Chinese Foot Binding

Second training ride, up early, chores done and ready to head down to Harveys to meet him and Steve for the training ride then I realize that today is the day I  have to try and use the "connecty" shoes. For the uninitiated they are called Clipless although you do "clip in" and "clip out", there is a very good geeky reason why this consfusing name is used but I will spare you. 


So I practice walking around the apartment in my "connecty" shoes which seems okay so off I boldly go to meet the boys. We get to the ride and off we go. Wow what a difference it means having the connecty shoes. You can pull as well as push which improves your performance by 40% and boy you can feel it. In combination with the shoes AND knowing how to use my gears I fair fly along and loving it. Allyson and I rode most of the way together which I thought was very impressive for a girl ;o)


At one point found myself at the front of our 'pack' which was cool until I realized I had no idea where we were going - note to self "don't do that again". Back in the pack, all going well apart from the "larger" dude who insists on overtaking on the flat then slows everyone down on an incline so you have to overtake him then back to the front he goes. 


All good on the home run. Then disaster: right foot unclipped, a sudden stop, I attempt to put my left leg out and I'm on my arse. Not so clever after all Mr Embleton. Up and off again slightly embarrassed but short lived as another rider does the same. Shared shame is less painful. 


38km done and we decide to ride another 23km home. Get home and find that in my enthusiasm for using the connecty shoes it feels like I have 4 broken toes when I take my left shoe off. For some reason a scene from The Inn of the sixth Happiness with Ingrid Bergman unbinding a Chinese womans feet springs to mind. Agony. Sat in a hot bath for a hour soaking the toes and scrapes from the day. 


61km done, gears working, clipped in and out, Garmen computer thingy actually did what I told it this time so stats all available but camera had no battery. Bugger. 


Donation levels started to rise with some generous donations from lots of people but a special thank you to Adrian, Piers and Mr Anon who between them donated over $1000.


Next week the boys are going to join me on the training ride (43Km) and I will be trying my Garmin heart rate monitor strap thing and trying to keep upright and not destroy my toes in the connecty shoes.  Lets see how that works out for me ;o)