Almost at 2,000 KM and $4,500

I'm closing in on 2,000 km this week, and my fundraising has almost reached $4,500.  My heart is filled with thankfulness for a healthy body, excellent training partners (let's hear it for the Velodonnas), and generous supporters.  I'm actually finalizing packing lists and putting fresh laundry aside for August 3rd departure. I'll have a rest week at Grundy Lake with the family next week; we'll ride shorter distances in the mornings (to the coffee shop), and lounge around.  My body is ready for the rest, and the one week break from teaching fitness classes will allow my muscles to fully recharge

Seventeen hundred and counting

1700 training kilometers this season and my legs are finally feeling stronger!  Last Saturday we climbed the "three sisters" on Safari road and I survived.  Maybe even thrived!  No knee pain (thanks to Elaine at Pierik Cycle for the fit adjustment!) Who knows, the next weeks might include Sydenham AND Wiers....

A short ride with a wipe-out

Last Sunday I enjoyed a lovely four second ride with my husband and my son.  Rob was ahead, and so Matthew stood up and hammered to catch him, when his foot slipped off the pedal, hit the pavement and became a solid object for the pedal to dig into.  The physics of this were amazing; that stopped pedal sent the bike (and son) flying over the handle bars, with an impressive landing to follow.  Thankfully he broke no bones, and his surface wounds are all nicely healing. A sober reminder that small events can trigger big crashes!

Warm rain and wet roads

This morning I enjoyed a shorter ride with my friend Sharon.  We were the only two riders in our group who showed up; the other four must have checked the forecast.  We shortened the ride when the rain started to fall in earnest. I discovered that riding in the rain can be pleasant when the temperature and the rain are both warm and gentle; it's more like riding through soup.  The biggest downside is the soggy diaper feeling at coffee time after the ride.  I'm starting to think about my riding week a lot more now; making lists, reading blogs of riders, learning from their struggles...

Spinal discs are good

Thanks for the prayers for healing!  I've enjoyed some rest, with less fitness teaching days on summer schedule, and even some rain days off the bike, and I'm happy to report that after yesterday's 60 km ride (and 130 total over three consecutive days), my back is happy.  The four hours of gardening yesterday were a little harder on the back, but still fine today.  Feeling thankful....

Riding with re-habbing husband

I picked up Rob on Saturday from his hernia surgery experience, which happened Thursday.  I rode with him yesterday (Sunday) and today, and discovered that we now ride at the same pace.  At least for a day or two.

Just passed 1,000 km

This week I've passed the 1,000 km milestone in my training.  I've put some bigger rides back to back and feel good.  My next goal is to string three days of long rides together, just to get used to that feeling.  I'm nursing some irritated disc fibre in my lower back, and need to be a bit careful, so please pray for fast healing, and for protection from the possibility of disc herniation.  This morning I enjoyed a glorious (and fast) pre-church ride with my supportive (and fast!!) husband, Rob.  I learn so much about road riding from him; what a gift.

solo cycling as meditation

This week I rode an hour alone, which I rarely do.  I decided that I will need to do this more as I lengthen out group rides to meet my increased distance goals for July.  It's really quiet, or, at least it was until I realized I haven't been spending as much time as I'd like talking to God lately.  With new resolve to spend my solo riding time in conversation with God, I found we had lots to talk about.  So, riding alone has new meaning.