In the beginning, before insanity..

Now if that image does not scare you off.......(this is what I look like after an hour of training)

Welcome to the very first entry in what I hope will become a regular blog.
So who am I and why am I blogging at all?

Well, I am currently the ripe old age of 47 and I have just got back on a bike again after some 27 years! That is an awful long time since I was last cycling.

I used to cycle everywhere in my late teens. It was my only form of transport back then and really did play a large part in a horrible teenager getting out the house. To me, it represented my independance. I could get out and about, spend time with my friends and I was not constantly asking Dad to ferry me around. I remember studying for A levels and cycling to the local (12 miles away) water park and spending the day lounging by the lake doing my revision. Gave me peace away from home. I was certainly a lot fitter in those days. I played a lot of sport, mainly hockey and was a good deal lighter too! Oh how I miss that power to weight ratio ;)

So why now? Why is this mad middle aged woman getting back on a bike?
I have some friends to thank (blame) Gary Hill and Tony Hemans. Gary is my right hand man in my photography business and a good friend and when I was discussing ways of getting a bit fitter, his entire contribution was to say.....bike.....bike.....bike. Then Tony pitched in with more bike....bike....bike comments and then somehow, in a moment of weakness...I agreed to go on a bike ride.....of 170 miles Coast to coast. Morecambe to Bridlington. it is apparently called the Way of the Roses. Right now I call it madness!

At this point I had a mountain bike. A fifteen year old Giant, gents mountain bike with no suspension and weighs a ton. So off out pedalling I go.........