The London to Cambridge bike ride

This Sunday it’s the London to Cambridge ride – so am I ready for it?

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London to Cambridge: 60 miles and around six hours of cycling. That’s quite a challenge and I have to admit I’m nervous. I keep thinking about backing out, but I’ve told so many people I’m doing it (raising £270 for Breakthrough Breast Cancer in the process) and I’ve got a friend coming over from Switzerland to ride with me, so there’s no chance.

London to Cambridge: 60 miles and around six hours of cycling – that’s quite a challenge

I guess the lesson to learn there is that if you really want to force yourself to do something properly challenging, make sure you tell lots of people and ideally get a friend to do it with you. On the other hand, if you want to be able to quietly give up, tell no one! I’m not really the giving up type, though. Once I set myself a challenge I tend to do it.

Be prepared
I do feel like I’ve trained a decent amount. I cycle to work four days out of five. That’s 10 miles per day, 40 per week, and while that’s not a huge distance I have been pushing myself to do it faster so as to build up my fitness levels.

I’ve written previously about cycling around London. Well on those rides I’ve been gradually building up distance: a 12-mile round trip to Victoria Park, an 18-mile one to Kenwood House. Then 22 miles to Greenwich and back, until finally, the biggie – a 45-mile round trip right across London from Walthamstow to Richmond.

This last ride was fantastic. Just under 24 miles on the way there, via the Lea River tow path and Victoria Park. Then past the Gherkin, the Shard, the Cheesegrater and the Houses of Parliament. Although Google Maps tried to take me through Horse Guards Parade which was blocked off for an event and meant I had to do some emergency route recalculating. 

We start off at Pickett's Lock, luckily not too far from home.

Google Maps isn’t perfect and there was one part of the route that I just couldn’t work out. I cycled round and round looking for the roads mentioned but couldn’t find them. In the end I just headed in the direction I thought looked right and it turned out OK.

The ride back was even better. Shorter at just under 22 miles, it took me along the south of the river to Hammersmith Bridge. Then a lovely route through Kensington Gardens, Green Park, along The Mall and then Victoria Embankment.

I stopped for lunch in a pub in Richmond, so it really was an enjoyable day out. And so should Sunday be – the organisers make it clear that the event isn’t a race. It’s meant to be fun, and I’m sure it will be. My family (I’m from Cambridge) will be waiting for me at the finish line, and we’ll be going for a meal – something to look forward to on the long ride!

The finish line at Midsummer Common, Cambridge.
Photos from commons.wikimedia.org.

Review: Abus Liix Design Sumo lock

I like this lock which combines cute good looks with some sturdy protection

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The Abus Liix Design Sumo lock.

Bike locks aren’t the most exciting of purchases. A lock’s job is to keep your bike secure, and so long as it does that then anything else is unimportant. Unless, of course, you’re like me. I want a lock that looks good in addition to performing well.

The Liix Design lock from Abus is wrapped in material with a red and white polka dot pattern. The print makes it look ultra cute. But that cuteness disguises a really heavy-duty chain-link lock, while the locking mechanism itself is encased in thick plastic. I haven’t had any qualms about leaving my bike while it’s protected by the Sumo.

The lock wraps nicely around my handlebar post.
Photo by Idoru Knits.

The polka-dot material is pretty thick, so nicely protects my paintwork from getting chipped by the metal chain. It’s also waterproof so should help keep the lock rust free – an important feature in rainy ol’ Britain. When not in use it wraps neatly around the handlebar post, keeping it well out of my way when I’m cycling.

I’ve got the 85cm version, and this is the longest available. It’s just long enough to fit through the front wheel, frame and round a handy post. I would have preferred something a bit longer, maybe 100cm. But then it wouldn’t fit so snugly around my handlebar post, so swings and roundabouts really.

The print makes it look ultra cute, but that cuteness disguises a really heavy-duty chain-link lock

I’ve also found that the key can quite easily fall out of the lock, which means I’m quite likely to lose it. My other lock securely held onto the key until the locking mechanism was fully engaged, which felt a lot safer.

This lock is available from Amazon for £32.99, plus p&p. I bought the product myself.

Pros
• Heavy-duty metal chain
• Protective covering
• Looks good

Cons
• Could be longer
• Key falls out

The 30-day abs challenge

The bike means I get plenty of CV exercise, but it’s time to do some toning training, too

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The challenge in full. I'm not looking forward
to day 30.

With all the cycling I do at the moment – an hour commuting at least four days a week plus longer rides at the weekend – getting enough cardio/fat-burning exercise really isn’t a problem. What I am missing out on is toning and load-bearing training.

So when a friend signed up to the 30-day abs challenge on Facebook, I thought I’d give it a go too. It’s a simple enough idea: take four ab exercises (sit ups, crunches, leg lifts and planks) and slowly build up the number you do over a period of 30 days, with every fourth day being a rest.

At the time of writing (16 June), I’m 16 days in, just over halfway. And it’s certainly getting challenging. Today is actually a rest day, but yesterday (15 June) comprised 75 sit-ups, 95 crunches, 42 leg lifts and a 60-second plank. That was hard. Tomorrow will be even harder.

I don’t know if I’ll be able to complete the challenge. Day 30 requires 125 sit-ups, 200 crunches, 65 leg lifts and a 120-second plank. That sounds like an awful lot to me, although I will be building up to it daily, of course. I also figure that I can do it in two sets if need be – half in the morning and half when I get home from work. Although I think this isn’t really in the spirit of the challenge, the site doesn’t actually prohibit it, and I’m of the opinion it’s better to do it that way than not do it all.

Yesterday comprised 75 sit-ups, 95 crunches, 42 leg lifts and 60-second plank; that was hard

The site, 30 Day Fitness Challenges, has plenty of other challenges, too, lots of which are toning/strengthening training. So after I’ve done the abs challenge, I’m going to try some of the others. It might be a good idea to alternate between arm and core challenges.

Review: Selle Italia Women's Diva Gel Flow saddle

A new bike means a new saddle. Find out how I got on with this model from an Italian company specialising in bike saddles

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I’ve learned that a new bike requires the purchase of a new saddle pretty darn quickly. I suspect this is especially true for cheaper models, as one of the ways manufacturers can save money is on the seat.

Much as I love my new bike, the seat was causing some serious chafing in areas you really don’t want chafed. I could have changed it for the saddle that’s currently on my hybrid, which is perfectly comfortable, but I wanted something a bit special. Also I intend to carry on using the hybrid and don’t really want to have to swap over each time.

The Selle Italia Women's Diva Gel Flow saddle.

As this is the bike I’ll be doing the London to Cambridge on, I was prepared to spend a bit more to ensure comfort. I also did a lot more research this time. In fact my last saddle was a case of ‘I need a new seat; that one looks nice.’ It also only cost about £20.

Turning to some trusted cycling sites, notably Wiggle and Total Women’s Cycling, it soon transpired that most women agree that the Selle Italia Women’s Diver Gel Flow saddle is about the best there is. This retails at £79.99, but it’s currently available on Wiggle for £55.99.

It’s available in both black and white, but I particularly liked the white version. The silver and pink highlights nicely match my grey and pink bike, and this is a neat, nice-looking saddle that doesn’t look out of place on a sleek road bike.

During my research, two pieces of advice stood out to me. First was that your saddle should go unnoticed; second was if you’re saying that your saddle is ‘exactly what I want, except for this one thing …’ then it isn’t exactly what you want.

I forgot about the seat completely and just enjoyed myself – which is entirely the point

After fitting the new seat I took the bike out for a short ride to test it out. It was only when I stopped at a junction and actually thought about the reason for the ride that that first bit of advice came back to me. The only thing I noticed about the new saddle was that I hadn’t noticed it. By the end of the ride the front of the saddle was pressing into my pubic bone, which was quite uncomfortable, but there was no chafing.

The silicone gel inserts are nicely positioned for the sit bones, providing excellent cushioning. I also found that I was seated very securely, with no sliding forwards or backwards. The large cutout adds to the comfort.

I had deliberately put the saddle in the zero position to begin with, knowing that I might have to tilt it forward slightly. So when I got home I adjusted the saddle accordingly.

Of course a short ride was fine as a test, but I needed to get the bike out for longer to be really sure. A 13 miler this weekend was perfect. And the saddle performed exceptionally well. No chafing, no rubbing and no pressing into bones. On the way out I was deliberately concentrating on how things felt down there and there really was nothing to report. Coming home I forgot about the seat completely and just enjoyed myself. Which is entirely the point.

The silver and pink styling nicely matches my
grey and pink bike. All photos Idoru Knits.

London by bike

A bike, Google Maps and an iPhone are all you need to explore our great capital city

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One of the great things that my bikes have done for me is really open up London. Anywhere within a 20-mile radius of my house is in striking distance, without having to find a route by public transport.

Kenwood House in Hampstead.
Photo by IdoruKnits.

And it’s so easy. All I do is think of somewhere I might like to visit and look it up on Google Maps. Using the bike directions service, I programme the route into my phone, which then attaches to my handlebars, and just follow the blue line. It isn’t perfect, sometimes the route updates rather slowly and I end up missing a turning, and when it’s sunny it’s impossible to see the screen until I cycle through a shaded bit. But it mostly works and it’s mostly great.

What’s really nice about cycling is that the journey becomes part of your day out

So far my adventures have taken me to Victoria Park, an exhibition of bugs made from rubbish at Pitfield Gallery, Kenwood House and Highgate. I’ve also got plans to visit Mudchute City Farm, Greenwich Park, Rye Meads RSPB reserve and Richmond. Tate Modern is within easy reach, which I’ll probably combine with a walk to Borough Market. I always choose places with nice cafes or pubs, where I can have a sit down and a spot of lunch.

I’ve got a couple of favourite shorter rides too. One to Stoke Newington via Walthamstow Marshes and one to the Butler’s Retreat on the edge of Epping Forest. This weekend I'm planning a trip to Battersea Park via Victoria Park, along the Lea River and Hertford Union Canal.

Abney Park Cemetery in Stoke Newington.
Photo by IdoruKnits.

What’s really nice about cycling is that the journey becomes part of your day out. My ride to Kenwood House took me past a stunning art deco cinema that I would never have seen had I not been on the bike. The ride to Victoria Park takes me along the River Lea and through Walthamstow and Hackney Marshes – it’s almost like being in the countryside.

I’ve started taking photos while I’m out and about, sharing them on Instagram and Twitter (I'm idoruknits on the former and @IdoruKnits on the latter if you want to find me). I hashtag them #londonbybike and I’m hoping to get others doing the same - wouldn’t it be great to share all our photos of our bike trips in the city? So next time you’re cycling somewhere, take some shots and Tweeting! Remember the hashtag, though, so that I can search for your photos.

Beautiful Rhododendron in the gardens
of Kenwood House. Photo by IdoruKnits.

A new bike and some delivery woes

It was only a matter of time till I bought a road bike, but I didn’t expect actually getting hold of it would be quite so traumatic …

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I love my hybrid – Millicent has been there for me through all weathers and on all terrains, on short rides and long(ish). But I’ve been hankering for a road bike for a while, ever since I got back on a bike really, so it was only a matter of time till I gave in to that desire.

I’ve been sporadically checking out the ladies’ road bikes on Wiggle, searching for one I like the look of. I didn’t want to spend too much – certainly not as much as £1,000 – which cut down my options quite considerably. There was a 2013 model Bianchi bike (the Women's C2C Nirone 7 Dama Sora), but that was £800, and I decided that my limit was £700. The bike was beautiful, but I wasn’t about to break my budget.

This was back in January and I’d been looking for something as lovely ever since. In March I came across the Felt Women’s ZW100 2014. Metallic grey with hot pink highlights, this had to be the bike for me. Even better it only cost £599 – a whole £100 under my upper spend limit. What’s more, my brother (The Cyclist) receives a 12% discount from Wiggle, so ordering it through his account saved me just under £72!

Metallic grey with hot pink highlights, the Felt Women’s ZW100 2014 had to be the bike for me

Unfortunately I then had to wait till the end of April for the bike to be delivered. I don’t know why it took so long. The other frame size was just a couple of weeks, so I’m guessing that the size I needed had completely sold out and Wiggle was waiting for more to be manufactured.

So I waited for the rest of March and throughout April, until I received an exciting text from Wiggle saying the bike would be delivered on 18 April. This confused me somewhat as that was Good Friday, a bank holiday. But I figured that courier companies don’t necessarily stop work because it’s Easter, and even if the office staff weren’t in the drivers might still be out and about.

And that's when everything started to go wrong. It's quite a long tale, and I'm going to recount it exactly as it happened so you can draw your own conclusions. If you're in a hurry, though, you might want to skip to the end.

You had one job
Good Friday had been designated gardening day, so we plugged the doorbell ringer in the kitchen so we’d hear it and went about our business. By 6pm nothing had arrived and I sadly had to accept that I wasn’t going to get my bike in time to ride it over the Easter break. I emailed the courier company, UK Mail, hoping there might be someone in on the Saturday to answer it. No such luck.

My brother then received an email from Wiggle saying the bike would be delivered on Tuesday 22 April. Great – except that there wouldn’t be anyone at home that day. In fact there wouldn’t be anyone at home till the following Friday. But of course I could just go online and change the delivery date using the consignment number that Wiggle had provided. Except I couldn’t. UK Mail still had the delivery date as the 18th and wouldn’t let me change it to the 25th.

I emailed them again, asking for the delivery date to be changed. No response. The delivery driver phoned on the 22nd saying he couldn’t deliver the bike. He put a card through the door and went away. Which meant I could now use the card number to rearrange delivery for Friday. That evening I happily went online, entered the card number into UK Mail’s automated system and … it still had the delivery date as 18th, and I still couldn’t change it.

By this time I was pretty pissed off, and I contacted Wiggle asking if they could sort something out. I also tweeted a couple of quite angry comments to UK Mail’s Twitter account. The following morning I got up early to phone UK Mail as soon as they opened. I spoke to a lady there who, after a couple of attempts – her system crashed every time she tried to do something; not exactly confidence inspiring – said delivery had been rearranged for Friday. I went off to work happy that everything was sorted. I even considered contacting Wiggle again to tell them it was all OK.

Mid-morning, however, I got call from a chap at Wiggle, who was very apologetic. He'd phoned UK Mail and it turned out that the bike was down for delivery that day – Wednesday, not Friday after all. He'd managed to get it changed to the 25th. Come Friday I wasn't convinced the bike would turn up so I asked The Chap for photographic evidence when (if) it did. And at 12.52 the image below arrived.

What could be in the box? A bike, obvs.

Friday evening was dedicated to giant box opening and attaching pedals and handlebars to Florence. The rest of weekend was dedicated to stroking and testing out Florence. I never did receive a reply to my emails from UK Mail.

Ladies and gentlemen, meet Florence. 

Review: Shimano Women’s WM34 Touring Cycle Shoes

I test out my first-ever cycling-specific footwear; are they worth the cost?

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Why buy cycling-specific shoes? Well, for those of us terrified at the very idea of clipless pedals – attach your feet to the pedals? What if you lose your balance and don’t unclip in time? – it’s really about power and protection.

The shoes have much stiffer soles than normal footwear, and this transfers more of your pedalling effort directly to the pedals. The more rigid soles and tougher uppers also provide more protection for your feet, which is especially important for anyone cycling on the road a lot. I hadn’t really considered the need for special footwear until I decided to do the London to Cambridge. After some 60 miles of cycling I might appreciate having the right shoes.

I noticed the extra power immediately. For me this translated to higher gears, giving me lots of extra speed. My commute is now under half an hour, and that’s got to be a good thing – a shorter commute means longer in bed! I’m sure I must be burning calories, as well as miles, more quickly, too.

I noticed the extra power immediately – and I’m sure I’m burning calories, as well as miles, more quickly

I love the look of these shoes. Dark grey with pink highlights, they look like trainers. I wanted shoes that I could wear off my bike as well as on, and this pair definitely fulfil that criterion. The hard soles do make walking a bit difficult; you wouldn’t want to go very far in these, but for transitioning between the bike racks and the office, or even popping out to the shops during lunch time, they’re fine. As you’d expect, they’re perfectly comfortable to cycle in.

It did take me a while to get used to wearing these. Those thick, hard soles meant I wasn’t getting the same ‘feedback’ from the pedals as when wearing my usual light walking shoes. I felt I had less control, like my feet were more likely to slip off. This didn’t happen and I feel fine with them now.

The list price is £64.99, but I qualify for a discount with Wiggle and got the shoes for £57.19. Compared to some other pairs out there, this is cheap, but it’s still a tad more than I was planning on paying. However, I do think the shoes have improved my cycling and I’m pleased with my purchase.

Price: £64.99
Available from: Wiggle
Disclaimer: this product was bought and paid for by me