What's next?
Off-season is now well and truly in full swing. Following the Mountain Time Trial I actually had two solid weeks off everything. It was weird, I normally have about a week or so, but two forced weeks of being completely sedentary left me wondering how I coped before cycling. I completely lost my appetite, lost some weight through what I can only assume was wastage and ended up trying to learn conversational Norwegian out of a sheer need to engage my brain.
Thankfully, after a meeting with my new coach, I'm now back on it and enjoying a really mixed regime (including several different sports). I've also taken to training before work in the mornings which is leaving me with tons of energy and evenings to myself. It's great. I'm feeling quite good and looking forward to the winter ahead.
A few people have asked me what my team plans are for next year. If I'm honest I've not been as focused on forward planning as I have been previously. My reason for this is I've been waiting for nods from several people locally on some plans we're hoping to make. Those nods have "sort-of" been given but there are still some outstanding parts to those. I've also been putting much more energy into focusing on the "now" and making sure I have the best winter possible to spring-board me into next season.
So I'll just give you the 'long and short'.
The last two seasons I sent my "CV" out to as many teams across the UK as possible - within reason, I wasn't sending them to UCI squads or teams full of Elites - which resulted in one year my being accepted on to CTT, which became Merlin and then last year I joined PH-Mas, which became VCUK. I had great fun with both teams, all the girls I'd ridden with are now good friends - which I think is the main thing in cycling!
However, with Merlin we had a series of very unfortunate events which led to the team only having three members, geographically very far apart and experience-wise even further. In VCUK we were all a good match, with the incremental steps in experience and skill being somewhat smaller - however again geographically I have been quite far from the rest of the squad, who were based in Yorkshire. Unfortunately we only got to ride together as a full team a few times - no fault of anyone's, that's just the way it works sometimes.
Because of this, I chose not to send out said "CV" to any other teams this year. I've had a brilliant season, especially in time trials (I've also recently found out I clinched the 10 league which was one of my goals, hurrah!), but with all the travel and the ridiculously full program and the very, very near miss on points to push me up to the next category I felt it would be more advantageous to keep myself to myself and try to just focus on having the best winter possible, and use the spring to make any impressions or set expectations.
Following on from that decision, there is now a wonderful quota of female racers based here on the Island - including three very talented Juniors and some Seniors - all of whom are interested in away-racing for next season. Luckily, most of us are all part of the same club. SO - you can probably make two & two here - the idea is to try to help out our newly fledged Juniors break into the world of senior racing and help to grow what I would very much love to see as being an Island women's squad. We have the minerals, we really just need to get on and do it!
Personally my goals for next year, in my club kit (www.manxvikingwheelers.net), will be;
Thankfully, after a meeting with my new coach, I'm now back on it and enjoying a really mixed regime (including several different sports). I've also taken to training before work in the mornings which is leaving me with tons of energy and evenings to myself. It's great. I'm feeling quite good and looking forward to the winter ahead.
A few people have asked me what my team plans are for next year. If I'm honest I've not been as focused on forward planning as I have been previously. My reason for this is I've been waiting for nods from several people locally on some plans we're hoping to make. Those nods have "sort-of" been given but there are still some outstanding parts to those. I've also been putting much more energy into focusing on the "now" and making sure I have the best winter possible to spring-board me into next season.
So I'll just give you the 'long and short'.
The last two seasons I sent my "CV" out to as many teams across the UK as possible - within reason, I wasn't sending them to UCI squads or teams full of Elites - which resulted in one year my being accepted on to CTT, which became Merlin and then last year I joined PH-Mas, which became VCUK. I had great fun with both teams, all the girls I'd ridden with are now good friends - which I think is the main thing in cycling!
 |
| I've also been helping to run Ladies only coaching sessions, which my good pal Jonny Bellis has been using to work on his coaching qualifications! :) |
Because of this, I chose not to send out said "CV" to any other teams this year. I've had a brilliant season, especially in time trials (I've also recently found out I clinched the 10 league which was one of my goals, hurrah!), but with all the travel and the ridiculously full program and the very, very near miss on points to push me up to the next category I felt it would be more advantageous to keep myself to myself and try to just focus on having the best winter possible, and use the spring to make any impressions or set expectations.
Following on from that decision, there is now a wonderful quota of female racers based here on the Island - including three very talented Juniors and some Seniors - all of whom are interested in away-racing for next season. Luckily, most of us are all part of the same club. SO - you can probably make two & two here - the idea is to try to help out our newly fledged Juniors break into the world of senior racing and help to grow what I would very much love to see as being an Island women's squad. We have the minerals, we really just need to get on and do it!
Personally my goals for next year, in my club kit (www.manxvikingwheelers.net), will be;
- To continue riding both locally and in the North West road races, as well as the close circuit races.
- Some of the Irish and British stage races, as you well know I do love a good stage race.
- The British and CTT national time trial champs (BC, 25, 10 & circuit).
- Most excitingly, I'll be accrediting on the track soon and hope to join some of my fellow Islanders in doing some of the National Omnium Rounds as well as trying to work on learning the Individual Pursuit - my reasons for this are that I want to focus my efforts not just the 2017 Island Games but, if my legs can carry me, beyond toward bigger competitions in the future.
Obviously my biggest goal overall is to get that license up and get myself doing some gnarlier races, and do my best to start racing well enough to progress on to do well Nationally - unfortunately I will lose the 9 points I've gained this year but I don't mind starting from scratch.
So there it is. I will remain a friend of VCUK for next year and will definitely be holding on to my lovely purple kit, however for the reasons I've explained - for the time being I will be riding in the black, yellow and red colours of my local club.
Comments
Post a Comment