Thetford

Thetford

Saturday 13 December 2014

Foo Fighters and trails like these

A couple of weeks ago I managed to drag myself up to Coed y Brenin and catch up with some old friends, and meet some new ones in the process.  I really love it up there and when the opportunity to ride a couple of days were offered; it was a no brainer really.


I knew Shergie and Andrew from our endeavours as pronghorn riders and racers, to which I still had plenty to talk about.  I was quite negative at the time of its coming to an end, but out of it came some great friendships.   So, this weekend I also got to meet Stuart and Tom and needless to say I think they are cracking blokes.  To cut a long story short I managed to wreck Stuarts new forks (it is sorted now thankfully). But when I spoke to Stuart recently I said that in a mad hour during the weekend we managed to break three bikes but made some great friends (but that's mountain biking for you).


Anyway, fast forward couple of weeks and there were some further developments locally that have really made me smile.  My local shop and team arranged a meeting mid week to sort out next year.  I was just going to do what I normally do and just ride what I can when I can and keep my head down.  Anyway it looks like I will be riding with not only my mates, including Mick who is a national champ; but also a professional mountain biker and all round top fella.

I cannot say much more than this because they have contracts, but needless to say this person has been on the podium in a world cup!!!


Its amazing to think that I will be riding in the same kit and might even compete in the same events, I never saw this coming.  I genuinely am grateful that http://www.sherwoodpinescycles.co.uk/ have let me be part of this.  However it looks like I might have to step up the training and be a bit more focused, and a little less my normal beer swilling self. 


This morning I got out for a couple of hours and hit the local Kitchener Trail, this picture was from the early part of the trail and captures what Sherwood is about.  Look out for team Sherwood Pines next year, I will try to keep people updated; but also because also we have new riders and old ones who might surprise us and get some results (no pressure Jon).

Saturday 26 April 2014

Not racing

This happens every now and then, stuff happens and family commitments get in the way so you end up missing out.  That is all it is though; its just that feeling that all your mates are racing and having 'fun' and you are not...but to your work mates and friends (who do not ride bicycles) they see it as you get a break and get to hang with the family.

This is true, but it does 'mess' with your noggin.   Anyway I will put up a picture of a race from last year as it happens, and as it happens I didn't finish that race either (its a good picture though).  But this blog is to get a message across about how I feel about the 'scene'.




The fact is I have lost motivation to actually race (it will come back) but its a problem because this sport is hard and you cant rely on team mates to help you; this is because they are the ones who normally want to beat you.  I have found a great friend in Jon Lightfoot though, and he is going great at the minute.  So that's the first thing off my chest in this blog; also I have good friends who are now in other teams which is not a bad thing either.


Which leads me in to what I actually want to get across; no matter what you do or how seriously you take this sport, it is just a sport.  It was 2008 when I decided to put shop kit on and pretend I'm a cyclist.  From then I have started my own clubs, been in super teams where the earth was promised as long as I coughed up some money in the first year (oh yes I fell for it) and now ride for the shop where it all started.  Two pieces of advice have stuck with me, the first was from Andy Cockburn "forget the team stuff just enjoy riding your bike", the second was from Gareth Hayes, "stick to riding with that fast bloke (Mick Powell) and stay with your local club".


And that's the rub folks, Sherwood Pines Cycles are my team, they are my local shop, they are a meeting point for so many of my friends and the staff are a great bunch of personalities.  Its a local shop for local people as Edward would say. 

Monday 24 February 2014

Thetford winter series

I have this blog to talk about stuff which a) is about bike racing and b) is about stuff that matters to me.  I f anyone reads this shit then that's a bonus.  This series is probably the only one I have ever completed, but in doing so I have learned a lot about myself and life in general.

I have probably landed 6th or 7th overall with coming quite close to a 3rd place in round 3.  For two rounds I was going well and for the other 2 rounds I probably should not have bothered going.  The difference between entering or not was my team mate Jon.

He has been brilliant throughout and has driven every round.  No hassle just get up go, ride and go home.  I wish I could be more like that sometimes instead of over thinking things and making more excuses than just getting on with it.  I don't though which sort of makes me who I am. 

I am going to keep this short, I basically need to stop thinking and just enjoy the ride which is something we all need to tell ourselves every now and then.