Outside the box

Yesterday was a ride full of interesting little events! 

First I popped on my new saddle from Aprire Bicycles - Prologo Kappa DEA! Love it! 

The only problem with getting something new is that it seems to take a little getting used to. For me it seemed I was sitting so wrong on my bike. Maybe it was because I'd got a men's saddle before so I sat differently? Who knows but my god was I uncomfortable for the first 15 miles. 

My legs felt like absolute death too, oh and my lungs were burning. Probably because I'd ran a half marathon on Sunday and they were both screaming for some down time. Oh well. 

I always go for little rides with Matt, he's a good chap! And is happy with me stopping now and then to fiddle with my new bits! Yesterday was no different. After about 15 miles I'd had enough, I wasn't getting any more comfortable - back was hurting (lower back) and my legs felt like they were giving anything out. We stopped and checked my seat height, apparently if you sit on the saddle, have the pedal at the lowest point and see if you can put your heel on it it's a good measure for seat height! Who knew!! 

Ok so I couldn't event get my heel on the pedals smug gearing my seat was way too high! I took it down half a cm, still couldn't reach!! Bloomin eck it must have been way too high - hence back pain! Moved it down a bit more, and it seemed to sit well. 

Off we went - my god did that feel weird, I felt really squished up then. But after a short while I got used to it and my back pain went. 

Lucky for me, the new saddle was a dream to sit on! Less pressure on the 'front' for the ladies reading this! I also felt for the first time that I was actually sitting on my sit bones (the boney bit in your butt) and not... You know where! 

Check out the saddle 

Ok so that picture was taken when... Yes I got a puncture! We were at about 20 miles in. Going really nicely in the evening summer sun! Downhill, about 28mph, BANG! I could feel air rushing round my ankles and I went down the hill. Back wheel started to wobble... Great! Puncture! 

We stopped, had a look at the wheel.. Well that would explain the air I could feel - check out the slice in my tyre! 

A good cm in there! Must have been a bit of flint or something. 

So after taking the tyre off one side, pulled the tube out, checked the tube and there was a lovely 0.5cm whole! We fiddled with the new tube getting it back in, now both dripping with sweat after stopping! Fiddling with my new little pump, and I suddenly thought back to the last time I had a split in a tyre. When we pumped up my tube last time, it went bang pretty much straight away as the tube popped out the hole and pinched. Last time someone had an old bit of tyre they'd kept in their bag and we used that as what they referred to as a 'boot'!! 

GENIUS! 

I thought, well I don't have a tyre spare, I don't have a cut up tyre, I can't fill it with grass to relieve the pressure around the hole. So... What about tearing the old tube up (with my teeth) and putting a bit inside the tyre between the tyre and the new tube to barrier it. 

Pumped up the tyre - not too high - about 50psi. 

Somehow this little gem of an idea got me home - 8 miles (ish) at still a decent rate. And still got my sweat on! 

30 miles in the bag. Now get me a Thai! 

How close is close

This weekend I had the pleasure of riding with Aprire Bicycles down in Richmond Park - London. 

It was a great experience, not only to meet the team and check out the bikes of a British Engineered bike company, but go for a ride and learn the ways of riding 'close'! 

 

Over the past year I've been picking up bits of information on how to 'race', but with few local riders about to help me practically learn the ways, it was great to get out down South. In events that I have done (triathlons and Sportives) it's always quite unnerving because you don't know how other competitors ride & sometimes they can be unpredictable which makes passing quite problematic!! 

We started off heading over to Richmond Park. Phil had set me up on one of the new Aprire Celeste road bikes - super light! Check their range out here : www.aprirebicycles.co.uk @aprirebicycles 

Once we got to Richmond Park, chatting away and before I new it we were riding side by side and handlebars nearly touching! Strangely though I didn't feel nervous about being knocked off, maybe it was because I knew that Phil is a good rider with lots of experience.

He explained that in a race, I would likely be riding at this distance for most of it. Then he ride closer and our hands / bars tapped *panic*! But it was ok! I guess it's that unknowing, if you've never ridden close, you assume as soon as someone touched your bike you'll immediately push off and crash! 

It's definitely something I need to practice as we weren't exactly going super fast but after a few laps and flowing conversation, riding close became 'normal'. It definitely pays to have someone experienced riding with you though to:

1) put you at ease that they're not going to do anything stupid and

2) explain what is going on, how to avoid incident & remain strong in a pack. 

My goal is to get to a point where I can ride balanced at that distance and come off the bars. To be able to comfortably take off a jacket without stopping, and chat relaxed on a ride at pace and with the occasionally touching of bars. 

Watch this space (small space 😆) 

Recap

Whoa that has been a weird few weeks... In summary I've raced my first sea triathlon Olympic distance down in Portsmouth which was AWESOME. And I've had a week off of doing nothing really other than preparing for my new job that started this week. 

Portsmouth was hard. The sea swim took more out of me than I anticipated. I finished in 49 minutes which felt like a day. Running up the pebble beach and then along to transition was a fair way too. 

I was looking forward to the bike leg but once clipped in I just felt awful. My stomach was churning, I felt tired and dehydrated. For the first time ever I was looking forward to getting OFF my bike.  I couldn't tell if it was a new tri suit (club one) that was making me so uncomfortable. I just wanted off.

On the run, I tried 3 times to find a toilet which I knew was eating into my time but I just needed to pee! I knew I wouldn't finish if I didn't find a loo and finally after several deviations and a chat to the water marshals I found them. The next 7km went quicker. I found my stride, got passed by an older lady who I then stuck on the heels of. 3km to go and I decided to go past her & just run my socks off. Crossing the line with a 10km PB of 58 minutes I was chuffed. 

It was an Olympic PB so also happy with that. However my plan of doing Cambridge triathlon has been scuppered due to the cancellation as the water is below standard - containing Wiles disease. So now I'm on the hunt for my final Olympic tri and currently looking at Hever Castle. Although it really is pricey!