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Power to the hour

View of KendalSince my early twenties, I’ve relied on my cycle commute as a way of keeping fit. Distances have varied from the punishing Greenodd – Milnthorpe to the more manageable Kendal – Staveley. Work has now relocated to my home town of Kendal so the commute is a 5 minute walk.

Keen to keep the legs going for great charity rides, like the Jennings Rivers Ride and Fred Whitton Challenge, I came to the conclusion that an hour a day could be a workable solution. Having two young children and a business to run means that time is at a premium. Gone are the Sunday rides leaving home at 8.30 and crawling back at 3.30. An hour is a manageable session that can slot in before the start of the working day.

With time frame established the next consideration was terrain. Kendal’s surrounded by hills so climbing was the obvious option. If you’re going to do an hour then it might as well be painful.

A route was established taking in three hills: Scout Scar, Brigsteer and Greyhound. The 6 am ride means the roads are very quiet. It’s a great time to be out and avoids the stress of commuting through busy traffic.

The question is: an hour a day, is it enough? Can an hour in the saddle sustain a sufficient level of fitness so events, like the Fred Whitton, can be completed with the minimum of fuss.

We’ll soon see…

How not to prepare for the Rivers Ride

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!

Here we go again!

So this time last year Derwent decided to enter a team into the Jennings Rivers Ride… and now we’re doing it again! We must be mad… saying that, we did thoroughly enjoy it.

I hadn’t realised but I’d not updated with how last year’s ride went! Well, we all completed it and we even had a little video made of our journey.

Awards for fundraising

It was wet, windy and tiring but we had lots of fun doing it. In total we raised over £2,000 and I was really pleased to be given a little award for raising the most as an individual rider.

Most of the team will be doing the 40 miler and I’ve heard mutterings from some who might do the 80 miler! I myself will see how training goes… It’s harder than you think!

Getting soaked at Grange

The worst bit was the weather – next time I’m going to wear those funny waterproof shoes – I don’t care how daft I look!

So, training has started and we’re all raring to go – are you up for the challenge?

Love, Rebecca x

The Start of Rivers Ride 2013….

Day 1: Saturday 20 April 2013

Go to garage. Bring out Florence. Inspect dust and cobwebs on Florence. Go and get duster. Return to Florence. Florence has blown over. Pick up Florence and cling on tight. Watch happily as howling gale removes every speck of dust and muck from Florence. Replace Florence in garage. Settle down in front of roaring fire with papers and mug of hot chocolate. Reflect contentedly on my early start to this year’s training for the World’s Best Bike Ride.