I want to ride my bicycle!

The training weekend was brilliant!
Jayne and I set off on Friday evening to find the B&B and arrived quite late. I've never stayed in a B& B before so didn't really know what to expect. WELL... this place was something else, I think Dawn French should go and stay there to gain new material for a brilliant Fawlty Towers kind of sitcom. If ever you want a nice break and an hilarious trip try 'Brymbo' B&B in the Cotsworlds. It was faultless BUT only if you stuck to the rules!

Anyway, saturday morning came and Jayne and I nervously set off, we didn't have a clue what to expect...men in lycra, skinny young women...well it was fine, it soon became clear that everyone was in the same boat. 31 complete strangers from all walks of life, all ages and backgrounds in a field with a bike and an enthusiastic cycle trainer (Ed was billiant, although the sideburns are a little scary!).

We set off sharp at 09:30 with the first toilet stop in 9 miles... all fine, the hardest thing was not being able to get a steady pace going as we were all riding too close and having to keep breaking. But we soon all spread out and onwards and upwards to lunch stop at 26 miles. The scenery was brilliant, a good amount of chat along the way. After lunch the pace quickened up and we finished early after adding an extra 10 mile loop making it 50 miles for the day.....Feeling good.

A few of us met for dinner at a pub and had a few sherry's...some had more than others and by this time it was clear who was going to struggle tomorrow!

Up again nice and early with a slightly changed group the following day, but it was quite clear that we were going to have a laugh. There was more hills on the Sunday, but Trish managed to put a little electric motor on my bike by simpley raising my saddle by 6 inches...amazing! I can't believe my saddle was that far too low...no wonder my knees have been hurting, I flew the rest of the way (well not quite flew but it did make a difference). We ended the day on 45 miles.

All in all a brilliant weekend and I am so looking forward to getting out on my bike again and also going to Egypt!!!