Author Archives: Sally

My Birthday Weekend

As my birthday fell on a weekend it was easy to decide what I wanted to do, Kings Lynn Parkrun and SWNC club ride, two things that have become very important to me.

My lovely friends Gina and Jayne were going to come over from Norwich and join me for parkrun and lunch and with Geoff having returned from his travels it was going to be a lovely day but even I never expected the surprise Geoff had in store for me.

Geoff gave me an unexpected parcel which when opened was a Belkin WeMo Switch, now as we are into gadgets I thought great something else to play with !!

After a few minutes Geoff said are you not going to open the box…..  I was thinking my friends will be here in half an hour maybe I should open it later…   but I opened it and almost died with shock when inside I found another box……

Which was a Garmin Edge 1000 !!!!!!!!

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When Gina and Jayne arrived at 8am I was in a dizzy excited mood to say the least but we managed to get ourselves and the cakes I had baked to parkrun on time. Where we enjoyed a lovely chatty run and much to my delight everyone enjoyed the carrot cake I had made.

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In the afternoon we enjoyed a lovely lunch at Marriotts Warehouse then I hobbled home as my achilles was very sore by this time 🙁

Gina and Jayne left around 5pm and I spent the evening playing with my Garmin and setting it up ready for Sunday’s club ride.

Earlier on in the week SWNC had asked me where I wanted to ride too, I knew straight away that I wanted to go to the Bedlingfeld Arms, a club ride I had always missed before.

We woke to a cold still morning so wrapped up well and set off at 8.30 I was so excited about trying my new Garmin out which had the route on ready to follow

We had a fantastic ride out to the Bedlingfeld arms in brilliant Autumn sunshine, the landlady laid on lovely tea/coffee and cake for us and my Garmin worked so well I was shouting out the directions at most junctions, when not too busy chatting !

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A great weekend shared with lovely people 🙂 and I am so lucky not to just have a Garmin but the Garmin 1000 which is totally amazing

The Tour De Broads Epic

This was a Sportive I was really looking forward to doing along with many others from SWNC, my friend Gina was joining us too so I knew it would be a fun day out,especially as good weather was predicted for the day.

10682121_10203033936032829_1638301511_nLittle did we know it was going to be such an Epic ride but not due to the distance !!

It started with Epic queues to get into the car park, then Epic queues to get signed on, but that did not dampen our moods as we excitedly  set off on the Epic 70 mile route.

The first 40 miles was a  great ride along some nice quiet scenic roads and then we arrived at the Reedham Ferry and saw the mega Epic queue and it all went down hill from there 🙁

 

The estimated queuing time for the Ferry was 2 hours !! we tried to work a way round it but there was none, unless like Gina you could just ride home. Gina was sad to leave us but she made the right decision as she was home before we even got on the ferry.DSCF8300-001

After such a long wait I was feeling very cold, and found it really hard to get going again, we had all lost a little of our enthusiasm too, which made the next 10 miles really tough , then we all seemed to perk up and  I thought only another 20 miles and we shall be done and have our medals and a beer.

But that was not to be, as by the time we finished they had run out of Medals, how that can happen I am not really sure unless you have been greedy and let more people register on the day.

None of us could be bothered to go for a beer either as the 2 hour ferry wait had made it a long day, so a disappointing end to what could and should of been a great day

They did say they would post our medals and I admit that I didn’t believe they would but 3 weeks after the event I have my medal………. and its a real Epic one 🙂

A year on my bike !!

Its been a year now since Geoff bought me my bike, he was preparing to go off on his travels and I was wondering what I would do with myself,so the bike came along to help me fill my time, little did either of us know how much it would change my life 🙂

140720_Cambridge_Sportive_1779Soon after getting my bike I joined SWNC for a club ride, which almost killed me, I still remember getting home and lying on the kitchen floor thinking I might die !! but that one ride had me hooked and I was determined to keep going and to conquer them Norfolk hills, yes there are hills in Norfolk !!

Luckily the club was very friendly ,helpful and full of encouragement even though I moaned at them sometimes when I struggled to keep up 🙁 but this just made me more determined and I pushed myself harder and harder as I loved this social group riding.

Then I discovered the Bike Sportives , the first one I did was the Wiggle No Excuses, riding with a small group and my friend Gina the atmosphere was fantastic and  I loved every second.

Needless to say I could not wait to do one of these events with Geoff and I finally managed to do the Boudicca with him after he returned from another mega trip 1484-1031-WNOEX02

So far this year I have done five Sportives and have two more booked  I have also been to Rutland twice and conquered the Rutland Alps and done four 100 mile rides. Amazingly I have also been to mallorca and loved biking up those long slow climbs.

A grand total of 3300 miles biked in one year, with my biggest climb being 1793 ft and my longest ride has been 106.

Geoff is now preparing to go off and bike down the Elbe River and although I still feel distraught when he goes away I know I wont be too lonely because I have my lovely bike, biking friends and Sunday Club rides to look forward too….. oh and I have that half Marathon to train for !!!

Circuit of the Fens Sportive

After the heat and hills of last weekends ride we were hoping for a nice contrast with this ride. and we were not disappointed.

Eight of us met up at Whitlesey for the 85 mile Circuit of the Fens Ride where the day started off cloudy and cool, and by the time 8.30 came we were raring to go !!

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It was a nice flat, well sign posted route with 2 good feed stations, the second one offered lots of savoury food too which really suited me, in fact I think I shall start to carry marmite sandwiches on these longer rides as too much cake really does not suit me !!

By mid-day it had turned hot and humid but the gentle breeze kept us cool, if it had been a Fen wind this ride could have been hard, so I think we did well with the weather.

Towards the end of the ride there was a “nice” gravel road to contend with,quite uncomfortable at our speed so I can only imagine how it felt for the elite riders doing the road race the following day.

I totally enjoyed the final stage of the ride, riding as a group along smooth roads,being pulled along by each other, something I had not done for a while and it reminded me just how much I love group riding………

Evans Ride it Cambridge Sportive

Back in June over the summer solstice weekend I enjoyed 2 fabulous rides, on the Saturday it was back to Rutland with Gina to join SWNC to do the Rutland Alps ,this time in lovely warm sunshine, it certainly was no easier second time around but it was great fun and well enjoyed. I even managed to enjoy an after ride meal at the pub, which was a great ending to the day 🙂

Rutland revisited

Then it was off to Peterborough train station to pick Geoff and his bike up and head off to Nottingham to do The Great Notts Bike Ride on the Sunday. Another fabulous 50 mile route in lovely hot sunshine , it was a massive ride and the atmosphere was fantastic, we didn’t realise you had to buy the food at the feed stations but luckily Geoff’s son and family were meeting and greeting us at the feed stations and as we always carry food we didn’t go hungry !!

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Over the next few weekends we did a couple of 100 mile rides,one to visit my mum and Dad, where we ended up pushing our bikes through 2 fields of foot high grass,always an adventure with Geoff 🙂  We also rode the Tour de France route from Cambridge to London, a great ride even though the bit through busy London scared me to death !!!

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Then we thought it was time to do another sportive  so the Evans Ride it Cambridge sportive was booked.

The ride didn’t start as planned as my friend Gina was too ill to join us, which was a shame as she would have loved this rolling route, starting from The Wimpole Estate.

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Having decided on the 90 mile ride and expecting a warm day we arrived nice and early and was in fact the first riders over the start line,right from the word go you could see this was going to be a very well organised sportive and we were not disappointed.

The route which was very clearly and well sign posted took us through pretty villages on quiet roads. All 3 feed stations were excellent, well spaced out at 25, 49 and 75 miles and very well stocked with cake, flapjacks, nuts, jelly beans, energy bars, gels and drinks.

The big mistake I made was eating at the 2nd feed station as I then spent the next 15 miles feeling sick !!! at the 3rd feed station I just had an energy gel and then felt I could fly home!!!

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So the results were 90 miles on a sweltering day done in a moving time time of 5hrs 52, which I was happy with especially as I had ran 9 miles the day before.

This weekend we have a nice 85 mile group ride, Flat out in the Fens  lets hope its not windy !!!!

Biking in Port Pollenca

We had hired our bikes for 3 days biking.

I woke very excited although a strange bike to ride up a big hill left me feeling slightly nervous too !!

After a quick spin round the town  we were off to the light house.

IMG_2867A totally amazing ride with the most fantastic views,half way up we stopped at the view point at ‘Mirador de Sa Creueta’ where you can see the ‘El Colomer’ rock protrude from the water. This climb can be challenging at a few points but we made it without stopping.

Then off to the light house where the road becomes rough and bumpy making it quite an uncomfortable ride but its well worth it just for the views and the amazing climb.

I found the ride down far worse than the climb up, it was fast bendy and there were far too many cars/buses on the road for my liking, in fact the view point was totally blocked with buses totally mayhem !! but we managed to squeeze through on our bikes.

A ride to remember forever 🙂

In the afternoon we biked to Pollenca, on lovely quiet country roads, to rescue my phone charger, which I left behind the day before.

A flat days riding then followed, visiting some of the nearby towns,out as far as Inca, we especially liked Alcudia and the coast road,where we bumped into some kite surfers amazingly from Hunstanton.IMG_2886

On our last day we decided on another climb, back up to Lluc Monastery this was a tough never ending climb which I enjoyed so much , and the down was amazing as it was a smooth road, not too busy with very few bends 🙂

A total of 140 miles biked in 3 days thanks to Caroline at 2GoCycling  for being so helpful and making it possible

One thing you have to remember about riding in Mallorca  there are no hills  just lovely long climbs 🙂

Puig de Maria and Port de Pollenca

A lovely lazy start to the day up at 8am packed our bags and breakfast at 9 am out in the sunshine

1-IMG_2801Then it was off for a stroll up Puig de Maria a small but distinctive hill with a chapel on the top.

Our Paddy Dillon book says bar and restaurant services are available at the top but don’t believe it !!

From the sign it said an hour to the top but we did it in 30 mins though I sweated a lot !!

Back at the bottom I had a coke and ice cream then we set off walking to Port de Pollenca.

As soon as we crossed the highway things changed, no longer was there walking routes and signs it had all become biking routes and signs.

No more walkers were seen just bikers and they were far more friendlier than the walkers we had met.

Once in the port which is very different to old town Pollenca we were drawn to the bike shops.

Pro cycling was too pro for our liking or maybe we weren’t pro enough for them !! so we ended up at 2gocycling and I now have a carbon bike and all the kit for 3 days 🙂

Tomorrow we are biking to the light house, I am told it’s not far but no one will say how bad the hills are … They just smile !!! and then I have to bike back to Pollenca to collect my phone charger 🙁

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Location:Calle de Nanses,Port de Pollença,Spain

Lluc to Pollenca

This morning we were ready to leave Lluc,you can only stay so long in a dark room !!

The book said this would be an easy but long walk,and a pleasant change from Rocky Mountain trails

As we had already walked to Binifaldo along the GR 221 we took another route out of Lluc which re-joined the GR 221 again at Binifaldo.

Then the trail went along the Cami Vell or old road, which has been adopted as part of the GR 221

As promised it was easy walking along wide tracks and cobbled paths through woodland and all down hill.

What made it seem long was the road walking into Pollenca , personally I prefer Rocky Mountain trails !

1-IMG_2779 Today was the last stage of the GR 221 so what to do now ?? well tomorrow we shall walk up Puig de Maria the hill we can see from our room then it’s on to Port Pollenca for our final 4 nights

– Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Calle del Doctor Fàbregues,Pollença,Spain