We are delighted to be partnering with Tour de Forth charity to raise funds for Radio Forth’s Cash for Kids and Mercy Corps and also have a team of Lindsays’ people taking part in this 60 mile sportive.
Team members, Marianne Stirling and Karen Slaughter are both inexperienced cyclists, and Sunday 4 June will find them doing their first sportive (it’s not a race!) which starts at Ingliston and loops around the Forth. Here’s a quick insight to how they are coping with preparations so far.
Marianne, who is a keen runner, has invested in a new bike to take part:
The truth is I have only cycled a handful of times. I like to think I have a good level of fitness as I run and go to some boot camp classes. However 60 miles is clearly a mammoth distance and I cannot deny that I am worrying about getting to the finish line before dark!
My first training session took myself and a friend from Croy to Kilsyth along the canal. We both loved every second and felt part of some cycle club with fellow cyclists wishing us a good morning, with a friendly wave and smile. The canal route is beautiful anyway but in the sun it’s just gorgeous. Reaching the Kelpies at our half way point in the day felt great. Maybe this won’t be impossible after all?
The cycle back was just as much fun and we cut 40 minutes off our time. After almost 28 miles on our bikes we arrived back at the Boathouse and celebrated our first training session by sitting outside in the sun with a glass of fizz. Perfect!
Then, jumping back on my bike for the three miles home and…….ouch!
What happened to my derriere?
Why are my legs burning?
I am thankful there was nobody around to hear me shout, scream and cry up the hills to get home. That same afternoon I bought myself a saddle that was twice the size and filled with beautiful, miraculous gel. A saddle so perfect it’s like sitting in clouds.
The very next day I went out again to test out the new saddle. 41 miles later my new bike and new saddle were definitely worn in. I didn’t think for one second that around 70 miles would be possible in two days.
I felt confident for a few days. Surely if I can do 41 miles in a day without a massive amount of training, 60 miles will be achievable? Confident until I looked at the route (this might have been a good idea to do before signing up). Parts of it look to me like Mount Everest and it’s mainly on roads which I don’t have much experience on. What have I signed up for? I am now petrified that I am going to hold everyone up, that I will take a ridiculous amount of time to complete the route, be knocked down or my worst personal fear – unable to finish.
Karen is not only pretty new to cycling but also to any form of fitness or physical training:
60 miles…..97.3 kilometres…..Which one sounds less scary? Neither! They both sound pretty unachievable as a distance to cycle in one day! However, when I signed up, three months seemed like plenty of time to build fitness and road cycling experience.
It’s now less than three weeks until the event and I'm seriously doubting that I will have the leg strength or stamina to complete the route… maybe over 2/3 days but one? Unlikely! Despite my concerns about the challenge I have really enjoyed having a goal to work towards and hope that my nerves about letting down sponsors or embarrassing myself on the day don’t take away from the great experience that taking part in one of these events can be.
It has also been an eye-opener as there appears to be a whole new language to learn, both around the cycling equipment, fuelling, training terminology and the gesticulating and rules its worth becoming familiar with to survive a group ride.
I was lucky enough to have a week of training with a seasoned cyclist (my sister-in-law) while on holiday over Easter which boosted my confidence as 25 miles turned out to be pretty bearable on a road bike. Admittedly, there was no element of speed to my rides but that’s ok – it’s not a race.
Now I am just trying to cycle whenever I can find time and am even venturing to some spin classes. Although I’m apprehensive about the event, I think I have definitely caught the bug and find myself checking the weather and considering routes it might be good to try out.
About the causes:
Mercy Corps and Cash for Kids are two locally based charities that make a huge impact on lives in very different ways. Mercy Corps helps people recover and rebuild from crisis in more than 40 countries and Cash for Kids supports children in Edinburgh, the Lothians and Fife who need help whether they are sick, disabled or living in poverty.
Our fundraising page can be accessed here.
