Progress report

When I got my bike in July I had three aims. How have I done with those so far?

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It’s more or less six months since I first started cycling to work. My stated goals at the time were to get fit; lose some weight; and save money. I thought now might be a good time to look at how I’m doing.

Get fit
The first time I cycled to work it took 45 minutes. It now takes half an hour. I used to get about halfway and think ‘Have I only got this far? I’ve been cycling forever.’ Now it’s more like ‘I’m here already? But I only just got on the bike.’ When I use the tube these days I practically run up the two flights of stairs at Walthamstow Central.

To put it more succinctly, my fitness levels have improved no end. There’s still work to do. I think I could shave at least another five minutes off my commute. I also want to build up my stamina and distance cycling. I’ve got a goal in mind, but that’s for another blog post.

Lose weight
Okay, I know I’m not hugely overweight, even if I feel like it sometimes. But I’d put on a bit since meeting J (a half Italian boyfriend who loves to cook is great in pretty much every way apart from for one's waistline). And that was making me unhappy.

Cycling is great exercise. It’s fat burning, it tones the lower body and provides a great workout for the core muscles. And as I do it instead of travelling by tube it doesn’t actually take up any of my time.

Over six months I’ve saved £480 – nice!

The first thing I noticed was my middle bit getting smaller. My hated love handles have all but disappeared and my stomach is definitely looking flatter. My legs, hips and bum are now starting to look more toned, too.

Save money
Well this one’s a no brainer. A 2-4 zone travel card costs about £100 a month. I’ve been spending about £20 a month on travel. So over six months I’ve saved £480. Nice!

All-weather cycling

Baby, it’s cold out there, but that doesn’t mean you should stop cycling

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When I took up cycling this year it was the height of summer – shorts and strappy tops and topping up the tan were the order of the day. But as the weather got colder the question everyone was asking me was: will you keep this up over the winter?

My top tip for keeping really warm is a pair of Pretty Polly 200-denier, fleece-lined tights under leggings

The truth was that I really didn’t know. It had been so long since I’d last been on a bike and I had no idea how I’d cope with the rain or the cold. Would I turn out to be a fair-weather cyclist?

Well so far, no, I haven’t. Whatever reasons I’ve had not for cycling to work, none of them have been weather related. The first time I got rained on I ended up laughing to myself – I was so drenched it was just funny. By the time I got home my leggings were so wet it looked like I’d been sitting in a bath tub.

Cold daze
It’s now December and while it’s been rather mild, there have been some cold days and even this hasn’t slowed me down. A couple of trips to Decathlon furnished me with fleecy long-sleeved tops and extra thick leggings, while a birthday present from my mum provided me with a windproof, waterproof jacket. An early Christmas present from J was a fab pair of gloves. And my top tip for keeping really warm is a pair of Pretty Polly 200-denier, fleece-lined tights under leggings.

With all this gear I’ve found that I soon warm up on the bike. In fact, I often end up a bit too warm.

I do think I’ll avoid cycling in the snow. I’ve an all-terrain bike, so theoretically the tyres are sturdy enough to keep going through snow and ice, but I just don’t like the idea of it. Safety first is my motto on the bike and I don’t feel like I’d be safe in snow and ice.

That silver bit on the thumb is light reflective,
so people can see me when I indicate.
Awesome. Photo by The Happy Commuter.

Are you sitting comfortably?

Why a new saddle was an essential first purchase

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After a couple of weeks of cycling 11 miles every day for five days a week, it quickly became clear that no, I really wasn’t sitting comfortably. In fact I was somewhat chafed, even with a gel cover on my saddle.

The original seat (left) and the gel cover (right).
Even combined these two couldn't compete with the Velo.
Photo by The Happy Commuter.

It wasn’t agony, exactly, but my backside wasn’t happy, and even trying to find a comfortable position on the sofa in the evenings was getting more challenging. It would seem that the saddles supplied with bikes really aren’t that great.

If I was going to be spending an hour every day on my bike, I needed a more comfortable seat. An internet search revealed a bewildering array of choice. Where to start? The first bit of advice I received was to go for a saddle with a centre cut-out. My brother – who rides a lot more than me – said he wouldn’t buy one without these days. Then it was to Amazon to read some reviews.

My arse stopped hurting almost immediately

The type of saddle you need depends on the kind of riding you do. But as I aim to do my shortish road commute as well as longer rides off the road, it was quite a challenge to find one right for me. In the end I went for an inclined plus women’s saddle from Velo. The reviews were nearly all very positive and it seemed the perfect compromise – good for both longer-distance and short rides.

I’ve been using it for a couple of months now and it really is a good seat. My arse stopped hurting almost immediately and and I’ve had no problems since. The saddle is much smaller than the one that came with the bike, which surprised me. I thought a bigger saddle would be more comfortable, but it seems not.

The centre cut-out relieves pressure on sensitive nerves, and it really seems to work. With the old saddle, my bum would be numb by the time I got to work, but isn’t the case with the Velo. It also provides excellent shock absorbency. I previously could feel every bump and dip in the road, but the Velo offers great protection.

I still need to test the saddle on longer rides, but so far I’d say it’s a comfortable bike seat that is a great upgrade from the saddle supplied with your bike. It also costs just £17.99, so it won’t break the bank either.

The Velo in action. So far the saddle has been
comfortable throughout my whole commute
to work. Photo by The Happy Commuter.

How it all began

Why I got back in the saddle, having not even sat on a bike for 20 years

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I’d been thinking of getting a bike for some time, but a few things were putting me off. First, the cost. I didn’t know how much I would have to spend, which was closely linked to the second problem: which bike? Cycle technology had moved on a long way since I was last on a bike more than 20 years ago.

Then there was when I would be able to get out on a bike. At the time I was within walking distance of work, so commuting was somewhat pointless, leaving only weekends, and I didn’t want to spend a lot of money to only use a bike once or twice a week. Finally, where to keep it? I was living in a small flat with no indoor space for a bike, not to mention the fact I was on the first floor and would have to get the thing up a narrow flight of stairs.

My bike, just before being cleaned.
Photo by The Happy Commuter.

All change
All of this changed in May of this year when my boyfriend asked me to move in with him. My new gaff is a very cyclable five miles away from the office, and it’s got plenty of shed and hallway space for storing bikes. Plus, as I couldn’t walk to work any more I’d have to pay for travel – getting a bike would actually save me money. So in July, as an early birthday present, my boyfriend bought me a bike.

I had three goals: to get fit, lose some weight and save money

I didn’t want anything too fancy – something that would get me to work but I could also take cross country at the weekends. Nothing expensive as for all I knew I’d use it once and then hide it away in the shed. With a little advice from the salesman at Halfords, I chose the Apollo Cosmo.

I’ve been cycling most days ever since, clocking up more than 50 miles a week. I had three goals: to get fit, lose some weight and save money. And hopefully enjoy myself. How have I have I been doing? You’ll find out in forthcoming posts!