So, I can ride a bike but have never bike-packed....until now. What panniers / bags to use? What items to put where on the bike? Front panniers, handlebar bag, tube bag, rear panniers, rack packs, pockets and saddlebags are all options. To follow the basic 'rules' of bike-packing: Distribute weight equally on both sides of … Continue reading Bike-Packing
Category: Cycling
Not Today!
It is almost a year since I wrote (Clipless Pedalling) about having to stop clipping into my pedals when cycling. I remember feeling a sense of taking a backward step when it happened. Something I didn't want to do but at the time, I felt that I had little choice. My right foot would hover … Continue reading Not Today!
The Raid Alpine
It was Helen Matthews, the Deputy CEO of Cure Parkinson's who introduced Claire and I in 2017. We have kept in contact since and met a few times. Helen, knowing that we both had Young Onset Parkinson's and both worked for the NHS, thought we may have a few things to talk about. We found … Continue reading The Raid Alpine
Social Distancing the Scenic Way
Views from Walks or Cycles Around Gloucestershire in 2020 I'm grateful that even during months of lockdown, we have always been able to exercise outdoors. I'm grateful we live in such a beautiful area where social distancing can require no effort at all. I'm grateful that, whatever the weather, we ventured outside and took the … Continue reading Social Distancing the Scenic Way
New Day, New Start…….
After giving myself a severe talking to, having received many lovely messages of encouragement and support following my 'CBA' blog and with a ray of sunshine sneaking through the clouds, I finally donned my cycling gear for the first time this year and got on my bike. Now, I'd like to give glowing reports but … Continue reading New Day, New Start…….
Cheers!
With cafes and pubs shut, sadly our usual refreshment stops during our cold, wet, winter cycles are no longer an option. There’s only one thing for it......!! There's a solution for every problem!
…..And Losing It Again!
And just as quickly as I found my mojo (see previous blog), I appear to have temporarily lost it again! https://videopress.com/v/YPsU21lG?autoPlay=true&posterUrl=https%3A%2F%2Ftheramblingsofacyclopathhome.files.wordpress.com%2F2020%2F10%2F01b34ca2-e269-4f17-8452-db64a8e222c5_1_201_a.jpeg&preloadContent=metadata
Challenge? What Challenge?
Determined not to allow our hilly cycling to be thwarted by the cancellation of both our Alps challenge in June and our modified Alps challenge in August, we set off to conquer some UK based roads and hills instead. This week was... Not quite the Alpine challenge in terms of people. From the original group … Continue reading Challenge? What Challenge?
Local Legends
Cyclists love a bit of Strava and now there's a little bit more to love with the introduction of 'Local Legends'. 'Local Legends' are individuals who have cycled a stretch of road (segment) more times than any other Strava user in the previous 90 days. 'Local Legends' are awarded a golden crown for each segment … Continue reading Local Legends
A Heart Warming Story
I met Jonny in Kyoto last year at the World Parkinson's Congress. He too has Young Onset Parkinson's and he cycles, so naturally, we've followed each other on Facebook and Twitter ever since! He recently tweeted this story and it brought a smile to my face and warmed my heart. I felt compelled to share … Continue reading A Heart Warming Story
The Final Nail in the Coffin
'The Final Nail in the Coffin' "An event that causes the failure of something that had already started to fail" It was perhaps inevitable but after a full 12 months and 7,500km of training, 90,000m of hill climbing and being as ready as we've ever been, we've had to cancel our challenge in the Alps again. … Continue reading The Final Nail in the Coffin
A Few Hills Too Many
A hilly ride yesterday with the Sunday morning group. Lovely company, glorious sunshine and a beautiful route but hilly and I found it really hard. No personal bests today and the rest of Sunday was a write off for me as it's taken me 24 hours to recover! Doesn't bode well for The Alps....! I … Continue reading A Few Hills Too Many
The Bike Wins…..
This week saw me reach a milestone. This year, I've cycled over 5000km on this beauty. During the same time, I've only driven 500km in this beauty! Strava Stats! Hard to justify keeping the car.......
A Little More Training….
It doesn't feel right to consider my last few rides as training. They have been in beautiful sunshine, with great company, fabulous cake stops and some of the most stunning countryside. I can't think of anything I'd rather be doing. Getting faster and fitter is the added bonus! 1. To The Blue Zucchini in Tetbury … Continue reading A Little More Training….
And Counting……
24 Days A few days rest after The Raid Local and already we need a new challenge. A 'Covid Compliant' Alpine Adventure .......in 24 day's time. 777km Cycling 777km from Lake Geneva to Nice. 13,000 13,000 metres of climbing Six Cols Col du TelegraphieCol du GalibierCol de L'IseranCol d'IzoardCol du Cormet de RoselendCol de la … Continue reading And Counting……
A Sunday Cycle
Great to be out with the Sunday Cycling group again. A lovely route out to The Old Prison at Northleach. The company was great, the rain held off until the last ten minutes and the bacon sandwiches at The Old Prison were fabulous. After two weeks away from my bike, the hills felt hard, so … Continue reading A Sunday Cycle
The Peculiarities of Pedalling with Parkinson’s
When I learned that exercise is the only thing that has been shown to slow the progression of Parkinson's, I started cycling, overcoming the numerous obstacles that Parkinson's puts in my way. Amongst many other symptoms, Parkinson's affects my balance and coordination, causes dizziness, muscle cramps, dystonia, rigidity, stiffness, pain, slow movement, tremor, fatigue, poor … Continue reading The Peculiarities of Pedalling with Parkinson’s
With a Little Help From My Friends
Cycling with friends is so much more fun than cycling alone and There are many wonderful people I cycle with regularly. This post is a shout out and huge ‘thank you’ to the other lovely people who have joined me for the occasional cycle ride over the last couple of years. To Alison, Michael and … Continue reading With a Little Help From My Friends
Some Normality
For all sorts of reasons, we haven't cycled together since Lanzarote: Work commitmentsFamily commitmentsThe weatherThe CoronavirusEwan living 450 miles apart from the rest of us! So, it was lovely to cycle today with John A, John A, Roland and Caroline. A socially distant cycle - note the lack of team photos, no sharing of snacks, … Continue reading Some Normality
Lighthearted Learning from Lanzarote
1. Uphill is Hard, Downhill Terrifying! 2. The Heavier We Are, The Harder It Is 3. Regular Rest Stops are Essential 4. The Cycle Tracking App Relates To Your Menstrual Cycle Not Your Bicycle! 5. Rehydration is Vital 6. Team Kit = Team Work 7. Style is a Personal Thing 8. You Can Never Carry … Continue reading Lighthearted Learning from Lanzarote
Quote of the Week
I thought 'Bloody Hell - I'm going to have to wait for Alison again.......and there she was, right behind me!' Anonymous Either, I'm getting quicker or everyone else is getting slower.......sometimes I'm even at the front! Great to have the support of these fabulous guys.
Longest Day
With everyone feeling at least a little better, we set off with some optimism for our last day's cycling. Optimism proved an essential component for our longest day in the saddle...... The Challenges of the Day With different bikes, I struggled to clip into my cleats and should have guessed I would struggle to clip … Continue reading Longest Day
No Plan!
(Just Realised I Hadn't Posted Sunday's Adventures!) Our plan today was to have no plan today. To keep things flexible, have a range of options and see how we felt as the day progressed. Ewan has the same stomach upset that John had, so couldn't cycle this morning. Miraculously, he joined us mid afternoon, feeling … Continue reading No Plan!
Too Windy
20km into the windiest cycle imaginable, I completely lost my bottle! Having been swept across the road more than once I couldn't do today's route. John, putting aside his competitive streak, had the patience of a saint and stayed with me. Finding a roadside cafe, we stopped for a drink, some respite from the wind … Continue reading Too Windy
Team Training
For the first time today, twelve of the Raid Alpine team are getting together for some training in Lanzarote, many of us meeting for the first time. After an easy journey, we arrive at the resort reception and only half an hour later, with our hire bikes fitted, we were ready to cycle together. With … Continue reading Team Training
Guest Blog
TRAINING & TEAM-BUILDING by Ewan MacLean The Cyclopaths have all been training in our own way: individually, in pairs and in a variety of groups. We are only one small part of a much bigger 'Raid Alpine' group who have all been doing the same across many different UK geographic locations. Between us, we have … Continue reading Guest Blog
Wading Through Treacle
Keen to have one more training ride before heading off to the sun for our 5 day training camp, I set off for a hilly few miles. Cycling with Roland who thankfully was happy to take an easy pace, we set off up Harp, Ham and Castle Hills. It could never be considered an easy … Continue reading Wading Through Treacle
Mountains to Climb……
After each training session, I check my Strava data - distance cycled, elevation climbed, maximum speed, overall time spent out, time spent moving, etc, etc. Yes, I know, I'm turning into a geek! This time, I also reviewed my stats since January 1st this year. As of 10th February, I had ventured out 17 times, … Continue reading Mountains to Climb……
‘The Cleevage’
The 'Cleevage' is the term used by local cyclists, to describe cycling up and over Cleeve Hill and back again........ My recent Strava profile shows why!
Road Closed
If you've followed The Cyclopaths before, you will know that we view the 'Road Closed' sign as a challenge, rather than a warning...... Naturally, news that our favourite, Cleeve Hill has been closed to traffic for three weeks, made us immediately think - how wonderful it would be cycle the hill without a steady stream … Continue reading Road Closed
Challenging Times 
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