Friday 21 December 2012

Cobble Wobble

There was a very steep hill in Frome, that was wet, slippery and cobbled. The race to the top was as much about skill as it was about power.
Photo by Juan Trullis
There was a chicken snowman, a unicycle, a star-studded line up and a festive crowd of spectators. The focus was as much about christmas as it was about getting to the top as fast as you can.
Photo by Juan Trullis

I dunno how I did, different people told me different things. I don't care how I did, I tried my hardest then partied with my best friends and team. The MuleBar Girls.
Photo by Juan Trullis

Photo by Juan Trullis
 I woke up with sore legs and a sore head.







Friday 14 December 2012

More BMX

So basically, I'm trying to make this blog as something people can follow to see the progression of a beginner on a BMX. I'd love to read about someone starting out and see where they're at a few years on. So this may be interesting in a few months to look back on, and then in a few years...

Last weekend I went to a girls session at Motion Skatepark. I LOVE GIRLS SESSIONS!!! It was totally inspiring to ride with MTB legends Manon Carpenter and Katy Curd who were both ripping it up. 4 cross rider Jess Greaves was dropping in on her first time on a BMX and the other girls were also pushing themselves. There was a bit of a comp. Manon shredded and got first, Katy shredded too and got second, the rest of us rode around awkwardly. I ended up with third place, but honestly, it was just pot luck, I didn't actually do anything! Kara did the wall ride, she was the only girl I saw do it, I was impressed with that.


Still it was super good fun. We went for dinner together and then with full stomachs rode with the park to ourselves until 10pm. I hope something like that happens again soon.


Fitting this new hobby into normal life is tricky, but I've been determined to make it possible. Monday I headed to Horsham for a night-ride session, but when we arrived at 9pm the joy of an empty park was soon understood and disappointed by the realisation that no-one was riding because it was so icy.

After a bit of faffing we headed to Crawley where we had an hour until the floodlights turned off. I had to go through the whole process of a new park again: feeling shy, intimdated, self-conscious and not sure what to try and ride. I made my buddy stick with me like glue and we went to session the Box.

THE BOX
I've had experience on a box before, doing a stunt tour in Scotland on a mountain bike. I never, ever felt truly comfortable on it, combine that with a smaller, twitchier and less forgiving bike, I still feel uneasy. I rolled it a few times, getting more confidence each time, not bothering to try and get air. I got used to the roll in and then started having fun. In a chilled and relaxed environment I found it really, really fun and enjoyed the air time, focusing on going slower and trying to pump more. I was clearing it by the end and even tweaking the bike a bit (In my head I was doing badass tabletops)



NOSE MANUALS
On the way back to the top of the roll in each time there was a little flat bank thing and I was told to try nose manualling it. As it was so short you got to the end quite quickly, but it was a nice little move.


AIRING THE COPING
This has been my bug bear for the last few weeks. I've been harping on and on about in, blah blah blah. But I know until I'm confident airing out I'll never get the speed for other stuff in parks that i want to clear or ride. I've been getting the hang of it. Both wheels are definitely coming out a couple of inches, not every time, but it's getting there. On Tuesday night at Bay66 I was just riding the bowl back and forth trying to get higher and higher, but sort of lost concentration. I've been doing it so much I forgot to focus on exactly what I needed to do. So, I think I let my back wheel land on the flat at the top and it bucked me over the bars straight onto my face! I was winded and doing that "huuu huuu huuu" thing you do when you can't breathe, but it was fine really. 

I've spent the rest of the week having polite people tell me there's something on my chin, and impolite people just looking at me funny.


Friday 7 December 2012

Fitter Further Faster

It's been a busy week over in Anna Land, and as usual i can't really remember what happened.

There was a mad- dash for a train wearing heels and pushing my bike. Everyone on the platform told me I wasn't allowed on, but i ignored them, kept running, twisted my ankle, got my jacket stuck in my back wheel and then was pushed onto the train by one staff guy, who was like "just get on here" into the disabled carriage. The train left, the conductor found me with my bike not in the bike carriage and made me sit with my bike, on the floor all the way to Crewe. As I had a first class ticket she brought me my special treats and tea to consume like a picnic on the floor. It didn't feel very first class.

I was going to Revolution in Manchester, it was a sell-out event, but I managed to blag some tickets in exchange for AnaNichoola goodies, because I had a very special reason for being there...JOANNA ROWSELL Olympic Gold Medallist and World Champion was wearing my gloves. I had a custom gold pair made for her and I was stoked that she wore them at Revolutions and then high-fived me when she rode past!!!
I had my photo taken with her and got all star-struck even though I knew her before a little bit. I honestly was so flustered and so honoured! Thank you Jo!
Joanna Rowsell and her Gold Bow-Peeps and her biggest fan!



Then I went partying with my teamies and got drunk, the usual story. The plan was to then spend a few days in the Lakes riding. On the first road ride we did (35miles taking us about 6 hours) my pedal fell of with 8 miles to go. I put my pedal in my pocket and with Rebecca cheering me on, relentlessly happy, I rode like a hero for 8 miles, and even though my leg was SCREAMING with pain it was actually very, very fun.

We sacked off our MTB ride in the sleety snow the next day and did some bike shop visits. had a really nice time meeting WheelBase and learning about their dedicated women's section.

My friend Steve threw a party last night, he's opened his own shop and it is lushhhh. beautifully designed, thought-out and with welcoming and knowledgable staff I reckon it's one of those shops that's about to revolutionise the future of bike shops. A sort-of drop in store where you could whittle time away with a cake and coffee and get absorbed in cycling and it's world.


My friend Rebecca has written a book, I'm super proud of her. It's available to order here http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fitter-Further-Faster-Sportives-Riding/dp/1408832615/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1354885579&sr=8-1
and is a comprehensive guide on how to prepare for your first sportive and mass participation road events. Get fit, get a good time, be confident amongst other riders and go for it!

MuleBar Girls giving a thumbs up to Fitter Further Faster

Meeting the girl in the crowd in the photograph on page 4

Author Rebecca Charlton with a pouting Alex Dowsett signing the book