If you want signs that the lockdown is done, check out the pictures from Bournemouth or Anfield. Let’s hope that this last few months of isolation have not been for nothing. In the mix of human tragedy and economic catastrophe, the distruption to the first half of our cycling year has been a relatively small inconvenience, but it has been a loss.
Well, now it’s game on. Even if we can’t quite celebrate like a scouser starved of glory for 30 years, then we can at least get back to group riding.
You will have seen Niki’s Facebook post and email about how this will work. Massive thanks to Niki and all the ride leaders who have immediately stepped up. Read the posts carefully and work with us to get this right. As I said last week, of course there is a bit of risk, but we think it’s manageable.
Next week, these emails will revert to being more about Sunday rides and who’s leading what, but I am working on a format that allows us to continue to hear from members because the stories we’ve heard during lockdown have been fantastic.
I’m going to leave you with one final one in this format and it comes from someone who I think represents so much of what this club stands for. We have some racers, but if that’s all you care about you’ll probably ride with VCL. We like a bit of track, but Dulwich do a load more. Most of all, if you want a welcoming, inclusive and sociable club, that challenges but doesn’t threaten, then it matters not where you are on the cycling spectrum, you come to Penge.
A Late Start by Julie-Anne De Thomasis
I got back into cycling (after a 30 year hiatus) about seven years ago on the verge of turning 50. In an effort to get fitter and supported by my cyclist husband, Martin, I eased myself in gently on a second-hand mountain bike, riding off-road and bike trails around Croydon/Surrey mainly, but venturing to Bedgebury (in Kent) on occasion.
I got a bit ahead of myself at one stage, early on, moving up to a drop-handlebar Boardman road bike, doing road rides in Surrey, but I crashed quite spectacularly one day in the wet, ending up under a hedge on the opposite side of the road on a blind bend. I insisted it must have been the bike (not me), so I got Martin to swap the drops for a straight handlebar. I was much more comfortable with that.
My riding took a more regular turn when I discovered Breeze rides for women.
I was amazed that it was possible to ride from Beckenham to Greenwich and beyond, along the Waterlink Way and Thames Path without the need to go on busy roads. One day, I even led Martin on a ride to Greenwich to demonstrate my newfound cycling confidence and route knowledge – he was impressed!
It was at that stage that I upgraded the mountain bike to an all singing-all dancing Felt Compulsion full-suspension MTB – admired by many a young lad, as I rode it sedately to Greenwich and back, very proud of my ‘granny gears’ (yes, unfortunately, I had become one of those “all the gear, no idea” type riders…).
I needed more… a club…
That’s where Penge CC came in. Encouraged by Breeze chums who were already doing ‘steady’ rides, I joined in September 2016, dusting off the Boardman, and haven’t looked back since. Who knew that a little hill called ‘Hogtrough’ would become my nemesis?
I’ve managed a few milestones since then. London to Brighton in 2017 and a 100km ride around Romney Marshes and Dungeness for the Rapha 100, to name a few. Surely, I was ready for some alp riding by now? As a tester, I took the plunge and hired an e-bike to go riding in the mountains around Lake Annecy, e-conquering the Semnoz and Col du Forclaz – a fantastic experience!
If I was going to climb those mountains unassisted, I needed a new bike – enter the all-carbon Ridley – it was like losing a few kilos all of a sudden! After another riding trip, this time to Mallorca – lots of flat, fast, long rides, improving my strength and speed – I moved up the ranks at PCC to the Short 1 (slow but steady progress).
The hills were getting easier, but could I do more? I decided to get a bike-fit. It made all the difference and guess what – I made it up Hogtrough without stopping!!
Surely, I was now ready for some proper mountain riding?
After initially talking myself out of it, I was inspired by another Penge ride, Lisa, who had started out on steady rides around the same time as me and who has since progressed further up the PCC echelons. She told me what a great experience she’d had on the Penge ‘Training Camp’ in Spain the year before and that I should definitely consider it.
I nervously signed up in February 2020, resigning myself to the fact that if I just couldn’t do it, I would just go to the beach/sit by the pool instead, because I thought there was no way, I was actually capable of riding up a mountain… I was elated when I climbed my first mountain (with actual switchbacks!) – Coll de Rates – spurred on by fellow riders and the riding coach!
As a fifty-something woman who came late to cycling, I still see myself as an average cyclist – for me that’s enough. There are some (especially non-cyclists) who see me as “super-fit” and “bike mad”. I see myself as neither, just someone with a fairly healthy lifestyle who’s enthusiastic about cycling. After all, I haven’t even mastered my Wahoo yet!
The key for me has been the encouragement I’ve gained from others.
All the other cyclists, like me, who had to start somewhere. We all struggled with the hills when we started out (and still do!). In the cycling universe, I am just a small speck, but a happy one, with a sense of achievement for having come such a long way from riding around country parks on my old mountain bike. I hope I can inspire others to do the same – regardless of age, fitness or cycling-savviness.
Can’t wait to get back to some group cycling on “n+1”. Namely, my new Liv bought in last year’s sales “for winter riding” but I can’t seem to put it away and get the Ridley back out for the summer…
Julia-Anne
Indoor Cycling
Out on the road or not, we still have plenty of indoor riding on. Easier to keep your distance and yet to continue riding with your pals – or even to make new pals that you might not normally ride with.
Turbo Beat Live
We’re now into business as usual and these continue to be excellent. Sessions run at the following times:
- Monday 7am
- Tuesday 6pm
- Wednesday 7am & 6pm
- Thursday 6pm
- Friday 7am
The morning sessions are a slightly more gentle workout than the evening sessions, which can be pretty tough.
A variety of tickets are available on Eventbright so you can buy into these by session, monthly etc.
Zwift Racing
Races are on Tuesdays and Thursdays with some evening and others at lunchtime. Keep an eye on our Facebook group or get yourself onto the messenger group to get involved.
How to join?
Details of how to log into the Turbo Beat sessions and how to join in the fun on Zwift are on the club website.
Closing Thoughts
Damn I have missed you lot – anyone fancy a bike ride?
Have a great weekend.
James Hanscomb, Chair of Penge Cycle Club.