25th April 2013
On Friday 15 February, I volunteered to write a blog on my preparation for and experience of the 2013 Rivers Ride. On Sunday 17 February, I fell off my bike and broke a few bones.
I’m no expert, but that’s not how I think you should prepare!
Since then lots of people have asked me whether I plan to get back on my bike, and whether I’ll be sticking to flat routes. I must admit that in the day or two after the accident, I wasn’t sure I would get back on my bike.
However, after seven or eight weeks of recovery, I am now sure that I do want to get back on. After all they do say you should get back on the horse!
I’m not sure yet exactly when that will be, but I hope it isn’t far off – I’ve started cycling again at the gym and it has reminded me just how much I love it. Admittedly, it’s not quite the same when the view is the walls of Whitehaven Sports Centre rather than the Eskdale and Wasdale valleys I’d became accustomed to, but it’s certainly a start.
The other big unknown at the moment is whether I’ll be fit enough to do this year’s Rivers Ride, but I really hope so. My gut instinct is that if I follow my exercise plan and take the next few months of exercise slowly and sensibly, it might well be. But I’ll let you know how I get on.
In the meantime – to anyone who is considering taking part in the ride – I would simply say, do it! Despite the weather last year, the event was fantastic, and a great experience for everyone I spoke to. The course is challenging but achievable and takes in some of Copeland and Allerdale’s most striking scenery.
On top of this, you’re raising money to support the fantastic work that the Cumbria Community Foundation itself does to support people in the county.
When you’re struggling up Honister and Newlands – especially if it’s raining horizontally – you’ll be wise to remember that!