What happened when I returned to cycling racing?
My first road race…where do I start?
The fact I got to the start line at all?
Almost losing the nut for the end of my axle?
Or, the fact I completely miscalculated the amount of laps that were left?
On the morning of the race I was a mess. I genuinely thought about just not racing at all. Why? The fear of getting dropped. In Welsh Crit Champs last year the group almost split in two. The faster girls were way ahead. I come to Pimbo to race…not get dropped again…ha!
I even said to Ryan who was with me on the side of the road at the start line, “I don’t even want to race anymore”.
I was dreading the start gun and the girls just disappearing up the road.
But the start gun went and I managed to hold on to the bunch.
Going round was a learning curve. I was constantly waiting for some sort of attack off the quicker girls, but nothing really happened. Holding onto the back was tough at times, but I held up better than I thought I would…until I sped up a lap early than the finish lap.
I picked up my pace to try and get myself in a better position, only to see the others stay at the same pace. When I realised we had one last lap my legs had already blown up. Embarassment or just genuinely feeling gutted at what position I could have maybe got, I was so frustrated with myself.
But either way, it is my first road race out of the way.
Racing in general isn’t going great for me to be honest. I decided to try and make it in time for the club time trial this week, only to get a few minutes in and my bike pump fell out of my pocket. My only option was to turn back and get it in case it was in the middle of the road. I had riders behind me coming so I didn’t want them and their expensive bikes to hit the deck because of me! Thankfully they let me restart and I could get the frustration out of my system…ha! I even smahsed my target time too.
So pray that I’ve got all of the bad luck out of the way???
Lucy's Life and Bikes 
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