Cycling - Fat Girl Fit

Me and my bike!

So I have had this week off work and decided to take advantage of the good weather and get some miles in on my bike.

This started on Monday when me and him indoors went to visit the grandparents and in my infinite wisdom (more like absolute stupidity) I decided we should ride up a local hill that I have heard about but never been up before – Old Church Hill. Now I hate hills so I am unsure why I decided I just had to see this beast for myself and not only see it but get up it on my bike but I did and so as we made the turn into the road I was gripping my handlebars with fear. Quite rightly too! It is a very narrow road which only fits one car and the surface is gravel, holes, bumps and all the sh*t that comes from the surrounding hedges in the rain. It is about 1 mile long and starts with a long drag and as the road bends it gets a little steeper and then it bends again and gets a little more steeper and we get to a bit that my husband tells me is the steepest part. I am now panting similar to a dog in labour and he is telling me to take deep breaths but I am aware that I am out of gears and although my legs are spinning I am convinced this is the place that I will die. The road bends again and he asks me if I am ready. Ready for what? If we have just hit the steepest part does this not mean we are about to hit the fun part? The descent? Oh no the road bends and there is more to climb. In a moment of panic I just say no, unclip and stop. What follows is a foul mouthed angry exchange of words between husband and wife (you know the ones) and he basically tells me to get back on my bike and carry on. Only problem is that the hill is too steep I cannot start and get clipped in to move so have to go down slightly to a driveway (in which were children playing who must have heard our pleasant loving words to one another) and start again. I reach the top and have equal measures of anger for my non-sympathetic husband who I want to push down the hill and myself for not at least attempting to try and finish the climb.

Now I am stubborn and so on the way back from seeing dear old Nan and Grandad I am psyching myself up to tackle this climb again and so we reach the road and pass it before I insist we go up it again so around we turn and it is take 2. Second time round I knew what to expect which is a small consolation, but this climb was hard. I can hold my own on a flat and a descent but any sort of incline turns me into a wheelchair ridden tortoise and this one I don’t even have a funny anecdote to give but if I recorded myself you would listen and wonder if it was an animal in pain – nope just me panting my way up. Deep breaths he says again, you are doing great he says (kind liar), and we reach the part I stopped before. I am talking to myself in my head telling myself come on Lisa do it, just do it. He then starts counting down – 400 meters left. It should help but ever the pessimist I think Jesus Christ 400 more meters?!?!?!? We get to the top!! I did it!! Quickly unclip lean over bike and see if my gas canister can be used to inflate my lungs.

We then go down the hill which should be fun but actually this narrow road is like navigating through rubble so not so fun. Then he shouts at me to stop. I am confused? Turn around he says. What I say? We are going up again he says. I hate him. How long does it take to organise a divorce? I will sell his fancy bike for a packet of love hearts and a curly wurly, that will show him. But I do turn around and so we are on take 3. This is the decider will I get up it or have to stop? I have no idea how but I got up it. For me I think if I did it once I know I can do it again. This should make it easier but it doesn’t I still sounded awful – you know I said once I dropped my vagina on a ride? On this climb I think I dropped a lung. It probably landed in a pot hole, and I left it there in the gravel as it is now good for nothing.

Now wouldn’t it be funny if we got to the bottom and he suggested going up yet again? Well he tried it and I told him to f*ck off. He said he didn’t think anyone had been up it three times and I said I don’t care to be the first person and headed in the direction of home and no hills like Old Church Hill.

Tuesday saw a lovely ride with two Romford CC members, and friends, Sophie and Steve out to Hanningfield, via Billericay, to visit Yellow Jersey Cycles. Slight incident there when I stopped in a hard gear and tried to start at traffic lights in said hard gear, and on a hill, and promptly fell to my right. Dusted myself off and walked the short distance to the shop for the lovely Nate to straighten my now wonky saddle – stupid Lisa! Had such a lovely day with these two, lots of laughter, banter and tea!

Wednesday I was back on the bike with the lovely Gemma at the Cycle Centre in Redbridge for her debut road bike ride. She did amazing and I am looking forward to going out with her again! (I didn’t ride in the slippers below – even I am not that bad!)

In the evening I was invited to a fitness bloggers meeting by the lovely Lucy from Lucy Lunges. I was so nervous imagining meeting a group of super fit peeps and there is me who blogs about falling off my bike, losing a lung and generally giving it a go without really knowing what I am doing. It was such a lovely evening though, we did bowling with some tips from a coach, had some drinks, ate some food and all chatted about our blogs and what we were up to and met some really lovely people!

Yesterday I cycled my first solo ride. I always cycle with people and need to get out on my own rather than relying on others and so I headed out for a short ride. I headed to the country lanes, which was a stupid mistake as the wind was ridiculous but I did it and that was all I wanted – not sure what I was worried about now!

Today is Friday and therefore rest day – and breathe! Before a 10k Race for Life tomorrow with the lovely Anna and Kelly and then off to watch my husband in a triathlon on Sunday.

It’s all go go go!

Category: Cycling, Events, Fitness

Fun spin class and Tour de Tendring

Saturday morning instead of a run I went with Minnie to a spin class at her gym. We had high hopes for this class as we had been told by Tim all about it. He was right. The guy taking the class is very camp and a scream! Funny commentary the whole way through and amazing music – last track we were all sprinting on the bikes to Tina Turner Shake a Tail Feather! Hilarious! For most of it I was thinking wow he is checking Min out for the whole class – someone has an admirer and then we realised he was actually checking himself out in the mirror behind us! Amazing!

Yesterday I had the Bike Event Tour de Tendring. Off we set at the usual obscene hour to get to the event for a planned cycle ride. This was no usual event for me it was the first cycle event that I could compare from last year. Last years ride I did in 4 hours and 5 minutes and I really wanted sub four hours but I was heckled by some young lads in a car something about being fat and my front tyre being flat. I was fat but the front tyre wasn’t flat and as you can guess it meant the last 10 miles of this ride I had a major attitude shift and wanted to just get off the bike and stop.

So anyway having completed last years ride and training a lot from the beginning of this year I would be able to do it again and see what improvement there was being able to compare the exact same ride and route. So off we set me and the hubby and also our lovely friends Tim and Min. We had said at the beginning that we would go off as I didn’t want to hold anyone up. It is a lovely ride, mostly country roads, although they had kindly resurfaced recently which mean we had miles of stretches of lose gravelly road which is not ideal for road bikes but hey ho once bedded in will be amazing for next years ride! Though for this year does leave you with a rather sore under carriage.

It is pretty flat with only a couple of hills but a few long drags of road – I would rather do a hill than a long gradual drag any day. Much to my surprise we ended up with a train of people behind us at a couple of points! And had about a decent stretch with two other riders and the four of us taking it in turns on the front. It was windy at parts and as the hubby wanted me to ‘enjoy’ the ride and complete it off my own steam, and to be fair I would rather see a result of my own effort, he was lucky enough to sit behind me for most of it! At one point he shouted out to me this bloody wind and then said want me to have a go on the front? I very sarcastically said oh yeah that might be good! There was only about five miles left! He stayed on the front for a short stretch and we were on the home straight. He had been winding me up that I should brace myself for a killer of a hill towards the end and when I realised there was not one I was pretty pleased!

The end result was that I managed to get sub four hours and actually managed to get sub three and a half hours! Would have been quicker if him indoors didn’t need to stop for the ladies room (yes I got that right).

Him indoors, aside from riding with me, is also helping me with my fuelling as I am rubbish. I feel ok so don’t eat or drink and then will flag a bit. Although yesterday he gave me some of a bounce ball – was like wallpaper paste. He said to drink when I swallowed it – was pretty hard to swallow! Won’t be eating those on the bike again though could help with the diet as it is like eating glue so could fuse my mouth shut.

Favourite part is the stretch along the sea front where you just go – so much fun!

And according to Strava I was fourth overall for the ladies and had an average moving speed of 17.3mph and over 35 minutes quicker than last year – bloody chuffed with that!

Weigh in day as well today and stayed the same though I am ok with that as I treated myself to cheesecake yesterday!

Category: Cycling, Events, Fitness

A new bra and Cambridge 50 mile bike ride

I tried to run on Saturday – my spin classes had been fine so I was confident I could attempt a run with my still swollen and bruised leg from falling off my bike. I didn’t even get to the end of the road as every step felt like someone was punching me in the bruise! Walked back to my house and collected my gym gear instead. Running will have to wait until this bruise has gone. It is very dark now and almost looks like a baby scan – I am having a baby bruise!

After the weight loss I am now two bra sizes smaller than at the start – him indoors will be in mourning! So I now have a new over the shoulder boulder holder! Long overdue and there were no nice sports bras in pink but my ever growing collection of exercise clothing needed this new item. I would like to know why some look so ugly and some you need an extra person to get you in and out of it!

Isn’t it always the way that if you pre enter for an event the weather is bound to be dismal? Sunday I had entered the Cambridge 50 mile bike ride and the weather predicted was some light rain, followed by hard rain, then some more light rain and with wind as well. Given that the great British weather is generally poor, and of course with it being a bank holiday weekend that is always a sure fire way that the weather is going to be pants, I figured I may as well grin and bear it so got all my stuff ready Saturday night and I was all set. I would be riding with my friend Helen and another Romford CC member, and friend, Joseph. There were others that were going from Romford CC (the speedy boys) but they were hard core and doing the 100 mile route.

The husband decided to pass given the weather as he has a half marathon next week so best not to be full of a cold or ill but he took us all down there and waited and drove us back bless him! He did get a nice burger out of it and banter with all the cycle club which is always fun!

The weather was as predicted and so we set off in the wet and windy conditions and about 10 miles in we passed the speedy boys who were stopping for a puncture and at the rest stop almost half way in they caught us up and it was smiles all round – I am being sarcastic we were all wet through and cold and so when we set off we ended up riding in one big group and when the split marker came we all continued in one big group. I think you would have had to be a sadist to do 100 miles in that wind and rain and not even get a medal!

At about 32 miles I got a puncture – my first puncture on my bike and I knew something was up as it just felt odd and sure enough my back wheel was slowly going flat. I would like to say I rose to the occasion and in no time I got myself back on the road. But that would be a lie. Half the group stopped and so the four of us flipped over my bike and started sorting out the back wheel – well Helen and Steve did – mostly Steve. It’s good being part of a cycle club with other riders who know this stuff – like having your own crew with you! As I emptied my saddle bag with all the gear (and no idea) I was asked for the tyre levers and so held out some blue plastic things and asked ‘is this them?’, which made everyone laugh and ensured they would be changing the inner tube and not me, once that was done and the gas canister was used that was passed to me and got stuck to my fingers as they are really cold once used you know like really really cold (I’m not totally stupid – just slightly).

In the process I managed to save my ride so my event was loaded to Strava in two pieces but that’s fine.

If the weather was better it would be a lovely route along the canal, cobble paths, fields and lovely countryside – in the soaking wet and some wind that made you feel like you were going nowhere at times, not so much. We were all smiling at the finish though!

Monday again! Which means weigh in day again! This week saw a 2lb loss so the total is now 45lbs and carrying on.

Now I am off to with the Romford CC peeps for another ride – happy bank holiday Monday all!

Category: Cycling

Cycling, Cycling, Cycling and weigh in day

What a lovely weekend! If not a tad bit fresh on the bike!

Friday I had a lovely day with him indoors out on our bikes to see the lovelies at Yellow Jersey Cycles in Billericay (one of the sponsors of our cycling club Romford CC). It was windy……..very windy. It is 21 miles to Billericay and I was half hoping we had a car there rather than cycling back just for some release from the wind – it was relentless. When I saved my ride on Strava I named it Ride out to Billericay in the Bast*rd Wind.

Another gross fact about cycling is the snot. Sorry but it is a fact that a lot of cyclists often need to blow their nose out whilst cycling pretty much in order to breathe. It’s not nice and I cannot do it so now and then say I need to stop to use a tissue. Him indoors says I need to learn so on Friday I tried (when ensuring I was down an empty country lane with no one around to see). Turn your head he said, put your index finger on your nostril and blow out. Yep I ended up with it on my arm, chin, bit on my foot and on the floor – beautiful.

Saturday me and him were planning on doing a route our friend Timmy (who I will now name the route master) had done with his lovely lady Minnie (now named Minnie the Machine as she smashing it cycling and running and exercising – and shrinking in the process but looks FABULOUS)! We then found that some of the cycle club members were also planning on doing the same route on the same day so we all went together. I nearly didn’t make it. I am not that experienced cycling in a group and riding so close pretty much freaks me out so I was at the back and 10 miles in was not having a great ride. Me and him then had a barney. He is into tough love. I wanted to punch him in the face. Anyway on to Hanningfield we headed, nice little stop on the reservoir for a cuppa and to warm up Sophie’s fingers which were now a rather strange white colour from the cold in her fingerless gloves.

They said it was a lovely route. They lied. Well not completely but I should have know that the route master is a demon on the bike and Minnie the Machine can beast a hill right alongside him. For me they destroy me. Give me a flat any time. Up and down and up and down and up and down – yuk! The ride home was much nicer and the lovely folk we were with had a good ride despite me telling them to go on a leave me. It was like a scene from a war movie – they powered up every hill while I slowly died a little bit more inside at every incline and told them to go on without me – seriously save yourself!

Sunday was the club ride with the lovely people from Romford CC – a brilliant turn out of 32 people. If you are looking for a club then look no further as these guys are amazing. Riding out to Blackmore listening to the dulcet tones of Mrs Brawner. However, the very lovely Chairman did appear to be wearing a pair of rather dashing bright pink socks, which clearly should belong to me – if he were not so damn quick on the bike I would have tried to nab them for sure. Such a group of lovely people. Especially my spin buddy Rich who came up behind me on a hill and with a hand on the base of my back pushed me on a bit as I was pedalling – best hill ever! Rich if you could appear during every hill climb and repeat that you know thanks and all ha ha

3 days cycling covering 144.3 miles and thoroughly enjoyed every minute (that was not going up a hill).

I had a message on facebook from a friend who had been out cycling asking how to stop the aching under carriage? A common issue on the bike for both males and females. I cannot put my response on here but it included my regular reference to losing my vagina on a ride and being numb down there. You get used to it though. Like an old leather handbag (oops did I just say that). I use this, from Yellow Jerseys Nate Dawg, fab stuff! Chamois cream to apply pre ride to stop chaffing – nice huh! Of course you do set out feeling like you have wet yourself. The joys of cycling!

Monday came around far too quickly! If Mondays were shoes they’d be Crocs! Monday is of course weigh in day and the result of me being squeezed into lycra for three days solid and spinning my legs for many miles is 1lb so plaque is updated.

Category: Cycling, Events, Running

Cycling when lost and Brighton 10k

I took a cheeky days holiday last Friday as it promised sunshine so thought I would get out on my bike. I downloaded a route on my Garmin and hit the road with my friend, and Queen of the Mountains, Sophie. It did not go to plan. I have never used my Garmin to follow a route and the silly thing just kept beeping at me to tell me I was off course even though I knew I wasn’t. There was a road closure on route as well and so we decided, at a pub we often stop at, that we would just go a route we knew, which was shorter but nonetheless got some miles in and was a really enjoyable ride. I am so so grateful to those that are helping me on my journey of getting this fat girl fit!

I struggle on hills, I don’t think I will ever be first up a hill whether on my bike or running. I sound like a panting dog in the process and breathe similar to how I did when I was in labour many moons ago. But I try. I would like to say I will make those hills my bitches but it is sadly not true – they definitely make me their bitch! And I know it!

At the weekend I had the Brighton 10k and it is the same day as the Brighton Marathon and I must say the atmosphere was amazing. I ran with my husband and I really wanted to get a PB preferably under the hour mark as my best time until this run was 1 hour 1 minute 42 seconds. I was unsure if I had it in me. The weather said it would be 10 degrees and windy and so we put on our long sleeved tops and made our way to the start line. Long sleeved tops? Big mistake! I was like a big fat sweaty pig in no time, sleeves rolled up and mopping my brow I carried on. Brighton is undulating and there was no breeze before the seafront which was 5.5km into the run. I am clearly better with the cold than the heat.

We were passed by a man leading a lady who said excuse me blind runner. It was amazing! This man was running as a guide for this blind lady (who was a brilliant runner) and I had read about that before in a book (which made me cry) but seeing it in real life was just amazing and made me cry again.

I tried so hard on this run and my amazing husband paced me the whole way (at 5k we were dead on 30.00 minutes) but the last 2k I struggled like hell. I needed the loo. I couldn’t catch my breath. I tried to take a drink but basically ended up with more over my face, sunglasses and dripping off my chin than actually getting to drink any. Then I basically turned into a whiny little bitch. I stopped about 1.5k before the finish and said I needed to catch my breath and then again and then I knew I wouldn’t get sub hour so sort of gave up. Brett had other ideas and knew I could get a PB so got me to the finish. Now it is over I am so grateful but on route he did shout at me to keep going and put his hand on my back and carried on running pushing me and there were some people that looked at him like he was the devil ha ha. He is not at all, he was a massive help.

I did get a PB but sadly not sub hour. The event time was 1 hour and 39 seconds and according to my garmin the 10k time was 1 hour and 9 seconds – damn those pesky seconds! I was so bloody close! I came 208 out of 451. That will teach me for being a whiny little bitch and saying I can’t do it.

I will not lie, I peed a little near the end (don’t judge me it is not that uncommon and the queues were too long at the start that we couldn’t go pre run) and then I had a little cry as I had worked so hard for it but I have my medal and completed it and got a PB. Also our lovely friends Darren and Vicki completed it in amazing times too.

I know I have said it before but I do not find running easy. I saw a slogan recently that said ‘WTF! Where’s The Finish?’ – that was definitely made for me.

I much prefer cycling to running – put the fun between your legs (ooh er). I do keep going though in the safe knowledge that I can celebrate at the finish with a shiny medal and a celebratory drink.

The marathon runners were exceptional! I was getting so emotional just being there – not so little old me struggling with my 10k in the heat whilst they battle through a marathon! The fastest runner of the 10k completed in 29 minutes – 29 minutes! I call these people the machete people as they run like they are being chased by someone with a machete though in a more effortless way. The fastest marathon runner was 2 hours and 10 minutes – can you imagine? It’s insane!

Steve from our cycle club finished his marathon in 3 hours and 5 minutes – amazing!!!

Weigh in day today again – it comes around so quickly every week. I needed half a pound. I want that 3 stone marker before I move on to losing the next 3 stone. Did I get it? Did I? YES!! Just! This week I lost half a pound and so have reached that 3 stone loss.

Now on to the next 3 stone!

Category: Cycling, Fitness

My cycle club Romford CC

In February last year I was getting ready for my first cycling event – a 25 mile bike ride for Sport Relief. It was a good route though a few hills and I was fairly certain I would die on a couple and also that my vagina had fallen out at some point!

My husband was part of a cycling club, Romford CC, and I completed the ride with some of the members of the club.

I was hooked. I am sure when I started telling people they would smile and nod whilst probably thinking really? You? She who bakes cakes and sits on her fat ass watching Eastenders? Good luck with that! That was what I was thinking anyway.

My husband is heavily involved in the club and so I know most of the members. They are lovely, a couple are borderline mental and if you forget a name call them Steve – there are many Steve’s in the club!

I have had so much help from so many of them and am so grateful. I started cycling at a cycle centre near us, Redbridge Cycle Centre, which is a track purely for bikes with no cars so a good start for a newbie. I would regularly meet one of the ladies in the club and a now friend of mine, Lisa, and she is the singer of the club – she would always get there before me and would cycle with her phone playing music and I would generally hear her coming before I saw her wailing to Prodigy’s Smack My Bitch Up! On our first ride together she had to point out that my cycle helmet was on back to front – smooth move by me – someone put a cork on my fork please!

I would never have been able to complete the Prudential Ride 100 last year without their help and I love celebrating with them all (and lots of wine) in the park after the event. My husband signed me up for this without telling me (the b*stard) and I completed this in 5 hours 21 minutes with his help and that of his other love, best mate and club member, Timmy. It is one thing having your husband stay with you on a ride but another when someone else sacrifices their ride to help you which is lovely and also can make you feel bad. I said a few times Tim should go off as he is a much better cyclist and I felt I was holding him back but he wouldn’t have it and told me not to be silly although he then said but can you f*cking hurry up?! Thanks Tim!

Romford CC was originally founded in 2012, by some friends in Cycle Surgery Romford, wanting to take the store’s social ride to a club level. After inviting customers to join them, one of the riders went about and decided it would be a great idea to officially create a cycling club, this was the start for Romford CC.

We are a great social bunch of people with varied riding abilities and have a very encouraging approach and view.

They are sponsored by Cycle Surgery in Romford and Yellow Jersey Cycles in Billericay.

If you are interested in cycling, want to join a club or would like to come on a ride take a look at the website: http://www.romfordcyclingclub.co.uk/ you can get in touch by clicking on Contact Us, at the top of the page or drop an email to info@romfordcc.co.uk

Who wouldn’t want to be part of this club and get to wear the dashing pink and yellow kit? On a ride once with another friend and club member Sophie, we pulled out of a pub rest stop and someone commented that they were not entirely sure if our kit was hideous or genius – it gets us noticed though and I personally love a bit of anything pink! And let’s face it no one looks good in Lycra so it’s nice to be part of a club and you can all look like sausages and condoms together!

Category: Cycling

Flowers for valentines? Nah! Pink bike? Erm ok then!

Whilst everyone received flowers and chocolates at the weekend for Valentines I got a new shiny bike! When I say shiny its not actually shiny as it is matt black but you get the picture. The best part? It has pink on it and I do love me some pinkness in any way shape or form.

The cycle club I am part of, Romford CC, are lucky to have one of their sponsors be Yellow Jersey Cycles in Billericay and the gentlemen in there were kind enough to get me the new Trek Silque SL 2015. It is my very first carbon bike and I am expecting it to double my speed and event times – is that not how it works?

Four of the ladies in the cycle club managed to secure places through the ballot for the Prudential Ride London event in August and this year it is all about the ladies!

So here she is my new little pink beauty:

The friendly bear in the background is Nate – much thanks to him and Dan at the shop for sorting my new bike for me!

I best get out pedalling then!

Category: Cycling, Fitness

I’m in!

One of my early posts spoke about how my dear husband had entered me into a 100 mile bike event last year without telling me and I got in. Well this year I put in for myself and in the post yesterday was my confirmation that I am in!

This is for the Prudential Ride London event which is a 100 mile bike ride from London to Surrey and back. It is on closed roads and finishes on the Mall – the weather last year was the tail end of a hurricane and yet I still thoroughly enjoyed it – my longest bike ride to date.

However, because of the bad weather they reduced the route to 86 miles and cut out two of the three biggest ascents; Box Hill and Leith Hill. So I have my medal from last year and quite frankly given the weather and the fact that I had only started cycling (February of last year was my first 25 mile event) I am proud of myself for that but it would be nice to have the medal for the whole thing so I am even more pleased I got in from the ballot!

There are quite a few of the lovely people from the cycle club, Romford CC, that I belong to who also got in and hopefully those that didn’t will either get a team place or a charity place as the atmosphere is amazing and we all celebrate in the park afterwards then smile for days after!

I also got my numbers for a 10k Race for Life event and the London to Southend 52 mile bike ride so its all go! With many more events to sign up for too!

Good luck and congratulations to everyone who got in to the Ride London event too – Enjoy!

Now it is time to train!

Category: Cycling, Fitness

Clippy shoes!

I had been dreading the moment for a long time and put it off for as long as I could but I had given in and purchased some cleats for cycling otherwise known as clippy shoes. As I have said before my husband is part of a cycle club, all of whom have helped me massively, but all of whom use cleats and had told me endlessly it was the way forward if I wanted to carry on cycling on the road.

The concept baffled me – you have different pedals and you wear special shoes that clip into the pedals? Is that not hugely dangerous or just a stupid thing to do? I was told it would give more power and all cyclists wear them and I needed them. So the hubby changed the pedals – I get his hand me downs so it works out great for me as cycling is not a cheap sport and as a new cyclist I couldn’t justify the cost of some of the expensive items so I get his pedals etc and he gets to buy new ones. I think I missed a trick here somewhere! Or am just a great wife – I will go with that one 😉

So beginning of April we head off for our first ride with my new shiny white clippy shoes. At the first road we had to stop at there was no traffic so we paused, signalled and continued without unclipping and then got to some traffic lights with my husband on his bike to the right of me. Apparently you should always unclip with your left foot so that if you do fall you fall into the pavement rather than the road and potentially a car (short bike ride that would be)! Up until now I had been wearing trainers and so I stopped at junctions and must admit this was my biggest fear – stopping on the bike. I couldn’t get the simple concept of getting out of my seat when stopping so would break and lean and hope for the best! Like I said sporty I am not! Also in the trainers I always put my right foot down. So we stop at the lights and I unclip with my left foot and lean to the right. With the foot that is still clipped in. Luckily my husband was there and sort of pushed me over to the other side and all was ok, lights changed and off we went.

Shortly after we reached a second set of lights and I did the same thing. Idiot. Thank god I fell on my husband both times otherwise I think I would have just curled up in the foetal position until the world just passed me by out of sheer embarrassment!

Anyway we finished our 20 mile ride testing out the new shoes and although I was really really nervous I got home in one piece although i very quickly put the clippy shoes back in their box! Out of sight out of mind!