Making choices …

Over the past 3 years I have been fortunate to have been free from injury and have had no crashes that have put me out of racing or training for any real length of time. I have had a couple of chest infections that have laid me low for a couple of weeks, but other than that I have not been in a position where I could not train or race. The only time I have had off the bike is a couple of weeks each September, which was always welcome.

So having to make a choice to step away from training and racing this month has been hard and very strange. I am not ill and I am fortunately not injured but I have taken the decision to put the bike on hold for a few weeks as I have my A Level exams. As I have previously described I am studying: Maths, Further Maths, Physics and PE. Taking four A Levels is quite unusual, but over the past two years it has been doable. It has meant 16 hours a week contact time in school and then the homework on top of this. This with an average of 12-14 hours a week training has left little time. It is a fact though that at times I have been left somewhat tired. I realised that if I was going to give my exams the very best shot I needed to create some space, time, and then come at them fresh. Tapering, if you like, for the exams.

So I have backed off the training and focused on the two-hour papers instead of the races! If you want to succeed you need to put the work in, whether that be in exams or on the bike.

That said I have had a bit of fun on the bike. I have popped along to Welwyn for a couple of sessions. Track League is always chill and a good way to take the mind away from the pressures of life. The racing is good and it is always good to catch up with the friendly peloton of the track centre.

Surprisingly, although training has been scaled back massively I managed a clean sweep of the first evening’s races. With wins in the Scratch, Elimination, Points and 10 mile. However, the second session was more competitive and it was second place in the Scratch, 5th in the Reverse Win-Out, a tragic Devil, and then onto the 10 mile Scratch.

The track has been resurfaced at Welwyn and the wind was light and by the time of the 10 mile Scratch it had dropped completely. Still air, low pressure and a great group of riders on a smooth new surface gave us ideal conditions for the 10. We cracked off and it felt quick. We had spoken about the record before we started racing, but I didn’t realise we were going for an assault on it. I just kept it quick on my turns, and hung on in the line. Then, with four laps to go, Andy Hastings snuck off the front, and I felt it was a good idea to join him. We just went all out till the finish, where I had come out on top, with my OLC teamie James Ambrose-Parish
second. More importantly, it was the fastest 10 at Welwyn and a nice win, with a 20:05.Mu

Next up for me is 6 exams in 5 days and then a return to the Brixton Supermadision at Herne Hill. Followed by a Madison at the Velopark all in preparation for October where James Ambrose-Parish and myself will be appearing at the London 3 Day. This is all in the future, for now it is more past papers and hard graft to get through the next three weeks.

For anyone who would like to come and watch James and I at the 3Day on the 25th -27th October, we have a discount code for 5% off on tickets. Either drop me a message through my socials, or an email at gilbankracing@gmail.com. The website is https://www.london3day.com, and we will be racing against big names such as Yuri Havik, Jan Willem Van Schip, Ethan Vernon, and other top racers.

As ever thanks to all the supporters I have, particularly the support and the understanding in allowing me to take a step away and the support I am getting for my exams. Thank you 🙏