I’ve written a couple (here and here!) of blog posts already about giving up racing my bicycle and so in some senses, this is Part 3 of a journey. When I wrote those posts I was gradually coming to terms with giving up racing and generally felt a sense of relief. The pressure I put on myself, the high (and unrealistic) expectations and disappointments led me to decide that the net impact of racing was a negative one. 2017, my first year in six not spent racing, was instead spent exploring new sports, enjoying cycling as a hobby and coaching…
Giving up racing happily and healthily
A few months ago I wrote about giving up racing my bike and what it had meant to me (here! https://medium.com/@lesleympinder/relfections-on-training-racing-and-bike-riding-5ee50db61e25). This weekend just passed saw the annual Masters National Track Championships which was always a big goal for me so it seemed like a good time to revisit the theme!
I’m glad to say four months since I wrote my first blog on the topic, I am certain that I made the right decision. But it has resulted in some adjustment and I’ve learnt some lessons on how to bow out gracefully (and…
I’ve just returned from our annual Elitecycling Training camp and as I unpack and rebuild my bike I am reflecting on the week that has just passed and the months that preceeded it.
Our coach, Paul Mill, is a creature of habit which means that for the past three years our training camps have come at exactly the same time of the year, and for the last two years at the same location. Naturally this means it is easy to look back and compare how you have ridden year on year.
At the end of last year I made a…
