Peta McSharry : A Healthy Addiction

Bike racing should come with a health warning: Caution ADDICTIVE.

It’s 3am and a pair of hot, restless legs has invaded my sleep, my heart is pounding and I’m sure a heap of adrenaline is still coursing through my veins. A cold shower has settled the legs, but not the buzz.

12 hours ago I was lined up at the start of the Inaugural Woman’s race at the Tour Series in Stoke-on-Trent, where the prize money equal to the men’s race drew in some top riders. Needless to say I was a bag of nerves held together by the support of the Team Wiggle Tandem crew – David and Jez. Talk about jumping in at the deep-end as a novice to crit racing and looking at all the youthful faces on the start line, most half my age, this was going to be one tough race for a Master.

It took about 5 laps for the nerves to settle and to get used to throwing the bike through the corners at high speed as the barriers zoomed past in close quarters. Jez was yelling from the pits and I only caught a word or two every other lap, David was at the finish line but I couldn’t hear a word he was saying as the crowds were banging on the boards, yelling support in a thunderous roar, which made you kick in a little harder up the incline to the finish line. Past the finish line and crowds thin out but no respite from the pain as the TV cameras lined up to capture the moment, another dig for the cameras, looking like you’re working it. Actually I was working it, in the red zone.

Straight into the first tight right bend, a bit of respite from the wind and a small downhill where you collect your breath, gain a little additional momentum before sweeping through an S bend leading to a little climb, crank the legs up and dig in hard. Round the next bend and bam, into a head wind. Grind the legs past the pits, get yelled at by the crew and then prepare to look effortless as you wind it up the home straight past the cheering crowds. Cameras again, looking cool. Start again.

Boosh, out the back of the lead group as a break goes away. Never mind, ride hard, try not to lose too many places. Another rider blown out… and another. Phew that made me feel better, dig in hard, reel them in. A wheel to sit on for a bit, recover, drive forward and chase down the next blown-out rider. Wind, suffer, hill, suffer, cameras, suffer. 5 laps to go, drop the other riders, hammer it down the hill to the growing sound of a motorbike coming up the rear – the lead riders are going to lap me.

Heart drops, motorbike overtakes. Look good for the cameras, dig in deep, keep on the wheel of the motorbike. Lead riders go past. Sit up momentarily. Sigh. Back to racing, jump on the back of the lead group, hang in for 4 laps and sprint for the finish as the now deafening crowd are banging the boards and yelling like you’ve just finished the Tour de France.

Pull off the course, catch my breath, when a complete stranger comes up to me as says “I was rooting for you”. How could I still be buzzing when I was lapped by the leaders, you tell me. I’ve heard club mates talk about racing, but until now it was like some secret handshake I was not a part of.

So if like me you’ve been sitting on the sidelines, wondering what it’s like. You won’t know until you try and don’t leave it until you’re a veteran or worse a master like me to have a go. Jump in now, racing for ladies is a growing sport, the support is brilliant and the camaraderie amongst riders is great. It’s a buzz like nothing else.

Photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/britishcycling/sets/72157624301384096/show/

Series website:
http://www.tourseries.co.uk/Newsdetail.asp?Id=242