Little metal bar....I hate you!

I've got this brand new, LUSSSSSHHHHH BMX from Mongoose.
I ride bikes, but I'm not super into them really, as in, as items. I've had an old BMX for ages, but I rarely get it out and for something so small I found it heavy and cumbersome. So when the new one arrived I wasn't sure what it would be like, I couldn't see how something with no gears, no suspension and minimal other variables could feel much different. But it so badly did!!! It felt amazing, it was like, responsive and happy and free.

I was itching to go and went to the skatepark with some guys a couple of times. Even though the bike felt right, something was wrong. Normally when I'm on a bike I'm super playful, confident and don't stop moving, but at the skateparks I was not my normal self, I was shy and needed constant reassurance from my mates. If you have never been to a skatepark, let me explain. They are the most intimidating places In.The.World. Only one person can ride at a time and so everyone who isn't riding is stood around watching and waiting for you to finish so that they can go. Combine an automatic stage with being a beginner and then with being the only girl in the place, it's a recipe for self-conscious overload. I was riding stiffly and way below what I knew I should be capable of.

So, when a friend Juliet invited me to Corby for a session I jumped at the chance. She's a relative beginner too, but competent and keen. Arriving with her and watching her just plough on in and get stuck in gave me sooo much confidence. When a few more girls arrived later I couldn't have been more stoked, I felt I deserved to be there, I wanted to learn, I was inspired and the Old-Anna came back. I rode solidly for 4 hours, I took loads of tumbles, but I could feel myself learning and came up smiling every time.

What did I want to learn? I had a long list that I'd discussed on the train, I wanted to do the rhythm section, the spine, and ultimately....air out of a quarter.
The Rhythm Section
I rode it several times, yeah, I cased every single jump, but fuck it, I rode it and was in control, just need to get a bit better.
The Spine
I had a massive crash on a spine about a year ago, it resulted in me landing on my coccyx, losing my vision for 2 minutes and being terrified, and going to hospital in an ambulance to have my back checked out. I have a big fear of spines, and to be fair, lots of people do, they're very scarey. But I looked at this one and had a stern word inside my head, it's something I know how to do, I went through the motions and told myself to go for it. I crashed a few times, mostly half on purpose as I was too scared to commit and then...I did it!!! and then I did it again and a couple of times more. And it felt so cool. I don't feel like I "own it" yet, but, I will do.
Airing

If you can't air out of stuff in a skatepark you're screwed as you're trapped below the build of it, you can't get speed to link stuff together, you can't do tricks, it's fundamental. I've talked about it a lot, and had a good long chat with Juliet about it too. It was good being with someone who is capable of the thing, but new enough to remember what it felt like to not be able to so it. She could really break it down for me, she watched me, I watched her and then in the end there was nothing else to do but practice. I slowed myself down, took control of my speed and my timing, I could feel the technique coming. So, a few times I looked right at that coping and heard Juliet in my head saying "just go with it" I let my front wheel feel the tiny bump of the metal bar and turned my bike in the air back into the transition. I can't have ever been more than an inch over, and I never felt like "wow, that was a lovely, smooth feeling" I felt awkward, but the barrier is broken and I can't wait to keep going back and trying to get a bit bigger and then a bit bigger again.


So, I had the best day ever, I was broken and battered on the train home but happy as Larry. I feel like it's OK to be in the skatepark now, I wanna spend all the grotty winter days riding my BMX. I think this will give me such good base skills that when it's Summer again it will put me in good stead for bike handling on my MTB. I'm actually really excited about the coming Winter months.....

reflections on a Bonkers Summer

It's been ages since I've done a blog piece, so now that Summer is gone and it's actually winter I need to stop referring to "this Summer" and maybe the way to do that is to reflect on it and then say goodbye.

TV

It's been a Summer of new experiences, the learning curve has been so steep and I can't remember even half of the cool stuff that's happened. I wish I had a memory, cos I reckon I'd have a bundle of stories to tell. I'm gonna start with the obvious one, that I suddenly became a TV presenter for ITV4's The Cycle Show. This was soooooooo cooooool, I got sent all over the place doing novelty bike stuff and working with really fun, friendly, hard-working and creative people. I can't remember much of it to be honest, it passed by in a whirlwind. Stand out moments were being above the clouds on the Alpe D'Huez at 5.30 am, and losing a camera man Dave inside the clouds for a couple of hours. He couldn't see anything and occasionally heard something and hoped it was us, he never found the race that he was supposed to be filming, he just headed "downwards" until he found a town.
I also remember this gorgeous couple at the Brompton World Champs. We were looking for interesting people to film and spotted this cute girl in purple boots so we got chatting to her, she was from Romania and had travelled over to take part in the BWC with her boyfriend. They had met at a Brompton convention in Romania and fell in love over the bikes, the weekend of the big race he proposed to her, so she was there with her shiney new ring and was totally glowing. So fuzzy.
I remember the phone call with producer Chris "Anna, whats cool and fun in cycling?" Me "well, there's this and this and this" Chris "hmm, you know the more fun it is the more we want you to do it." CAN YOU IMAGINE HAVING A CONVERSATION LIKE THAT?!?!?!?! Imagine being offered to be sent to do all the things you've ever dreamed of. Seriously. Imagine it. It's mind blowing.

I have had a disk made of all my features, I'm glad of that because it's like my album summerising all the fun things I did. It's not like features, it's like a reminder of the times I had on my bikes with my friends.

And it was on TV. That was weird. I didn't get to watch one until about 3 episodes in. I went to my parents house to get at a telly, we all sat down and then, just before my part I jumped up and bolted, but my mum grabbed my arm and forced me to watch it. It was actually quite cool, it was like, Oh Yeah, that's what happened, I remember that.

Oh, and I got spotted once. In a club, by someone who plays golf. I was stoked. He didn't ask for my autograph tho and I guess it's not cool to offer?!

I also got abuse online, I was warned that this would happen as it happens to everyone. But here's something I've got to say to that. It's shit. Nothing can prepare you for it. I'm lucky to have had the support of my friends and lucky to be pretty self confident, because reading shit about you and what people think about you and why they hate you and how ugly you are and blah, blah blah is pretty demoralising.

But I was only upset for less than a day TBH, but it's defo a stand out moment.

AnaNichoola
I also got investment for my clothing business this Summer. So inbetween trying to be a TV presenter, I was also learning how to be a business woman. I've been put up in a lovely office in the building with my investors, so there's always a door to knock on if I need some support. And man, do I need support!!! hahaha! I mean, it's one thing getting absorbed in my sketches, designs, samples and testing, it's another turning that into a functioning, slick business.

The major target on the calendar was Eurobike, which I miraculously got a stand at. Sleepless night after sleepless night took it's toll on me and I noticed my reactions were fucking up, so like, if I looked to the side my eyes would still see the thing I'd been looking at at the front for another second. I started freaking out about sleep, I've heard about people who get panic attacks always look for an escape route wherever they happen to be. Well, every new place I was in I started looking for sleeping places, I'd be like "OK, if they stop talking and go and make a tea, I can go into that corner over there and sleep for 3 mins" I never did it, but it was like an overwhelming, all consuming fantasy.

So with that in mind it made sense to bring Mummy G with me to Eurobike. She was so helpful in helping set up the stand and getting everything in place, but she also made sure we were well fed, and warm and hydrated. She was amazing. She didn't even moan about the fact I'd told her I'd book a hotel but actually we had to sleep in the back of the van for 5 days. She's not a back of a van sort of person.

Businesswise Eurobike was amazing. I was in the clothing hall of this place that's like a magical world of bike stuff. I set up my fake grass and pink bean bags, and felt totally out of place in this world of clean and red/white/black branding. But you know what? We aced it! Ours was by far the most friendly and welcoming stand, people loved looking at the products and then would chill out for ages, chatting about riding and their lives and stuff. I mean, that's what I want my brand to be about, adventures and stories and life and people and riding. And it worked. It's got the ball rolling for 2013 and I just hope we can get a stand again there next year.


Other notable things from this Summer was that I've got properly and sweetly hooked up with Mongoose Bikes.  I'll write about that properly another time, as it deserves it's own piece.

I took my cousin to Ireland and discovered a whole load of family I didn't know I had. We drank tea, got on like a house on fire, went surfing, met Big Al Mennie, the big wave surfer (coolest, nicest person EVER by the way, like, ever!!!)

I did an onstage interview with Downhiller Danny Hart and the Buxton Adventure Festival. I was sooo nervous I pulled out about a week before, but the organisers wouldn't let me. Instead they welcomed me into their home, let me watch other presentations and fed me half a bottle of wine before I got on stage. I sat opposite Danny and prayed that he would talk, we had a whole hour to fill and everyone was looking at us!!! And...he was brilliant, so chatty and lovely, he had so much inspirational stuff to say and everyone wanted to hear it. I also asked him how big his balls were. Pretty glad of that wine :-)

It's been nice spending the last month or so with my feet kind of on the ground, I've been able to put time back into my friends and have started riding again. I now have time to cook dinners and try to eat my five a day. It's been a summer of new things that's for sure, new experiences, new designs, new places, new people, new hot-guys, it will be nice now if some of those new things can start becoming not-new, for the dust to settle, and to feel like things are becoming established. New is cool right, because it's the first step to something becoming not-new. And not-new is even cooler in my opinion.

Today I.....

Often, people ask what a typical day is when you run your own business, or how much riding I do as a sponsored rider - and then I sound like a dick who doesnt want to talk when I'm like "there is no typical day" but if i tried to describe it they'd get really bored and wish they'd never bloody asked. So, here's last week, you can read it if you want and if you don't care you don't have to read it. Win-win

Sunday - get pissed with family at Easter. My nana was sober, but is loopy, and reckons I was in the olympics at track, she said she was still proud of me even though I only came third. I was happy to know I had her loyalty. My brother and RB were pissed and sang Frere Jaques Dubstep remix - it was cringy. Cousin Alex and I talked about boys and Hula Hooping.

Monday - Cousin Alex cooked me a nice lunch and we did work. she did social work writing stuff and I did sketching for Spring/Summer 2013. It was raining, but I really wanted to kick start the AnaNichoola London Velo Sisters and 7 people were still up for going so I went. I was 10 mins late, felt bad as I had promoted the ride and they all waited for me in the pouring rain....oops. Anyway, it went well, we split into two groups, I chatted with Sol and Al, I was on my fixie with minidrome 51 inch gearing, I spun out the whole time and think I bruised my private parts, it was fun though. We sacked off the pub as had puddles in our shoes. I got home freezing cold and soaking wet and was too late for last entry at the gym (I don't have a shower in my studio) so had to towel dry myself and put on about twenty layers and hot water bottles, felt cold still and quite sorry for myself. put on some music on and carried on with the sketches, cheered right up, warmed up a bit and went to bed at 4am.

Tuesday - Did tasks, had a shower, spent 2 hours trying to get the last bit of money off of my credit card in the bank to pay my suppliers. Sent out some post to customers, tidied the studio a bit, went back to my parents to pick up my hula hoop and nearly died cycling home on my fixie, brakeless, SPD pedals with trainers, lightless, holding a hula hoop and two heavy bags. 3 miles down hill, it was gnarly as fuck and my legs were still tired from the day before.

Wednesday - Visited Big Foot bikes with some samples to see if they wanted to order. They do :-) Had a nice chat about their female customers and their huge cycling club (300 members!!!) Tried to create a price list for an international distributor, realised I couldn't do it, so called a couple of people who work in the bike trade and asked some advice. A couple of hours on the phone and I got a bit further, but my brain couldn't digest all the info, so I forced myself to switch off from it until another day and went to bed early. Found it hard to sleep, should have gone out on my bike.

Thurs - Had a BRILLIANT day filming with Markus from Cycle Film, Phil his assistant and Mon and Lola my models. I'd never spent time with Mon or Lola and was hoping they'd be up for working hard and having a laugh, and I couldn't have asked for a better pair. By the end of the day they were tired from cycling up and down the roads, I loved having the view from inside the car, and we felt like we'd known each other for ever.  Can't wait to work with them again and ride with them more often in the future. Then went to the Coven Mag launch at Red Bull studios. I'd been excited about it all week, I knew it'd be a good party and I was proud to see Juliet doing something for female action sports off her own back. Check it out here: http://www.covenmagazine.com/ Got wayyyyy too drunk on vodka redbull, my team mates V and Marit joined the party and it all kicked off. The highlight was attacking a bike thief from behind who'd stolen Marits bike, we got the bikes back and felt like hero's!!

Fri - Was too hungover to think, read my emails but didnt send replies. Went to the lovely physio Anne to have my back sorted out (from an injury I did on my BMX in Oct) she really, really sorted me out. Watched the Undateables, got a bit tearful, so went to bed early feeling guilty about wasting my day.

Sat - trying to catch up from not doing work on Friday, tidying the studio and preparing a presentation for an investor meeting on Weds. They like my brand, they like me and the way I work, they are very interested, but they still need some convincing. So, I will have to stand in front of 3 guys with the money, a director of one of their fashion businesses and their head designer of that business and sell myself. I don't really know what to say, but am enjoying getting my thoughts out, and one thing I do know is that the presentation will be hand drawn. In a couple of hours I'm gonna go cheer for my team mates racing at Herne Hill, will bring my BMX to see if I can convince any of the guys to go to the skate park with me (even if they don't 6 miles each way on my BMX over crystal palace hill is healthy strength training) . I intend to come home early to continue work on the presentation, but I expect I'll end up in the pub with the girls......

Looking forward to a summer of dreams combined with nightmare situations (with Rachael Walker)

Today was all planned but kinda on a crazy tight schedule, so when i woke up at 5am, I knew everything might not happen. By the time Rachael and I had loaded the BRAND NEW ADVENTURE MOBILE ( here you can see my Mongoose DH bike,  my skateboard, my hemelt, my Shimano shoes, my bag, my goggles, Rachaels newly retrieved stolen bike, my road shoes,my body armour #messy)
and got onto the motorway at 6.30am we discovered the the van woulnd't get into 5th gear and we decided to keep pushing on slowly, getting overtaken by lorries, to reach our desired destination - UK Bike Park, where we'd booked an uplift with a group of friends. By Basingstoke we decided to turn back, Rach had just bought the van and wanted to get it back to mr salesman whilst he was still open. He was very fair and said he didnt want to sell faulty good and would fix it on Monday. Fair enough, but we'd missed our freeride trip we'd booked a month ago!!! Sad face. :-(. There you go.


So we made the most of our time and finsished decorating Brian the Van into a princess AnaNichoola Wagon:

And fit the stereo

Only to find that the reason we couldn't hear anything was in fact because the van didn't have speakers. So we went to visit my brother around the corner (rachaels house mate- that's how we know each other) and he had a bonfire and we roasted Flumps (cheaper than a pack of marshmellows)

And then it was time to face up to the reality that I was doing the Redbull Minidrome. Why on earth was I so nervous?!?! It's not likes it's a proper UCI race, with points and stuff, It's just FUN!!!! However, i got sponsored by Mongoose on the back of this race this time last year, so I guess i knew big stuff can happen from it. the press love it, people watch it like you're on a stage. I really wanted to qualify. I also really wanted to wear my brand, spanking, shiney, sexy, awesome new sperm helmet from Bell. Man! It's so damn cool!! So I practiced The Look.

And then I got on the train, went to York Hall as one of the last qualifiers to try out. Smashed it up qualifying 10th and fastest girl. My teamie V gave it a  go too on my bike, and just missed out by 2 places on qualifying!!! And then we went to the pub in the station and had several wines. And now I'm excited for tomorrow, but don't want to end today cos it's been soo frikkin rad!!!! :-))))

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

everything turns out fine, always

I had a really, really important meeting. It was with Evans cycles, to show them my products and see if they'd like to stock them. I was pretty nervous and had spent the day before preparing. When the time came I had memorised the 1.5 mile route and hopped on the train with my fabric bike.

I got off the train and rode towards the A23, I knew I had to head south and turn left at the first round about. Easy. But south and the first round about was towards brighton, on the M23!! I freaked out at the exit of the round about, that joined the motorway and pedalled as hard as I could in the outside lane, in my high heels, to avoid getting hit by cars peeling off at 60mph. I found a workman and got some directions of him, to go South I had to go North first.

I got terribly lost. 

I didn't have a phone, as I generally don't. So I asked someone. I said "I'm lost" he said "where are you trying to go" I said "south." I realised that in memorising the really simple route from the station that I hadn't bothered to remember the address! I ended up in a car showroom, and they googled "evans head office" for me. "do you want their number?" They asked, knowing that by then I was already 20 minutes late "...I don't have a phone" I mumbled. They were pretty weirded out by me, but let me use their phone to leave a voice message to say I was 5 minutes away.

Clutching my newly printed map, I got back onto the A23, under Gatwick terminal and just before I got to that first round about my crank fell off!!! I was cycling down a speedy duel carriage way, with no pavement to my side, and was suddenly grateful that I had clips and straps. This allowed me to pull up and push down using just my right foot, and destroying the gorgeous patent leather on the toes of my shoes. I pulled up and pushed down as fast as my right leg would allow me! 

I arrived, 40 minutes late, sweating like a beast, scuffed shoes and holding a screwed up map and a crank complete with pedal.

It turns out the dude thought the meeting was at 3, not 2.

So it kinda proved my point. Every thing is fine in the end.

Plus, they liked my stuff! See AnaNichoola soon in Evans.....

A video of meeeee!

http://www.eta.co.uk/node/8180