This article was written for Annabel & Grace, which is now part of Rest Less.
The last time I wrote about cycling, I called my blog post Pedalling For Dear Life. I now realise there was a very good practical reason why that title sprang to mind. But more of that later…
When Sally and I first decided to go riding, it was because she – at a very early age I might add – had to have a hip replaced. She persuaded me that it would be good exercise not only for her, post op, but for both our health. I freely admit I thought this cycling malarkey would last approximately three weeks but here we are, almost a year later, still giving our pedals a thrashing.
As we have the Downs Link on our doorstep (an ex-railway line track that runs from Guildford to the coast on which there is no traffic allowed – just horses, walkers and bikers) we have used it extensively. But, going up and back down the same route does get a little dull; even on a grey, drizzly day we get back home muddy but happy to have done some exercise. Unless we only have the energy to go two miles to the nearest coffee shop that is. Or have a flat tyre. On sunny days there is no better free entertainment (OK, well perhaps sex – if you are still lucky enough to get some) and that’s when we go to the coast and eat fish and chips as we admire the sparkling sea.
However, now that Husband has found a bike rack covered in dust in our attic, Sally and I are about to discover a new found freedom. After a lesson in how to strap the rack onto my little car, we are now able to travel further afield and try new circular routes which are more interesting than going from A to B to A.
Back to ‘pedalling for dear life’. When we are out and about, Sally often races ahead, sometimes quite a way into the distance as I huff and puff at a more sedate pace. I look at her feet whirring round and notice that mine are working just as hard – so why is she going so much faster? As I try to keep up, I imagine her wondering how she can dump Mrs Slow behind her and find a new friend to cycle with. Now the next bit is going to make me sound stupid. Very stupid. But I had a brainwave. When I finally caught up with her (she was sitting nonchalantly on a bench filing her nails while she waited for me), I leapt off my bike and compared my wheels with hers. Mine were smaller – no wonder I was pedalling for Britain and getting nowhere fast. I had tried everything else – raising and lowering my saddle, tweaking the height of my handlebars, fiddling with my gears – but it transpired that the reason I lag behind is because my wheels are too small. In fact the whole bike is too small.
This made me realise how important it is to be fitted properly for a bike when you buy one. I chose mine simply because I liked the white leather saddle and the purple frame! I have now visited several bike shops (including disappointingly unhelpful visits to Halfords and Evans) and I found that specialist bike shops are best. The staff really know their stuff and take time to offer you expert advice on what type (hybrid, mountain or road) and size of bike will be best for you. There are measurements you can take (arm span deducted by inside leg measurement and multiplied by your bra size – only joking) but the specialists instinctively know what frame you need. Surprisingly, even though I am only 5′ 7″, I need a large frame as have long arms and legs. Accordingly, a unisex bike was not an option – I needed one specifically designed for a female. You live. You learn. Upshot is I now have a new bike that is perfect for my needs and my size.
Now, my only worry is will I now be able to keep up with Sally? What if it isn’t just the wheel size?! I’ll let you know how I get on…