I was right to take that short spin to Tooting Common last week. I went out for another ride today, same destination but a greater distance. That approach is correct in the context of Graded Exercise Therapy/pacing for someone with mild fibromyalgia. Tuesday's ride was no more - but no less- than a light warm up and stretch. Today's the equivalent of a pre-prandial stroll. With the extra twist of the obligatory final leg up the hill. It was only at that point that I broke sweat and was breathing with any effort.
I dressed pretty much as I did on Tuesday - t-shirt, jogging bottoms, and canvas sandals. Just fine for a short spin like that, but if I had been going any further, I would have gone out differently. Better shoes. And more equipment. It's all nice and fluffy to go with a little handbag slung across your body, but it's not that efficient. You need a rucksack for the water, the toolkit//pump, cardigan, map, camera, sandwiches, Swiss Army knife, ginger beer, crampons, distress flare. I exaggerate!
So, no photos.
I was going to put in a mention of a book I bought recently, called The Girl's Guide to Life on Two Wheels.
But I'm in two minds about it. It's well thought out, well written book, with some very useful tips, and some rather nive photography. But I should have taken the 'Girl' in the title as a red flag. I'm not quite sure when posh people stop being a 'girl', but other than specific usage such as 'Girls night out' most normal people stop using it by about the time they have a 'grown up' job and 'grown up' responsibilities, like bills.
Like so much of the media, it seems to assume that women are aged 35 or under, because, obviously, past the age of 35 women are, in fact, invisible, and have nothing else to do in life but curl up and wait to die.
I couldn't reasonably expect a journalist to have any insights into specific challenges of cycling with a chronic health condition, and it would be churlish to criticise someone for not catering specifically for my niche. So, if you're young, thin and girlish, this is a good book. There might be a market for a book written about cycling (and/or general fitness) for older women with health challenges, but to write it would take quite specific research and input from someone medically qualified. But of course, if anyone has any ideas, why not leave a comment, or email me!
Review from Total Women's Cycling
