Saturday 31 July 2010

My first cycling Anniversary

On August 2nd it will have been a full year since I rediscovered cycling and in that year a lot has happened.  Back then, my goal was to ride 25miles a week and more often than not, I would struggle to reach that in 4 rides. Now, it usually takes just two rides to achieve that mileage (and if I try, and really wanted to, I can do that in one).

So what else has changed in the last 12 months?

Obviously my fitness levels have changed dramatically. This time last year I was incredibly unfit which consequently affected my asthma. The slightest exertion would leave me breathless and wheezy.  I would have to stop and catch my breath every mile or so.  The slightest cold would rapidly turn into a raging chest infection as my lungs were to weak to fight it off.  Things have changed considerably since then and I (stupidly) don’t even take my daily preventative inhaler anymore. (Yes, I know I should, as precaution is better than cure, but I honestly just forget, as I rarely *touchwood* have any symptoms.) Anyway, much to my delight I can now happily ride a fair few miles without the need for stopping to catch my breath.

Another major change is that of my body shape. My general tendency to be really lazy and my insatiable sweet tooth left me overweight, but since then, without changing my diet or giving up the sweet stuff, I have lost at least a stone and visibly shed a few inches of my thighs and tum. I'm looking forward to buying a pair of jeans the next size down - when I can be bothered as I hate clothes shopping.

So now I am a happy lassie indeed.  Colleagues keep telling me that I must be really fit now, but I am the first to admit that No, I am just MUCH fitter and healthier than I was, as I was very unfit. There are still plenty of improvements to be made and I look forward to continuing to develop.

So whats next for my cycling rediscovery? My aim is to continue increasing my mileage with longer rides. Unfortunately, as we live in a very hilly part of the world, upping the ride length will inevitably increase the amount of hills in my ride. Currently I can do about 12 hilly miles comfortably. 

Finally, as you all know, at the start of the year, I treated myself to a sparkly new bike after outgrowing my lovely hybrid and since Ted’s birth he has greatly improved my riding technique and I even made a smooth transition to clipless pedals. Trouble is, now I've seen the impact of having a lighter bike, I want to take things even further and get an even lighter and speedier road bike and watching the Tour de France just exasperated this desire.  Anyone wanna buy me a nice new carbon road bike? Pretty please?

10 comments:

trio said...

A shiny carbon bike is needed, I'm sure Mikey will sort you out.

Red Bike said...

My carbon bike has just been sold and is being collected this Saturday.
As from this weekend I will be bike-less for the first time in years. I'm extremely angry at having been forced to quit cycling.

simondbarnes said...

Well done on the year of cycling! Start saving for a shiny carbon road bike. No point getting one just before the Winter, wait till next Spring :)

Mullerton said...

Simon, got any 2010 spesh left at le shak

simondbarnes said...

Yup. Couple of 54cm Tarmacs, 56cm Allez Comp, Large Sirrus...

KatieCake said...

54 and 56 is too big for lil' ole me. Anyway I want a Ruby! ;-)

simondbarnes said...

Ah, sorry, can't help you there :(

trio said...

I love my ruby - good choice!

Small Adventures said...

Mad,MAD PROPS to your first anniversary,my friend! =D=D=D

You've done well,and SHOULD have a new steed! If I were a richly sort,I would surely send you one-but I do send my thoughts hopes n prayers yer way,as you start off on the next best thing to that first year...the second =D

Really proud of you,my friend =)

Steve

Rocketdog said...

hi, this is great and really inspiring, i did a similar thing at the start of the year by vowing to take one photo on every ride i do this year and documenting it on flickr and a blog http://a-pic-a-ride.blogspot.com/ i also log the mileage and it's really worked, i passed 1000 miles recently and averaged 33.75 miles a week which doesn't sound a lot but is a huge inprovement over last years riding, i've really enjoyed it and as you say you can eat cake without feeling guilty!

keep up the good work

Gary