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I arrived in Coniston at tea time on Wednesday, booked into the really good Lakeland House (015394 41303) and then went straight out for a final practice session. I had my lesson plans stored away in my head and had been talking to myself for a few weeks whilst practising skills I didn't have and never thought I would need.
After a nice, but expensive, pub meal in the Black Bull and an obligatory pint of Bluebird, I was in bed early reading my manual. Thursday started with a fry-up at the B+B and I left to go ride - no real plan, no real route, no company, no time-limit and no pressure. What a great day, just riding along with one spare tube, one water bottle, one MP3 player and two snack bars, nodding at the odd other person and talking to no-one. Tired and filthy, I then spent a couple of hours cleaning and checking the bike and assembling the gear for the following day. Big thanks to John & Susan Holland at Lakeland House who couldn't do enough to help during the stay. They were even delivering steaming mugs of latte to the hastily created bike-wash area whilst whisking my gear off to the drying room for me.
Up early, check gear, wolf down a healthy slow-burn breakfast and off to meet up with Rich and the other guys on the course.
The first bit was like an attack of deja-vu .. the kit check. I thought I was back in the Marines ! We had a list of what was expected, so the first 'tick' was easily won. We had a briefing about the day's agenda and weather forecast from Stuart who was leading the first leg and we were off into the morning mist, just like a ride with a set of new mates.
All smiles, all day - me and Yoda.
I took charge of the second leg without mis-adventure, Robin guided us after that and Malcolm led us home. Stuart took us through the non-weight shift drills, I passed on my considerable knowledge about the track stand, Robin coached us on the manual and Malcolm thrashed us round a local car park doing front / rear wheel lifts.
Waiting for the gate, in perfect balance ! The crowd looks on ...
Mucky and a bit tired, we pose for the course photo back at Coniston. L-R Robin, Me, Rich, Stuart and Malcolm.
The de-brief took place in the Bluebird cafe over a coffee and I was delighted to get a 'strong pass'. The basic skills have come on a lot since I started on this road but what i need to do now is keep working at them until they simply appear, as if by magic, every time I need them.
A massive thank-you to all the guys at Cyclewise. Especially Sue for making it all happen and answering the stupid questions and Rich (again) for putting it all into context. You would have to go a long way to find better ambassadors for our sport.
What's next ? Well, I have some new rules of cycling :
1. I will use my new skills.
2. I will practice every time I ride.
3. I will ride flats unless racing (aka riding with a number on the bike).
4. I will have all the basics dialled (sorted) this summer.
5. I will master the bunny-hop.
6. I will buy a spoke key and learn to use it.
Then, I will book onto the MBL course.
What a great weekend. Friday night we attended the final ever Faithless gig at Brixton Academy.
What a fantastic night. Sardined in the mosh pit a few rows from the stage and jigging away for what seamed like hours. Driven ravenous by the second-hand inhalation of everyone else's weed and mostly deafened by the spleen-vibrating noise level. Wouldn't have missed it for the world - I got my hearing back (what's left of it) late on Sunday. If you have never seen them, it's now too late and you have missed the greatest dance band ever. Buy the DVD and enjoy.
Molly and I managed a sneaky few miles in the weekend sunshine.
We had planned a circuit from Bo-Peep, but the hang-gliders had an event on and had commandeered the whole area to take advantage of the updrafts. An unsuccessful attempt to park in Alfriston followed, thanks to the intransigent 'jobsworth' who wouldn't let us use the bus space with our bike rack on - it's like a load of buses are likely to arrive after two in the afternoon ... silly old git!
We abandoned the car by the road and took advantage of some brilliant weather along the SDW towards Eastbourne and then back through Friston forest, along 'Stumpy' with some optional bomb holes and into Exceat farmhouse for some latte and cake. Molly then decided that the easy route back to the car wasn't the 'manly' option and suggested we climb back to the top of the Downs and over Windover hill (again). What a Top Bird she is ...
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A great afternoon ended up with a therapeutic bike-cleaning session and some kit preparation ready for my week away up north and a rather marvellous lamb rogan josh with chilli rice.
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I have three full days work in Liverpool and Preston, followed by a day off in Coniston to explore the local area and make final preparations for the Trail Cycle Leader's assessment on Friday. I have a few bits of kit I need to find, but am pretty much there. Fingers crossed.
After another stupid-busy week of three meetings, four presentations, two days on site, 1085 miles driving and two night rides, I got home late and really didn't want to go out on Saturday night. We did though and, after a lovely evening with friends, we crawled into bed at 00:35. The alarm went off at 06:15, we didn't want to move, but a potentially exciting day dawned. Molly was off to attend a Mountain Bike Skills course with the Dirt Divas (http://www.dirtdivas.co.uk/ and 0118 326 2200) and, after dropping her off, I was on the way to the first round of the Southern XC Champs in Checkendon.
I am sure that the main differences between girls and boys is strength and confidence - ability and skill will invariably compare favourably, but girls just don't realise it ! That was the reason for Molly's course, to unlock some of that potential and to get the mind into 'can do' mode.
Molly in the 'attack' position, looking just like someone who can ride a bike quite well ... just drop that rear heel a tad :-) (Pic - courtesy of the DirtDivas)
After the registration at Wellington College, there was full day of riding in Swinley Forest with basic skills training, body positioning, balance, braking techniques, small steps, drops, roots etc. There was a good portion of enthusiasm after the event, helped in no small part by the excellent weather and huge thanks to the girls and boys at Dirt Divas for a very valuable day out. They do all sorts of courses over there, from beginners classes to private tuition and it was a very valuable experience - partly because Molly now knows she is pretty good on a bike :-)
I left Molly and arrived at the race venue in plenty of time for my 12:36 start time and so had the opportunity to wander around, get a feel for the event and subtly check out other-peoples' tyre choice. The web site suggests a gentle spin round the course before the event .. yeh right, I think I'll save my energy and speak to a few who did.
I had already checked out the area with a call to my racing mates, Jason and Sarah, and they had said go hardtail as it's flat (ish) and dry (ish), so I took the ARC with some summer rubber fitted.
With so much time available, I had nearly an hour to warm up before I turned up at the start area to meet the other 17 or 18 old folk, two-thirds of whom looked mighty fine in team kit astride featherweight bikes. These guys were Elite level 20 years ago and they haven't slowed down much if you compare their times to the young-uns, I knew this would be the last time I saw them, unless I got lapped !
There were a few 'others' in the race like myself, but not many. The web site said regular racers can expect to complete a lap in about 30 minutes, so I had a mental target of two hours for the three laps. I set off at the back and just rode best I could. I managed three laps of 28:33, 30:51 and 30:11 and was 18:30 behind the winner and in 11th place.
I was chuffed to bits as I beat a few and there were a couple of DNF's. Unfortunately, I forgot to show my race card at registration and have, perhaps, missed the chance of some series points !!
It was good experience with a group of very friendly guys and I hope to attend a few more as the season progresses. It gives me something to aim for as my fitness improves. I am not bothered about 'beating' anyone, but would like to be proportionately closer to the winner's time on the next occasion.
This week I am mostly back to skills training and lesson planning. TCL assessment on Friday week.
The first bit was like an attack of deja-vu .. the kit check. I thought I was back in the Marines ! We had a list of what was expected, so the first 'tick' was easily won. We had a briefing about the day's agenda and weather forecast from Stuart who was leading the first leg and we were off into the morning mist, just like a ride with a set of new mates.
