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Whether it's five miles or five hundred miles, riding a bicycle is more fun than anyone ever told me! My New Year's Resolution to cycle 10 miles a day or 40 minutes on a spin bike has meant that by the end of May I have cycled 2,600 miles! Because of my cycling wardrobe the weather has not stopped me from cycling (unless it really is -5 degrees or with wind gusts of 25 mph). Cycling in style and in comfort is really important to me as I don't really want to be covered in logos looking like a Ninja as I buy groceries or attend meetings. I have found some things that work for me but am always looking for new pieces. For me, Evans Cycles and Cycle Surgery for the basics. My two favourite brands for my wardrobe are www.velorution.com and www.velovixen.com but I am always looking for new pieces. I would love to know what works for you and why. Happy cycling!

Sunday 9 June 2013

Racing with Olympians (well, sort of)! but definitely with Champions!



Never, ever did I imagine I would ever take part in an event that would include Dani King, Laura Trott and Joanna Rowsell.  Our very own Team GB Olympians!  And me!!  But on Saturday  evening we were all part of the IG Smithfield Nocturne - a series of six very different cycle races around Smithfield Market in London.

 
Clearly Dani, Laura and Joanna were in a very different race to mine - the speed at which they shot around the course was unbelievable! My camera could only capture their blurry outlines and nothing can describe the power of the force of air as they flew by to the finish line.  It was like being overtaken by a fast moving truck - it caused an amazing shudder that left us in absolute awe. We all took in an incredible, spontaneous gasp, completely mesmerised. 

 
Thanks to Velovixen I had been accepted as a quarter of Team Velovixen in one of the six races making up the IG Nocturne.  The race I was in was the IG City Crit Female race. 12 laps of Smithfield Market!  I am pretty sure I was not only the heaviest but also the oldest and the weakest  - by quite some way.   I knew from the beginning I would be the slowest but that didn't deter my fellow team mates or indeed our sponsors one jot.  They were all so kind and enthusiastic.

Two of my team mates, Rose and Cags are part of Tribesports Tribesports which is a great on-line arena where you can sign up for all sorts of amazing challenges in a whole range of sports.  A website that allows you to set and take part in your sports goals and by its very nature gives you encouragement to meet your commitments.  Tribesports had kindly sponsored our Team Shirts too.  I should also add that Cags is a UK Rollapulliza champion and Rose is just very fast!

 
My third team mate , Monica has just come back from a 6,000km solo cycle ride from Athens to Lisbon in nine weeks, raising enough money to fund education for approximately 250 girls in Africa.  What an achievement.  Truly humbling.
   
Bizarrely Monica was on her way home from the trip, literally at Terminal 3 at Heathrow, about to be met by her family when The Man in Charge at Velovixen sent out the request for Team volunteers.   Monica's family, however,  were busy holding up Welcome Home banners in Terminal 1 so whilst the welcome party were making their way to Terminal 3, Monica replied and signed up for the IG Nocturne!




My preparation under the circumstances was farcical! 2,600 miles since January is one thing, but pootling about at 18mph max doesn't really cut it!  Our team meeting on Monday had been more of a hello and this is going to be such fun rather than strategy and tactics. On Wednesday I met Monica in Regents Park and we did a couple of laps - thank goodness I had bagsied team Velovixen's 4th place for myself - these peeps are strong ,strong, strong cyclists!


On Saturday I did do 40 minutes on the spin bike as a sort of warm up on the basis that I have seen them do that on the telly!  I then removed my mudguards (and quite a lot of mud) from my bike, cleaned it, removed everything I didn't need (light fittings, garmin mounts) and arrived at Smithfields at 4.30pm in time to sign in and change into our very special Team Shirt!  Wowser!


Heats 1 and 2 of the Folding Bike Race were already happening, good grief they are speedy!  We made our way to the VIP area and enjoyed a view of the Folding Bike Final followed by Penny Farthing races.  Amazing!
 




    
Then it was our turn.  One minute I was on the 'phone to a friend and the next The Man In Charge was saying "they're off" and we were!  Onto the course to do a couple of warm up laps.  I gawped in amazement at the size and volume of the enthusiastic, supporting crowds, the sunshine, the amazing opposition - Team Rouler, Team Mule Girl Sigma Sport, Team Rapha, Team Ana Nichola - and here I was with Team Velovixen!!  As I looked around at the other peeps cycling with me I felt I was in the Tour de France.  

 
 
To be honest I wasn't just completely a zillion times out of my league, I was also a bit (a lot) star struck!  I mean these are all serious cyclists!

It didn't help that I got the giggles, that I didn't change gear once (d'oh) that I couldn't believe I was here, that the Commentator was talking about Team Velovixen but despite all that I did try to give it my best shot.   I could have done better as I didn't push myself totally out of my comfort zone.  Potholes, cambers, blobs of tarmac and the prospect of cycling within millimetres of other serious cyclists meant  I was at the back not to mention the obvious facts that I was the slowest and the least fit.  

But the crowd were simply fantastic.  I told myself that I was at front and every lap I did I was cheered the entire way - even by the crowd marshalls!  What a thing to do!


A thousand things went through my mind - not least "What am I doing here?" But sometimes in life opportunities present themselves and if you don't give it a go then you miss out. You never know how it would have been and how you could have done.  I hadn't said I was fast, I hadn't misled anyone and Velovixen had seemed and remain genuinely chuffed to bits that we were all there, regardless. 

I think I must have looked a complete idiot as I was grinning from ear to ear the whole way round, every round (sorry, lap)!  At one point I started worrying how disappointed Chris Boardman would be that his bike was at the back. Last. Not a good ad for what really is a great bicycle.  I lost count of laps.  I had a tag! A tag!  I was a bit deterred when a van pulled up in front of me for the next race! 

But nothing has diminished my enthusiasm and pure joy of having been in the race - and I was only the slowest by 30 seconds! To top the lot Team Velovixen came fourth.  Fourth! 4th!  How fantastic is that!!



 
 
Once it was all over, we regrouped in the VIP area.  Rose mentioned the race line - I realised a lot more homework was required!!  We were joined by Lucie from Velovixen and we all had beers, tea and food.   




The Brompton Race went by, then the Mens Crit - followed by the Women's Elite Race - won fantastically by Laura Trott.  



   

The men's race was even faster, if that's possible.  Like a train.  The noise, the whoosh, the motorbike at the front it was just fantastic.  

I am still star struck, still slightly stunned that I was actually there and enormously grateful to Velovixen and to Monica, Rose and Cags for being such fabulous team mates.




Stats for the week

Monday 17.51 miles, in 1hr 40 with a top speed of 18.9 on the Brommie - Lunch with a friend followed by a hello to another in Regents Park!  On the way home I popped round Smithfields to have a look at the route for the Smithfield Nocturne.

Tuesday to  the City for another lunch, a trip around Spitalfields then to Angel to have look and listen to Andrew Gilligan.  The Embankment is a scary place - I was doing 26.9 on the Brommie, mainly by fear with the help of a tailwind! 23 miles in total.

Wednesday on the Boardman First day of training with fellow team mate Monica in Regents Park.  No stats but it was great fun and I am definitely going to be last.  15 miles

Thursday on the Brommie To the west end and on to Maida Vale 15 miles, top speed 16.4 in 2hrs 10.

Friday on the Brommie to Islington and back via a trip to Smithfields. 20.2 top speed, in 1hr 9 cycling 14.5 miles

Saturday The IG Smithfield Nocturne 19.07 miles in 1 hr 2. 13.2 ave, 22.6 max! (Clearly not fast enough)

Fanastic week. Grin staying on face for quite some time!




             Thank you Velovixen and Team Velovixen that was fantastic!