I’ve liked bikes ever since I could remember. Just riding them outside trying to do new things, sometimes succeeding. I still remember the day when mum told me that she had enrolled me in a come and try day at DISC. I remember turning up at disc that day and hopping on a track bike for the first time and noticing some differences like the big 29” wheel, which was really annoying because you couldn’t turn the wheel as far as I was used to so I kept on turning it too far and kept on going down with the bike. Which leads to another difference, your feet are attached to the pedals. And the main difference for me… no brakes and you can’t stop pedaling. The annoying thing about not being able to stop pedaling is when you do try to not pedal, you might do what some people have done and flip forwards over the handlebars.
This is my first full season of racing. I have won a few races, which was good as it boosted my confidence. I also lost a few. But losing doesn’t matter because it’s about having fun and thinking after the race what have I’ve achieved from this race and how I can improve on it.
I think that if I am not going to be able to do anything then I need to try something. I have been thinking about this during the summer track carnivals that start in October and continue through to April. This year I am in Under 15 even though I am only 12. Some of the boys I am racing against are 14 and have more experience than me, but I know that if I can’t beat them I can still give it a try.
The most recent carnival was the men’s omnium at DISC. My last race was a 5km points race, which is 20 laps with 4 sprints where the 1st four riders get points. I was in the main pack for most of the race and then just under 2 laps before the 3rd sprint I decided to go for it. Coming out of the back straight bend I just went over the top of everyone and built up some speed coming down from the top that I just kept going. No-one expected me to take off early as everyone usually saves it for the bell lap. Some of the guys didn’t realise what was happening and by the time they did I had a good lead on them. I peddled as fast as I could go. I could hear people shouting my name, which helped me to keep going. I knew some of the guys would be chasing hard to catch up to me and I didn’t know how far ahead I was but I only had to keep it up for another half a lap and I knew I had this sprint won.
I’m the sort of person who doesn’t like longer solo track events or any kind of pursuit. I like short events such as the 500m TT where you can give it everything you’ve got
So that’s a bit about me.