Becoming closer

In life you know when your getting busy, that certain events are starting to become closer, I guess its like packing your suitcase the night before you go away, you cause yourself more stress and rush, simply because you've overlooked something or aren't prepared. So why rush or panick when you could of being prepared beforehand?

For me the above statement has a direct link to cycling, but perhaps the key point I haven't mentioned is listening, and taking on board constructive criticism. Everybody meets small pot holes in life every now and again, but if someone can direct you and advise you to better yourself in life, then the smart thing would be to listen to them.

In cycling I have met all sorts of people throughout my time so far, influences, straight talkers and others that tend to hinder, personally like most I prefer the first two, and its those people that I do trust and listen to. Its finding and settling yourself with in those people that you can trust, that perhaps defines the character and professionalism we try and show as younger cyclists.

That's a major key for some of us around are age group of cycling, and conversations I have with team staff and other influential characters all the time, how professional do I want to be? I hope my Blog goes about answering that for you. However also in life I'm always told to go far you need that certain spark, sometimes its just finding that open door, and making a name for yourself using both that spark and professionalism.

There's been a lot to think about lately, getting college work out of the way would be one of them, with training commitments becoming more time consuming, getting that work out of the way is major, doing this allows me to focus directly on training, and when the season is among us, it will then allow me more time to focus.

However as well as this I am also helping to develop a website which again I hope will help me to achieve my further aims and objectives.

A quote that I heard as of late has being at the forefront of my mind lately.
I believe it was Chris Eubank who said.

"In life there are certain aspects that teach you to toughen up, and if you can't respond to these situations, then move over to the side and hide".

I guess that hits home because of what I have written above and the link to that spark and professionalism. I hope you have enjoyed this post, and that it offers you a different perspective, rather than writing about recent training rides in the adverse weather conditions.

Cheers Jake

A step up the age groups (U23)

First of all please excuse any grammar mistakes, its being a while since I have written a blog, and I may be some what rusty. Secondly I was not privately educated, just publicly, but maybe that atmosphere made me who I am.

So its time to actually write something that is hopefully worth reading.

 t’s important to start by saying that I appreciate the support around me, and maybe that I don’t actually tell those people enough, especially my family.

With some riders from my age group moving on to UCI based teams for the coming 2014 season, and others moving away from home and basing them selves in Europe, I find myself in familiar surroundings, all be it with a new name of Haribo Beacon, a team that for the 2014 season has not opted to take on UCI status in order to focus on developing younger riders, and not to mention moving up to the U23 ranks.

If you were to look at the glass as being half empty, then sure there are possibilities that some aspects of the team could be better, but these are only aspects that could and would be classed as moaning, so instead I look at my glass as being half full, Haribo Beacon, the progression from Sportscover is a team that wants to develop younger riders like myself, which I have already mentioned, and I saw that last year while racing with the team.

At Haribo Beacon I know for a fact that I will be looked after as a 1^st year U23, but I will certainly make sure I don’t have to be watched over like a baby. I am happy in the fact that rather than being pulled around from pillow to post, not knowing what races I will be competing in, and having to hope that my results are strong enough to gain a position in higher rated events, is one of the best situations I could find myself in, but the time will come when I need to fight and battle for these positions, and its something that I have being familiarised with before, and it may come around this year/season. However it’s not just the above to look at, with Haribo Beacon there is some rather exceptional support from some highly rated sponsors, not to mention HMT (Healthcare Management Trust) which we could not function at are best without.

I always said, and have never being afraid to say that a key short term aim of mine was to be in Belgium this coming year, and progress there as an U23, and I certainly still feel strongly that Belgium/Europe is where I can indeed progress my career as a cyclist further, certainly its easy to sit here and write about it, but harder to get out there and make it a reality for the coming years. However I also believe that a season in Britain will open my eyes, and with dedication will make me a stronger rider, and certainly more motivated to progress upwards and onwards.

I hope you find my Blog insightful, and that you haven’t fallen asleep reading it, in which case you won’t have read that last statement.

 

Cheers Jake