The Racing Season Begins.

So, it's been a while since my last post, a few things have happened since then, so I will do my best to fill you in, let you know what's going on, and what I have got coming up as the racing season starts to kick in.

My last post was after my first week in Lanzarote, the last week and a half out there was great. The weather improved, with the temperature getting up to about 24 degrees most days, and the wind dropped a fair bit, which made it more enjoyable and easier to stay in a straight line! In the last couple of days of my time over there, I started to feel fatigued, so decided to take the last couple of days easy and avoid training that wouldn't do me any good so close to racing. So, after a late flight, I arrived home at about 1am Friday morning, and was pretty tired to say the least. I took the next couple of days easy before my first race on Sunday, at the SERRL event down at the new Cyclopark in Kent. I wasn't expecting too much from myself, so just took it easy for the first part before I started to get involved with the racing. I soon realised that I wasn't really in the shape I needed to win the race, so I tried a few different attacks to find out what shape I was actually in. I found out that my top end, wasn't so top. A few riders got away in the end, mainly in ones and two's, then I came third in the bunch kick to take 9th. An okay start, considering.

Next up, I recieved my new race bike for this season, a Colnago M10, kitted out with Campagnolo Super Record 11 and FSA components. Many thanks go to Maurice Burton and everyone at De Ver Cycles, Peter Nisbet and the people at Windwave, for sorting me out with a fantastic bike for the 2012 season.

The following weekend was my first road race of the season, and what an introduction. The weather was grim, so grim. I've raced in a few different weather conditions, but none as cold and wet as this one. I felt alright for the first half of the race, but the conditions took their toll and I ended up getting dropped from the chase group within a couple of miles from the finish with a lap to go, so decided to pull out, once I had reached the finish line. There was no point whatsoever to continue in my eyes. I hate having to pull out, but it was for the best. My arms, feet and hands were so numb I could hardly ride my bike, it is safe to say I have never felt like that on a bike before.

Monday brought a problem. In the afternoon, I started to get a headache and a hungry sensation. As the day progressed I felt worse and worse. I got home and just collapsed in bed, knowing something was up. I spent the night being violently sick, I had caught a stomach virus. I was frustrated, but I tried not to let it get to me too much, and just focused on getting better, telling myself that it's a long season, and these things happen. The next couple of days would be spent in bed, resting, drinking, and doing what I could to recover. Come Friday, I was starting to feel a lot better, and knew I would be well enough for some long rides over the weekend.

This was the case. A few hours on the bike, both days this weekend was a good way to get back into it all. I felt better than I expected to, so hopefully after a good week of training behind me, I can be somewhat ready for my trip to Belgium next weekend. I will be racing on Saturday and Sunday, both races being about 150km's. This week has damaged my chances of doing well, so I am hoping to feel okay, but I can only imagine how tough it will be.

So, that's what's on my racing agenda next. The week after that, is the Wally Gimber Memorial race, in which I am hoping to have a good ride, as I build towards my first goal of the season.

That's all for now, will give another update on my trip to Belgium next week!

Taylor


http://www.devercycles.co.uk/
http://www.windwave.co.uk/index.html
http://www.colnago.com/