Ride report: Cannock Chase

It feels like this has been a long time coming! After lots of soul-searching, and many challenging decisions, I’m so excited to share that I’ve finally completed my first successful endurance ride not only of the season but since August 2023!

My last successful ride was the 80km CER at the Advanced National Championships in August 2023 at Well Vale. I had every intention of continuing with that momentum, but things don’t always go as planned, do they? I attempted the 80km CER at Lavenham in 2024 too, but Chip, my loyal partner in this journey, went lame at VG1. That setback hit me hard, and I found myself questioning everything—about Chip’s future, his arthritis, and the costly steroid injections that maybe he needed to keep going. The path ahead wasn’t clear, but what I’ve learned over time is that resilience is built in the quiet moments of doubt and reflection. Not forgetting that I've really missed actually getting to ride at endurance rides!

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