Pre packed and everything fits!

Weekend prep is paying off. Panniers are packed and ready to be loaded onto the bike.

All days have been mapped

Today was spent jotting down the list of things to pack, mapping the last two days and going to an outdoor shop to get some lightweight walking trousers that can easily be converted into shorts if needed. The weather in Germany is hot - that is expected. The weather here in Enland is hideous! AS I sit here writing, the wind is gushing against the window and it is raining on and off. It is difficult to think that in a week's time we will be on the train winding down towards Basel in hot sunny weather. The map to the left shows the predicted weather for next Friday. A lot of thunder it seems!

The map below is part of the Rhine Delta route. We will follow a big part of it with the exception that this starts in the Hoek of Holland (Hook of Holland) instead of Europoort where we get in with the ferry. It also finishes at the border between Germany and Holland where we will continue our cycle to Rees. So much to do and so little time left!
Find more map in Millingen Aan De Rijn, Netherlands

Gadgets for long-distance cyclists

Smartphones are battery hungry which is a particular problem if you are on a long bike ride and can't charge up along the way. So, thinking ahead to my imminent lists and previous long-distance cycling, I found this really cool gaddet which is small and lightweight but packs a punch for smartphones (and tablets!).

ChargeGenie50  link



The ChargeGenie 50 has a battery capacity of 5,000mAh; more than enough juice to charge your Smart Phone 3 times and enough to charge your tablet. Its light and compact design means that it fits in to your pocket and easily into your briefcase or your hand bag when you're on the go. The ChargeGenie should mean you are never left without battery on the go again!

So hopefully that fantastic photo that I wanted to take at 10 miles from the finish will happen after all!

Counting the days

Being busy means that time flies, so after having a small panic attack today, I had a quick count on my calendar and found that it is a mere 9 days before we set off for Basel.

So much to do ! I need to make a list of what to go in my panniers and get that ready. Items like hayfever spray and tablets have been requested from the surgery but that's about it. I havent yet sat down with a pen and paper to jot down what will go into my kit. Oh, something else I have managed to think about is cycling gear or clothing. As we are cycling mostly on cycle paths and quiet roads, I have made a decision to abandon my lycra and don some cycling apparel that will make me look more like a leisure cyclist. I bought some mountain biking shorts with the inner padded short to go with it and some walking sandals. Walking sandals I hear you say. Well, I looked at the Shimano sandals which are currently available and they look almost like a complete shoe. Not like a sandal at all.

Merrell Kahuna III Ladies Sandals

After careful thought I decided to get some good walking sandals with a stiff sole which will suit my trip. I read a large number of reviews before settling on the Merrell Kahuna III.

On the right is a picture of them. I flexed the sole in a store (won't name the store!) and it felt really stiff, just what you need for a bike ride. I then did a few searches and bought it online. Oops! Some reviews indicated that people used it for cycling and walking which made me more comfortable in my choice.

I'm not sure if I am making a really bad choice here. I guess if it turns out to be wrong, I can buy a pair of proper cycling shoes when we pass through one of the big German cities which will definitely have good bike shops.

I also wrote to ECF - the European Cycling Federation - asking if wearing cycling helmets are compulsory in France, Germany and Holland. I knew Holland is a no, but I wasn't sure about Germany and France. To my delight they confirmed it isn't, so my cycling helmet is definitely NOT going on this trip.

So a couple of days still to map and then lists to make, from what goes into the panniers, to what is MUST sees along the route! 9 Days and counting...


I've so far mapped Days 1 to 11 and here is a flavour of one of them; Day 6.
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/101177

Promises of good weather

This past weekend must have been one on the greyest so far. I know there are shades of grey so this one must be on the scale pretty much towards the top end.

I was busy this weekend - too busy to ride. When I walked over the Handbridge this morning on my way to church, three women cyclists came towards me from the Chester side. The front one was pedalling furiously to stay ahead and cross the bridge and when she came close, it was with a pang of jealousy that I recognised the three as friends from the ladies group that I cycle with.

They were obviously on their way to a good day out on their bikes and I waved them on their way - with some serious longing!

As soon as my duties were done this afternoon, I hopped on my bike to do the short circuit ride that I usually do. Coming with me was my daughter, so although I ached to get the pedals going, it was much more appropriate to cycle steady and make sure she keeps up.

It was a very pleasant ride at 6pm and most of the animals were out. We saw rabbits, gold finches, black birds and mice. Almost a golden hour for wild life. The Hawthorn is still blooming and often you would cycle through a patch of air laden with its smell.

I am off tomorrow and have plans to do more cycling after my physio appointment. The days are getting very short and soon we are off on the 2012 adventure, so I need to pack any training in when I can. The next two days look particularly good for being out on a bike.

Hello sunshine, goodbye grey!

The season has started

The weather has finally turned friendlier although I should probably not mention this too soon as colder weather has been predicted for the weekend.

I took part in my first Sportive of the season by completing the Wiggle Cheshire Cat last Sunday starting from Crewe. As this is the first ride of the season, we did the 47 mile short option. During the ride I made a classic mistake of following a group of riders down a lane. After a while I glanced down to my Garmin only to notice that I am totally off the pink line which shows the route.

I didn't want to turn around immediately as just at that moment another group of riders came past  me and they were definitely part of the Wiggle. So I carried on. Hmmm.

Not good as I was carried more and more away from the route and finally decided I had indeed gone very wrong.

I cycled back like the clappers and gathered that it was about a 2 mile mistake.

Oh dear, only it wasn't as it turned out to be a whole 4.5 miles more than the route. Well, I completed the 47 mile sportive with 51.5 miles on my Garmin.

Next Sunday is another big ride on our calendar, the CTC Spring Tourist Trial which is 50 miles in total. At least I can say that my Wiggle mistake gave me the opportunity to prove that I can do a 50 miler in 4.10 including stopping time!

On the big holiday front things are falling into place. Everything has been booked and reserved apart from the train from Rotterdam to Basel. I checked today and it seems we can book that on 6 April which is around the corner.

I want to pull together a lightweight folder with all me our reservations in, some notes about distances and suggested things to see along the way and where we overnight.

I am amazed at how many places where I booked didn't bother for a deposit. In the UK it is standard practice but it seems there are much  more trust on the continent!!

First good bike ride of the new season

Plans were made and kept. Weather forecasts checked (but really irrelevant!).

Hubby is off to Exeter and I had the resolve to go on the Fabulous Ladies monthly ride which I haven't been on for ages. Various things got in the way like National CTC Council, Church commitments and being ill.

Anyway, day looked grey but manageable and I was up, got my bike pumped up (tyres a bit low) and ready to go. First thing though was to get the new Bike Shed measured. I am SO excited! We are getting a Bike Shed (box) which will be to the right of the garage and will act as a sort of bike garage. Initially hubby wanted it in the back garden. For me this is not really practical as it is all about accessibility. If it is there, you will need to get the bike out, the back garage door open, take the car out (as the bike can't go around the car) and then you are off. If the bike shed is at the front of the house, you are off the moment you lift your bike out of the bike shed!
Practical? Off course ;)



Anyway. Bike shed measured, or rather where it will be at the front of the house, and I am off to meet the girls at Kingsway cafe. We were an impressive 19 (including one boy) and  had to split into 2 groups. Moira was leading the second group as my knowledge of East Cheshire is poor. I have cycled East Cheshire many times but I usually talking to my fellow Girls that I am not quite focussing on the road, so I was useless today to lead. I did the sweeping at the back, which is to make sure everyone is ok and still on route.

We were about 10 minutes away (in Hare Lane) when Juliet had a puncture. But she knew what she was doing so in now time were we up and away again.

The rest of the ride went very well. I was so pleased that Moira lead the way as she is definitely more familiar with the East Cheshire lanes than I am.


In no time at all we arrived at the Garden centre which had a large space reserved for us.

Refreshments done and we were on our way back to Chester. I slipped away near the A41 all along the canal and cycled through town. Garmin read 30.3 miles when I pressed stop. I am very pleased with my cycle ride today. It feels so good to be back on my bike. The afternoon was spent gardening and preparing the bike shed space. That involved taking some bulbs up and replanting them elsewhere. The last of the Christmas lights were taken off the trees and the grass was cut. Tomorrow some more gardening to finish off what I started and also to make a start at my Veg patch. I burned more than 1,300 cals today, yeah!! Another bike ride tomorrow and I will slowly get my fitness back in time for the Cheshire Cat at the end of the month as well as the Spring Tourist Trial at the start of April. Roll on 2012!!

Going over the Roman Bridges