Welcome to my cycling page. I have been enjoyingcycling since I was 18 when I started to commute a few miles to work. Since that time it has become more of a daily part of my life fufilling my commuting needs and virtually all my transport needs ( I don't own a car - gasp!) while being a source of great fun and recreation. I am not the worlds greatest cyclist and have been known to ask the cosmic question "Why am I doing this?" on more than one occasion but I have to admit my life would be less without it. That's not to say that I wouldn't longer without it but you get my point. :-)


Tandeming

Tandeming is something that I took up in 1993 when I first tried it with my in-laws on a cycling trip to Germany. Tandeming is a great cycling experience that can help couples of unequal ability enjoy their cycling time together. Although I cycle daily and have done so for many years I don not consider myself a good cyclist and am definetly not as good as my husband. Consequently, this would lead to our days out consisting of him waiting for me patiently and me wondering whey on earth he wasn't waiting for me! :-) I can honestly say that I have done cycle rides on the tandem in much quicker times than I ever could on my single bike and much more comfortably. However, there is a price to be paid - FEAR! I am, I am proud to say, the Stoker of our tandem team and as such have seen, felt, touched, tasted and, on many occasions, prayed for death (at least a quick and easy one!) As a cyclist and budding control freak I am used to being under control ( or at least the illusion there of) of the situation at hand. However, that all gets thrown out the window when you take the back seat of a tandem. The problem with being the stoker is that you have no control of the brakes and, on many occasions, you cannot see where you're going. This leads to the frightening scenario of speeding downhill at (seemingly) uncontrollable rates with your hands nervously twitching at the dummy (notice the terminology) brake hoods with nothing happening! It has to be said that my husband is a very good captain, always letting me know what's coming up and even taking my screaming and back pounding at times of great speed.:-) Why do I do it then you may ask? As I said before I do cycle much farther on a tandem than I do on my single bike and the communication you have between you while you're riding is far better than on two singles. Added with the factor that everyone has to look at you as you go by and the tandem itself being a conversation point, the good points far outweigh the bad.





Solo Cycling
As I said, although I like tandeming I am a solo cyclist as well. I have commuted everyday to work for about the last 10 years and have done so in varying climates and terrains. It hasn't always been easy but it has given me a certain satisfaction that I have been able to face what most people would consider a challenge, and meet it as part of everyday life. Commuting to work has not only given me a certain sense of self satisfaction, it has also let me see a lot more of where I live and appreciate it and also help to keep me fitter than I would be without it. My most major achievement was when I cycled the German part of the Mosel in three days on my solo Dawes Supergalaxy. Although many people could have done it in one - for me this was a milestone. Germany was a beautiful place to cycle with miles of cycle paths throughout the country and the place of my longest commute yet - 7 miles each way ( and it wasn't flat either!) Now that I live on Okinawa it is not so much the distance that I cycle as much as it is the heat I have to cope with. At the moment the weather is mild and perfect for cycling but during the summer months, with the tempertures in the high 90's and humidity through the roof, fitness for even short journeys is necessary. If you would like to see some of this island paradise and maybe check out my Okinawa page. (Soon to have cycling photos I hope.)





























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