Well, I did it!   All 54 hilly miles of the London toBrighton Bike Ride and raised nearly £800 (including Gift Aid) for Lifelites into the bargain.  It has been a while since my last attempt, so I was a little apprehensive about the impact the advancing years would have on my ability to go the distance, but I needn’t have worried.  That said, I do not think I would have done it without the training; and living on “The Hill” certainly has its advantages with regards to conditioning cycling muscles to get up steep slopes. 

Among the other 26,999 cyclists I joined were three fat ladies in loud bikinis and a vicar (a real one).  The Devil on two wheels was a bit of a surprise, and I gently suggested to him that perhaps doing a good deed for charity was a little out of character. 

As we rounded a bend at about 45 miles and “The Beacon” came into view, the collective awe and trepidation of thousands of exhausted souls could probably be heard back at the start point in Clapham.  I gave it my best shot but my ambitions were dashed with a rumour of a flat tyre which turned out to be a red herring, but meant I couldn’t get my balance to get going again up the precipice in amongst the massed pushers. 

Sailing into Madeira Drive to the roar of the crowds and the finish line has to be one of the most wonderful feelings I will ever experience and raising loads of money for our charity into the bargain tops it off nicely.  Would I do it again?  Watch this space…

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My challenge?  Two bike rides.  One, the Downs Link Ride on 17 May - 30 miles - and the other the infamous London to Brighton Ride - 54 miles - on 15 June.  Now, I used to be a keen cyclist all through my teens and well into my thirties, but if truth be told, there's been very little serious two-wheeling from these legs as I have crept through my 40s.  I am not sure I will make it up Ditchling Beacon like I did 9 years ago, but I am going to give it a go.  Mind you, that's going to take a bit of training for which is why I have started testing out my various bikes at this early stage.

Training diary:

17 March - Those of you who know me will know I am a fair weather cyclist, but needs must and I dug out my thermals for a four mile ride along the familiar route from my mum's to Topsham.  My trusty fold-up bike held out well, but being overdressed to brave the weather, and having my asthmatic lungs chilled by the cold, left me thinking that I would be hard pushed to make the other 50 miles of the L-B ride!

19 March - Back in the saddle and 7 and a half miles of home territory wore me out yet again.  The hill we live on always means that the decision to go on a ride is harder than it might otherwise be, but - as I said - needs must.

21 March - A gathering for Good Friday in Copthorne gave me the chance to see what my super-duper Raleigh and I are made of.  Over 16 hilly miles and one and a half hours later I arrived, not exactly fresh as a daisy, but pleased with my achievment on the longest ride I have done in years.  My route today took in some of the familiar cycle paths of my teenage and this - coupled with the barely perceptible fraternal nod of a racing cyclist  passing on the opposite side - made me feel, if not quite back as part of the two wheeling gang, then at least that I am getting there.

23 March - Trying to keep up with my training despite the appaling weather (and even worse spelling);  home bike to the rescue.  It's so different to being on the roads.  I think that's because there's never any respite; I just keep peddaling like there's no tomorrow until I can't go any further.  Still at least I get an accurate read out of the miles covered (loads) and the calories used (loads more).

 6 April - The best I could manage this week is a couple of turns on the home bike. Still it's better than nothing.  Life is just too busy with work and then as soon as I get the chance to go out, the weather changes - snow today.  I am hoping for a decent day next Saturday and then I can give it another go on the roads. Meanwhile, it's (puff) back on the (pant) home saddle in front of the TV to take away the boredom of it..

13 April - Well.  I am amazed.  I did 'the hill' yesterday and found that perhaps for the first time since we moved there that I was not gasping for breath by the time I got to the top with my heart threatening to explode and my legs like jelly.  I was able to continue the rest of the ride without spending the next mile wondering why I ever thought that it was a good idea to take the slope on two wheels instead of four.  My friend Jules has suggested that as part of my training I cycle down to see her in Steyning one weekend.  I have just looked it up - it's about 40 miles. Will I be able to do it?  I suppose there's only one way of finding out!

21 April - Managed a couple of shortish road rides last week.  One back from Merstham where I tackled the alter-ego of our home hill - which is, by the way (I would swear) both longer and steeper than our own which pales into a gentle incline by comparison.  And then it was off down to see Sheila in Earlswood on Sunday. I started out and within moments I was thinking, "Why am I doing this?  I don't think I'll bother; I'll just go home."  Then it was, "Oh, I'd better get on with it.  I'll just do one circuit of my normal route."  Then as I reached the top of the hill I was feeling fit and the adrenalin was kicking in, all thoughts of an easy ride were forgotten and I rallied to the challenge.  I couldn't work out which way to go to avoid the main roads but once I got the Merstham it was easy.  Thanks to the advent of cycle paths - a new phenomena since my cycling heydays -  I was treated to a pleasant ride through Victorian estates and the grounds of the old Royal Earlswood asylum and almost up to Sheila's door; just 10 miles but it was worth it.  Onwards and up-up-upwards.

28 April - Yesterday was a defining day in the albeit short history of my training - I cycled about 35 miles!  It was hard going - you don't realise how hilly the south east is until you try to cycle it - and after about 20 miles I realised I was bored and that it's better if you have a friend with you and that I was dying for the loo!  I was trying to get to Julie's in Steyning, but about 5 miles north of Cowfold the heavens opended prematurely and I couldn't see anything, so my journey was cut short with a visit to Dad's place for a shower, change of clothes and a piece of cake - and, at last, that much desired wee.  It's a shame I didn't go the course (which by the way was closer to 45 miles).  I felt it was an achievement none the less, and at least I got to cycle passed some of the old haunts my husband and I used to pedal around to, so it was a nice trip down memory lane for me.  On the back roads from Pease Pottage, past the stunning bluebell-massed woods, I came across a soreness of cyclists going in the opposite direction on a ride for the local hospice and the old cycling cameraderie was obvious again.   What is it about all being on two wheels that makes people so friendly?  Count down to the Downs Link Ride on 17 May now and I know I can do it.

4 May - I managed a ride over the bank holiday inbetween all my gardening.  I am so pleased with myself and my progress - Hill?  What hill? I know, I know, it's a bit different when it comes to 54 miles and I expect I will be a bit tired by the end of that, but nevertheless, I am moving in the right direction.

21 May - Well, I did it.  All 30 wet, rough and muddy miles of the Downs Link Challenge.  My bike has never seen such terrain.  The route started with some real pit holes and stones as big as bricks ready to throw you off.  Then there were fields - yes, actual fields - to ride through.  I just put my head down and hoped for the best not to be sent flying.  At the half way point someone asked me if it was very muddy and I said no - but I didn't realise what a state I was in.  It had been hard up to that point and I was starting to think about the fact that I still had the same distance again to go, but fortified with a welcome Mars Bar I scooted back in what felt like no time at all.  I have the medal and certificate to prove it plus the mud on my bike which I spent an age cleaning off showed just what an achievement it was for an old girl like me.  Next stop London to Brighton...

13 June - well the big day approacheth and I have to admit to being a little nervous as well as .  I am all prepared with my liveried t-shirt which I managed to scorch when I was ironing the Lifelites logo on to it... Never mind.  I am really pleased with the funds raised to date and am hoping that once I've done it, one or two more doubting soles may be shocked into contributing.  I'll be back....

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