Despite my good intentions, and under the deluded view that I had now got back into the cycling habit, I only managed another 24km on the exercise bike on Easter Monday (again a really bad weather day). Unfortunately, work which is taking me away from home quite a lot at the moment (this week was another few days in Keighley), all of the practical preparations for the ride, and 11-a-side football which I am playing every Saturday, do not permit me the time to fit in the cycling. The football was worth it though as I scored my 3rd goal of the season - a goal which saw me run from box to box to crash in a shot into the bottom corner. I am enjoying the football, and it is keeping me fit, but is of limited use when the kilometres are stretched out in front of me in the summer.

After months of promising to get on my bike and start training, I decided that today was the day. Good Friday, a day off and no excuses, except that the weather was bloody awful, and even as a non-pet lover, I wouldn’t even send a dog out in this. But the indoor bike stares at me in the bedroom, and I know I have no choice. So I get into the old cycling shorts once again - the first time since a disasterous puncture stroon journey in November, and start pedalling. An hour later, feeling ok, I have completed a ‘low resistance’ 24.4 km. My legs are a little wobbly, but at last I’m on my way to Poland.

On Easter Saturday, the weather was once again awful, but I forced myself onto the exercise bike again, and pedalled for another 24km, but my legs were somewhat more tired, and the time dragged - so much so that when I finished, I noticed that the same distance had taken me 10 minutes longer. It’s going to be a long haul to Poland.

This month was used to get familiar with my new bike, so my rides were gentle and close to home.  Total miles this month were 65 miles and I can’t remember what happened on them as it was ages ago so sorry for the lack of description.

09/02/2008

Mileage – 17.05 milesTime Taken – 1hr 

This was my first bike ride adventure.  After circling a few laps of my street and getting used to the toe clip pedals (and falling off once) I was ready to go.  After the first 5 minutes of cycling up Brandlesholme Road I could feel my legs already tiring.  My initial thoughts were ‘I’m not going to be able to do this’.  However, I persevered up the road and let myself get used to the gears, toe clips and the overall feel of riding a bike again.  A stop at the top of Holcombe Road was needed to drink some water before riding off onto Bolton Road.  By the time I reached Smit’s mum and dad’s my legs felt like jelly, however a quick butty and cup of tea was enough to recoup some ebergy for the way back.  The ride back felt better although I had another incident with the toe clip at a set of traffic lights……..and I again fell off!  Aside from this and a bit of a struggle up Tottington Road (quite a big hill), I enjoyed the ride and am looking forward to the next.

16/02/2008 Bike RideHome to My Mums back Home Mileage – 12.34 milesTime – approx 50 mins 

Second bike venture out.  Not as long as the first ride but thought would kill two birds with one stone and pop to my mums in between.  Set of same route as previous and the only hard bit of this ride was stitch mi lane the hill heading up to my mums house.  Had to stop for a minute here outside the White Horse Pub for a drink of water.  Cycled up to my mums and had a brew then set off back home.  Route back was fine, with no major hills en route.  No falls on this occasion…….think I am getting used to the toe clips.