My info pack has arrived, WOW it's going to take a bit of reading - there is so much information provided :-)
I am pleased to say that not only have I set up a fundraising web page via justgiving.com - see the natty little "widget" on the right of this page, but donations have already begun! Special thanks must go to my colleague, Adam, for making the first donation on my justgiving page and a very generous one of £25 at that. Many thanks also to my boss, Nigel, for promising to sponsor me £100.
Funny thing though, a large proportion of my male colleagues have, upon finding out that this is an all women event, offered to come along as part of the support team!! LOL
I was, unrealistically, hoping to get my bike this weekend - but I think my Cyclescheme voucher will take a few more days to come through, so it will likely be the following weekend before I can actually go & collect it. In the meantime I am using the exercise bikes at the gym - question is, can my bottom tell the difference?? We shall see!
Oh, and before I go - a big MWAH! to my new buddy Karen. No one has ever said I was an inspiration before!
Wednesday 27 August 2008
Monday 25 August 2008
I've done it! I've registered!
..despite still not having been on a bike! No backing out now!
This weekend has been a bit of a wash out weather wise, and I have come down with a heavy cold (which I am in the process of passing on to the rest of the family LOL) so the planned "test run" bike ride hasn't happened - that particular embarrassment will be saved for another day!
However, I did still get myself down to the local bike shop , so with the help of Peter at Welling Cycles I have selected a bike and safety equipment and have a quotation to submit through the government Cyclescheme which will save me VAT, Income Tax and National Insurance off the price :-) plus I get to repay the rest over 12 months so end result is a brand new bike, helmet, lock, lights etc etc for something around £20 per month. I'll hardly notice. Wish I could say the same for my muscles over the coming months!
I also have a new email buddy - Karen :-) who lives in Germany and is also signed up for the challenge - the plan is to spur each other on, and get each other through the tough times as well as becoming friends I hope! It is reassuring for me that Karen (and a few other ladies on the justgiving community) are "first-timers" and many have, like me, not ridden for a very long time. Others were in this position last year and went on to complete the ride & have one of the best experiences of their lives AND have registered to do it all again - If they can do it, so can I.
As soon as I recieve my official info pack I will be able to set up a fundraising page & link to it from here so you can see how that is going....
This weekend has been a bit of a wash out weather wise, and I have come down with a heavy cold (which I am in the process of passing on to the rest of the family LOL) so the planned "test run" bike ride hasn't happened - that particular embarrassment will be saved for another day!
However, I did still get myself down to the local bike shop , so with the help of Peter at Welling Cycles I have selected a bike and safety equipment and have a quotation to submit through the government Cyclescheme which will save me VAT, Income Tax and National Insurance off the price :-) plus I get to repay the rest over 12 months so end result is a brand new bike, helmet, lock, lights etc etc for something around £20 per month. I'll hardly notice. Wish I could say the same for my muscles over the coming months!
I also have a new email buddy - Karen :-) who lives in Germany and is also signed up for the challenge - the plan is to spur each other on, and get each other through the tough times as well as becoming friends I hope! It is reassuring for me that Karen (and a few other ladies on the justgiving community) are "first-timers" and many have, like me, not ridden for a very long time. Others were in this position last year and went on to complete the ride & have one of the best experiences of their lives AND have registered to do it all again - If they can do it, so can I.
As soon as I recieve my official info pack I will be able to set up a fundraising page & link to it from here so you can see how that is going....
Friday 22 August 2008
You never forget.....or do you??
What is it they say about riding a bike?? You never forget? Well, I am about to find out if that is true. This weekend I will be attempting to ride a bicycle for the first time in well over 20 years!! (OMG - almost a quarter of a century - NOW I feel old!!)
Why? I hear you ask. Well, that's a good question.
I think I am at a point in my life when I need to challenge myself more than ever before. I also need something to keep me motivated to lose weight & get fitter, so when I was reading a slimming magazine last weekend & came across an advertisement for Cycle Jordan 2009 I thought "why not?"
What is Cycle Jordan? It is an all women cycling challenge which will be taking place in October 2009 and involves a 300km cycle (over 4 days) through breathtaking scenery across Jordan. The aim of the event, other than a personal challenge, is to raise funds for the very worthwhile charity Women for Women. Not only must I re-learn (?) to ride a bike, and reach a level where I can cope with several consecutive days of cycling up to 100km per day (!) but I must also raise a minimum of £2500 for the charity. Better get started!!
My friends & colleagues have all been incredibly positive & supportive ( thanks guys, what would I do without you?) although I think my family will take a little more persuading! Perhaps that's because they know just how long ago my last bike ride was (and how short!)
I will try to keep this blog up to date with my progress over the coming months, so please check back whenever you can to see how I am getting on.
Why? I hear you ask. Well, that's a good question.
I think I am at a point in my life when I need to challenge myself more than ever before. I also need something to keep me motivated to lose weight & get fitter, so when I was reading a slimming magazine last weekend & came across an advertisement for Cycle Jordan 2009 I thought "why not?"
What is Cycle Jordan? It is an all women cycling challenge which will be taking place in October 2009 and involves a 300km cycle (over 4 days) through breathtaking scenery across Jordan. The aim of the event, other than a personal challenge, is to raise funds for the very worthwhile charity Women for Women. Not only must I re-learn (?) to ride a bike, and reach a level where I can cope with several consecutive days of cycling up to 100km per day (!) but I must also raise a minimum of £2500 for the charity. Better get started!!
My friends & colleagues have all been incredibly positive & supportive ( thanks guys, what would I do without you?) although I think my family will take a little more persuading! Perhaps that's because they know just how long ago my last bike ride was (and how short!)
I will try to keep this blog up to date with my progress over the coming months, so please check back whenever you can to see how I am getting on.
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