Jekyll2021-05-01T15:17:37+02:00https://cyclist.john-whittington.co.uk/blog/feed.xml2013-05-03T09:36:41+02:002013-05-03T09:36:41+02:00https://cyclist.john-whittington.co.uk/blog/2013/05/03/sprint-for-last-podium-place-at-the-mendip<p><img src="/tumblr_files/tumblr_mm7p55pskp1qej0oxo1_640.jpg" alt="" /></p> <p>Sprint for last podium place at the Mendip Madness!</p>

2013-02-01T14:14:22+01:002013-02-01T14:14:22+01:00https://cyclist.john-whittington.co.uk/blog/2013/02/01/february-update<p>Six months have passed since my last written blog post. It <a href="http://blog.john-whittington.co.uk/post/24875951315/down-but-not-quite-out">wasn’t a great one</a> to leave the season on but following it, I failed to find any sort of form. I was training ok and figures seemed good but I just didn’t have the racing kick; the incident took my senses over the edge and I lost the adrenaline boost you need to race. It didn’t stop me trying - heading to the remaining Nationals and World Cup just to become frustrated. Luckily, I had some good company on all the trips so still had a good time.</p> <p>The solution was almost a month off the bike then a trip to the Pyrenees for 10 days of riding and not a lot else. I spent the time away chewing bar tape as I had gone with an on form Liam but it got me back into riding and ready for ‘cross. I got more and more keen with the ‘cross as the season went on. I’d always considered a full season but University was too demanding for even an hour long race, with all the faffing either side every weekend. Two <a href="http://t.co/5H0PLxLN">new bikes</a>, a <a href="http://25.media.tumblr.com/a16c2e69b3a993d99b7d05a82deb5fbb/tumblr_metk4z42Y51qej0oxo1_500.jpg">Southern medal</a> and a <a href="http://25.media.tumblr.com/a67b4abe4437d75d3895c3581e73be5f/tumblr_mg96e0vmGa1qej0oxo1_1280.jpg">Western plack later</a> and I’ve come on massively in the art of riding a bike fast ‘round a grassy field. Still a bit to learn, just scraping the top 20 of the National Champs but a productive season none the less and ready for next year when I want to do the full National series.</p> <p>‘Cross also get me through the months of October, November and December, training a little differently rather than racking up the base miles, which has left me fresh to approach some big hours in the final Winter months. With CNP Orbea coming to a close, I’ve had to find a different team and the forced search left me looking at the road after thinking about it for a few years. It was difficult deciding which way to go with a few options and I think I would have lost focus had it not been for the ‘cross.</p> <p>I finally got myself sorted at the end of the December, opting to ride for a new local road team: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TeamDiabetesUK">Team Diabetes UK</a>. Ian Rees, a long time roadie, Bristolian and Diabetic has been keen to start a team for a while to tie in with work he does for Diabetes UK. It’s a good platform for me as I’ll be in new territory and will hopefully develop with it. I still plan on doing the National MTB series because I think I’ll otherwise miss the racing and community that goes along with it.</p> <p>The team’s also tied in my with current part-time work place: <a href="http://www.bwcycling.co.uk">BW Cycling</a>. I set aside this year after graduating to concentrate on racing and Oli and Andy had the perfect job appear just at the right time. I’m currently working the afternoon shift five days a week, which allows me to get all the training I need to get done. It’s an exciting place to work as word is getting around and it’s gaining pace; to help a business develop from start-up. Having bosses who know pretty much everything there is to know about cycling and are still top of their game helps to benefit my riding too. We just completed a big week of temperament weather with Kenta and Grant from the mountain bike academy, which made what would have been a miserable week on a bike into a memoriable one. Along with writing reviews for <a href="http://www.road.cc">road.cc</a> and dabbling in <a href="http://www.bristolbuttr.co.uk">product development</a>, my life is eat, sleep and bikes!</p>

Six months have passed since my last written blog post. It wasn’t a great one to leave the season on but following it, I failed to find any sort of form. I was training ok and figures seemed good but I just didn’t have the racing kick; the incident took my senses over the edge and I lost the adrenaline boost you need to race. It didn’t stop me trying - heading to the remaining Nationals and World Cup just to become frustrated. Luckily, I had some good company on all the trips so still had a good time.

2013-01-29T20:53:10+01:002013-01-29T20:53:10+01:00https://cyclist.john-whittington.co.uk/blog/2013/01/29/good-miles-and-good-times-on-the-bristol-keener<p><img src="/tumblr_files/tumblr_mhekkmCAAb1qej0oxo1_1280.jpg" alt="" /></p> <p>Good miles and good times on the Bristol keener camp.</p>

2013-01-07T12:25:12+01:002013-01-07T12:25:12+01:00https://cyclist.john-whittington.co.uk/blog/2013/01/07/off-to-the-engravers-first-whittington-on-a<p><img src="/tumblr_files/tumblr_mg96e0vmGa1qej0oxo1_1280.jpg" alt="" /></p> <p>Off to the engravers. First Whittington on a sporting trophy.</p>

2012-12-17T11:00:00+01:002012-12-17T11:00:00+01:00https://cyclist.john-whittington.co.uk/blog/2012/12/17/shrewsburyrnd5seniorsu23-21-by<p><img src="/tumblr_files/tumblr_mf66h0koXy1qej0oxo1_640.jpg" alt="" /></p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/britishcyclingphotos/8279121902/" title="shrewsbury\_rnd\_5\_seniors\_u\_23-21">shrewsbury_rnd_5_seniors_u_23-21</a> by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/britishcyclingphotos/">britishcycling.org.uk photos</a> on Flickr.</p> <p>Muddy National Trophy. Started dead last, took places every lap. Great fun.</p>

2012-12-10T15:26:00+01:002012-12-10T15:26:00+01:00https://cyclist.john-whittington.co.uk/blog/2012/12/10/641-by-britishcyclingorguk-photos-on-flickr<p><img src="/tumblr_files/tumblr_metk4z42Y51qej0oxo1_640.jpg" alt="" /></p> <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/britishcyclingphotos/8258916470/" title="641">641</a> by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/britishcyclingphotos/">britishcycling.org.uk photos</a> on Flickr. ®Graham Robins.</p> <p><a href="http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/cyclocross/article/cyx20121209-cycle-cross-Cross--James-wins-South-of-England-Champs-0#.UMTyuTpcOko.facebook"> Third at Southern ‘Cross Championships @19s. </a></p>

2012-11-26T15:29:00+01:002012-11-26T15:29:00+01:00https://cyclist.john-whittington.co.uk/blog/2012/11/26/fifth-win-at-conham<p><img src="/tumblr_files/tumblr_metk9iwX641qej0oxo1_1280.jpg" alt="" /></p> <p>Fifth win at Conham.</p>

2012-09-28T11:04:00+02:002012-09-28T11:04:00+02:00https://cyclist.john-whittington.co.uk/blog/2012/09/28/whittington-powers-to-purdown-win<p><a href="http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/cyclocross/article/cyx20120930-cycle-cross-Cross--Whittington-powers-to-Purdown-win-0">Whittington Powers to Purdown Win</a></p>

Whittington Powers to Purdown Win

2012-08-18T19:49:20+02:002012-08-18T19:49:20+02:00https://cyclist.john-whittington.co.uk/blog/2012/08/18/val-disiere<p><img src="/tumblr_files/tumblr_m8ysbdxvaJ1qej0oxo1_1280.jpg" alt="" /></p> <p>Val d’isiere</p>

2012-07-04T10:22:38+02:002012-07-04T10:22:38+02:00https://cyclist.john-whittington.co.uk/blog/2012/07/04/its-not-so-much-what-you-do-as-what-you-overcome<blockquote> <p>It’s not so much what you do as what you overcome.</p> </blockquote> <p>—<a href="https://twitter.com/jfriel/statuses/217246948107890689">https://twitter.com/jfriel/statuses/217246948107890689</a></p>

It’s not so much what you do as what you overcome.