New era in my career one year on!

Dear readers,

I want to start with saying a huge thank you to everyone at the Neon Velo Cycling Team. Especially Emma Backhouse who worked tirelessly organising flights, accommodation, race entry, training camps, expenses and far more. To all my friends in the Team, to Trek UK and Bontrager for the support and to everyone else who’s supported the team and myself over the last 12months. Since joining the team I was overwhelmed with support of every kind. I’ve learned and experienced a lot with the team, I’ve had some amazing opportunities like travelling and racing across America with our US team of Jeremy, Gabby, and Brad. Unfortunately the time has now come to embark on a new venture in new surroundings and embrace the new opportunities that I’ve been offered with my new sponsor Quest Sportswear Cycling Team. I wish everyone at the Neon Velo Cycling Team all best and look forward see you at the races soon. 

Another win!

I went crazy the other night and had a Nandos with my new college buddies. Toffee frozen yogurt and Coke isn't that great FYI.

I'm going to start this post a bit differently to normal, upon request of Mrs Wyman... 

Since my my last post about my first race and first win of the season, a lot has happened! I started at Writtle College, studying Sport, Fitness, and Development, I went on a bloomin' tough training weekend in Derbyshire, and I've won another race... As well as seeing my first real 'Cat Lady' on one of my rides into college every morning. 

Riding into college has opened my eyes to a lot of things really, as well as opening up my legs for a lot more abuse in the evenings. I've realised how peaceful it can be early in the morning, how much the cold air wakes you up... And how people *love* to stop and chat with each other in ludicrously stupid places like footbridges, gateways, and yep; bike paths. On a different note altogether, the 'cross season is here, which means I won't be able to go out to parties, or pretty much any other social event that occurs in the evenings leading up to races. I don't think they understand why I'm missing said events in order to ride (hopefully fast) around cold, muddy fields. But that's commitment I guess, and it sorts the real cyclists from the weekend warriors. 

I'm struggling with writing about my life, sorry Helen. So here's my take on my last couple of races:

On the 15th I did the opening round of the Wessex league. The course was hard and the heat was unrelenting. There were some pretty good riders there in my race, Matt Hargroves and a few of his team-mates, so I was hoping to do a good ride to get a look at where abouts I am in terms of national junior levels. I was gridded 2nd row, pretty good considering I'm a completely unranked rider in the Wessex league. 

Seeing as it was still early season I wasn't expecting fireworks, but to say I rode sh..Crap is an understatement. After the re-start (which occurred after the start loop was a bit hard to follow), I got into about 4th, and steadily worked my way back to 9th overall by the end of the race. I had a couple of lie downs on the course, and my legs felt unusable. I finished in 9th senior, and 4th junior, which wasn't really too bad I suppose!

The day after (16th), was my home race at Springfield park. Literally within 500 meters of my house. I know that because it's so close, that my strava record of my training lap won't show up correctly because it was within my 500 meter privacy zone. The course there suits me anyway, it's so euro in the way it's all watchable from one point, and it's FAST. The three sets of stairs a lap adds to list of good things to say about this course (Which my team, Ciclos Uno pioneered in 2007).

I got front row gridding, and from the gun I was in the top 3 with Tim Guy (Iceni Velo) and Canadian Hayden Wood. For the first 15 minutes of the race it was all so compact, the first 10 riders were all strung out in a line, so we put the power on and narrowed it down to us 3 leading, with Paul Sheers (ViCiOUS VELO) dangling on to the back of us. About midway through the race, Tim made a huge effort and put a gap between us and Paul which would grow to over a minute by the end of the race. 

In the final 200 meters or so of the last lap, I let Haydens and Tims attacks go, and rolled over the line as third placed Senior rider, and first Junior, 14 seconds down on the Hayden, who won. Felt pretty chuffed with myself. 

I've got a pretty busy couple of months coming up, Superprestiges, National Series, Rapha Supercrosses, and hopefully European Championships. As per usual, thanks to Trevor, Ewan and Jane at Ciclos Uno, and Windwave for the support, which I couldn't do without! 

A bien tot.

(See 'Media' page)

Koksijde - Snow and ice.

On Friday, My Dad, Kevin Barker, team mechanic for Ciclos Uno Ewan Hendon and myself carted off to Belgium for round #3 of the UCI World Cup Cyclo Cross at Koksijde, Belgium where i would be racing in the 'Nieuwelingen' support race. Koksijde is rennouned for being both a mentally and physically tough course, and was one i desperately wanted to ride, even if it was not for a race. With the 2012 Cross world champs being hosted at Koksijde, there were some changes in the course-Which in my opinion, took away the feel and the atmosphere that you usually get at Koksijde. This aside, i got a good few laps practice in on Friday, where it was raining almost continuously, and i liked the course which suited me due to long stretches on sand which require you to run and short sharp climbs that test your power. After spending a few hours at the course and checking out the registration site, we took off to the hotel. We arrived at the surprisingly nice apartment for the night, we went out and amazingly found an excellent Irish Bar where we had dinner.

Practising the course on Friday.

Arrived at the hotel.

Overnight there had been light snow, and the frozen conditions ensured ice. We arrived at the course with about 45 minutes to go, after collecting Kevin's press pass and i set out to warm up. Riding along the start finish straight before the start, i crashed on black ice and landed dead on my elbow. After getting up, i was pretty much immobilised until about 5 minutes prior to the start and i was facing doubts over even starting due to the pain i was in. After some not to friendly encouragment from my dad, i took the choice to start, and with no surprise i was gridded 3rd from last. Straight from the start i was about 5th from the back, unable to ride properly. Once the adrenaline (More effectively cold, it was -3) set in and the pain numbed i managed to make up about 5 places to finish in 27th place. Not exactly what i had hoped for, but not to bad considering I'm a year younger than most others and also my crash, but i gained valuable experience.

Just after crashing on the ice.

In the race.

Sunday, after ongoing pain in my elbow, we went to the NHS walk in centre to get it looked at where almost instantly we were sent to A&E with an expected dislocated elbow. After resting it up for a couple of days as advised, I'm back doing rollers and will be racing the Regional Championships on the weekend at Hog Hill.

Overall, i had a superb weekend and it could not have been done without the help of Kev and Ewan, and my Dad. Thanks a lot to Trevor at Ciclos Uno for supplying me with kit every season, and Ewan again for always keeping my bike running smoothly. Thanks as well to the Burch's for the support.

Ciao for now.