What a difference!

Vicky rang first thing this morning in response to a text I sent yesterday. "Do you want to go for a bike ride this morning?" "Er, no" I thought. "Yeah - that'd be great" I said.

I was dreading it after our last outing (see pics from last post) when I had been knackered, disheartened and had felt like dying on some of the ascents. But, I have lost half a stone since then and done a lot more exercise. It is a gorgeous day too, not as icy and cold as last time.

So, off we went. Along the railway track round the reservoir which sounds benign but has quite a few tricky little climbs. Then, just when you're beginning to enjoy yourself a left turn up a steep, rocky and, today, muddy track. The hill felt like it lasted forever and we had to stop frequently and walk for small chunks due to the rocks and mud but it was so much better than the last time. I rode nearly all the way up and was much more in control of the bike so had fewer incidences of nearly falling off due to steering myself into untenable positions.

We eventually made it to the top of Win Hill (well, almost the top, the bridleway doesn't quite reach the summit) and then came the fun bit. The downhill along Hope Brinks into Aston. It's fantastic, steep but not so steep that you have to have the brakes on hard all the time, grassy, muddy, little jumps, beautiful views, sheep, lambs. Brilliant.

After all these years of personal training I have finally found a use for the much vaunted "core stability"! It helps me stay on a mountain bike while steering a course downhill through mud, rocks, narrow tracks and sheer drops. That and strong shoulders.

I spent most of the uphills telling Vicky that I'd "gone right off her" and most the downhills thanking her for dragging me out.

So - progress is being made and I'm having fun in the process. Hope you are too.