Learning BMX, week 5

Getting Air....take 2

After thinking I got a little bit of air out the miniramp at corby I went to Bay66 and realised I was still terrified and not really doing it right. I've got to a nice point in the skatepark now where some people know who I am and are friendly and encouraging and understand what I'm trying to do and give tips and advice. I was still struggling and got frustrated.

Mongoose fixed me up a little meeting with my new teamie, James Ivett. I was a bit like "woah, I'm gonna have to ride in front of a proper rider" But when he turned up with a big grin and even bigger high-5 I was chilled. James is very cool, fun and funny and took me away from the little quarter to the big section of the bowl "yeah, its scarier, but it's easier" He gave me some tips, and, keen to reward my new tutor I tried to absorb what he said and put it into action. When I head little "yay"'s coming from the boys on either side of the bowl I knew I was getting it. I grinned whilst I was riding. Here's what he said:

- don't jump with both wheels at the same time, it's like a vertical bunny hop, front then back
- don't jump too early, wait to feel the bump of the coping with your front wheel and bounce off it
- don't jump too late or you'll travel forward onto the deck and that's when bad things happen
- Muscle memory will eventually kick in so you won't have to think of these things in the future

Here's what I thought of myself:

- if I did it about twice in a row I would suddenly remember what I was doing, panic and put my foot down the next time
- I looked at the coping to make sure my front wheel went over it, and as soon as it did, turned my head back down looking at the ramp. That meant I didn't see how high (or in my case not high) I went. This is weird, it's good because you don't get to be scared but it's strange because you don't feel that you go in the air so you have to rely on people telling you.
- Once I'd had a few good and bad go's I didn't want anyone giving me more advice, I just wanted to be left alone to practice

Being Involved

Some of you may know that I've been really ill. Like, proper ill. I'm only just starting to leave the house again after a few weeks stuck indoors, in hospital, in an ambulance, in the operating theatre. It's been so bad, I never thought it would happen to someone like me, I thought illnesses happened to lazy or unhealthy people, I thought bad things happened to mean and unfriendly people. It was the most terrifying and distressing time of my life (except the time I got dragged out to sea into huge waves, with no board and got rescued, that was pretty shit too). I now get nightmares about pain and am half convinced/paranoid that I'm going to die in my sleep!

But it was my Mum and my team mates that got me through it. Now, as the latest medication begins to kick in and I realise I can say goodbye to the racing season, I can look back with clarity and know that ultimately I'm still one of the lucky ones. Every week my team mates would come and visit me, and every day they asked how I was doing. It gets pretty annoying when you speak to someone and all they do is moan about how ill they are, but they still asked everyday, and gave me the confidence I needed to talk about it and moan about it everyday. They explored solutions and gave me sympathy, and didn't stop asking.

And I still asked about them, and whenever I had a good day I'd go watch them race, or even train! My Mum said something cringey, she said "at least you can be involved." I thought that was crap. But it's totally true. I watched and supported and talked to them, and have been proud of them. With the Tour Series upon us I have become Pit-Girl (which is hilarious, as I'm super scatty and can't fix a bike) and it has allowed me to be part of everything that's going on. I love cycling, specifically I love women's cycling, but whatever the hobby is, I reckon the people who can stay involved in some way or other, and the people with good friends, are the people that can stay the happiest during shit times.

So go get a hobby before it's too late!! haha