Back in Blighty

I have now been back in England for a week or so.  The first thing that struck me is just how hard riding a bike in Yorkshire really is.  For a start there are the comparatively epic hills to contend with and if I cast my mind back I don’t recall such breezy conditions for this time of year before.  I soon settled in to a routine of midweek chain gangs and weekend café racing, both of which were something I was beginning to miss back in Belgium.  My first day back in full time employment soon came around and for what felt like the first time in months my alarm clock went off to tell me it was time to earn a crust again.  I won’t lie, my first week has been a shock to the system but it’s nice to use cycling as a way of stress relief and fun as opposed to just using the bike as a tool to do a job.  On Wednesday evening I felt the need to race again so with a quick phone call to my friend Rob we had arranged to race at the relatively local Preston arena course in Lancashire the following evening.  It felt strange to have done a full day’s work and still to race in an evening but this is what the rest of the season has in stall for me.  The race was to be just over an hour held in failing light with a gentle breeze and decidedly cool temperatures.  I had a crack off the start line by myself and lasted just a couple of laps out in front.  This was not a serious attack but more of a safe way to warm up by myself and familiarise myself with the course at race speed.  Having been brought back into the bunch I followed a promising little move after half an hour, I did my share of the pace setting but our trio were given a tight leash and were brought back after only 3-4 kilometres out in front.  I sat back sensing a bunch sprint and began to prepare myself for the mental stress of picking my way through the peloton for a last lap effort.  I raced the last lap perfectly following some good wheels, I entered the last corner slightly too fast in my eagerness to go for victory, this was to be my undoing as I just feathered the breaks which ultimately cost me the win.  I crossed the line 4^th, within a bike length of the win but still pretty pleased.  It had been a relatively successful outing for me and Rob who took 5^th in the sprint.  The level was not that of a Belgian race but there were still hard points and some tough racing done that night.  Finally I have had a chance to let the dust settle on my Belgian experience.  On this note I feel as though I should extend my thanks and gratitude to everyone who helped me, although I seemed bitter towards my team manager in my last blog I feel I should give some thanks to him for allowing us to use his accommodation and allowing us the chance to race with a great team.  They truly were some of the best moments of my life and something I will no doubt recall for many years to come.