I've just found some old photos that I'd forgotten about

This is me in one of the only two cycle races I participated in.
I'm riding my 1946 Hetchins bike in a 10km Time Trial - The Tin Can Ten in Nottinghamshire in about 1998.

(It's possibly one of the only half a dozen times I've worn a helmet in tens of thousands of kilometers of cycling over 60 years - so a rare photo indeed!)

How stylish!!

#cycling #bikeTooter #HubGears #Hetchins

I have in the past occasionally mentioned my vintage bicycle - it's a 1946 Hetchins.
Not a very good example, but it's very special to me.
I've been taking photos for the Veteran Cycle Club magazine so I'll share one with you lot.

#bicycle #biketooter #hetchins

Let me talk about me & #cycling for a few moments.

I started cycling in about 1970 when I joined the local CTC section for its rides from Enfield.

In the following years I toured by bike round England, Wales & France - all on my 3 speed #hetchins

Life intervened for a while when we were first married but just before we moved to Leicester I dusted off the bike and started cycling again and was soon bitten by the #audax bug.

I rode a huge number of shorter randonees - mostly 100km & 200km in England, France & Belgium sometimes with my young son. I've never ridden an Audax longer than 400km - and that was one of many DIY rides.

I was commuting by bike as well, which kept my fitness up.

When I retired with #depression & #anxiety my fitness dropped off a cliff and has never recovered.
I tried a couple of 100km DIYs and didn't finish in time.

I love cycling, but my body is not as forgiving as it once was - so I'm resolved to shorter rides for fun & fitness - no longer as a challenge