Last Sunday I cycled 54 miles, for charity from London to
Brighton. It took me a long time – more than twice as long as my grandpa in
1939 who was on a single speed bike.
Grandpa's cycling medal - 50 miles in 2hrs 32mins
It all really began the night before, when my thighs were
feeling chafed from too much fun; I was at my other grandfather’s house.
No one had any moisturiser and it was 11.30 on a Saturday night. I would reiterate, my legs were really sore. So I traipsed downstairs,
like a ninja, trying not to disturb my sleeping grandpa to apply my deceased
grandma’s face cream to my thighs. I hope you will understand this as a funny
story and not think I am a horrible human being.
The next day the alarm went off at 5.45, and after a bowl of
Frosties and half a grapefruit we set off for Streatham Common in the car – as
the sun rose over Sainsbury’s from whence we would depart, I was really starting to wonder whether this was
a good idea. Thankfully it was at this point I met Melvin; encouraged by his
smiley grin I set off.
Me and Melvin in Streatham at 7 in the morning! So chirpy!
Despite the pain in my knee which started pretty much
immediately, the first 10 miles were actually alright. I cycled through Lambeth
and noticed how quickly a city felt like country. As usual my obsession with
London was reminding me of what a recent phenomenon the urbanisation of South
London is. It was also very much a ride through my ancestry – starting with
Purley and Croydon. I was peddling along quite happily, remembering that I
needed to conserve energy, when I hit Chipstead – and the hills leaving London.
Its not that the hills were high its just that they required energy and quite early on. I got peddling and soon reached the Dog and Duck – 20 miles.
Feeling good I headed towards lunch – primarily uphill; and on one occasion
nearly vomited from the effort of propulsion on those gradients.
Lunch at The Ark, 28 miles in and at just 10 am was
delicious. They had put on a veritable feast and I enjoyed haloumi salads, ham,
olives, tea and a massive piece of carrot cake. Back on the bike the next 6
miles were very conducive to digestion as they were all downhill – encompassing
both my maternal and paternal history, through East Grinstead, past the
Bluebell Railway, and through Guildford. From about the 30 mile mark the nemesis was visible; rising like the edge of a pudding bowl was Ditchley Beacon (830ft above sea level), it did not inspire great faith in my ability to finish. By this time I had added an achy lower
back, painful ribs and an inability to breathe to my painful knee.
Lunch at The Ark
35-42 miles was killer. Despite taking numerous pauses for
breath, imagine your alveoli have been put in a washing machine, I did keep
pedalling. During one of my rest breaks a guy half got off half fell off his
bike towards me yelling as he fell – turns out he only had cramp but we had a great
conversation and its all part of the camaraderie. Later in the trip, when I was
struggling he encouraged me too.
On the other side of the Beacon, which I admit I walked, the descent to Brighton was thrilling, the end so visible and the path so easy. The final miles along the pier victorious. The resting on the beach afterwards glorious and chip-filled. The whole trip a bit emotive.
I think I learn by doing and the first thing I learned was that I can overcome. It might take time, it might take me longer than other people, but I can complete things even when they are tough. I hope to take this life lesson into the rest of life - even when it looks like other people are taking short-cuts to where the fun is!
Secondly, I learned that success is defined in different ways. For some people their aim was to finish first, for other people it was to cycle the beacon, or to simply cycle as much as possible. For me my aim was to finish - which I did. As in life people will have different goals and different definitions of success. Your definition of success will define what sort of ride you have.
Thirdly, I learned about motivation. Being a charity cycle people had all sorts of different motivating factors for doing their cycle - some had lost family members, others had been affected by other kinds of loss of sense, of dear pets, of rights. At the top of the Beacon I saw one lady with 'for my little angel' and her deceased daughter on her t-shirt. I nearly cried. The whole thing was so emotive. What makes humans push to their last? Experience, the opinions of others, needing to prove themselves, boredom? I was also fascinated by how doing spin for 2 years has conditioned me and helped me reach the finish line. During a spin class one cycles to the RPM of the track in question not to one's energy levels. That is what pulled me through the 35-42; music with a fairly fast RPM; that and knowing that was the only way of getting back home, plus the threat of you lot being disappointed.
I imagine you're wondering how I'm getting on now - actually OK. It seems cycling sustainably, eating two portions of chips and hanging out with a good friend afterwards is a recipe for health and satisfaction. Thank you for your sponsorship and encouragement! See you soon!
On the other side of the Beacon, which I admit I walked, the descent to Brighton was thrilling, the end so visible and the path so easy. The final miles along the pier victorious. The resting on the beach afterwards glorious and chip-filled. The whole trip a bit emotive.
Brighton - I made it!
I think I learn by doing and the first thing I learned was that I can overcome. It might take time, it might take me longer than other people, but I can complete things even when they are tough. I hope to take this life lesson into the rest of life - even when it looks like other people are taking short-cuts to where the fun is!
Secondly, I learned that success is defined in different ways. For some people their aim was to finish first, for other people it was to cycle the beacon, or to simply cycle as much as possible. For me my aim was to finish - which I did. As in life people will have different goals and different definitions of success. Your definition of success will define what sort of ride you have.
Thirdly, I learned about motivation. Being a charity cycle people had all sorts of different motivating factors for doing their cycle - some had lost family members, others had been affected by other kinds of loss of sense, of dear pets, of rights. At the top of the Beacon I saw one lady with 'for my little angel' and her deceased daughter on her t-shirt. I nearly cried. The whole thing was so emotive. What makes humans push to their last? Experience, the opinions of others, needing to prove themselves, boredom? I was also fascinated by how doing spin for 2 years has conditioned me and helped me reach the finish line. During a spin class one cycles to the RPM of the track in question not to one's energy levels. That is what pulled me through the 35-42; music with a fairly fast RPM; that and knowing that was the only way of getting back home, plus the threat of you lot being disappointed.
I imagine you're wondering how I'm getting on now - actually OK. It seems cycling sustainably, eating two portions of chips and hanging out with a good friend afterwards is a recipe for health and satisfaction. Thank you for your sponsorship and encouragement! See you soon!
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