Valencia - taking to the trail

After a few days sight-seeing in Valencia, Chris and I headed out of town to the hills just south of the city, where we had hired a villa.  I had been in touch with David Warrington from Mountain Biking Valencia - http://mountainbikingvalencia.com - and booked us a day trip, along with a bit of a lesson in off-road mountain biking.

Rather intimidating hills in the background!

After 3 days of unexpectedly cold and rainy weather in the city, we were a bit doubtful about the success of the day, given that we were prepared for warm weather cycling!  Luckily we had a bit of an improvement in the weather on the day we were going out, and even a hint of blue sky.  We met up with David in La Drova - a pretty little village about 20 minutes drive from the coast, surrounded by spectacular hills - at 9:30, where the bikes were ready and waiting for us.

We set off along rural roads and dirt tracks through fragrant orange groves and rolling farmland, always prepared for the next climb thanks to Dave's timely warnings.  The route was lovely - virtually no traffic, undulating roads, some of the climbs quite long, but all steady and achievable without having to get off, although I did have to hit some nice light gears to get up them!

Orange groves as far as the eye can see - and Chris

When we hit the first trail section of the ride, we had a lesson in technique to help us control the bike over the steeper parts of the route.  Ladies take note - correct stance when descending a trail is legs apart!  With your knees set wider and your elbows in, you have much better stability and control over the bike when you are out of the saddle.  Apparently women tend to do the opposite - knees together and elbows out.  I proved this to be true and had to concentrate to get it right.  On the steep ascents we were advised to stay in the saddle but take the body weight forward, resisting the temptation to stand up as this reduces stability.  Once I had the hang of this it did give me a lot more confidence to tackle sections of the trail that I wouldn't have done before - I felt much more in control of the bike and could start to relax and really enjoy it.

At the top of the trail - ready to go down (hoping not to end up in the river)

It was amazing to cycle through the narrow streets of the old town in Xativa

We stopped in a beautiful town called Xativa, which is overlooked from the hilltop by a fabulous castle.  After a cycle through the narrow streets of the old town we stopped in the sunny town square to eat our lunch and enjoy a spot of more typical Spanish weather.

Cycling all morning, then stopping for lunch and getting back in the saddle for another few hours of cycling was a good test of how my training had been going so far.  I was really pleased to be able to get back on the bike without any wincing - those spin classes are definitely starting to pay off!

Our route back was a mix of road and trail again but always through beautiful countryside.  The miles slipped by almost without us noticing.  We had another section of trail to negotiate in the afternoon and we were both pleased to be able to show off our new techniques on the more challenging sections of trail without any mishaps!

A pause on the picturesque trail just before tackling the final climb to La Drova

Dave had warned us that the last section of the ride was a climb for about 4km, with one tough km to start, then easing off to a steady climb.  We stopped off for a snack at the bottom - always a good idea!  As we inched up the hill I could feel the muscles in my legs and backside burning, but was determined to get to the top without getting off, and I did.  I don't think I looked too good when I got there - 60km of reasonably challenging terrain were taking their toll.  The last few km to La Drova were tough as I was tired, but Dave kindly counted down the distance for me to keep me going, and I gritted my teeth and kept pedalling!

Dave (Mountain Biking Valencia)

We all arrived back in once piece - a few scratches, scrapes and aches, but nothing serious.  We were tired but exhilarated - first all day cycle under my belt, and new skills learnt as well.

Dave had told us that he used to cycle in The Peak District before he moved over to Spain, so I had taken my map with me and he pointed out some good routes where we can take to the trail in the UK, so we are now looking forward to trying them as well.

It was a great day and I would highly recommend it if you are in the Valencia region.  It doesn't matter whether you are a beginner or more experienced, as Dave will tailor the route to be challenging or relaxing as you choose, and you can be sure that it will be an excellent route on quiet roads or beautiful trail.  You can find out more on the following websites

http://naturetrailspain.com

http://mountainbikingvalencia.com

Coffee and Cake on Route 68

We have discovered the SusTrans website http://www.sustrans.org.uk where you can see all the cycle routes in the UK, and narrow it down to your area - brilliant!

Chris and I decided to give Route 68 a try, which we can pick up at New Mills - a short cycle from Marple.  You can follow it all the way to Buxton - a round trip of 30 miles.

Click here to check out our route.

The forecast for today was fine in the morning with rain in the afternoon, so we were breakfasted and ready for the off at 8:30 to get the best of the weather, which was a pretty good effort, as those of you who know what a peach I am in the morning will appreciate!

Long Hill - aptly named - was more than a match for me!

We warmed up nicely on the rolling hills around New Mills - enjoying the crisp spring morning.  The air was cold and fresh, the sun just about warm, and the roads very quiet.  It wasn't long though before the hills started to get a bit steeper.  You had to be quick with the gear changes on some as you could turn a perfectly innocent looking corner to be faced with a hill that came from nowhere.  A couple of times I didn't make it and had to loop back to avoid horrific gear crunching as I shot through several gears at once.  My poor bike.

The effort we put in up the hills was rewarded though - the views were fantastic as we got out into the Derbyshire countryside, and for every uphill, there was the exhilarating rush downhill, with eyes streaming and face beaming!  I couldn't keep in a 'yee hah' as we descended a particularly long and steep road, drawing some odd looks from passing walkers.

View from the top before the descent in to Buxton

As we cycled across the top of the hills heading towards Buxton, we encountered virtually no traffic - in fact there were more walkers than cars.  We were glad that we had hybrid bikes rather than road bikes though, as the road was more of a trail in parts, with rocks and shale that were so slippery we had to walk a short section.  Hopefully we will pick up a few mounting biking techniques in Valencia that will help with that - stay tuned for an update in a couple of weeks.

Old Road - more trail than road.  The edge of Buxton is just visible in the background.

I couldn't help thinking as we whizzed down the hill into Buxton that we would shortly have to cycle back up that hill.  This was also the first thing Chris said when we stopped!  Luckily he had spotted a sign for coffee and cake, so we headed down to Pavilion Gardens where there was a cafe, and stopped for some refreshment.  Of course, I hadn't brought any money with me - it was a miracle that I got out of the house fully dressed, so money was a step too far.  Luckily Chris is more organised in the morning and had some cash, otherwise (he drily mentioned) this post would have been No Coffee and No Cake on Route 68!

Coffee and apple cake in the sunshine.

Fuelled with cake, we set off for the return to Marple.  To our great delight, there was much more downhill heading this way - it took us about 2 hours to get there, and 1:30 to get back.  The rain clouds were gathering as we returned, but luckily we made it back without getting wet and I am now recovering smugly in a nice warm, dry house, on a comfy chair, watching the rain come down.

This was our toughest ride yet, but also the most enjoyable.  My love for my new found sport just got a bit bigger.  Now that is worth celebrating.

Back in the saddle

Following my training low I decided that the best thing to do was to start a training log, which I can then use to give myself a regular pat on the back (as long as I have done the miles!).

It is now almost 6 months to go until we leave for Cuba - 30 weeks training to be precise; 19 weeks until the London-Surrey 100 that Gillian and I have got a place in; and 2 weeks till Chris and I embark on an 80km mountain bike ride in Valencia (I think it is supposed to be a holiday!).

Realising that I had 2 weeks to get myself fit enough to tackle 80km in the Valencian hills without having to get off and push was a very good motivator both to get to the gym, and to get out on the bike.  Last Sunday we clocked up 15.5 miles on our Lyme Park route and I actually enjoyed cycling outside for the first time since last year.

Hot and sweaty me - nice!

At the gym I have upped the spin challenge - my friend and work colleague Sarah and I have been slogging it out at spin classes this week and decided that we would round off the week with the double - 2 spin classes back to back with a 15 minute stretch break in between - total 1 hour 20 mins on the bike.  I got her to take a picture of me back in the changing room to document this effort.  Not a pretty sight.  The only thing that got me out of the hot shower was the thought of last night's cold pizza leftovers that I had got for lunch!



Today Chris and I hit the road again and headed for Timperley.  No roast dinner today though - just a quick stop off for a cuppa (2 cuppas), sandwich, kitkat and chit-chat before getting back in the saddle for the return leg.  A round trip of 32 miles.  A good effort I thought, particularly given that it was very windy.  Ever the professional, I took my recovery very seriously.....

Mileage is heading in the right direction though:

Gym miles - 43.5
Road miles - 32
Total for week - 75.5

Plan for next weekend is to try Marple to Buxton via cycle route 68 which we can pick up at New Mills.  Should be tougher in terms of hills, but looking forward to it.

Downhill isn't always easier

Over the last month I have had 2 stinking colds, the second worse than the first.

The first one meant no training for a week.  When I ventured back to the gym I was rather disappointed to find I was struggling with my usual 40 minute spin class.  It took a week and a half of hard sessions to get back to where I was before cold no 1.

I am now just recovering from cold no 2 and again have been out of the gym for a week (10 days really if you count the weekends).  I am annoyed that I am going to have to go through the same uphill struggle again to get back to square one!  I managed a 3.5 mile run today to dust off the cobwebs, but it wasn't easy.

I think I have reached a training low point.  Need to dig up some strength of character and just crack on for a couple of weeks to get back on track.

A glass of sauv blanc will help with that.......

You need hands

After a few more weekends of not getting out on the bike, I decided the weekend before last, that I was going out regardless.  It was the weekend of Mothering Sunday and my mum was cooking dinner for my grandma, so I arranged to cycle there and join them for the afternoon before cycling back in the evening.  A repeat of the Roast Dinner Challenge.

It didn't look that cold - there was no frost so I set off optimistically with new extra thick leggings that my sister had bought me for my birthday.  Unfortunately I hadn't factored in the baltic wind that was blowing.  Whilst my super-jacket and super-leggings kept my body and legs warm, the 2 pairs of gloves that I had forced on to my hands did nothing to protect them from the cold and by the time I got there I could barely move the gears.

Then came the worst part as they started to warm up.  I had to pace up and down the hallway shaking them and breathing deeply until the stabbing pains subsided!  I could barely talk.  I seriously need to get some better gloves.

The return journey was even worse as it was into the wind, in the dark and it started to snow.  My first words to Chris on arriving back were - "I am never doing that again" - at least it will be warm in Cuba!

I am resolute in this - until it warms up I will be sticking to spinning in the gym.

All the motivation you need

As mentioned in my last post, I attended my first Action for Charity meeting last weekend at St Thomas's Hospital in London.  It was humbling to hear from women who were not only challenging themselves to complete this cycle, but were also fighting cancer themselves.

We had presentations from all 3 charities that the Women v Cancer organisation supports -

http://www.breastcancercare.org.uk

http://www.jostrust.org.uk

http://www.ovarian.org.uk

which were very moving and inspiring.  You could've heard a pin drop in the room so I am sure that everyone there felt the same.

Anne Frampton from Women v Cancer presenting at the first Cycle Cuba meeting.  Since it began 3 years ago, Women v Cancer has raised over £2.3 million for women's cancer charities

Anne Frampton, the event organiser, did a great job of getting us all excited about the challenge we have all signed up for as well as reminding us of the great causes we are supporting in doing this.  She also introduced us to Theo Peeters from Dream Challenges who will be looking after us in Cuba.  They have pulled together an itinerary for us which looks amazing but a little daunting at the same time:

Day 1 - fly from London to Havanna

Day 2 - Jibacoa Beach to Matanzas - 5 hours cycling on a mixture of tarmac and compacted earth roads taking in coastal and inland scenery.  One 800m hill to negotiate - 43.5 miles

Day 3 - Matanzas to the Peninsula of Zapata - 5-6 hours cycling on tarmac roads through what was prime sugar can land - 52.8 miles

Day 4 - Cienfuegos to Trinindad - 6-7 hours cycling on undulating country roads - 59.7 miles (the toughest day!)

Day 5 - Trinidad to Sancti Spiritus - 6 hours cycling through a scenic valley with sugar mills and tobacco fields - 47.8 miles

Day 6 - Sancti Spiritus to Santa Clara - 6-7 hours cycling on undulating roads through villages and small towns, finishing at the Che Guevara Mausoleum, one of Cuba's most important revolutionary monuments - 51 miles

Day 7 - Santa Clara to Havana ...... on the bus!!

Total miles cycled - 254.8 (400km)

Getting back up to speed

New Year has been and gone and so has January!  I am not sure how that happened so quickly, but am now rooting around in my head to find the motivation to get going again with training and fundraising as we have taken a couple of months off over the Christmas period.

I have only one notable cycle under my belt so far this year which I am calling the Roast Dinner Challenge - a 32 mile round trip from Marple to my parent's house in Timperley in order to indulge in my mum's excellent roast beef dinner, yorkshires, roasts and all the trimmings followed by fruit crumble and custard.  Fine recovery from the first 16 miles and fuel for the second 16!

I am finding that I need to invent reasons such as this to get me out on the bike in the cold wet weather. It has been made a bit easier with the gradual improvement of my kit - my current look is 3/4 pants over cycling shorts paired with a long pair of football socks.  A fine silhouette!  I have also inherited a marvellous cycling jacket which is way above my skill (and cool) level, but soooooo warm.  Need better gloves and shoes as fingers and toes still objecting to the virtual frostbite they have been subjected to.

Despite my lack of outdoor cycles, I am feeling pretty good about the general fitness programme I have underway.  I have increased my spin classes to 3 a week, occasionally 4.  I have definitely noticed the difference when I get on my bike - I don't feel so saddle sore.  Also now feeling OK about wearing skinny jeans for the first time since turning 20!!

I have also introduced yoga into my life.  It wasn't quite what I expected (was thinking relaxing, gentle, calm) - it is strenuous, demanding and sometimes downright impossible; despite the patient encouragement from my excellent teacher - but I am loving it!  I am becoming a fan of cross training and gaining strength from another practice to help you with your goal.  Still waiting for inner peace, but will keep trying.

Talking of cross training - I have also signed up for the Sheffield Half Marathon as I want to keep up my running as well as the cycling, so needed a point of focus.  It is in May so that gives me plenty of time to adjust my training.

It is now time to start thinking about a proper training plan though.  I need to up my outdoor cycle mileage on a regular basis and start some hill training.  This was made apparent 2 weekends ago when I attended the first Cycle Cuba meeting down in London.  The Action for Charity Team shared the route with us and the fact that they have altered it to make it more challenging/hilly so we don't get bored or find it too easy!!!  Funny.

It is also now time to get together with Gillian and decide what our next fundraising event is going to be.  We have both just changed jobs, so needed to take a bit of time to settle in to our new roles.  We are now both working in the city centre, so I am sure there will be a few strategy meetings required over coffee and cake.  I will share as soon as possible - our ideas that is, not the cake.