mountainmorgy

I was going to write this weeks post on yet more race results. More "how is training going?" responses. More of the same old same old. It reads well, doesn't it? Everyone wants to hear about that. Team Time Trial - pic (c) Kevin Kissack Then I thought...I've done two races since my last report. One of them a hilly women's road race in the North West, another a 3-up team time trial with some local lads. The former didn't go so well..... I have no explanation for that other than I'm really not a great climber and on the day...my legs really just couldn't be arsed. The latter much better, we smashed my 25 mile PB by over 5 minutes, I got to ride with two fantastic guys both of whom are exceptionally talented, and nice to boot. We were the first mixed team in at 1.02.41 - a very commendable time for a cold, early season time trial on a Manx course. So there's my report. I've been training for around 10 hard  hours a week (it's always a...

DONE! First races finally out of the way! What a weekend it was, too. I'm absolutely shattered! So I'll start my report from the very top... OUCHIES I travelled out on Friday ( Steam Packet boat, then train as usual) to meet up with some of the team & management. Exhaustion from plodding around the country on boats and trains is commonplace for me so it was a welcome change to my usual routine that I'd be staying at the team managers Nicky & Neil's house. You begin to realise just how much people who manage teams & coach riders pour into the sport, and it's evident more than ever in Nicky & Neil - it's inspiring, and very humbling, to see how much they really just adore bicycling, racing and the teams they put so much into. A brief catchup with everyone and some much needed coffee and it was a trip down to Club Energy of Otley to do a spin class! Now, we have to bear in mind Mooleur is rather new to fitnessy-type-things not least the...

It's been 3 weeks since my last post, I've been so busy with training, preparing to move house and generally keeping on top of life...this may indeed be my last post for another 3-4 weeks as racing officially begins in just under 3! I've been umming and ahing over what to write about and thought, well, this time last year I was (over) thinking the up coming season and brimming with an eager anticipation..perhaps this time I might plan a little more sensible. Perhaps I might set reasonable goals. Perhaps I might just act the way I'm supposed to act, as if this were just a hobby, something I do on the weekends. ....so then I thought NO. I don't care if I'm still not experienced. I don't care if I'm not yet that strong. I don't care if I've got no points on my license and I don't care if anyone thinks I'm shit or not. My goal posts have not changed, in fact if anything my desire to achieve the most I possibly can is even stronger. I can...

Not really...but we are edging ever nearer to the start of the racing season and it feels like there is so much I need to get done, talk about, rant about...etc! The awesome 17 strong ladies collective & manager Neil. I missed posting again in National Obesity Awareness Week mainly due to being off-Island to attend the VCUK team launch. This was awesome, very pro, and we received a fabulous motivational speech from Wayne Greenhalgh, the boss at VCUK . We all left feeling very much part of something special, and part of an overall cycling family willing to accept and encourage all regardless of status or level. It's exciting! After arriving there was a formal introduction of each team which included a quick Q&A session. Some photographs and of course - CAKE. It was lovely to see families and friends arrive to support their respective participants. Again the event overall promoted the idea of the VCUK concept being very much a community driven, development base...

This week it's National Obesity Awareness Week - this is the first of a couple of important blogs I'd like to share with you over the course of the week, as this subject is as important as covering other health issues and directly affects such a huge proportion of our population that it's not something I feel should be ignored. Me during my more...hazy..days. Now, when I talk about this with some people nowadays I find the reception uneasy, in that I guess now that I've lost a lot of weight and am no longer new to any sport people seem to look at me and judge "what would you know about weight problems" - that statement might come across as unnecessarily egotistical and while it's not meant to at all it's also completely true. In fact, frequently people even say this to me. Meeting one of my favourite DJ's "back in the day" ..actually during my unhappiest times So why would I be interested in this subject? How could I, clad i...

Here it is! The final post of 2014. Where did that go!? It all happened rather quickly...so I'm going to post my stats and some favourite moments on the bike. Training is going great, and after a couple of years of testing the water I finally think the time has come to start properly playing the game. Roll on 2015... it's going to be a good one! Before I continue I'd just like express my thanks to the following people who've supported me this year; David, my amazing boyfriend. Jamie at RPC Coaching . Bex and Alex, my inspiring team mates. Merlin Cycles for the kit and bike and finally the Manx Viking Wheelers for all their support both of myself and our local, awesome, cycling scene. This year had slightly less hours, and a few less miles, some ups and some downs, but every minute spent on that bike was superior to that of 2013 - long may this trend continue... Total distance ridden was 4668 miles... 433 hours (recorded) on the saddle.... Aro...

NEWS FLASH - check out the new look blog!! It's in keeping with our new team kit and website, PH-MAS VCUK Women's RT . I've been pondering over what to write about lately - a holiday and two fairly severe bouts of sickness have meant my base mileage this winter has been somewhat "gappy" - albeit the miles I've done have been good quality, so I'm not feeling too down about it. I'm still waiting on my hand built wheels for my MTB so that project is on hold, and I've a couple of more politically orientated posts to draft out but I'm saving them for a rainy day. Anyway, let's get on with it... (C) Bed.3 Day photographer! HILLS! GGURNNN. When September comes around nowadays, I always feel excited - mainly because I'm going to have a little break, some lie-ins, some evenings to myself and most importantly, some free weekends. Every single year now I think the same.. "ah great, winter will be a good rest" - and every single ...