Back on the bike!

National Crit Champs, Sheffield

I’ve had a tough couple of months. More responsibility at work has been difficult – a very welcome change, although change is always challenging. Stressing about getting jobs finished off and tiredness from travelling long distances for bike races was starting to take its toll and my head just hasn’t been in it. So I decided to take a few weeks off racing. Expensive decision to make, as about £90 of races had already been paid for, but it needed to be done.

I did as much or as little as I felt like for those few weeks – riding Madison SQT’s at Manchester Velodrome and the Manchester to Blackpool ‘Sportive’. I also started doing the Buxton TT’s, which I have actually started to enjoy…there may be a tester in there somewhere yet. Maybe not.
What I’ve certainly learned is how to balance racing with work and I’ll perhaps be less quick just to enter a women’s event just because they put one on in future!
Since I’ve been back racing, I’ve actually been doing much better with a couple of top 20’s in the last couple of weeks. I came 13th at Naseby (one of my favourite courses), although spoiled somewhat by running an E/1/2 men’s race at the same time causing us to stop with just 3 miles to go. I also came 20th(I think) In the National Crit Champs in Sheffield, although only the top 19 were recorded. The course was fantastic, as the city centre crits always are with fast corners and a cobbled climb!

This weekend I took some more time out for myself and travelled up to Northumberland and the Lakes for the weekend to ride with the Kyklos team. I got to try various Edco wheels, deep sections on the first day and some lighter ‘Albula’ Competition wheels on the second day. With Kirkstone Pass on the route for day two I was grateful for the lighter wheels with ceramic braking surface (fantastic in the wet so I'm told), although NOT the 39 25 gear ratio. Everyone else was on compacts, triples or had a 29 (MARK!!). The weekend was brilliant fun, Eve and I enjoyed giving the boys a challenge and the scenery was awesome – in particular the Langdale Valley which looks like something from Jurassic Park! I can’t wait to go back!

Bit of a bling 'club' ride - pretty
much everyone on deep section Edcos.