27/05/2012
Free use of Sports Village cycle track
03/06/2012
Women on wheels social ride
16/06/2012
Breeze champion training
23/06/2012
Shrewsbury BikeFest - cancelled
27/06/2012
Shropshire Cycle Forum
London to Paris training update
Last week Ian McAdam told us what had inspired him to take on the London to Paris 2011 cycling challenge in September; here his training partner, Simon Vickers, tells us about his motivation for joining Ian and how their first training run went....
Why did I suddenly feel the need to do this? In March of 2009 at the age of 2 years and 9 months my son James was diagnosed with type one diabetes. 12 months ago I received an email from Diabetes UK, suggesting that it would be good for the people receiving this email to raise money for them, which I duly did. Six months later, 13kgs lighter and £1,817 raised; I had completed my first half marathon around the streets of Cardiff in a respectable 1 hour 45 minutes and 28 seconds. I really enjoyed the challenge and raising money for what obviously is a cause close to my heart.
However, painful hips and knees meant I needed to find a new way to keep fit and not put back on those kilos. I looked around and thought, "London to Paris on a bike, now there is a challenge". After a quick trip to do some research at Pearce Cycles in Ludlow, I was now the best part of £600 lighter. I now had no choice but to register, so along with my good friend, Ian McAdam, we are on our way to Paris, with many miles of the Shropshire countryside to cover. Not a bad backdrop for your training is it? This year my chosen charity will be the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF).
Back to my latest challenge... I had not ridden a bike for well over 20 years, now in the space of 4 weeks I have covered 70 miles in three rides! The latest being the first training run with Ian. I am not sure what is to come, but using excuses such as; "the width of my tyres slows me down" or "this is still early days for me" (Ian having been riding for the best part of 12 months) for maybe slowing him down, or Ian saying he was a bit rusty and having problems with his back, therefore he could or did not push hard enough, are a sign of the competitive spirit to come! That’s not to mention the little determined sprint up the last hill for a grandstand finish, which I won on this occasion, but I am sure I won’t win them all. The tone has been set for the next 8 months!
I am sure there will be a little pain over the period to come with plenty of fun and laughter to compensate; friendships will be made stronger and I am sure new ones found. One thimg is for sure, having our pictures taken in Parisian sunshine under the Eiffel Tower will bring thoughts of "where next" or "thank God that’s finished", but what an achievement we will have shared!
Ian and Simon will be blogging regularly during their training for their ride to Paris. Check back soon to find out how they are getting on.
You can sponsor Simon here.
Read Ian's first blog and find out how to sponsor him here.
Search this site
What's on
Comments (add your comment)