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! 

Let the good times roll...

Exciting times coming up..Back from sunny Kos with a tan but an extra kilo of personal baggage due to all that lovely food! I have vowed to get bike motivated and have squeezed in 2 single speed rides on the 29er...it's given me a real want for my own 29er or 650b! In the meantime I have joined a couple of women riding groups to get me out more and am planning to meet some new riding buddy's on Thur after my night shift how motivated is that!

All paid up for 3 races now so best get riding, the Bamboo  bike is ready to ride and very kindly Bamboo have agreed to let me be a team rider, I have sparkling new kit, which I would love to show you but am waiting for the photos and a press release eeeekkk! I'm feeling pretty nervous that I need to improve my riding now so fingers crossed. Also got the great news I have a selection interview to work as a medic at the commonwealth games I am super excited ! Looking forward to my Swinley ride on Thurs then totalwomenscycling.com group ride at surrey hills on Sunday!

Holidays....

Thought I would use the above title as I feel like I've had a hols from cycling lately with gulp....other commitments and trying new things (and the minor fact we are off to Kos next week)

Have been out with Jay a couple of times and enjoyed a long swinley ride boy the trails are fast good fun but already have braking bumps?! On a professional level at work I have seen the negative of Swinley lots with some nasty fractures and dislocations.....People check your speed and look up there as its faster than you think!

So I went to the darkside and did some off road running and assault course at the brill Henfold
Lakes Dorking talk about black and blue but I loved it and now want to deco build up my off road running bravery here is a sample of me and the work gang who were all troopers. Was really chuffed at the gym got a surprise award for doing so well, and I finally broke 80 kg am now 77kg whoop whoop. Planning to run on my hols hopefully then start preparing for AYTE in July, Torq 12 in Aug and maybe the Nuts Challenge in Sept..... And on a signing out note my poor son has a broken collar bone a real bikers injury bless him but no bikes involved yet he's far too young lol will get a picky of his X-ray for him I'm a very proud mum of my brave soldier

time management...or should it be lack of??

things hve been a bit hectic now my very mobile toddler is wanting to do things constantly, I have managed to ride a bit but it takes the precision planning of an army major!! Did try out a bit of Swinley with the phillipino boys recently but it was bloody freezing and full of slush with the temp at least 0 degrees so found it hard to enjoy a 5 hr jaunty. The night riding has been sparse due to work constraints but hoping to do the old men and womens ride with THT tonight. Managed a 3.5 hr blast yesterday of Caesars, Ash and through up to Porridge just mainly hills to get faster and fitter. I can really see a difference from the gym work now with the start of abdominal muscles on me which is worth the hard work. Have also crossed to the dark side of Protein Shakes to try to shed more weight off. As for racing no time and am away in Kos for the ones I planned to do (what a shame lol) but am toying with doing Erlestoke either 6 or 12 hours not commited yet will decide after a nice Sunny holiday I think!!