Empty promises of regular updates go unfilled yet again. Not a lot has happened, yet a lot has. A great weekend just gone involving a sweet dinner party up at Wills Crib, you did good bro, that lamb was off the chain! We then headed to the movies to see a film called Taken, with Liam Neeson, who plays a total bad ass not to be messed with. Edge of the seat stuff - Fo Sho!
I headed to EIS Saturday morning and assisted Jeremy Hayes at a Talent Team camp, I only did 1 day, as they were heading to Wales on Sunday for 2 days of XC, which i'd have loved to have been on, but work, work, work! Pah! But they had the new British Cycling Watt bikes which i got to have a go on. I'd love to have my own one!
Anyway, we got some good kids on the programme, and with the right backing, and the right attitude they'll sure go far. Jez and Dylan Clayton will see to that!
After that i headed straight to Sheffield arena to watch the Supercross, what a night out! A mad atmosphere and all my buddies in the place. The dash for cash was the most entertaining bit, one lap, no crap, moves were busted in desperation to win a bucket load of cash, very entertaining. Sheffield hero Ryan Mason entered just about every class to obtain more track time, and more shots at a title, he rode good to bring in a podium finish to much cheering from the crowd. Ryan Mason, the peoples favourite! The guy who actually won must've been bummed he didn't get half the reception!
On Sunday I got up early prepped the bike and had a quick 2 hour blast with Big W, we did a fun loop and got absolutely caked in crap, but it was great fun. Short and sweet. A little later on his wonderful wife Hannah cooked up a Sunday Roast and it was a treat! Good times. I bought 2 new fiddy-9-fiddies and we shot some hoops.
The cold has really set in, and I got seriously cold kidneys on the night road ride last night, but again, had a lot of fun. Hitting the deadlifts tonight at Chateau Harper. Feeling good right now, all the bruising has gone from my Preston slam, and I can just focus on the weeks of hard work ahead.
Missing the long summer nights already, the warm air, Bolehills evening sessions, the deep red skies that were too few and far between, but hell, I miss them anyway.
Stay positive, and holla at me!
Tuesday, 28 October 2008
Friday, 24 October 2008
Rest Ice Compression Elevation. And Peas.
Well, well, the end of October, the end of another month, literally 2 months until Christmas. Where has this year gone? It's been liquidised into national racing, living between pay cheques, weddings, stag dos, holidays, travelling the globe in search of the BMX dream, riding the push bikes, personal dilemmas that have seen it all whoosh by in what seems like a matter of minutes.
But its been (nearly) all good so far. I can't really complain, I still have a house, a job, my bike, my friends, which in the "current climate" (overcast and cold?) is pretty good going I think.
Derby went well, even if the gale force side wind did try and break us down. Many left early, weakened by a bit of harsh weather, the beard kept me warm though, so i stuck it out to the end. Hell, i even watched the trophy presentaion, knowing full well i wasn't to recieve one for 6th place. That's just the kinda guy I am.
Anyway Derby did an amazing job, it was like a mini-national, on a maxi-national track. The wind didn't help what is already the toughest track out there, and i was poooped by the end of it. But I rode alright (until my final - pattern eh?!) I managed 3 3rd place finishes in motos and 3rd in the semi also. In the main I snapped, wobbled and rolled round, then attached the 3rd straight and pulled a couple of positions to finish 6th. Out of 25 riders, a few pro dudes and a bunch of fast yoots it was okay by me.
To be honest i'm glad its over, i'm sure in a few weeks time i'll be longing to race again, but right now, i'm thankful for a little break, some XC, some road bike, gym work and some time at the weekends to myself.
Sheffield Supercross this weekend which i'm pysched on, and hopefully a little rave up Saturday night. Fingers crossed.
Be easy, and I promise to be a little more regular.
But its been (nearly) all good so far. I can't really complain, I still have a house, a job, my bike, my friends, which in the "current climate" (overcast and cold?) is pretty good going I think.
Derby went well, even if the gale force side wind did try and break us down. Many left early, weakened by a bit of harsh weather, the beard kept me warm though, so i stuck it out to the end. Hell, i even watched the trophy presentaion, knowing full well i wasn't to recieve one for 6th place. That's just the kinda guy I am.
Anyway Derby did an amazing job, it was like a mini-national, on a maxi-national track. The wind didn't help what is already the toughest track out there, and i was poooped by the end of it. But I rode alright (until my final - pattern eh?!) I managed 3 3rd place finishes in motos and 3rd in the semi also. In the main I snapped, wobbled and rolled round, then attached the 3rd straight and pulled a couple of positions to finish 6th. Out of 25 riders, a few pro dudes and a bunch of fast yoots it was okay by me.
To be honest i'm glad its over, i'm sure in a few weeks time i'll be longing to race again, but right now, i'm thankful for a little break, some XC, some road bike, gym work and some time at the weekends to myself.
Sheffield Supercross this weekend which i'm pysched on, and hopefully a little rave up Saturday night. Fingers crossed.
Be easy, and I promise to be a little more regular.
Sunday, 12 October 2008
Taking one for the team.
Well, not quite, more like taking one for me, and another one too, just to make sure i really nailed myself up. Dang. It was a good weekend in Preston, regardless of slamming pretty hard twice today. I finished national number 7 again, hell, at least i'm consistent, i may even grab another picture of Bubba Stewart off the interwebs scrubbing it with his 7 digit up front. If it works for Bad Bubba, it works for me. But i'd have been far happier with 6. Oh well, i guess i fooked the math up on that one.
We did 2 motos yesterday I won the first and got a 4th in the other, so a good ride, nailed the 2nd straight and got it out of my system, its much easier (and safer) to jump it all, oh and it feels pretty good too.
Saturday night I hung with the Derby massive and we grabbed some food and settled for an early night. Sunday I woke up and felt pretty groggy, the week long cold, a couple of late nights in the week and the night XC rides caught up with me. The Ibis Hotel supplied a good breakfast and after a good warm up and a few gates i felt much better. I had lane 1 in moto 3 and managed to pull a good gate out, I felt quite strong but everyone was dying for that inside line, and something had to give, sadly it was me, i hit the face of the jump super hard and instantly felt horrible pain in my elbow, fearing the worst some man scream may have been omitted. Along with the beard i may have resembled some sort of ice age man monkey creature. Sorry. Thanks for the well wishes I recieved from many, it perked me up a little bit!
It was quite obvious I wasn't going to be in peak shape for the semi, I took gate 6 and got a good gate, but my second pedal was non-existent. Like someone had me on an elastic band, then poked me in my elbow wound for good measure. So I was at the back, i rode a good lap boosting everything and having some fun but out to the B.
In the B final i was feeling pretty flat still, so i took gate 8 to keep out of the way, i got a flyer of a gate and my arm didn't feel too bad either, i went the pro-section line on the 2nd straight, everyone else took the inside, i railed the 2nd turn only to meet the back wheel of a sloth on a bike and stop me in my tracks and over my bars, kissing the tarmac. Fuming. Last in the B main. Not my weekend.
I asked Mal G for some painkillers, and he said he only had 2, one at the end of each of his wrist, pow pow. Genius on occasion.
Mercy, it's over. I need to heal this week so not sure if the training/XC thing will happen I need to nurse my wound and my hip back into shape before Derby next week, which is something i'm really looking forward too.
Preston Club, you did great, well done. See you next time!
Tuesday, 7 October 2008
Family Forever
Sat here tonight, exhausted after my first cross country night ride, hella lot of fun! I got some decent lights pretty cheap earlier today and was keen to test them, so a nice ride with the German, The German loving OC, and the not so German, Paddy. Was a lot of fun, lights performed well above expectations and i'm psyched to do more. The lights will obviosuly be good on the road bike too, so plenty of night-time activities on the cards this winter. What a treat!
Things have been good recently, training has been solid, i've had some exciting sessions on the bike, trying new things and roosting some corners, which feels just perfect. Spending time with my friends and having the pleasure of my Mum and Dad visiting me this weekend past, too.
I love spending time with the folks, and we had some food, drinks, a walk into the Peak district, a good laugh and catch up, and I enjoyed every minute of it. After they left to head back to London, (boy were they reluctant!) i hit the Bolehills and had a fun blast, the Goldcoast crew rocked up and the banter was flying about, it was such a perfect afternoon.
Weekends just aren't long enough though.
The final national is this weekend at Preston and i'm kinda glad the season is drawing to an end, i'm looking fiorward to having some sessions on the road bike, the new XC bike, shredding in the woods and just keeping it as horizontal as possible at all times. Currently sat in 6th i reckon i'm safe there too, so a 6th place finish again for me, sheeeet, least i got the consistent thing going on!
Training with Big W has been awesome, getting some good gains in the weight we're pushing, I managed 105kgs on the squats for 8, so i was super stoked at that. Only into week 5 of the programme too. Last year my PB was 117.5 so i'm hoping to smash that come the New Year, definitely feel more motivated right now. More so than ever.
Heading to the bike show tomorrow with the Urbanair TM and Jim, should be a blast, we got trade entry so i'm gonna try and hustle.
Hustling-hustling, hussa husa-lin! You know the drill.
Love to my family, immediate, extended, and my brothers that know, you ain't gotta be blood to be family. Be-lee that.
Things have been good recently, training has been solid, i've had some exciting sessions on the bike, trying new things and roosting some corners, which feels just perfect. Spending time with my friends and having the pleasure of my Mum and Dad visiting me this weekend past, too.
I love spending time with the folks, and we had some food, drinks, a walk into the Peak district, a good laugh and catch up, and I enjoyed every minute of it. After they left to head back to London, (boy were they reluctant!) i hit the Bolehills and had a fun blast, the Goldcoast crew rocked up and the banter was flying about, it was such a perfect afternoon.
Weekends just aren't long enough though.
The final national is this weekend at Preston and i'm kinda glad the season is drawing to an end, i'm looking fiorward to having some sessions on the road bike, the new XC bike, shredding in the woods and just keeping it as horizontal as possible at all times. Currently sat in 6th i reckon i'm safe there too, so a 6th place finish again for me, sheeeet, least i got the consistent thing going on!
Training with Big W has been awesome, getting some good gains in the weight we're pushing, I managed 105kgs on the squats for 8, so i was super stoked at that. Only into week 5 of the programme too. Last year my PB was 117.5 so i'm hoping to smash that come the New Year, definitely feel more motivated right now. More so than ever.
Heading to the bike show tomorrow with the Urbanair TM and Jim, should be a blast, we got trade entry so i'm gonna try and hustle.
Hustling-hustling, hussa husa-lin! You know the drill.
Love to my family, immediate, extended, and my brothers that know, you ain't gotta be blood to be family. Be-lee that.
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