With thanks to Rapha...

Over the weekend, a couple of mates and I signed up for the Rapha 100 ladies ride here in Melbourne. I like to mix things up with training and love to try something new on the weekend - races or otherwise - so this was right up my alley. A 100km ride designed to celebrate women in cycling on a global scale, organised by the prestigious Rapha brand. Done.

There was around 80 women registered for the Melbourne ride and, as we assembled in Collingwood, I realised what a diverse range of women enjoy bikes. We were greeted with smiles, laminated direction cards and ushered upstairs to a beautiful open space where All Press were serving complimentary coffees and we had a chance to scope out what would be waiting for us as a reward post ride - a gorgeous sit down luncheon (yes, LUNCHEON - we are ladies!). Rapha really know how to put on a polished event.

The All Press baristas getting busy

Lunch - gorgeous!

 The ride started with some nice hills through Kew Boulevard before we navigated along the Eastlink bikeway out into the suburbs. I have never ridden out that way and was really surprised by how gorgeous some of the surroundings were; we rode through what seemed to be rainforest, with flowing streams and expanses of paddocks with cows. Half the time I had no idea where we were, just soaked up the new environment and enjoying the company of chicks who like bikes.

It wasn't a race and it was a nice long conversational ride. Around 4.5hr later we rolled back into Collingwood and were presented with champagne, coffee and the most amazing spread of catered lunch (vegan? gluten free? vegetarian? right this way). Nothing was too much trouble and our group of women got busy chatting over lunch about how much we enjoyed the ride and how great the day had been.

Cake glam. They taste as good as they look

Drink glam. Really, all rides should end like this.

This was a totally FREE event put on by the generous Rapha Australia folk. I had an amazing day and I feel so lucky to have experienced the event with the other ladies. It was brilliantly organised (oh yeah, we had Rapha gentlemen on motorbikes and Pikey on his Giant guiding us along the way. And did I mentioned the 1/2 way pit stop with lollies, bananas and muesli bars? Honestly, fab)

And.... presents!! We got presents!!!

Rapha seat pack - glam!

Coffee. Free. Bonus

So now, back to the not-so-glam business of getting-it-done this week. I'm feeling tired, times are busy but its big girl pants on and doing my best to squeeze the most out of every day.

Today however I just squeezed out a lotta sweat. Its 12 days until my very first stand alone half marathon and i'm getting the k's in and the sweat out.

SWEAT. MORE SWEAT