Bredon Hill Walk

bikewithJake was a team of one today - and it wasn't Jake. Jake decided against a walk  as it just didn't seem quite exciting enough after rugby was cancelled due to the frost. Philip, well he was just a 'no-show'.  So it was down to the sickly Nic to put best booted foot forward and march to the top of a hill.


It was a beautiful day to head for the top of Bredon Hill, crisp underfoot, with hidden sparkling jewels of frost in the lee of the land and a slight ivory haze softening the distant views.  

     The walk was from Kersoe via 'Fiddler's Knapp' to the 'Elephant' at the top of the hill and then back following a circular route.  Two hours fifteen minutes of gentle rambling interspersed by 5 minutes of listening to joyous, busy chatter.  A mixed flock of finches - always take binoculars - gossiped away in the tops of half a dozen trees.  The noise and sight of 3 earnest mountain bikers sent them whirring into the sky, probably close to 100 birds, momentarily lost in the glare of the sun.  Then, they swooped back to their canopy perches to resume their chat as before.

You see boys, you don't know what you were missing!

Mixed Fortunes

2 days training was obviously far too much for Nic who took to her bed on Sunday with a virus and didn't resurface until Friday.

Jake, needless to say, was absolutely fine despite his team suffering a 77 - 7 defeat in the rugby on Sunday!  School sport and rugby training on Wednesday were followed by a foray into a new sport.  Jake quite fancied having a look at Tae Kwondo before Christmas but his plans were put on ice until the New Year.  Thursday, was his first opportunity to check it out.  Surprise, surprise he liked it!  Looks like his week is about to get more crowded.

'What of Philip?', I hear you cry.  Well, he's out there enjoying his newly acquired free time (he's bowed out of teaching).  The shocking blue lycra is being pedalled at a relaxed, languid pace around swathes of Cotswold countryside near Stow on the Wold.  You have been warned.  Three days outing have given good impetus to the training drive.  Come on Nic, stop slacking!

Judging from the aches we must be in training!

Be impressed, we've completed our first two training sessions of 2012!

Jake and Nic ventured out after school,on Thursday, to jog a lot and walk a little for three quarters of an hour.  It went quite well all things considered - those 'things' being Nic's general lack of fitness and Jake's general aversion to running.  Nic's a hard task master, "Jog through your stitch, you'll be fine."  He did and he was.  We returned in the dusk across the fields and Jake got his revenge, just 50 metres from our front door, Nic found the muddy puddle, "Keep going mum, you'll be fine!"

Today they took to the road on their wheels.  A fabulous, sunny day with a fair nip in the air.    25 miles later they got their slice of Christmas cake and cup of tea.  Jake is still 'breaking in' his new saddle - hence his John Wayne impersonation.  Nic responded in sympathy.  The last 4 miles were distinctly uncomfortable but that was a good New Year effort.

Jake has a rugby match tomorrow, Nic will be practising putting one foot in front of the other and seeing if the muscles can function without too much discomfort.

We'll keep you posted!

A Day Away from a Year of Possibilities

Looking forward to midnight with a degree of nerves and a lot of excitement.  2012 will be an amazing year for sport and bikewithJake2012 is going to get in the Olympic mood.  


Five months of training and 6 weeks of cycling between the Olympic Venues before we can sit back and marvel at London 2012.  


Hope you will follow us, make comments and enjoy the ride.