So the Good Friday track meeting was rained off half-way through. After setting up my stall and having everything ready I was really gutted. We got to see Chris Newton take gold on the points race, but aside from that it wasn't the big day that we had all hoped for! Riders came from Italy and France, my brother trained through the Winter and there was the largest ever number of women racers...who were all left disappointed.
It is such a shame that the weather in England is so unpredictable, its holds us back on many things. The Brits are always talking about the weather, but it is something that makes or breaks a day and there is no way of knowing which way it it going to go.
Maybe we should all just take up mountain biking.
However, we did get t-shirts signed by the 4 biggest track stars at the event, which are on sale from the website.
Wednesday, 15 April 2009
Tuesday, 24 March 2009
Fame at last
I had a great day with a film crew in Hyde Park last week. I was asked by Footstep Productions to come along and talk about cycling in London and our clothing line. I then gave a lesson to the presenter, a lovely, smiley 23 year old actress call Jing. She was nervous at first as she hasn't ridden a bike since she was 10, but after the first few minutes we couldn't get her off and had to keep calling her back for filming.
I will be part of a 5 minute clip in a TV series called "London Files" that will be shown to teenagers in Germany!!
I will post the clip once it's edited, to allow everyone to laugh at my awkwardness infront of a camera!
I will be part of a 5 minute clip in a TV series called "London Files" that will be shown to teenagers in Germany!!
I will post the clip once it's edited, to allow everyone to laugh at my awkwardness infront of a camera!
Thursday, 12 March 2009
BikeHood
I met with the Kingston BikeHooders yesterday and the designs are coming along amazingly! The girls have been speaking to their yeargroup to decide on the best colour scheme. They have shown great imagination, and hopefully we wont have to compromise on the design too much due to budget constraints.
Today the girls will be asking for the opinion of everyone in their schools to ensure the most popular design gets produced.
Whichever one it is, I can guarantee that it will look really cool and have features that make it great for cycling in. Watch this space...
Tuesday, 3 March 2009
Hairdresser embarrassment
I went to get my hair cut today. I had a half-price voucher for a very swanky hairdressers, so I hopped on my bike and went to my appointment. Just before I got there it sunddenly started chucking it down with rain. I locked my bike up in the downpour and took off my front wheel to chain it with the back. I turned up at the super-duper-swanky hairdressers sodden, with brown mud spots up my back and black hands. The funky peroxide blonde who had the task of untangling all my knots could barely conceal her disgust.
I wanted to have a big flashing sign that said "Im not always this gross, I can actually scrub up ok - its just that I cycled here."
It got me thinking that I want to make a hugely stylish cycling rain coat, thats breathable and flattering. None of this day-glo yellow nonsense. I want a coat I can put on and stride into a cool hairdressers unashamed!
The photoshoot for it will be held in a salon.
Watch this space...
I wanted to have a big flashing sign that said "Im not always this gross, I can actually scrub up ok - its just that I cycled here."
It got me thinking that I want to make a hugely stylish cycling rain coat, thats breathable and flattering. None of this day-glo yellow nonsense. I want a coat I can put on and stride into a cool hairdressers unashamed!
The photoshoot for it will be held in a salon.
Watch this space...
Wednesday, 18 February 2009
Skills and stunts course
Somewhere in the South of London we (Ana Nichoola) were asked to do a skills and stunts course using some ramps. It sounded like fun, so of course we said yes. It turned out to be one of the least fun things I have ever done!
Arranging the tranpost of these massive ramps was a 2-day palaver, resulting in paying two dodgy geezers with a van, who insisted on 2 hours pay despite making me half an hour late. Once the ramps had arrived and were set up, me and 2 other Ana Nichoola instructors started the session just as the heavens opened. The kids were told not to use the ramps. They disobeyed. The youth worker who was supposed to be controlling the behaviour of the kids whilst we taught thought this was fine. One kid slipped off the ramp and badly grazed his knee and elbow. I thought that would prove my point- that the ramps were too slippy, but was told to f*** off!
Eventually the bahviour got so bad that we had to turn the ramps upside down and ban the kids. We were called all the names under the sun, Ed was even called a f***ing p***y by a cute looking 7 year old girl!
There must have been around £500 spent on that event, specifically asked for by the kids. They showed absolutely no gratitude for it. I work in a different primary school every week in and around London, NEVER have I had to deal with such rude, spoilt brats! Its unbelievable that they are allowed to continue with that behaviour and still have events put on for them every single day in half term.
...However, if you are looking for a skills course in your area, and have/allow a discipline structure then please get in touch :-)
Arranging the tranpost of these massive ramps was a 2-day palaver, resulting in paying two dodgy geezers with a van, who insisted on 2 hours pay despite making me half an hour late. Once the ramps had arrived and were set up, me and 2 other Ana Nichoola instructors started the session just as the heavens opened. The kids were told not to use the ramps. They disobeyed. The youth worker who was supposed to be controlling the behaviour of the kids whilst we taught thought this was fine. One kid slipped off the ramp and badly grazed his knee and elbow. I thought that would prove my point- that the ramps were too slippy, but was told to f*** off!
Eventually the bahviour got so bad that we had to turn the ramps upside down and ban the kids. We were called all the names under the sun, Ed was even called a f***ing p***y by a cute looking 7 year old girl!
There must have been around £500 spent on that event, specifically asked for by the kids. They showed absolutely no gratitude for it. I work in a different primary school every week in and around London, NEVER have I had to deal with such rude, spoilt brats! Its unbelievable that they are allowed to continue with that behaviour and still have events put on for them every single day in half term.
...However, if you are looking for a skills course in your area, and have/allow a discipline structure then please get in touch :-)
Sunday, 15 February 2009
BMX day 1
On Wednesday I took my first trip to the skate park. Deke and I finished work early, so I grabbed my bro's BMX and asked Deke for a lesson.
The experience got me buzzing!
First I was practising manuals and american bunny hops. I was getting there towards the end, holding a manual for a couple of metres and hopping 2-3 inches, well, you gotta start somewhere! Next I went to the top of a baby ramp, and Deke (now my coach) talked me through how to drop-in. The ramp was about a metre high, but I was still terrified. I went for it...and slid my front wheel and jumped over the handle bars and landed on my hands and knees! Undeterred I gave it another go. On my third attempt I rode down and away without falling.
After a 2 hour session i could ride up the middle ramp and drop-in without stopping and was just about mastering a fakie!
It has been a long time since any type of cycling has got me so excited! I took up surfing when cycling just wasnt doing it for me anymore. But since Wednesday I have decided to stick at the BMXing. I simply loved it! I love practicing something over and over, and the satisfaction of noticing a small improvement. I love being scared and conquering The Fear. I love falling off and getting back on and I love the chronic aching in my arms and back from using new muscles!
After my little BMX session I spent the next two days bouncing off the walls. Its so good to get that feeling from just going down the road. From now on, if I need an adrenoline fix I no longer have to drive an hour to the sea, hope that other people are there, wait for waves and drive back again. Not that Im going to stop doing that, its just that I wont have adrenoline withdrawl sypmtoms and lows!
So now Im on the look-out for a light BMX.
The experience got me buzzing!
First I was practising manuals and american bunny hops. I was getting there towards the end, holding a manual for a couple of metres and hopping 2-3 inches, well, you gotta start somewhere! Next I went to the top of a baby ramp, and Deke (now my coach) talked me through how to drop-in. The ramp was about a metre high, but I was still terrified. I went for it...and slid my front wheel and jumped over the handle bars and landed on my hands and knees! Undeterred I gave it another go. On my third attempt I rode down and away without falling.
After a 2 hour session i could ride up the middle ramp and drop-in without stopping and was just about mastering a fakie!
It has been a long time since any type of cycling has got me so excited! I took up surfing when cycling just wasnt doing it for me anymore. But since Wednesday I have decided to stick at the BMXing. I simply loved it! I love practicing something over and over, and the satisfaction of noticing a small improvement. I love being scared and conquering The Fear. I love falling off and getting back on and I love the chronic aching in my arms and back from using new muscles!
After my little BMX session I spent the next two days bouncing off the walls. Its so good to get that feeling from just going down the road. From now on, if I need an adrenoline fix I no longer have to drive an hour to the sea, hope that other people are there, wait for waves and drive back again. Not that Im going to stop doing that, its just that I wont have adrenoline withdrawl sypmtoms and lows!
So now Im on the look-out for a light BMX.
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