Less than a week to go

I start challenge two on Friday.

Three days cycling from one side of the country to the other. With lots of climbing steep hills in the middle. Through the Lake District, which most likely means wind and rain.

So what have I been doing to prepare for this all week?

Well, not a lot, to be honest. Last week was Samuel’s week long residential trip, organised by his school, in the Isle of Wight. Since he was diagnosed Type 1, he has had two nights away from home whilst on Scout Camp, but four nights away is a different thing. This is because he would need a site change for his Insulin infusion pump and Samuel cannot do this alone, not yet anyway. His teachers would not be able to do this, and so if we wanted Samuel to go on the residential trip, I would have to go along for the ride!

I need to write about the week we had at some point because it was a really great experience. But I mention this now because I couldn’t ride my bike whilst I was away.

I’m getting my excuses in early- that’s all!!!

So having been off the bike for six days, I made up for it this morning with some climbing practice….

That’s 1861ft of climbing in less than two hours – I thank you! I climbed more feet last Sunday but did it over 3 and a half hours.

A couple more rides like that and hopefully I will be ready!

Shame the bikes not. I’ve got it built, but it hasnt’t quite come out as I’d hoped… I think it looks pretty good for a bike that has been (largley) sourced from second hand parts on eBay. And I’ve learnt loads about bike bulding and maintenance to get to where I am. However, it doesn’t fit me, and it doesn’t work (properly!)

The fit problem is with the reach. It’s just too long. I am going to have to buy a more compact set of bars and a shorter stem, and then see if it fits. Because right now, I couldn’t ride it next weekend – I can’t reach the brakes after all!!