I HAVE DONE IT!!!!!!

I am home!!!! Half a stone lighter, very tired but over the moon. I DID IT !!!!! Every last bit of it!

All the training paid off....it was very hard at times, very hot, but the most fantastic experience of my life. India is amazing. I feel privileged to have seen some very rural areas, where the people have nothing, but in many ways everything. It was quite humbling. On the whole, they were welcoming. I think they found the sight of 80 women on bikes very amusing!

 I will tell you more about it, once I am back in the land of the living! But for now, I want to say THANKYOU to you all for your support and encouragement over the past year and a bit. I am nearly at £4000 on the fundraising front, which is above and beyond what I could have wished for.

                               Thankyou!

                                   Sarah xxx

If someone had told me that I would become the proud owner of a shiny red bicycle, training for a tough 390km cycle challenge through Rajasthan over 5 days in November, spending nights under canvas (at the edge of a tiger park!) with a group of ladies I don't yet know, I would have laughed out loud.....

But thats exactly what I am doing! I am so excited. I've a spring in my step and a smile on my face. I've not felt as enthusiastic about anything in ages.

You are able to sponsor me through this page. It is is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Women for Women will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you. Any amount however small is really appreciated. Thankyou.

I will update this page regularly with details of how I am progressing with the fundraising and the training.

Here I go then, helmet on, seat belt fastened (they do have seat belts on bikes don't they?!). I think its going to be a bumpy ride.....

August 06

Collected bike. Had a lesson around the local Nature Reserve before I dared cycle home. Would feel happier with L plates and wing mirrors...

September 06

Enjoying getting out and about now. Furthest I have done is 28km which I am quite chuffed about. Was even wolf whistled at the other day. Could well have been a tall blonde behind me, but I am claiming it! It made me smile all the way home.

With the invaluable help of family and friends I have hosted a garden party/bbq. My first ever fundraising event. I raised a massive £738 !! Absolutely amazing. I wouldn't have thought it possible. Thankyou to everyone who came along and supported me, and also thanks very much to the sunshine for making an appearance all afternoon. Everyone appeared to be having a fantastic time.

Next event, a ladies Christmas shopping evening. More details soon....

Bye for now then, best go and do some housework and think about feeding the family.....they seem to be taking a back seat at the moment!

October 06

Bit down in the dumps at the moment. Suffering from very uncomfortable knees, not so much while I am cycling, but afterwards. Think they are probably objecting to be used after so many years of doing nothing! Managed to get a physio appointment for next week, so hopefully they will be able to sort me out! **Good news at Physio.I have a maltracking patella due to decreased control around the knee joint...weak muscles... Have been overdoing on the bike after years of no excerise. So have a set of muscle building exercises, and have to take it steady on the bike for a few weeks. But it is fixable, thankgoodness.** Rebecca is laughing at me doing my excersises...she is much better at them than me! But I will get there. The physio says its like The Tortoise and the Hare.....slowly but surely.........getting back out on the bike a bit at a time this week hopefully.

Fundraising going exceptionally well though. amazed by people's generosity. Thankyou everyone!

October 13th 2006

Friday the 13th is certainly proving to be a lucky day for me! I have today received a cheque from Long Eaton Ladies Circle for a whopping £500!!! How brilliant is that?! Thankyou Ladies!! Also in today's post was a cheque for £100 from a local engineering company, which now takes my total to over £2100, after just 8 weeks fundraising.........Wow!

November 06

Just been back out on my bike for the first time in ages, since the knees started playing up...only did a couple of kilometres round the block, as instructed by the physio, but it went ok, I really enjoyed getting back out there and realised how much I had been missing it. Same again tomorrow!!!

Christmas shopping evening raised £137. Thankyou to all that came!

December 06

Oh dear really behind with Christmas shopping. The bike ride really is taking over....

Thanks to everyone who has sent donations with their Christmas cards!

Merry Christmas Everyone!

January 2007

Its freezing and I hate the wind!!!! But I am still managing to get out 5 days a week. Roll on Spring!!!!

March 2007

Thankyou to everyone that came to the Barn Dance on Saturday. Everyone appeared to be having a great time. The evening raised an incredible £544, which has now tipped my total over the magical £3000 mark. A massive thank you to everyone!

No excuses now, back to the knee exercises and training. Just a few weeks to go until 8 of us are meeting for the first time and having a day riding in the Peak District. Really looking forward to it.

April 2007

Its been a busy month....cycling or at the gym most days....have even joined a dance class! 

Have had a couple of good days cycling up in the Peak District. One with Tony and then another with the ladies. We all got on really well and have already organised another get together, next time in the Cotswolds in June. 

Last Sunday Tony and I cycled to Shipley Park and Back 26 miles in 2hhrs 3 minutes - mind you, we were pushing it - couldn't have done it any quicker as it was a bit up and down!

A couple of days later I rode to Aston on Trent and back, just under 20 miles in 1 and a half hours - loads better than when I did it when I first got my bike last August.  I can certainly feel the benefit of the training. My shape is also changing! Certainly more toned in the old bum and leg area - nothing coming off weight wise though which is abit frustrating - still muscle weighs heavier than fat doesn't it?!!!

Bye for now, will update you again next month. Any ideas for a fundraising event that I could host towards the end of the Summer would be greatly appreciated.....

MAY 2007

TRAINING GOING REALLY WELL - SO WELL THAT I HAVE WORN OUT MY BIKE!!! My trusty £99 bike from Halfords has finally had enough!!! So I am now trying to get used to a new one that will hopefully take me through the 6 months until I go to India, and beyond.....can't imagine not cycling now. Definately will continue and hopefully stay in touch with the ladies from the ride.

june 2007

Getting on better with my new bike. Had a good ride out in the Peak District with Tony yesterday. Went off to Shipley Park today - 36 km round trip in 1 hour 48 minutes - beating last time by 15 minutes.

Had another lovely weekend with "The Cycle India 7" !!! This time, we met in The Cotswolds.....the rather hilly Cotswolds! Proud to say that I rode up all hills. Amanda and I kept each other going at times which was fantastic.These get togethers are great to see how we are all progressing and to share any worries and concerns.

July 2007

 WET WET WET!!!! GOODNESS ME - WHERE'S SUMMER?!!!

Have just been out and got absolutely drenched!! Not kidding - my shoes were full of water! Have had to strip off in the kitchen (not a pretty site!!) and throw everything in the washer! Still, it made me cycle quicker - and managed a couple of hills to boot. Come on sun shine - where are you hiding?

August 2007

Oh dear - bit of a set back.....have torn the achilles tendon and also have bursitus in my left leg/ankle and have also sprained my right ankle! Good news is, that whilst all gym and dance glasses are banned, cycling is ok, so long as I take it steady for a bit while the tendon heals. Rather frustrating - I admit i have shed a few tears and have not been easy to live with. BUT I WILL GET THERE!! Nobody said this was going to be easy.........

CAR BOOT RAISED £151 THANKS TO ALL WHO DONATED BITS AND BOBS!

18/19 August  Fab weekend cycling in Rutland with "The Cycle India 7"

30th August Did a 34 mile ride, on my own, in 3hours 20 minutes, with a 5 minute stop for juice and a breather! Quite impressed, as I have never been out on my own for that length of time before.  Achilles seems to be mending - back at physio tomorrow.

September 07

Had a fab ride in the Peak District yesterday with Tony. We did 44.5 miles - a challenging route to say the least! But pleased to say I rode up hills that I previously walked up and am amazed to have woken today without any aches and pains! Maybe all the hard work is paying off! Training weekend coming up in The Cotswolds with about half the ladies on the event, so really looking forward to that.

October 2007

ONLY 5 WEEKS TO GO!!!!!!

Having abit of bike trouble, which is really frustrating.  The steering "went" last week, its ball bearings had dropped....have had it sorted (whatever "it" was!!) and a new steering post. I don't know, I am getting through bikes like I don't know what! I have been with Tony 23 years and he doesn't seem to be wearing out! I am obviously not as rough with him!

Anyway, have had a great, if wet, weekend in the Peak District with the Cycle India Possee. Can't believe the next time I will see most of them will be at Heathrow!

Got to try and get some serious miles in over the next 4 weeks....which is why I need my bike to behave.

Not going to have time to hold any more fundraising events before I go now, however, you can still donate online until the end of December. Thanks to everyone who has supported me so far - couldn't have done it without you!

!st November 2007

Oh My goodness! Three weeks today and I will be on my way to Heathrow! Can't quite believe its nearly here. Am now on bike NUMBER 3 !!!!! My 2nd was having a few problems to say the least and the bike shop have exchanged it under warranty. So I am trying to break in a new bike and saddle......

Have had 3 good rides out this week, a 24 mile, 27 mile and today a 30 mile.  Concious that I have to keep on going, these last few weeks have been hard, and get to the 22nd November without any injuries. Achilles is getting better, my knees are a bit achy, but they are still working! Desperate to get back to my dance classes, but not going to risk it until the new year now.

Will update again before I go.

Sarah xx

sarah.fundraising@hotmail.co.uk