Blog 20 - On Your Bike...

My 18^th challenge completed was a 40 mile bike ride. I am pleased to say I did the most preparation I have done for a challenge so far, seeing as I didn’t actually have a bike, I needed to at least buy a bike!

Seeing as I wasn’t sure if I would like cycling, as I have barely ridden a bike before and haven’t ridden a bike since I was in my teens, I didn’t want to spend vast amounts of money on a bike. I found out about the Cardiff Cycle Workshop, who take in unwanted and abandoned bikes and recondition them and sell them on. The guys that work voluntarily were fab, they found me a bike that fit and would cope with a 40 mile bike ride and all for the pricely sum of £50! They were really enthusiastic and spurned me on for the challenge.

Along with the bike I bought a bottle holder, lights, handy tool kit, foot pump, spare inner tube and padded trousers, so I was ready… all the gear and no idea!!!.

 I was really pleased that so many of my friends wanted to join me on this challenge and were supportive of tactics and working out the best route to take. Thanks to Nia who also managed to score a group of us a Bike Maintenance class courtesy of Muddybum bikes in Rhiwbina. The guys from Muddybums were brilliant and taught us all how to change a tyre if we got a puncture and gave us a general over-view of how to look after our bikes and tips on how best to get through the challenge.

So I had the gear, I had the maintenance expertise, now I just needed to get on a bike!  

As time was short I only had time for one training ride, so Nia, Sue and I went for an evening ride on the lower part of the Taff Trail down to Cardiff Bay and back. We ended up doing 16 miles and I found it quite easy apart from a few wobbles and an argument with a peddle. I also learnt a few  lessons, namely keep my mouth shut as I swallowed a ton of flies, I need to work out how to use gears and put my padded trousers on the right way!

So with only one training ride under my belt, and the starting point of the Taff Trail agreed (just above Pontiscill Reservoir), myself and 12 lovely brave ladies started off at 9.30am in the pouring rain (a bit of a late start when most of us got a bit lost). As I was still fiddling with my phone strap, all the others set off and I was left behind with the husbands and cars. It did cross my mind to just jump back in the car – what an amazing practical joke that would be!!

The first part of the ride was fairly pleasant as the rain quickly stopped, there were some hills and I was still struggling with my gears but the time quickly went past as did the miles. Our first stop was the Dynevor Arms at Troedyrhiw almost 13 miles in, we timed it just right for opening time but although tempting to partake in an alcoholic beverage, most of us wanted a cup of tea! The chaps in the pub explained they didn’t have a kettle but were really lovely, and let us use their loo and fill up water bottles etc.

Even a horse came up to see the crazy bike ladies!

After a quick food break ranging, we set off again and only 5 minutes into the next stage, Catrin lost concentration and did a hilarious comedy fall, where she somehow dropped down off the path, panicked and braked, but her brakes were so powerful the bike stopped suddenly and flung her somersaulting over the top like a human and bike buckaroo!!! Luckily she did land on soft grass and was laughing! We were all so shocked and worried (well I was, after taking her photo first!). She was unhurt apart from a few cuts and bruises, so it did give us a laugh. The other funny part was when I followed Catrin down some steps by mistake and got the shock of my life! I also had to face my nemesis and had to cross a few scary bridges along the way, although it made me cycle like a bat out of hell to cross them!

 Other than the continuous cycling, chatting and scenery watching, the rest of the ride went pretty calmly. We stopped in Pontypridd and managed to find a Costa Coffee for a lunch stop approx 26 miles in. After a wee and refreshments we headed off again. This next stage was when it really hit home for me and turned much more painful with my hips and undercarriage becoming very uncomfortable. Luckily Sarah brought some strong Ibuprofen and when they started kicking in, it was more manageable. As with all the challenges I really thought it would have felt easier, I’m not sure what is wrong with my psyche that makes me think I can do all these things with no training, skill or general overall fitness!.

Eventually 12 of us started the ride, stuck together and supported each other throughout and all 12 of us finished together at the Deri pub in Rhiwbina! It felt amazing to see the pub, see all of our families welcoming us home and downing that first pint of lager! We did it in a ridiculously slow time (approx 6 hours) but we did it! No punctures and no injuries!

As always I am so surprised that my moment of madness coming up with these challenges has encouraged others to join me and join in on the craziness. I love that I am getting closer to friends I already know and making new friends along the way and am just so touched by everyone’s support.  So sitting here with aches and pains and a very tender undercarriage, (padded trousers were rubbish!) I am pleased and proud that another challenge is done!

Blog 19 – Over half way through the challenges…

Well I’m over half way through my year of challenges and have 5 months left to go! I have completed 15 challenges and still have a whopping 25 to go…eek! I have almost finished the most restrained 40 days of my life as I am on Day 38 of no chocolate and am currently sitting staring at a basket of chocolate eggs that I will be devouring next week. I have proved my determination once again at not giving in to the chocolate cravings but boy has it made me miserable. It is something I hope I never have to do again as life is tough enough without the pleasure of chocolate! And to make matters worse I didn’t even lose a pound in weight as stuffed my face with 2^nd rate choices of cakes and biscuits instead!!

Anyway that will be my 16^th challenge completed and as I am over half way through and feeling the pressure I thought I would have an update on the challenges remaining and completed;

CHALLENGES UNDERGOING:

Challenge 1 – WRITE 40 BLOGS – This is Blog 19 written.

Challenge 5 – RIDE 40 MILES ON BIKE – I with a number of other willing volunteers will be hoping to ride 40 miles on the Taff Trail on Sunday 27 April.

Challenge 6 – DO 40 SIT UPS EVERY DAY – I am managing to keep this up.

Challenge 7 – LEARN A 40 MOVE DANCE ROUTINE – I am hoping my mate Tracey is going to help me with this one.

Challenge 10 – TAKE 40 PHOTOS WITH 40 THEME – I have taken a photo for each completed challenge so have taken 15 so far.

Challenge 11 – READ 40 BOOKS – I am currently on Book number 27.  

Challenge 14 – 40 DATES WITH MY HUSBAND – We have currently had 21 dates.

Challenge 15 – LEARN A TOP 40 HIT ON THE UKELELE – I am massively struggling with this one, but think I have found someone who plays who can teach me the basics.

Challenge 17 – VISIT 40 PUBS – I have currently visited 25 pubs.

Challenge 20 – PARTY WITH 40 FRIENDS – I am hoping to celebrate my birthday with a party.

Challenge 21 – PUT £40 ON BLACK IN A CASINO – My brother and Sister-in-law did this in Las Vegas for me but I also need to do it in the UK.

Challenge 23 – SEE PLAY ON THE WEST END – I have booked to see a play in April.

Challenge 24 – AFTERNOON TEA AT THE RITZ – I have booked for this in May.

Challenge 26 – LOSE 14 POUNDS –aargh I’m really not sure I’m going to be able to do this?

Challenge 27 – CHOCOLATE CHALLENGE COMPETITION – this is planned for May.

Challenge 29 – WALK ACROSS A HIGH BRIDGE – I need to plan when I’m going to do this but I hope to walk over the top of the Newport Transporter Bridge.

Challenge 31 – GO ON THE BIG ZIPPER – This is booked for May.

Challenge 32 – ENTER A MUDRUNNER EVENT – This is booked for June.

Challenge 33 – TRY VODKA – not done yet.

Challenge 34 – ATTEMPT A WORLD RECORD ATTEMPT – not done yet.

Challenge 35 – COOK A NEW RECIPE EACH MONTH – I am keeping up to date with this but am still a rubbish cook!

Challenge 37 – GET 40 RETWEETS FROM ONE TWEET – Not done yet.

Challenge 39 – RECORD MY OWN MUSIC SINGLE – not done yet.

Challenge 40 – GET 40 PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THE CHALLENGES WITH ME – I am recruiting lots of people in a lot of the challenges, so think I might be able to achieve this one.

COMPLETED CHALLENGES:

Challenge 2 – GET 40 PEOPLE TO DONATE £10 – I managed to get 40 people to donate £10 to my Just Giving Fundraising page for RSPCA Cardiff.

Challenge 3 – RUN FOUR 10K RUNS IN 4 DAYS – I ran 40k between 2.13.14 – 5.3.14 with help from my friends. Cost £16 to enter the official St Davids Day Run.

Challenge 4 – SWIM 40 LENGTHS – Swan 40 lengths of the 50m pool in Cardiff Bay with Lara Ramsay on 27.10.13. (Money spent £16 for goggles and entry to pool)

Challenge 8 – SCORE 40 ON A DART BOARD WITH ONE DART – Got a double top on my 9^th try on 12.1.14

Challenge 9 – 40 HOUR FAST – I completed 40 hours not eating any food and surviving on water and flavoured water only. (Sept, with Karen Daniel)

Challenge 12 – VOLUNTEER FOR 40 HOURS - Aside from my RSPCA volunteering, 40 hours of my free time were given volunteering for NSPCC Childline Schools Service, PTA events and other fundraising events. 

Challenge 16 – 40 HOUR NO SWEARING OR £1 FINE – Completed between Tuesday 5 to Wednesday 6 November 2013. (Cost me £21)

Challenge 18 – TURN MOBILE PHONE OFF FOR 40 HOURS – I turned my phone off and had no access to facebook, twitter or emails at all for 40 hours. (Oct)

Challenge 19 – 40 HOUR SILENCE – Completed between Midnight on Thursday 14.11.13 until 4pm on Saturday 16.11.13.

Challenge 22 – ADOPTED A WILD ANIMAL – I adopted Jubilee an Asian Elephant through the Born Free Foundation. (Spent £30 for adoption fee)

Challenge 25 – GIVE BLOOD – Completed on 11.10.13.

Challenge 28 – COMMIT 12 ACTS OF KINDNESS TO RANDOM STRANGERS – Completed on 26.3.14.

Challenge 30 – APPLY FOR A GAME SHOW – I applied to the following game shows ‘Deal or No Deal’ ‘The Chase’, ‘Bargain Hunt’ and ‘The Guess List’, but have not actually made it onto any actual shows.

Challenge 36 – LISTEN TO ALL THE CD’S I OWN – 186 CDs were listened to from beginning to end.

Challenge 38 – HULA HOOP FOR 40 REVOLUTIONS – Completed in Sept. (Spent £18 on buying hoola hoop)

So thank you all for your continued support and wish me luck for the rest of the list!