A picturesque village on my training ride
Today was a bit of an adventure! I’ve had a long weekend so decided to take the opportunity to go on a long ride, hoping to cycle further than I’ve done before. I planned a route last night using the bike hub app on my phone – a 19mile route out into the Chilterns to Tring. So with the return journey that would make almost 40miles, 10 more than I’ve managed in the past.
It didn’t go quite as planned though I’m afraid to say. Despite all my best intentions I could only do 32miles. But it wasn’t my fault. I certainly think I’ve got good excuses anyway. Unfortunately most of the route was completely new terrain to me. I tried to memorise the route as far ahead as I could but found that I needed to stop regularly at junctions to check the right way to go. It was a good route though. Cycling through small villages and country lanes. I even managed to find a large hill! So large it came with a warning – 13% decline, followed by a 14% incline! I have to admit that I completely freaked out at the top and had to get off and walk. I did try to be brave and go with it but guess I’m still not used to hurtling down hill on a road bike. At the bottom, and looking up the slope ahead of me, I knew this was my moment to face a hill. So I got on my bike and started pedalling. Before I knew it I was at the top and it wasn’t nearly as bad as I’d thought. Admittedly, it might have been steep, but it was thankfully quite short.
At one point, I wasn’t sure where I was meant to be going. There were no clear road signs and I’d lost signal on my phone, which I normally use for my map and route. So, I stopped a cab driver to ask directions. He asked me where I’d cycled from and when I told him Watford (at this point 15 miles away) his jaw dropped! “Good on you Girl!” he told me. I must admit that made me smile!
I did feel a huge sense of achievement when I finally reached my destination. (I passed three signs saying Tring – 4 miles. I don’t know what I did wrong but at that point I didn’t think I was ever going to get there!) My gps told me that I’d done more than 20 miles so I must have taken a wrong turning somewhere.
All I had to do now was to get back home. It had taken me longer than I’d expected to get there (I guess because I had to keep stopping for directions) so I decided to take a different route back, following the train line. That way, if I got too tired I could just hop on the train with my bike. This route followed the Grand Union Canal, which was nice and flat, but also nice and muddy. It was quite difficult to control my bike and when I reached Hemel Hempstead, I made the decision to get the train. I was fighting a losing battle against the daylight and the battery on my phone was getting very low meaning that I was about to lose my map, and I still wasn’t close enough to home to know my way back. So, reluctantly, I took the train the rest of the way home.
Despite still cycling for further than I have ever done, and on my own without the camaraderie of a group to spur me on, I’m still a bit disappointed. But next time I’ll make sure I am better prepared. I’ll leave a bit more time so the light doesn’t fade as fast, and I’m going to invest in some paper maps so I’m not so reliant on technology! That way I’m sure next time I’ll be able to go even further.
For more information on the Women's Only London to Paris Ride, call 0870 333 1662, visit Action Medical Research or contact londontoparis@action.org.uk
Erica is riding a 2011 Ridgeback Radium road bike (RRP £799.99) For more information, visit www.ridgeback.co.uk or join the facebook page, facebook.com/ridgebackbikes
