Overcoming obstacles!

Well! What a day yesterday was........with less than a week to go until the Great North Bike Ride I found out that my bike had been stolen! I had been training using the same bike for almost 6 months and had been feeling comfortable and confident when riding it for long periods of time. Now I will be doing the ride using a borrowed bike which will inevitably be more challenging and a lot less comfortable.

I headed out into the rain yesterday and did a 22 mile ride on the afore mentioned borrowed bike, managing to get myself three or four decent puncture wounds from the pedal and a few scrapes before I had even got out of the car park at work! It probably wasnt the best idea to try out a new bike for the first time in Newcastle's finest monsoon weather, but the ride on a whole was really enjoyable. My friend Taryn and I did the 22 miles in just over 2 hours, tackling a good few hills and puddles along the way. The bike was quite uncomfortable on my wrists and I'm not used to the gear ratios yet, so I will be doing a few more shorter training rides this week to get used to these things in time for Sundays 54 mile Great North Bike Ride.

This morning I did an hour class at The Barre, which is a small city studio complete with ballet barre that offers a workout design based on a combination of pilates and dance, using small, compact movements that work each area of the body in turn. The classes at The Barre are quite challenging and always fun. Natalie and the other girls that take the classes are excellent and are always on hand to correct your form if something isnt exactly right. Classes at The Barre are a brilliant fat burner and really good for strengthening and toning muscles, giving a lean dancer-esque look. I'm using them as cross training and strengthening for my events since May of this year and have found them really effective http://www.the-barre.com/

Today I also did a 6 mile bike ride which felt fairly easy after the 22 miles I did yesterday! If you would like to sponsor me for the Great North Bike Ride this Sunday, and the Great North Run on September 19th, please visit www.justgiving.com/niycpidge

Thanks

Niyc xx