Highlight for me

[cycli]

I have been lifted in spirit as a young female cyclist I started and coached Sophie Lewis is riding the track League championship at 19 against the best riders in the world and won the scratch race in Paris. I am so proud of the way she has progressed and matured. Great interview on Eurosport on round 3 at the end of the show. Just sad i can't train them now but so happy for her representing her country and being in the elite squad.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Well done to both of you!

[cycli in reply to PMRpro]

It's one thing seeing the potential but to stay the course, do the work and then have the right attitude to be a winner takes something else. sophie is both a winner and a very nice girl. Couldn't be happier for her. Having known and ridden with Vicky Pendleton and had to introduce a shy Laura Trott now Kenny to Vicky when racing on the grass track it brings back so many good memories.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to cycli]

Bet it does!

Nowhere in the same league, but I shared a room with a young teenager when she had had her first big accident when skiing and broke her femur. In those days here they put them in traction when that young. She shared her room with a lot of people in that 3 months and while I was there they wanted me to move into a room with a German so she could have an Italian roommate. I said no - I'd seen the apprehension in her face and we got on really well. When I was discharged I told her I'd be watching for her name in the ski world cup. Denise Karbon duly appeared and won many races during her career - despite lots more broken bones! It was a nice feeling.

[cycli in reply to PMRpro]

a good memory. it is about how we interact. One can be positive or negative and if we can improve a situation we are beholden to be constructive. your company helped her and would have improved the healing.

[Artandpoetry]

Any good news is wonderful to hear. You must be very proud.👏

[cycli in reply to Artandpoetry]

Couldn't be prouder. Her mother and father have been so important in her journey. A lovely family. Mother a GP and father in RAF medic. Younger sister quite a different character, more on the arts and theatre.

[SheffieldJane]

An achievement to savour!

[AshPen9]

Gosh cycli, how marvellous for you to know that you have made a difference to that young lady's life. What an exciting sport for her to be involved in. I couldn't stay upright on a bike these days, never could, but I love every moment of track cycling when it's on TV. Savour your involvement in her success and enjoy the feelgood factor that it must give you.

[cycli in reply to AshPen9]

thank you. it truly is a wonderful feeling.

[Bcol]

Brilliant news and a fantastic way to brighten your day.

[cycli in reply to Bcol]

certainly is

[Bridge31]

Hi cycli

Do you also know Emma Pooley. ? Her father is a member of my Bridge Club and her step mother is one of my regular partners.

[cycli in reply to Bridge31]

sadly no. I have seen her race and she is a great rider especially on the climbs. she moved onto MTB and cyclocross I believe. not finished yet.

[Elephants2019]

how wonderful! And to know you had a part in her success, makes it even more special.

[Blearyeyed]

You played your part in her training and success , especially by helping her gain and maintain her passion for cycling very early on , so you should be really proud of yourself too.I will keep an eye on her progress, thanks for such an uplifting post , Bee

[cycli]

Teaching her to ride the rollers at 9 years old and then loaning her my carbon road bike to race when she outgrew her starter bike at 12 was par for the course. I have a beautiful steel track bike I bought from Max Pendleton Vicky's father who helped me in the early days when I started my cycling club and the youth section.. A good friend kindly repainted in my colours and style and it's waiting for me to recover from this condition so I can get back on the boards and enjoy the velodrome again. It helps to keep my hopes up.

[cycli]

It's been a rubbish few weeks but I've just been told that my club that I started has decided to name the 7 acre field and track with cyclo cross training and 330m grass track after me. It took a year of persuasion, hard work, finding the finance and overcoming resistance to convert an agricultural field into a sporting facility. I'm genuinely touched and it is yet another reminder of how just doing something because it seems so right to do can often reward you many years later. Just hoping I can get fit enough to accept the invitation in May to their naming event. Something to work towards.

[Bcol in reply to cycli]

That's fab news - congratulations and I'm sure it's very well deserved. 🙂

[cycli]

Cheers Bcol. It's so nice when one gets such a surprise. gives one hope and helps over the tougher parts of this journey. I'll try hard to get down there as it will be their starting grass track event of the season. Part of the series of events where points gained for position go towards their qualification for ranking within the cat 1 to cat 4 rating. Probably be a shock for them to see the stumbling old fart I have become.

[Bcol in reply to cycli]

It is good when the surprises are nice and given the really rough journey you have had so far I'm sure this will have given you a boost. I'm also sure they will be delighted to see you if you do manage to get there.

[cycli in reply to Bcol]

going to try but you know what this condition is like. Kind words. Thank you.