Gym v bike

Yes it's January that month of guilt for over indulging although most of my Xmas was work then illness! Did do BM 3 at new year but had the crappest race ever, just wasn't feeling it in the wet conditions. I stupidly rode my finally fixed hardtail which was a silly mistake should've stuck to my singlespeed and at least suffered for a good reason.....So my love for the bike has left for January, guess I'm so fed up with any riding time being struck by biblical rain every time! Instead I am focusing on my gym and running gains, and have seen some real progress...
Yes folks I have joined the big bad dark world of Les Mills GRIT and its scary, based on HIIT or Tabata training it's tough to the point of vomit inducing, and surprisingly addictive. If I looked back a year ago I wouldn't have been able todo this as it involves a lot of jumping and knee work but the PT has really pushed me forward and has resulted in more knee bend to the point of 20kg pump squats :)
What I love about my gym is the support of my fellow gym bunnies and my PT they just keep pushing me forwards especially when nights and shifts do get in the way, and I have to admit I even might enjoy running now....just a question of how to get to 10k runs. Anyhoo time to sign off before boring you all too much while I decide on what targets for this year, one is defo a flat tummy I don't ask for much do I?!

Yay it's nearly xmas

Yes it's official I am a grinch but I love Xmas because its the one time of year me the hubby and my toddler have time to juggle riding! Unfortunately due to a lack of funds and broken forks, I have only been single speeding all winter.....but to share a secret with you, I kinda love it! I have been trying to night ride once a week which seems to be pretty successful and had a great Brass Monkeys 1 at my local trails Minley. Normally finishing last in the ladies would upset and deflate me, but I was the only lady single speeder and was pleased with my four laps n just over four hours, except the Telegraph hill everything was singlespeedable for me. I really enjoyed the course well done to Gorrick and Panter for some new sections!  Training wise the weight loss has kicked in again and I am consistently doing 5 K runs now at the gym which is pleasing. This has turned into a great thing as yes folks I have suddenly developed a massive marginal gain (lol) I have gained more bend in my knee replacement and can now ride sustained hours clipped in....so I think some disco slippers are calling me for Xmas! Also had a lovely family ride yesterday at Frensham with three counties MTB as you can see 

We have had an offer accepted for a house which fingers crossed has mod bike room we really do get our priorities right! So I think next year I may be getting a CX bike for work commuting! So brass monkeys is on again next Sunday but myself and the better half are contemplating an all day ride instead its not often we get the opportunity. I wish everyone a merry Xmas in case I don't blog for a bit ho ho ho

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