Falling out with my bike

• Jun 20, 2016
• Austria student ski trips
• School Ski Trips

With only a few weeks to go before I do the Ironman race in Bolton, I thought a four hour cycle to the coast was a good way to keep my training going and enjoy a weekend away with friends.

Well, it was a good idea, before I got totally lost…!

Trying to save my phone’s battery, I thought I was accurately following the route my friend Peter had given me. By 5pm and four and half hours on the road, I realised somewhere I’d taken a wrong turn. I crossed motorways, asked for people’s help and even tried walking part of the way.

London to Whitstable should only be a four/four and half hour cycle, it ended up taking me seven hours!

When I finally arrived at 8pm, I had seriously fallen out with my bike. Exhausted and fed up, I was really wishing I’d just got the train there.

But then on Monday I heard that Peter had had his bike stolen. The thieves had jumped over his back gate, broken the lock on his shed door and taken his bike plus cycle bag with everything inside. He’s insured but won’t get his replacement bike for a few weeks.

It made me think how awful it would be NOT to have my bike, to suddenly not have the option to cycle. Sport has always been a huge part of my everyday life and I can’t see that changing.

To work in the sports industry is just a bonus. Every year we’re out in resort overseeing our “school ski trips”:http://club-europe.co.uk/school-ski-trips/school-sports-tours/ and our “sports tours”:http://club-europe.co.uk/school-ski-trips/school-sports-tours/. It’s really a privilege for me to do this and get paid for it at the same time!

Happy cycling/running everyone. Wish me luck with my Ironman!

Having trouble finding your school ski trip operator?

Cath has drawn up a handy guide on what to look out for and what to avoid. Ask us for more details.

Cath Ruffle (pictured below in an orange jacket in Whitstable after her seven hour cycle) is Club Europe’s Head of Ski and Sports Tours. You can call her on 0208 772 2870 if you want to hear more about her Ironman training, our school ski trips or our range of sports tours. Or click on the links to read more about our “student ski trips”:http://club-europe.co.uk/school-ski-trips/ and our “sports tours”:http://club-europe.co.uk/school-ski-trips/school-sports-tours/ for schools.