I’ve not really been one for cycling for a long time, I had a bike while growing up and stopped going on it in the early 1990′s – I used to go on bike rides with friends and family but we all got into computer stuff and exercise/bikes fell into the background.

A friend gave me the bike as they had won one in a competition but theirs was already better and didn’t need a second so said have it if I can use it.

About a week or so ago, while the weather was gorgeous, and warm I decided to go out on the bike. I wondered how I would manage it. I’d been out once a few weeks before and rode all over the place trying to get my balance and remember how to ride it… I did forget for a while but it came back quickly.

I didn’t go far from home, I took the cycle paths and went to a park and came back – it was a mixture of roads and mainly cycle paths. You can view the round by looking at my Overview Map if interested.

It was a good start, althou the next day I ached a lot and in reality I only did about 3.8 miles round trip which does’t sound like a lot.

About 3 years ago (I was around 26/27) a friend invited me to try trampolining. I thought it sounded like fun and so I went along. I think it was meant as a joke to start with but is really enjoyable. I’ve been going there for a while now, and learned a lot however am only just starting to do sumasaults.

It has taken me a while to understand when someone says things like “Move your hips” how to use the brain to tell what part of the body to move to do the action. Its a training experience that will go on for a long time yet.

With the trampolining, I’ve attempted a competition and won a trophy for the event and most recently (end of 2008) I qualified as an assistant trampolining coach which is quite excellent – especially coming from something that could have been a joke invite.

Other Things i’ve tried/am trying is Dance – I’ve tried Ballroom Dance (Very hard without a partner) and Salsa Dance – which is possable without a partner but more complex with.

I discovered a while back that I enjoyed dance but was always afraid of what others thought of me while doing it – Would I be good enough for others etc. But found when I tried it I really loved it – all those people I worried about watching and judging me just disappeared and I was free to move and enjoy. I don’t think of myself as “good” at dance – but I do enjoy it.

I discovered how much I enjoyed it at Harvest 2008 – I joined with a few friends in the street dance class that was very energetic and fun. I was part of the stewarding team as per usual of many years now and people came and pointed/ laughed/ made humor at me to start with… but then stopped as I think they saw how much it meant to me and saw how I felt and then it all changed… People were supportive after the giggle stage

Recently, this year I’ve been trying to get myself fitter and the more I do the more I realise how unfit I am. I’ve been going to the gym and trying to run, and cycle a bit – I’ve not really cycled since the early 1990′s.