After the Suffering… Suffragettes!
Posted November 15, 2011
The National Hill Climb not only marked the end of the racing season, but for me marked the beginning of the “all you can eat” season. It’s nice to calm down after the fevered preparation for what was my biggest event of the season. Slow, undemanding rides, lots of cake, beer, biscuits… you get the picture. The change of pace also saw me taking part in a very interesting event in the centre of Leicester.
Share the Love
After finishing my test of the Scott Foil R1, I had to (reluctantly) send it back. Before I did, I rode it out to Polly Botts Lane, site of our hill climb championship. There, I met some members of Leicester Forest CC and gave them an opportunity to ride the superbike. It’s been brilliant to try what the elite get to cycle and I thought I would share the love. It also gave me chance to squeeze a cheeky forty miles in before packing it into a box for the courier. The lads from the Forest helpfully provided me with some feedback for my review, soon to appear on Bikesoup.
Cycles and Suffragettes
Having waved goodbye to the dream machine, it was on to my ancient fixed gear Raleigh to take part in the Cycles and Suffragettes ride in Leicester. This was an event organised to celebrate the life of Alice Hawkins, an important campaigner for women’s votes, who lived in the city. Without the invention of the bike, the movement would have literally struggled to get going. Alice cycled all over Leicestershire to spread the word, causing outrage by wearing bloomers to do so. The American civil rights leader, Susan B Anthony, wrote in 1896:
"I think [the bicycle] has done more to emancipate women than any one thing in the world. I rejoice every time I see a woman ride by on a bike. It gives her a feeling of self-reliance and independence the moment she takes her seat; and away she goes, the picture of untrammelled womanhood."
It was hard to imagine a more different event than the ultra-competitive National Hill Climb. Greeted at a local cinema with big muffins and coffee, we rode round the city at a very leisurely pace. Many of the riders were dressed as suffragettes - sadly not me. I wasn't the only bloke though, like the movement itself, this was not a women-only event. A tour of blue plaque sites relating to Alice and her contemporaries, with informative explanations, made for a very pleasant ride – a great way to explore any city. It was just one part of a day of events supported by Ride Leicester and the Breeze Network.
Zumba?
It’s not all been easy riding though. With Andy Brodziak’s advice, I’ve started to try some different types of exercise, away from the bike. Part of my working week is spent at Leicester University, so I’ve taken advantage of the facilities to take part in a few circuit training classes. Great for building core strength and general fitness, I’ve found them tough, but sort of enjoyable. The last one I did, the gym was shared with an Zumba class – now that looked like more fun! I’d be tempted to have a go if it wasn’t that all the participants were female – I wonder what Alice Hawkins would have made of that?
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