Today was an unparalleled disaster. I rode like a muppet and slipped on everything. But be strong Fi and get with it. I'll have to put it behind me and just look forward to Sunday's race. Onwards...

This was my arse after I slid down the muddy slope.

It's nice to be home and dry now and ready for work. Took me forever to clean my bike!

The calm after the storm

It... has... stopped... raining.

It seems like I have had wet socks and soggy gloves for months but I reckon it's more like a few weeks. It has not stopped raining. Although I've generally been lucky with my rides I have, like everyone, reached the point of saturation (excusing the pun) with the rain. The curtains were never open in the flat - there was no light to let in - and the clatter of rain against the windows and doors was most offputting.

Today the sun is out and it is cold and fresh and bright. I had a perfect start to the day - Rob and I whizzed down the hill and zipped between the grumpy looking car drivers to overtake them and dive up Belmont Hill into the woods, through Ashton Court and back down through the village to Mud Dock for a hot frothy coffee. It was beautiful and I felt so overwhelmingly glad to be there it was incredible. The sunrise was stunning and the air was fresh and cool.

This is us - riding bikes through the air, chatting and laughing and looking ever forwards to more and more experiences.

Today I am working hard at my assignment, reading all sorts of incomprehensible stuff about class and critical realism and obesity. I love it. Tonight I am working at the running shop and then later will curl up for an early night with my book, ready for another early ride.

Life... is... sweet.

IronHorse Extreme Rules...

James Leavesley has just won the Strathpuffer 24hr mtb race in Inverness. He lapped the whole field twice or more and won with style and class. It was brilliant speaking to Rob every few hours to get updates - I really feel like part of a team. Our sponsor - Martin - was there too and delighted, sending pictures of James to his boss at IronHorse Towers (or wherever!) Rob is over the moon, despite not racing himself and we are all hopping up and down with excitement at our first win of the season and the first win under the new IronHorse flag.

It's particularly exciting because although James is one of the best and most experienced 24hr soloists in the UK, he has never won a race. He's come second a host of times but never got that top spot. This was his moment I hope he enjoyed every second. He's off to Alaska to do the Iditarod Invitational in a few months and I have good feelings about that too (as long as he learns how to use a compass before then...)

One day I hope to have that feeling that James is experiencing right now. That elation, pride, exhaustion and gratitude all mixed into one and so intense it overwhelms you and knocks the wind out of you.

We really do have the best team in the world and I am so so pleased to be part of it. It's magical.

Tap, tap, tap

Been out for 4 hours this morning. All but the last 30 minutes was fairly dry and then it made up for it, raining hard like needles on your face, water finding any gap to trickle inside socks and jackets. A mountain of soggy kit is now whizzing round and round in the washing machine, exchanging soapy suds for sweat and rain.

The ride was fine. Nice chat and 60 steady miles of tapping away, duracel-bunny slow. Plodding on. I am thinking a lot about Strathpuffer and whether or not I would like to be riding around an icey, treacherous and windy course in Inverness for 24 hours with 18 hours of darkness and few people other than Rob cheering me on.

I decided that yes, I probably would.

Ps: As I write this James is in the lead by 2 minutes. Go on Leavesley!

Training, raining...

Picture: View of the Quantocks from a lovely lane winding its way along the edge of Exmoor. Sigh...

I have had a great few days training, despite the weather. I seem to have a knack for picking the break in the rain to zip out on my bike. My road bike is covered in thick oily sludge and needs a good scrub but I'll do that today before I go to work.


I have ridden all over the Mendips lately. Rob and I had a beautiful ride early on Sunday morning. We beat the traffic and got up onto Cheddar early. The air was drowned and we were blown sideways at times but it was invigorating.


A few times I have had to reroute my rides to avoid floods - England seems to be under water at the moment - but on the whole my riding has been smooth and uneventful. I still have no oomph but Rob assures me I don't need any and that we are still building the base of my tower so it can go higher and higher (so that when I jump off I land a long way from the base). It all makes sense, honest!
This is a road, honest...


I feel very engaged with life at the moment. In contrast to some other female riders I know, my kit is clean, my bikes are working, my work is fulfilling, my life is in order and I am marching forwards WITH cycling - as a pleasure and a discipline - rather than flopping helplessly with cycling as an escape.

My kit - clean, washed and drying... I love the battle, not just the victory.

PS. Good luck James at Strathpuffer. Go get 'em!

Roadie style...

Picture: Nearly at the top of Burrington Combe, Chew Valley Lake in the background.

Road riding has it's moments. Today was cool and yellow, sunshine pouring through the hazy winter clouds (in stark contrast to yesterday's horizontal snow). I could have ridden with the tri club this morning but fancied some time to myself so headed off to the Mendips on the road bike. It was peaceful and bright and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I rode strong and consistently, climbed steadily and practiced cornering on the descents.

The only thorn in my side was, well, a thorn in my tyre. I'm not sure what it was, actually, but I got a puncture in the same place as Thursday and found a slash in the tyre. I am guessing they weren't the highest quality tyres in the world. I managed to break my pump in the process of fixing it and had to wobble back to Mud Dock with 15psi in my rear tyre. Matt Carr then gave me one of his own tyres and I changed it there in the shop, destroying the last of my beautifully manicured nails!

Now I'm in bed and will spend the afternoon getting on with some reading before popping out for a glass of sherry with some friends later!

Picture: Bright blue sky and a long road descent down the side of the Mendips.

Endurance challenge

Yesterday I pulled on 6 layers and went out for a 4 hour ride in torrential rain and gail force winds. It was grim - struggling to stay verticle let alone move at any sensible pace. I struggled on and gradually felt my body freezing as the water penetrated through each layer and got closer to my skin. Just when I thought I the weather was turning and I would be fine - given the soon approaching long hill that I knew would warm me up - I got a flat.

I have never fixed a road puncture before - not on the side of a road anyway - but had that tyre off and new tube in within seconds. Needs must... I was extraordinarily proud of myself (and laughed heartily (inside) at my male companion who struggled feebly before I took over).

4 hours seems like a long ride but my legs felt pleasingly strong. I got my nutrition and hydration spot on and coped with the weather with the resolve and commitment required of a 24 hour racer. No point wishing the time away - just get on with it.

Today the weather is worse but I only have a recover ride to worry about plus a few car trips (which stress me out far more).

Bring on the summer.