Just a short break.

Don't get me wrong, I love my bikes. No seriously, I love my bikes, I love riding, but for some reason, we are spending a little time apart. I think it's healthy for any good relationship, that you can spend some time apart and still love and respect each other as much as ever. And it's not that I'm NOT riding, it's just that there are other things, or should I say, another thing [singular] that's come between my two-wheeled friends and myself of late. And what could possibly come between a girl and her two-wheeled friend? Her four-legged friend, of course.

Lately, the first thing that I do when I get out of bed is, rather than pulling on my knicks and donning my helmet, I find myself slapping on my trackies and shoving a cap over my morning hair. Instead of water bottle, spare tube and pump, I pick up tennis ball, plastic bag and lead.

Please don't judge me, cycling comrades, for I am now the owner of (or rather, I am now owned by) a bouncing, licking, energetic and fur encrusted creature, otherwise known as Canis lupus familiaris.

His name is Toby. And with all the bounding, unstoppable energy of a kelpie, I find myself walking (or, running!) morning and night, and sometimes noon, to try and match the vigour this creature on the lead beside me.

Kind readers, I've just found a new training partner. He lives nearby, he's always ready to get out there and he doesn't judge me if I miss a session - needless to say, with his eager eyes and waggly tail, I hardly ever do. Although he knows he'd be faster than me if he had the chance, he holds back and keeps to my level, subtly pushing me that little bit more to keep up.

And you know, I think my bikes understand. They know that they'll have me for life, as Toby also must know... They know I'll always be girl+bike, even when I'm more girl+dog. They've loaned me out for a short space of time, knowing that they'll get me back more eager (and fitter!) than ever.

I'll just have to teach Toby to run alongside us.