30in30 - Done

So today was the last ride and it was off-road to my folks via the trails at Prestwich, I even rode the berms twice. Managed to get a little confused in Heaton Park and come out the wrong side, but it was so busy in the park I just rode round on the road instead of heading back in to find the right exit.

Roast dinner at my folks followed by present opening and birthday cake. My Dad added mine and Ali's ages together for the birthday cake, at least i'm hoping he doesn't think I'm 61!


So the 30in30 is finished which I'm glad about. Very happy I manage to complete, it was a hard challenge. It sounds easy, 30hours in 30days but its not that simple. Riding 30hours is fine. But riding for an hour on a saturday after a hard week of commuting on tired legs is not. Those were the rides I struggled with, there was no real reason to ride so I was literally just doing the hour. But hopefully that'll give me some mental strength. Legs do need a rest day, but it won't be tomorrow as I'm working. I may try it again at some point in the future and it was definetly a good way to kick start the year. January has been an amazing month for riding.

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29/30

Another day and another plan just to get hour, only off-road this time. After a morning working, an afternoon helping Ali with some DIY I went to change in bike kit. I was suprised when Ali followed me to get changed. So we headed out through Jumbles. She insisted we did the hour and just the hour. It was a fantastic evening and the ground was mainly frozen but with very little ice, perfect.

Just one day to go.

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27/30 & 28/30

Yesterday I was working in Warrington so getting the hour done was easy. Both legs of the commute were over an hour, the way home being nearly two due to tired legs. Ali then cooked my birthday meal and we shared some bubbles.

Today I was working 4.5miles away from my house, no way was that going to take an hour. I did think about leaving early and doing my hour, but things like that never happen. So leaving the school I made the choice to turn right, left being the direction to my house. Home via Whitefield and Bury got me my how. But even with the sun shinning it felt like I was forcing myself to ride for no reason. I suppose the roads of greater manchester between 4pm and 5pm are never going to be the most fun you can have on a bike.

Just two days left, seems doable.

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26/30

It was my birthday today and Ali had got me 32 presents. Which meant lots of fun unwrapping. My goodies included a pink bike horn so watch out people. I think it is going on kiwi. There was also lots of chocolate bits, the chocolate muffins have been eaten already!

After work I had a hospital appointment, unfortunately I had a headwind the whole way there. This meant that although I should have had lots of time I was getting worried I would be late, it was fine though. Appointment went well and I'm having my tonsils out so hopefully that should stop me getting ill as much.

Home and there was time for pizza and for me to sort out the rear wheel puncture I had discovered on Rigger before heading up the road to meet the girls for a nightride. There was just four of us but it was a fantastic night for riding. Up to Pigeon Tower and down the ice-cream run, which I cleared for the first time in ages. This gave me confidence and I flew down off the back of the Pike and then Winter Hill. Halfway down my light was being odd, flashing for some reason. I stopped turned it on and off and it was fine, no idea what that was all about. Back to the pub for a quick drink and crisps before rolling home.

I'm a little tired now after two late, for me, nights.

25/30

Nightriding with Chris last night. From the shop we headed over to the berms at Prestwich before winding our way towards Bolton. I really wasn't feeling like riding, in fact I felt like going home, curling up in a ball and crying. I wasn't even chatting. Somewhere on the way up Winter Hill I started to enjoy it more and the Belmont descent made us smile. Then Chris took me to the pub for a birthday pint, or three ;-)

33miles in total.

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24/30 - Errands

After Sunday I just wanted an easy spin for my legs. Ali needed cakes brought to work so I went to buy them and brought them in, then I headed into town to get some keys cut. Followed by riding the long way home to get my hour. Easy miles and probably good for my legs.

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22/30 - Nothing exciting

Working in the morning, there were loads of little ones learning to ride so it was quite good fun. Especially the smiles when they got it, only one cried and asked for his stabilisers back on, dad was sensible and said no though.

After that I rode down to Cookson Cycles to put mudguards on Ruby ready for an audax tomorrow. The boys seemed to like playing with my cones. The mudguards were a little fiddly and in the end we left off the chainset protector bit, getting it not to rub being an issue. Still they're a lot better than no mudguards, especially if someone ends up behind me on a wet road.

While there Chris got pizza, I helped him eat it of course.

Home and my garmin decided to crash, still not got it working. But everything else, I think, is ready for the morning. My planned early night hasn't happened, but there's not much work on next week so I can recover then.

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21/30 - A long commute

Once again I was off to Halton for a friday of working. The morning was the same route as the week before, although I felt a bit stronger than last week. The sky was full of lovely pink hues but my camera batteries decided to die.

A day of teaching cycling and then I headed home. I had plotted a slightly longer route with less dual carriageways and it was worth the extra miles for the country lanes.The sky was once again amazing.

57miles in total.

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20/30 - Freezing Fog

Left a little late for work and it wasn't long till I realised that it was the wrong day due to freezing fog, there was very little visability and I was very glad of my exposure rear light as it did seem to ensure that traffic could see me. Traffic was pretty horrible which also slowed me down but I must have been lucky as I didn't notice any ice.

Once at the school it was clear that there was no chance of taking any children out that morning, it was icy and foggy. So indoor sessions and at lunch we re-assessed, it'd improved slightly but was freezing. We took small groups out for half an hour at a time and I was glad of my down jacket, not the usual biking wear.

Once I got home I headed out for this weeks run, only 30minutes but done.

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19/30 - Just the commute

Today's hour was just my commute on the way home, the way in took me just under an hour but its hillier on the way home! The morning was once again frosty and misty but on the way home it was sunny and bright. In fact its the second commute this year I've not needed lights. The only bit of excitement was a car driving the wrong way up a bus lane directly at me. I had thought it must be parked and so was looking to move out when I realised it was moving, as did the car alongside me in the other lane. We both stopped and the car driving the wrong way carried on between us. Crazy!

18/30 - how was he not tired

Chris raced Strathpuffer at the weekend with Shaun in a pair (they won the event in convincing style!) So I was hopeful that I would be able to keep up or maybe even make Chris work a bit. But no, he is obviously super human and was flying up the hills, while my legs were heavy and slow.

We stopped for a pint at the Duck and my legs really struggled to get going on the way home.

Just over three hours riding time and 30miles.

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17/30

Commuting today, i've got full-time for work the next few weeks, which is great but also means that I'll be getting in the road miles. Todays school took me an hour to get there and just over an hour to get home, perfect.

Tomorrow will be more commuting.

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16/30 - Wet and Muddy

Legs were sore when I woke up this morning near my knees so I decided to be sensible and drive to my planned ride instead of riding over. I was meeting Ros and Marie at Rivington for 9am so it gave me time to sit pressing refresh on the strathuffer results. (Well done to Chris and Shaun from Cooksons for winning the pairs) Meeting up it was cold, wet and windy so we decided to head over to the nab. Over via Lead Mines Clough before riding the muddy and draggy trails.

I has to be said that compared to what the nab used to be like in the winter it is very rideable. Halfway round there is a rocky bit that always has me stopping, I was determined to ride it and after watching me Ros flew down it.

Back over to rivington and we all headed home. 10miles, a new riding pal and an old riding pal back on her bike after having babies. Fab day.

15/30 - Do I have to?

Serious lack of motivation today. I knew I should go out and do my hour but I kept putting off. Eventually Ali told me to get out and head to the shops for some wine so we could have an early birthday meal. She even agreed to come with me. So 6miles there, 6miles back plus a little loop to get to the hour.

Now time for bubbles and food.

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14/30 - Uber commute

This morning I set off at 6:30am to commute to Halton. I haven't had any work for ages so even though it was so far away I wasn't going to say no. As it turns out I was really lucky and it was relatively warm and I only had one very brief shower on the way over, the way home was clear. The route was fine although mainly following main roads, although I tweaked it a little on the way home. On fact the only issue was Halton is hilly and by hilly I mean short sharp stabby climbs I can barely get the fixie up. In fact on the way back I had to stop on one climb, a couple of walkers told me that they'd never seen another cyclist get so far - it would have been fine with gears, hard but fine.

Just over 2 hours and just over 27 miles.

Of course I then had to get home so that was another 27miles!

12/30

Lots of riding today. Got my hour going to meet mum for lunch. Then nipped to the shop before heading into Bolton for some errands. While there i sorted my garmiin problem, broken strap. Useful since i'll need it for navigation on friday.

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10/10

Jenn came over for a short cyclocross ride today, 1hr30mins. Out towards Entwistle and back. It was mainly muddy but once in a while there was some ice hidden in a puddle to keep you on your toes. I did my usual talking constantly unless it was going uphill when Jenn danced off.

I realised how long it had been since I had ridden my cross bike, in fact I was wondering if I could justify keeping it. But then the ride reminded me that cross bikes are in fact fun and you don't have to race them.

Back and lunch before heading over to go for a walk with Ros and the boys and eat cake.

8/30

An early one today which is always a challenge for me but I'd offered to lend Kate a light for puffer and since Jumbly is running with her today I headed over to drop the light off with her before she left for the peaks, where they are doing something silly like running up hills in the wind and the rain. It was very windy on my way over and a bit drizzly but I was enjoying being out there. Back home again just as it was getting light with 1hour35mins on my garmin. Then to add to the smug feeling I did a core workout, always on my mind to do but something I never get round to, and then stretched. Brilliant start to the day!

7/30 - snow and slush

Chris got up early this morning and fancied a ride, so since I was heading over to see Ros in the afternoon he came and collected me and we headed up Winter Hill via lots of my local trails.

On the whole it was really rideable but once in a while there was some ice hidden under the snow. At the top of the Belmont descent we met a walker who warned of us ice so I really minced my way down.

At Belmont we split with Chris heading over Darwen Moor to get an uber long ride in and me heading back up Belmont Road to Rivington.

Onto Belmont Old Road which was an interesting mixture of snow, ice and slush.

An afternoon walk with Ros and her boys and after a couple of hot chocolates I headed home, falling on the ice just metres from her house. Now the riding was mainly slush and it was raining.

Great day and another 3hours on the bike.

6/30

Easy ride, to Cookson Cycles and home. Tick done.

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