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!