Im cursed

Peter-bro was ace, really smooth run weekend with a super smooth feel to the whole event, big up to all those involved. So Friday was pretty laid back, I travelled down with loads of time to spare just to get the tent up and chillax some, practice was hard, going home is like takin those 2 steps back for every one step forward, yer there is alot to be said about havin a decent track to ride but if your not riding with your buddies your not gonna stay to the same level you can be at, so I really had it against me, 6 weeks out, a lame track to ride when I could get back on and no-one to ride with then, this was gonna be a long weekend getting back into the swing of things. Friday practice session was pretty laid back too, for everyone, just a nice place to be, loads of smiling faces, I was trying to get my gates back to some sort of decent standard and get the 3rd straight semi dialled. Met up with Jez after practice for dinner and a catch up, its good to be brought back upto speed by someone in the know.

Saturday was abit more panicked, on Friday night some local youth rode off on a race bike in a hurry down a lane near the track, anyhow I spotted his mate and a few of us followed him to a house to see if we could get the bike back, instead of confront him we left it, well lets face it, no-one had said their bike was missing. So Saturday we found out it was stolen and the local wannabe cop wanted me to show him where the house was, instead of coming with me to the house he hid round the corner whilst I got the house number and street name, my last words to him; "if you hear me shout, I'm being stabbed". They went in the house later on but didn't find anything. Remember kids, keep hold of ur ride. So Saturday practice for the manx youths and they looked out of sorts, the track is a million miles from Ramsey in techincality, and the guys just havent had enough riding at this level, come Sunday though they all did themselves proud with some making semi's, which for a small club aint all that bad.

My Sunday though was slightly different, well lets face it, I'm not meant to make the main at the brits, Cheddar 05 - moto'd, Harworth 06 - 5th in semi, Burnham 07 - 5th in semi, oh yer, you guessed it, Peterborough 08 - 5th in semi. I'm not as down about it as i was last year though, cruiser was stacked this year with 32 riders, a couple of which where pro sandbaggers. I was happy to make it to the semi's but after being in 4th for most of the lap to getting a move made on me in the last corner to slow me down so i get passed on the line was abit upsetting. It was however probably my best lap of the day so I can't really complain. Twarn, what happened to you? Andy Clucas, could have won the main, what the hell happened? Josh, wtf? big names not makin the semi's let alone the main.

Jacob Robert's, your a legend full stop! 3rd in the 1st corner and I have to admit, I was slightly concerned. Jordan, in the 13's, smoothed the 3rd straight like only a pro could, only to get DQ'd for going off the course whilst in the air? Seriously officials, what? Its moves like that that make racing exciting, if you keep DQing people the moves are gonna become less and less and people will stop watching, if thats the way you want it take the corners out, and give everyone lanes. Paddy, nice once footer kid, gutted for you going down. Reidy doubling up and making both mains, your the man. Farran, that move in the last corner was epic, 4th to 2nd, wooooooooooop. And Kelvin, you killed it, your at the top of your game, fuck BC, keep going man. Your an inspiration to all, I wish you the best of luck with route55. See ya'll at Coppull

So what’s the story morning glory? Things are great still I guess, just on the boat at the moment, taking a break from writing the Junior Development Plan for the I.o.M. Cycling Association, long story, I’ll explain later. Work is going well; it’s the coaches’ night out next Friday and the tripod that is Helen, Nicola and I where on full organising duties last night, we finally agreed on a lifeguard theme which should be a laugh. Was doing a multi sport session at QEII today for 8 – 11’s, one of the kids said it was the worst session he’d ever been on, granted he was stuck on the losing team and didn’t appreciate his twin sister beating him at most sports. But the same kids are on this boat and have come over and said hi, even the miserable one has cheered up in the past 2 hours. On reflection all three of this brothers and sister duo had a good day which is great from my point of view, it’s nice to know that their getting something out of my time.

So the JDP, Mike Doyle is the IOM CA’s head coach and he came down to the track on Sunday to say hi whilst we we’re doing a pre brits training session and track maintenance day, oh yer, after finishing work at 4 am on Friday I was at the track at 9 to start work on changing the 1st straight, I was the hands and Max from Lezayre Landscapes was the digger driver. Headed over the mountain to get some stuff from bikestyle for the brits, as they are sponsoring the club riders with water bottles and go bars etc. So after a weekend of hard work the track now has a roller and a BIG triple on the 1st straight, which riders pretty sweet, I’m leaving it for a weeks to settle in and will go back next week to re surface it.

So Ramsey's 1st straight now has a roller and a big tripple, im slightly concerned its a bit too big but oh well. The Brits are this weekend, if I can find enough money to scrape together to pay my phone bill I’ll be doing blog updates, if not, well... you’ll all be there. I’m shattered and boat is just nearing Liverpool, better head. Oh my, i've just read it, im so boring now, please someone help me, I want cutting edge journalism and i get no inspiration, hopefully i'll be buzzing in 2 hours, c'mon shinny!

Lets not forget

First off, before you read this you have to understand that although it may sound like a sad story I'm really happy. So I guess I better drop the bomb... I'm not going back to Uni, or Leeds for that matter. Stop. Digest. Ok. So last Thursday I was driving home from work and thinking how much I was getting out of coaching and seeing the kids happy, for the first time in ages i felt like i was achieving something with my time, i got home and got the letter through from uni saying that because of getting bad grades two years in a row on a core module that they weren't allowing me to continue, after loads of thought it isnt such a bad thing, I've had my 3 years in Leeds and I've pretty much loved every minute of it, there have been the all-nighters up doing work which havent been so great, but on the flip side I have an unlimited amount of happy memories of some of the best times of my 21 years.

Being in the real world I'm gonna go out, get a job and help people, I dont have to delay it any more with pointless lectures to get a rediculously overpriced piece of paper. As I said before its a great place but I've had my chance and its over. I have however met people who I'm not sure how I'm going to survive without. To the boys; going out will never be the same again, my happiest nights have been with you lot, the incubus gig, haloween next door, many a poker night, those nights at Hi-fi and just waking up knowing your surrounded by friends. Helen; you work so hard and deserved that 1st, sorry I won't be around to save you from burglars and let you cry on my white shirts. Charlotte and Emily; God knows how you'll survive without me, just look after each other and I'm only a call away. Plus I'll be back in freshers week to try it on with all your mates.

Next to the thing I'm really going to miss the most, the BMX community. So many thank you's, so many sorry's. In no particular order, Ian T, Oggy, Jez, Sutty and Co, Mr n Mrs Flip, Mrs Strick, Nigel S and Mr Butterfield thank you for everything, I wouldnt be where I am today if it wasn't for you guys giving me lifts, advice and inspiration. And thanks to the rest of you, from all over the country for being part of the BMX family that I've been part of for the past 3 years, Ok so I was an annoying little brat back in 05, and now I'm an annoying big brat. When i get myself sorted out and have some money behind me I'll be back, and bigger and faster than ever.

Whats next? The sports development job I've got is just for the summer so in September I'm looking to start a full time job, just browsing the paper for careers, the plan is to get a role in education or sport, a teaching assistant or learning support seems to be a good plan at the moment. Give me a shout if you hear of anything, in England or on the rock, I'm as free as a bird and will go where the work is.



As to how life is for me apart from that, its summer and I'm loving it, I raced for the 1st time in a month on Sunday, I was shattered by the last straight and really am not fit but my shoulder was ok, and I won, just. Work is going great, as well as the Mtb course we do (see title pic), I ran 2 Cycle Skills sessions on Monday with all the kids loving every minute and I got a load of possitive feedback from the parents, its nice to be appreciated. All the other coaching is going good, I even did a cricket session yesterday. I'm making new friends at work, got a boosh night planned next week, woop. Sessions at the track are going well with 11 riders planning on hitting the brits, on Monday I had a 4 year old jumping the small table top, with the older riders getting some air over a bar, check Luke Murray doing his thing.



And my friends are great, Rowe laughed a little too much when i told the boys in the pub about the whole fail thing but its all good banter, went down the beach on saturday before hitting town, I love life. ON a geekier note, blogger aint letting me upload pics so these are from photobucket, its not great quality web editing but it'll do.

Whats up, Bradford, whats up?

I really want to just be getting into my car and heading down that 4 hour drive to Burnham but instead im stuck on the rock with my stupid shoulder injury. Had physio again yesterday with another load of ultrasound, Hannah said that I could give up with the rubber band and start doing some strength and conditioning work in the gym instead which rocks, but pressing 30k on each arm I can only hit 16 before it starts to hurt, this is gonna be a long road to recoveryville. But when im fit i can get back to Radford and ride there, this pic is a couple of weeks old but things look to be in good shape, the north is where its at, Manchester, Bradford, Leeds, Preston, Preston, Coppull, thats 6 tracks that could happily hold a national, even Crewe, wooooop.

Not only is it national time weekend but its the Red Bull Empire of Dirt comp down in Cider country, check the Video Gallery, it just takes smooth to another level. Anyhow I'm not where its happening, I'm on the rock, was out in town last night for dinner with a friend before she goes off to Turkey, it was the end of term at my old secondary school and the teachers where out in force, had a catch up with some of them after dinner, its so much easier to get on with them when their not telling you their right all the time and you know they're not. 52 states Darren, 52 states! Philli and the girls are back from euro-tripping so caught up with them which was cool too. Anyhow my aunty has split with her boyf an is moving into our spare room so im off to do some heavy lifting and general man stuff. Scotts back tommorrow so i assume beer is on the cards.



Oh and go out and buy Ultimate Streetdance its been blasting the speakers in my car for a week or so and im not even slightly bored.

Back on track, kind of

Im gonna ride my bike this weekend, I've decided! So i was riding up to the hospital on Monday for my physio thinking to myself, "hmmmm, as long as this isnt a complete write off I may sneak on the boat on Thursday and make it down to Burnham" no chance, after gettin poked and proded for half an hour, Hannah, the lovely red head appointed to make me better had talked down any hopes of racing for 3 weeks. So i've got a 3 week course of physio that entails playing with an elastic band and getting ultra-sound, but im not pregnant?! I never really noticed how much you need full body fitness to ride, you know? legs to pedal and hands to grip, you can ride whatever else just not as good, not so true, last week i could just about make it to the shops.

Was Jenny's 21st BBQ on Saturday, was a really good afternoon/night. The sun was out and I "borrowed" the PA from the BMX club so we had some serious base. Jen seemed to have a really good night which is all that matters i guess. Rumour has it Joe (right) didn't make it home, but i'll discuss that with him at the gym tonight. I dont remember much past bar logo which is never good, I'm gonna go easy on the boose now for a while, its not big or clever, and the phone call i made at 3 in the mornin for a booty call did not need to be made, no-one should ever be that drunk. Especially as I had my gym induction at 10 the following morning, I headed over to the track after that to be call up boy and finish line girl for the days racing, some of the littluns are looking really strong this year with some krazy last straight sprint. Then back to bed for the rest of Sunday afternoon before my top gear fix.

After physio on Monday i headed up to MSR office in douglas as their re-introducing a "cycle skills" coaching session for the summer holidays and wanted to talk things over with me as i'll be lead coach. Spent an hour talking to Gianni about what we could do and how to get more numbers involved, as well as being part of MSR Gee is also the Cycling Associations Developement Officer so we get on quite well. Anyhow, i spent this morning putting together a lesson plan for these 2 hour sessions so there is some sort of lay out if i get sick. Who'd have thunk that I'd be advising the Sports Developement Unit on how to plan sessions, that should look great on my CV.

I'm gutted that i'll not make it back to Burnham this year, it's a great venue and always gets some good racing, plus there's always a pretty girl or two to be found. To all the guys going to Burnham have a great time and good luck, to all those not going - sorry the blog updates wont be bringing you the news as it happens.