Anna from Colchester took on a charity ride and caught the bug, now regularly commuting and tackling time trials. Here's her profile.
Name:
Anna Anderson
Age:
45
From:
Colchester, Essex
Club:
Colchester Rovers Cycling Club
What kind of riding do you do?
I joined the Rovers to do a London to Amsterdam charity ride and have never looked back. I take part in time trials over 10 to 50 miles on my favourite bike 'Sunbeam', a Giant Once (very old but lovely) and have my 'Old Red', a 25-year-old mountain bike to commute a short six miles to the station to get the train into London.
What do you enjoy most about cycling?
In time trialling, it’s all about you against the clock. I love being in control of that and always trying to shave another second from my last time with the added thrill of going fast but being in control! Now don’t get me wrong, I am not the fastest on the planet but I am a 'have-a-go-flo' and I just love that I am part of a club where you can give it your absolute all and they recognise the effort even if you have the slowest time. That to me is why cycling has become a big part of my life and I just love it.
What’s your favourite ride?
Riding with Jim (a Colchester Rovers veteran). He has helped me out with training and advice since 2009, but mostly he is so patient while I drag myself up hills. I actually cannot think of anything better than cycling from Colchester to Castle Hedingham having a coffee and then slogging back (around 50 miles) chit-chatting to Jim all the way, in beautiful countryside and trying to keep at 15mph or above. Bliss.
What’s your top cycling tip to share?
My biggest tip and I know it sounds cliché, but just have fun! Hills are my nemesis but I tackle them whenever I can because if I don’t I will never get any better at them. My top tip here is to do repetitive sessions, find a hill that’s challenging and start in the easiest gear. Go up but don’t stand up and then whizz back down again. Every time you go back to that hill make the gear harder and harder and before you know it you will be whizzing up it and back down, then move on to a harder hill!
If you had a tandem, who would you like to ride it with
Without doubt Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters) as he could sing the entire collection of Sonic Highways and I would pedal with fury!
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