You are doing a great job....

...How about doing the same for us, for nothing! People don't actually say that, but that's what it all smacks of. A couple of years ago I and a few other women set up a mini local bike racing series to encourage more women to get into cycling. We had no idea how successful it would be, but fortunately it went well - better than expected. The series became well known in the cycling community and we had various sponsors wanting to get involved. More importantly many women were happy with their season and said that the series had really motivated them to go out and race. For me, at a personal level it was a real coup as I was able to prove to myself that I could successfully organise such a scheme, and associated events from nothing.

The problem I am having now is that everyone is automatically asking me to do various things for women's cycling. Last autumn I coordinated 3 London women's cycling teams for a national cyclocross competition.  It was a good day out and we even got silverware. The cyclocross coordinator declared in his annual report that I would be the women's coordinator the following year. Not only had he not bothered to ask me if I would be able to do the job, he actually wrote in the report that although he had not asked me about doing the role he was sure I wouldn't mind being volunteered into the role. What a cheek!

I have since had even more people writing to me asking me to promote their event through my "networks."
As for the series people automatically think that it will continue on like last year. Women are emailing me asking about their prizes, complaining that their ranking being wrong etc., and expecting things to be sorted out at the drop of a hat. The thing is I am not paid to do this and folks are suddenly asking me to do stuff as though it were my main function in life!! It wouldn't be so bad if I were being paid!

The latest now is a branding consultant who wants to hook up with this women's series as a way of promoting the brand she represents as being commited to women's cycling. It's great when a company wants to provide prizes but why on earth should I do their work for them?  Why should they be telling us what types of activities and initiatives we could be doing? It's all very well that this is her day job she has been retained to the clothing company as their branding consultant. However, I am a volunteer - doing this in between juggling with my day job amongst many other things.

People need to realise that that even the most simple activities done in aid of this women's series are time consuming. For example, for women to get their prizes it involves me emailing/phoning sponsors, travelling across London to pick up the prizes and spending time in discussions and presenting the league. I have even turned up at races that I am was not capable of racing in. I was there simply because I had a responsibility to get the series to work. I could have been home doing other things, notably writing articles for which I get paid!

People should not assume that this series runs effortlessly and they should think before they ask people to do such and such activity - especially when the person is not being paid. The thing that galls me the most is that I was out of work earlier this year and armed with my organisational skills as well as marketing experience and qualifications I applied for a few jobs around developing women's cycling. One job was actually with British Cycling. I didn't even get called in for an interview! So people are very happy for me to do the work I do in women's cycling. They tell me what a great job I'm doing, how amazing it is that I made something successful, even how inspirational I have been. But they have no intention of paying me to do the work. 

Even worse was that last week at one of the local races, women were asked to marshal and help out at the event. It is customary for local riders to be encouraged to put something back into cyclesport by helping out once a year at least at a cycle race. Lots of women turned out at the event - to race. Many girls were not willing to marshal and gave various reasons as to why they had to race. It was very disappointing to see how few women were willing to give up just one race in the year to marshal at the race. We were short of marshals and we ended up asking a few men to help out. Some of the female regulars just didn't show up at all, probably to avoid having to marshal! Nevertheless these same people are still expecting to come to a gala presentation where they show off their racing prowess pictured with their trophies in the photo opportunities. They won't care to know how much work has gone into organising the event and ensuring that they have their prizes and ready for their moment of "glory" - work that has been done by unpaid volunteers. Well the news is that I will not be doing the gala dinner. People don't deserve my time. If they can't even turn up one evening per year to help out at an event why should I be working unpaid for them week in week out all season. No way. Now let them go and complain that no one does anything for women's racing. Sorry, but I am no skivvy!

So what's wrong with Cornrow?

A judge recently ruled that a school in Harrow was guilty of unlawful indirect racial discrimination when it operated a ban on cornrow hairstyle in its school. The case was brought by the family of an 11 year old boy who was banned from starting at their school because his hair was worn in a cornrow plaits. Apparently the school operated a "no cornrow" policy because it associated this hairstyle with gang culture and that by allowing pupils to wear their hair in this way it would encourage gang violence.
The boy's family argued that styling hair in cornrow is an African Carribean tradition, and the boy had plaited his hair into cornrows from birth.  By sanctioning him because of his hair style was racial discrimination.

The parents were pleased with the verdict, though the school plan to appeal against the decision.

I think it is such a sad state of affairs that in the society we live in today, the way that a universal, traditional hairstyle worn by a culture of people can give negative connotations and trigger so much controversy.

As someone who has worn her hair in cornrow for the last 15 years I find it quite offensive that institutions should think to ban me from wearing my hair in a way which is not only part of my culture, but also a style which I happen to find very neat and practical!

Having my hair in corn row has saved me from hours of standing in front of the mirror trying to style my hair each morning. It gives me one less thing to think about, and the hairstyle makes me look prettier and younger!
If my employers decided to ban the wearing of hair in cornrow I would be in a quandry. Straightening my hair and all the maintenance required would be quite expensive, and in the long-run would damage my hair. Leaving it as an Afro would be a frightful mess, and would be frightening for those who would have to look at it!

So why would anyone think that plaiting my hair into corn row would be synonymous with some sort of gangland violence?

Furthermore, I hate the way that people say that I am making a statement about my ethnicity or my culture. Many white women who don't style their hair in any particular way will put it into a quick pony tail or maybe a French plait. Is that some sort of statement they are making? Is there some cultural message being communicated by tying your hair back?

Black afro hair can be quite unmanageable if left to just grow out. Tying it back in some way is much neater and more practical. Back in the days when I would go swimming alot, corn ow was also the style that caused the least damage to my hair. So no, there is no ethnic statement being made - unless you want to include the wish to keep my hair healthy and tidy!

One thing this court case has done is to highlight some of the wider issues regarding wearing hair in corn row. Some of my peers who apply for professional jobs say that black women are more likely to secure managerial roles if their hair is straightened or styled in a Caucasian hairstyle.  A few women who did not want to subject their hair to the chemical damage from perming have had to resort to wearing straight-haired wigs while in the work place.

I have never thought to change my hair style when going for a job interview or when working in a professional capacity, but I must admit that I have seen very few black women in positions of influence wearing African braids.

Whether it's Oprah Winfrey, Michelle Obama, 2012 Olympics Ambassador Denise Lewis, or the BBC's  Brenda Emmanus, it seems as if they have had to style their hair in a Caucasian cut as their image profiles increased. Even Alicia Keys, who many years ago championed cornrow hair, now has a perfectly straight long mane.

So what's wrong with corn row. Is it the embarrassing cousin that you only want to be seen with in selected places, and gets marginalised most of the time? I think we should stand up for the cornrow and wear it with pride. That way, society will begin to see this hairstyle in all its positive highlights. And now, I'm off to the hairdressing salon!

Cycling stuff gets all consuming

I enjoy cycling. I don't know how much I've been into it but it seems like it's been all my life. I only got into competitive cycling when I was well into my thirties - which is comparatively late.

But I remember as a teenager going to Doncaster, the nearest big town to where I lived, and looking at the club cyclists in admiration as they took their cafe stop. I really wished I could be able to ride a bike from our village in North Lincolnshire all the way to Doncaster, all dressed up lean and mean in brightly coloured Lycra on a racing bike.
I had no idea where people bought that type of clothing from. I didn't even have a racing bike. In fact I didn't have any bike. I had access to an old Raleigh 20 that I shared with my sister.

My parents didn't like me cycling. I remember the great disappointment and upset I felt when my parents refused to let me take part in an 11-mile sponsored bike ride. My dad claimed that I wouldn't be capable because I'd had knee problems. From then on I was even more determined to get out one day and ride 10 or 11 miles.

The first time I rode that distance was one Saturday afternoon, when I rode from Scunthorpe back home to Crowle. It was a very windy day but I was determined to keep going on my beloved steed, a brand new Falcon mountainbike.
I was so pleased to have made it. Of course, as a 19 year-old I was free to do what I wanted, but I still had to keep this adventure a secret from my parents.

Fast forward 20 years and I am very much within a cycling community. I have several bikes, have taken part in lots of bike races, I have been on cycle 100-mile bike rides around the UK and Europe, and yes I have lots of Lycra and I know where to find them.

The thing is, I am now wondering if you really can get too much of a good thing. I enjoy the racing and the camaraderie that goes with it, however I am so wrapped up in it that at times it is difficult to escape from it.

Racing regularly means you have to train more and more, to the point that it is the only thing you do outside of work, eat and slip. You can easily stop seeing your family, unless they are racing cyclists too. Your spare cash gets spent on bike bits, bike clothing and entering and travelling to races. You even lose out on social life. Suddenly it's no longer practical to have a night out with friends as you need to be up early the next morning to race. And forget about a leisurely Sunday afternoon in the summer. If you are not racing you are doing a 70-mile training ride!

Don't get me wrong. I enjoyed doing those things, but it has gotten to the point where I don't have a non-cycling social life. My holidays involve cycling. Even the new people I meet are cyclists or connected with cycling. What's more it is also the yardstick by which people judge you! How friendly someone gets with you, and how popular you are is dependent on how fast you can ride your bike!

Yes, this biking business can take over your life.
That's how it is feeling for me. And I'm beginning to not like it. As an avid twitterer I take a voyeuristic interest in what others are doing, thinking and feeling. I'm getting a bit fed up of seeing people tweeting the same old "I went on a bike ride" post, with details of their heart rate and power readings, their post ride meal or how they "wish they were out on their bike" instead of being in the office.

Some even talk about a void in their lives due to the Tour de France not being on, or injury keeping them from cycling. Cycling is fun but it should not be an emotional handrail. I don't want that to happen to me.

Developing Women's Club Cycling - It Aint Easy!

So there's a lot of talk at the moment of the development of women's cycling. Apparently it's the fastest growing side of the cycling market. Maybe it is, but I don't think it's a very easy sector of the market to grow. It may be fast growing, but it's growth rate probably only appears impressive because of its very small base. I mean, if a club starts off with one member, then increases to two members and then four members over a one month period, that looks good doesn't it - 200% growth rate, and during the winter months too!

But what is the proportion of women cyclists in the whole market compared with men? As a marketer wouldn't it make more sense just to keep on targeting men? Women are fickle!

As someone who is captain of the women's section in a cycling club I have found women to be very erratic and inconsistent in their ways. It has made planning for things very difficult.

When I first became captain we only had around 4 or 5 women who were active members. The membership has steadily grown, and we now have around 30. However, gettting them to take part in anything has been a real uphill struggle.

When there were just a few of us, most of use raced and wanted to do so. I remember a tough 3-way competition to get the highest number of British Cycling ranking points. In the end the girl who won, achieved 80 points. She beat the other girl by 5 points. Both made significant inroads towards moving up to 1st category level racer.

Now, despite the swell in numbers we just haven't had such competitions. Sadly, the zeal for racing has not matched the zeal for women wanting to wear the badge that says "I'm in a cycling club." This year our top cyclist, who was quite talented, got 39 points from not having done many races. This was one point away from her gaining a 2nd category licence. She could easily have moved up to 2nd category in the season but her lack of commitment failed her. Joint second place were two riders who obtained just 9 points.

What makes things look worse is that the winning woman has now gone to race for another club. We still have to award her the prize of top racing cyclist in our club though, because these points were achieved while she was a member of our club.

I find the whole thing galling on two fronts: firstly, this girl who has left to join another club had never really shown that much commitment to racing. She claimed this was her first year and she just wanted to take things easy and learn the ropes before taking the 2011 season more seriously. It was her natural racing ability which gained her quick success. The thing this, even though she was just trying things out, she was the only girl in our club who raced consistently. The girl turned up at a number of races alone. Sometimes I went with her, though my ability was pretty poor and we couldn't have developed any tactics together.
After having done an introductory year with our club, and particularly with me giving her advice and support she has now decided to go and race for another club - without so much as a word of thanks.

I think she could have stayed with us and helped to develop women's cycling by sharing her story with others and encouraging people to come with her to the races. We could have even tried to build a team around her.
But she has wasted no time with us, realising there's a lack of a team structure and she's gone.
Maybe I shouldn't blame her. Afterall, she can't have felt good turning up at races alone, as a beginner, doing well and having no team mates there to cheer her on.

The second reason why I find this all pretty galling is that we have experienced racers, but none of them bothered to get out and race much. Our experienced racers gave a whole gamut of reasons as to why they couldn't race - weddings, weekends away, they don't fancy that particular circuit, etc. Frankly I think they were being precious. They only wanted to race if they thought they could be in contention, and didn't want to have to face the new crop of women from other local clubs who have trained consistently and are doing well. When I asked the experienced girls about coming out to race, they always seemed to have a way of maintaining silence on the airwaves. Then suddenly, a week before the big race they would respond to me saying how they were apparently "gutted" to not be able to race due to some family gathering, work commitment, holiday etc. That was the sequence for the whole of the road racing season. Furthermore, the experienced racers were very reticent about coming to the social evenings, where they could have shared their experience with the many new members. This lack of support for racing/training among the women members in the club has really disappointed me.

At the same time, other new members who joined the club saying they wanted to race did not bother to turn up at the various training sessions organised for women. There were a number of beginner races put on as well. Again, same old story - I'm away that weekend, I'm busy, I'm not sure, sounds like something I might like to try some in the future....!
So, with such lethargic team mates is it worth anyone wanting to get involved in such a club? I should be more angry with them than the woman who has just left us.

So, after countless women's captain bulletins, email alerts, a number of socials and social bike rides I realise that this job is just not worth it. I was particularly pissed off by having our chairman and others getting on my case telling me I needed to "rally the troops."!! I was doing my level best! If the girls couldn't be bothered to get involved why should I be blamed?? The men's captain is getting so much praise. He has set up a racing egroup and has encouraged women to join. Needless to say none of them have. But then he has all the men within his remit though, and they have joined. They are turning up at races, organising training rides etc. Men are naturally competitive and like to race so the job isn't that difficult for him. Women aren't built that way, and it is unfair that a lack of activity on the women's side should be seen as a reflection on any ability on my part to carry out the role. It is more a reflection on women themselves.

Our club dinner and prizegiving is coming up, and I am damned if I'm going to it. The girl who thanked the club by jumping ship will be awarded a trophy. There will be trophies to some of the unsupportive experienced riders as well. Of course, it's the typical story. They didn't do much, but they did just enough to win a trophy! Meanwhile, the likes of myself who got so busy organising cycling stuff it became difficult to focus on being competitive - the ones who spent alot of time and effort working behind the scenes get nothing!

Well, the club don't realise how lucky they have been to have someone who had so much enthusiasm. The girls probably don't realise what a lucky position they are in to have someone to hand-hold them through the processes and keep them informed of all things in local women's cycling.
I am tired and I've have had enough. This activity is meant to be enjoyed. I am not enjoying it. I'm going. Good luck to the next person who thinks they have the magic solution for getting women in our club into cycle racing!

Sponsored Cycle Racing Teams and Poaching

Sponsored Teams

It's that time of the year when folks are putting together their cycle racing teams for next year. At professional level we hear about it in the cycling press, and it probably sounds quite exciting to know who the Schlek brothers or Bradley Wiggins will be riding for.

At local level just as much machinations go on as well.

I guess the difference is that the team may just be "sponsored" by Joe's Energy drink which offers riders the chance to pay £30 a year, spend oodles on their snazzy kit for the sake of riding as part of a competitive team where you get told where you should race, how you should race (more often than not, for someone else), and any prize money you happen to win doesn't go to you but to "the team coffers." Oh and you will have to do national level races which are ages away from home but you just make your own way there, and you will have to stay in the chosen "team hotel" which will end up quite expensive as that's the only one which will accommodate all the riders, Directeur Sportives, sponsor representatives, with Uncle Tom Cobley and all! But hey, none of that's a problem. You're in a sponsored team wearing kit that makes you look like you're a somebody in the cycle racing world, so why should you complain? After all, as part of the deal you get free inner tubes and 10% off labour when you bring your bike to their shop that's 50 miles away!

Yes, local sponsored teams are not always what they're cracked up to be. There are a number of ordinary cycling clubs that offer more!

So, my clubmate Deborah has been approached by one such "sponsored team", Gels Incorporated. She is quite new to racing and had quite a promising first season in 2010. Naturally, she is thrilled and flattered to have been approached by this lot, and is considering leaving our club.

As women's captain in the club I would be sorry to see her go, but I am not one of these people who gets all possessive about riders. I like to look to the future and I feel confident that our club will have other good riders coming up through the ranks. It has to be said though, that Deborah is a strong, keen rider and an all-round nice woman. I was looking forward to racing with her next year.



Poaching

A few things are bugging me about Deborah being approached by the sponsored team:

I find the guy who is running Gels Inc, Jake, a little dodgy and not altogether honest to me. I got to know of him last year when he expressed a wish to organise a women's cycle race at Hillingdon on the same day as the Smithfield Nocturne - a London Women's League event, and a big day on the racing calendar. British Cycling pointed this clash out to him, but he still went ahead and organised the race.

Some time afterwards he told me about how he was disppointed at the low turn-out of women at his race. He omitted to say that he organised the race on the same day as one of the biggest cycle racing events in London, and preferred to make it sound like women just couldn't be bothered to turn out.

When he told me he was forming a women's team he said that it was disappointing how no women had come forward to join his team. But yet, as someone who reads the cycling press I have not seen a single press release or advert appealing for women riders to join their team.

He has described the team that he was forming as a "feeder" team for the professional Horizon Fitness women's team - the number one UK team. My understanding is that Horizon recruit women from everywhere, not from any specific team. Technically, all racing teams are feeder teams to Horizon Fitness!

Finally, Jake said that his team would be composed of women who race but find themselves to be the sole racer in their club. Deborah is one of seven women who do road racing in my club. We have raced the team series and the London Women's Cycle Racing league. Although we didn't threaten the top riders we have still had a presence and by no means can Deborah be described as the sole rider.

What I also find galling is the fact that Jake spent time discussing with me his intentions and then goes on to poach a rider from my own club where I am the women's captain!!

I don't want to sound precious about my clubmates being approached, but I do think that this behaviour is described as sly to say the least!

Which brings me on to him approaching Deborah.

Deborah is new to racing and probably doesn't really know what constitutes a good or a not-so-good sponsorship deal. I guess if anyone walks up to her and says words like "racing team", "sponsor", "team training session" and/or "team tactics" in the same sentence cycle racing suddenly sounds sexier, and new riders who don't know everything that's out there can be easily tempted away.

It seems like that's what Jake has done.

When I asked him what sponsorship deal they offer their riders, what he described didn't sound like a very good deal. It was very much like what I've described above, though of course he gave it more positive packaging!
The other thing which I don't think is particularly good is that he said that he would expect one of the riders in Gels Inc to be a team manager, deputizing to him. He would be out and about with sponsors so would be too busy to be getting on with the day-to-day running of the team. He would therefore like one of the maturer more experienced members of the team to double up in the role as sponsored racer and team manager! And you still have to pay your way to do all this!

I note that some of the women Jake has recruited so far are quite young, probably of an age that would be appealing to Horizon Fitness if they were looking for new recruits. Deborah is not a youth or an under 23 - in fact she is nearer to my 41 years than the young'uns who do top flight cycling. I am therefore concerned that he may be keen on her not only because of her racing abilities but also so that he could lumber her with the role of "de facto" team manager. Now that's not so appealing.

I understand that he approached one woman, a very fast veteran track racer from Willesden CC and she turned down the offer. He is therefore probably doing the rounds of all "women of a certain age" and Deborah is one of them. Should she still be flattered?

I feel bad because when Deborah excitedly told me the news via email and asked my opinion, I gave a brief reply along the lines of do what you feel is best for you and make sure you are happy with the deal you are getting. I suppose I didn't want to sound like I was being possessive or bitchy.
In hindsight, and also on the advice of my other half, I think I should have just told her the above. After all, if she is so new she probably doesn't know what a good/bad deal is.

For instance, non-sponsored clubs like Dulwich Paragon contribute towards travel expenses, Surrey League pay entry fees to National Team Series races, London Dynamo pay entry fees and travel expenses. Sponsored teams Mule Bar Girls and Rapha Condor Ladies gave free items of kit and contributed towards race entry fees last season. Gels Inc give nothing - well actually, a couple of inner tubes and an unpaid part-time job! In short it seems like life would be alot easier and more pleasant if one stayed with their regular club than ran off after this! I think I should have a word with Deborah......

Finally, I feel like I can do something right!

Well, not sure how I would define "right" but in terms of me taking part in local sports competitions, for me that means gettting a result which is respectable. It doesn't even have to be a win. It just means finishing in a time or a position that is not in last place, or one of the last few finishers. It means getting a result which looks like you trained a little and took the competition at least half seriously.

I finished 134th out of 372 runners in the cross country running race yesterday. I completed the 6.5km course in 28mins 1s. The winner did 20mins 48s. That doesn't sound like a result to set the world on fire but then again the last finisher took more than 52 minutes, and I beat a couple of women who completely trounce me in the cycle races. So I am pleased with my result.

This sort of thing is good for me as I sometimes get pretty fed up when I turn up at cycle race after cycle race and come last or 2nd or 3rd last. It gets abit tiresome and quite demoralising. Of late my goal has been to not come last. Many times I have failed to achieved that. And in a few cases not only did I finish last but I finished way off the back, like even a lap down on the person who finished in 2nd last position.

The irony of the result that I achieved yesterday is these days I don't consider myself to be a runner. I describe myself as a cyclist. True, running is the sport that I first took up and have done it since a very young age, but these days I don't do any specific running training. I run 5km once or twice a week to keep my weight down, but I don't do any hill reps, track sessions or fartlek. I spend much more time in the cycling environment. I ride my bike to work, I go on the rollers and the turbo trainer when I'm home, I even go through phases of doing intervals and hill reps. I have done lots of cyclo sportives and long distance bike rides. But for some reason my cycling efforts just don't seem to convert into anything useful in a race. Or at least that's how it feels.

Last week's cyclo cross race had a field of 41 women of various levels from all around the country. I finished in 39th place. One of the women who finished behind me was a team mate who had suffered with stomach cramps during the race so was obliged to slow right down. So in reality I would have finished 2nd last. I rode the course as though it was my first ever cyclo cross race. I had no confidence. When I finished the race I was not out of breath because part way through I couldn't see the point in riding hard only to lose places by falling down, failing to remount the bike properly or just generally making an ass of myself on the corners.

I felt ashamed to see the guy who first got me into cyclo cross in 2003 watching me ride no better than I did all those years ago. When he arranged the London teams to ride the Inter-Area Champs back then I finished 2nd last - just like last Sunday. "You may not believe it," I said to him, "but I do actually train, honest." And I just skulked away feeling like a laughing stock and a complete failure.

I have had these feelings on more than one occasion after a cycle race, and I have really begun to develop a complex where I believe that many riders won't give me the time of the day now because they don't see me as someone who can be bothered with their racing if I'm turning up week in, week out with a poor run of results.

So, finishing the way I did yesterday at the Surrey League cross country race at Denbies Vineyard was a real boost to my sporting ego. It made me feel that I could do something reasonably well. I don't train much for running, but yet I am able to pull out respectable results in the races. This is the sweetspot that I need every now and again to keep me soldiering on and persevering! Hopefully, this "can do" feeling will seep into the cycling aspect of my training.

London Women's Cyclo Cross is the new road racing

It's that time of year when most of the cycling I do is on the muddy stuff. I usually commute to work by bicycle so I do put in 15 miles a day going into Central London and back, but in terms of the club cycling I do, it's mainly about off-road riding, and in particular the London Cyclo Cross league.

When I first started taking part in the league I really enjoyed it. It was not so sharp end like the road races. It was relatively low key, but alot of people took part as it was seen as being accessible. The range of abilities was wide, and people who weren't that fit could have a go. The fact that it was laps of an off-road course meant that spectators couldn't tell where you were in the race compared with others. So you didn't have to suffer the embarrassment of everyone watching you come last! Also people could ride any off-road bike they had. Most people rode cyclo cross bikes, but many had  mountain bikes and even there were a few people on bmx bikes! It didn't matter.

In short, cyclo cross league was a chance to play around in the mud at speed on your bike, but it didn't really matter where you finished in the field. You had a chinwag with your fellow competitors and then you went home, looking forward to the next one.
I have never been particularly strong at cyclo cross, but a couple of times I have finished 4th in the league. One year I even finished 2nd.

Nowadays it's all different. Among the women, cyclo cross is just seen as an extension of the road racing season - except that we are off-road. Everyone shows up on a cross bike. More and more are using tubular tyres with their racing wheels, and they are bringing spares for the pits. A few even have spare bikes. That was something you only really saw at National Trophy races rather than at local league races.

What is really striking is people are doing specific training sessions to prepare for this - turbo trainer intervals, off-road training rides, some have even taken up running!

So now, when I race a London Cyclo cross league race I am lucky to get in the top 5 out of 10 women. More often than not I am one of the last finishers. Yet I'm riding faster now than I did back then. Someone has changed the game. It's like in musical chairs when they go from taking away one chair when the music stops, to taking away three! It's quite disheartening at times and I almost why I should bother with this anymore. Thing is I enjoy doing cyclo cross races and I shouldn't be put off by the arrival of a number of really fast women. Ultimately I will continue to do the races as long as I enjoy them, but to be honest it is a shame that the romance of just taking part in the hour-long challenge is not enough. People have to put up Twitter entries about their power outputs, analyse their techniques on a video, check the British Cycling rankings and have a distinct race plan when the whistle goes.

Admittedly, this serious training paid off for the London team. At the recent Inter-Area Cyclos cross champs London had more women present than any of the areas in the country. Our A team finised in second position out of 11 teams in a 40-strong field of women. One of the members of our London B team also finished in the top 10.

It shouldn't be a surprise that the competive girls where the ones who ended up with the medals, I wasn't one of them! That was great for London and I'm really plesed for the girls. However, I can't help thinking that we are losing the salt of the earth end of local cyclo cross racing as this is all getting put aside in order to use the 'cross races as a warm-up to National Trophy races, which are in turn the foundation of the roa racing season. Then I really will feel under pressure to "make the cut" - which I invariably don't.

The men have a hard edge competitive end to the sport, but they have a laughing group end as well. The women don't seem to have that. Hopefully this is issue is just a phase that will fizzle out, and some of the women will go back to plain old playing in the mud, with our British Cycling points tally being the last thing on our minds!