The best experience yet!

What a fantastic weekend with friends .... 133 miles from Melrose to my home in Bedlington. The winter training paid off as I was able to complete longer distances each day than I had ever ridden before. Cycling with experienced long distance riders taught me how to pace a long ride. When I ride on my own, I tend to keep going but stopping at Kelso and Coldstream on route for relaxing socialising, drinks and food (of course)not only made the ride more pleasant and relaxing but gave the opportunity to recoup energy.

The first day from Melrose to Swinton by car is about 24 miles but we cycled 40! The scenery was outstanding and the route was mainly on country lanes and through villages.

Day two was the longest stretch cycling through Berwick and down the coast eventually reaching Embleton on the National Cycle Route 1. 53.5 miles of tarmac, gravel, farm tracks and footpaths! On route we stopped at the Chainbridge Honey Farm and had coffee in an old 'London style' bus. The route travelled through Berwick and then followed the coastline. The coffee shop at Beal was also a welcoming break and with the outstanding coastal view to Holy Island (worth a visit).

I was worried about day three as I thought I would be really tired by this point. Actually I felt great once we got going. The wind was in our favour. With the bitterly cold North Easterly wind, it was pushing me along! Cyclist who were cycling North had a really tough time and if I had to battle with the wind as they did, my story would have been quite different! Day three was 39.5 miles and I can't really explain how I felt when I put the key in my front door and arrived home. It took me a while to comprehend that I had just cycled 133 miles from Scotland to home. In a way it felt as if I had just completed a usual circular training route that day but then it sank in that actually .... I am ready for the BIG ONE!!!

Next ..... 63 mile Northern Rock Cyclone Challenge in the Northumberland hills ...

Great 32 mile on Saturday!

The weather was perfect ..... no wind, not too hot and the sun came out!
This ride took me along Route 1 along the Coast and what a wonderful coastline we have in the North East. I took many photographs along the way as I was overwhelmed with the lovely scenery. You miss all this when driving a car ..... cycling is a thrilling way to see the countryside you would not usually see.
This weekend coming 1-3 May, is the Melrose in Scotland to Whitley Bay cycle ride with friends. This will be a good test of my strength and endurance ready for the big one in July. We are proposing to cycle approximately 40 miles a day for three days. I'll report on the ride next week ...

Saturday's ride was more like an obstacle course!

After a long cold winter, it was great to appreciate a warmer spring day. My son Stuart accompanied me on a 15.9mile cycle ride from Barmoor Castle in Lowick. The route did not quite go according to plan and we ended up riding across fields and lifting the bikes over stiles. It was more like an upper body workout!

Stuart was amazed at my fitness level. It has clearly improved since my last charity cycle ride. My next focus is on the Melrose in the Scottish Borders to Whitley Bay in North Tyneside cycle ride at the beginning of May ..... only a few weeks away now!

Killer ride today!

What a ride today! Very enjoyable but very challenging once I got to Netherton. You'll see from the terrain that there is a killer hill on the way out of Netherton on the road to Alwinton. I had to coerce my way to the top by talking to myself. "Nearly to the top ..... well almost ..... a little further ..... keep going!" BUT when I did get to the top (well, before the next hill), the head wind was unbelievable! It was such hard going from then on to Alwinton due the head wind. Even going down hill I had to pedal!!!!

I am pleased with the result though. Despite the hills, an average of nearly 10 miles an hour is ok by my standards. When I got to the end of the ride, I wasn't especially tired and I really do feel that training is paying off ..... Thanks Chris at the gym for my training plan!

Next time -28 mile circular route from Clennell Hall

Now I mean business ....

Today is the start of a new training regime ..... realising that I am becoming fitter and thoroughly enjoying more settled weather, I simply want to cycle more. Weekend cycling is not enough now.

I only had an hour and a half today so I went on a known circular route just over 15 miles .... not too hilly but the wind surely had an impact on my speed. Today I averaged just over 12 mph which is the sort of speed I had envisaged.

Here's the plan ...... ride for an hour every morning at 6am. I am inspired by a work colleague who gets up at 5am and runs before work every day. I shall try it for a week and see how I get on.

Will keep you all posted!

Clennell Circular route 17.2 miles

Serious training is now in motion thanks to the great weather today! Still cold, cloudy with spots of rain but hardly any wind. The Northumberland Hills are certainly a challenge ..... Sharperton bank was so steep that I stood on the pedals and went nowhere! I had no alternative but to walk up the hill. I'll do this ride again and see if I can improve on the time and indeed make it up Sharperton Hill.




My husband met up with me on route along with the puppies! I think they are more concerned about the cows in the field ...

My next official event is a three day cycle ride in May with friends from Melrose to Whitley bay along the Coast and Castle cycle route.

Then the Northern Rock Cyclone Challenge in June and then my long ride in July. f you wish to donate to my chosen charity, you can do this by visiting my donation page: http://www.justgiving.com\stephaniecharitycycleevent

Sometimes I think I am mad but then I really enjoy cycling, the fresh air and certainly the challenge!

I am fed up with the cold, the rain, the snow, the frost, the ice .... when is it going to stop! I managed to get out on the bike on Sunday afternoon but only 7 miles to the shops and back again. So ...... it is the gym everyday this week on the rowing machine to warm up then on the exercise bike for 20 minutes of hard cycling to improve my cardio vascular. The next time you are at the gym, try this ..... 1 minute at 40 rpm, 45 seconds at 80 rpm and then 15 seconds as fast as you can. Do that routine 10 times! I started on level 2 resistance in November and I am now at level 4. In addition I am working with weights on my legs, shoulders, arms and the core muscles too.

With the days growing longer, I am definitely out on the bike within the next few weeks and the next event in June is the Northern Rock Cyclone Challenge and this time I am doing the 60 mile route in Northumberland as my final long distance ride before the real thing in July. For more information on this event click on the following link.

http://www.northernrockcyclone.com/CycloneChallenge.asp

Oh .... by the way, my charity ride is starting around 12 July!