BACK IN THE SADDLE

After nearly two weeks of not riding my bike, mainly because I wanted to avoid using it to get wet again, I finally found a dry spell to go for a ride.

That was last weekend and it was good to get an hour under my belt, before the rain started again.

It's not that I don't like riding in the rain, doing 40+ miles in six hours of riding proved that, I just want to try and enjoy it a little bit more.

Cycling is great for all age groups and physical abilities, sometimes people accept riding in all weathers, sometimes you prefer not to get wet, or even perhaps cold; the final reason is not much of one as after a short amount of riding you soon warm up.

Plans to restart the C2C are yet to be confirmed, but if the promise of more warm weather continues a date may soon be set.

I watched the documentary on Victoria Pendleton this week and was amazed at how much she needs support, emotionally, physically and mentally to continue riding at the top of the world.

Sometimes on these documentaries they are scripted and edited in a PR exercise, but I didn't think this was the case as her emotion when on track and in the bowl of velodromes was pure instinct.

I think she is a great role model for future sports people of all disciplines and shows how you don't have to be a billionaire footballer to gain respect from the public.

I hope she closes her magnificent career with a finish that she deserves - a gold medal at the Olympics.

Determination and perseverance are two qualities we all could do with copying from Vicky, and if we do, the world can open up before us.

The same goes for Bradley Wiggins, Mark Cavendish and the other Team Sky riders, currently dominating the Tour de France.

The sacrifices and shear will power these people have is an example we could all do with following, including these so called 'professional' footballers.

I'm currently typing with one hand due to an injection into my elbow to help cure a long standing injury. I hope to be back to two hands next week, though will still be nowhere near the qualities shown by our cycling heroes.

Good luck to them all in London.

IS THE RAIN FOLLOWING ME?

I’m beginning to think I’m a jinx to any holidays this year as the only time off work I’ve had, has seen rain, rain and more rain.

After the washout that caused our Coast to Coast bike ride being abandoned, I spent a week away with the family in Cornwall, and I’m sure you can guess by now what the weather was like...

Yes it was almost constant rain, although nothing like the two days of torrential rain from Cumbria, so no floods, but not much outdoor fun.

I’ve been trying to plan the best time to restart the Coast to Coast and hope to find time before October this year to do it. Time is very limited as this summer has nearly every weekend with some family activity, including birthdays for me daughter and nephew, brother, sister-in-law and a Golden Wedding anniversary party weekend.

I’m tempted to just take two days off after a weekend and go for it, as long as the weather is clear.

If this is the case I hope Neil and Pads will still join me, as they both are a key to the team that originally took on the ride.

I suspect we’ll plan it again for a specific date so everyone can prepare properly, so stay tuned for confirmation and news of other rides we’ll be doing, purely for exercise and fun.