Day 365 - A Year of Cycling

Today marks my anniversary of returning to cycling after an absence of some 30 years. Looking back on this past year, it has literally been quite a journey. I still enjoy reading my first diary entry 'To the Start' when, after arriving home with my shiny new machine, I rode no more than 2 miles down to the beach and back, only to return feeling a totally wreck! I seriously questioned then whether I had made a good decision to get back on a bike after such a gap.

After these few early days, it was not long before I realised that I needed some padding if I was going to do any serious hours in the saddle. One of my very good friends warned me that once I started on this journey, the postman would be kept very busy delivering my purchases of lycra and cycling accessories for some time to come. The first of these, my padded shorts, arrived on day 5!

March 2013 was a cold one. I was riding in the morning, before work, in sub zero temperatures but my motivation was surprisingly good as I doggedly achieved each new target I set. Once I'd crossed the 5 mile distance on day 25, I realised that I could finally break out of Seaton into the surrounding villages. Ten days later, day 36, I completed my first 10 mile ride and was really starting to enjoy my new found freedom to explore the countryside on two wheels.

My Crosstrail out in sub zero temperatures

Hills continue to be my achilles heel but I've enjoyed the personal challenge of each one in just getting to the top. On day 28, I made my first foray up Seaton Down Hill. The climb took me 14 minutes and I don't think that was including the frequent stops to take in the views! It was not until July, on day 125 - and inspired obviously by the Tour de France - that I was to make it without a rest. During a week in April - day 35 - I dedicated each morning ride in a attempt to take my three local hills in one go. This, to much delight, I achieved on the Friday, cycling through snow flurries, like ticker tape dropped from roof tops to celebrate the return of a conquering hero. Hills have continued to give me both pleasure and despair in equal measure; I can get up most in one go now, but may be not all that quick.

The month of May brought the arrival of the warmer weather and a previously unimaginable step change in my cycling; this was when, on day 83, I joined the Axe Valley Pedallers. The first few rides were a shock to my senses, taking me right out of my comfort zone by both riding in a group and over distances I'd only previously dreamt of. My first ride with the AVP took me out to Honiton golf club, this was the one where we lost Handbag, Barry and Richard on a slippery corner, Barry even suffering a broken collar bone! The second was a ride out to Lyme Regis, where I learned what climbing a hill really meant! Joining the AVP has undeniably had the most dramatic influence on my cycling since actually deciding to buy a bike all those months ago.

My first ride out with the AVP

During July, the AVP proposed running a 100 mile event, perhaps some time in September. Although at that time, I had only been doing the Thursday 20 mile club runs, and even then, with not much breath to spare at the end, I did like the idea of working up to this new, seemingly unattainable distance. To me, it was akin to those aviators of the 1950s daring to believe they could break the sound barrier. While I could imagine in my wildest dreams doing the distance, I felt it was never going to be on my trusty hybrid. I had already seen how the road bikes out performed me by some margin on the flat and for 100 miles, I believed I would be needing to change machine. Naturally, having since seen Kilian, the German schoolboy who spent the Autumn with the club, complete the 100 miler on mountain bike, I'm not sure the upgrade was really required, but then again, I'm not a German schoolboy!

It was in August, on day 167, that I purchased my first ever new road bike. A carbon fibre Specialized Roubaix, perfect for the bumpy hilly Devon roads and for my attempt to ride the 100 miler. With just over a month to build up my distance stamina, day 174 saw me join the neighbouring Sid Valley Cycle Club on one of their 40 mile Sunday rides. This was good for getting the miles in, but they are not the social club that the AVP are, if you can't keep up, you're pretty much on your own. So I was pleased to be able to hook up with Andy on day 187, a warm September morning, to get in a final 40 miles before the big day.

The 100 miler was every bit the epic I could have hoped for. 15 riders started out at 06:30 am to see the sun rise over the coast as we climbed out of Beer. It was during the first half of this ride that I suffered my first ever puncture and witnessed Clive's miniature CO2 tyre pump in action. We managed to avoid the forecasted rain on the outward journey but paid for it on the return. Being already so soaked to the skin at the 75 mile point, no one was even wanting to make the scheduled final coffee stop, too keen to get home for a hot bath. I was so elated to roll back into Seaton having completed the 100 miler .. in just 6 months of my return to cycling and I still treasure my certificate of achievement.

My first 100 miles with the AVP

The week following the 100 miler, the Tour of Britain came to Sidmouth and I got the opportunity to cycle over to see the pros in action. This also marked the shortening of the days as autumn set in. I had thought that I would be having to lay the bikes up for the winter, but I was surprised to learn that the AVP continued to cycle throughout these dark months and that this is achieved with lights which would not be out of place for brightness on any car! When I attended the Birmingham NEC Cycle Show at the end of September, I purchased a set of these lights which have so far been more than sufficient to keep me rolling through the winter night club runs.

Enjoying the winter night AVP club rides

With the onset of winter, now known to be the wettest since records began, I've seen my hybrid Crosstrail come into its own on these night rides. The Crosstrail being much more forgiving over the darkened rough, potholed and gravel strewn lanes, while my Roubaix, now fitted with quick release racing mud guards, is brought into action on the long weekend runs. I now feel I have most surfaces and styles covered with my two bikes, but would still be interested in one day joining the mountain bikers to see what they get up to on their evening runs. I'm sure that if I fitted some chunky tires the Crosstrail could cope. May be one to test later in the year.

So, what's in store for my second year? Well, I have a plan to try out a couple of sportifs. I've already started with an Audax taster, although this was a bit of a rude awakening as it did not go totally to plan. Then in June, I am scheduled to ride the Dartmoor Classic and in August, I have a place on the Prudential RideLondon 2014 for which I am looking to raise money for Diabetes UK .. my first attempt to raise any sponsorship money since my school days! If you feel like giving me a little support and additional motivation for this event, then please click the image below and sponsor me :)

This cycling lark has been full of firsts and long may it continue. Oh yes, and as for increasing my fitness, I think this year end report says it all!