So with the two big road events planned for this year: Etape in Scotland and Grand Fondo in June after being teased by some colleagues I went out and got myself my first road bike… Full of apprehension and armed by cash from my sponsor (thank you Karolina – my sister is the best) I did it.
It’s pretty. It’s blue. It’s shiny. It’s new. And I can’t ride it… Jeez… I took it out to the local park. With just normal pedals on and trainers – I went out.
IT FELT LIKE I HAVE NEVER BEEN ON A BIKE BEFORE! The position is sooooo different, so low! The handlebars are so NARROW!My hands were shaking and as a consequence the bike was all wobbly. I couldn’t get to grips with the gears, I had no trust in the breaks which seem to be too far away for ,my fingers to reach them.
But after a few minutes I thought I was getting better and then… the path came to an end and I had to turn left or turn around. That meant I had to check if anyone was coming behind me. Yeah, easy, right? NO! From what felt like a lie down position I was supposed to turn my head to check what was behind me. No can do. Unless I wanted to ride into the ditch. So the only option was to keep cool. Pretend that’s what I was planning all along… Get off the bike. Turn it around. Literally lift it and turn it around. Go back… yep…
After these successful 15minutes I think it is fair to say that I will go onto Scottish roads in April where more than likely there will be snow, definitely hundreds of fellow riders and a massive hill section, on my trusted heavy hybrid bike. Yes, that means I will have to haul additional 3.5kg worth of metal up that 10% hill but at least I will trust that bike and my ability on it. I just need a new saddle.
For now, my new baby is hooked up onto the turbo trainer to let me build some confidence on it before I take it on the road.
And with only 4 weeks left to Scotland from next week it’s back onto Richmond Park to put in some outdoors miles in.
I will keep you posted. Fingers crossed.
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