Taking my workout indoors
The snow's been a real show-stopper and this weekend was the first time I've been prevented from making it out for a ride this year. I was really disappointed but there was just too much slush for my skinny road tyres to cope with. I did see other cyclists out and about but they were on mountain bikes with thick, bumpy tyres – so obviously up for a bit of adventure!
It has made me think about my training programme and what I should be doing when the weather's bad. Nothing compares to being out on my bike but I’ve been trying to go to the gym three times a week (although sometimes I'm just too busy and two is all I manage), where I alternate between strengthening workouts (squats, split squats etc, plus core and upper-body strengthening), spinning classes and sessions on a Wattbike (the static bike the British Cycling team use in their training. If it's good enough for them…!). The workouts are easiest for me – I change the order of the moves, so that each routine is slightly different (I often put the plank at the beginning, though, to get it out the way!). I’ve only done a few spinning classes, as I find the speed of the classes so different to the pace I normally train at. I’m not a racer– for me, the ride to Paris is about endurance, plus I want to make sure I make the most of the scenery along the way. Head down, gasping for breath is not for me! The Wattbike is closest I come to being on my own bike, but I find it boring. I keep myself distracted by listening to music – something I can’t do when I normally cycle. I try to pedal along to the beat of the music (no matter how fast!) and with the iPod on shuffle, I never know what I’m going to get! I occasionally find myself singing or humming along though – I hope my fellow gym-goers don’t mind…
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
