Why It Is Important To Get Back In The Saddle After My Accident Kop Hill Ivinghoe Beacon & Whipsnade
Channel: Trevor Tendayi
Date: 13/07/2021

This weekend I braved getting back on the bike as the swelling subsided and the pain almost gone. The worst thing about being injured is the loss of fitness/gains. Maintaining your fitness levels is the toughest thing to do during recovery due to inability to ride properly. Luckily this time the injuries are limited to my face and mouth. Meaning I could slowly warm the sore quad by easing my way into the ride. Within half an hour it was hardly noticeable with hardly any pain. 

The Chilterns have some of the best climbing in my local area that I can get to within 20 minutes of riding. I was joined by Jamal, Luke & Vick for this gorgeous ride that started under dense fog. The rolling hills leading up to the start point are a nice warm up for the more challenging climbs ahead....most notably Church Hillclimb in Harefield. Rickmansworth Station is the start and finish point for this route. As I arrive Jamal & Luke are already waiting and Vick is not too far behind me. We set off as the sun starts to make an appearance promising a warm glorious ride.

We hit Silver Hill which averages 6% leading on to Botrells Lane Climb a gradual gradient that is a slow burner.Chalk Hill is next but this is not really much of a challenge as I spin up in the big ring. Quickly followed by Sampson Hill & Cryers Hill I never get out the big ring in an effort to get stronger at spinning the big ring. Hunts Hill forces me to drop into the small chainring due to the average 9% gradient. Hunts hill and Naphill follow in quick succession and by this time I am firmly in the small ring. Jamal goes past me at the top of Naphill as I start to feel the effects of the previous days 103.64 mile bike ride in Kent with Dirty WKND.

Brimmers hill is looming as we take the second exist off the round about onto New Road. At this point Jamal asks if this is Kop Hill and I am like Nah bro!! I hardly get my breath back as I turn right onto Top Hill Road and begin tackling this slow starter. Before I know it its at 13% and forces me out the saddle for the first time. I reach the top of Whiteleaf and wait for the boys who are not too far behind putting in strong numbers. Show the growth of the group has been immense, all their hard work has been paying off. The descent down whiteleaf is a fast riding one and I am on and off my brakes the whole way down for good reason. Gravel and cars are the obvious hazards on any descent.

As we reach Wendover, Ivinghoe Beacon is also looming in the distance and I decide to stop for a gel and some water before tackling this long steady climb that offers the best views around. We stop for a quick photo op and continue on with our ride towards the challenging Whipsnade. Jamal and I are make amazing time when an impatient driver over takes and blocks our progress due to a slower cyclist up ahead. for the next 2 agonising minutes we are stuck behind this big BMW and cannot go round him and slow down to almost a halt forcing me out the saddle. Finally he goes past the cyclist and we can continue. I tried to improve on my times but knew the PR was gone after the first 10s. I wish drivers would be a bit more patient and didn't over take on blind bends putting cyclists in danger. 

Wreck-less driving is becoming more and more prevalent and I am vigilantly filming all my rides to capture some of the idiotic driving. Overtaking on a blind bend with a solid white line was one I had to scream at the driver to stop. He wasn't looking ahead to see if he could safely overtake, yet there wasn't any room for him to do so but he was going to try anyway. In these instances I am very good at gesturing for them to stop immediately and wait until it is safe to continue. I am responsible for my safety and will do what I can to ensure I am safe at all times.

Sunday was an amazing day I left everything out on the road and was totally spent by the time I got home. What an amazing feeling after some time off the bike.