You’ve probably already read a few blogs about the Manchester to Blackpool bike ride on Sunday, so I’m just going to mention a few of my personal highlights and hope that you identify with them too.<\/p>\n
Despite not quite meeting at the start as we’d planned, Jon<\/strong> of Riding The Moor<\/a> fame arrived at the Standish rest stop just after I did.\u00a0 His chat, his encouragement\u00a0 and his Ibuprofen were very welcome for the next 25 miles or so.\u00a0 As he contemplated heading off whilst I checked my blood sugars, Emma <\/a>came over so we enjoyed a few minutes, then she bought me a brew as Jon buggered off.\u00a0 I must say that it was the nicest brew I’ve had in a long time, and the company was good too!<\/p>\n I packed just 2 SIS gels and 2 Decathlon-special ceral choccy banana bars.\u00a0 A good porridge breakfast at home was consumed and I didn’t test my sugar until my first break, 25 miles in at Standish.\u00a0 It was\u00a0 3.3<\/strong> mmol\/l (59.4 in American<\/em>) – Whoops!\u00a0 I hastily necked one of the gels and one of the bars with my litre of water.<\/p>\n At Preston, another 18 miles or so later, I tested again.\u00a0 This time, 5.5<\/strong> mmol\/l\u00a0(99 to our friends over the water<\/em>).\u00a0 Cool!\u00a0 I may actually have found a system!\u00a0 The final gel and cereal bar went down along with the brew Emma bought me.<\/p>\n So from now on, my secret is 20g CHO in gel form plus 29g CHO in complex form per 20 miles of hard riding.\u00a0 Sorted.\u00a0 I’ll work with it for few rides and let you know how it works.\u00a0 Or how long I’m in the hospital for \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n There’s a steep hill just outside Kirkham, about 50 miles or so into the ride.\u00a0 It’s not nice.\u00a0 I managed it in 2nd gear.\u00a0 Yes, second <\/em><\/strong>gear.\u00a0 Normally that’s just too bloody spinnyto even contemplate, but on\u00a0Sunday the\u00a0granny ring was my friend.<\/p>\n On the front at Lytham, the wind was ridiculous.\u00a0 I was actually <\/em>buffeted.\u00a0 Sometimes the windfeels a bit gusty but, bloody hell, the wind on Sunday was in fine form!\u00a0 The only benefot was from a beaty point of view.\u00a0 I mean, riding North along the coast meant that the skin on the left side of my face is now wonderfully exfoliated – ladies, take note!\u00a0 If you ever want beautifully smooth skin, ride by the coast on a b*stard of a windy day!\u00a0 Another half an hour of that and I’ve have looked like Skeletor.<\/p>\n\n\t\tMy Diabetes.<\/h2>\n
Not Getting Off.<\/h2>\n