A few of my older posts – starting

First of all a THEN & NOW picture.

A wee bit of a difference, maybe?

THE FIRST PHOTO WAS TAKEN A FEW MONTHS SHY OF MY 50th BIRTHDAY. REALISED IT WAS TIME TO START…

OCTOBER 2007 – Me and my first bike in over 35 years!

 I’m not altogether sure how I managed to get from a-d above. My hubby, as always, was a great help, I’d never have done it without him. It’s been a rough year til now, but that’s another story, and he got me through that too. One of the first catalysts, or inspirations, for me was the sight of a local shop assistant out power walking – red faced, but going for it big time. When next we saw her she was slimmer and had a spring in her step previously unseen.
Around halfway through the “process” of changing my mind-set about this, we took a trip to Halfords (a shop I had previously felt “allergic” to!) It wasn’t so bad. No-one stared at me as I stared at the bikes. There were all sorts of interesting gadgets, computers and the like (more my kind of thing – cerebral rather than physical!) But overall it wasn’t as scary as I thought.

I started looking on the internet and came across a reference to a bike forum with a sub-section for cyclists over 200lbs. Sounded like the place to look. It was…

It was inspirational. That sounds like I’m being a bit of a nut, but truly it changed my outlook. Here were people, scattered mostly over the US, but some from elsewhere, who were full of enthusiasm and encouragement. Some are athletic giants and others more podgy lumps (like me). But they were supportive of the little steps people were taking as well as the big ones. Many had BLOGS filled with tales of their individual triumphs. They were giving practical advice, as well as moral support to each other. I’m so grateful I stumbled across it.
It struck me that, here in the UK, so many people are so worried about being “cool” that they forget that some of us will never be “cool”, don’t want to be “cool”, but have a right to “be all we can be”. I’m on my soap box now, but it really has made me think about my attitude, as well as other people’s.

So that was it, in my head I had made that leap, it would be good for us. I will do it.

I asked a few questions of http://www.bikeforums.net/ What stars they are, can’t thank them enough…Have a look!

We had a look on the web to learn a bit about sizes and specs and such things. Next step was walking into the local bike shop to get measured and ask their advic,e. Off we went… I was nervous, but realised just getting through the door was a big change for me. I’m not used to trying to do things without being sure I’ll succeed, usually I’d chicken out. But I did it. The guy in the shop was a gem. He was short, like me (I’m 5′2and a bit) but half my girth. He reassured me the bikes would be strong enough(!) and that I could get one short enough too. Hubby being “normal”, though he has long legs and a short body, (my opposite) wasn’t a problem.

Spent half that night discussing it. We decided if we were going to do it we should do it right and decided to up our budget and buy better bikes than we’d first thought of and went back the next day, descision made.

We went for Marins, me a Juniper Trail and hubby a Rocky Ridge. He checked they were in stock and that was that. Mine would arrive in less than a week, hubby’s mid November. Blimey, we’d done it.

Waited, more impatiently than I had imagined, and went to get fitted and pick it up. It looked great. When I sat on it in the shop it seemed so alien, but there was no going back! Thought we’d need it delivered but managed to get it in the back of the car.

We’d bought good helmets too, so we were all set.

The chap we’d first seen at the shop said it night be a good idea to have the saddle lower initially to help with my confidence. I hadn’t been on a bike for over 35 years! So that’s what we did.

My first few turns of the pedals were very tentative, needed holding up(!) but I stayed upright and managed down to the bottom of the lane, a u-turn(!) and back again. All of less than 100yards probably, but I didn’t fall off!!!! I felt absurdly pleased with myself – you’d think I’d done a marathon!

Doing rather than thinking

16 October 2007

Today the sun was shining, so THIS WAS IT! Hubby looked out his old racing bike, (Raleigh Pulsar 25years old but in good nick) dusted off several years of cobwebs and got it ready for the road. We donned our helmets, and the closest thing I could find to cycling gear, I wheeled my mandarin coloured Juniper out to the street. We pushed the bikes round to a very quiet country road near where we live. Didn’t feel as daft as I thought I would, even when the neighbours stopped to chat. Then it was time to actually do it! I felt ungainly and unsupple (is that a word?). Just getting my feet onto the pedals felt awkward, but away I went. It was flat to start – OK – then a bit downhill – freeee wheeeel! Then up hill again for a bit – good grief I’m puffing a bit now and my legs are beginning to struggle and I realise why folk wear padded knickers! I’d had a few how-gears-work lessons. (I don’t drive either!) but it’ll take me a while to get the hang of them. We got where we’d planned on going, round about 1.5 miles, much quicker than I expected. Had a rest for a few minutes until I felt marginally more normal, and then time to go back. More uphill on the way home and I realised how unfit I am. My little leggies were now burning going uphill. Stopping and resting more than I’d hoped. Then off again, hubby bringing up the rear – just in case! Then another “wheee” down the hill, and then I heard a nasty graunching sound a bit behind me. Hubby’s bike had given up the ghost. Symptoms – bottom deraillier jumped into real wheel breaking the deraillier, bending the frame and spokes. So that was him pushing it home and me having frequent (much appreciated!) rests while he caught up. As we started nearing parked cars and traffic I felt too wobbly to risk cycling so pushed Juniper home.Hubby’s bike is off to the menders, hopefully it’ll be back, sorted, in a couple of days.I was tickled pink, but knackered – sore bum, wobbly legs, sweaty and beetroot-red faced, but everyone has to start somewhere.

And I’ve started!!

  

Small achievement – big grin!

It was a very silly time to start cycling with the onset of winter weather, my feardie-cat nature & my complete lack of skills and fitness (any excuse really!). So apart from a few 3 or 4-mile rides round the back lanes (an achievement in itself – for me!) have done next to nothing over the winter.
Then this week the weather changed dramatically and it was time to start…
Tuesday past, we loaded the bikes on the trailer & set off for a forest trail just north of where we stay. Was super-brave & raised my saddle – as many on the marvellous bikeforum.net and my husband had suggested. What a difference, not as scary as I thought, until it’s time to stop, (but that’s another story – please tell me someone else was once as hopeless…?!) The track was wide (thankfully) & dry but loose & gravelly. That was OK, but the thing that got me was the hills (little inclines most people would probably sail up). It really sunk in that I should have worked more on my fitness & weight-loss over the winter. It was hard going at times – had to get off a time or two and walk (particularly when I’d made a mess of my gear changing, very much the beginner) but I felt less of an eejit than I thought! We managed about five miles, but this time last year that would have been beyond my wildest imaginings. More soon…