If you’ve not heard of it before, 30 Days of Biking is a personal challenge with a charitable edge. People pledge to ride their bike every day in April, and for every two that do, 1USD is donated to World Bicycle Relief. This year we have six riders attempting the challenge.
Day 23
Saturday! Leap out of bed and embrace the day! Or turn off that alarm you forgot to disable last night, pull the covers back over you, and wait for the hangover to pass. Which version most closely matches your Saturday? And what were our riders up to?
Adele
I did an hour’s ‘relaxed’ ride round the lanes this morning – but to save you from yet another picture of a road bike and bluebells I’m mixing things up a little bit with a photo from Saturday night (it was cycling themed and for charity, so hopefully we can bend the rules here). So, this is a shot from the Team Rwanda Cycling film night and auction at Giro Cycles Cafe, where just under £10,000 was raised for this incredible organisation.
Giles
Today’s hills outed my sore knees, getting old sucks, but I was cheered by blue skies, newborn lambs and plenty of gravel. I rode easy gears and gorged on the views, sometimes it’s not about the speed it’s about remembering look up and enjoy things.
Greg
A last minute aborted trip to the Lake district in favour of the pub and some beer had a slow start to Saturday. With plans to be away for my wifes birthday next weekend while up riding the Cairngorms Loop, we decided to have it a week earlier. So I spent some time being a good husband running around the moors, before getting back, and fettling the Divide bike with a quick spin before tomorrows longer ride.
Hannah
Road ride to the inlaws’ in attempt to offset anticipated dessert intake. Conveniently decided that riding round Pendle Hill in search of photo opportunity in Downham would be better than riding of the Nick O’Pendle. Downham was pretty, but the route there wasn’t much less hilly than going over the Nick, a classic hill climb route. 45km + 798m apparently = 725kJ. I fear I should also have ridden home in order to achieve dessert equilibrium.
Lara
Bikepacking for the very first time. And it will NOT be the last! On the final stretch up to Watership Down. Haven’t seen a single bunny.
Rachel
A couple of fresh and bright hours of spring loveliness in between the domestic chores and family duties of a weekend at home.
Day 24
Sunday, the day to wear your Sunday Best: knee pads, favourite shorts and shoes, new gloves…
Adele
On my mountain bike today…for most of the ride. Half way round I happened upon a promotional event for E-bikes and it seemed rude not to take one for a quick spin (thank you Electric Bikes Guildford). It was great fun and while I can see its appeal, its not a bike I currently want to own. One of the comments that I took away from the Team Rwanda film last night was (paraphrased here) ’to be a great cyclist you have to be okay with suffering’. While I’m not a great cyclist by any means, I do identify with this. Suffering (though not too much, hopefully!) is part of the ride experience and, riding with a battery, I would miss those moments of having to dig really, really deep in order to get to the top of the hill.
Giles
Having diagnosed my sore knees as a problem with a short seat post on the Brompton, I slapped on some topical pain relief and did a couple of thousand feet of up. I was once a flatlander and would do anything to avoid the hills but now a ride is disappointing without a good chunk of climbing, how things change!
Greg
Hannah
Explored some new (but rather cheeky) trails I had no idea were there, despite them being just past the end of my street. Our southern riders have been posting pictures of bluebells for weeks – ours are just out.
Lara
A fabulous “room” with a view last night. Yes it was chilly but absolutely brilliant to wake up somewhere so wild feeling this morning. LOVE Bikepacking!
Rachel
The boy has new disco slippers. He is convinced that the shininess will improve his aerodynamics and make him ride faster.
This is the end
It’s the last week. A few more commutes, a few more evening rides, and our gang will be free to lay down their bikes. But maybe they won’t want to?
