Life gets in the way

Gosh it has been a while, after the disappointment of calling it a day at Stillettos on Wheels I kinda needed time off the bike really, my knee needed the rest and its done me he world of good,I'm running longer, stronger lifting bigger weights and really seeing the weight coming off again with my shape completely changing. A few shorter rides sprinkled in led to an impromptu Scotland trip helped. Surprisingly I got a childless day to ride the blue and red at Glentress and noticed the strength in my legs riding twice to the very top with little effort man those trails are amazing and fun for all abilities. I then went to the ledge that is Jedi for his public Jumps and Drops course, but really didn't think! My seat post doesn't drop down! So I had to use his bike but boy was it fun and I even manual led and got my wheel in the air on jumps! On the downside I had a really silly stack breaking a finger doh! So Jay is racing on Sunday...weekend riding has become difficult with me working Sat nites but I will try a little pedal if I can tomorrow. As for racing Brass Monkeys I'm not sure yet if I have enough bike time for it to justify spending the money....time will tell 

Three weekends of craziness

So two weekends down one to go, I can categorically say this has been a huge challenge with injuries and illness, as I write at the moment I have a sinus infection from the mud swilling in them ouch!

So how did Torq 12 go well what a great course albeit with more climbing than last year the approx 8 mile course felt fab and I bettered last years effort with 9 laps and missing out by 5 mins going again, I can definitely say the Kinesio tape pulled me through and I rode everything too on 9 occasions, although I struggled to walk for days after I was really chuffed with the effort and my bamboo really was survivable as a 12 hour hard tail. The supporters were immense and. Lovely atmosphere in the arena, have to say I was chuffed 

Next up was the dark side the nuts challenge a big get well soon to my mate Percy who fractured dislocated his ankle on our 7K lap this was easily. The hardest thing I've done and as this is a biking blog I'm not gonna bore you all but the photos say enough....

Next up is stilettos on wheels in Brighton not sure my body can 'compete' anymore as I can barely cope with my head moving so may just do a token lap really but so be it!

Not sure if I can do it....

The nerves are setting in, Torq 12 hour solo is next Sunday and its the beginning of my mad 3 week challenge. I guess the nerves are setting in now......training has been full of setbacks, my knee has been blowing up and down like a yo yo, and being set back by a chest infection that has increased my inhaler usage massively is worrying. The knee is stressing me out, am waiting for an 'urgent' appointment still with my surgeon, tried a 8hr ride last week and had to call it a day at 5 hours. Helen one of my bike buddies introduced me to kinesio tape so I am willing to try anything to help, but I've called it a day on trialling my speedplay pedals till my knee is better. I am thinking I've just got to try my best Sunday but my hope of bettering 8 laps will be a pipe dream I reckon ......keep your fingers crossed for me!

To knee or not to knee that's the question!

Pretty quiet and frustrating month so far unfortunately my knee replacements been very problematic and sticky,I ended up spending two weeks doing only core stuff and hand cycling, thanks to all my sympathetic gym buddies and Pt for devising other things to do. The PT stuff is getting harder but I should take it as a positive that I'm stronger. Managed to do a short evening ride last week at Minley as I am worrying bout torq12 now..lol, also commuted in London for the first time that was quite the adrenaline rush, attending the Cycle Surgery Ladies nite at Southwark, was a fun educational nite with great feebies,then spent the weekend at Bontrager 24/12 at Plymouth a fab event well run, I got a couple of cheeky laps in before hand, and was there to support Jay. He did amazing 13th in his first 24 solo he was a machine! 

Knees are really stiff again since yesterday and joined the boys Mon nite ride at Swinley which was fast for me but biblical weather wise I was soaked but enjoyed the high speed descents in the grease with no offs.....and below is me and Rachy posing! Am really just trying to nurse the knees through to Torq so I'm hoping I can do it..l.

Long summers riding is here yay

Managed a big loop with Jay last week we did a 55 miler as ran out of time and I will blame that on Jays tea drinking slowness! We headed up to Caesars, Ash, Tunnel Porridge Pot then Frith with a food stop at Spar, before heading to Swinley and back home, it was interesting trying to keep th Jay and looking at my strava I did ok!! I felt strong which put me in good stead for this weekend riding....

So my plans were a bit stressed as had an interview for the Commonwealth Games so had to travel back from Glasgow on Sat evening, so the race prep was quite a rush...but thanks to my hubby for childcare and prep it was less hassle!

Are You Tough Enough was 6.5 miles in blistering heat and I opted for the 6 hr Cat sadly there was no womens cat so I lost my podium chance but I had 4 good laps and one horrific lap of too much gels and not enough food need I say any more the course actually suited a slow one like me as I could pedal virtually everything except one steep hill, really enjoyed the race on the Bamboo and heres to more racing. A big Thanks to Jay, Arran, Little Dean for fixing my bike and the encouragement from all the Trolls on the course, and of course Bamboo Bikes for their kind sponsorship

The wall.....

Had felt I had hit a wall riding wise but the last few weeks of longer riding is starting to make a difference and the weight loss is starting to kick in again. The downside of having OA and riding more is the swelling after and that I don't rest much really but I really want to move forward.....

 Have had some great riding lately locally thanks to dry dusty trails with a few groups of mates and have really pushed my switchback and descending technique. Riding the bamboo regularly has now brought some new found confidence and made the wall at Swinley feel easy peasy! The bamboo angle is slacker and has totally changed my riding for the better. The bonus of all this is more comfy clothing becoming looser too :0)

Have planned an all day loop this week as I have some well deserved holiday time, a short ride Wed and a medium ride Sat too....there may be a Southern XC entry on Sunday if I'm not working just to get a race in really,as the next race is AYTE in July after travelling back from Scotland on the train the night before not the best race prep but hey I'm not an athlete! 

The photo are courtesy of Claire Conway Birds on bikes

Upping the riding

Apparently summers here...I did get a brief glimpse on Sunday, have to really start pushing the amount of riding up, although learnt my lesson about tiredness and illness now. Worked all night at work on Wed then decided in my wisdom to ride Thurs daytime on a single speed chasing my mate Kevin up to Swinley and back.It was nice to be a shown a different way up but was hanging on my coat tails on the 29er single speed on Swinleys fast trails they're great fun but I can see how many get caught out crashing at speed, sleep deprived and seeing stars I called it a day at just under 30 miles.

I have also joined 2 sites Birds on Bikes on Facebook and Totalwomenscycling.com to get me out a bit more with the ladies, and turned up at a Surrey Hills ride on Sunday laden with cold , damn those hills are brutal when wheezing but so worth it, really loving Summer Lightening its been yonks since I've ridden it. Most people say rest is the best medicine but I say no pain no gain and it was great to get the bamboo bike out for the dry season although I've heard enough wood and panda jokes to last me a lifetime! I'm still not 100% but the opportunity of night riding tonight is there and as its such a rarity I've gotta grab it!