“I miss everything about club rides – I can’t wait for them to resume”
How are you doing?
I have continued to work, in fact, increasing my hours, as a nurse, both in a hospital and in the community. It has been difficult going to work while seeing others have time off enjoying the weather and cycling.
How are you keeping yourself motivated to ride right now?
I have had less time and been more tired than normal. But the weather has helped. Plus, I am from a family of cyclists so I have not had to suffer lots of solo miles. Also, with the roads being so quiet, I have been able to cycle into work a few times.
How did you get into riding?
I started riding because running was getting harder and I needed something new. My husband had just discovered cycling and so I thought, why not? It has been around seven years since then.
What has the club done to keep people connected?
Nova Raiders had to cancel our yearly sportive, Route 66. Usually this attracts hundreds of local cyclists with all the proceeds going to a local charity, Severn Hospice. Instead we came up with Ride for Severn Hospice, encouraging cyclists simply to get on their bike, indoors or out, and make a donation, large or small. Currently we’ve raised over £3,500!
Has the lockdown made you do new things in cycling?
I now know how to use Zwift! I have also spent a lot more time cycling with my family; we have been really enjoying cycling, not taking it too seriously with no racing to train for.
My husband purchased a tandem a while back and my daughter convinced me to have a go on that recently. That was great fun, but very scary downhill and round corners.
What do you miss most about the weekend club run?
I miss all of it. Nattering away while the miles fly by, the coffee stops, the cake. I can’t wait for club rides to resume. What don’t I miss? Having to battle my way past the men to have a turn on the front.
What’s the best way to make turbo sessions fly by?
Doing them with my daughter Charlotte. We have what she would call a ‘proper pain cave set-up’ – two Wattbike Atoms side-by-side. It’s a lot easier to suffer through intervals when someone else is doing them with you.
What goals do you have in the sport in the next year?
To keep on riding and make the most of my club. My daughter tells me we have a joint goal of racing on the tandem – I’m not so convinced.