by
ClaireG
Mon Oct 23, 2006 8:00 pm
1988 and yet another enforced layoff from my sport of running through patella tendonitis. A reoccurring theme of rest from training (requires much patience) - expensive physio treatment - recovery - slow build up of the miles (more patience required) and just at the point of starting to think about hard training sessions again - back to square one - sore knees.
This wasn't doing my state of mind any good. I enjoyed being out there in the fresh air, running in all weathers, the companionship of fellow athletes, what could I do instead?
I was in the 2nd year of my degree course at York Uni and had never come across a Cycling Club before. I tried swimming 1st - well I knew more about it and I thought it would be good to keep me fit. It did - it just wasn't outdoors and I did it more out of a work ethic to 'keeping fit' - but it didn't fulfil the enjoyment side.
The university cycling club advertised Sunday Club runs - "that can take the place of my long Sunday run" I thought and so I turned up at 9am.
My gear: a Raleigh Routier steel frame, steel rims, purchased with Student Grant funds (yes, I was lucky, they existed in my day) for £99 from Bob Trotter. I used this for commuting from my student house in Burtonstone Lane to the campus each day. Double steel chainset 42-52 and at the back - well, I didn't know about the terminology in those days, but I guess 14-24. I wore my Ron Hill tracksters & a sweatshirt, had never come across padded cycling shorts (and didn't do so for about another year!), but I had fitted toeclips and straps to ride with my trainers (fitting the clips to the pedals was like 'The Krypton Factor').
So I turned up along with 3 oddly shaped regulars: Robert, Graeme & Terry. They seemed excited at the prospect of a new face - apparently not a frequent occurrence and off we rolled. I'm not quite sure that I knew what I was letting myself in for. As a 1500m/3000m/ 10k athlete, then a long run for me was about 10miles (just over an hours effort) and I had never ridden further than about 10 miles before, so this was going to be an experience. However, I realised the intensity of effort was vastly different (afterall - you 'just' sit there!) so I guessed my underlying fitness should carry me through.
Graeme regaled me with tales of wild garlic in the woods and kept leaping off his bike to collect some. Robert was the enthusiastic one who kept rallying the troops and seemed to know where we were heading (not much changed there then) and Terry was the serious one who liked to ride along without much chit chat, but it was a very relaxing and contented 'air' - I liked it. 25 miles later ,the hills kicked in (we were heading for Ripon) and I started to learn that cycling was actually quite a hard sport! A bit of rough stuff was encountered to avoid some main road - it was all rutted and frozen solid - and of course the cyclist cafe - I really liked this bit! What were my running club mates going to think - you stop halfway and have a bacon sarnie and a pint of tea! As a runner I had to avoid eating 4 hours before a training session!
We completed a very satisfying 70mile day and I went home thinking that maybe this cycling sport 'would do' until I was injury free for running again.
18 years later, I'm still enjoying riding my bike (and I'm still injured for running!).
Post ride remarks - A few comments that still tickle me now:
- the following summer I 'made' my 1st pair of cycling shorts by cutting down my Ron Hill tracksters and sewing a neat hem! (fashion disaster I know (now) but it was 1989!)
- in my 1st 10 mile TT I rode 28mins on above bike (in above shorts!) and probably still remain at that level now!
- my only claim to cycling fame is introducing my running friend Liz Milne to cycling - she was always my slower running partner, but she went on to become National Womens' Best All Rounder at time trials. I'd told her cycling was great - all the members of the club were men AND you got to eat halfway round!
- my cycling highlights since have included touring over the Stelvio, Galibier, Bonnette, Tourmelet, Dolomites, New Zealand, Norway, Kerry, Outer Hebrides......but then we always come back to our favourite club run, because in the real world, that's what we can do every week!