I started cycling at the end of 2014 when I needed to get fit and lose a bit of weight. It was originally only meant to be a 3.5 mile commute each day but I soon joined Essex Roads Cycling Club and discovered it was an addiction. To date I've cycled in excess of 65,000 miles and there are many more miles of tarmac to be covered ...
I'm not a natural athlete, far from it, at school I was the last to be picked for any teams! Through my teens and into my 20's I rode and owned horses, mainly competing at dressage. It was when I lost my beloved Mr Darcy that I decided I needed a new way to stay fit and I bought my first road bike.
I joined Essex Roads after my husband suggested that it would give me a new social life (no horse - no stable yard friends) and rapidly I discovered my love for cycling, the longer the distance, the better.
Having completed some club rides I decided to do my first sportive in Feb 2015, 60 miles, more than I had ever done before. The night before I remember asking Nick 'Do you think I will make it?' A comment he often reminds me of to this day if I'm worried about a ride. I made the 60 miles despite an incident with a cat and hitting tarmac in excess of 20 mph, and so it began ....
60 miles turned into 100, 100 into 150 and the distances began to grow until I decided I wanted to see how far I could manage in 24 hours. Revolve 24 at Brands Hatch was my first 24 hour event, I had no idea what I could do, no idea how to look after myself (fuel etc) and absolutely no idea what I would achieve. I went with the plan of 'pedal and stay on the bike as long as possible'. Amazingly, despite a great bunch of ladies and a nutrition plan that involved wotsits and rice pots, I went on to win the solo female category!
To date I've done six 24 hour events, London -Edinburgh - London, The Tilnar Challenge (several years running), cycled 2,400 miles across Europe solo and unsupported and countless numbers of sportives and Audax. My ultimate aim is to complete RAAM (the ultimate cycling endurance challenge) solo.
None of the achievements and sucess I have had would be possible without my wonderful sponsors (please see sponsors page) and the support of my ever suffering husband Nick and family - to all I am eternally greatful ....
I'm not a natural athlete, far from it, at school I was the last to be picked for any teams! Through my teens and into my 20's I rode and owned horses, mainly competing at dressage. It was when I lost my beloved Mr Darcy that I decided I needed a new way to stay fit and I bought my first road bike.
I joined Essex Roads after my husband suggested that it would give me a new social life (no horse - no stable yard friends) and rapidly I discovered my love for cycling, the longer the distance, the better.
Having completed some club rides I decided to do my first sportive in Feb 2015, 60 miles, more than I had ever done before. The night before I remember asking Nick 'Do you think I will make it?' A comment he often reminds me of to this day if I'm worried about a ride. I made the 60 miles despite an incident with a cat and hitting tarmac in excess of 20 mph, and so it began ....
60 miles turned into 100, 100 into 150 and the distances began to grow until I decided I wanted to see how far I could manage in 24 hours. Revolve 24 at Brands Hatch was my first 24 hour event, I had no idea what I could do, no idea how to look after myself (fuel etc) and absolutely no idea what I would achieve. I went with the plan of 'pedal and stay on the bike as long as possible'. Amazingly, despite a great bunch of ladies and a nutrition plan that involved wotsits and rice pots, I went on to win the solo female category!
To date I've done six 24 hour events, London -Edinburgh - London, The Tilnar Challenge (several years running), cycled 2,400 miles across Europe solo and unsupported and countless numbers of sportives and Audax. My ultimate aim is to complete RAAM (the ultimate cycling endurance challenge) solo.
None of the achievements and sucess I have had would be possible without my wonderful sponsors (please see sponsors page) and the support of my ever suffering husband Nick and family - to all I am eternally greatful ....