During 1 of the car journeys between filming locations the conversation in the car was around what we had written in our submission to the competition.
My submission included details of when I used to race cyclo-cross as a schoolboy. Sitting in a car chatting with a multiple British Champion and the European Champion made me think about all the enjoyment I had from riding cross.
I have scoured ebay and my dads garage to get together enough bits to build a cross bike so that I could start again.
This all came together last weekend when I rode the cross organised by my old club Didcot Phoenix. On the Saturday I checked out the bike, snapping the chain and having to fix that, better than it happening during the race!
Sunday arrived and I set off for Didcot arriving at the course nice and early which meant that I could help Mum sort out numbers ready for the signing on process.
Then I was running back and forward between the HQ and finish line for the junior races so that I could take the judges cards back for Dad to sort out results. Not much had changed since the last time I raced!
Then after the Youth race I thought it best to ride a lap of the course to see what was in store for me. It was a long lap with some quite tricky sections so I was glad to have some time to check it out.
Then we were called to the line in sections; Juniors at the front followed by the women and then the Vets. The vets were split into 2 further sections 40-49 and 50+. I was at the back of the first section and noticed that one of the guys in the front row of the section behind had some rather fetching stripes across his jersey!
It wasn't going to be long before I was overtaken when the National Champion was starting only about 30 seconds behind me.
At the end of the first lap I thought my lungs were going to burst and my legs fall off, this was much harder than I remember. Mind you last time I raced I was a junior and this race was a Vet, I totally skipped the senior ranks!
I was the last person to only be lapped once so hence the last lap was a bit lonely and I was the last person to cross the finish line, but not before taking a tumble on one of the tight corners!
Fortunately there was very little damage to me or the bike, unlike one of the juniors who came off breaking his collar bone, best wishes Issac hope you recover soon.
So my race was done and I had made my comeback. I thought I was quite fit having completed several marathons and an Iron distance triathlon but this was a whole different level!
Thanks must go to the following:
Helen Wyman for inspiring me to ride cross again
Dad for helping me build and set the bike up
My brother Dave as although he doesn't know I nicked some bits off his old bike to build mine!
Mum for coming out on the course to cheer me on, just like the old days!
All of the organisers and marshals from Didcot Phoenix for putting on a great race.
I will ride some more races, I need to really get fit!
