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.

The best thoughts come at the worst times

This occurred to me the other day whilst being bummed out about not getting to ride, it’s been 2 weeks and I’ve been on my bike once, that was just a ride to the shops and it hurt like hell. Is it a case that you think more clearly when down and out or that mediocre idea’s just seem better because of your state of despair? I’m not clinically depressed, or even miserable by the standards of some people I know who have problems controlling their emotions. As it is I’m a pretty laid back kind of guy, not much gets me down, or not so my friends would notice, I get on with it and try to make the most of a bad situation. Because of the whole not riding thing my mind has been on bikes just as much if not more than usual... Can you crown an all round MTB race king? Like a big race weekend where everyone competes in all categories for the one title. DH, XC, 4X, but not with points for positions but maybe percentage scores on times or something? In retrospect, an alright idea but more of a conversation starter whilst pushing a big rig up the fire road at Brookdale, than motivation to get started on event organisation and sponsorship.

On the other hand a not so middle of the road idea was the light bulb that appeared above my head whilst sat having a coffee at work one day staring out into the square watching the minions go about their routine. Pump tracks have been fashionable for a year or so now and instead of riding recently I’ve had time to put pen to paper, in a hunt for a space to stick one I found my mind wandering to a spot where their are some trials, see previous post. The downside to this location is that it is on a hill, after a couple of no go’s I finally got a decent track sorted that could have worked and still meant no pedalling. It took 24 hours, give or take, but then it hit me that I had a BMX track with land in the middle and an idea that instead of benefiting me and my buddies could get used by some of the younger kids to really bring on some skills, so its sorted and I dug the 1st burm yesterday, woop, woop.

So what else has been going on? Helen came to the rock to see what it was like, and seemed to thoroughly enjoy herself, Georgia, Helen and I went to the Wildlife Park, it was awesome, there where penguins, a duck goose, snakes (see top pic), bats and a miniature donkey with a twinkle in his eye and a not so miniature length, hilariousness ensued. Had my follow up appointment this morning with the doctor, re: sore shoulder, he said he was happy with the range of movement, the x-ray on the day looked like it could be really messed up but seems ok now but that I've got about another 4 weeks till I can ride. I've got a physio session on Monday, and unless anythin major happens between now and then I'll be missing out on what will most likely be the best national of the year. The latest I recon I can leave it is next wednesday before makin up my mind, so its a case of I'll decide then, its taken a couple of days for me to realise it too, I truely am gutted.Apart from that it's been pretty boring on the rock, I worked the final shift at the royal before it got shut for a 3 month re-furb on Sunday night, had a pretty cool talk with the boss about the state of things in Ramsey and other fun drink related topics, also managed to get quite alot of cool pub stuff, JD playing cards, assorted pint and whisky glasses, a nightlife poster for Shaun, and some pretty retro pub artwork to stick wherever in Estcourt Terrace when I eventually get back. Jenny is finally turning 21 and the party if anything like her 18th should be off the chain.

On the rock

Havent ridden in a week and i'm clawing at the walls. There is only so much more i can take before im just gonna go on a bike ride of any sort, jees it may even be just on the road, my shoulder is still in no state to hit the track. Racing was cancelled on Sunday because of the bad rain but in the phone call round to tell everyone it was decided that we'd do a gate practice on Monday evening, we must have done 10 or so gate sessions last year with maybe 6 kids turning up to each, so when 22 turned up on Monday night I had to change plans pretty quickly, then the worst thing ever happened, the rivets started falling out of the gate so it was a case of plan a skills session for 22 littluns, worked okay though and we're on again for Sunday, hopefully the gate will be fixxed and we can split the kids abit better.

Was up in Douglas doing the SCUK Safeguarding and Protecting Children in sport workshop last night it was OK I guess, just one of those things you have to keep upto date on to stay insured, the main crazy point of my night was getting back to Ramsey, for those of u in the UK, Douglas is a half hour drive from where I live, or an hour bus ride, but the busses are a joke, by the time i got to the bus station at 2125 the next bus wasnt untill 10 to 11, so i figured I'd walk the bus route and hitch when I could.

I'd never even consider hitchin in the UK but on the rock its a whole different story and i'm not that adverse at all, by the time I got onto a main road out of town I started thumbing and the 8th car picked me up, a young lad in a yellow MG rover 200 copy thing, he dropped me off about 10 minutes up the road but it really made a difference, filled me with confidence, then i got a phone call from Scott who told me I was stupid for doing it and he was coming to pick me up, I wandered along abit more and managed to blag a lift to the other side of Laxey which was cool, then met Scott and went for chinese. Cheers to the 2 guys that picked me up, its a nice reminder that even in this age of knife crime and car theives that there still are alot of nice people out there, get out and meet them.

Check the cruiser final from Hartlepool and all the other finals at bikevideos.co.uk. Ok it wasnt the best lap in the world, Dan P had a good line round that 1st corner, 4th to 2nd is all good, 3rd to 4th, i wasn't so pleased with. Just gotta hope my shoulder heals up for Burnham now, for me thats where this year is gonna be won or lost.