has given us the opportunity to reach out to many more people. We thank you very very much for this programme to support libraries like ours, because it is so widely used” Ms. Jeanne Veronique Atsam, Director

Thanks!

Lesley

p.s Frank is still in house moving mode but he's moved to the bonny Borders and will have many fantastic and scenic roads to train on. He'll no doubt update us all soon!