Down Under and Playing Out

After what seems like a ridiculously short off-season, the slates are all wiped clean and the pro road guys are lining up again to race for another year. The traditional season-opener is the Tour Down Under where Luke Rowe, Geraint Thomas and Ian Stannard are flying the GB flag as part of the 7-man Sky team., with Andrew Fenn (remember him?) also there on the OPQS team. The race kicked off with the People's Choice Classic, won by Marcel Kittel. Thus begins many months of tarmac-based racing with my eyes at least fixed on the big British names to see if this season can rival the last two for results.

At a far less elite level I got some fun bike riding in to balance the less exciting routine of riding to work and back every day. I fitted my new “skull caps” dust caps to the valves on my BMX, where they seemed most appropriate and rolled out on the little wheels for the first time in ages.

It was a harsh reminder of how tough riding a BMX can be and my arms, that had been built up a bit by regular sessions hopping and playing on the bike, were soon screaming as I expected them to pick up where they left off with some smallish curb-hops.

Ignoring them I worked my way to Lordship Rec and blasted some laps there in amongst the guys on jump bikes and the kids on BMXs. Once again there was a reminder of how intense that kind of riding can be as the short laps left me feeling well worked-out. I definitely need to stop making excuses and get out there to keep some solid conditioning in for both my body and skills mind.

I played out until the light went and then went home for my tea.

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