Tour de France Training Bike

So I still don't have a bike, which I am thinking is a major problem when going on a long ride. Let's be honest, I don't think I have ridden a bike in about 100 years!

Another problem is that I live on a hill. A rather steep and long hill. One which some cars struggle to get up so I certainly don't see how I can possibly ride up it without tears. (Remember there will absolutely be no hills on my ride so I don't really need to prepare for this!).

So Paul takes me to Rebel Sport to buy a stationary bike so I can start training. We find this totally cool Tour de France training bike. It looks like a real bike and you can program to ride anywhere in the world. You can also ride the Tour de France stages... maybe that is a clue in the name.

So the bike is delivered and I am really excited. I can finally start training! Yay!!

But of course there is a problem. The delivery guy won't go up the three steps to my front door (princess!) so he leaves it in the Garage. He suggests that I should help him carry it. I know right??!! Now that might seem fine, but our garage is not secure and I am flying out the next day.

So a few phone calls later, two delivery guys arrive and move the bike into our studio. All is now good, but the bike is upside down despite the clear signs on the box about sensitive electronic equipment and this way up. All good clues if you ask me, but apparently not for my delivery guys. I just managed to keep a straight face when they eventually agreed to put it up the right way with much grunting.

So there is a lesson here... it saves time to just do what Wendy asks. The first time.

Anyhoo, back to the bike... Paul gets it all set up for me when he is back. He takes a test ride. The message I get is are you crazy!! Undeterred, I jump on when I get home for my first training ride. This is so exciting. But goodness me, is it meant to be this hard? After two minutes I have to get off to recover.

86km in mild weather with no wind and definitely no hills is starting to look more and more impossible!!

I know I can do this, it is just a matter of training right? So on attempt 2, I manage 5 km. Hugh and Paul cheer each km for me. In fact Hugh might have been helping just a little bit by pushing me feet, but let's not dwell on that, and it certainly does not count as cheating! I won't share my time with you but just guess a really bad time for 5 km... and then maybe double it... and then maybe another couple of minutes... But it is training day 1. I have time. I can do this!!