GRIEF - an undulating bike ride

I did not intend to do this challenge to raise money but in support of a good friend, a very good friend, who wanted to tick the 100 mile Birmingham Velo Ride off her bucket list. She must have thought that Beccy likes challenges ! So, I bought a road bike (cannot do this challenge on a sit up and beg) on the 10th January with my very first ride on the 13th. I did 12.2 miles in 70 minutes. How on earth am I going to ride 100 miles in less than 9 hours and 15 mins? But hey, I have time.... So my next ride was a week later doing 14.62 miles in 77 mins. Not much of an improvement, but......I still have time. These rides are hard. Even Strava says so naming segments as Crowle Hill Killer, Drag to Trench Lane and even the Cockshute Riser! Another ride on the 27th January making my total mileage of 46.695. That isn't even 1/2 the mileage I have to complete on the 12th May. Oh boy. February came and not a single pedal was turned. The weather wasn't too good (one morning -5 degrees - nah, too cold) and then all the other excuses I could think of came up and then February was gone. OMG. I only have just under 3 months left to get on with it. My training resumed on the 2nd March and after that months break I have increased my average speed to 12.87 mph! WOW. I am on this, maybe I can complete the challenge. Riding at ungodly hours have continued weekly with a taster for the big one on the 13th April with 82.13 miles done in 6 hours and 53 minutes. I was shattered to put it politely. My son came back from a ski trip that afternoon and I was too tired to even do us some tea. Good job he knows how to order pizza and use my credit card. To bed at 630pm I went getting up the next day for a stand up paddle ride. Mad, mad, mad. But I know I can do this. What is 18 miles off the 100 - possibly another hour and a half ride? Last Sunday I ventured out for a 26 miler in 2 hours and as I enjoyed the Sunday Easter morning, hearing the birds sing and being delighted with beautiful countryside I live in, my mind started to reflect on this journey I was making and losing my darling Neil. To be honest, I doubt that I would have ever signed up for this and all the other outdoor activities I am now doing as life would have been busy with Neil and the family. Now, I am filling voids and a lot of them. I never asked to become a widow, a single parent, a sole business owner and all the other titles you become when losing your spouse. Life since December 2017 has been tough. It has been like this bike ride. Undulating and at times unforgiving. I have had to get on with it and keep pedalling. Those "bastard" hills are still bastards but they are getting easier (now that I have learnt to use the other gears on my bike) and I am getting stronger, fitter and healthier in mind, body and spirit. I feel hopeful for the 12th May and also for my future, whatever that may be. I miss Neil every single day but I know he is with me in the memories I constantly recall, the stories that friends tell and the mannerisms and characteristics that are in the children and my new grandchild.

So bring on the 12th May. I am ready for this. I now want to make a contribution to a charity that Neil and I supported (and I continue to support). So if you can spare just £1.00 to this crowdfunding page and I can get 100 people to donate, then that is £100 for the 100 miles. I also pledge to donate another £100.

Finally my challenge to you all - appreciate those that you love and treasure most. As Neil would often say "here for a good time, not a long time".

Beccy xx