April's Fools Day is Full of Hills

Mice Log 91. 30 Days of Biking!  26.23 miles, 10.6ave speed, 25.3 max speed in 2hrs 27. 

A worldwide network called 30 Days of Biking is encouraging everyone to cycle every day for the whole of the month of April.  I don't need too much encouragement as I love riding my bike! But today to celebrate this international group I thought I would go and find some hills of some sort - they have been absent from my cycling for about four months!

I was taught how to climb hills last year.  It's all about staying relaxed, keeping the pedals moving, using the gears - all of them - and enjoying the view.  I used to stay in the big ring at the front, glare in horror at the top of the hill and stomp my way to the top with my eyes out on stalks!  Not good for the knees or energy levels.  With my new found knowledge from a cycling coach I have learned to pace myself and gently spin my way to the top.

I headed to Clapham and went up and down a few roads to Lavender Hill and back as a warm up. Not as bad as I thought it would be.  Ideally Crystal Palace should have been the target but that was too daunting. Near Tulse Hill I found some seriously short and steep roads. 

Fitness can be measured by how long it takes to recover from the climb.  The first one which in my defence was extremely sharp took about four minutes to recover from! But I did recover and soon my breathing was back to normal.

I made my way to Streatham Hill and went up and down Streatham Common.

Taran Tarra!  Another one climbed!  I started to head home.  But there was a niggle. The Crystal Palace was sticking in my head like a Nemesis! A little while later, rather than heading for home I found myself climbing Central Hill.  There was a helpful cycle lane which was good, especially at some traffic lights.  Then a big dip down and another climb.  I just had to keep going.  And I did! All the way to Crystal Palace!  Whoop! Whoop!  I was at the top! 

I wasn't exactly fast but I was very happy that I made it to the top.  The descent was awesome! 25mph!  I was going so fast I forgot to look in which direction I was heading and was halfway up Gipsy Hill before I realised I was going back up to Crystal Palace!!  There was no way I was going to do that again in the same day so I took a right and weaved around some more steep roads in Streatham and returned home.

A glass of water and a few stretches (for 30 seconds as a minimum) really help recovery.  Then relax!

The five miles a day which seem to be 10 for me have made a real improvement to my fitness.  I highly recommend it.  And it is such fun!