Hello, struggling to think of what to write - bloggers block? I'm normally not stuck for words (if the right topic/rant comes up in conversation), but that is in the real world, not typing!
Life has been very quiet in the bike shop recently, the traditional February blues, coupled with the road to Stewarton being shut following the train derailment of a couple of weeks ago. Still, that means plenty of time for for family & bike riding - popped out of work early to sledging with Finlay (2) today, the recent cold snap is actually pretty good for bikes too - muddy trails are frozen hard, and back roads are quiet (you just need your wits about you on the ice), and snow is surprisingly grippy.
I road with Iain Nimmo and the Squadra Porcini guys at Aberfoyle yesterday - awesome MTB trails there, the SXC in April is going to be awesome - if the ground is reasonably dry it'll challenge Badaguish for best course of the year in 2009 - could be a total 'mare if your tech skills aren't up to scratch though. The line up of events is looking pretty good, and I'm really excited about being a local organiser with Cathkin Braes for the 1st time - pretty nervous too!
Going to be spending more time on skinny wheels this year - less training time with number 2 on the way means having to concentrate on shorter races, closer to home - so aero bike and pointy helmet will be the order of the day. Not really done TT's seriously since 1995, so will be interesting to see what I can do. It'll be good to encourage some of the club guys to give it a go too, plenty really strong riders who I think will surprise themselves and others as the season progresses.
I'm pleased to see my former employer (Scottish Cycling) really moving forward with their performance programme - see their home page for latest recruitment - given their recent growth, I'm sure that results (both racing, and the progress of the sport in general) won't be far around the corner - when you hear about the work going on in clubs like Peebles CC, you can just see the massive leap forward about to happen.
Neil Walker
Life has been very quiet in the bike shop recently, the traditional February blues, coupled with the road to Stewarton being shut following the train derailment of a couple of weeks ago. Still, that means plenty of time for for family & bike riding - popped out of work early to sledging with Finlay (2) today, the recent cold snap is actually pretty good for bikes too - muddy trails are frozen hard, and back roads are quiet (you just need your wits about you on the ice), and snow is surprisingly grippy.
I road with Iain Nimmo and the Squadra Porcini guys at Aberfoyle yesterday - awesome MTB trails there, the SXC in April is going to be awesome - if the ground is reasonably dry it'll challenge Badaguish for best course of the year in 2009 - could be a total 'mare if your tech skills aren't up to scratch though. The line up of events is looking pretty good, and I'm really excited about being a local organiser with Cathkin Braes for the 1st time - pretty nervous too!
Going to be spending more time on skinny wheels this year - less training time with number 2 on the way means having to concentrate on shorter races, closer to home - so aero bike and pointy helmet will be the order of the day. Not really done TT's seriously since 1995, so will be interesting to see what I can do. It'll be good to encourage some of the club guys to give it a go too, plenty really strong riders who I think will surprise themselves and others as the season progresses.
I'm pleased to see my former employer (Scottish Cycling) really moving forward with their performance programme - see their home page for latest recruitment - given their recent growth, I'm sure that results (both racing, and the progress of the sport in general) won't be far around the corner - when you hear about the work going on in clubs like Peebles CC, you can just see the massive leap forward about to happen.
Neil Walker
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